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+{"title":"Express & Star","document":"The blaze broke out at around 6.15pm on Monday in Pencombe Drive, in the Goldthorn Park area of Wolverhampton, severely damaging the home and destroying a van parked on the driveway.\nAn explosion rocked Pencombe Drive, in the Goldthorn Park area of Wolverhampton, at around 6.15pm on Monday, leaving a workman's van on a driveway engulfed in flames.\nThe blaze then spread to the house behind the van, causing severe damage.\nParamedics treated the workman at the scene for burns, before rushing him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.\nThe workman, employed by IWJS on behalf of Severn Trent Water, had been working to clear a sewerage pipe of concrete running underneath the house.\nThe homeowner, 47-year-old Lakesh Jakhu, was sitting in the living room when the explosion occurred, and said he feels lucky to be alive.\n\"I ran outside and saw the flames,\" he said.\n\"My first concern was for the workman - I wanted to make sure he was OK. I thought he was in the van.\n\"I put my hose on but there was so much fire and black smoke it did not make any difference.\"\nDramatic photos from the scene last night show the front of the property and the van severely damaged.\nA spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: \"We were called to reports of fire on Pencombe Drive at 6.15pm on Monday. One ambulance, two paramedic officers and the West Midlands Care Team attended the scene.\n\"On arrival we discovered a van and house ablaze. We treated one patient, a man, for burn injuries before he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further treatment.\"\nWest Midlands Fire Service said it sent 25 firefighters to the blaze, which is thought to have been accidentally.\nA spokesperson said: \"This was a severe house fire which had spread from a van at the property and to the neighbouring house.\n\"Crews wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels to tackle the fire, along with main and covering jets.\n\"A gas pipe was damaged in the fire so as a precaution, the gas supply in the area was temporarily shut off to enable our crews to tackle the fire safely. The fire was put out by 8.30pm.\n\"All persons are accounted for and one man was taken to hospital by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service having self-extricated from the property.\"","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":["severely damaging the home and destroying a van"]},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["around 6.15pm on Monday","around 6.15pm on Monday","6.15pm on Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Pencombe Drive","Pencombe Drive","Pencombe Drive"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":["Queen Elizabeth Hospital","Queen Elizabeth Hospital"]},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"‘IT WAS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF’ . . . 4 men burned in explosion that blew roof off print shop expected to survive","document":"Karen Goetz was going about her work as office manager at Arizona Community Church on the morning of Aug. 26 when a thundering boom startled and shook her.\n“It was like a bomb went off or something,” she said.\n“We thought maybe it was a natural-gas explosion somewhere because it was like an atmospheric thing, where it changed the air pressure. It was strange. We all ran outside to see what it was because it felt like it was fairly close.”\nIt was. A half-mile south, an explosion had blown the roof off of Platinum Printing in a strip center at the northeastern corner of Ray and Rural roads in West Chandler. Two young men were critically burned in the blast, two others were seriously burned. It will be a long road, but all four are expected to make a full recovery, according to their physician.\nBrothers Dillon and Andrew Ryan, co-owners of Platinum Printing, and Parker Milldebrandt, a lifelong friend of the Ryans who works at the shop, are among the victims. All three were in the shop at the time of the explosion.\nThe fourth victim is Glenn Jordan, who owns All-American Eyeglass Repair, a couple of suites west of the print shop in the strip center. It is not clear if he was in the print shop at the time of the blast.\nWhile expected to make full recoveries, the four face heavy medical bills during a lengthy process to get there.\n____________________\nGoFundMe pages have been set up to help the four victims of the print-shop explosion.\n \nFor Ryan brothers click here.\nFor Parker Milldebrandt click here.\nFor Glenn Jordan click here.\n____________________\nAndrew Ryan and his wife, Christy, have a son, 12, and daughter, 8. Dillon and his wife, Casi, have a son, 4, and daughter, 3 months. The print shop was their sole source of income.\nMilldebrandt, 29, was placed in a medically induced coma and still was heavily sedated for pain management Sunday night, according to an update on his GoFundMe page. His first operation will be early this week, the update says. He and his wife, Sierra, are expecting their first child, a daughter, this week.\nJordan and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter.\nThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has sent a response team to work with Chandler police to investigate the cause of the explosion. CPD said it does not suspect a criminal act. A gas leak was discovered under the parking lot but cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.\nGoetz said that staff felt the blast at the church, 9325 S. Rural Road, a block north of Corona del Sol High School at Knox Road.\n“I was coming up the hallway and I heard this loud thing, like somebody was at the door, but it was like the door was exploding or something. When I looked, there was nobody at the door,” Goetz said. “It sounded like the door moved on its own and then shut again. Then, (a coworker) came from the building across the way and … she said, ‘Did something funny happen a few minutes ago?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’\n“It definitely moved all the doors that were unlocked. We walked outside but couldn’t see anything that looked like it was on fire or anything like that. … We still didn’t see anything but there were tons of fire trucks going by. … I was really, really glad it wasn’t the library or the preschool. There’s a lot of stuff in that shopping center.”\nCorona del Sol, just a few blocks north of the strip center, was not impacted, according to Megan Sterling, executive director of community relations for the Tempe Union High School District. She said that the blast was close enough that it was felt on campus but that there was not a disruption to the school day or the need to evacuate.\nCorona principal Nathan Kleve, however, sent an advisory to families saying that the TUHSD safety team had reviewed information and continued to monitor the situation.\nThe situation was elevated to a second-alarm hazardous-materials response that brought 50 pieces of emergency apparatus and more than 100 firefighters to the scene, according to Chandler Fire Battalion Chief Keith Welch. Units from Chandler, Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix fire departments responded, as did crews from Southwest Gas.\nAn aerial view in the aftermath shows buckled walls and a debris-filled crater inside Platinum Printing, 4940 W. Ray Road, Suite 1. Still images pulled from a video shot by Matt Lee, who was in line at a nearby coffee shop at the moment of the explosion, show debris rising about 80 feet into the air. Rubble and broken glass were sent as far as 100 yards across the parking lot.\nWelch said that first responders found a natural-gas leak under the strip-center parking lot, however officials are not prepared to say what caused the explosion. That remains under investigation, he said.\n“We are starting the investigative process,” Welch said. “It’s going to take a while to figure it all out.”\nGary McKay, owner of McKay’s True Value, 4939 W. Ray Road, directly across the street from the explosion, needed a few moments to figure it out for himself.\nHe said the noise reminded him of the time a vehicle drove through his front door.\n“There was a boom that shook the building,” McKay said. “It was almost like when that car ran into the building, but even worse. It sounded like something landed on our roof, and so I immediately ran up here to the front. Then I ran and looked out the back door and there was nothing. I was standing outside and a customer was coming up to the store and said something happened across the street and that he saw the debris flying in the air. And then that’s when we found out that the building had exploded.”\nA woman who works at a fabric store across the street from the blast, who did not want to be identified, said that she felt the impact of the explosion reverberate in her chest.\n“A lot of dust fell from the ceiling and our door blew open. The building and the windows shook,” the woman said.\nChandler Sunset Library, next door to the print shop, suffered damage inside from the force of the explosion, according to Welch.\nThe library remains closed until further notice, city officials said. The public may continue to access library services, including the catalog, downloadable ebooks, and other resources 24/7 online at chandlerlibrary.org. Library patrons may return checked out items to any of the library’s three branches.\nMaxwell Preschool Academy, at the opposite end of the center, was evacuated. None of the children were injured.\nIn all, approximately 15 businesses and 25 homes in the neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution, according to Welch. Power also was turned off in the area for about a half hour. Traffic on Ray and Rural near the scene was closed for several hours, until early evening on Aug. 26.\nThe director of Valleywise Health’s Arizona Burn Center said that the four victims suffered second-degree burns over 16 to 30 percent of their bodies. Two have undergone surgery and initially were in the intensive-care unit. Dr. Kevin Foster, director of the burn center, said that all are expected to survive and make a fully recovery, although it will be “a prolonged process.”\nFoster said the injuries resemble flash burns that often are associated with exploding gas.\n“Something exploded. There was a big flash,” Foster said. “I’m not an expert on explosions but I’ve seen some photographs of the building. It’s not a building anymore. It’s just a hole in the ground. And the fact that anybody walked away from that is amazing to me.\n“The injuries certainly are consistent with a flash, with something that exploded and burned very quickly and was very, very hot for a short period of time, some type of volatile flash, not like a flame.”\nChandler firefighters got the call at about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 26 and upon arrival found the print shop’s roof gone and fire in the structure, according to Welch.\nWelch said there were no other injuries and no extension of fire to other suites in the strip center, however, structural instability was found in walls of three suites west of the print shop, which is in the extreme eastern end of the center.\nWhile the walls still stand, they belie the seriousness of the damage. Aerial views reveal nothing but a debris-filled crater where the print shop was.\n“The inside of the building is completely destroyed, and if you get closer to the building, the walls have been pushed out,” Welch said.\n“So it was a significant explosion.”\nAn explosion and fire that collapsed the roof at a West Chandler print shop Thursday morning critically injured two people, seriously injured two others and prompted a massive response.\nIn \"Chandler\"\nThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Chandler Police Department ruled Aug. 31 that an unintentional natural-gas leak caused the Aug. 26 explosion at Platinum Printing in West Chandler.\nIn \"Chandler\"\n“The cause of the leak and the subsequent explosion was premature degradation in a certain type of natural gas pipe (Driscopipe 8000),\" Southwest Gas said in a statement.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["blown the roof off of Platinum Printing","Platinum Printing","roof","roof","roof","Platinum Printing"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["injured two people, seriously injured two others"]},{"role":"Date","values":["morning of Aug. 26","Aug","26","Aug","26","morning","Aug","Aug","26"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Platinum Printing in West Chandler","Platinum Printing","West Chandler","Platinum Printing","Platinum Printing","West Chandler"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":["The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Chandler Police Department","The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms"]}]}
+{"title":"3 dead, 4 injured in powerful blast in Bengaluru","document":"Close on the heels of a fire tragedy in an apartment in which two elderly women were burnt alive on Wednesday, in another incident three people died and four others were severely injured in a suspected blast on Thursday in Bengaluru, Karnataka.According to police, the incident took place at a godown in New Tharagupet near Royan Circle in Chamarajpet locality in the heart of the city. The bodies of the victims were thrown away from the godown to the roads due to the impact of the blast. As many as 10 two wheelers and a truck were damaged in the explosion.\nThe deceased are identified as Muralidhar, Aslam and Fayaz, according to police sources.Harish Pande, DCP (South, Bengaluru) said that the blast is not a result of the LPG cylinder explosion, gas compressor or an electricity short circuit. \"The blast seems to have been triggered by an unstable explosive. We have to investigate it,\" he said. The explosion took place in a transport godown where crackers are being stored, he added.\nThe cracker consignment in the godown is intact and the exact cause of explosion needs to be investigated. It is a transport godown and how the crackers are stored, from where they have been brought, will be investigated, he maintained.Two persons inside the godown and one person outside the godown died on the spot. The impact of the blast was such that the body parts of the victims were strewn across the area.\nThe eye witnesses explained that it felt like a bomb blast. The tremors were felt in the buildings located 100 meters away. The bikes parked in the vicinity of the blast spot were reduced to pieces and even a mini truck was damaged in the incident.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["10 two wheelers and a truck were damaged","a mini truck was damaged"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["two elderly women were burnt alive","three people died and four others were severely injured"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bengaluru, Karnataka","Bengaluru","New Tharagupet"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"UPDATE: Death Toll Rises To Five In Lagos Gas Explosion","document":"Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, revealed this while speaking with journalists at the scene of the incident on Friday morning.\nFive persons have so far lost their lives in the gas explosion that occurred on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, in the Maryland area of Lagos State, on Thursday night.\nLagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, revealed this while speaking with journalists at the scene of the incident on Friday morning.\nPHOTONEWS: Huge Fire Raging Around Sheraton Hotel, Total Gas Station In Ikeja Area Of Lagos After Explosion pic.twitter.com/JMcpNvZoNA\nHe said three people died instantly at the scene of the incident which occurred around 11 pm on Thursday, while the other two died in the hospital.\nBamgbose-Martins said, “Lives were lost. We had about 13 people rescued but we understand that out of the 13 people, we’ve lost two of them which means that we’ve only rescued 11. We’ve recovered three bodies again this morning. They’ve started moving them away from here.”\nBamgbose-Martins also said that investigation is ongoing, adding that a special committee by the state government, which has agencies of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as members is working to end gas explosions in the state.\nSimilarly, the spokesman for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed that five persons lost their lives in the explosion. \nSee Also\nAccident\nLagos Tanker Explosion Injured 13, Destroyed 25 Cars— Official\n0 Comments\n4 Months Ago\nAlso, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu assured Lagos residents that efforts had been put in place to prevent secondary explosion in the area.\n“Ongoing post-disaster assessment by our responders has unearthed 3 yet-to-be-identified male bodies in the rubble. First responders (LASEMA Respond Unit Fire) have returned to the scene to avert any secondary explosion.\n“Members of the public are encouraged to take alternative routes as much as possible. Further, update to follow,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.\nOver 22 vehicles were burnt in the inferno that followed the explosion while the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation Plaza was badly damaged.\nView the discussion thread.\nSaharaReporters.com is an outstanding, groundbreaking news website that encourages citizen journalists to report ongoing corruption and government malfeasance in Africa. Using photos, text, and video dynamically, the site informs and prompts concerned African citizens and activists globally to act, denouncing officially-sanctioned corruption, the material impoverishment of its citizenry, defilement of the environment, and the callous disregard of the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["Over 22 vehicles were burnt","Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation Plaza was badly damaged"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["Five persons have so far lost their lives","Lives","five persons lost their lives"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday night"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Oxygen leak kills 22 in Indian hospital as Covid crisis worsens","document":"Hospitals in Delhi say they only have enough oxygen to last eight to 24 hours First published on Wed 21 Apr 2021 05.44 BST\nAt least 22 patients have died in a hospital in western India after a disruption to their oxygen supply caused by a leaking tank, the health minister said, as a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases soaks up supplies of the crucial gas.\nThe incident in the city of Nashik, one of India’s worst-hit areas, happened after the tank of gas leaked, said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra, the richest state, where the city is located.\n“Patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died,” Tope said in televised remarks. “The leakage was spotted at the tank supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the patients in the hospital.”\nThe world’s second most populous nation reported 295,041 new infections on Wednesday – the world’s highest daily rise – as its hospitals were stretched to breaking point.\nThe total was just short of the global record for a one-day rise in confirmed new cases, which was set by the United States in January when 297,430 cases were tallied. US cases have since fallen sharply. India’s 2,023 deaths were also its highest in the pandemic.\nOn Tuesday, hospitals in Delhi, the capital, said they had enough oxygen left for just another eight to 24 hours, while some private institutions had enough for only four or five.\nThe situation was so severe that some people had tried to loot an oxygen tanker, forcing authorities to beef up security, said the health minister of the neighbouring state of Haryana. “From now, I’ve ordered police protection for all tankers,” Anil Vij told Reuters partner ANI.\nTelevision showed images of people with empty oxygen cylinders crowding refilling facilities as they scrambled to save stricken relatives in hospital.\n“We were completely blocked out of supplies yesterday but by the end of the day we received some and it is helping us today,” said Charu Sachdeva, an official at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre in the capital.\nIn the northern city of Lucknow, one man said a hospital had asked him to arrange oxygen supplies for his uncle or take him away since it had run out.\nDelhi, a city of 20 million people, recorded 28,395 new cases and 277 deaths on Tuesday, its highest tally since the pandemic began. Every third person tested for coronavirus proved positive.\nAbout 80 of 142 hospitals in Delhi had no beds left for virus patients, government figures showed.\nBusinessman Saurabh Mittal said he called a hospital shown in a government database to have beds free, only to be told they were full up and could not take anyone. “I told them there is online availability but they said the real-time data showed no beds,” said Mittal, who had been trying to arrange treatment for a virus sufferer.\nIndia faces a coronavirus “storm” overwhelming its health system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a national address on Tuesday, adding that authorities were working with states and private firms to deliver oxygen with “speed and sensitivity”.\nDelhi, like large parts of India, let its guard down when the virus seemed to be under control, allowing big gatherings such as weddings and festivals as daily infections fell to fewer than 1,000 during the winter, health experts said.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["At least 22 patients have died"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Nashik","Nashik","a hospital in western India","hospital","hospital","hospital","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Reading: Natural gas explosion","document":" “Terrible Racist” Reports Exile Hall of Fame | States and Regions Natural gas exploded before a fire that burned down an apartment on the second floor of Reading on Tuesday afternoon, injuring three people, including a woman who was severely burned, said Marshal Reading Jeremy Surfos on Wednesday. Told to.\n“Based on everything we’ve seen, we believe that natural gas has accumulated from building leaks,” Searfoss said of the explosion and fire at 225 N. 10th St.\nThe source of the fire is unknown, but there may have been a number of electronics in the rear apartment on the second floor, and investigators found evidence of the explosion and blew the walls south, destabilizing the entire building structurally. I said I did.\nWhen the fire was reported around 2:45 pm, the only resident of the apartment was sleeping in her bedroom, Searfoss said. She woke up, found debris on her, and set fire all around her.\n“It’s an absolute miracle that she managed to get out and wait for our men,” said the fire chief.\nThe woman was initially treated by a medical staff at the Reading Fire Department before being transferred to the Burn Treatment Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown.\nSearfoss said he had burns on his hands, feet and back.\n“She is definitely lucky to be alive,” he said. “But she certainly has a way to recovery before her.”\nHe did not provide her name and no information about her age was immediately available.\nAccording to Surfos, the pressure from the accumulation of gas was evidenced by the blow-off of Birco’s door to the basement, and firefighters had to move off the stairs when first entering the ground floor.\nFirefighters also reported a strong odor of natural gas. This is actually a chemical that is added to natural gas to give it the smell of rotten eggs.\nThe two residents of the first-floor apartment they were visiting did not suffer head and neck burns and were taken to Reading Hospital for treatment by an ambulance crew.\nSearfoss said investigators believe that the source of the gas is a leak pipe that feeds the cooking stove. They don’t know if the accumulation is slow or rapid. No one in the building reported the smell of natural gas.\nThe building has been blamed and may not be rescued, Searfoss said.\nThe American Red Cross supports two of the three tenants in three apartments with emergency housing and other needs.\nThe firefighter controlled the fire within 20 minutes.\nSearfoss said the fire in the middle of the row of houses was contained in one building because of the aggression of the city’s firefighters. Beginning with the explosion, the fire spread rapidly before the crew arrived, restricting access by debris next to the building.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["injuring three people"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Location","values":["apartment on the second floor of Reading","apartment on the second floor"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":["Lehigh Valley Hospital","Reading Hospital"]},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"3 Injured, Gas Leak Reported After Berwyn Explosion, Officials Say","document":"An investigation continues after an explosion in Berwyn badly damaged an abandoned building and left three people with minor injuries. NBC 5’s Alex Maragos has the story.\nResidents in suburban Berwyn are being asked to stay away from the area near 33rd Street and Oak Park Avenue after an explosion occurred, injuring at least three people. According to a social media post from Berwyn officials, first responders are at the scene after what authorities are calling an \"accidental\" explosion in the 3300 block of Oak Park Avenue. Berwyn firefighters are being joined by other departments in responding to the scene, according to officials. Firefighters are working to extinguish the flames and to contain an active gas leak. Nicor is on the scene, and has shut down gas in the area due to the ongoing leaks. ComEd is also on scene and has cut off power to part of the city as a precaution. It is unclear when the utilities will be restored. At least three people were hurt in the explosion, according to Fire Chief Tom Hayes. All three individuals walked to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, and at least two have already been released. A third is expected to be released Tuesday evening. The building was vacant at the time of the explosion, officials said. The structure has been deemed a total loss, and will need to be demolished, according to officials. Residents are being asked to “stay clear of the area\" as crews continue to work the scene. According to Total Traffic, Oak Park Avenue is closed in both directions between 35th Street and 32nd Street because of the incident.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["badly damaged an abandoned building"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["three people with minor injuries","injuring at least three people","At least three people were hurt","minor injuries"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Berwyn","Berwyn","Berwyn","Berwyn","3300 block of Oak Park Avenue"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Safety sake cited for Ford’s low-key explosion site visit","document":" Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Copy Url\n \tOntario Premier Doug Ford’s unannounced visit to the downtown Wheatley explosion site on Tuesday was kept quiet until after the fact due to safety concerns, according to Chatham-Kent officials.\n\tFord and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry Greg Rickford surveyed the area of the Aug. 26 explosion along with top municipal and emergency officials.\n\t“We didn’t want to create a scene there. Have a lot of people showing up,” says Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff.\n\tHe says the meeting was positive and is encouraged the province will take action.\n\t“We still didn’t get very close to the building, but we got a little closer than what the barricades were, but you get the idea,’ Canniff says.\n\tThe majority of Chatham-Kent council and the media were not informed of the visit until after it happened.\n\t“I have to admit there’s a little bit of frustration there.” says South Kent councillor Trevor Thompson. “I understand from the Premier’s point of view and he has security issues he has to face,” Thompson explains. “I can appreciate that it had to be kept a little quiet. I am frustrated though that I did find out that he was here on Twitter.”\n\tBoth West Kent councillors were on hand. Councillor Melissa Harrigan says she’s optimistic the province has a better understanding of what the Wheatley community has endured in the days following the blast.\n\t“I left the meeting feeling very confident that the premiers office and the minister were now in a better state of awareness of what we’re experiencing here in Chatham-Kent,” she says.\n\tHarrigan says some Wheatley residents were brought to tears while sharing their experiences with the Premier, saying Doug Ford gave his personal cell number to the BIA co-chairs and active citizen leads.\n\t“People really appreciated that, but it also gives us that direct contact to hold the premier accountable to the commitments that he made verbally to the people of Wheatley,” she says.\n\tFire chief Chris Case says the scene remains stable at this time but history has indicated that could change quickly.\n\t“We still have eight firefighters working around the clock. Four of those are from the Provincial Hazmat team,” Case says.\n\tOn Tuesday, the ministry indicated it had hired the consulting firm Golder Associates to conduct a technical analysis of the area where the explosion occurred.\n\tThe ministry also continues to fund 24-hour monitoring system in the area.\n\tChief Case says the investigation process to determine the cause of the hydrogen sulphide gas leak that led to the explosion remains slow and methodical but adds it’s being done safe.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Aug. 26"]},{"role":"Location","values":["downtown Wheatley"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":["Ford and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry Greg Rickford","Ford","minister","top municipal and emergency officials"]}]}
+{"title":"Apartment explosion sends woman to Indianapolis hospital","document":"A mixture of rain and snow showers. High near 45F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Higher wind gusts possible..\nCloudy skies. Low 33F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.\n Updated: November 12, 2021 @ 1:47 pm\nA Lafayette man was arrested after an alleged statutory rape…\nAndrew Scott Alcorns strutted into the Tippecanoe Circuit Co…\nAn explosion suspected to be caused by a natural gas leak seriously injured a 24-year-old woman just after 5 p.m. Monday at 50 Cadillac Court in Waterford Apartments in Lafayette.\nLafayette firefighters found a fire within the apartment, and a female outside was found to be suffering thermal injuries, according to a fire department press release. \nThe victim, Aleksandra Balac, was treated by Tippecanoe County paramedics and transported to a local hospital. She was later transferred to an Indianapolis hospital. Her condition is unknown, according to the release.\nThe fire was quickly contained to the apartment, officials said.\nA fire investigator is investigating the cause of the fire with assistance from the Tippecanoe County sheriff’s office, per the release.\nAnyone with information is asked to contact the Lafayette Fire Department at (765) 807-1200 or the Tippecanoe County sheriff's office at (765) 423-9388.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["injured a 24-year-old woman"]},{"role":"Date","values":["after 5 p.m. Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["50 Cadillac Court in Waterford Apartments in Lafayette","Lafayette","Lafayette","Lafayette"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":["local hospital","Indianapolis hospital"]},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Woman injured in Aldershot van gas explosion","document":"Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews extinguished a small fire in White Road, Aldershot, at about 08:00 BST following reports of a blast.\nPolice said the incident was being treated as an industrial accident.\nSouth East Coast Ambulance Service said the injured woman was helped by local people before paramedics arrived. She was then taken to hospital suffering from burns.\nIn a statement, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was aware of the explosion and was liaising with police.\nFollow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.\nHFRS\nHampshire Constabulary\nHSE\nNiton ‘Badger Road’ traffic lights sett to go\nSouthampton crime gang jailed for kidnapping man and beating him\nMinister’s response about exceptional circumstances for reduced housing targets a ‘step in the right direction’\nWinners of 2021 Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards announced\nTrial date set for man, 49, after stabbing in Winchester city centre\nCCTV images released after criminal damage to car and bank in town centre\nInformation about BBC links to other news sites\nClimate talks into overtime as nations grasp for deal\nBoris Johnson has called on richer countries to \"put more cash on the table\" to secure an agreement at COP26.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["the injured woman"]},{"role":"Date","values":["about 08:00 BST"]},{"role":"Location","values":["White Road, Aldershot"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"NT cattle station contractor ordered to pay compensation to worker injured in barrel explosion","document":"A Northern Territory cattle mustering contractor has been ordered to pay $20,000 in compensation to a young ringer who suffered severe burns in an AVGAS explosion on the remote Montejinni Station, 320 kilometres south-west of Katherine. \nThe 18-year-old employee was left for six days, with first and second degree burns, before he was taken to hospital.\nAaron Kerr, trading as Kerr Contracting and Co, pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday to two charges of reckless conduct risking death or injury.\n\"This is the first time the courts have made this order [for compensation] and it is separate to the workers compensation entitlements the injured worker received,\" an NT Worksafe spokesman said in a statement.\nThe court heard the young employee, who asked not to be identified, and a colleague were using a battery-powered angle grinder to cut the lid off an AVGAS drum, after washing it out, when residual gas ignited and exploded, in April 2019.\nThe employee suffered severe burns to his hands, arms, face, and airways.\nCourt documents show Kerr and another staff member \"decided that the burns were not that severe,\" despite the young staffer telling them his pain was \"10 out of 10\".\nThe ringer was taken to the homestead, where the station operations manager was told the injuries were the result of lighting a gas barbecue.\nAccording to the documents, over following days, the employee complained of a fever, sore throat, cramping and bleeding from his bowel, but was required to return to work four days later to move cattle.\nIn a statement, NT Worksafe — the Northern Territory's Work Health and Safety Regulator — said the first aid facilities were so basic that treatment included unboiled bore water mixed with veterinary antiseptic used to treat the burns.\nThe regulator said the young ringer was \"mocked and verbally abused by Mr Kerr\".\nThe court documents show, approximately 500 metres from the station, the staffer said he was unable to manage his horse across a small creek due to the burns on his hands.\nKerr yelled words to the effect of: \"F*** off home you sooky c***\".\nIt was not until six days after the explosion that the 18-year-old was taken to the emergency room at Katherine Hospital, where he was quickly transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.\nHe suffered first and second degree burns to seven percent of his body, which had become infected, and internal haemorrhaging.\nIn its statement, NT WorkSafe said Kerr had a duty of care to protect the young ringer.\n\"Mr Kerr, in this incident, has totally and absolutely failed in his duty,\" said NT WorkSafe boss Bill Esteves.\n\"It would appear the culture of his workplace was one of stoicism, where people were expected to harden up, just get on with the job.\"\nMr Esteves said more than half a dozen people at Montejinni Station were aware of the ringer's burns and no-one had intervened.\n\"In fact, when he was finally transported off the station, he was left alone at the Top Springs Hotel to fend for himself,\" said Mr Esteves.\nA passer-by drove the ringer almost 300 kilometres to Katherine Hospital.\nAaron Kerr was ordered to pay $20,000 in compensation to the injured employee and given a two-year good behaviour bond.\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":["20,000"]},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["a young ringer who suffered severe burns"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["remote Montejinni Station"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":["Katherine Hospital","Katherine Hospital","Royal Darwin Hospital"]},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"First Nation's negotiations with Enbridge collapse over 2018 northern B.C. gas pipeline explosion","document":"Talks between the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation and Enbridge, over an October 2018 northern B.C. pipeline explosion, have collapsed. \nLheidli T'enneh Dayi (Chief) Clay Pountney says the First Nation's civil lawsuit against Enbridge, filed in Prince George Supreme Court in February 2019, will now proceed.\n\"The Enbridge brand has become synonymous with danger and mishap in our community,\" he said. \"Enbridge says it is committed to safety and world-class standards, but we learned post-explosion and during the negotiations that these are empty promises.\"\nThe lawsuit seeks damages related to the pipeline rupture. The Lheidli T'enneh First Nation (LTFN) is also seeking an injunction ordering Enbridge to dismantle and remove approximately 140 kilometres of pipeline from Indigenous territory.\nIt says negotiations ended at Enbridge's request.\nIn a statement, Enbridge claimed the LTFN walked away and rejected offers of an impartial mediator. \n\"We have made several generous offers to the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation ... over the course of many months of negotiations,\" Enbridge stated. \"However, the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation is looking for a settlement from Enbridge on matters beyond the incident itself and that aren't in our control or involve other parties.\"\nIn a statement of claim filed in court, Enbridge argued the entire lawsuit lacks merit.\nIn October 2019, a 36-inch (92-centimetre) diameter gas pipeline burst in the community of Shelley, B.C., sending a fireball into the air that could be seen from Prince George 15 kilometres to the southwest. Approximately 100 Lheidli T'enneh residents in the community fled their homes as a precaution after the explosion.\nNo injures were reported. But the Lheidli T'enneh say residents remain traumatized by the incident.\nThe Enbridge pipeline supplies 60 per cent of the natural gas consumed in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The explosion created significant natural gas supply disruptions.\nThe Transportation Safety Board ruled the explosion was caused by stress cracks in the pipe, and found the company had improperly delayed a scheduled hazard management inspection that may have detected issues, and prevented the fiery blast from happening.\nThe Canada Energy Regulator handed Enbridge a $40,000 fine for failing to properly monitor the line.\nwith files from Nicole Oud\nAudience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636\nTTY/Teletype writer: 1-866-220-6045\nIt is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["October 2018","October 2019"]},{"role":"Location","values":["community of Shelley, B.C","community","community","northern B.C"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"All accounted for, four injured after 'explosion' at Dunwoody apartments, firefighters say","document":"Four people were injured and several dozen displaced after an explosion at a Dunwoody apartment complex.\nDUNWOODY, Ga. - Four people were injured after an \"explosion\" at a Dunwoody apartment complex on Sunday afternoon believed to have been caused by some sort of gas line issue, DeKalb County Fire Rescue said. Officials said about 40 to 50 units were destroyed.\nIt happened at the Arrive Perimeter apartment complex located in the 2000 block of Asbury Square, less than a mile northeast of Perimeter Mall. Dunwoody police said they were notified at around 1:24 p.m. on Sunday.\nFour people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, DeKalb County Fire Rescue Captain Jaeson Daniels said. Two more people were not immediately accounted for, but have since been located and as of 6 p.m., officials said all residents were accounted for.\nSKYFOX 5 was over an apartment explosion in Dunwoody on Sept. 12, 2021. Four people were injured. Employees said they smelled the odor of gas, but firefighters are still investigating the cause.\nCrews are working to assess the stability of the building and shore it up to allow rescue workers to search inside. Fire investigators said at least three apartments were destroyed in the blast and caused a partial collapse of the building. Officials are using drones to help assess the damage.\nA few pets inside the apartments were also reportedly rescued.\nFire officials said more than 70 firefighters responded to the scene for the initial call. Crews are expected to work well into the evening saying it will be \"slow-moving.\"\nResidents of a Dunwoody apartment complex look at the aftermath of an alleged \"explosion.\" Credit: Dezmon Green (FOX 5 Atlanta)\nOfficials with Atlanta Gas Light issued a statement around 9:30 p.m. that reads:\n\"Our crews have now completed safety checks of all relevant Atlanta Gas Light facilities to ensure those not impacted by the incident are operating safely. Natural gas remains turned off to the apartments directly impacted by the incident, and there are no additional service outages. We will continue to work with local and state agencies as they continue the investigation.\"\nThe official cause of the explosion remains under investigation.\nAll utilities to the building have been disconnected.\nDunwoody police said Perimeter Center North was shut down as part of the response.\nThe entrances and exits to the apartments were also shut down for a time and residents not impacted by the blast were asked to shelter in place.\nA FOX 5 News viewer shared a video that showed the blast caused some severe structural damage to a building. Debris could be seen around the building and part of the exterior appears to have collapsed.\nThe Red Cross is at the scene to help those impacted by the explosion. Officials said they expect to help the residents of about 40 to 50 units.\n\"Volunteers established a reception area at a nearby hotel parking lot for people awaiting news on whether they could return to their buildings. The Red Cross provided food, water and health and emotional support throughout the day, and is also offering shelter tonight for residents in need of temporary lodging,\" Red Cross officials wrote in a statement. \"Red Cross caseworkers will continue to work with displaced individuals and families in the days ahead, sharing recovery planning and resources to help them get back on their feet.\"","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["about 40 to 50 units were destroyed","at least three apartments were destroyed","partial collapse of the building"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["Four people were injured","Four people were injured","Four people were injured"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday afternoon"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Dunwoody apartment complex","Dunwoody apartment complex","Dunwoody apartment complex"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":["firefighters","firefighters"]}]}
+{"title":"Baby miraculously survived gas explosion that wiped out homes","document":"Look back at great photos and memories from years ago with our Days Gone By newsletter\nA 12-day old baby miraculously survived a gas explosion that wiped out almost an entire row of homes.\n Grinshills Close residents were woken at around 4am to a rumbling sound on Thursday, August 29, 1985. Soon, most of the street was destroyed and one woman had been thrown onto the roof after the huge explosion. READ MORE : Couple tied man to city centre building site and left him bleeding\n A number of residents were left pinned under the rubble and furnishings as firefighters battled to rescue them after the gas explosion. Thankfully, nobody was killed during the terrifying incident, but a 12-day-old baby became separated from his mother after the blast. Susan, 22 at the time, had been pinned underneath a mountain of rubble for almost an hour after the blast and was unable to reach her son Jason Karmellhi.\n Fireman Steve Allwood miraculously managed to lift baby Jason out of the house without a scratch. In a front page story from the ECHO, published on August 29, 1985, Jason's mother Susan Karmelli spoke of the moment she thought her tiny baby had died. She said: “I was feeding the baby at about 3.45am and heard a big bang from next door. Then the walls started falling in and the ceiling fell on top of me.\n“My legs were trapped underneath the iron bedstead and although I was only a yard away from the baby at the time I just could not reach him.”\nFour other people - including a pregnant mother and a seven-year-old girl also escaped with minor injuries in the blast which completely destroyed three houses in Grinshills Close.\nShock waves from the explosion were felt more than a mile away and dozens of buildings in the area had windows smashed and tiles torn from roofs.\nAround 50 firemen raced to the scene after the alarm was raised at 4am and joined neighbours in a desperate search through the rubble for survivors.\nWith gas still escaping, rescuers risked their own lives and began digging with their bare hands to where they could hear Jason whimpering.\nThere are three ways to get more involved with the Liverpool Echo - sign up now to all of them to get the hat trick!","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["wiped out almost an entire row of homes","windows smashed","tiles torn from roofs"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday, August 29, 1985","August 29, 1985"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Grinshills Close","Grinshills Close"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Lancashire gas explosion that killed two-year-old caused by cut gas pipe","document":"Police inquiry into incident in which George Arthur Hinds died is being classed as a criminal investigation\nLast modified on Tue 25 May 2021 05.11 BST\nA gas explosion that killed a two-year-old boy was caused by a cut gas pipe inside a neighbouring house, police have said.\nGeorge Arthur Hinds died in the blast in Heysham, Lancashire, on 16 May. The police inquiry into the incident is ongoing but a Lancashire constabulary spokesperson confirmed it was now being classed as a criminal investigation.\nGeorge’s parents, Vicky Studholme and Stephen Hinds, were also injured, but not seriously, and a 44-year-old man and 50-year-old woman remain in hospital with critical injuries.\nThe spokesperson said detectives, working with gas experts, had conducted a fingertip search of the scene in Mallowdale Avenue and identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe that had been cut inside the neighbouring property to the one where George lived with his parents.\nIn the blast, which happened at 2am, two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged, causing debris to cover nearby streets and fields. Residents described it as sounding “like a bomb going off”.\nDCI Jane Webb said: “My thoughts first and foremost remain with George’s family and loved ones at this time, as well as those others affected by this incident. An incredible amount of work has been done at the scene in a relatively short space of time, and as well as identifying the source of the explosion we have also managed to recover some items of George’s, which I know means a lot to his parents.\n“Our focus now is on trying to establish how and why the pipe inside No 20 came to be cut and those inquiries are complex and lengthy.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["two houses collapsed and a third was seriously damaged"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["killed a two-year-old boy","Vicky Studholme and Stephen Hinds, were also injured","a 44-year-old man and 50-year-old woman remain in hospital with critical injuries"]},{"role":"Date","values":["16 May"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Heysham, Lancashire","Lancashire"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"President Muhammadu Buhari with Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister, in Abuja, Nigeria.","document":"To stay independent, free, and sustainable, our community needs the help of friends and readers like you.\nDonate now »\nSee all those languages up there? We translate Global Voices stories to make the world's citizen media available to everyone.\nSign up to receive the best of Global Voices!\nSubmitted addresses will be confirmed by email, and used only to keep you up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms).\nSign up to receive the best of Global Voices!\nSubmitted addresses will be confirmed by email, and used only to keep you up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms).\nGlobal Voices is supported by the efforts of our volunteer contributors, foundations, donors and mission-related services. For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy. Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders.\nPlease support our important work:\nPresident Muhammadu Buhari with Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister, in Abuja, Nigeria. Image from Aso Rock [Nigeria Presidential] Villa Facebook page, Jan 5, 2021.\nHowever, these Chinese companies too often mistreat, exploit, and abuse their Nigerian staff, who have been subjected to what the Nigerian lawmaker Ndudi Elumelu described as “slavish conditions.” Over the years, allegations of racism, physical abuses, sexual violation, injuries and even death of local workers due to the negligence or explicit approval of Chinese bosses have made front page news. There have been few repercussions for these alleged acts. \nThe Global Voices Civic Media Observatory research on China’s Belt and Road Initiative identified two major categories of infractions by Chinese companies in Nigeria: industrial accidents caused by lack of safety standards, and forced labour. These stories and allegations, shared in Nigerian newspapers and on social media by reporters, witnesses, and others, together build a narrative that paints Chinese factory owners and businesspeople in Nigeria as abusive and indifferent to the health and rights of their employees. While not every allegation has been proven, together they degrade the image of China in Nigeria as a fair employer and benevolent partner.\nGeorge Ofosu and David Sarpong, scholars from Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Germany and Brunel University London, United Kingdom in their qualitative analysis of existing peer-reviewed ‘Chinese-labour-focused’ literature on Africa assert that “Chinese firms’ labour practices engender abuse via casualisation of labour, low remuneration, and a general lack of adherence to occupational safety.”\nThe silence of Nigeria’s federal government in response to these alleged infractions by Chinese business owners of the country’s labour laws and international labour covenants points to the asymmetrical relationship between the two countries. \nOnyinye in an ambulance after the fire incident (graphic content, viewer discretion advised).\nOnyinye [Onyi] Onwuegbusi, a translator with Wihu Limited, a Chinese factory located located along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Isheri, Ogun State was burnt to death on July 9, 2021, due to alleged negligence by her Chinese employees. The fire also claimed the lives of three other Nigerian staff. \nSola Akinsehinwa, a board member of the Association of Foreign Language Translators of Nigeria (AFLAN) who spoke to Global Voices via WhatsApp and email, asserts that “the ladies sensed the smell of gas” discovered that the Chinese company had installed a gas pipe that passed through the kitchen of the dormitory where the victims were cooking. A fly catcher spark caused the explosion.\nLarge gas cylinder in the Chinese Wihi company in Lagos. Image provided by Sola Akinsehinwa and used with his permission\nThe Wihu Factory had neither fire extinguishers nor an ambulance, according to one Twitter user. Due to an ongoing strike by Nigerian doctors, the victims did not receive prompt medical attention, which eventually led to the death of Onyi and three others. \nThe delegates of the AFLAN, of which Onyi was a member, were threatened and denied access to the management of the Chinese factory. “It was after the incident that they [Wihu Limited] went to buy fire extinguishers, as said by the workers that bought them. They did this, trying to cover up their tracks,” Akinsehinwa told Global Voices.\nGlobal Voices reached out to Markus, a manager in Wihu who did not provide his last name by telephone on September 10, 2021 to get the company's side of the story. The manager agreed to respond to questions via WhatsApp but had not done so by the publication date.\nIn a similar case, in February 2018, the government of Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic capital, held the management of a Chinese firm, Hongxing Steel Company Limited responsible for an accident that deformed Chris Abiodiun, a contract worker. Abiodun sustained burns in the face and most parts of his upper limbs when molten metal erupted on him on October 1, 2017. The company had refused to adequately compensate him for injuries he sustained during the incident. \nThe outspoken reactions from the Lagos State government, the House of Representatives, Nigeria’s lower house and the Ogun State parliament to Chinese firms’ labour infractions, is a clear contrast to the federal government’s silence. This may be due to the independence of these tiers and levels of government from direct involvement in the execution of Nigeria’s diplomacy and foreign policy objectives with China, which is the exclusive preserve of the federal government. \nIn March 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, PslamB, a Twitter user, claimed in a series of tweets that Hufua Plastics Industry Company Limited had blatantly flaunted the COVID-19 lockdown directives of the Nigerian government. Hufua Plastic, forcibly held over three hundred Nigerian employees within their factory in Ibafo, Ogun State, the Twitter user wrote. \nThe company allegedly threatened to sack staff who resisted the forced labour, and required them to live at the factory in order to keep working. The company also failed to adhere to COVID-19 protocols in the facility, to the detriment of the health of their Nigerian staff. \nSimilarly inhumane treatments were experienced by Nigerian staff of Chinese-owned Goodwill Ceramics, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Igbesa, in southwestern Nigeria in April 2020. The workers, who were “held inside the company for 14 days of the lockdown without proper feeding,” were asked to leave without adequate compensation, according to SaharaReporters, an online newspaper. \nIn July 2020, the Nigerian police arrested a Chinese couple in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital for allegedly locking up their eight Nigerian domestic employees in their apartment for four months during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Chinese couple were arrested following a tip-off from a resident who alerted the police, Nigerian newspaper The Punch reported. But they have not yet been convicted of a crime, which is common in these cases. \nA month after, in August 2020, Inner Galaxy Steel Co, Abia State, southeastern Nigeria was described as “a Chinese modern day slave camp, right inside Nigeria,” in a series of tweets by a person who claimed to witness the conditions, using the Twitter name @Truthfully83. The witness also alleged racism and sexual assault of Nigerian staff by Chinese managers: “Every Nigerian in that company is mandated to call their Chinese employers MASTER or MISTRESS” and that “male Nigerian workers are physically assaulted, while their female counterparts are sexually assaulted. … Chinese MASTERS will boast of killing you and getting away with it.” \nNothing came out of this case. @truthfully83 claimed that either a “soft landing” was negotiated for the company “in exchange for bribes” or “others are simply following instructions from some quarters to avoid a backlash from the Chinese government.” Solicitors of the Inner Galaxy company dismissed the allegations as “false, unsubstantiated, damaging and incredulous” attacks on the company. \nA Chinese shop in Lagos Island, Nigeria. Image by Kaizen photography via Wikimedia Commons, 27 March 2016.\nThe Nigerian Labour Act and the Employee’s Compensation Act, 2010 protects wages, guarantees adequate compensation, and criminalizes forced labour and discrimination of any kind, with specific punishments when infractions are established by a court ruling. \nThe inability to apply the laws to errant Chinese migrants doing business in Nigeria “brings into focus the poor and non-implemented labour laws that exist in many African countries,” writes Socrates Mbamalu, a Nigerian journalist. Consequently, “the ultimate responsibility for protecting the rights of workers falls on the Federal Government and state authorities to enforce labour codes,” Eric Olander, managing editor of The China Africa Project told The African Report. \nLabour law infractions by Chinese firms in the country are likely to continue because, among other reasons, bribery by the Chinese of Nigerian law enforcement officials is commonplace. In addition, the Nigerian government seems to prefer to remain silent, despite the media spotlight on these issues, in order not to compromise Chinese interests in the country. \n“China is a major financier of large projects in Nigeria. An estimate puts the current cost of Chinese projects at $47 billion. Many of these are financed by Chinese loans. It will be difficult for a country that relies so much on China to take action against Beijing,” argues Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, a political scientist in Nigeria’s University of Lagos. This is why Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister’s admonition to Chinese firms to abide by Nigerian labour laws has had little impact. \nOreva Olakpe, a research fellow at Ryerson University’s Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration, asserts that “China’s diplomacy hypes ideals of mutualism, equality and respect… Nigeria’s high dependence on China means that Nigeria will remain limited in how much initiative it can take in Sino-Nigerian relations.” The abuses by Chinese companies in Nigeria will persist until the power dynamics between both countries become mutual in reality.\nGlobal Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders.\nPlease consider making a donation to help us continue this work.\nDonate now\nAuthors, please log in »\nName (required)\nEmail (will not be published) (required)\nWebsite\nSubscribe to comments on this post via email\nSign up to receive the best of Global Voices!\nSubmitted addresses will be confirmed by email, and used only to keep you up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms).\nGlobal Voices is supported by the efforts of our volunteer contributors, foundations, donors and mission-related services. For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy. Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders.\nPlease support our important work:\n\t\t\t\t\tThis site is licensed as Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Please read our attribution policy to learn about freely redistributing our work\t\t\t\t\t Some Rights Reserved","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["death of Onyi and three others"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 9, 2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Chinese Wihi company in Lagos"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"No clarity yet on cause of fire, but probe rules out explosion","document":"Multiple agencies inspected the flat at Devarachikkanahalli apartment complex on Wednesday, a day after the blaze was reported.\n | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN Contrary to initial reports, a preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire in a flat at Devarachikkanahalli on Tuesday, in which two women were killed , indicates there was no explosion. “The damage in the flat seems to indicate there was no explosion. If it had occurred, a blast would have left more physical damage,” a senior official said.\nFire and Emergency Services personnel recovered two undamaged LPG cylinders from the kitchen, one empty and the other full. This ruled out a blast triggered by leaking LPG as well.\nSenior Fire Services officials said a thorough technical investigation of the flat would be conducted on Thursday and there was no clarity yet on the cause of the fire.\nOne of the victims, Bhagyarekha, 59, had returned from the U.S. with her husband after a six-month stay there. According to a senior official, an electrical short-circuit, gas leak, or malfunctioning of electrical appliances, such the fridge or geyser, could not be ruled out as they had not been in use for many months.\nMultiple agencies, including the Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), Electrical Inspectorate, and Indane Gas Agency, inspected the flat on Wednesday.\nAgencies now suspect the fire started somewhere in the hall and later spread to other parts. Bhagyarekha had called her daughter, who lives next door, asking her to rescue her as “fire had broken out in the hall”, the police said.\nSunanda, a software engineer who lives in the flat below in Ashrith Aspire apartment complex, told The Hindu that she did not hear the sound of any explosion when the fire broke out. “We first saw smoke, then we were alerted of the fire, and we ran out of the house. We heard sounds like someone moving around furniture in the flat above, but no explosion,” she said.\nAs she ran out of the apartment and saw the fire in the flat above, she and her husband rushed back in to try to save Bhagyarekha and her mother, Lakshmidevi, 82, but in vain.\n“The sight of the woman [Bhagyarekha] on fire in the balcony was horrifying. There was a lot of smoke and we couldn’t go near the flat,” she said.\nNaveen Kishor, who lives in the complex, said he was working at home when the fire broke out. “After a few moments, the window panes shattered with a huge sound. Many confused the sound with a blast,” he said.\n Glitches in property registration software Kaveri will be set right by year-end: R. Ashoka\nAfter an inspection, Bescom cleared all, but eight flats, in the complex for reoccupation. Bescom had cut power supply to the entire complex and the BBMP had evacuated all residents of the 72 flats as the fire broke out. “We have started moving back in. In the eight flats around flat no. 210 where the fire broke out, the wiring needs to be checked for safety, the agency has informed us,” said a resident.\n Our code of editorial values\nPrintable version | Nov 13, 2021 12:51:01 AM | https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/no-clarity-yet-on-cause-of-fire-but-probe-rules-out-explosion/article36621600.ece\n© THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD.\nThe K.G. Halli police on Wednesday arrested a Nigerian national who works as an actor in the Indian film industry for allegedly peddling drugs in the ","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["two women were killed"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Devarachikkanahalli apartment complex"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"4 kids among 8 dead in LPG cylinder explosion in Gonda","document":"Eight persons, including four children, were killed and seven others seriously injured after an LPG cylinder exploded at a house in Tikri village of Gonda district. Police said that the blast occurred at 10.30 pm on Tuesday, resulting in the collapse of the house and partial damage to the one standing adjacent to it.\nAlso among the eight dead were two women. Police said an investigation is underway to find out what caused the cylinder explosion and if there was any foul play involved.\nPolice said the three of the deceased were the children of Nurul Hasan (60), the owner of the house. They were identified as Nisar Ahmad (35), Rubina Bano (32), Shamshad Ahmad (28). The other victims were Nisar’s wife Sayeroon Nisha (35), daughter Noori Shaba (12) and son Shahbaz (14). The deceased minors were identified as Meraj (11) and Mohammad Shoaib (2).\n“We were informed around 10.30 pm on Tuesday that an LPG cylinder had exploded at a house in Tikri village, which comes within the ambit of Wazirganj police station. We conducted a swift rescue operation and rushed the injured to a hospital in the district. A total of eight people died in the incident,” Gonda SP Santosh Kumar Mishra said.\nHe added that the owner of the house told them that he was sleeping when the cooking gas cylinder blew up. “We have deployed two teams at the spot to investigate the cause and the nature of the blast. Our forensic team and bomb disposal squad are collecting samples from the scene. While the house where the incident took place completely collapsed, the neighbouring one suffered partial damage. We will question the injured survivors once they are able to talk to us and also when the victims have been buried,” he added.\nAn officer said the majority of the deceased were related to the survivors and some of them were asleep when the explosion took place. “During the rescue, the dead bodies as well as the injured persons had to be pulled out with the help of three earthmovers as they were buried deep inside the rubble that their house had been reduced to,” the officer said.\nPolice said the seven injured are being treated separately at the Gonda district hospital and a private hospital in the district.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["collapse of the house and partial damage to the one standing adjacent to it","house"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["Eight persons, including four children, were killed","seven others seriously injured"]},{"role":"Date","values":["10.30 pm on Tuesday","10.30 pm on Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Tikri village of Gonda district"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":["Gonda district hospital","private hospital"]},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":["Police","Police","Police","police","Police"]}]}
+{"title":"1 person dead in apparent gas explosion in western New York, fire official says","document":"One person is believed to be dead after an apparent gas explosion Tuesday rocked a suburban neighborhood in Buffalo, New York.\nLackawanna Fire Captain Andrew Kaminski told USA TODAY that fire, arson, police and utility crews were at the scene of the explosion Tuesday morning in western New York.\nKaminski said one person, the resident of the home who has not been identified, is believed to have been killed in the explosion. He also said the cause was not yet determined but thought to be a gas explosion.\n\"Right now, everybody is evacuated from surrounding homes,\" Kaminski said as investigators secure the area.\nLocal TV stations reported around 600 customers in the area lost power but it had largely been restored later in the morning. The electric utility National Grid listed 17 customers still without power as of 3 p.m.\nPhotos shared on social media showed the home leveled with debris around its property and nearby homes with windows broken.\nA volunteer firefighter, Michael Salamone, lives across the street and told WBEN he sprang into action after seeing a white flash and debris falling.\n\"It looked like we had a bomb go off,\" he told the local radio station.\nHe said an elderly woman lived in the house and her car was still in the driveway at the time of the explosion.\nThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lackawanna explosion: 1 dead after house leveled in Buffalo, New York\nA former NBA player has issued an apology after his daughter was seen at a youth basketball game in Orange County throwing a vicious sucker punch that left another girl with a concussion.\nA Chinese professor visiting Los Angeles early this month fought off an attacker using martial arts in an incident that has gone viral across Chinese media. Martial arts hero: Zhou Pigai, a professor at Xiangtan University in Hunan, China, fought off an armed robbery attempt on Nov. 1, according to state-run news outlet China Daily. Pigai came to Los Angeles on Oct. 31 to attend an academic visiting program at the University of Southern California.\nWho is Paris Hilton's new husband, Carter Reum? Here's what to know about the venture capitalist and author—including his family history, height, and net worth.\nScottie Pippen: \"I didn't realize how much Hakeem (Olajuwon) had diminished in the game. I didn’t realize Charles (Barkley) wasn’t as dedicated as I thought he would be.\"\nSocial media is in a frenzy over the dress Kendall Jenner chose to wear to her friend's wedding.\nFor a hack that seems relatively simple, this little eyeliner trick has gone viral.View Entire Post ›\nThe rapper also pledged to offer full refunds to everyone who attended the concert.\nSajad 'Iranian Hulk' Gharibi's training is either misguided, innovative or impressive; we're just not sure which\nSome cool stuff is coming to Disney+ in 2022\nFind out how many millions he's earning now.\nThink back to where you were on April 29, 2011. Do you remember the day? It was Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding. But the royal couple’s nuptials coincided with another major moment in their relationship, and in their roles as prominent members of the royal family. The same day they exchanged their wedding vows […]\nThe TikToker is raising eyebrows after sharing the big \"culture shock\" she faced after relocating to America.\nRichard Williams’ days of making a star may not be over. The ambitious father who turned his two daughters Venus and Serena Williams into tennis […]\nParis Hilton and fiancé Carter Reum wed at a private estate in Los Angeles on Thursday\nNew Adjutant General Thomas Mancino updated the Oklahoma National Guard's COVID-19 vaccine policy in his first full day on the job.\nFox NewsFox News anchor Harris Faulkner had her conspiratorial bubble surprisingly burst on Thursday by Ari Fleischer of all people, who unequivocally told her that President Joe Biden does actually control the White House.After spending an inordinate amount of her Thursday morning interview with the former Bush flack discussing the right-wing outrage du jour—that Vice President Kamala Harris supposedly used a French accent—Faulkner, who has long been touted by Fox News as one of its “straight n\nKENOSHA, Wisc. (Reuters) -The judge in the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse said on Friday he would allow the jury to consider lesser charges in the shooting of one of two men the defendant is charged with killing during racial justice protests in a Wisconsin city last year. But Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder ruled against the prosecution's request to allow the jury to consider a lesser charge in the killing of a second man. Rittenhouse, 18, is charged in the killing of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020.\nThe Duchess of Sussex told reporters that she is \"always proud\" of her husband\nThe actor — who's featured in PEOPLE's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive issue — opens up about staying fit and growing closer than ever with his kids\nWhile there are no sure bets in the stock market, companies that have a track record for paying and growing their dividends offer one of the best ways to generate passive income. When the market is regularly setting all-time highs, a 2% dividend yield may not seem like much. With that in mind, we asked some of our contributors which blue chip dividend stocks they saw as particularly strong buys now.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["One person is believed to be dead"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["suburban neighborhood in Buffalo"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Will look after dependents, IFFCO assures after 2 killed in boiler blast","document":"Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) on Tuesday said that condolence meetings will take place at 11am on Wednesday in all its plants and offices across the country after two contract labourers lost their lives in a boiler blast at its Phulpur unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.\nAlso Read | 1 dead, over a dozen injured in boiler blast at IFFCO\n“We at IFFCO deeply regret the sad and unfortunate incident that took place at around 01:15 p.m. today in the boiler at Phulpur Unit in Prayagraj. 2 contract labour lost their lives. IFFCO will take care of their dependents in the best possible manner,” it noted in a statement.\n“My heart goes out to the bereaved families of Sh. Pradeep Yadav and Sh. Babuji Yadav who laid down their lives. A compensation of ₹5 Lakh has been announced and ₹1 Lakh has been paid immediately to the affected families,” the statement further quoted Dr US Awasthi, MD, IFFCO, as saying.\nThe statement also noted that the situation at the plant was under control, with those injured undergoing “appropriate” medical treatment at a nearby medical facility. “An official technical enquiry has been ordered to look into the accident to find out the cause of the accident,” it added.\nTwo-minute silence will be observed in solidarity with the deceased, IFFCO said.\nOn Tuesday afternoon, a steam boiler of IFFCO’s ammonia gas plant exploded in Phulpur, around 25km from Prayagraj, killing the two workers and injuring more than dozen other workers. A large number of protesters, including the kin of the victims as well as injured workers had assembled at the main gate of the plant, raising slogans against the management and blaming them for “negligence.”\nHeavy police force had to be deployed outside the plant as a precautionary measure.\nThe Phulpur unit was also the site of an ammonia gas leakage on December 22, 2020. Two officials had died and more than a dozen staff had fallen ill.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":["5 Lakh"]},{"role":"Economic loss","values":null},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["killing the two workers and injuring more than dozen other workers"]},{"role":"Date","values":["On Tuesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj","Prayagraj","Prayagraj"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Two killed in Bengaluru blast at crackers warehouse: K'taka Home Minister","document":"Bengaluru, Sep 23 (IANS) Two people were killed in the explosion in a Bengaluru warehouse, due to the firecrackers stocked there, on Thursday, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said.\n\"This is a huge tragedy. The police, fire force, emergency services personnel have rushed to the spot. They are investigating how the incident has taken place. The police are taking all precautions but these incidents are happening,\" he said.\n\"I think it is the result of crackers. Since, Deepavali festival is around the corner and crackers are being stocked,\" he added.\nEarlier the police, after preliminary investigations, had said that three persons had been killed but was it was difficult to ascertain as body parts were strewn around. Four persons suffered serious injuries in the explosion and the condition of one of them is said to be critical as he has suffered 72 to 75 per cent burns.\nThe deceased were identified as Muralidhar, and Aslam. Fayaz, who was earlier suspected to be dead, is being treated at the hospital and his condition is said to be serious.\nMeanwhile, V.V. Puram police have arrested the warehouse owner Babu and are questioning him. Sources said that one part of the building was used to stock crackers, and three boxes exploded, while 80 boxes each containing 15 to 20 kg remain intact.\nHowever, the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained. It was so strong that windows of houses located up to a distance of 200 metres were shattered.\nBengaluru's DCP, East, Harish Pande, had earlier clarified that the blast was not due to a gas cylinder explosion, gas compressor or an electricity short circuit. \"The blast seems to have been triggered by an unstable explosive. We have to investigate it,\" he had said. \"The cracker consignment in the warehouse is intact and the exact cause of explosion needs to be investigated. It is a transport warehouse and how the crackers are stored, from where they have been brought will be investigated,\" he said.\nRevenue Minister R. Ashok stated that considering the fire tragedy incidents in the city, action will be initiated to ensure safety in residential areas. \"I will hold a meeting in this regard with officers of BBMP,\" he stated.\nMeanwhile, former minister and Congress MLA Zameer Ahmad Khan visited the spot and announced Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased and also said that he would take care of the expenses of those injured.","event_type":"Gas Explosion","schema":["Compensation","Economic loss","Casualties and Losses","Date","Location","Attending Hospital","Survivors","Cause","Accident Investigator"],"arguments":[{"role":"Compensation","values":null},{"role":"Economic loss","values":["windows of houses located up to a distance of 200 metres were shattered"]},{"role":"Casualties and Losses","values":["three persons had been killed","Four persons suffered serious injuries"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bengaluru warehouse"]},{"role":"Attending Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Survivors","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":null},{"role":"Accident Investigator","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 A cold snap in New Zealand causes widespread snow on both the North and South Islands, disruption to power supplies and the closures of roads and Wellington International Airport. (TV New Zealand) (The Guardian)","document":"Blizzards in New Zealand have grounded flights, closed roads and shut off power in what forecasters are describing as once-in-a-lifetime conditions.\nThe cities of Wellington and Auckland saw their first snow for decades after an Antarctic blast moved north from South Island at the weekend, with the cold snap predicted to continue until Wednesday.\nMetService head forecaster, Peter Kreft, told the New Zealand Press Association: \"It's a once in many decades event. We are probably looking at something like – in terms of extent and severity – maybe 50 years,\" he said.\nServices across the country were disrupted on Monday, with electricity cut to thousands of homes in Wellington and north of Auckland. Schools, universities and courts were closed across much of the lower South Island.\nFlights and mail delivery had to be cancelled as well.Police warned that the snow would freeze overnight and create unsafe driving conditions.\nResidents took to the streets with cameras and cheers, enjoying the unusual conditions, while Wellington Zoo veterinarians took advantage by giving Happy Feet, the emperor penguin they found sick and starving on the west coast last June, a chance to enjoy the ice.\nStephen Fry, who is in Wellington filming The Hobbit, described the atmosphere on Twitter. \"It's been an exciting day here in Wellington. Snow. That's unusual. NZ is same latitude as Melbourne so it's rare.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["MetService head forecaster, Peter Kreft"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New Zealand","New Zealand"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of homes in Wellington and north of Auckland","Wellington","Auckland","north","Wellington","Wellington","Wellington"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north","north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["until Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Blizzards"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to cross the coast of Belize with a tropical storm watch in place for Guatemala and parts of Honduras. (CNN) (Alertnet)","document":"(CNN) -- A tropical storm formed in the Caribbean Friday and is expected to move across the coast of Belize Saturday afternoon or night.\nTropical Storm Harvey has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, with higher gusts, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.\nThe storm is forecast to strengthen somewhat before its center reaches Belize.\nA tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Belize and for the Bay Islands of Honduras, which Harvey is predicted to pass near late Friday. A warning is also in effect for the southeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Punta Gruesa south to Chetumal, in Mexico.\nA tropical storm watch is in effect for the coast of Guatemala and for parts of the coast of Honduras.\nA warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours, while a watch means that storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.\nAs of 8 p.m. ET, Harvey was about 130 miles east of Isla Roatan, Honduras, heading west at 9 mph.\nThe storm is predicted to dump 3 to 5 inches of rain across Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula, with up to 8 inches possible in some places. A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the coast near and to the north of where Harvey makes landfall.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["Caribbean Friday"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Miami-based National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["coast of Belize and for the Bay Islands of Honduras","coast","Belize","Belize","coast","Honduras","Honduras","Honduras","Belize"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["expected to move across the coast of Belize Saturday afternoon or night","coast","coast","expected"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["A tropical storm","Tropical Storm","tropical storm","tropical storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harvey","Harvey","Harvey","Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["50 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to cross the coast of Belize with a tropical storm watch in place for Guatemala and parts of Honduras. (CNN) (Alertnet)","document":" Tropical storm Harvey is forecast to strike Belize as a hurricane at about 00:00 GMT on 21 August.Data supplied by theUS National Hurricane Centersuggest that the point of landfallwill benear16.8 N,88.5 W.Harvey is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around120 km/h (74 mph).Wind gusts in the area maybeconsiderably higher.\nAccording to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm ofHarvey'sstrength (category 1)at landfall includes:\nThe information above is provided for guidance only and should not be used to make life or death decisions or decisions relating to property. Anyone in the region who is concerned for their personal safety or property should contact their official national weather agency or warning centre for advice.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["US National","Hurricane Center","Saffir-Simpson"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Belize"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["about 00:00 GMT on 21 August"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["around120 km/h (74 mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tropical storm Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 Hurricane Irene strengthens to Category 3 status as it heads towards The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos and then the East Coast of the United States. (News Limited via The Herald Sun). (CNN)","document":" Miami (CNN) -- Mandatory evacuation orders for North Carolina's Outer Banks will take effect Thursday morning as state emergency officials prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, currently battering the Bahamas with 120 mph winds.\nOfficials in a popular stretch of coastal North Carolina ordered all visitors to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irene, which damaged homes in the Bahamas Wednesday as it churned toward the U.S. East Coast.\nIrene, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, could jump to Category 4 strength by Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. Federal emergency management officials had a simple message for those in or near the path: Be prepared.\nDare County, North Carolina -- home to Manteo, Nags Head, Duck and Kitty Hawk -- was taking no chances. A mandatory evacuation for tourists was to take effect 8 a.m. ET Thursday. Residents could stay for now, but they were advised to ready themselves for Irene.\nThe Cape Hatteras Lighthouse closed Wednesday evening. Other venues, including the Wright Brothers National Memorial visitors center, also were shuttered.\n\"They are taking precautions,\" Sydney Jenkins, bar manager at Poor Richard's Sandwich Shop in Manteo, said Wednesday evening. \"It's now more or less whether it's even going to hit us.\"\n\"This is a huge storm,\" said CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. \"The cloud field is more than 800 miles across. The tropical storm force winds extend out 200 miles from the center.\"\nThe strengthening came as the storm pounded central and southeastern Bahamas. Rainfall of 6 to 12 inches was expected in the Bahamas, with 15 inches possible in some places, the Miami-based Hurricane Center said.\nAt 11 p.m. ET Wednesday, Irene was moving northwest at 12 mph and was between Cat Island and Long Island, 150 miles east-southeast of Nassau. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 70 miles and U.S. weather officials predicted significant storm surge.\n\"We are urging persons in central Bahamas to exercise extreme caution,\" said Capt. Stephen Russell, head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the island chain.\nNo injuries had been reported as of Wednesday evening, but extensive structural damage from wind was reported on Acklins and Crooked islands, Russell told CNN. Numerous homes had been blown off their foundations.\nRussell had no information on rainfall amounts. Electricity was out in some locations.\nIrene whipped through the island of Mayaguana, the mostly easterly island in the chain, and moved into Long, San Salvador and Cat islands, which are not heavily populated.\nAbout 65% of the country's population is on New Providence, home to Nassau. Projections showed the island being outside of hurricane-force winds, Russell said. \"We hope the system makes a gradual turn to the northeast.\"\nAfter it makes the turn, Irene could threaten large sections of the Eastern Seaboard, from the Carolinas into the Northeast.\nBut, forecasters said, it was too soon to predict how it would affect the United States because of the \"cone of uncertainty.\"\nEven if Irene doesn't touch land or glances off the U.S. coast, \"the waves are going to be tremendous,\" said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.\nSwells generated by Irene will begin affecting the Southeast's coast Thursday.\n\"On the forecast track, the core of Irene will move across the southeastern and central Bahamas through tonight and over the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday,\" the Hurricane Center said.\nIrene forced more than a dozen cruise ships to change their itineraries in the Caribbean, CruiseCritic.com reported.\nThose ships include the Carnival Sensation, which had been docked in Freeport, Bahamas, but was coming back to Port Canaveral, Florida, late Wednesday.\nIrene has prompted the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation to recommend strongly that people with plans to travel to the Bahamas in the next few days postpone their trips.\nThe storm will curve northward as it nears the United States, with most of the latest projections suggesting the storm will avoid landfall until it is north of North Carolina. The storm is expected to arrive off North Carolina by Saturday morning.\nThe storm approaches as Americans increasingly are relying on social media to prepare for and keep abreast of disasters. According to two American Red Cross surveys, the increased use of social media and mobile technology has caused response agencies \"to engage with people in times of disaster and to include information from social networks in their response efforts.\"\nNorth Carolina coastal areas could see about 6 inches of rain and tropical storm force winds. Irene is forecast to be a Category 2 or 3 storm when it reaches the U.S. East Coast later Friday or early Saturday.\nMany counties were taking a wait-and-see attitude on evacuations. Warren Lee, emergency management director in New Hanover County, North Carolina, said shelters likely will be opened. \"If the storm stays on current track, we don't expect a major impact and we will not issue an evacuation order plan right now.\"\nSome computer models suggest New York or New Jersey could be hit.\n\"Everywhere from North Carolina to Massachusetts remains in the cone of uncertainty,\" Jeras said. \"Worst-case scenario, we could be looking at two landfalls, or we could be lucky and get a brush instead of a direct hit. ... Even if Irene doesn't make landfall in the United States, it may very well bring flooding rains, damaging winds and power outages to the Northeast. Planning is critical, and everyone needs to be ready with a disaster plan and a safety kit.\"\nChris Martin, an employee at Endeavor Seafood in Newport, Rhode Island, said a bridal shower is scheduled Sunday in Portsmouth for his fiancee. \"We're hoping to have it outside.\"\nMartin is hoping the hurricane, if it actually affects the state, will not arrive until Monday.\nHyde County, in North Carolina's Outer Banks, declared a state of emergency for Ocracoke Island and the county's mainland, along with a mandatory evacuation for all visitors and a voluntary evacuation for residents. The mandatory evacuation will extend to residents beginning 5 a.m. Thursday, Hyde County Emergency Services said.\nOcracoke is reachable only by boat or private plane.\nWhile forecasts showed the storm \"moving further from the coast and toward the sea,\" North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue said Wednesday, \"we must all prepare for the worst.\"\nIn Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks, locals who insist on staying through the storm were planning \"hurricane parties\" as they stocked up on water, canned food and flashlight batteries, said CNN iReporter Penelope Penn, who was in the area Tuesday.\n\"The water was so calm and the sky so clear at the Outer Banks last night. It truly is calmest before a storm,\" Penn added. On Wednesday, Penn was in nearby Virginia Beach, Virginia.\nThe last major hurricane to strike the United States was Wilma in 2005, which was a Category 3 at landfall, Jeras said. Hurricane Katrina, earlier the same year, was also a Category 3 at landfall. The most recent hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008, which hit near Galveston, Texas, as a Category 2.\nGloria in 1985 was the most recent hurricane to hit New York. It was a Category 3 at landfall, the National Hurricane Center said. In 1991, Hurricane Bob hit Massachusetts, a Category 2 at landfall.\nBill Read, director of the Hurricane Center, said Irene could cause problems with flooding in Northeastern states that have already had lots of rainfall this summer.\nWidespread damage is possible from the coastal Carolinas all the way up to the Canadian Maritimes, including the major cities of the Northeast, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said.\nIrene is expected to pass well east of Florida, so only minimal effects are expected Thursday and Friday as the storm moves northward toward the Carolinas. But the U.S. Coast Guard is worried boaters in south Florida are taking the threat too lightly.\nOfficials expect heavy rip currents and beach erosion in Miami. \"The most prudent thing to make sure mariners are not out this time tomorrow,\" Capt. Chris Scraba said.\nSouth Carolina state officials decided not to order evacuations. Boaters and swimmers were urged by the Coast Guard to stay out of the water.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["6 to 12 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 mph","120 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 Hurricane Irene approaches the east coast of the United States ahead of making landfall on Saturday with 50 million people in its path. (WRAL) (Reuters)","document":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n Raleigh, N.C. — Hurricane Irene was bearing down on North Carolina Thursday on track to make landfall in the Outer Banks Saturday afternoon, WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.\nThe National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning Thursday for the North Carolina coast, indicating that Hurricane Irene is expected to impact the state in the next 48 hours. The warning extends from north of Surf City to the Virginia border.\nGov. Bev Perdue pressed residents and vacationers to act with caution over the next few days. \"We can always rebuild, but we cannot replace lost lives,\" she said Thursday night. \"It’s time for all of us to take very seriously these warnings.\"\nThe first signs of the storm could be felt in North Carolina Friday night as tropical storm force winds and heavy rain. By 8 a.m. Saturday, forecasts show heavy surf off the coasts of South Carolina and Wilmington. A vast band of tropical storm strength wind – up to 90 mph – will build inland from the state's southeast corner. Winds could reach 105 mph across the northeastern corner of the state as the storm makes landfall Saturday evening.\n\"It is going to be an incredibly long two days around here,\" WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said.\nPerdue issued a state of emergency Thursday morning for all counties east of Interstate 95 as mandatory evacuations forced thousands of people to flee the coast ahead of Hurricane Irene.\nThe emergency declaration activated North Carolina's price-gouging law, and Perdue also asked President Barack Obama to declare a pre-landfall emergency declaration to provide federal assistance for response efforts.\nThe counties listed in the emergency declaration are: Carteret, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Halifax, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell and Wilson.\n\"By noon tomorrow, we’ll have 180 national guard troops with boots on the ground in eastern North Carolina, and we’ll have 2,300 more on standby,\" the governor said.\nThe National Weather Service said winds at Wrightsville Beach could be close to hurricane force at about 70 mph with a storm surge of four to six feet. New Hanover County could see six to nine inches of rain. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season had maximum sustained winds swirling at 115 mph and was moving northwest at 14 mph Thursday night.\nIrene \"is packing a strong wind,\" Perdue said, adding that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is standing by, the National Guard is deployed, the Red Cross is on the ground and volunteers are in position to help with disaster relief as needed.\nPerdue said she was disappointed to see how slowly the evacuation of Ocracoke Island began Wednesday.\n\"I understand that folks don't take it seriously, but Ocracoke is sitting out there in the middle of the water, and if you have a 115 mph wind – it may not be that much, I'm not trying to over-exaggerate – you just don't know,\" she said. Federal officials have warned that Irene could cause erosion, flooding, power outages or worse all along the coast even if it stays offshore.\nIt's been more than seven years since a major hurricane, considered a Category 3 with winds of at least 111 mph, hit the East Coast. Hurricane Jeanne came ashore on Florida's east coast in 2004.\nThe last hurricane to hit the U.S. was Ike in 2008. The last Category 3 or higher to hit the Carolinas was Bonnie in 1998, but caused less damage than other memorable hurricanes: Hugo in 1989, Fran in 1996, Floyd in 1999 and Isabel in 2003.\n Copyright 2018 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service","National Weather Service","meteorologist Mike Maze","Gov. Bev Perdue"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","the North Carolina coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Irene","Irene","Irene","Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["could reach 105 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 At least 65 million people on the East Coast of the United States will be in the direct path of Hurricane Irene over the next few days. (News Limited)","document":"Update: DEATH toll rises to 25 as thousands return home after weakening tropical storm passes over Manhattan.\nFloodwaters surround this pickup truck on Hwy 55 Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 in New Bern, N.C. Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms. New York City emptied its streets and subways and waited with an eerie quiet. Picture: AP Photo/The News & Observer, Chris SewardSource:AP\nAN elderly Bronx man whose body was found floating at a City Island marina just hours after Hurricane Irene tore through the area may be the only New York City fatality related to the monster storm, authorities said.\nJose Sierra, 68, arrived at the Sunset Marina, where cops believe he kept a boat, at around 8:00am local time, at the height of the storm - and waved hello to the marina owner, cops said.\nThe marina owner then spotted Sierra's body floating in the water at 4:40pm, hours after Irene passed through New York, and called 911.\nThe body showed no signs of trauma and no crime is suspected, police said.\nAt least 25 deaths in eight states have been attributed to Irene, with most of those killed either struck by trees or caught in floodwaters.\nCity under siege\nAmerica’s largest city was shut down as the eye of the storm - downgraded from a hurricane, but still blasting winds - passed over the Big Apple overnight.\nIreneSource:No Source\nThousands of New Yorkers fled the city while those who stayed boarded up windows, filled bath tubs with emergency water and went panic shopping for days worth of food and drink, expecting the very worst from Irene.\nIn an unprecedented move, Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the mandatory evacuation of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, including the sick at five New York hospitals most at risk from the hurricane.\nThe three major airports in the New York area which closed ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irene will reopen early today, officials say.\nUS-122293503Source:No Source\nJohn F Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark airport in New Jersey will open at 6am (8pm AEST), while LaGuardia reopens at 7am (9pm AEST), the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website.The city's transport system was shut down for the first time in history and is still to re-open. Commuters face lengthy delays on their return to work on Monday morning.\nIrene NYCSource:No Source\nAPTOPIX IreneSource:No Source\nUS-122294057Source:No Source\nThe New York Times reports sections of Long Island, Westchester County, New Jersey and Connecticut faced blackouts, blocked roadways and flooding.\nEmergency officials scrambled to respond to flash floods. On Staten Island, firefighters used boats to rescue more than 60 people from a flooded neighborhood.\nThe New York National Guard deployed 129 soldiers and several speedboats in an attempt to rescue 21-people, including several children, trapped in a Prattsville, New York, hotel by massive flooding from Hurricane Irene.John Esquivel, who was staying at the Moore's Hotel with his family, told myFOXny.com that he awoke to fast rising water today. The hotel was quickly surrounded by water, forcing Mr Esquivel and 20 others to rush to the second floor.\nEsquivel said that he saw entire buildings float by, apparently knocked off their foundation by the flash flood caused by rains from Hurricane Irene.\nUS-WEATHER-HURRICANESource:No Source\nDeath toll at 14\nAt least 14 deaths have been blamed on Hurricane Irene, which slammed into North Carolina yesterday with 140 kilometre an hour winds and the National Hurricane Centre reports a new tropical storm, Jose, has formed and is approaching Bermuda.\n\nIn New Jersey, a 20-year-old woman was found dead on Sunday morning in her submerged car on a flooded rural road in Salem County, eight hours after she called the police to say she was trapped in her vehicle with water up to her neck.\nIn Spring Valley a man was electrocuted after coming in contact with a downed power line. In North Carolina a man died after he was hit by a falling tree. A woman in Maryland died after she was hit by a falling chimney, and another man was killed by a storm-related electrical fire in Connecticut.\nHurricane IreneSource:Supplied\nThe youngest fatalities were a boy killed by a falling tree in his apartment in Newport News, a city on a coastal peninsula in Virginia, and a girl who died in North Carolina.\n\"A 15-year-old girl was killed in a car accident on her way back from the beach after vacationing in North Carolina,'' emergency official Patty McQuillan said.\n\"The traffic light at the intersection was not working, the power was out.''\nNorth Carolina emergency management spokesman Brad Deen said one of the six victims in his state was a man who had a heart attack on Friday while nailing plywood over his windows in preparation for the hurricane.\nTwo people were also killed in the state in separate driving accidents. Another North Carolina fatality was a man struck by a falling tree limb while outside feeding his animals.\nAnother storm-related death was a 55-year-old surfer who took to his board in treacherously high waves off the Florida coast on Friday.\nNew York waits for Hurricane IreneSource:AP\nDamage in the billionsIrene is expected to inflict tens of billions of dollars in damage after its three-day sweep caused widespread flooding and structural damage across a vast swath of the US eastern seaboard.\"I've got to imagine the damage estimates will be in the billions of dollars if not the tens of billions of dollars,\" Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey said.\nNew York waits for Hurricane IreneSource:AP\nExperts said the financial toll would have been much higher if there was a direct hit on New York, the US financial capital and largest city with nearly 19 million people living in its metropolitan area.Economist Peter Morici put the immediate casualty losses from the storm at $US40 billion ($38.42 billion), including the loss of two days of economic activity.But Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland, said the impact would diminish significantly over the longer term as reconstruction spending kicks in, injecting fresh spending in recession-weakened regional economies.\"Rebuilding after Irene, especially in an economy with high unemployment and underused resources in the construction and building materials industries, will unleash at least $US20 billion ($19.21 billion) in new direct private spending-likely more as many folks rebuild larger than before, and the capital stock that emerges will prove more economically useful and productive,\" he said.Another silver lining is that the storm made landfall over a weekend, mitigating the economic impact in coastal cities although dealing a direct hit to the tourist industry at the peak of the summer beach season.\nWith AFP/ AP\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Thousands of New Yorkers fled the city while those who stayed boarded up windows, filled bath tubs with emergency water and went panic shopping for days worth of food and drink","thousands","City","City","City","City","city","thousands","city","city","windows","city","most of those killed either struck by trees or caught in floodwaters","Floodwaters","Sierra's body floating in the water","Sierra","water","water","water","water","60 people","The New York National Guard deployed 129 soldiers and several speedboats in an attempt to rescue 21-people","a 20-year-old woman was found dead on Sunday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["140 kilometre an hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene","Hurricane Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 A confirmed tornado in Delaware destroys a home and damages others. (ABC News)","document":"Aug. 27, 2011 — -- As Hurricane Irene moved north, with its winds and torrents of rain, it caused tornadoes in at least four states, and officials warned they could be as dangerous as the hurricane itself.\nTornadoes were reported in New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.\nDelaware's Gov. Jack Markell said he believed a tornado tore through 17 homes near Lewes, Del., and off Rehoboth Beach, the National Weather Service reported a waterspout -- essentially, a tornado out at sea. There were no reports of major injuries.\nAt least five homes in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach, Va., sustained major damage from a tornado, said Mary Hancock, a spokeswoman for the city, but the area had already been evacuated and there were no injuries reported. Several other homes in the area were less seriously damaged.\n\"The category of hurricane doesn't explain all the risk,\" Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate said. \"Rainfall and tornadoes are not tied to the category of a storm ... some of the most devastating floods have been from tropical storms.\"\n\nWhat do tornadoes have to do with hurricanes? A hurricane is a giant vortex of low presure sending wind and rain whipping around -- but also drawing air in from other, dryer areas to fill the vacuum created by the storm. When cooler, dryer air collides with the muggy air of the hurricane, the conditions are ripe for funnel clouds to spin off in almost any direction.\nWhile the tornadoes are much smaller than the hurricane itself, they can be considerably more intense. Their strength -- and the amount of damage they can cause -- is not related to the strength of the hurricane.\nAmericans most often hear about tornadoes in the Midwest and South, especially in the spring as cold air from Canada is pushed back by the growing warmth in the Gulf of Mexico. That formula makes for the largest number of tornadoes on earth. But meteorologists say they can happen anywhere on the planet -- and in a hurricane, all bets are off.\nIn fact, most of the deaths from hurricanes historically do not come from the hurricane itself, but from its side effects -- flooding, downed trees and power lines, and tornadoes. The first death from Irene in North Carolina came even before the storm arrived; it was a man who reportedly had a heart attack while boarding up his house.\nNOAA says the most dangerous time is usually after the storm is gone, and people mistakenly think it is safe to wade through the water it has left.\n\"I need to stress when it stops raining, doesn't mean that it will stop flooding,\" Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said.\nPeople in Massachusetts were on guard, too. The area around Springfield, Mass., was badly damaged by a tornado on June 1, and the area is likely to be right in the path of Irene's remnants Sunday as the storm crosses New England.\nMore than 300,00 people evacuated low-lying parts of New York City, which was told to expect the first of Irene's winds on Saturday night and into Sunday.\n\"New Yorkers like to think we are tough,\" Gov Andrew Cuomo said. \"We are smart enough to know we don't mess with Mother Nature.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Delaware","Delaware"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 300,00 people evacuated low-lying parts of New York City"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north","North"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["as dangerous as the hurricane itself","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","dangerous"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hurricane Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 At least five people died in Maryland as a result of Hurricane Irene. (International Business Times)","document":"President Obama issued a state of emergency for Maryland on Saturday as the state's coast began to experience the first of Hurricane Irene's rain bands and deadly winds.\nObama signed the declaration, which provided federal aid access to Maryland, as Irene made her way towards the state -- killing at least five people on her way. Maryland is the ninth state to receive a federal state of emergency declaration.\nThis is a massive undertaking and people are really doing their jobs and doing it well, Maryland governor Martin O'Malley said about the federal aid to The Weather Channel. Everything in the preparation phase of this has gone very well. ... Now we're awaiting landfall ourselves.\nEarly reports show that the Category 1 storm -- with winds of 80 mph -- has killed at least five people in North Carolina and Virginia, including an 11-year-old boy in Virginia. The storm was still moving north-northeast at 13 mph in the 5 p.m. advisory.\nThe most recent update shows that a lot of rain, and subsequent flooding, could be the bigger threat than wind speeds.\nMaryland won't experience the worst of Irene until early Sunday morning, but Ocean City and western Maryland towns on the Chesapeake Bay have already begun to experience heavy rainfall and small storm surges.\nThroughout Maryland steady rainfall has come down, as well as gusts of 35 to 40 mph in certain areas.\nOcean City ordered a mandatory evacuation on Friday and shut down entrance into the city early Saturday morning. The city believes it has successfully evacuated the majority of its residents, leaving only about 200 left in the city, according to CNN.\nCounties near the Chesapeake Bay could be hit worst by rain and winds, especially if the storm hits when the Bay is at high tide. The Bay's high tide is at 4 a.m. and current estimates put the storm passing by the area between 2 and 4 a.m. A combination of the two could create massive waves and deadly storm surges to low-lying areas.\nThe majority of the East Coast has been saturated over recent weeks with rain -- leaving it particularly vulnerable to more rain and high winds. As more rain comes in it leads to flooding and winds could knock down trees -- as the hurricane did in Virginia.\nThe dangerous flooding scenario led the state to issue flash flood warnings for the following counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, northern Baltimore, Prince George's, and St. Mary's.\nThe Maryland Transit Administration has suspended transit service ahead of Irene's arrival. Light rail service will be halted at 6 p.m. due to safety concerns. An aerial CNN view showed highways, including I-95, slowed down to a halt due to heavy traffic.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina and Virginia","Virginia","Virginia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed at least five people","least five people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northeast","North"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 1 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["80 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hurricane Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 The storm reaches New York City with 370,000 people having been evacuated from low-lying areas. (AFP via Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"Hurricane Irene has torn into New York, hammering Manhattan's skyscrapers with fierce winds and threatening to flood the financial district after killing at least nine people along the US east coast.\nThe first hurricane to hit the Big Apple for a generation swept in overnight local time, accompanied by lightning, reports of tornados and deafening rainfall.\n\n Wind strength grew steadily and was forecast to cross the 80km/h mark before dawn, then up to a peak of 130km/h.\nThe city resembled a ghost town after 370,000 people were told to evacuate flood-prone areas, including near Wall Street and at Coney Island, and mass transport was shut down.\nTourists walk through Times Square as Hurricane Irene arrives in New York.Credit:Reuters\nSubway trains, buses and the famous Staten Island ferry all closed on Saturday, as did all nearby airports, paralysing the nation's biggest city.\nMayor Michael Bloomberg told a press conference that running from the storm was no longer possible.\n\"At this point, if you haven't evacuated, our suggestion is you stay where you are,\" he said.\n\"Nature is a lot stronger than the rest of us.\"\nA police car passes the wreckage of an apartment block in Newport News, Virginia, where an 11-year-old boy died when a tree fell on the building.Credit:Reuters\nIrene made US landfall at 8am Saturday [10pm Saturday AEST] at Cape Lookout, North Carolina, near a chain of barrier islands and quickly proved deadly.\nAt least nine people have died - in car accidents, by heart attack and by falling trees - in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida.\nA man drives a car through a flooded street in New Bern, North Carolina.Credit:AP\nThe youngest victim, an 11-year-old boy, died when a tree crashed through his apartment building in Newport News, Virginia.\nOn its passage up the coast, Irene knocked out power supplies for well over a million people, triggered the cancellation of more than 8000 flights, and forced nearly two million people to evacuate, half of them in New Jersey.\nWaves pound a fishing pier in Nags Head, North Carolina.Credit:AFP\nOfficials in New York said the biggest danger was from flooding caused not just because of tropical-style rainfall, but a surge of wind-driven seawater pushing up from the Atlantic, especially at high tide early on Sunday.\nCity areas at risk of being swamped included parts of the financial district in Manhattan and low-lying beach resorts in Brooklyn and Queens and on nearby Long Island. Boat owners scrambled to get their craft ashore and officials across New Jersey and New York pleaded with residents to keep off beaches.\nOfficials say Manhattan's skyscrapers are not at risk of serious damage, but warn that power outages might strand residents without light, water or elevators.\nThe disruption took on an international character after the area's three big airports - John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and Newark - were ordered to stop all flights at 10pm local time.\nThe flightaware.com website, which tracks airport arrivals and departures, estimated that 8337 flights would be cancelled during the weekend, mainly US domestic trips. It warned that the figure would rise.\nPresident Barack Obama, who cut short his summer holiday, visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency's operations centre in Washington, where he said the east coast was in for a \"long 72 hours\".\nSome 65 million people live in the urban corridor from Washington north to Boston, and experts have said the damage could cost anything up to $US12 billion ($A11.5 billion) to restore.\n\"This is going to be a very serious storm, no matter what the track is, no matter how much it weakens. This is a life threatening storm to people here,\" Bloomberg said.\nIrene's approach stirred painful memories of Hurricane Katrina, which smashed into the southern Gulf Coast in 2005, stranding thousands of people in New Orleans and overwhelming poorly-prepared local and federal authorities.\nHurricanes are rare in the north-eastern United States - the last major hurricane to hit New York was Gloria in 1985 - but this time authorities say they are ready.\nThe US military said up to 101,000 National Guard soldiers were available if needed and designated military bases in three states as staging areas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New York","New York","New York","New York","New York","Big Apple"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["370,000 people were told to evacuate","told","evacuate"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["overnight local time"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["80km/h mark before dawn, then up to a peak of 130km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Irene","Irene","Irene","Irene","Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2011 The death toll from Hurricane Irene reaches 40 in the contiguous United States plus three people in the Dominican Republic and one in Puerto Rico. (NZ Stuff) (Associated Press)","document":"New Jersey and Vermont are struggling with their worst flooding in decades, a day after Hurricane Irene slammed an already soaked US Northeast with torrential rain, dragging away homes and submerging neighbourhoods underwater.The massive storm churned up the US East Coast over the weekend killing at least 38 people in 11 states, in addition to three who died in the Dominican Republic and one in Puerto Rico when the storm was still in the Caribbean, authorities said.Spared from Irene's worst fury, New York City went back to work on Monday (today, NZ time) despite a partially crippled mass transit system and power outages that left 100,000 customers in the metropolitan area and nearly one million in the state without electricity.Overall, some 5.1 million homes and businesses were still without power from North Carolina to Maine, and utilities said it could take days to restore electricity in more accessible areas and weeks in the hardest-hit regions.Total economic damage could reach US$20 billion (NZ$24b), Standard & Poor's Senior Economist Beth Ann Bovino said. Hundreds of thousands of homes suffered damage, raising questions about how much would be covered by insurance as many homeowner policies do not cover flood damage.In Fairfield, New Jersey, about 20 homes near the Passaic River were submerged, some in at least 1.5 metres of water. Some people waded chest high or rode canoes down the street, while others just sat and witnessed the flood from their stoops.\"This is the worst flood we have ever had,\" said Mike Chiafulio, 52, who could only watch as the water continued to rise around his mother's house. He said the flooding exceeding what he remembered from notable floods in 1968 and 1984.The leafy suburb of Maplewood some 32km west of New York City was jarred by the sound of whirring generators, sirens and pumps emptying water from flooded houses.\"We were expecting heavy rains,\" said Bobbi-Jean Jeun of Clarksville, a hamlet near Albany, New York. \"We were expecting flooding. We weren't expecting devastation. It looks like somebody set a bomb off.\"Hundreds of thousands of people in New Jersey could be without electricity, water supplies or gas for days to come, their comfortable towns strewn with felled trees and branches blocking main roadways.\"We've had major rains before but we've never had flooding like this,\" said Ben Cohen, a retired judge who lives in Maplewood. \"I can only vouch for the last 38 years but nothing even can come close to this.\"In the town of Whippany, firefighters trained in swift water rescue pulled two youths out of the raging Whippany River, Deputy Fire Chief Randy Polo said.Dumped from a raft at a man-made waterfall in the river, one teen was clinging to a log and the other to a broken tree limb in the thundering current, Polo said. The rescue took about an hour, he said.\"They were grateful, to say the least,\" Polo said.OBAMA PLEDGES AID\"It's going to take time to recover from a storm of this magnitude,\" US President Barack Obama told reporters in Washington.\n\"The effects are still being felt across much of the country, including in New England and states like Vermont where there's been an enormous amount of flooding.\"I'm going to make sure that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other agencies are doing everything in their power to help people on the ground.\"Vermont officials called it the state's worst flooding since 1927.Air travel at New York City's three major area airports slowly resumed service, and financial markets operated normally, although volumes were low.More than 12,000 East Coast flights were canceled and it could take three days to restore normal service, the industry group Air Transport Association said.New York City subways returned to service, but many commuter lines to the city and national train carrier Amtrak were disrupted due to tracks that were flooded or blocked with fallen trees and debris.While Irene failed to produce the devastation many had expected when New York City preemptively ordered unprecedented evacuations and a shutdown of its mass transit system on Saturday, it still left hundreds of thousands of homeowners with flood damage, especially in New Jersey and Vermont.\"I keep being somewhat disappointed by some of the national press that think because Manhattan wasn't hit, everything is fine. We're not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too,\" Governor Peter Shumlin said after surveying washed out roads and bridges and homes bobbing in the water.Shumlin visited the Whetstone Studio for the Arts in Brattleboro, an artsy community of 12,000 along the Connecticut River. Gushing water ate away at the building and left its second floor dangling precariously over the flood.MASSIVE RAINFALLSome 12 to 38cm of rain fell over a 24- to 36-hour period in northeastern states, said David Vallee, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, creating moderate to major flooding in parts of eastern New York state, the Connecticut River valley and much of northern New Hampshire and Vermont.Fairfield, New Jersey, home to more than 7000 people, was in danger of becoming an island as flooding from the Passaic River was expected to surpass that of a memorable flood in 1984, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.\"We are surrounded already,\" said Gail Dupas, 36, who fled to a hotel after floodwaters on her street reached neck deep.\"It's devastating. You have to grab what you can. Anything that's irreplaceable.\"Alex Adams, 35, looked relieved as a Maplewood fire truck arrived at his house to pump out more than 60cm of water that accumulated in his basement.\"It obliterated everything but we were most concerned about getting electrocuted,\" Adams said.\"My wife and I were in there pulling out everything when we realised water was over the outlets.\"Even the mega wealthy were inconvenienced by Irene. Hedge fund magnate David Tepper was forced from his plush office in Millburn, New Jersey, as the fund's main offices lost power.Tepper is founder of hedge fund Appaloosa Management LP.The costly cleanup will also further strain budgets of state and local governments, where economies have not recovered from the recession.\"It's a hit but not a fatal hit,\" said Joseph Seneca, a professor at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. \"The ability of states to respond (to the hurricane) is more constrained,\" Seneca said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["US Northeast","Dominican Republic","Puerto Rico","Caribbean"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 38 people","100,000 customers","nearly one million"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Irene's","Irene","Irene","Irene","Irene"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2011 Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declares a state of emergency after Tropical Storm Lee forms in the northern Gulf of Mexico. (CNN)","document":"(CNN) -- Oil companies evacuated workers from offshore wells, New Orleans prepared for possible flooding and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency as a tropical depression formed Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico.\nThe National Hurricance Center issued a tropical storm warning Thursday evening for an area stretching from Pascagoula, Mississippi, to Sabine Pass, Texas. The hurricane center said tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.\nNew Orleans -- much of which sits below sea level -- is likely to see 8 to 10 inches of rain in the next few days, Mayor Mitch Landrieu told reporters.\n\"What we do know is there's high wind, there is a lot of rain and it's going slow,\" Landrieu said. \"That's not a good prescription for the city of New Orleans should it come this way.\"\nIt was six years ago this week that Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, devastating coastal Louisiana and Mississippi and inundating much of New Orleans.\nLandrieu urged residents to start collecting the items they might need in case of flooding or a hurricane, such as bottled water, batteries, nonperishable food, first-aid kits and family documents. They may not be needed this time, he said, \"But we seem to be entering the more active phase of the storm season.\n\"It is important for citizens to remember it is individual preparation at the end of the day that matters the most,\" he said.\nFirefighters had been battling a huge wildfire in a swamp on the city's east side for several days as the blaze spread smoke over much of the city. Landrieu quipped that city officials had hoped for rain, \"and it appears as though our prayers have been answered.\"\nAs of 7 p.m. Thursday, the tropical depression was centered about 225 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving northwesterly at about 6 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.\nIn advance of the weather, BP and ExxonMobil ordered their Gulf rigs evacuated and have shut down their wells, spokesmen for those companies told CNN. Chevron, meanwhile, has ordered nonessential workers off the platforms, and Shell said it had begun taking some of its workers back to shore Thursday afternoon.\n\"Weather conditions are already impairing staff movement, but we are using all available resources to safely evacuate employees,\" Shell said in a written statement. \"The number of evacuated personnel will depend on weather conditions, and we will only transport personnel if safe to do so.\"\n\"Interests along the entire northern Gulf of Mexico coast should monitor the progress of this disturbance,\" they noted.\nIn the state of emergency declaration, Jindal authorized the state Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness director \"to undertake any activity authorized by law which he deems necessary and appropriate\" to prepare for the storm.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Gulf of Mexico","Gulf","Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency","state","emergency","state","Emergency","Oil companies evacuated workers from offshore wells"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical depression","tropical depression"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2011 Tropical Storm Maria is strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean with a hurricane watch issued in Bermuda for when it arrives either late tonight or tomorrow. (National Hurricane Centre via NOLA)","document":"Tropical Storm Maria advisory from the National Hurricane Center says Maria is strengthening. A hurricane watch has been issued for Bermuda.\nAt 7 p.m. , the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located near latitude 27.2 north, longitude 68.9 west. Maria is moving toward the north-northeast near 17 mph. A continued north-northeastward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected through Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Maria will pass west of Bermuda on Thursday morning. A turn toward the northeast and an additional increase in forward speed is anticipated on Friday.\nReports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next 12 to 24 hours, and Maria could become a hurricane on Thursday. A weakening trend is likely to begin by Friday.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near latitude 27.2 north, longitude 68.9 west"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northeast","north","north","northeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["7 p.m"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical Storm","Tropical Storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["17 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["near 65 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2011 Typhoon Roke passes through the Japanese island of Honshu, causing 13 deaths, and arrives in Hokkaido. (AP via ABC News America)","document":"A powerful typhoon that left at least 13 people dead or missing, paralyzed commuter trains and dumped rain on tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan was headed to the major northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday.\nTyphoon Roke caused no immediate problems other than broken security cameras at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which had been in its path overnight. The plant had been sent into meltdown by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and efforts are still under way to bring the reactors under control.\nHiroki Kawamata, spokesman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., said several cameras set up to monitor the plant were damaged, but that there had been no further leaks of radioactive water or material into the environment.\n\"We are seeing no problems so far,\" he said.\nThe storm passed just west of the plant on its way north late Wednesday. The typhoon brought new misery to the northeastern region, dumping up to 17 inches (42 centimeters) of rain in some areas.\nTwo people were rescued after they were found buried in a landslide in northern Iwate prefecture early Thursday, and one remained unconscious, Kyodo News agency reported.\nHundreds of tsunami survivors in government shelters in the Miyagi state town of Onagawa were forced to evacuate for fear of flooding.\nMore than 200,000 households in central Japan were without electricity late Wednesday. Police and local media reported 13 people dead or missing in southern and central regions, many of them believed swept away by rivers swollen with rains.\nAs of early Thursday, the typhoon had reached Hokkaido, weakening overnight to sustained winds of up to 78 mph (126 kph). There were no immediate reports of damage on Hokkaido.\nThe typhoon made landfall Wednesday afternoon near the city of Hamamatsu, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) west of Tokyo.\nOvernight in Tokyo, where many rush hour commuter trains were suspended for hours, thousands of commuters got stuck at stations across the sprawling city and stood in long lines for buses and cabs.\n\"The hotels in the vicinity are all booked up, so I'm waiting for the bullet train to restart,\" Hiromu Harada, a 60-year-old businessman, said dejectedly at Tokyo Station.\nKyodo said 5,000 people stayed overnight inside Shinkansen bullet trains at Tokyo and Shizuoka stations.\nFire department officials reported three people injured in Tokyo. In the trendy shopping district of Shibuya, winds knocked a tree onto a sidewalk, but no one was hurt. Pedestrians struggled to walk straight in powerful winds that made umbrellas useless.\nThe storm had set off landslides in parts of Miyagi state that already were hit by the March disasters. The local government requested the help of defense troops, and dozens of schools canceled classes.\nA magnitude-5.3 earthquake struck late Wednesday just south of Fukushima in Ibaraki state. Officials said the temblor posed no danger to the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, and that it did not cause any damage or injuries in the region.\nHeavy rains prompted floods and caused road damage earlier in dozens of locations in Nagoya and several other cities, the Aichi prefectural government said. More than 200 domestic flights were canceled.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["17 inches (42 centimeters)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the city of Hamamatsu, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) west of Tokyo","Tokyo","west","Tokyo","city","Tokyo","Tokyo","Tokyo","Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant","Fukushima Dai"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["13 people dead or missing","13 people dead","missing","Two people were rescued after they were found buried","Hundreds of tsunami survivors in government shelters in the Miyagi state town of Onagawa were forced to evacuate"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west of the plant on its way north","plant","plant","plant","plant","west","plant","major northern island of Hokkaido","Hokkaido","Hokkaido"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["78 mph (126 kph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Roke"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2011 The death toll from flash floods in the Philippines caused by Tropical Storm Washi reaches 1,500 per some sources, but the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council currently puts the number lower.(AFP via Sydney Morning Herald)(NDRRMC)","document":"The death toll from flash floods that swept away entire villages in the southern Philippines has climbed to nearly 1500, as authorities widen their search for bodies.\nThe Office of Civil Defence's latest tally on Tuesday listed 891 dead in Cagayan de Oro and an additional 451 in nearby Iligan city. The rest came from several other provinces. Most of the dead are unidentified.\nDamaged vehicles washed away by flash floodsfrom Typhoon Washi lie in a ditch in Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines.Credit:Reuters\n\"The search will continue as long as we are recovering bodies,\" said Civil Defence head Benito Ramos.\nHe said that decomposing remains were retrieved floating in the sea as far as 100 kilometres from the two cities where a Dec 16 tropical storm unleashed more than a month's worth of rainfall in 12 hours, sending walls of water gushing into homes.\nOne of the dead was a headless girl who appeared to have been hit by logs that were carried by flash floods, Ramos said. She was among 13 bodies retrieved by a team of navy sailors.\nNavy and coast guard divers were initially sent to find more bodies believed to be pinned down by logs scattered in the sea and along riverbanks, but Ramos said the operation had to be called off because waters were too murky.\n\"It's useless to dive when you can see nothing,\" he said.\nIt was not clear how many more are missing.\nMore than 60,000 homeless from hundreds of flood-ravaged villages spent a miserable Christmas in jam-packed schools and gymnasiums, while the United Nations launched an urgent appeal for $A28 million to help the displaced - more than half the population of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, which are in the southern Philippines' Mindanao region.\nMore rains Tuesday prompted evacuations of nearly 2000 people on the opposite side of Mindanao Island, where a child was reported missing in floods in Surigao city, the civil defence reported.\nPresident Benigno Aquino III, who banned logging in February following previous flooding deaths that experts say were caused partly by deforestation and soil erosion, has ordered an investigation.\nCommunist guerrillas in the south, meanwhile, threatened to punish multinational companies they blame for environmental destruction.\nRebel spokesman Jorge Madlos told The Associated Press by telephone that they sought funds for victims from huge pineapple and banana plantations and other companies.\n\"Some were lukewarm to our call,\" Madlos said. \"That'll be a factor when we decide which ones to punish first for this destruction.\"\nAnother factor in the staggering death toll was illegal settlements along Cagayan rivers. Thousands of people lived in shanties on the banks and islands directly along the water's path.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One of the dead was a headless girl","dead","dead","891 dead","13 bodies","More than 60,000 homeless from hundreds of flood-ravaged villages spent a miserable Christmas"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Dec 16"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Washi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2012 The Met Office issues a storm warning for the entire United Kingdom, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reportedly the worst–affected areas. Two people are later reported killed in separate weather–related incidents. (Belfast Telegraph) (BBC)","document":"Storms have caused damage across many parts of the UK, with gusts of up to 100mph in Scotland.\nA man in his 50s was killed in Kent when a tree collapsed on his van, and a crewman died after being injured on board a tanker in the English Channel.\nA bus driver in Surrey suffered serious injuries when a tree fell on his bus.\nThousands of people are still without power in parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.\nThe Met Office has issued severe weather warnings which remain in place for many regions.\nBBC weather forecasters said it would stay windy through the night. Strong winds and gales are also expected across the UK on Wednesday - particularly in the north of England and Scotland - but it will be less windy than Tuesday and gusts are not expected to reach more than 40-45mph.\nAround the UK on Tuesday, trees fell on to railway tracks and power lines, lorries blew over on busy roads and flood warnings were issued after rivers swelled.\nHigh seas and force 10 winds caused the Port of Dover to close, but it has now reopened, while gusts of wind damaged the roof of a stand at Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey. Police said the incident in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, happened at about 12:25 GMT in Sandhurst Road. They said the van was believed to have been stationary at the time of the impact, and a male passenger was believed to have been uninjured. The crewman who died was one of three injured men who were rescued by Falmouth coastguards from the Annie PG in the Channel. The other two men were taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.\nFigures published by the Met Office reported wind speeds of 106mph at Great Dun Fell in the Cumbrian north Pennines, and 102mph in Edinburgh.\nTravel has also been disrupted, with no East Coast services currently operating within Scotland, and East Coast Main Line trains between London and Scotland going no further north than Newcastle-upon-Tyne.\nBuses replaced trains on some services between London and Harrogate and Hull.\nAlso in Scotland, the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow was shut by two overturned lorries, Glasgow Airport warned that cancellations were expected because of high winds and Edinburgh Airport did not accepting incoming flights.\nA number of roads were closed in Northern Ireland, including in Belfast and Londonderry, while the Foyle Bridge in Derry was closed. Some train, bus and ferry services have also been affected.\nHigh winds in England forced the closure of the QEII Bridge on the M25 between Essex and Kent for much of the day, while the Tamar Bridge in the South West has been closed to high-sided vehicles. In Wales, the A40 between Carmarthenshire and Powys and the A478 between Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion were among roads affected, while the Britannia Bridge at Anglesey and the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire have been closed to high-sided vehicles.\nIn Northern Ireland 10,000 properties were left without electricity after fallen trees and severe winds damaged power lines, causing hundreds of faults.\nIn Scotland, more than 70,000 homes were without power. About 8,500 properties in parts of Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire have also been without power.\nIn Wales six homes in Dolgellau, Gwynedd, were evacuated because of arcing power lines in high winds.\nThe Environment Agency issued 20 flood warnings across the country, including 13 in the South West, three each in the Midlands and the North East, and one in Wales. It also issued 66 less severe flood alerts.\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued flood warnings for the Moy Bridge area in the Highlands and locations in Tayside.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Met Office","Met Office"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","England","England","England","Edinburgh","Edinburgh","Great Dun Fell in the Cumbrian north Pennines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["a male passenger was believed to have been uninjured","believed","A man in his 50s was killed","A bus driver in Surrey suffered serious injuries","Thousands of people are still without power"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Storms"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["100mph","106mph","102mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 More than 110 people are killed across Europe as a result of a recent cold snap. (BBC) (AP via Courier Mail)","document":"Heavy snow has left at least 11,000 villagers cut off in remote areas of Serbia amid a European cold snap that has claimed more than 130 lives.\nAt least six people have died in Serbia, with emergency services expressing concern for the health of the sick and the elderly in particular.\nTemperatures are below -30C (-22F) in parts of Europe and 63 people have died in Ukraine and 29 in Poland.\nIn Italy, weather experts say it is the coldest week for 27 years.\nEmergency services in Serbia have described the situation, close to the country's south-western borders with Kosovo and Montenegro, as very serious.\nIn places, the snow has reached a depth of 2m (6ft 6in). Fourteen municipalities are affected, emergency official Predrag Maric told the BBC.\nHelicopters have helped move several people to safety, and food and medicines have been airlifted to isolated areas. Snow began falling in Serbia on 7 January and has hardly stopped since, says BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe. Serbian media say further snow is expected in the coming days.\nUkraine has seen the highest number of fatalities, many of them homeless. Over a 24-hour period, as many as 20 people died.\nFood shortages have been reported in the capital, Kiev, because lorries have been unable to transport supplies.\nHeavy snow has also caused widespread disruption in northern and central Italy. More than 600 passengers were trapped on an unheated train in the Apennine mountains for seven hours on Wednesday night, when the brakes and electrical cables froze.\nThe coldest temperatures have been recorded in Russia and Kazakhstan. In the Urals and Siberia, the temperature fell to -40C (-40F) while in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, a forecaster told Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency the wind-chill factor meant the real temperature was down to -52C, even though the air temperature was -35C.\nIn southern Russia, cars and lorries became stuck in snow drifts between Novorossiisk and Krasnodar. Heavy snow has also hit Turkey, with 50cm falling in Istanbul on Wednesday. An avalanche in the south-east of the country killed a woman in her home, reports say.\nAnother avalanche blocked a main road connecting the provinces of Bitlis and Diyarbakir.\nRescuers in Germany were unable to save an elderly woman after she had gone swimming in the frozen waters of a gravel pit in Lower Saxony. Reports said she had often swum in the lake.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Serbian media"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Europe"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["six people have died in Serbia","Serbia","died","died","63 people have died in Ukraine","died","Ukraine","11,000 villagers cut off in remote areas of Serbia","Serbia","Serbia","Serbia","has claimed more than 130 lives","29 in Poland","More than 600 passengers were trapped on an unheated train"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["cold snap"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 Heavy snow falls across much of the United Kingdom, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Heathrow Airport and the closure of the runway at Luton Airport. (BBC)","document":"Heavy snow is falling across much of the UK, disrupting flights and leading to calls for drivers to take more care.\nSnow hit southern Scotland and parts of Wales before moving south-east through England.Met Office severe weather warningsremain in place across the UK.\nForecasters expect 5-10cm (2-4in) to fall in central, eastern and southern England, leaving icy roads on Sunday.\nLuton airport in Beds has closed its runway due to snow while Heathrow is cancelling some Sunday flights.\nHeathrow operator BAA said one-third of Sunday's approximate 1,200 flights would be cancelled.\nThere were some delays on Saturday night due to visibility problems.\nOn the roads, police said as many as 100 vehicles were stationary on the M40 between Junction 4 High Wycombe and Junction 9 Bicester for several hours, however traffic is now starting to clear as the snow is easing off.\nTraffic is slow moving on the M25 between J18 Chorleywood and J19 Watford because of snow.\nIn other developments on Saturday:\nHeathrow's chief operating officer Normand Boivin said the decision to introduce a revised flight schedule before snow had fallen was taken in an effort to minimise disruption to passengers.\nRichard Scott, from BAA, later said because Heathrow runs at capacity, there was no slack in the system to deal with the reduced number of flights that can take off and land in bad weather.\nHe added: \"If you can imagine you're driving, you have to drive slower, leave more space for the car in front in fog, strong winds, snow. It's the same with aircraft.\n\"If we don't proactively cancel flights, the delays build and build and build and it's much worse for passengers.\"\nFlights have been diverted from Luton airport and three departing flights have been cancelled.\nStansted airport in Essex closed on Saturday night for a period to clear snow from its runway while Birmingham Airport said it was clearing snow from the airfield and runway.\nLeeds Bradford Airport remains open but has warned of delays or cancellations.\nOn the London Underground, the weather caused the entire Jubilee Line to be suspended and parts of the Metropolitan, Northern and Piccadilly lines were suspended.\nEarlier on Saturday, the Highways Agency extended its amber alert of a \"high probability\" of severe snow to 09:00 GMT on Sunday.\nThe RAC's Kevin Andrews said heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures would create \"a dangerous cocktail of driving conditions\" and urged drivers to stay at home where possible.\nAmong places where traffic problems were reported were Stoke on Trent and East Yorkshire, where council workers were said to be battling to keep open roads across the Wolds.\nAir passengers at London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been advised to contact their airline for more information.\nTravel had already been disrupted across the whole of Europe - flights from Rome and Amsterdam's Schiphol airports to UK destinations, and Saturday morning flights to Amsterdam from Birmingham, Manchester and Heathrow were cancelled or delayed.\nDue to the worsening conditions, British Airways said it would allow passengers scheduled to fly on Sunday to re-book for journeys between Monday and Thursday.\nThe Met Office issued amber \"be prepared\" warnings for snow and ice across most of Britain, with yellow \"be aware\" alerts for the Highlands and Northern Ireland.\nForecasters said a band of wet weather had turned to snow as it moved south and east across mainland Britain.\nThe BBC's John Hammond said south-east England and East Anglia was set for a \"very snowy night\".\n\"It will continue to pile up. We can expect as much as five to 10cm of snow, and over the high ground we can expect more,\" he said.\n\"With temperatures close to freezing nationwide, it's not just snow we've got to worry about - it's ice as well. It will be a major concern up and down the country first thing in the morning.\"\nFebruary, traditionally the coldest month of winter, has seen daytime temperatures plunge four or five degrees lower than average over the past few days.\nA temperature of -12.4C (9.7F) was recorded in South Newington, Oxfordshire, on Friday night - the lowest this season, the Met Office said.\nThe cold conditions are likely to continue into the early part of next week.\nThe Local Government Association said motorists were being advised to check the latest weather and gritting updates on council websites and \"gritter Twitter\" feeds.\nBritish Gas said its engineers were on stand-by in all-weather 4x4s, and the Department for Transport said Britain's salt stocks stood at more than 2.4 million tonnes - a million more than last year.\nThe charity Age UK said it was a dangerous time for older people with low temperatures raising blood pressure, which put people at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as the risk of flu.\nIn Championship football, Saturday's games at Portsmouth and Doncaster were postponed.\nIn League One, frozen pitches meant only matches at Carlisle, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe survived. All League Two fixtures bar Plymouth's with Southend were postponed.\nFalkirk's Scottish Cup match at Ayr was called off and, of the league programme, only the Third Division games at East Stirling, Montrose and Queens Park went ahead.\nHorse racing fixtures at Ffos Las, Sandown and Wetherby on Saturday were called off. Sunday's meeting at Kempton will be subject to an inspection at 08:00 GMT.\nWolverhampton's all-weather meeting was abandoned after four races because of snow.\nThe weather warnings in Britain follow a freeze across many parts of Europe, where temperatures have fallen as low as -30C in some parts, and scores of people have died, including more than 100 in Ukraine.\nFreezing weather has led to a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries, and Italy has seen its coldest week for 27 years.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["5-10cm (2-4in)","10cm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["UK","UK","UK","UK","central, eastern and southern England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Heathrow's chief operating officer Normand Boivin said the decision to introduce a revised flight schedule before snow had fallen was taken in an effort to minimise disruption to passengers","snow","Snow","snow","Heathrow","Heathrow","snow","snow","Heathrow","snow","passengers","snow","snow","snow","snow","passengers","Heathrow","Heathrow","passengers","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","fallen","disrupting flights and leading to calls for drivers to take more care","take","drivers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["south-east","south","east","south-east","South"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Heavy snow","heavy snow"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 Tornadoes hit the midwestern United States with twelve people killed, six in Harrisburg, Illinois. (AP via Google News) (BBC)","document":"At least 12 people have been killed by a storm system in the US Midwest that brought devastation to parts of Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.\nThree people died in Tennessee hours after reports of deaths in Illinois and in Missouri.\nMore than 100 were hurt and buildings badly damaged across multiple states, with at least 16 tornado sightings.\nRescue workers are searching for survivors trapped in wrecked homes, including a trailer park near Buffalo.\nKansas Governor Sam Brownback and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon have declared a state of emergency.\nIt is not clear if the reported tornados were the cause of the deaths in Tennessee.\nThe mayor of Harrisburg, Illinois, Eric Gregg, told CNN: \"We've got homes toppled, cars thrown in lakes. You can't imagine how devastating it is until you're there.\"\n\"In small communities it's just heart-breaking - we all know each other, we all care very much about each other.\"\nHe added that he was optimistic that rescue teams would be able to find survivors.\nIn Missouri, the towns of Branson, Buffalo, Cassville, Lebanon and Oak Ridge suffered extensive damage.\nIn downtown Branson, Missouri, a country music hub, debris and scattered road signs littered the streets.\nOne witness, John Moore, who owns a diner damaged in the storm, said a twister rampaged down the main street, appearing to \"jump side to side\".\n\"The theatre next to me kind of exploded. It went everywhere. The hotels on the two sides of me lost their roofs. Power lines are down. Windows are blown out,\" he added.\n\"There's major, major destruction. There has to be millions dollars of damage all down the strip.\"\nBranson is about 110 miles (177km) from Joplin, where a deadly tornado in May 2011 killed 161 people.\nThe tornadoes are said to have been generated by a cold storm moving down from the Rocky mountains that hit a warm front as it moved east, said Corey Mead, lead forecaster at the US Storm Prediction Center, Oklahoma.\nSixteen twisters were sighted in the US states of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky.\nTornado season begins in March, but correspondents say twisters are not unusual earlier in the year.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["US Midwest"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Three people died in Tennessee","Tennessee","12 people have been killed","killed","More than 100 were hurt"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tornadoes"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2012 Tornados hit the midwestern and southern United States two days after the 2012 Leap Day tornado outbreak. (BBC) (MSNBC)[permanent dead link] (USA Today)","document":"A series of powerful storms and tornadoes have killed at least 28 people in the US states of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, officials say.\nLocal police confirmed that at least 13 people died as tornadoes swept across three counties in Indiana.\nTwelve more died in Kentucky, with two fatalities in Ohio. Earlier, tornadoes hit Alabama, killing one person.\n\"We are no match for Mother Nature at her worst,\" said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.\nThere are fears the death toll may rise as the scale of the devastation and the breadth of the storms made immediate assessments of the destruction difficult.\nThe storms - stretched across a vast part of the US Midwest - came days after another system killed 13 people.\nThe first deaths on Friday were reported in Indiana, where the small town of Henryville was badly damaged.\nReports of extreme damage includeda roof torn off a high school.\nAn official from Clark County sheriff's department described the nearby town of Marysville, Indiana - located close to Henryville - as \"completely gone\".\nJenn Helvering, 24, told the BBC she saw a storm cell cross the highway as she drove towards Henryville. She then came across wreckage, including an overturned tractor-trailer, alongside the road near the town.\nMs Helvering, who posteda series of imagesonline said she saw \"what seemed to be a funnel\", when driving between two storm cells.\n\"The weather was terrible. I suddenly saw a tornado coming towards me, I could see it swirling, then I saw one behind me. I was stuck in between two tornadoes - my dad directed me while I was driving between the two tornadoes. It was truly terrifying.\"\nIn Salem, Indiana, a toddler was found injured in a field after tornadoes passed through, reports said before being taken to a children's hospital, where she was later identified.\nA family of four were found dead in Washington County, Indiana, Sheriff Claude Combs told the Louisville Courier-Journal.\nMeanwhile, in Henryville, authorities found a man dead inside his vehicle. It was the first confirmed death in Clark County.\n\"We've got total devastation in the north-central part of the county [and] widespread damage from the west to the east,\" Clark County Sheriff Clark Adam told CNN.\nNeighbouring Marysville was totally destroyed.\n\"Marysville is completely gone,'' said Chuck Adams of Clark County Sheriff's Department.\nAs Friday's storms grew in intensity, the National Weather Serviceissued severe tornado warningsfor a host of states.\nBy 19:30 EST (00:30 GMT on Saturday) tornado warnings were in effect across swathes of Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, with parts of West Virginia and Florida also under advisory.\nIn a strongly worded warning, the NWS said residents in the path of the Indiana storm were facing an \"extremely dangerous and life threatening situation\".\n\"If you are in the path of this tornado... take cover immediately!\" the NWS said.\nAdditional tornadoes were reported near Mumfordville, Kentucky and Memphis, Indiana, as well in southern Ohio.\nLocal TV broadcaster WHAS in Kentucky showed a storm-tracking team driving through Mumfordville, speeding away from a potential tornado as golf-ball sized hailstones fell from the sky.\nAs the evening progressed more details of the scale of destruction began to emerge, with officials in Kentucky and Ohio confirmed fatalities there.\nEarlier this week, 13 people died after twisters swept through Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Tennessee.\nOn Friday morning five people were taken to hospital and 11 houses were flattened in the town of Athens, Alabama by an apparent tornado in the Huntsville area.\nMore than 20 school networks in Alabama closed early on Friday because of the weather warning.\nLocal media reported that about 9,000 people lost power in the area around Huntsville.\nA possible twister also hit a maximum security jail near Huntsville, although officials said inmates remained secure.\nThe severe weather warning was to remain in place until about midnight on Friday.\nThe town of Harrisburg, Illinois, was particularly badly damaged on Wednesday by the storm system.\nSix residents died there, while three deaths were reported in Missouri, three in Tennessee and another in Kansas.\nIn pictures: US tornadoes\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["US states of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio","Indiana","Kentucky","Ohio","Indiana","Indiana","Indiana","Indiana","Indiana","Kentucky","Indiana","Indiana","Kentucky","Indiana","Ohio","Kentucky","Kentucky","Ohio","US Midwest"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["people were taken to hospital","people died","taken","hospital","13 people died","killed 13 people","13 people died","Twelve more died","died","killed at least 28 people","killing one person","9,000 people lost power"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["powerful storms and tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes","tornadoes"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2014 Tropical Cyclone Dylan forms off the North Queensland coast and is expected to make landfall between Lucinda and Proserpine. (ABC Australia via Weatherzone)","document":".\n\t\t\tCyclone Dylan is continuing to gather strength as it approaches the North Queensland coast and is set to be upgraded to a category two storm later tonight. Authorities are on cyclone alert across the region. The system began as a tropical low in the Coral Sea several days ago but officially became a category one cyclone this afternoon. Andrew Bufalino from the weather bureau says Dylan is still intensifying.\"Currently we have it as a category one, but we are forecasting it to upgrade into a category two by 10pm this evening,\" he said. Dylan is expected to cross the coast between Townsville and Bowen early tomorrow with wind gusts of 150 kilometres per hour near its centre. Mr Bufalino says the cyclone will dump heavy rain from Cardwell to St Lawrence. \"We are expecting widespread daily rainfall totals of around 100 to 300 millimetres,\" he said.\"The areas that pick up the 300 mills will be quite isolated at this stage, but as it pushes further inland we are expecting some rainfall totals up to 100 mills, even possibly higher.\"Gale warnings were issued for the Townsville, Mackay and Capricornia coast. A storm tide is expected between Cardwell and Lucinda, and large waves may cause minor flooding along the foreshore.Premier Campbell Newman, who has travelled to Townsville, says despite extensive preparations there is no room for complacency. \"The big threat is going to be from flooding, and my single most important message today is that people who need to travel need to do it now and try to get it out of the way as soon as possible,\" he said. \"If it's flooded, forget it.\"Townsville and Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast are among the centres being inundated, and Townsville Council has set up an evacuation centre at Cungulla.Senior weather forecaster Matt Bass said the storm was tracking further south than first thought.\"At this stage the most likely crossing location is near Ayr, but anywhere between Lucinda and Proserpine could see the cyclone near them,\" he said.Bowen motel operator Anita Rogan says the strong winds have forced some boats onto the shore.\"Down near the skateboard park on Front Beach, there is quite a large trawler that's been blown up and quite a few smaller boats, yachts and the like have broken their moorings and have been blown up onto the beach there, but nothing really major,\" she said.\"I know that everybody's just knuckling down and making things safe.\"The tide at Cairns Harbour reached 3.83 metres, exceeding this year's predicted record by nearly 40 centimetres.\"It's certainly put the water levels at a level that's been beyond anything we've ever noted before,\" John Lucas from the Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade said.\"Our restaurant which sits on the waterfront has certainly had a good few inches go through the bottom of it. Little bit of minor damage to some timberwork and the like but nothing that we can't fix fairly readily.\"Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Wayne Preedy says people still have time to prepare for further flooding.\"The cut-off we always work off is once the winds get to 100 kilometres an hour, there's no more outside work,\" he said.\"The bureau plays a key role in this today and leading into tonight as to when those winds are expected.\"He says emergency crews will be keeping an eye on the tides throughout today. Residents of low-lying areas told to get sandbags readyMackay Mayor Deirdre Comerford says residents in low-lying areas should be prepared.\"You need to have sandbags on hand, because you know if you've experienced water inundation normally, you can expect that again,\" she said.Additional swift water rescue crews have been sent from Rockhampton to Mackay as a precaution with extra resources also in the Whitsundays.There was very little rain overnight in the Mackay Whitsunday region, but winds have picked up.Wind gusts of up 104 kilometres an hour were recorded at Hamilton Island overnight, but just 5 millimetres of rain fell.Ferry services out of Airlie Beach were suspended last night and all boats have been moored at Shute Harbour and Abel Point.Mayor predicts cyclone's centre will miss Cassowary CoastThe Cassowary Coast Regional Council, which covers the towns of Innisfail, Cardwell and Tully, is urging residents in the shire to go about business as usual, while remaining alert.Mayor Bill Shannon says residents should follow the lead of the State Government.\"If the schools are open, then we expect kids to be going to school,\" he said.\"We expect people to be going to work and therefore going about their normal lives, but keeping a watch and that's the situation we've got at the present time.\"I'm quietly confident that given that most of the action is to the south of the centre of the cyclone and the centre is going to be beyond Cardwell, further to the south of Cardwell, that there shouldn't be too much problem in that part of the world.\"Here's a selection of weather photos in North Queensland from social media: \t\t\t- ABC","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["North Queensland","North Queensland"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Townsville Council has set up an evacuation centre at Cungulla","set"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["further south","south","south"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category two storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["150 kilometres per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cyclone Dylan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2014 Part of the South Devon Railway sea wall carrying the railway line linking London with the west of England is washed away by a powerful storm that has hit the UK overnight. Thousands of homes are also left without electricity. (BBC)","document":"Parts of Britain have been hit by a storm which destroyed a stretch of railway, forced people from their homes and left thousands without power. A section of the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, collapsed and left the railway to Cornwall suspended in mid-air. Residents of homes on the Somerset Levels were evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed.\nDavid Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting this year and announced an extra £100m for flood works.\nAt Prime Minister's Questions he pledged £75m for repairs over the next year, £10m for urgent work in Somerset - where several rivers have flooded - and £15m for maintenance. Mr Cameron said he would \"ensure that everything that can be done to get stricken communities moving is being done: there are no restrictions on help\". The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron had given the \"clearest possible sign\" that he needed to \"be seen to be getting a grip\" on the response to the floods. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis has been widely criticised. He will not be chairing the Cobra emergency committee or giving a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday after being diagnosed with a detached retina. Instead, Mr Paterson will undergo emergency surgery.\nWestern Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. By 22:00 GMT on Wednesday, thousands of homes had been reconnected but 953 customers remained without power across the South West. In Cornwall, 490 were still cut off. On the Somerset Levels, police used a helicopter to advise the occupants of more than 150 properties in Fordgate and Northmoor to leave their homes. Forecasters say there will be an \"improving picture\" on Wednesday evening. But there will be rain moving up from the south coast on Thursday morning which will spread to south-west England in late morning. About 20-30mm of rain is expected throughout the day. More heavy rain and gales are forecast for Friday night into Saturday. Dawlish resident Robert Parker said the storm was \"like the end of the world\". He said: \"It was like an earthquake. I've never experienced anything like it. I've been in some terrible storms in the North Sea, but last night was just a force of nature.\" First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth were closed because of the collapsed track at Dawlish and the bad weather. Limited services are running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. Network Rail has estimated the damage at Dawlish could take at least six weeks to fix. First Great Western said the repairs could not begin until the weather improved. Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the prime minister said he was \"determined to ensure a proper alternative service\" was provided while the railway line at Dawlish remained out of use, with a solution found to fix it as soon as possible.\nThe Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in place in south-west England - meaning there is a danger to life - down from a high of nine earlier on Wednesday. It has also issued about 60 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts.\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued five flood warnings and several flood alerts.\nThe Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for rain - meaning \"be prepared\"- from 15:00 GMT on Thursday until 23:00 GMT on Saturday across southern England. In other developments:\nFirefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings. BBC Weather","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Environment Agency","The Scottish Environment Protection Agency","The Met Office"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Parts of Britain"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents of homes on the Somerset Levels were evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed","homes","Somerset Levels","forced people from their homes and left thousands without power","homes","homes"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["storm","storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2014 As the North American cold wave continues, a massive winter storm across states in the southern United States causes widespread power outages, travel disruptions and dangerous road conditions. (NBC)","document":" Follow NBC News Emergency crews deployed for battle Wednesday with a vicious ice storm that cut off power for hundreds of thousands of people across the Southeast — and worse power failures were on the way.\nAbout 400,000 customers were without power Wednesday evening in Georgia and the Carolinas, utilities reported. That was on top of tens of thousands more who were in the dark as the storm gathered strength earlier in the week across Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.\n\"This storm is very unpredictable. It's one of the toughest storms we're going to see in our history,\" North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Wednesday.\nNearly 600 power workers prepared to camp overnight at the Mall of Georgia in Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta, where support staff and volunteers showed up to serve breakfast and dinner and to pack box lunches, NBC station WXIA reported.\nAtlanta Mayor Kasim Reed warned that \"the hardest part of this storm is tonight and tomorrow,\" as residents get cabin fever and want to go outside.\n\"Let me be very clear: Last night and today was the opening act of what's getting ready to occur,\" Reed said, as snow continues to fall and temperatures plunge back below freezing, re-icing everything.\nIt's the ice that's the real culprit — coating streets, trees and power lines to a depth of a full inch in parts of all three states.\nHaving learned their lesson two weeks ago, when snow locked down the city for a day and a half, Atlantans stayed home, leaving usually jam-packed interstates looking like a sci-fi wasteland as an eerie calm settled over desolate streets slick with ice. Highways were deserted as freezing rain and ferocious wind gusts kept drivers at home.\nThat wasn't the case in Charlotte, North Carolina's biggest city, where cars and trucks slipped, slid and stalled at the junction of Interstate 277 and Independence Boulevard, a major highway through town.\nIn a scene reminiscent of the parking lot that Atlanta's freeways became last month, vehicles lined up motionless for miles. Hundreds of crashes were reported, and Independence was eventually officially closed.\nSimilar scenes played out in South Carolina, where a woman was killed Wednesday when her car speeded out of control and collided with a law enforcement vehicle on Interstate 95 in Clarendon County, Gov. Nikki Haley said.\nThree other deaths were also blamed on the storm Wednesday, raising the number of confirmed deaths to 10 since the storm swept in through Texas earlier this week.\nAt least six other deaths were reported Tuesday as the storm gathered power over Texas and Mississippi: four in separate accidents on icy north Texas roads — including a Dallas firefighter who was knocked off an interstate ramp — and two in separate accidents in Mississippi.\nWhile ice may look pretty and unthreatening, it's actually the biggest hazard of the storm, meteorologists said. The National Weather Service called the ice storm a potentially \"catastrophic event\" and said some areas of the South could be without power \"for days and perhaps as long as a week.\"\nMore than 3,400 flights into and out of U.S. airports were canceled and 3,500 more were delayed — the vast majority of them at the Atlanta and Charlotte hubs.\nAmtrak suspended service Wednesday on 10 trains in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas \"to reduce the exposure of Amtrak passengers, crews and rail equipment to extreme weather conditions.\"\nAs it crawls eastward, the same weather system was forecast to dump up to 12 inches of snow on New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., overnight and into Thursday, snarling travel plans for millions more people.\n@weatherchannel Road and traffic backup in Danville, Va. #Pax #TooMuch pic.twitter.com/FjVG1YBh4F\n\"There will be disruption,\" said Kevin Roth, lead meteorologist for The Weather Channel. \"The whole region will be in a deep freeze.\"\nBut with warmer temperatures expected, especially along the coast, some of the precipitation will simply be rain, and \"there shouldn't be as much ice further north,\" Roth said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama","Texas","Texas","Mississippi","Texas","Mississippi"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["cut off power for hundreds of thousands of people","power","power","power","400,000 customers were without power","without power"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["storm","storm","storm","storm","storm","storm","storm","storm","storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2010 The United Kingdom continues to face blizzard conditions with many schools closed, long queues on the M8 motorway in Scotland, and Edinburgh Airport closed. (Daily Mail) (BBC) (CNN) (Sky News)","document":"Fresh snow has been falling across many parts of the UK, bringing disruption to some areas not previously affected. Hundreds of schools closed, driving conditions have been hazardous, and rail and air passengers were delayed. The Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for Yorkshire and Humber, east Midlands, east and north-east England, London and south-east England. It also warned of further heavy snow in parts of Scotland and widespread ice on roads across the whole of Britain. In Scotland, heavy snow warnings have been issued for Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife and south west Scotland, Lothian Borders.\nBBC weather forecaster Nina Ridge said snow showers would persist into Tuesday night across north-east England and parts of north Midlands and Lincolnshire.\nBut a line of snow stretching across south-east England towards Dorset would drift southwards and ease, she added.\nTemperatures are expected to tumble well below freezing into Wednesday, with the greatest risk of heavy snow in northern England.\nThe recent cold spell has hit schools, roads, and airports, and the worst-affected areas have been north-east Scotland and north-east England. As the snow moved southwards in sub-zero temperatures, disruption was widespread. It included:\nDrivers have been stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent. Truck driver Nigel Waller, who was on his way to Bradford, told the BBC at 0100 GMT that traffic was slowly starting to move. \"I'm doing 15 miles an hour which is the fastest I have driven in hours. I have been stuck since 1730,\" he said. \"I haven't seen any gritters and it's getting slippery because it's freezing and there's slush. I saw a truck trying to overtake a broken down car - he went straight through the central reservation.\"\nIn south London, a surgeon struggling to get to St Helier Hospital in Sutton to operate on a critically ill patient was forced to flag down officers on a routine patrol and request a police car escort.\nMotoring organisation the AA said it expected to attend 18,000 breakdowns by the end of Tuesday, bringing the total call-outs since last Thursday to 100,000. It said London's M25 (J2-J5) was among the worst-affected areas due to falling snow freezing on the carriageways.\nThe AA's Paul Leather said: \"Today has been another busy day and there's more to come this evening as temperatures drop with ice causing big problems across the entire country.\n\"If you are driving on icy roads, try to minimise the use of brakes to reduce the risk of sliding - keep your speed down, stay in a higher gear to aid traction, anticipate hazards, and keep well apart from other vehicles.\"\nThe RAC said it attended about 2,000 breakdowns an hour on Tuesday morning, with some areas up to twice their normal levels for the time of year.\nA spokesman said: \"The sub-zero temperatures are putting a lot of pressure on car batteries. If possible the car should be kept in the garage.\n\"Additionally, when starting the car in the morning make sure everything is switched off - including fans, blowers and the radio - then put the key in the ignition and switch to the 'on' position for two to three seconds before starting the engine.\"\nAlmost a third of UK rail services had suffered delays by noon on Tuesday, according to the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc).\nBut by early evening the situation had improved slightly, with around 73% of trains arriving on time, it added. A spokesman said: \"Hundreds of workers from operators and Network Rail will work round the clock tonight in Arctic conditions to keep trains running and to make sure that passengers can get to their destination safely.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Met Office","BBC weather forecaster"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["many parts of the UK","UK"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Drivers have been stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent","stuck","M25","Hundreds of schools closed, driving conditions have been hazardous, and rail and air passengers were delayed","rail","Hundreds","Rail","a surgeon struggling to get to St Helier Hospital in Sutton to operate on a critically ill patient was forced to flag down officers on a routine patrol and request a police car escort","get"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["heavy snow","heavy snow","heavy snow","heavy snow"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2014 The death toll from Cyclone Hudhud rises to 24 with 400,000 people needing assistance in India's Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states. (BBC)","document":"Authorities in India's Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states are intensifying efforts to provide aid to some 400,000 people affected by a cyclone now known to have killed 24 people.\nCyclone Hudhud wrecked homes, uprooted trees and power lines, blocked roads and damaged crops in the two states. PM Narendra Modi is to fly over the affected areas, including the port city of Visakhapatnam, to assess the damage.\nHeavy rains have been forecast in six states, prompting fears of flooding.\nRescue workers and soldiers have begun uprooting trees which had blocked roads, restoring power and telecommunication lines and clearing up debris in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the city worst hit by Sunday's severe cyclone. A statement by India's home ministry said the air force was using planes and helicopters to drop food packets in and around the city.\nVisakhapatnam's airport has sustained severe damage in the cyclone and has been shut down. A part of the roof was blown off and the runway is under water. Senior Andhra Pradesh official Parkala Prabhakar told the Associated Press that 15 people had been killed in Visakhapatnam alone. The port has also been badly damaged.\nThere were long queues at the few petrol stations which reopened on Monday. But fuel remains in short supply as a large number of petrol stations were damaged in Sunday's storm.\n The cyclone downed electrical poles, uprooted trees, overturned vehicles and left debris strewn in the streets. \"Visakhapatnam is a place I like very much. But, it is painful to see the city this way today,\" Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu told reporters.\n\"We need at least 100 years to rebuild our beautiful city of Visakhapatnam,\" a rescue worker told Hindustan Times newspaper. Officials say that more than 6,500 homes were damaged in Andhra Pradesh state.\nIndia's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.\nA super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.\nLast October as many as 500,000 people in India were evacuated when a severe cyclone called Phailin swept through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states","Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Rescue workers and soldiers have begun uprooting trees which had blocked roads, restoring power and telecommunication lines and clearing up debris in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh","blocked roads","Visakhapatnam","Visakhapatnam","Andhra Pradesh","Visakhapatnam","debris","Visakhapatnam","Andhra Pradesh","Visakhapatnam","Andhra Pradesh","Andhra Pradesh","15 people had been killed","killed","killed","400,000 people affected by a cyclone now known to have killed 24 people","Cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone","cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hudhud"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2014 Hurricane Gonzalo hits Bermuda becoming the strongest storm to hit the island in a decade. (NBC News), (Reuters)","document":" Follow NBC News Hurricane Gonzalo gained strength Thursday as it churned toward Bermuda, packing Category 4 might with sustained winds of 145 miles per hour. Bermuda issued a hurricane watch for Gonzalo, which is expected to pass \"perilously close\" to the island on Friday afternoon, according to The Weather Channel. It said a rip current threat and elevated surf will hit the East Coast of the U.S. on Thursday. The storm was about 485 miles southwest of the tiny Atlantic island as of 11 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nThe Hurricane Center said Gonzalo is expected to be a \"dangerous\" hurricane when it near Bermuda, warning Thursday that \"preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion today.\" Gonzalo, the seventh named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, formed as a tropical storm early Sunday afternoon and was upgraded to the season's sixth hurricane late Monday afternoon. It is the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Ophelia in 2011.\nIn the Pacific, Hawaii canceled all public schools for Friday on the Big Island and prepared to open shelters as it braces for the arrival of Tropical Storm Ana, which is expected to strengthen to a hurricane and could be felt as soon as Friday. Winds are projected to blow up to 70 mph.\n#Gonzalo reached 110kt before exiting the tropics – strongest Atlantic hurricane *in the tropics* since #Igor 2010 pic.twitter.com/dko2CTh1o0","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Weather Channel"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["Bermuda","Bermuda","Bermuda"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["145 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2014 Tens of thousands of people evacuate ahead of Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby) which is expected to strike the Philippines. (BBC)","document":"Tens of thousands of people have sought shelter as the powerful Typhoon Hagupit heads towards the Philippines. Hagupit, known locally as Ruby, has gusts of up to 230km/h (143mph) and is due to hit land on Saturday evening.\nIt is on course for the Eastern and Northern Samar provinces and the city of Tacloban, where thousands were killed by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago.\nLocal residents, many of them still living in temporary shelters, are moving away from coastal areas. President Benigno Aquino, who met disaster agency chiefs on Friday afternoon, has ordered food supplies to be sent to affected areas, as well as military troops and police officers to be deployed to prevent looting in the aftermath.\nLocal media reported Mr Aquino as saying there was \"no indication\" for now that Hagupit would be as strong as Haiyan. Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land. It tore through the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.\nThe latest update from Philippine weather authorities said that Hagupit, which means \"smash\" in Filipino, was weakening slightly, though it still has powerful gusts.\nIt could bring storm surges up to one storey high, as well as heavy rain and the risk of landslides, officials have warned. Schools and government offices are closed in some areas and there were long queues at shops and petrol stations as people stocked up on supplies.\nIn Tacloban, many people have taken shelter in the sports stadium. \"It's deja vu, but not the same as last year with Haiyan,\" local resident Mariano Tan Jr told the BBC.\n\"We're already prepared... we've stored basic commodities - water, rice, beans, fuel. We're also prepared in case of a power cut. \"We intend to stay,\" he added. \"We survived last year, we will do it again tomorrow. We will still stand our ground because no calamities can break us apart.\"\nAbout 19,000 people from coastal villages are in 26 evacuation centres, Tacloban's disaster office spokesman Ilderando Bernadas told Reuters.\nHe said that number was expected to double as the authorities began forcing people to evacuate.\nTacloban's Deputy Mayor Jerry Yaokasin told the BBC's Newsday: \"We haven't yet fully recovered from last year's super-typhoon Haiyan and here we go again.\n\"It's like we're seeing a movie, it's like the Groundhog Day.\n\"And it's stirring up a lot of emotions in our hearts and bringing back so many painful memories of what happened during super typhoon Haiyan.\"\nThe Philippine weather authorities said that as of 16:00 local time on Friday (08:00 GMT) Hagupit was 370km (230 miles) east of Eastern Samar and moving at 13km/h, a relatively slow speed. It has weakened slightly, but still remains powerful, with sustained winds of 195km/h and gusts of up to 230km/h. Up to 35 provinces and municipalities are likely to be affected.\nThe US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center had classified Hagupit as a super typhoon but downgraded it on Friday morning. It remains the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year. Meteorologists had said there was a chance Hagupit could veer north towards Japan and miss the Philippines altogether, but this scenario is increasingly seen as unlikely.\nThe Philippines gives its own names to typhoons once they move into Philippine waters, rather than using the international storm-naming system.\nPhilippines marks Haiyan anniversary\nTyphoon Haiyan: Images of then and now\nSuper Typhoon Haiyan: Satellite images\nStill mourning and trying to survive in Tacloban\nPhilippines country profile\nPhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)\nOne Covid vaccine dose cuts hospital risk by 75%\nBut the number of Delta variant cases recorded in the UK has risen by 79% in a week, figures show.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Philippine weather authorities","Philippine weather authorities"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Tens of thousands of people have sought shelter","thousands","people","19,000 people from coastal villages are in 26 evacuation centres"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday evening"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["230km/h (143mph)","230km"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["195km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2014 Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby), a strong tropical cyclone, makes landfall hitting the Philippines. (BBC)","document":"Typhoon Hagupit has made landfall in the town of Dolores in the eastern Philippines, the country's weather agency says.\nThe storm knocked out electricity and felled trees in the area, though no casualties have been reported. Over half a million have fled coastal villages in the past few days ahead of the storm's arrival.\nThe typhoon is on course for the city of Tacloban, where thousands were killed by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago.\nIt has weakened slightly but gusts are still peaking at 195km/h (120mph).\nThousands of passengers were left stranded after Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cancelled more than 150 flights to the central and southern Philippines on Friday and Saturday, and sea travel services were suspended.\nFrom Manila it took us 12 hours by car to reach Legazpi, a city in the south of Luzon island. Along the way in small towns we saw people stocking up on fuel, food and materials to fortify their homes.\nIn this popular tourist city on the coast, the streets are deserted. Officials say 75,000 people have already been evacuated. The typhoon is expected to cross the country further north of Tacloban on the island of Samar. This city could be feeling the full force of Typhoon Hagupit and many here are not taking any chances. Businesses are boarding up their windows and readying evacuation areas, as they prepare for the worst.\nOfficials said that there had been damage in Dolores. \"There are many trees that have toppled, some of them on the highway\", police spokesman Alex Robin told the Associated Press from Dolores.\n\"We are totally in the dark here. The only light comes from flashlights.\"\nThe BBC's Jonathan Head said the Philippines was experiencing one of its largest ever peacetime evacuations.\nHe said people were being moved to higher ground and into more solid buildings such as churches, schools and sports stadiums.\nHowever, no-one is sure where the worst affected places will be because typhoons change direction and intensity, our correspondent adds.\nPresident Benigno Aquino, who met disaster agency chiefs on Friday afternoon, has ordered food supplies to be sent to affected areas as well as troops and police to be deployed to prevent looting in the aftermath.\nLocal media reported Mr Aquino as saying there was \"no indication\" for now that Hagupit, would be as strong as Haiyan.\nHaiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land. It tore through the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.\nHagupit's huge diameter of 600km (370 miles) meant that about 50 million people, or half the nation's population, were living in vulnerable areas, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told AFP news agency.\nPhilippine weather authorities said that Hagupit, which means \"smash\" in Filipino, had weakened slightly, though it still had powerful gusts.\nSchools and government offices are closed in some areas and there were long queues at shops and petrol stations as people stocked up on supplies.\nIn Tacloban, a city of 220,000 people, many have taken shelter in the sports stadium. \"It's deja vu, but not the same as last year with Haiyan,\" local resident Mariano Tan Jr told the BBC.\n\"We're already prepared... we've stored basic commodities - water, rice, beans, fuel. We're also prepared in case of a power cut. \"We intend to stay,\" he added. \"We survived last year, we will do it again tomorrow. We will still stand our ground because no calamities can break us apart.\"\nAbout 19,000 people from coastal villages are in 26 evacuation centres, Tacloban's disaster office spokesman Ilderando Bernadas told Reuters.\nHe said that number was expected to double as the authorities began forcing people to evacuate.\nTacloban's Deputy Mayor Jerry Yaokasin told the BBC's Newsday: \"We haven't yet fully recovered from last year's super-typhoon Haiyan and here we go again.\n\"It's stirring up a lot of emotions in our hearts and bringing back so many painful memories of what happened during super typhoon Haiyan.\"\nThe US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center had classified Hagupit as a super typhoon but downgraded it on Friday morning. It remains the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year. The Philippines gives its own names to typhoons once they move into Philippine waters, rather than using the international storm-naming system.\nAre you in the region? How are you preparing for typhoon Hagupit? ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Dolores in the eastern Philippines","Dolores","Dolores"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Over half a million have fled coastal villages in the past few days ahead of the storm's arrival","storm","half","storm","storm","Thousands of passengers were left stranded","thousands","5,000 people have already been evacuated","already"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Typhoon Hagupit","Typhoon Hagupit","typhoon Hagupit"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["195km/h (120mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2014 The death toll from Typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines is at least three as the storm weakens. (BBC)","document":"Tropical storm Hagupit is heading to Manila, but has been downgraded from a typhoon after crossing the country. At least 21 people were killed by the storm, the Red Cross said, with the eastern island of Samar worst hit, but it caused far less damage than feared.\nThousands of people are heading home after about a million people were evacuated from vulnerable areas.\nThe city of Tacloban, which bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Haiyan last year, has emerged relatively unscathed.\nAlbay province, which evacuated more than half its population, has called for those people to go home. After spending three days at a school in Polangi, families are packing into small military trucks, holding one or two plastic bags with the essentials they brought with them. They worry about the state in which they'll find their homes but many are most worried about their rice fields, their only source of income. One woman reached her house and found it flooded and uninhabitable. For her that means at least one more night in the evacuation centre. Hagupit: What did the Philippines do differently?\nHagupit - pictures, tweets and videos from the Philippines\nIn the capital, residents are preparing for heavy rain and strong winds.\nThe typhoon is still travelling westwards across the Philippines, and has weakened into a tropical storm, according to the Philippine meteorological authorities.\nA government alert on Monday morning stated that residents of the capital and surrounding regions should expect winds of up to 100km/h (62mph) in the next 24 hours, and to prepare for possible flash floods, landslides, and storm surges of up to 2m.\nThousands who live along the coast and riverbanks were evacuated on Monday, reports said. A total of 11.8 million people live in the national capital region.\nManila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the city was \"prepared and trained for this\", but added: \"It's the flooding that we are worried about.\"\nFinancial markets closed their doors on Monday along with schools and government offices. Flights and other public transport were halted.\nHagupit has been nowhere near as powerful as Typhoon Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - which tore through the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.\nIn Tacloban, Hagupit blew away roofs and flooded streets, but the area has escaped the wider devastation of last year. \"There were no bodies scattered on the road, no big mounds of debris,\" local woman Rhea Estuna told the Associated Press by phone from Tacloban. \"Thanks to God this typhoon wasn't as violent.\"\nTacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez told the BBC that the immediate task was assessing damage to the temporary shelters in which some people have been living. He said that the weather was good now but that high tides were making it harder for waterways to drain, despite work to clear debris. UN official Orla Fagan told Reuters that a lot of people have begun returning to their homes. \"In Tacloban this morning, the sun is shining, people just started going back,\" she said.\nThe storm made its fourth landfall on Monday night, hitting Batangas province some 100km (60 miles) south of Manila with winds of roughly 100km/h.\nAt its height, as it approached land on Saturday, gusts of up to 250km/h were recorded.\nThe authorities said they were better prepared than when Haiyan struck, and organised the largest peacetime evacuation in the history of the Philippines. Justin Morgan, Oxfam country director for the Philippines, told the BBC that a key factor was a greater focus on the dangers of storm surges, meaning people were moved away from coastal areas. Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province, told the BBC no casualties and only \"negligible damage\" had been reported in his province. He said the storm had been identified as a threat in late November, giving officials time to identify population at risk, evacuate them two days ahead of the storm and prepare food supplies. Known locally as Typhoon Ruby, Hagupit has nonetheless caused major damage in several towns in the east.\nThe Philippine Red Cross said at least 21 people had died over the weekend, with 18 of those on the eastern island of Samar, where Hagupit made landfall on Saturday.\nThe mayor of Dolores, a town on Samar, said that 80% of homes there had been destroyed. One resident reportedly died after a tree fell on him.\nTwo more people - a one-year-old girl and a 65-year-old man - died from hypothermia in the central province of Iloilo, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.\nA total of 183 flights had been cancelled and five airports closed, the agency said, and there were power outages in 16 provinces. Typhoon Hagupit in pictures and tweets\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern island of Samar","eastern island","Samar","Samar"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["21 people were killed","21 people","Thousands who live along the coast and riverbanks were evacuated on Monday","Thousands","evacuated","Monday","Monday","Monday","Thousands of people are heading home after about a million people were evacuated from vulnerable areas","evacuated","Thousands","evacuated","residents are preparing for heavy rain and strong winds","residents","families are packing into small military trucks, holding one or two plastic bags with the essentials they brought with them"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["westwards across the Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit","Hagupit"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Heavy rains threaten rescue efforts after a deadly mudslide in Gansu, China, as the death toll reaches 1,117. (Xinhua) (BBC) (Aljazeera)","document":"Heavy rain has hit the county in north-western China that was devastated by landslides, as the death toll from Saturday's disaster continues to rise. Officials said the number of people known to have died in Zhouqu, when mud and rocks engulfed buildings, now stood at 1,117, with 627 others missing. Forecasters have warned three more days of rain lie ahead for the remote area, prompting fears of further landslides. Meanwhile, experts have arrived there to help prevent an outbreak of disease.\nAt least three villages in Zhouqu county, in Gansu province, were levelled by mud and landslides triggered by rain on Saturday night.\nNow rescue teams fear the fresh rain may not only hinder work to help survivors but also cause further landslips in the mountainous area. Heavy rain was already said to be falling in Zhouqu, and up to 90mm (3.5in) of rain was forecast for Friday, the National Meteorological Centre reported. It said that the chance of more landslides was \"relatively large\".\nSoldiers have been using explosives to blast through debris that partly dammed the Bailong river and created an unstable lake, which eventually overflowed and sent a wave of water engulfing the town of Zhouqu early on Sunday.\nA 1km (0.6-mil) long drainage channel was bringing the water level down, the official Xinhua news agency quoted the vice-minister of water resources as saying. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged rescuers to hurry before the weather worsened but he acknowledged the task would be difficult.\n\"We must fully realise the difficulties for the search and rescue work,\" he said.\n\"You must race against the clock and spare no efforts in saving lives.\"\nSix specialists in epidemic prevention have been sent to the area amid growing fears that contaminated water could spark an outbreak of disease, Xinhua reported.\nYang Long, a doctor running a makeshift clinic at a Zhouqu school, told the China Daily he had already treated several adults and children for diarrhoea.\n\"Unhealthy drinking water and food mainly caused the disease and we need more medicine,\" he said.\nThe BBC's Chris Hogg in Zhouqu says the authorities face a growing problem of where to house survivors. More than 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and another 3,000 flooded.\nMore than 4,000 tents have been sent to Zhouqu county, but the mountainous terrain means there is little open space to set up camps. So far just 100 tents have been erected, our correspondent says.\nHopes of finding many more survivors in the buried buildings are fading, he adds.\nOn Wednesday, a 50-year-old man was rescued from a flooded hotel located inside the barrier lake formed by landslide debris. A 52-year-old man was pulled alive from the rubble on Tuesday, more than 50 hours after the disaster, and other rescue teams say they have heard \"very faint\" signs of life elsewhere, state media reported.\nChinese town reeling after landslide\nAerial view: Before and after\nIn pictures: Relief race\nRapid response from Beijing\nChina troops blast landslide dam\nUN calls for end of arms sales to Myanmar\nIn a rare move, the UN condemns the overthrowing of Aung San Suu Kyi and calls for an arms embargo.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["90mm (3.5in)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north-western China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A 52-year-old man was pulled alive"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Heavy rain","Heavy rain"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Fresh landslides and heavy rain in northwestern China leave at least 29 people dead and a further 10,500 trapped. (Reuters) (China Daily) (BBC)","document":"BEIJING - Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains have left 19 people dead, 20 missing and thousands trapped in parts of west China, apart from the Zhouqu mudslides that killed more than 1,000, local authorities said Friday.\nDownpours pounded some areas of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces from Wednesday night to Thursday night, destroying homes, inundating croplands, and disrupting traffic and telecommunications.\n\nLocal authorities are evacuating residents and have dispatched tents, instant noodles, bottled water, quilts and pans to the disaster-hit areas, the government said.\nIn Tianshui, Gansu, four people have died and eight are missing, the local government said.\nIn Mianzhu, Sichuan, mudslides have left five people dead and 500 others trapped in the rural mountainous areas, a spokesman with the municipal government said.\nGovernment staff, troops and factory workers have been mobilized to help evacuate the disaster-stricken residents, the spokesman said.\nIn Weinan, Shaanxi, floods have affected some 100,000 people and forced an evacuation of 4,600 residents. More than 4,800 homes were destroyed or damaged, a spokesman with the Weinan Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau said.\nIn another development, meteorological authorities have warned of more heavy rains in the coming days for Gansu's Zhouqu County, where the devastating mudslides have left 1,144 people dead and 600 missing.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["areas of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces","areas","Gansu","Sichuan","areas","Gansu","west China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["our people have died and eight are missing","people","missing","19 people dead, 20 missing and thousands trapped","five people dead and 500 others trapped in the rural mountainous areas","have affected some 100,000 people and forced an evacuation of 4,600 residents","Local authorities are evacuating residents and have dispatched tents, instant noodles, bottled water, quilts and pans to the disaster-hit areas, the government said","local authorities","government said","government said","disaster","Government staff, troops and factory workers have been mobilized to help evacuate the disaster-stricken residents","disaster"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday night to Thursday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["torrential rains"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2013 February 2013 nor'easter: A massive blizzard hits the northeastern United States and southeastern regions of Canada, with over 5,000 flights cancelled and at least 600,000 thousand people losing power. (BBC) (CNN) (NBC News) (CBC News)","document":"A major snowstorm is hitting the north-eastern US and eastern Canada, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power and paralysing transport.\nMassachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and Maine are all on an emergency footing, with millions of residents being warned to stay indoors.\nMassachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has temporarily banned all non-essential traffic on the state's roads. Meteorologists say the storm could be New England's worst for decades.\nAirlines cancelled more than 5,000 flights - including all those to and from the three major airports in New York City - and the train operator Amtrak has suspended nearly all services north of the city.\nPeople have been warned to stay off the roads, and stock up on food and other supplies as the storm affects 25 million people in the region.\nMore than 600,000 homes and businesses are without power in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.\nA nuclear power station in Massachusetts also lost power and was forced to shut down. Back-up generators are operating equipment and there is no threat to the public, officials said.\nCanadians on the Atlantic Coast are also bracing for blizzards after heavy snow fell on Ontario.\nNew Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are under blizzard or storm watches.\nOntario has already seen 200 vehicle accidents, the CBC reported. At least three people have been killed.\nOne US man in his 70s also died when he lost control of his vehicle in Poughkeepsie, New York.\nBlizzard warnings are in effect for much of the coastal section of the north-eastern US, from Newark to southern Maine.\nForecasters said the storm could dump as much as three feet (90cm) of snow in some places as it hammered swathes of territory, with winds of up to 75mph (120km/h) expected to create deep drifts.\nPolice in New York say hundreds of cars are stuck on the Long Island Expressway, with officers trying to help the drivers to safety.\nParts of Massachusetts were under two feet of snow, with more expected over the weekend. \"This is a storm of major proportions,\" warned Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. \"Stay off the roads. Stay home.\"\nConnecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said: \"People need to take this storm seriously. Please stay home once the weather gets bad except in the case of real emergency.\"\nIn New York City, which is expecting a 12in (30cm) snowfall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said snow ploughs and 250,000 tonnes of salt were being put on standby.\nThe storm has also disrupted New York Fashion Week, which is held under a big tent. Organisers say they will bring in extra crews to help with snow removal and add an extra layer of tenting to the venue. Some parts in the city are still recovering from Sandy, an October storm that brought record flooding. Many of those areas face a renewed risk of storm surge and flooding from the winter storm.\nFuel shortages were being reported from Connecticut to New York City as motorists queued at petrol stations to fill up vehicles, generators and snow blowers.\nMayor Bloomberg urged residents not to panic-buy fuel.\nThe National Weather Service had earlier said the combination of two weather systems from the polar and sub-tropical jet streams would produce a \"potentially historic\" storm.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["12in (30cm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and Maine","Massachusetts","New York","Massachusetts","Rhode Island","Connecticut","Massachusetts","New York","Maine","New York","Massachusetts","Connecticut","New York","New York","Connecticut","New York","north-eastern US and eastern Canada","north","north-eastern US"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One US man in his 70s also died when he lost control of his vehicle in Poughkeepsie, New York","New York","New York","vehicle","New York","New York","New York","New York","People have been warned to stay off the roads, and stock up on food and other supplies as the storm affects 25 million people in the region","warned","stay","roads","Stay","roads","Stay","People","stay","At least three people have been killed","millions of residents being warned to stay indoors","warned","warned","residents","hundreds of thousands of homes without power"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["A major snowstorm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2013 Low–lying parts of the Western Australian town of Port Hedland are evacuated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty expected to reach the coast tomorrow. (AAP via SBS News) (ABC News Australia)","document":"Residents in Western Australia's Pilbara region are on alert for destructive weather overnight as Tropical Cyclone Rusty moves slowly towards the coast.\nA red alert has been issued for the Port Hedland area and locals are being warned they can expect to hunker down for more than 36 hours.\nThe category-three system is expected cross the coast tomorrow evening and forecasters predict it will intensify as it gets closer to land. Low-lying areas in the town have been evacuated with a storm surge expected when Rusty hits, and the weather bureau is also warning of phenomenal amounts of rain.\nLatest BOM warning | Latest DFES emergency warning\n\nThe bureau's regional director, Mike Bergin, says Port Hedland will experience Perth's entire winter rainfall in just three days.\n\"It's going to be a long, protracted and quite dangerous experience,\" he said. \"Storm surge is going to be a particular problem; rainfall, we still expect to see cumulative totals over the three days of over 500 millimetres, and perhaps up to 600.\"\nEarlier, the bureau's Andrew Burton likened the system to a storm of biblical proportions.\n\"We are talking Noah's Ark here, we really are talking phenomenal amounts of rainfall,\" he said. The red alert is current for people living in, or near, communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek.\nThe Department of Fire and Emergency Services is advising people to remain in the strongest part of their house, making sure they have food and water.\nA DFES spokesman, Phil Cribb, says residents should remain vigilant despite the long wait.\n\"There'll be buildings that may be damaged, there may be loose tin, flying objects,\" he said. \"Power may be down and there may be airborne hazards from asbestos or septics and those sorts of things. \"It's about listening and being vigilant to make sure that if something does happen, they're ready to act.\"\nThe strong winds have brought down some overhead power lines and hundreds of houses and businesses are without electricity.\nHorizon Power's Roman Raudonikis says the lines cannot be repaired until after the cyclone has passed.\n\"We know where the fault is, it's just a case that we can't get into the air to safely repair the damage,\" he said.\n\"As soon as the all-clear is given the crews will be on site and working to repair that.\"\nEmergency authorities say the South Hedland stadium, which is being used as an evacuation centre, is at capacity.\nPort Hedland deputy mayor, George Deccache, says the stadium can hold more than 500 people.\n\"The welfare centres are available to everyone who are in temporary accommodation such as caravans, backpackers or anyone who needs a safer place to stay during this period,\" he said.\n\"Both cyclone welfare centres in Port and South Hedland will be well equipped with all the basics such as food, water, blankets, and sleeping mats.\"\nNASA\nMichelle Davison, a fly-in fly-out worker from Queensland, was one of the first to arrive at the Port Hedland evacuation centre. \"When there's a cyclone on and you're told to evacuate, the smartest thing you can do is follow the directions you're given,\" she said. \"That gives your family reassurance as well. \"I phoned my partner and said we'd been evacuated and he said 'ok good you're going somewhere safer', so it gives them comfort.\" The Yandi Yarra and the Warralong Aboriginal communities have also been evacuated.\nABC News: Joanna Menagh Mining giants Fortescue Metals and Atlas Iron have both locked down all operations in Port Hedland, with all work suspended. The Port handles a fifth of all sea-borne iron ore, and the cyclone has halted the loading of millions of tonnes of the commodity. Rio Tinto says it has stopped ship loading at nearby Dampier and Cape Lambert, but all other operations including rail and stockpiling are continuing. Meanwhile eight schools in Hedland are closed until further notice, including Hedland Senior High School and Port and South Hedland primary schools.\nThe Yandi Yarra Remote Community School and Marble Bar and Nullagine primary schools have been closed due to a risk of flooding.\nSearch any location in Australia to find nearby active incidents\nStay up-to-date with local coverage on ABC Radio, the emergency broadcaster\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Pilbara"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents in Western Australia's Pilbara region are on alert for destructive weather overnight","alert","alert","residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["in just three days","three days","tomorrow evening"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical Cyclone","category-three"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rusty","Rusty"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2013 Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty intensifies to Category 4 status before crossing the coast of Western Australia between Port Hedland and Pardoo. (ABC News Australia)","document":"Tropical Cyclone Rusty has picked up speed and is tracking towards Western Australia's Pilbara as locals take shelter and mining sites ground to a halt ahead of its expected landfall.\nThe giant category four storm is about 125km north-north-east of Port Hedland and gathering strength, with winds near its eye gusting to more than 200 kilometres per hour.\nThe Department of Fire and Emergency Services' Les Hayter says Rusty's speed has picked up to about 8 kilometres an hour. \"It's not sitting still. It's decided to make a move and it's making it reasonably quick,\" he said. The mining town of Port Hedland is expected to escape the worst of Rusty, with the system now expected to hit near the tiny Pilbara community of Pardoo, about 120 kilometres east of Port Hedland. Latest BOM warning | Latest DFES emergency warning\n\nAs Tropical Cyclone Rusty heads for the coast of Western Australia, find out more about these storms and how they cause so much damage.\nIan Badger at Pardoo Roadhouse says winds are strong and the rain is steady. \"I've got some leaking in the roof and I've got water coming in through,\" he said.\n\"As long as the building holds together I'll be alright.\"\nMr Badger says besides himself, two men are seeking refuge in their truck cabin at the roadhouse. He says he is well prepared but the amount of rain hitting the region in the past few days is a concern. \"It's just a matter of hanging on. The amount of water that's around is a bit worrying,\" he said. \"The ground is very sodden, very soft. As soon as you get a get a bit of strong wind, trees start going over.\"\nThis morning the storm was around 200 kilometres across, with the eye of the storm 65km in diameter.\nForecasters say Rusty will dump up to 600 millimetres of rain in a 24-hour period, with very destructive winds in excess of 160kph expected to hit as it approaches the coast.\nPort Hedland has already recorded wind gusts of up to 120kph and a red alert is in place for communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland.\nResidents in the red alert area have been told to take shelter.\nEmergency authorities are warning residents are in for a prolonged period of lockdown as the slow-moving system heads across the coast.\n\"Unfortunately it's not typical of the cyclones we get up here, that take about 12 hours to cross, and we say goodbye to that one, and focus on the next one,\" Mr Hayter said.\n\"I really feel sorry for the people in red alert mode at the moment. This is going to be for a very long period of time.\"\nwww.bom.gov.au\nThe Bureau of Meteorology's Neil Bennett warns that the system is expected to pack a punch.\n\"These are severe tropical cyclones. These are very, very powerful systems and even though many residents in the Pilbara have been through a number of tropical cyclones, they still bring with them an element of risk and they just can't be underestimated,\" he said. \"We're expecting that during [today] we could see wind gusts in excess of 160kph,\" he said.\n\"[This] evening, we could see some gusts getting up to nearly 250kph.\"\nBureau regional director Mike Bergin says Port Hedland will experience the equivalent of Perth's entire winter rainfall in just three days.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["125km north-north-east of Port Hedland","Port Hedland","east","Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Port Hedland","Port Hedland"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Department of Fire and Emergency Services' Les Hayter"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["600 millimetres of rain","rain","rain"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["heads for the coast of Western Australia","Western Australia","coast","heads","coast","expected to hit near the tiny Pilbara community of Pardoo","expected","expected","Pardoo","expected","Pardoo","expected"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two men are seeking refuge in their truck cabin at the roadhouse","Roadhouse"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category four storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["160kph","160kph","8 kilometres an hour","nearly 250kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rusty","Rusty","Rusty","Rusty","Rusty"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 At least 24 people are killed and more than 100 injured in a tornado and hail storm in southern China. (AFP via ABC News Australia)","document":"Southern China has been warned to brace for more storms after extreme weather lashed southern China.\nAt least 24 people died and more than 100 were injured after heavy rain moved through five provinces and a \"super-tornado\" carrying huge hailstones hit one city.\nThe China Meteorological Centre says the severe weather is expected to continue until Sunday.\n\"All parts of southern China should take measures to be on guard against the negative influence of thunder and lightning, high wind and hail,\" the centre said.\nThe storms reached their peak on Wednesday when local media reported a capsized ferry in the city of Nanping in the south-eastern province of Fujian, causing the deaths of 11 people with four still missing.\nGale winds of up to 75 kilometres reportedly blew down 2,000 structures, damaging a further 248,000.\nNine people were killed in Dongguan, in Guangdong province in the south.\nOnline reports showed images from the city of a car windscreen which appeared to have been smashed by egg-sized hailstones.\nMany of the dead in Dongguan were trapped in collapsed buildings. Another 148 people were injured, including 11 who were critically ill, the report said.\nState-run news agency Xinhua put the death toll at 24.\nOther provinces affected by storms and torrential rain on Wednesday were nearby Jiangxi, Hunan in central China and Guizhou in the south-west.\nA total of 1.53 million residents have been affected by severe weather and 215,000 people were forced to relocate, Xinhua said, citing the Ministry of Civil Affairs.\nAFP\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The China Meteorological Centre"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southern China","Southern China","southern China","Jiangxi, Hunan in central China and Guizhou in the south-west","south","south"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["1.53 million residents have been affected by severe weather and 215,000 people were forced to relocate","severe weather","affected","24 people died and more than 100 were injured","injured","deaths of 11 people with four still missing","Nine people were killed"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["storms","storms","storms","tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["super-tornado"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 Thousands of homes in Scotland and Northern Ireland are without electricity and many roads are closed after snowfall and strong winds hit over the weekend. (BBC)","document":"Thousands of homes are still without power and many roads remain impassable after severe weather affected much of the UK over the weekend. In Scotland several thousand homes were affected after snow and strong winds damaged power cables.\nIn Northern Ireland some households in remote areas have been warned it could be several days before their supplies are reconnected. The Met Office has issued a warning for ongoing severe weather.\nIt has issued an extension to its previous amber alert for \"severe weather action\". Experts say there is a 100% probability of severe cold weather and icy conditions between 08:00 GMT on Monday and 08:00 GMT on Friday in parts of England. \"Bitterly cold easterly winds will persist this week, bringing snow showers to north-east England and light snow flurries across other areas of England. With lying snow and partial snow melt during the daytimes, icy conditions are likely during the nights,\" the Met Office says.\nParts of south-west Scotland, Kintyre and the Isle of Arran have been without power for four days. Electricity engineers are still working to reconnect about 3,500 homes on Kintyre and 1,500 on Arran.\nThe sheer weight of snow has destroyed power line and engineers have been hampered by snow-drifts and heavy winds over the weekend.\nFraser Hendry, a manager at the Kilnoch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot, on the isle of Arran, said an emergency centre for local people had been set up in the hotel.\n\"The main problem we have is the amount of snow that fell. The roads are dreadful, the roads that have been cleared, the snow has melted and is now just freezing over and the whole place is like an ice rink. \"Our hotel has had an old generator for 60 years. We're trying to keep that going at the moment so there is a warm place for the medics, the mountain rescue and the local fire brigade.\n\"We've been told it could be Friday before we get the supply back.\"\nKenneth Young, who is on Arran, told the BBC the situation was pretty bad, especially on the south side of the island.\n\"There's been drift of up to 10ft. I know the headmistress of the local primary school on the south side and she showed me some pictures,\" he said. \"Obviously the school is closed but she wanted to check the building itself and they look like scenes from the Arctic Circle.\"\nGeology students from Calder High School in West Yorkshire have been stranded at the Loch Ranza Field Studies Centre on the island. They were supposed to leave on Friday but were snowed in.\nTeacher Paul Williams told the BBC it had been very cold and he was looking forward to his feet thawing out.\n\"There were four school groups there. The centre staff have been great, keeping us fed with hot food - soup and porridge. Everyone mucked in together and the lads were helping clear the paths and helping the coastguard unload supplies.\"\nWill Emberton, 16, added: \"We were stuck inside most days. We played eight games of Risk.\"\nRoss Easton, from Scottish and Southern Energy, said extra staff had been called in to deal with the problems.\n\"This really has been a mammoth effort from us, we've got teams drafted in from the South of England and from Scotland. Typically on Arran we've got two members of staff. Right now we've got 150,\" he said.\nIn other developments:\nIn Derbyshire's Peak District, Laura Boddy said she had been cut off for the last two days.\n\"We certainly started running out of milk earlier on, and bread, but we managed to get out to a farm by walking over and through the drifts,\" she said.\n\"In fact at times we had to walk on top of walls because that was the only clear space we could get to. It's still very snowy, thankfully the wind has now died down a bit but there have been drifts that are seven or eight feet high.\"\nEngineers battle to restore power\nHundreds suffer effects of snowstorm\nSnow could return in time for Easter\nSnowbound family burn old furniture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Met Office","Met Office"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Parts of south-west Scotland, Kintyre and the Isle of Arran","parts","Kintyre","Arran","isle","Arran","Arran","south","south","South","Arran","parts of England","England","England","Parts","England","Scotland","Scotland","Scotland","Northern Ireland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Electricity engineers are still working to reconnect about 3,500 homes on Kintyre and 1,500 on Arran","Kintyre","Arran","Arran","Arran","Arran"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["between 08:00 GMT on Monday and 08:00 GMT on Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["severe weather","severe weather","severe weather","snow and strong winds","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","Snow","severe cold weather"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Thousands are left without power and flights are grounded after a powerful storm hits Auckland, New Zealand. (Radio New Zealand)","document":"No planes are being allowed to land at Auckland Airport and power is out across the city as powerful winds struck.\nA tree landed on a car on New North Road in Morningside, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson\nAll flights into Auckland Airport are being diverted because of debris on the main runway caused by strong winds.\nThe airport said flights were either being returned to their originating airport or Christchurch.\nThere is no estimated time for when the runway will reopen, it said.\nMetService said the winds have eased but would remain strong overnight in Auckland, Coromandel and Waikato.\nCivil Defence said it was not activating or mobilising but were standing by to monitor the response.\nHugely violent winds in Mt Albert. Neighbor has lost most of their roof in. Huge chunks of it have gone through my fence and landed in the drive. More to come by the sounds of it. @WeatherWatchNZ @NZStuff pic.twitter.com/cXuaRhXgvh\n\nA large tree came down across two lanes of New North Road in Morningside, hitting a car.\nThere was no sign of emergency services at the scene to divert traffic around it, an RNZ reporter on the scene said.\nTwo houses were hit by falling trees, which smashed through roofs in Stanley Point and Birkdale. Trees also toppled onto a house in Massey and power lines are down on the West Coast Road.\nI just watched a good portion of Mt. Eden’s power transformers blow up spectacularly! #Auckland\nPower is out to many parts of New Zealand's biggest city after sustained winds of 100km/h winds battered the area.\nMetService said a 133km/h gust of wind has been recorded at Auckland Harbour bridge.\nNiwa said the wind gusts around Auckland this evening were the same strength as a category one cyclone.\nMangere had gusts of more than 100km/h for three consecutive hours - between 8pm and 11pm.\nNiwa said winds of this magnitude were typical of category one cyclone intensity.\nPower company Vector said there were widespread outages affecting the central city and many western suburbs, with about 15,000 people without power.\nIn some areas where power is out, there are no street lights and some traffic lights are also out.\nGoddamn, riding over the harbour bridge to the shore just now was hands down the scariest thing I've ever done in my life. 30kph, hazards on, being blown from one lane to the other. Lightning strike kills the lights halfway across.\nVector said flashes of light reported were from powerlines and power transformers not thunderstorms.\nVector, which covers Auckland and wider city, has 25 outages, mainly in the west and south of the city.\nFurther south, power company Counties Power, which covers Pukekohe to the west coast and Port Waikato, said there were power lines down and many people face a night without electricity.\nA screenshot from Counties Power's website showing the extent of outages in the upper North Island. Photo: Screenschot / Counties Power\nHope you're all ok out there #Auckland, high winds are causing chaos across the region, particularly out west. Remember, if your property is severely damaged or you're in danger phone 111. Trees down on public land can be reported to @AklCouncil on 09 301 0101.\nMetService said the heaviest rain tonight and into tomorrow would fall in Hawke's Bay where up to 120mm could accumulate.\nIt said Taranaki, Taihape, and Whanganui would also get a dousing of up to 100mm as well as isolated thunderstorms.\nSevere gales are expected in Marlborough Sounds, Wellington, Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua, Taranaki, Waikato, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, but warnings for in Westland and Buller have been lifted.\nHeavy snow has eased about the Kaikōura Ranges and this warning has now also been lifted.\nThe Transport Agency has urged drivers to be prepared for winter-like conditions on central and lower North Island roads over the next 24 hours.\nMetService said there would likely be some snow on the alpine passes overnight.\nDo you have any weather photos or videos to share? Send them to us: webnews@radionz.co.nz\nDamage left after the tornado swept through Rahotū this morning. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin\nFurther south, about a dozen homes in the Taranaki town of Rahotu have lost their roofs, farm buildings were destroyed and power lines came down.\nSeven families have had to be relocated.\nMore than 1000 homes in Taranaki are expected to be without power overnight, but that number could rise if conditions get worse.\nDuty controller Brent Manning said people should stay home and not travel unless it was an emergency.\n8:35pm #Update: The centre of a low is making landfall in the western North Island (Waikato to South Auckland). Much cooler S to SW winds develop tonight behind the centre spreading over northern NZ. Winds peak between now and the early hours of Weds AM at this stage. pic.twitter.com/EmnrmaXY2s\nMeanwhile, 11 homes have been deemed uninhabitable after a tornado struck National Park Village in the central North Island this morning.\nThe tornado went through the village this morning ripping off roofs and severely damaging homes.\nRuapehu District Council said Urban Search and Rescue have done structural inspections of damaged properties.\nSeven have been red-stickered, six have been yellow stickered with 11 properties deemed uninhabitable.\nPower has been restored to all properties, damaged properties have had their electricity isolated.\nForty homes remain inside a cordon and residents would not be allowed back home tonight.\nCouncil chief executive Clive Manley said only three of the properties were full-time homes while the rest were holiday homes.\n\"We believe no one is in danger, all of the buildings with severe damage are cordoned off so people can't enter them.\n\"Anyone who has any issues or needs tonight can go to the welfare centre which has been set up at the primary school,\" he said.\nSecurity patrols would monitor the cordons, Mr Manley said.\n\"In the morning people will be allowed into their properties under supervision, we understand some property owners are driving to the village tonight, we ask that they all just report to the welfare centre,\" Mr Manley said.\nThe council's building team will be on site tomorrow morning to post notices on restricted buildings.\nWater is safe to drink in the village and sewerage is operational.\nMeanwhile, in the West Coast of the South Island, power is out to hundreds of homes in Buller.\nBuller Electricity said about 315 households in Karamea and Little Wanganui had lost power, probably due to fallen trees in the Karamea Bluff area.\nTasman police said three camper vans and one caravan toppled near Hokitika, Mount Hercules, Harihari and Westport this morning due the high winds.\nMr Koefoed said roofs had also been lifted in both Westport and Greymouth. He said people should avoid travel and secure trampolines and outdoor furniture.\n\n.\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Auckland, Coromandel and Waikato","Auckland","Auckland","Auckland","Auckland","Auckland","Auckland","Auckland","Waikato","Auckland","Waikato","Auckland","Coromandel","Waikato","Auckland","Auckland Harbour bridge","Mangere"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["between 8pm and 11pm"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category one cyclone","category one cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["more than 100km/h","100km","133km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2013 More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the Mexican Army after floods caused by Hurricane Manuel isolate the resort city of Acapulco with many tourists and residents stranded. (BBC)","document":"More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the army from the Mexican resort of Acapulco following deadly floods caused by Tropical Storm Manuel.\nBut many more tourists and local residents remain stranded in the city and along the west coast after landslides blocked main roads.\nManuel was almost immediately followed by Hurricane Ingrid, causing widespread devastation in the east of the country.\nAt least 57 people are now known to have died in flooding and landslides.\nIt was the first time since 1958 that two powerful storms hit Mexico within 24 hours.\nIn Acapulco, the army - helped by local airlines - is continuing to fly stranded tourists, Mexicans and foreigners, to the capital Mexico City.\nPassengers are being taken directly from shelters to the runway because the main airport terminal remains closed. \"I see everybody helping,\" said Canadian tourist Michael Paliti, adding that he was \"trying to get home as best as possible\". More than 2,000 tourists have already been evacuated, but another 40,000 are believed to have been marooned in Acapulco. \"We're desperate because we cannot return to our city or jobs. But for now, there's still no hope of returning,\" Isabel Duarte, another tourist, said.\nDozens of other towns in the south-western Guerrero state have also been hit by Manuel since it made landfall on Sunday. There are fears that remote hillside communities may be particularly affected. Manuel has now dissipated over south-western Mexico.\nIn the east, Hurricane Ingrid was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly before it made landfall on Monday near the town of La Pesca.\nMore than 20,000 people have since been evacuated in the state of Veracruz.\nMexicans are now hoping for a break in the weather to give them a chance to regroup and allow rescuers to operate more freely, the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City reports.\nBut there seems to be no let up in the rain and powerful winds for the time being, our correspondent adds.\nMexico battered by two deadly storms\nMexico mudslides and floods kill 14\nStorm Ernesto hits Mexico again\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Acapulco","Acapulco","south-western Guerrero","south"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 2,000 tourists have already been evacuated, but another 40,000 are believed to have been marooned in Acapulco","Acapulco","evacuated","More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the army from the Mexican resort of Acapulco","Acapulco","army","many more tourists and local residents remain stranded in the city","tourists","City","city","City","57 people are now known to have died"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical Storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Manuel","Manuel","Manuel","Manuel"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2013 Typhoon Fitow makes landfall in the Chinese province of Fujian, bringing heavy rain and killing at least two people. (BBC)","document":"Powerful Typhoon Fitow has rammed into eastern China after triggering the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.\nWith winds up to 151km/h (93mph), the storm landed in Fujian province early on Monday, bringing heavy rains and causing widespread power cuts.\nThe authorities earlier issued the highest alert - red - for the area.\nAt least two people have been killed by the typhoon, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.\nOne victim was on his way to rescue a fisherman when he was blown off a hill by strong winds late on Sunday, Xinhua said.\nSome homes are said to have collapsed in neighbouring Zhejiang province and two port workers are missing. Typhoon Fitow - named after a flower - made landfall at 01:15 local time on Monday (17:15 GMT Sunday) in the city of Fuding, Chinese meteorologists said.\nThe typhoon had affected over three million people in Zhejiang and caused economic damage of over 2bn yuan ($330m; £200m), Xinhua said, citing the provincial flood control office.\nParts of China have been hit by up to 200mm (8 inches) of rain, AFP news agency reported.\nOver the weekend the authorities drafted in the army to help strengthen flood defences, the BBC's John Sudworth in Shanghai reports.\nChina is used to dealing with extreme weather events but, nonetheless, the risk to life remains high, our correspondent adds.\nIn Fujian, 177,000 people were evacuated before the storm hit the coast, Xinhua said, while in Zhejiang, some 574,000 people had to leave their homes.\nSome 35,000 boats in Zhejiang and 30,000 in Fujian were ordered to return to harbour for shelter.\nCoastal facilities such as seaside bathing centres were also closed, state media reported.\n\"We must not leave anybody in danger,\" Zhejiang Governor Li Qiang was quoted as saying.\nThe typhoon also caused suspension of bullet trains and coach services in several cities in the area.\nDozens of flights to and from Wenzhou airport in Zhejiang were cancelled.\nThe storm is now moving north-west and is expected to weaken quickly.\nTyphoon Fitow is the 23rd tropical storm to hit China this year, Xinhua reported.\nIt comes just weeks after Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people in southern Guangdong province.\n\n\n\n\n\nI.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["200mm (8 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Fujian province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two people have been killed by the typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","killed","evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people","people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["151km/h (93mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fitow","Fitow","Fitow"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2013 Cyclone Phailin: India's Odisha and Andhra Pradesh prepare for storm. (BBC)","document":"As many as 500,000 people in India have been evacuated as a massive cyclone sweeps through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast. Cyclone Phailin, categorised as \"very severe\" by weather forecasters, is expected to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states on Saturday evening.\nThe Meteorological Department has predicted the storm will bring winds of up to 220km/h (136mph).\nA super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.\nBut officials say this time they are better prepared, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Orissa reports.\nThe Meteorological Department said Cyclone Phailin was due to make landfall late on Saturday evening, Indian time. The centre of the storm was expected to hit the coast around the town of Gopalpur. Officials said Cyclone Phailin would bring a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was likely to cause \"extensive damage\" to mud houses on the coast. \"No-one will be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses in the coastal areas,'' said Orissa's Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patra.\nThe army is on standby in the two states for emergency and relief operations. Officials said helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas. Meanwhile, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre predicted that Phailin could produce gusts of up to 296km/h (184 mph), while the London-based Tropical Storm Risk classified Phailin as a Category Five storm - the most powerful. Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea.\nHeavy rain and winds have already struck Orissa, where authorities have set up storm shelters for evacuees.\nJanmejay Mohapatra, a resident of Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar, said it was too dangerous to go out now, as trees were down and debris was flying everywhere.\n\"Already the rain is very heavy and the wind is gusting at 100-120km an hour,\" he told the BBC. \"The phone lines are down where I am and we have no electricity.\"\nMinister Surya Narayan Patra said:\"We are fighting against nature. We are better prepared this time, we learnt a lot from 1999.\"\nIndia's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.\nIn December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people.\nAnimated guide: Hurricanes\nThree India sailors' bodies found\nDozens dead as India hit by cyclone\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Meteorological Department","Meteorological Department"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["500,000 people in India have been evacuated","India","India","India"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday evening, Indian time","Saturday evening"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["the coast around the town of Gopalpur"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category Five storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["220km/h (136mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Phailin","Phailin","Phailin","Phailin","Phailin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2013 Cyclone Phailin is expected to make landfall on the east coast of India today. (AFP via Australia Network)","document":"Tens of thousands of terrified villagers are bracing for the arrival of a massive cyclone bearing down on India's east coast, packing winds of up 220 kilometres an hour.\nHigh waves were already pounding rain-drenched beaches and trees were bent double by strong winds ahead of the arrival of Cyclone Phailin, which was expected to make landfall Saturday evening accompanied by a storm surge of up to three metres.\nThe storm was set to hit in the same coastal area as a devastating cyclone which struck in 1999, killing thousands of people.\nAuthorities evacuated tens of thousands of people Friday from flimsy thatched shacks along the coasts of the states of Orissa and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to relief camps.\nTens of thousands more were being shifted from the path of Cyclone Phailin, the Thai word for sapphire.\n\"The first priority will be to save people's lives, ensure food and electricity,\" Orissa's Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patra said.\nThe Orissa government said it was setting a \"zero casualty target\" in the densely populated state of close to 40 million people and was seeking \"100 percent\" evacuation of people in areas likely to be hit by the storm.\nThe storm was bearing down on India's east coast just as Hindus were celebrating one of the most important religious festivals of the year.\n\"I thought we would be celebrating but now I am just worried about the storm,\" a teenager told India's NDTV.\nSatellite photos showed an intimidating cloud mass barrelling across the Bay of Bengal as forecasters said the danger zone was about 150 kilometres wide and would hit coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh state.\nIn Orissa's capital Bhubaneswar, where trees were swaying in strong winds, panic buying saw many shops run low on food with memories still strong of the deadly cyclone which hit the same region 14 years ago.\n\"It's touch-and-go whether it turns into a supercyclone,\" the most powerful type of storm, India Meteorological Department director general Laxman Singh Rathore told a news conference late Friday.\n\"The storm has high damage potential, considering the windspeed,\" he added, calling the weather mass a \"category 6\" storm. He said the storm would be classed as a \"supercyclone\" if it crossed the 6.5 level.\nThe military has been called out to help relief efforts and India's air force said two emergency teams had been dispatched to Bhubaneswar while transport planes and helicopters were on standby.\nThe deadly 1999 cyclone which knocked out power lines, railway links and devastated forest areas, packed far higher speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour and led to a storm surge of six metres.\nA government report on the disaster published in 2009 put the death toll at 8,243, and 445,000 livestock perished.\nAuthorities were better prepared for this cyclone than the one in 1999, said Rathore, who said the weather office had been able to track the storm better.\n\"We have been given three very good days to warn people,\" Rathore said, noting that in 1999 authorities had only one day to make cyclone preparations.\nThe better preparedness \"will definitely have a (positive) impact on property and life\", Rathore said.\nHe said the cyclone was \"voluminous\" but dismissed media reports that it was the size of the country.\nSome of the deadliest cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal around this time of year at the end of the steamy monsoon season, when sea temperatures are at their warmest.\nA cyclone that struck Bangladesh in 1970 killed hundreds of thousands of people.\nAFP\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["India Meteorological Department director general Laxman Singh Rathore"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["ndia's east coast","east coast","would hit coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh state"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people","thousands","people","thousands","people","thousands","people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 6"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["220 kilometres an hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Phailin","Phailin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2013 Typhoon Nari hits the Philippines killing at least five people and leaving two million without power. (AFP via ABC News)","document":"Typhoon Nari has pummelled the northern Philippines, ripping roofs off buildings, killing five people and leaving more than two million people without electricity.\nNari hit the country's east coast around midnight local time, toppling trees and pylons and dumping heavy rain as it cut a westward swathe through the farming regions of the main island of Luzon.\n\"One of the dead was a police officer awaiting deployment for rescue duties. He was buried in a mudslide,\" National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesman Rey Balido told a news conference in Manila.\nThree people were crushed to death by falling trees while another person was electrocuted by a loose power line, he added.\nThe damage blacked out 37 towns and cities across central Luzon, according to a tally by the civil defence office in the region.\nRoad and utility crews were out clearing roads and restoring power, but it could take up to two days before electricity is restored and major highways are reopened to traffic.\nA total of 2.1 million people live in the areas now without electricity, according to official population figures.\nCooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies\nMr Balido said four people were listed as missing, including a fisherman on the country's east coast who had been sleeping in his boat when the cyclone made landfall.\nThree other fishermen who put to sea elsewhere before the typhoon have also failed to return.\nAbout 3,000 people moved into government-run shelters before the typhoon struck amid warnings of flooding and landslides.\nSeventeen villages in Bulacan, a province that lies next to Manila, were under up to 1.2 metres of floodwater..\nThe typhoon spared the capital Manila, where the state weather service had warned on Friday about possible widespread flooding.\nNo major floods have been reported in the metropolis of more than 12 million people.\nAfter sweeping across the Philippines, Nari blew out to the South China Sea with peak winds of 120 kilometres an hour, the state weather service said.\nProjections from the Hong Kong Observatory had the storm gathering pace over the coming days as it heads towards the northeast coast of Vietnam.\nThe Philippines is hit by about 20 major storms or typhoons each year that occur mainly between June and October.\nAFP\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["2.1 million people live in the areas now without electricity","without electricity","killing five people and leaving more than two million people without electricity","One of the dead was a police officer awaiting deployment for rescue duties. He was buried in a mudslide","Three people were crushed to death by falling trees","another person was electrocuted by a loose power line"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["midnight local time"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nari","Nari","Nari"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2013 At least 18 people are dead and 45 people are missing in Japan after Typhoon Wipha hit yesterday. (Zee News)","document":"Rescue workers were combing through piles of debris from mudslides that buried people and destroyed dozens of homes on a Japanese island, as officials acknowledged today that an evacuation could have saved lives.\nTokyo: Rescue workers were combing through piles of debris from mudslides that buried people and destroyed dozens of homes on a Japanese island, as officials acknowledged today that an evacuation could have saved lives.\nAt least 18 deaths were confirmed from Typhoon Wipha and 45 people are missing, the government said.\nHardest hit from the storm, which swept up Japan`s eastern coast yesterday, was Izu Oshima island, about 120 km south of Tokyo.\nSome 1,100 rescuers were searching through mountains of trees, wrecked homes and other debris, shouting in hopes of finding survivors. Residents and shop owners cleaned out the mud from their buildings.\n\"There is concern that perhaps more lives could have been saved if there had been an evacuation. We have concluded this and must apologize,\" said Masafumi Kawashima, mayor of Izu Oshima.\nKatsunobu Kato, a government spokesman, told reporters that his understanding is that proper warnings were issued regarding forecasts for torrential rains.\nThe areas affected by the mudslides were indicated as hazardous zones on maps, he said, adding that the government was checking to see if there was any factual basis for complaints that an evacuation order should have been issued.\nMore than 350 homes were damaged or destroyed, including 283 on Izu Oshima, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.\nThe typhoon, was downgraded to a tropical storm last evening and churned offshore from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.\nMore than 30 inches of rain fell on Izu Oshima during a 24-hour period ending last morning, the most since record-keeping began in 1991.\nIzu Oshima is the largest island in the Izu chain southwest of Tokyo. It has one of Japan`s most active volcanoes, Mount Mihara, and is a major base for growing camellias. About 8,200 people live on the island, which is accessible by ferry from Tokyo.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["30 inches of rain"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan`s eastern coast","Japan","Oshima island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["1,100 rescuers were searching through mountains of trees, wrecked homes and other debris, shouting in hopes of finding survivors. Residents and shop owners cleaned out the mud from their buildings","debris","Rescue workers were combing through piles of debris from mudslides that buried people","Rescue workers","combing","piles","debris","mudslides","buried people","debris","mudslides","18 deaths","45 people are missing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wipha"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2013 Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones in recorded history to make landfall, hits the Visayas in the Philippines, with at least three people dead. (BBC News) (AFP via Google) (Zee News)","document":"One of the strongest typhoons ever to hit land has slammed the Philippines, forcing millions to take shelter.\nPacking sustained winds of up to 320 km/h (199mph), Typhoon Haiyan left at least four people dead, but it may be days before the full damage is known.\nThe storm ripped apart buildings and triggered landslides as it ploughed across the country's central islands.\nOfficials said more than 12 million people were at risk, but the storm's rapid passing could limit its impact.\n\"We expect the level of destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan to be extensive and devastating, and sadly we fear that many lives will be lost,\" said Save the Children's Philippines director Anna Lindenfors.\nEduardo del Rosario, head of the disaster response agency, told the Associated Press that early evacuations and the speed at which the typhoon swept across the Philippines, may have helped reduce its destructive potential.\nLt Gen Roy Deveraturda, a military commander, echoed this view, telling the AP: \"It has helped that the typhoon blew very fast in terms of preventing lots of casualties.\"\nMeteorologists had earlier warned that the storm could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012, which ravaged parts of the southern Philippines and left at least 1,000 people dead. Haiyan - equivalent to a category five hurricane - is now heading towards Vietnam and southern China.\nThe storm made landfall on the Philippines shortly before dawn, bringing gusts that reached 379 km/h (235 mph), waves as high as 15m (45ft) and up to 400mm (15.75 inches) of rain in places. There were reports of buildings being ripped apart, flash floods and landslides. Schools and offices were closed, while ferry services and local flights were suspended. Hospitals and soldiers were on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.\nPower and communication lines were also cut to some areas.\nHaiyan raged across Leyte and Samar, turning roads into rivers, and battered Cebu city, the country's second largest with a population of 2.5 million.\nThe eye of the storm - known locally as Yolanda - passed well to the south of the capital Manila, but the city still felt its force. \"The wind here is whistling. It's so strong and the heavy downpours are continuing,\" Mai Zamora, from the charity World Vision, in Cebu, told the BBC.\n\"We've been hearing from my colleagues in [the city of] Tacloban that they've seen galvanised iron sheets flying just like kites.\"\n\"It was frightening. The wind was so strong, it was so loud, like a screaming woman. I could see trees being toppled down,\" Liwayway Sabuco, a saleswoman from Catbalogan, a major city on Samar, told AFP news agency.\nFormer BBC Manila correspondent Kate McGeown says that while reports are now coming in from some of the affected cities, there was still very little information from the countryside in large areas of the Visayas region such as Negros and Iloilo, and the island of Mindoro.\nThere were reports of substantial damage even in areas that missed the worst of Haiyan, the 25th tropical storm to enter Philippine territory this year.\n\"The storm was very strong - although Surigao City was not directly hit we experienced its fury early this morning,\" said Protestant pastor Diosdado Casera in Surigao City in north-east Mindanao .\n\"The big buildings made of concrete were fine, but the houses made of wood and shingles and plywood have suffered a lot of damage, mainly to their roof.\"\nA spokesperson for the British Red Cross, Nichola Jones, who is in Tagbilaran on the central island of Bohol, said the typhoon had cut power and torn off roof tiles, but was \"not too bad\". \"But I think to the north - that's the area that has borne the brunt. Those were the areas worst hit by the earthquake last month.\"\n\"In Cebu they have had quite a battering and I spoke to our colleagues and they've had quite strong winds and are locked down in their hotels. They are waiting to see what the situation is.\"\nJeff Masters, meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, said in a blog post that the damage from Haiyan's winds must have been \"perhaps the greatest wind damage any city on Earth has endured from a tropical cyclone in the past century\".\nOur correspondent says that, while the country is better prepared than for previous storms, it is not clear whether even buildings being used as storm shelters can withstand these winds.\nIn its path are areas already struggling to recover from a deadly 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol where about 5,000 people are still living in tents.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["400mm (15.75 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Visayas region"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["our people dead","people dead","forcing millions to take shelter"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["shortly before dawn"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category five hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["379 km/h (235 mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haiyan","Haiyan","Haiyan","Haiyan","Haiyan","Haiyan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["320 km/h (199mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2013 At least 18 people are dead after Cyclone Cleopatra hits the Italian island of Sardinia, causing heavy floods. (BBC)","document":"At least 18 people, including four children, have been killed in flooding on the Italian island of Sardinia after a cyclone and heavy rain.\nA number of people are reported missing after rivers burst their banks. Cars were swept away and bridges collapsed.\nThe area around the north-eastern city of Olbia was worst-hit - in some places the water was up to 3m (10ft) deep. Prime Minister Enrico Letta has declared a state of emergency, speaking of a \"national tragedy\".\nMr Letta announced that 20 million euros (£16.8m, $27m) would be allocated immediately to emergency relief efforts, with soldiers deployed in the region.\n\"We are focusing on essential operations: saving human lives, assisting displaced people and clearing road access,\" he said after an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday.\nMore than 440mm (17.3in) of rain fell in 90 minutes overnight into Tuesday morning. A Brazilian family of four drowned when their basement flat in the town of Arzachena, in the northern part of the island, filled with water. Two children were among the dead.\nThree people died when a road bridge collapsed on to their car near Olbia, according to local media.\nIn a separate incident, a mother and her daughter were found dead in their car after it was swept away by floods. Among the victims was a police officer who died after a bridge collapsed as he tried to escort an ambulance. Hundreds of people across the Mediterranean island have been moved from their homes because of the flash flooding caused by Cyclone Cleopatra.\n\"We're at maximum alert,\" Giorgio Cicalo, an official from Sardinia's civil protection authority, told Italy's Rai TV.\n\"We haven't seen a situation as extreme as this, perhaps for decades - especially because it's been across the whole island.\"\nSardinian Governor Ugo Cappellacci told Italian TV that the situation on the island was \"dramatic\". Meanwhile Olbia Mayor Gianni Giovanelli was quoted by Sky TG24 as saying that the city had been hit by an \"apocalyptic\"' storm.\nSome city residents used social media to offer shelter to those forced out of their homes. The BBC Weather Centre says the flooding was caused by a deep area of low pressure that has been sitting over the Mediterranean, bringing sustained heavy rain.\nThe unstable conditions are expected to move across Italy and further east, bringing further downpours and the threat of flooding, particularly in Venice.\nThe storm caused extensive damage to farms in Sardinia and disrupted a number of flights to and from mainland Italy.\nItalian President Giorgio Napolitano has expressed \"solidarity with the communities involved\" and \"heartfelt sympathy to the families of the many victims\".","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["3m (10ft)","440mm (17.3in)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["The area around the north-eastern city of Olbia","Olbia","Olbia","Italian island of Sardinia","Sardinia","Sardinia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A number of people are reported missing after rivers burst their banks","people","number","18 people, including four children, have been killed","Three people died","A Brazilian family of four drowned"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["cyclone and heavy rain","Cyclone","heavy rain"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cleopatra"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2013 At least two people are dead from windstorms in Northern California, U.S. (San Francisco Chronicle)","document":"Robert Kennedy of the Oakland Public Works Dept., Parks Division, cordons off a large eucalyptus tree near Lake Merritt that fell down during a windstorm on Nov. 22, 2013 in Oakland, Calif. The tree, estimated to be around 70 years old, was one of over 120 trees that were downed by the storm. The tree did not damage the nearby Lake Chalet restaurant or cause any injuries.\nA large tree was downed by a wind storm in front of the Lake Chalet restaurant in Oakland near Lake Merritt.\nTwo people were killed and thousands of homes and businesses lost power when high winds ripped through the Bay Area overnight, authorities said Friday.\nThe winds were particularly strong in the East Bay and North Bay, where numerous trees were knocked down. The National Weather Service reported a gust of 65 mph just north of Piedmont and said sustained winds topping 40 mph were common.\nA man was killed in Oakland when a falling tree struck him on Austin Street near Fruitvale Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday, police said. About a half hour later, a motorist who appeared to be trying to avoid downed debris crashed on Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.\nNeither man's name has been released.\nPacific Gas and Electric Co. crews worked overnight to repair fallen power lines. At one point, 67,000 customers - 43,000 in the East Bay - were without electricity, said PG&E spokeswoman Jana Morris.\nr\n.\n.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oakland, Calif","Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","East Bay and North Bay","East Bay"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["a motorist who appeared to be trying to avoid downed debris crashed on Skyline Boulevard in Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","Oakland","67,000 customers - 43,000 in the East Bay - were without electricity","East Bay","Two people were killed and thousands of homes and businesses lost power","killed","A man was killed","Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crews worked overnight to repair fallen power lines"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Nov. 22, 2013"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["windstorm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["65 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["40 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"A strom called Xaver has killed at least seven people in the northern Europe.","document":"Hurricane-force winds and tidal surges have killed at least seven people in northern Europe, flooded parts of Hamburg and left thousands of homes without electricity.\nThe storm, called Xaver, blew a tree on to a car in Poraj, northern Poland, killing three people inside. The storm also caused two deaths in the UK, one in Sweden and one in Denmark.\nDozens of flights have been cancelled, hitting travellers at Berlin Tegel, Copenhagen and smaller airports.\nMany rail and ferry services were also cut in Germany and Scandinavia.\nThere is severe disruption in southern Sweden, with all rail services cancelled in the Skane region. Planes have been grounded at Sturup airport and Gothenburg's Landvetter airport, Radio Sweden reports.\nFallen trees have blocked many roads in southern Sweden and heavy snow is adding to the chaos.\nMore than 1,000 people spent the night at Copenhagen airport.\nIn eastern England about 10,000 homes were evacuated in Norfolk and Suffolk. Several homes collapsed into the sea at Hemsby when the storm battered the clifftop.\nThe Thames Barrier was closed for a second day to protect London from the surge.\nMany schools have been closed across the north of Poland and Germany. Winds gusted at nearly 150km/h (93mph) in northern Germany. In Poland at least 400,000 homes are without electricity because of severed power lines. Thousands of homes were also left without power in Sweden and Norway on Friday, the Associated Press news agency reports. The port of Hamburg, which handles a huge amount of European trade, was shut overnight, but has now reopened. Hamburg has experienced its biggest tidal surges since the 1960s. The city's fish market and some streets by the river Elbe were flooded. The river there rose 6m (20ft) above its average level, and the authorities are warning of a fresh surge expected on Friday evening.\nThere was also limited flooding in the Netherlands - officials say the sea dykes withstood the onslaught. A woman died in Denmark after a lorry was blown over. The Oeresund road-rail bridge, linking Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmo in southern Sweden, has reopened. It had been closed on Thursday evening amid high winds. Workers boarded up the windows of the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde, just west of Copenhagen, fearing the high winds would shatter the glass.\nIn Scotland a lorry driver was killed on Thursday when his vehicle was blown over near Edinburgh. A man was crushed by a falling tree in Nottinghamshire, central England. On Thursday winds of up to 228km/h (142 mph) battered Scotland.\nEngland's east coast experienced its worst tidal surge in 60 years, while in north Wales residents had to be rescued by lifeboat crews.\nTwo sailors were reportedly swept overboard from a ship 22 km (14 miles) off the southern Swedish coast, and air-sea rescue services failed to find them.\nIn the low-lying Netherlands, the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier was closed off for the first time in six years. Dutch authorities said they had issued the highest possible flood warning for four areas in the north.\nThere was some flooding in Dordrecht and Rotterdam. But rail services are generally running normally in the Netherlands, the NOS news agency reports.\nIn Schleswig-Holstein, north Germany, many rail services have been halted. Fallen trees are littering railway lines.\nOn Thursday dozens of flights were cancelled at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, but now Schiphol is back on schedule, NOS reports.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Denmark","Denmark","Denmark","Scotland","Scotland","Netherlands","Netherlands","Netherlands","northern Europe","Poraj, northern Poland","UK"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["a lorry driver was killed","killed","killed at least seven people","two deaths in the UK, one in Sweden and one in Denmark","Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Sweden","Denmark","Denmark","Sweden","killing three people","1,000 people spent the night at Copenhagen airport","A woman died"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Hurricane-force winds"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["228km/h (142 mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Xaver"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2013 Record snowfall occurs over the United States killing at least eleven and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. (USA Today)","document":"Snow, ice and freezing rain will strike states from Texas to New England through Tuesday, promising icy roads, power outages and general unpleasantness for much of the country.\nSnowfall will begin early Sunday in West Virginia, move through the mid-Atlantic states and head for New York by Monday morning, the National Weather Service forecast. Freezing rain and sleet will follow from Tennessee into North and South Carolina before heading up the East Coast.\nThe poor weather in travel hubs including New York, Washington and Philadelphia are likely to cause flight delays that could ripple across the country and snarl traffic through the Monday morning commute.\n\"We're going to see a whole mix of precipitation, anywhere from snow at the onset across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and down to D.C., to sleet and freezing rain in the Shenandoah Valley,\" says AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Knittle.\nThe newest round of wintry glop and gloom follows a freeze in Texas and the southern states on Friday that killed at least four people, caused massive traffic back-ups in the Lone Star State, disrupted thousands of flights and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands.\nThe treacherous conditions across much of the country dampened holiday festivities, too. In Carbondale, Ill., city officials rescheduled the annual Lights Fantastic Parade. In Nashville, organizers canceled the Christmas parade. Even St. Cloud, Minn., accustomed to frightful winter weather, called off its Santa Fun Run and Winter Nights and Lights Parade \"due to dangerously cold temperatures\" that were expected to dip below 0 degrees by late Saturday.\nIn Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, officials began warning residents of a major ice storm likely to take shape Sunday, resulting in power outages and hazards on the roads. The forecast predicts one to two inches of snow, followed by freezing rain into Monday morning.\n\"Both Washington and New York City should see their first inch or two of snow of the season Sunday,\" AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.\nNational Weather Service meteorologists in southwest Virginia warned of a \"significant winter storm.\"\nKnittle said more than a half-inch of ice buildup expected on I-81, western Virginia and central Maryland's main highway, could imperil travel.\nTemperatures in Arkansas and parts of Texas remained below freezing Saturday, with another round of snow and freezing rain expected for Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and north-central Texas into Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said. Snow there should end by midday, but freezing temperatures will remain in northern Oklahoma, northern Arkansas and northern New Mexico, the weather service said.\n\"Hopefully, we've made it through the worst of it,\" Keli Cain, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said Saturday. The state opened shelters in southern Oklahoma after the storm toppled trees and knocked out power.\nAn ice storm hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area especially hard Friday, causing traffic accidents, power outages and airport delays.\nTraffic on one highway near Denton County backed up for more than 10 hours overnight and the Texas Highway Patrol responded to more than 350 weather-related accidents, the Texas Department of Emergency Management said in a situation report Saturday. Police in Arlington, about 20 miles west of Dallas, reported one driver was killed when his car slammed into a truck. More than 139,000 people remained without power Saturday. Airlines cancelled more than 500 flights at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, leaving more than 4,000 travelers stranded overnight.\nThe storm dumped a foot of snow and more in some areas of Illinois, with police scrambling to respond to dozens of accidents and forced scores of schools to remain closed.\nThe blast of cold air and freezing rain forced the shutdown of schools, businesses and government agencies in several states Friday.\nArkansas Gov. Mike Beebe declared a statewide emergency, making it easier for crews to repair damage to trees and power lines. A state of emergency was also declared in the western and middle parts of Tennessee.\nThe storm is also delaying shipments of everything from Christmas presents to cooking grease: Wal-Mart had its truckers take extra goods to stores ahead of the storm, while Amazon and FedEx are notifying those waiting on packages that dangerous driving conditions are forcing delays.\nMeanwhile, snow and difficult travel conditions were reported in parts of the West and the Rockies because of another winter storm.\nBone-chilling cold continued across the north-central U.S., with temperatures at or below zero across most of Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. The temperature Friday morning in Great Falls, Mont., of 26 degrees below zero was colder than the 20 below zero reading at the South Pole in Antarctica, according to the National Weather Service.\nWhile most of the country dealt with cold, wintry weather, parts of the Southeast and all of Florida continued to enjoy balmy conditions, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s under mostly clear skies. In North Carolina, record high temperatures were set in both Fayetteville (80 degrees) and Greensboro (76), the weather service reported.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas and the southern states","Texas","will strike states from Texas to New England","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed at least four people","More than 139,000 people remained without power","4,000 travelers stranded overnight"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["major ice storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2013 The storm spreads to Egypt with some Cairo suburbs seeing snowfall. Local news reports claimed it was the capital's first snowfall in 112 years. Night temperatures are expected to drop as low as 2°C / 36°F. (The Daily Star) (Huffington Post) (Al-Ahram)","document":" Temperatures currently range between 5 and 11 degrees Celsius (41-52 degrees Fahrenheit) in Cairo, and are expected to sink to around 2-3 degrees Celsius (36-37 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday night.\nResidents of upscale developments on the outskirts of Cairo, including Madinaty to the east of the capital, reported snowfall on Friday morning.\nCairo has also seen heavy rain and sleet, which are expected to continue for the rest of the day in the capital and in a number of other governorates.\nThe state’s highest summit, St. Catherine in Sinai, will record sub-zero temperatures of -2 degrees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, according to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority.\nBoth the Mediterranean and the Red Sea were hit by high winds of between 25-30 knots per hour, the authority stated.\nEgyptians took to social media in droves to comment on the cold weather, with many claiming the winter has been the coldest on record for over a hundred years. However, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority has denied the claim.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Egyptian Meteorological Authority","Egyptian Meteorological Authority"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Cairo","Cairo","Cairo","Mediterranean and the Red Sea"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["snowfall"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["25-30 knots per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2008 Hurricane Dolly makes landfall on South Padre Island, Texas, with sustained winds of 95 mph (150 km/h). (CNN) (NHC)","document":" BROWNSVILLE, Texas (CNN) -- Hurricane Dolly weakened to a tropical storm Wednesday night after it made landfall on South Padre Island, Texas, leaving a trail of battered buildings and flooding. By 9 p.m. CT, Dolly's sustained winds had dipped to about 70 mph with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. A Category 1 hurricane has winds of at least 75 mph. A tropical storm warning remained in effect from Brownsville to Port Aransas, Texas. Tropical storm warnings for other areas were lifted.\n The eye of the storm made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on South Padre Island, Texas, about 1 p.m. CT, tearing roofs off homes, flooding streets and sending residents scrambling for safety from wind gusts reaching 120 mph.\n By 2 p.m., the hurricane was downgraded to Category 1, but in many areas along the southwest coastal region, the damage was already done. Watch CNN's Gary Tuchman brace against Dolly's high winds »\n At least one person was injured as sustained winds up to 100 mph downed power lines and tore observation decks off homes and condos, CNN affiliate KPRC reported.\n A 17-year-old fell from a seventh-story balcony, sustaining head injuries, a broken leg and a broken hip. He is alert and receiving treatment on the island while authorities wait for the first opportunity to get him to the mainland, KPRC reported.\n \"When we heard the first bang, I thought it was one of the air conditioners flying,\" said Jacqueline Bell, who lives on South Padre Island. \"Then we went outside, and we saw the debris, and we saw the neighbors leaving.\"\n CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said persistent rainfall could cause flooding upstream in the Rio Grande as long as the storm stalled over the mountains of Mexico. Watch Myers explain the threat of flooding upriver »\n Myers said it could take two days for the rainwater to flow upstream and challenge the natural levees, which were holding for now.\n \"The levees are holding up just fine,\" said Johnny Cavazos, emergency coordinator for Cameron County, The Associated Press reported. \"There is no indication right now that they are going to crest.\"\n Even before Dolly made landfall, driving rain and wind gusts from its outer rings flooded streets and threatened to pour into homes while wind gusts shattered windows on the island popular with tourists. The 2,400 residents began bracing for the storm Tuesday night, when strong winds forced the closure of South Padre Island's causeway to the mainland. Officials said the causeway is closed any time winds reach 39 mph.\n Some chose to remain on the island and wait out the storm.\n Steven Murphy took shelter with his girlfriend in his 65-foot double-decker fishing boat, Murphy's Law, and hoped for the best. Read about why Murphy decided to wait out the storm\n Murphy, who owns a charter fishing company with his brother on the island, lived through a more powerful hurricane, where he saw boats bigger than his tossed onto land. \"I had nightmares about that last night,\" he said from his boat Wednesday. He said the wind outside sounded like a tornado and added that he'd seen several items blow past the windows of his vessel.\n \"It's starting to tear it up real good,\" Murphy said. See images and videos from affected areas »\n On the mainland, people in the path of the storm stacked sandbags around their homes, nailed plywood over windows and prepared generators to keep power going in the event of a blackout. iReport.com: Are you in Dolly's path?\n Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada said that the storm downed trees and dumped 6 to 8 inches of rain but that emergency workers were ready to respond once the wind and rain died down.\n Ahumada said reports that the city's levees are in danger of breaching were exaggerated. Watch Mayor Ahumada explain the situation on the ground »\n He said it would take 20 inches of rain to top nearly all of the city's levees, which had been reinforced to federal standards or above.\n \"People think we're facing a Katrina,\" he said. \"That's not the case.\"\n More than 13,000 customers were without power in Cameron County, where Brownsville is, utility company AEP Texas told The Associated Press. Dolly's arrival also had the military scrambling. The Navy moved 89 aircraft from its Corpus Christi post to other locations in Texas and New Mexico. See Dolly's projected path »\n Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued a disaster declaration for 14 counties before Dolly arrived. The declaration \"allows the state to initiate necessary preparedness efforts,\" according to a statement from Perry's office.\n More than two dozen state agencies and organizations, including the Red Cross, are on standby to help with evacuations and other needs.\n The National Guard has set up staging areas in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, officials said. As many as 1,200 National Guardsmen have been called to help, and 700 are deployed to targeted areas.\n An incident management team has been pre-positioned in South Texas, including six UH-60 helicopters, to provide support to first responders.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["South Padre Island, Texas","Texas","Texas","South Padre Island","Texas","South Padre Island","South Padre Island","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least one person was injured","A 17-year-old fell from a seventh-story balcony, sustaining head injuries, a broken leg and a broken hip"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1 p.m. CT","CT","Wednesday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 2 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["120 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dolly","Dolly","Dolly","Dolly","Dolly","Dolly","Dolly","Dolly"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["70 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"Hurricane Gustav reaches hurricane strength as it approaches Cayman Islands, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico","document":" MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Hurricane Gustav picked up strength as it moved over the northwestern Caribbean Sea Friday night, pursuing a projected path aimed at the Gulf Coast.\n At least 51 people died in southwestern Haiti and eight were killed in neighboring Dominican Republic as Gustav, then a tropical storm, passed through Wednesday, officials said.\n By Friday, Gustav reached hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (129 kph) as it passed over the Caribbean.\n Shortly before 11 p.m. ET, the storm was moving northwest at about 10 mph (17 kph) as it bore down on the Cayman Islands. Hours earlier, it had moved away from Jamaica, where it left downed trees and damaged houses in its wake. Fear and uncertainty about Gustav's position and strength by Monday sent emergency officials and politicians in the United States scrambling to prepare for a possible landfall of a major hurricane somewhere along the Gulf Coast. Watch how New Orleans prepares for Gustav »\n Officials in New Orleans, Louisiana, warned residents that they'll be on their own if they ignore orders from police with bullhorns directing them to evacuate, The Associated Press reported.\n Jerry Sneed, the city's emergency preparedness director, said the Superdome would be locked and there would be no shelter of last resort if residents decided to accept \"all responsibility for themselves and their loved ones,\" the AP reported.\n Forecasters expected the storm to turn toward the northwest later Friday and continue on that track over the weekend. On that path, \"The center of Gustav will pass near or over the Cayman Islands later today, over the western portions of Cuba on Saturday, and into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday,\" the center said. See Gustav's projected path »\n Gulf of Mexico conditions also appear conducive to a major hurricane, the forecasters said. iReport.com: Gustav washes away bridge\n Beyond Jamaica, oil companies began to pull workers off drill rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi joined Louisiana in declaring a state of emergency as forecasters warned of a U.S. landfall next week.\n State officials along the Gulf Coast have begun warning residents to prepare for the storm. About 3,000 Louisiana National Guard troops began reporting for duty Thursday, and the state put another 2,000 on alert, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said.\n National Guard satellite communication teams will be assigned to emergency operations centers in coastal parishes to ensure those centers can remain in touch with state officials in Baton Rouge, Jindal said. In New Orleans, which has yet to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina, Mayor C. Ray Nagin on Thursday urged citizens living in FEMA units to make evacuation plans in case city officials order them to leave. Watch New Orleans' mayor say his city is ready for Gustav »\n Elsewhere in the \"cone of certainty,\" Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Hurricane Katrina victims living in government-issued trailers or mobile homes along his state's coast will begin evacuating this weekend.\n Louisiana and Mississippi are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 when it slammed ashore near the state line on August 29, 2005. The hurricane center's five-day chart places a possible landfall anywhere from Corpus Christi, Texas, eastward to Panama City, Florida, with Gustav being a Category 3 storm by Tuesday evening. New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina three years ago Friday, is at the center of the projected path. Watch the homeland security secretary's warning to residents »\n Forecasters, however, stressed their uncertainty in a discussion published late Thursday.\n \"Since track forecasts are always subject to large errors at three to five days, it is simply impossible at this time to determine exactly where and when Gustav will make final landfall,\" the hurricane center's forecasters said.\n While Gustav will go nowhere near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, where the Republican National Convention is set to begin Monday, the political implications of a Gulf Coast landfall could rain on Sen. John McCain's celebration.\n Republican officials said their convention might be delayed by a major hurricane making landfall.\n President Bush was criticized for attending political events -- including a brief stop to mark McCain's birthday -- after Hurricane Katrina left most of New Orleans flooded in 2005. Bush is set to speak Monday at the GOP convention. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters that Bush is keeping an eye on developments but said it is premature to discuss any changes to his schedule.\n Earlier Friday, the storm blasted Jamaica, killing four people as it downed trees and damaged homes, the National Emergency Operations Center in Jamaica said.\n \"It is total devastation everywhere,\" the councilor for the Manchioneal division, Alston Hunter, told the Jamaican Gleaner newspaper. \"Several residents are now crammed into disaster shelters here in east Portland, and the weather continues to make the situation worse.\"\n The Jamaican government downgraded its hurricane warning to a tropical storm warning, the center said. A hurricane warning -- meaning that sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) are expected within a day -- remained in effect for the Cayman Islands, and the Cuban government issued a hurricane warning for the western portion of the island. A tropical storm warning was issued for central Cuba, the hurricane center said.\n Even as it moved away from Jamaica, Gustav was still dumping rain that was likely to total 6 to 12 inches across Jamaica, the hurricane center said. That amount was also expected across the Cayman Islands and western Cuba, with maximum isolated amounts of 25 inches possible, the hurricane center said.\n \"These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,\" the center said. The forecasters said coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 5 feet above normal tide level was possible in the Cayman Islands, and of 8 to 13 feet possible in western Cuba, near where the center of Gustav passes.\n Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna passed north of the Leeward Islands Friday with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph), the hurricane center said.\n \"Gradual\" strengthening is forecast, and Hanna could be near hurricane strength on Sunday, the center said.\n Forecasters say the storm will likely pass well away from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Friday night into Saturday. On Sunday, it will be northeast of the southeastern Bahamas, the center said, but the extended forecast calls for it to make a southerly turn toward the Bahamas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["over the Caribbean","Caribbean","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Cayman Islands","Cayman Islands","Cayman Islands","Cayman Islands","Cayman Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["51 people died","eight were killed"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["10 mph (17 kph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["80 mph (129 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Hurricane Gustav weakens to a tropical storm in central Louisiana after being responsible for 7 deaths in the United States and more than 90 in the Caribbean. (UPI)","document":"NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Gustav weakened to a tropical storm Monday night and all coastal warnings were discontinued, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.\nAuthorities said Monday at least seven deaths had been blamed on the storm, MSNBC reported.\nAt 11 p.m. EDT the storm was centered about 20 miles southwest of Alexandria, La., and was moving toward the northwest at about 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph with higher gusts.\nThe storm was likely to continue moving on that track with a decrease in forward speed into Tuesday, and to cross western Louisiana Monday night and reach northeastern Texas Tuesday. Gustav is likely to be downgraded to a tropical depression Tuesday, forecasters said.\nA few tornadoes were possible in the lower Mississippi Valley and the central Gulf Coast Monday night and early Tuesday.\nLouisiana officials said Monday the Caernarvon Mississippi River diversion in Plaquemines Parish would be opened to take pressure off a levee that was being overtopped -- but not breached -- in Braithwaite, near the St. Bernard Parish line, the Times-Picayune of New Orleans reported. Floodwaters spilled over the top of the levee, threatening the Braithwaite Park subdivision, the newspaper said.\nThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said flooding in New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward doesn't pose a danger. Up to six inches of flooding had been reported in the beleaguered area from water spilling over the western side of the Industrial Canal floodwall, Times-Picayune said.\nA hurricane warning remains in effect from just east of Cameron Island, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama border, including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm warning was in effect from Cameron westward to just east of High Island, Texas, and from the Mississippi-Alabama border to the Florida-Alabama border.\nA storm surge of 10-14 feet above normal tide levels was expected near and to the east of where Gustav's center crosses the coast, the hurricane center said.\nGustav was expected to produce a total rainfall of up to a foot over portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, and also could spark a few tornadoes over the central Gulf Coast, the center said.\nThe storm killed more than 90 people in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba before it entered the Gulf of Mexico during the weekend.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to a foot"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas","Louisiana","Texas","Mississippi","Louisiana","Mississippi","Mississippi","Texas","Mississippi","Gulf of Mexico","Gulf","Gulf"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least seven deaths","The storm killed more than 90 people in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["20 miles southwest of Alexandria, La","La"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["13 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gustav","Gustav","Gustav","Gustav"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["60 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Hurricane Gustav weakens to a tropical depression. (Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"HURRICANE GUSTAV scoured southern Louisiana with blistering winds and dangerous storm surges, but New Orleans endured its latest encounter with natural disaster, emerging with a strained levee system that mostly held after a tense day of uncertainty.\nPloughing in from the Gulf of Mexico across coastal lowlands dominated by oil pipelines and fishing wharves, Gustav quickly weakened west of New Orleans on Monday, spinning towards eastern Texas.\nEven as Gustav moved into Louisiana's interior, Hurricane Hanna was forming over the Bahamas. Hurricane experts predicted the new storm could reach the south-eastern US within days.\nBy day's end, New Orleans clearly had escaped a catastrophic replay of the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina three years ago. The unprecedented mass evacuation of 1.9 million people emptied the hurricane zone and appeared to have spared the region from heavy casualties.\nStern warnings by Louisiana's Governor, Bobby Jindal, and the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, led most New Orleans residents to evacuate, leaving fewer than 10,000 who \"stayed indoors\", Mr Nagin said.\nPolice reported only one storm-related death and three other fatalities that occurred during the evacuation.\nA dusk-to-dawn curfew remained in force in New Orleans and Mr Nagin reported only one arrest for looting.\nDespite winds that gusted above 100kmh and sent rain slanting sideways, the city avoided heavy structural damage. Officials remained guarded in their assessments as Monday drew to a close but grew optimistic that the city had missed the brunt of the storm. A relaxed Mr Nagin said he felt \"really good\" about the city's status.\nBy early yesterday Gustav had been downgraded to a tropical depression, the US National Hurricane Centre said.\nThe Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, said boats, helicopters and military aircraft had searched for stranded people.\n The city's most anxious moments came as water streamed over levee walls along the Industrial Canal, the artery that connects the Mississippi River with Lake Pontchartrain.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southern Louisiana"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["New Orleans residents to evacuate, leaving fewer than 10,000 who \"stayed indoors\""]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical depression"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["100kmh"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gustav","GUSTAV","Gustav","Gustav"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Tropical Storm Hanna makes landfall in the United States on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. (AFP via the Melbourne Age)","document":"Tropical Storm Hanna hit the US states of South and North Carolina with full force early today, prompting coastal residents to seek refuge inland and authorities to declare a state of emergency.\nMeanwhile, the even more powerful Hurricane Ike threatened Caribbean islands and the United States.\nA Haitian man unloads water donated by the World Food Program after Tropical Storm Hanna passed through the region, dumping heavy rains that flooded region and claimed at least 136 dead.\nHanna, which has already left 163 dead in Haiti, triggered emergency operations along more than 1600 kilometres of the North and South Carolina coastline.\nThe US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said the storm made landfall along the border between South and North Carolinas at about 3.20am (1720 AEST), lashing the coast with gale-force winds, a storm surge and heavy rains.\nThe governors of North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford called for people to evacuate two counties.\nAs it hit dry land, the stormed packed sustained winds near 110km/h, according to the NHC.\n\"Weakening is expected after landfall, and Hanna should become an extratropical storm by early Sunday,\" the centre said in its latest advisory.\nSeveral southern US states have endured Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gustav in recent weeks and officials expressed concern that people along the coast were not taking Hanna seriously.\n\"The response is not what we would want it to be,\" Sam Hodge, emergency manager for Georgetown, South Carolina, told CBS News. \"We feel there should be more people evacuating.\"\nAuthorities also kept a wary eye on the more formidable Hurricane Ike out in the Atlantic.\nIke was forecast to spare Haiti while the Caribbean nation struggled to recover from devastating flooding from Hanna. \"At least for now\" Haiti looks likely to be spared yet another hit, NHC spokeswoman Karina Castillo said.\nThe poorest country in the Americas is now reeling from the devastation inflicted by three storms in as many weeks that killed more than 280 people.\nThe country's third largest city Gonaives remained under water following Hanna, and Senator Yuri Latortue who represents the city called the situation \"catastrophic\".\n\"I know perfectly well that the hurricane season has hit our entire country, but the situation in Gonaives is truly special, because now some 200,000 people there haven't eaten in three days,\" Mr Latortue said.\nA lifeline was extended to thousands when a boat carrying World Food Program relief supplies docked at Gonaives port, the WFP said.\nHaiti's government pleaded for international aid, and the United Nations prepared an emergency appeal. Switzerland, France, the United States, the European Union and the Red Cross were among early aid givers.\nIke is on course to pummel the Bahamas today and tomorrow before possibly slamming into Cuba, another island nation recently battered by this hurricane season's conga line of storms.\nIke is then forecast to make landfall in south Florida on Wednesday as a major hurricane, Castillo warned.\nDensely populated south Florida, including the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, has not been hit by a major hurricane since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 - the costliest natural disaster in US history until it was topped by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.\nIke was downgraded slightly yesterday but remained a \"major hurricane\" as it churned over the western Atlantic, with sustained winds of 185km/h - a category three on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, the NHC said.\nAs of 0600 GMT (1600 AEST) today, Ike was 530 kilometres northeast of Grand Turk Island and was moving southwest at about 26km/h, the NHC said.\nIke and Hanna were part of a trio of storms in the Atlantic that includes Tropical Storm Josephine in the eastern Atlantic near Cape Verde.\nThey follow Hurricane Gustav which ripped through the Caribbean then slammed the US Gulf Coast, and Tropical Storm Fay which pounded several Caribbean islands and then dumped record amounts of rain in Florida.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["along the border between South and North Carolinas","South","along","along","US states of South and North Carolina","South","South","North Carolina","North Carolina","South","US states"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["prompting coastal residents to seek refuge inland and authorities to declare a state of emergency","emergency","emergency","emergency","Authorities","emergency"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early today","3.20am (1720 AEST)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical Storm","Tropical Storm","tropical storm","Tropical Storm","Tropical Storm","Tropical Storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hanna","Hanna","Hanna","Hanna","Hanna","Hanna","Hanna","Hanna"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Hurricane Ike makes its second landfall on Cuba, near San Cristóbal, north of the Isle of Youth, on its way into the Gulf of Mexico. (CNN)","document":" (CNN) -- Anticipating the possibility that Hurricane Ike might hit the Texas coast this weekend, the cities of Corpus Christi and Galveston warned residents Tuesday to plan.\n The National Hurricane Center indicated Ike would likely come ashore along the Texas coast between Galveston and Brownsville as a major hurricane. But forecasters stressed the unpredictability of the storm, which could change course at the last minute.\n \"It's very frustrating for all of us,\" said Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, adding, \"We're on alert and we will continue to monitor this storm. I wish we could be clearer about where it's going.\"\n Ike's center left western Cuba late Tuesday afternoon, having hit it with 75-mph winds, high surf and torrential rains in its second Cuban landfall in three days, the National Hurricane Center said.\n At 5 a.m. ET Wednesday, Ike, with its 85-mph winds, was churning in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, according to the center. The wind speed of the storm increased by 10 mph overnight.\n Forecasters say Ike is likely to make landfall around Port O'Connor, Texas late Friday or early Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of between 111-130 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended Tuesday to the Florida Keys. Storm-surge flooding of 1-to-3 feet beyond the normal tide levels was possible there, and large swells that could generate life-threatening rip currents were expected along the east coast of Florida into Wednesday, the hurricane center said. iReport.com: Big waves hit Florida Keys\n Thomas warned residents to stock up on nonperishable items, including pet food and diapers, and to prepare for going without electricity. Track the storm\n City Manager Steve LeBlanc issued a warning to residents of Galveston's West End, citing forecasters' estimates that the area could get tides of 6 feet above normal if the storm arrives there. The West End, he said, is the area of Galveston most susceptible to flooding.\n Thomas said she could call for voluntary evacuations of the West End by Wednesday morning, depending on forecasts.\n By Tuesday night, officials in Corpus Christi, Texas, had called for the evacuations of special-needs residents beginning Wednesday morning. They also called for the relocation of high-profile vehicles -- including vans, motor homes, travel trailers and hitched boats -- that could hinder traffic if expanded evacuations become necessary. The Texas Department of Transportation said it expected to open a shoulder of northbound Interstate 37 to traffic -- from coastal Corpus Christi to U.S. 281 roughly 80 miles inland -- on Wednesday morning to help people trying to leave the city.\n Texas Gov. Rick Perry put 7,500 National Guard members on standby Tuesday, his office said. Watch where Ike may be headed along U.S. coast »\n In Cuba, evacuations appeared to save lives. Four deaths were reported from the storm, according to the Cuban government. The Cuban Civil Defense brought buses or trucks to take people to shelters. See the damage from the storm »\n Cuban state television reported that two people were killed when they tried to remove an antenna, The Associated Press said. One man died when a tree crashed into his home, and a woman died when her home's roof collapsed, according to the AP.\n The storm shredded hundreds of homes and caused some dilapidated buildings in Havana's older areas to collapse, the AP reported. Teresa Tejeda, who is in her 70s, told the AP she joined several hundred other elderly people at a government shelter because she was too scared to stay in her old apartment building.\n \"My house has really bad walls, and I feel much more secure here,\" Tejeda said. Watch as winds and waves pound Cuba »\n The United States, which provided $100,000 in emergency aid to communist-run Cuba through private aid agencies after Hurricane Gustav hit the island August 30, said Tuesday that it was considering additional emergency aid for Cuba because of Ike.\n Also, the United States said it will lift restrictions on cash and humanitarian assistance sent to Cuba for the next 90 days. That will allow non-governmental organizations to provide assistance and cash donations. Flooding and rains from Ike's outer bands have been blamed for 70 deaths in Haiti, bringing that country's death toll from four recent major storms -- including Fay, Gustav and Hanna -- to 341, said Abel Nazaire, deputy head of Haiti's Civil Protection Service. On Sunday night, waves as high as 50 feet crashed ashore in Baracoa, Cuba, southeast of where Ike made landfall as a Category 3 storm. At least 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed as the sea surge moved into the city, witnesses said. Watch what Ike did to Cuba »\n An estimated 900,000 people left their homes ahead of Ike's arrival and went inland or to higher ground. Some of the evacuees were homeless after Gustav pounded western Cuba.\n Residents on the western half of the island scrambled to get necessities before the worst of the storm hit, CNN's Morgan Neill reported from Havana.\n Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels and rainfall of 6 to 12 inches were possible in Cuba, the hurricane center said.\n People in the capital were worried that Ike's heavy rain would bring flooding and landslides to the area and damage some of its more fragile infrastructure.\n Many evacuees went to schools or government buildings with stronger roofs. The Cuban government cut power to the eastern half of the island before Ike arrived and canceled all domestic flights.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the southeastern Gulf of Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["5 a.m. ET Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["western Cuba","western Cuba"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3","Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["85-mph winds","mph winds","75-mph winds","mph winds"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 As many as one million Haitians become homeless due to hurricanes. (BBC)","document":"Haiti's Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis has said that a series of storms may have left as many as one million Haitians without a home.\nMs Pierre-Louis, who has called on the international community to more assistance, said part of the city of Gonaives might have to be moved.\nShe said the whole country has been devastated by four storms which struck in just over three weeks.\nThe problem was too great for Haiti to deal with on its own, she added.\n\"We've suffered too much in this country.\"\nStrong winds and torrential rains over the past month have battered Haiti's already fragile infrastructure and left more than 550 people dead.\nMs Pierre-Louis told the BBC that part of the city of Gonaives, which was almost completely destroyed by the hurricanes, may now have to be built elsewhere.\nShe also admitted that unless victims of the storms receive more help, rising discontent could force her from office.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["part of the city of Gonaives","part of the city of Gonaives","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["one million Haitians without a home","more than 550 people dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over three weeks"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["storms","storms","storms"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Authorities in Texas have rescued nearly 2,000 victims of Hurricane Ike who refused to evacuate. (AP via Google News)","document":"Port Arthur Police SWAT Commander Rodney Harrison helps guide a truck through flood waters during a search and rescue mission following Hurricane Ike, in Sabine Pass, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 (AP Photo/Eric Gay)\nBy CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN – 3 days ago GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — Nearly 2,000 people in Texas who refused orders to evacuate before Hurricane Ike have been rescued by land, air and water. A door-by-door search is under way in Galveston, where Ike came ashore early Saturday.\nAuthorities said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that 1,984 people had been rescued so far, including 394 by air.\nOfficials are urging all residents of the coastal town Galveston to stay away from the barrier island, telling them there was no way to live there right now. It could take up to a month to restore power there, and roads are still flooded.\nCrews navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by the hurricane. Authorities imposed a curfew in Houston and warned it would be weeks before the nation's fourth-largest city is fully back up and running.\nHeavy morning rains hampered rescue efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the Texas and Louisiana coasts, while those who had evacuated and tried to return to the Houston area found interstates and streets blocked by flooding and debris.\nAuthorities hoped to spare thousands of Texans — 140,000 by some estimates who ignored orders to flee ahead of the storm — from another night amid the destruction. Eight deaths had been blamed on the storm, and authorities worried the toll could rise.\n\"I'm worried about my mother's medical condition. We haven't been able to get to anyone at the clinic on the phone,\" said Zee Ellis, whose mother, 80-year-old Ruth Willis, fled Houston with her family ahead of the storm.\nAs they waited out a downpour along Interstate 10 on Sunday morning, Zee Ellis said her mother's cancer treatments had been interrupted as they had moved from place to place, looking for shelter and electricity.\nPresident Bush planned to travel to Texas on Tuesday to express sympathy and lend support to the storm's victims. He asked people who evacuated before the hurricane to listen to local authorities before trying to return home.\nIn Houston, a weeklong curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. was imposed because most of the city was still without power. Highways, darkened streetlights and pooled water made it difficult to drive.\n\"In the interest of safety, we're asking people to not be out in the streets in their vehicles or on foot,\" Chief Harold Hurtt said.\nIn Hackberry, La., about 15 miles from the coast, workers moved a large shrimp boat out of the highway with a bulldozer, but the team had to stop because of strong currents in the floodwaters and difficulty in seeing the roadway.\n\"You can't see the sides of the road, and if you left the road, you'd just be swept away,\" National Guard spokeswoman Sgt. Rebekah Malone said. About 20 people had been evacuated by boat in Hackberry.\nResidents of the tiny community of Seabrook, Texas, near Johnson Space Center, were met by a roadblock as they tried to return home, and police officers standing in the rain turned them away. At times the line was six to 12 cars deep.\n\"It's gonna be a while,\" an officer shouted to one man as he made a U-turn. \"Just listen to the news.\"\n\"Seabrook is a disaster area: no sewer, no infrastructure. It really isn't safe,\" said officer Charlie Skinner. \"It's making residents pretty upset. I understand, but ... There's an order signed by the mayor. We can't let anybody in.\"\nOvernight, a team of paramedics, rescue dogs and structural engineers fanned out under a nearly full moon on a finger of land in Galveston Bay. To the northeast, Coast Guard crews also worked into early Sunday morning, pulling a half-dozen people out of Bridge City before rescue missions were suspended for the night.\nFive-year-old Jack King escaped serious injury when a rush of storm-surge water washed out the first floor of his family's Galveston home just two blocks from the bay.\n\"I falled in the attic,\" the boy told paramedic Stanley Hempstead of his 10-foot tumble through the attic and onto the garage floor.\nJack and his family rode out the storm with blankets and other supplies. As the Texas Task Force 1 Search and Rescue crew arrived, Jack gazed at a TV aglow with \"The Simpsons,\" a Band-Aid covering a gash on his head.\n\"We just didn't think it was going to come up like this,\" said the boy's father, Lee King. \"I'm from New Orleans, I know better. I just didn't think it was going to happen.\"\nOn one side of the Galveston peninsula, two barges had broken loose and smashed into homes. Everything from red vinyl barstools to clay roof tiles littered the landscape.\nThe second floor of some homes sat where the first had been before Ike's surge washed it out, and only framed remained below the roofs of others, opening a clear view from front yard to back.\nEight deaths were blamed on the storm — five in Texas, two in Louisiana and one in Arkansas. Authorities said Sunday three people were found dead in Galveston, including one person found in a submerged vehicle near the airport. Another person died in Arkansas when a tree fell on his mobile home as the remnants swept through.\nTexas Gov. Rick Perry's office said 940 people had been saved by nightfall Saturday, but that thousands had made distress calls the night before. Another 600 were rescued from flooding in Louisiana.\nIn Orange, Texas, Mayor Brown Claybar estimated about a third of the city of 19,000 people was flooded, from 6 inches of water to 6 feet. He said about 375 people who stayed behind during the storm had begun to emerge, some needing food, water and medical care.\n\"These people got out with the wet shirts on their back,\" said Claybar. He said he did not know how many were still stranded. He didn't know exactly how long it would take to pump water out of the city.\nIke was the first major storm to directly hit a major U.S. metro area since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.\nIke weakened to a tropical depression early Sunday morning, but was still packing winds up to 35 mph as it dumped rain over Arkansas and traveled across Missouri. Tornado warning sirens sounded Saturday in parts of Arkansas, and the storm downed trees and knocked out power to thousands there.\nMore than 3 million were without power in Texas at the height of the storm, and it could be weeks before it is fully restored. Utilities made some progress by late Saturday, and lights returned to parts of Houston. In Louisiana, battered by both Ike and Labor Day's Hurricane Gustav, 180,000 homes and businesses were in the dark.\nThose who did leave were glad they heeded orders, despite the inconvenience. Retired nurse Ida Mayfield said that because Gustav hit Louisiana and not Beaumont two weeks ago, many decided not to evacuate ahead of Ike. She was warm and dry at a church-turned-shelter in Tyler, along with thousands of her neighbors.\n\"Two o'clock this morning made a believer out of all of them,\" said the 52-year-old Mayfield, adding that she spoke to a friend Saturday who was on a roof waiting for help after calling 911. \"They're scared now.\"\nAssociated Press Writers Pauline Arrillaga in Houston, Jay Root and Kelley Shannon in Austin, Doug Simpson in Baton Rouge, April Castro, Mark Williams and Andre Coe in College Station, Allen G. Breed in Surfside Beach, Juan Lozano in Orange, Elizabeth White in San Antonio and Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["2,000 people in Texas who refused orders to evacuate before Hurricane Ike have been rescued by land, air and water","Hurricane Ike","Texas","Texas","rescued","air","Texas","Texas","water","Texas","land","water","Texas","Texas","Texas","rescued","Texas","water","water","water","Texas","evacuate","1,984 people had been rescued","rescued","Officials are urging all residents of the coastal town Galveston to stay away from the barrier island, telling them there was no way to live there right now","Residents","residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike","Ike"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 The American death toll from Hurricane Ike rises to 8. (The New York Times)","document":"GALVESTON, Tex. Emergency officials struggled to carry out rescue efforts on Sunday after Hurricane Ike roared across a wide swath of Texas, deluging the city of Galveston and other coastal areas with a surge of water, leaving extensive damage across metropolitan Houston, and killing at least eight people.\nAcross the Gulf Coast, rescue workers scoured waterlogged neighborhoods and raced down streets that had turned to rivers, looking for some of the more than 140,000 Texans who refused orders to evacuate and were now stranded in flattened homes or inundated towns. Some had been rescued, but thousands more were waiting on emergency teams. State and federal officials said Hurricane Ike had claimed at least three lives on Galveston Island and forced them to conduct 1,948 rescues, including 394 by air. Over all, five people were killed in Texas, along with two people in Louisiana and one person in Arkansas, The Associated Press reported.\nMore than 500 National Guardsmen descended on southeast Texas on Sunday, and in Houston, where more than half of the city was without power, the Police Department announced a weeklong nighttime curfew, from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. Advertisement\n President Bush, a former governor of Texas, said Sunday that he would be traveling to the state on Tuesday to assess the storm’s aftermath and offer support to local officials. The first priority, he said, was restoring services and getting power up and running, which could take weeks. As of Sunday afternoon, at least 2.8 million Texans were without power.\n“This is a tough storm, and it’s one that is going to require time for people to recover,” said Mr. Bush, who on Saturday issued a major disaster declaration for 29 counties in Texas. R. David Paulison, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said it was too early to determine the full impact of the storm, and urged evacuees hoping to return to remain where they are for at least another day.\nAdvertisement\n“We’re asking people just to be patient.” he said in an interview on CNN on Sunday. “Don’t be in a hurry. If you’re in a safe place, whether a shelter or hotel or motel, or staying with friends and family, just stay right there.”\nAt a news conference on Sunday, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas warned that people who attempted to return to Galveston and other areas that were hit hard would have no power, no water and no basic services. At least three bodies have been recovered during search and recovery missions in Galveston including one person who was found in a submerged vehicle, The Associated Press reported and crews are still working their way through devastated coastal areas. “If you are not on the island, do not make any attempt to try to come back onto the island until the local officials have told you that it is O.K..,” Mr. Perry said. “That is a very, very important piece of information that we want to drive home.”\nWith wind gusts approaching 100 miles per hour, Ike, a 600-mile-wide Category 2 hurricane, peeled sheets of steel off skyscrapers here, smashed bus shelters and blew out windows, sending shattered glass and debris across the nation’s fourth-largest city, with a population of 2.2 million.\nThe storm came ashore on Galveston Island, which in 1900 suffered one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States. Winds covered the main highway with a layer of boats and debris, shutting it down. In Orange, Tex., near the Louisiana coast, the sea rose so rapidly that people were forced to flee to attics and roofs, and the city used trucks to rescue them, the local police said.\nYet officials expressed relief that the damage was not as catastrophic as federal and state officials had warned it would be.\nAdvertisement\n“Fortunately the worst-case scenario did not occur,” Governor Perry said Saturday. “The good news is the surge was not as big as we thought it would be.”\nAlmost the entire metropolitan area lost power in the hurricane, and authorities said more than three million people were trying to manage in the dark. Utility officials say it could be weeks before power is restored throughout the region.\nIke was downgraded to a tropical depression by the National Hurricane Center on Sunday, but as it continued moving through the Midwest, it dumped half a foot of rain in parts of Missouri and Illinois.\n In the Chicago area, four rivers were at or above flood stage, sending water pouring into streets, roads, and highways, and forcing some people to evacuate. About 350 homes in the Albany Park section of Chicago were damaged or flooded, and 40 people had to be evacuated by boat, John Brooks, the city’s fire commissioner, told The Associated Press. In Texas, the magnitude of the power loss and the flooding raised the possibility that some major oil refineries could take more than a week to reopen. As a result, gasoline prices jumped an average of 6 cents a gallon around the country. The Associated Press reported that a gallon of gas rose above $5 at a few stations in Tennessee and Alabama. In Texas, officials feared a gasoline shortage as oil refiners assessed the damage from Ike.\nStill, crude oil prices edged below $100 a barrel in electronic trading Sunday, Bloomberg News reported, and gasoline futures prices declined on signs that the damage to refineries and offshore drilling platforms was not as severe as feared. Advertisement\n Some officials at refining companies said early damage reports were encouraging because the center of the storm missed the refineries. The surge of water into Galveston’s shipping channel, an important depot for imported oil, was not as strong as many had feared, and officials hope to reopen it early in the week if no major obstacles are blocking shipping lanes.\nThe expectations at nightfall Friday that a virtual tsunami of 20-foot waves would crash directly into Galveston, a city of 57,000, were fortunately dashed after midnight when the eye of the hurricane hit shore. City officials estimated the seas rose about 12 feet, though some tide gauges showed a 15-foot rise, and federal officials said it would take time to determine the exact number.\nWhatever the height of the surge, longtime residents of Galveston said the damage was still the worst they had seen.\nMore than two million people evacuated coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana before the storm struck. But the authorities estimated that more than 100,000 people throughout the region, including 20,000 in Galveston, had disregarded mandatory evacuation orders.\nAt least 100,000 homes were inundated by surging waters, while isolated fires broke out around the region when trees and flying objects fell on electrical transformers, causing sparks.\nAdvertisement\nIn Houston, only the downtown area and the medical center section had power as of Sunday morning.\n“It’s going to be weeks before we get power to the last customers,” said Mike Rodgers, a spokesman for Entergy Texas, the primary electricity provider between Houston and the Louisiana border. Mr. Rodgers said damage to the electric grid was much more widespread than after Hurricane Rita, which hit the area in 2005.\nCivic leaders asked residents to conserve water and call 911 only in life-or-death situations.\n“We don’t know what we’re going to find,” said Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas of Galveston, according to The Houston Chronicle. “We hope we’ll find that the people who didn’t leave here are alive and well.”\nDespite the devastating flooding in Galveston, experts said the storm surge had not been as severe as some predicted.\n Hurricane Ike Batters Texas Benton McGee, a hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey, told The Associated Press that the surge at Galveston, where the storm made landfall, was about 11 feet. Forecasters had predicted a surge of up to 25 feet.\nBut Stacey Stewart, a senior hurricane analyst at the National Hurricane Center, defended the government’s predictions of a 15- to 20-foot surge and said it would take time to determine the exact rise in sea level.\n“I wouldn’t go out and say that surge values weren’t as high as predicted,” he said. “We have received reports of 15 feet and the sea wall being topped.”\nAdvertisement\nMr. Stewart said a shift in the storm’s track to the north just before landfall might have kept the rise in sea levels on the lower side of what had been forecast.\n Hurricane Ike's Aftermath The storm moved through the region more quickly than some previous hurricanes and tropical storms, limiting flooding. By early Saturday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center had downgraded Hurricane Ike to a tropical storm. The storm was downgraded further to a tropical depression early Sunday morning as it moved over Arkansas.\nMike Varela, chief of the Galveston Fire Department, said flooding was 8- to 10-feet deep in some areas of the city. “The low-lying neighborhoods are extremely flooded right now,” Chief Varela said.\nTwenty-two men aboard a crippled freighter, which was adrift off the coast of Galveston when the hurricane hit, came through the storm safely, the Coast Guard said.\nInitial reports from residential neighborhoods around Houston suggested that flooding and property damage were not as serious as some had feared early in the morning after hearing reports from downtown, where windows were shattered on skyscrapers and hotels.\nAt Reliant Park, in southwest Houston, the storm tore chunks from the retractable roof of the football stadium, the park’s president and general manager told The Associated Press. The game between the Texans and the Baltimore Ravens scheduled for Monday night would probably have to be postponed, he said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Arkansas","Arkansas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five people were killed in Texas, along with two people in Louisiana and one person in Arkansas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","one person","Louisiana","Texas","Texas","Texas","Louisiana","Texas","Louisiana","Texas","Arkansas","claimed at least three lives on Galveston Island and forced them to conduct 1,948 rescues, including 394 by air","Galveston Island","forced","killing at least eight people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 2 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["100 miles per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Residents of Galveston Island, Texas are advised that they can return home next Wednesday but there will be little or no services after Hurricane Ike destroyed much of the town. (CNN)","document":" (CNN) -- Residents of Galveston Island, Texas, who were evacuated before Hurricane Ike strafed the Texas Gulf coast can return to their homes Wednesday, but they will find few comforts, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said Saturday.\nWorkers remove debris from Luigi's Italian restaurant in the Strand District of Galveston, Texas, on Friday.\n Galveston has little or no electricity, natural gas, water or sewer services. There are no medical facilities, there is limited cell phone coverage, and a curfew is in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Violators risk a $2,000 fine, the mayor said in a statement.\n Galveston took a direct hit from Ike when it barreled ashore September 13 as a Category 2 storm. Despite orders to evacuate, about 20,000 of Galveston's 60,000 residents opted to remain in their homes. Many of those who left went to shelters.\n Thomas said residents can begin returning at 6 a.m. (7 a.m. ET) Wednesday. Residents and business owners must show photo identification verifying their address to guards manning checkpoints, she said.\n \"Very limited water, sewer, natural gas, and electric services have been restored to areas behind the seawall,\" the mayor said in a statement.\n Residents of the heavily damaged west end of the island can assess their damages but must leave the area by 6 p.m., Thomas said.\n \"Water, sewer, natural gas, and electric services have not been restored to areas west of seawall. Therefore, sanitary living conditions are not available at this time,\" she said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Galveston Island, Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Workers remove debris from Luigi's Italian restaurant in the Strand District of Galveston, Texas","Galveston","Texas","Texas","Galveston","Galveston","Galveston","about 20,000 of Galveston's 60,000 residents opted to remain in their homes. Many of those who left went to shelters","homes","6","Galveston has little or no electricity, natural gas, water or sewer services. There are no medical facilities, there is limited cell phone coverage, and a curfew is in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Violators risk a $2,000 fine","Galveston","water","natural gas","Water","natural gas"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["September 13"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 2 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ike","Ike"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Typhoon Hagupit hits Vietnam, the Philippines and southern China, killing at least eight. (BBC News)","document":"The authorities in southern China have evacuated more than 100,000 people from their homes as Typhoon Hagupit hit.\nThe weather system killed at least eight people in the Philippines, and closed schools in Hong Kong.\nAs it headed towards Guangdong province in southern China, the area was put on the highest level alert.\nAuthorities in Vietnam prepared to evacuate residents of coastal areas as it appeared the typhoon was heading south.\nTrees were uprooted and traffic disrupted in Hong Kong. Flash floods hit low-lying areas and dozens of people were injured.\nTyphoon signals were lowered from Number 8 to Number 3 on Wednesday morning allowing businesses and schools to reopen.\nPlease turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Footage of the typhoon hitting China\nThe typhoon made landfall in Guangdong province, which neighbours Hong Kong, just after dawn on Wednesday, with winds of 172 km/h (106 mph), Xinhua news agency reported.\nIt is predicted to hit Guangxi province, west of Guangdong, and the island of Hainan.\nMore than 50,000 ships and fishing vessels were called back to port and torrential rain and widespread flooding is forecast in China.\nSchools and kindergartens in southern China were ordered to close, and flights were likely to be cancelled or diverted, officials said.\nStreets had emptied, and some shops and business were closed.\nLandslide risks\nThe typhoon is expected bring heavy rain to Vietnam's north and could unleash major flooding, that country's weather centre reported.\nThe Vietnamese government warned that with floods came the risk of landslides in northern coastal and mountainous provinces.\nLandslides and flooding in the Philippines continues to trap at least 14 goldminers underground.\nPersistent rain and a shortage of oxygen tanks are hampering rescue efforts, officials said, as hopes fade of any survivors being found.\n\"We're doing our best to get to the trapped miners,\" said Mario Godio, mayor of a gold mining town in Benguet province in the northern Philippines.\nEarly this month, 20 people were killed and about two dozen were injured when monsoon rains loosened soil and buried a mining village in the southern Philippines, forcing officials to close down two villages.\nReports were emerging that another storm was gathering strength east of the Philippines and could follow a similar route to that of Typhoon Hagupit.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Guangdong province","Guangdong province","southern China","southern China","southern China","Vietnam","Vietnam","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Authorities in Vietnam prepared to evacuate residents of coastal areas","authorities","evacuated more than 100,000 people from their homes","killed at least eight people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["south"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["after dawn on Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["winds of 172 km/h (106 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hagupit","Hagupit"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 The death toll from Typhoon Hagupit rises to 18 with 10 people dead in the People's Republic of China as well as 8 people killed earlier in the Philippines. (CNN)","document":" (CNN) -- A typhoon that smashed into southern China closed schools, canceled flights and killed at least 10 people, state-run media reported.\n The death toll from Typhoon Hagupit stood at 18 Thursday -- 10 in China in addition to eight who died when the storm hit the Philippines this week.\n In southern China's Guangdong province, the storm arrived with top wind speeds of more than 124 miles (200km) an hour. It toppled about 18,500 homes, uprooted trees and billboards and caused economic losses of roughly 6.3 billion yuan ($923.7 million), according to a report in the state-run China Daily newspaper.\n The newspaper attributed the death toll and economic impact figures to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief.\n Two people were missing, the paper said.\n In the Philippines, the storm killed at least eight people and damaged 839 houses, authorities said Wednesday. At least 15 people were missing, according to a statement from the National Disaster Coordinating Council.\n The dead included three people who were killed in a landslide, one who was electrocuted and four who drowned, the council said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southern China's Guangdong province","southern China","southern China","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The death toll from Typhoon Hagupit stood at 18 Thursday -- 10 in China in addition to eight who died when the storm hit the Philippines this week","China","China","China","death toll","Philippines","eight","the storm killed at least eight people and damaged 839 houses, authorities said Wednesday. At least 15 people were missing","missing","killed at least 10 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hagupit"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["124 miles (200km) an hour"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2008 Hundreds of thousands of houses in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are left without electricity after an ice storm. (New York Times)","document":"Ms. Bergeron, 40, has been without electricity, save a short burst, since a ferocious ice storm swept through northern New England on Thursday night. The storm felled power lines, turned trees into huge icicles, destroyed roads and left about a million people in the dark. Power had not been restored to more than 300,000 customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York as of Monday evening. Officials are telling some of those customers they may not get their power back until the weekend. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern New England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Power had not been restored to more than 300,000 customers","power","power","Ms. Bergeron, 40, has been without electricity","left about a million people in the dark"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["ice storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2009 A European windstorm across France and Spain kills 15 people with hurricane–force winds. (BBC)","document":"\nHurricane-force winds lashed northern Spain on Saturday, bringing down the roof of a sports hall near Barcelona, killing four children, officials said.\nEleven people died in separate incidents in Spain and south-western France as the fiercest storm in a decade blew in from the Atlantic.\nTorrential rains and winds of up to 184km/h (114mph) were reported.\nIt is now tracking across central Italy, bringing rain and winds of 80-95km/h (50-60mph), forecasters say.\nSome 1.3 million homes in France suffered power cuts while road and rail links were blocked and airports closed.\nFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit the region on Sunday.\nThe impact of the storm was felt from the Channel Isles to Barcelona, but the strongest winds and heaviest rain were concentrated on south-western France.\nAlthough this type of active low pressure system is fairly common in winter, BBC meteorologist Alex Deakin says Saturday's storm has been described as the most damaging since that of December 1999, which killed 88 people and uprooted millions of trees.\nThe storm tracked south-eastwards and cleared the south-east coast of France during Saturday evening.\nThe Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily have also been affected.\nChildren killed\nThe sports hall partially collapsed in the town of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Catalonia, with between 20 and 30 youngsters inside, officials said.\nThe youngsters had gathered to play baseball but the fierce winds drove them to take shelter in a small covered area for spectators, made of concrete, with a corrugated iron roof.\n\"It seems that the roof shifted and brought down part of the wall,\" a regional government spokeswoman said.\nLocal people and fire-fighters helped free the survivors from the rubble but three children aged between nine and 12 died at the scene, and a fourth child died later in hospital. More than a dozen others received treatment for injures.\nIn other incidents:\nTens of thousands of homes have been left without power in Spain.\n'Ghost town'\nFrench weather agencies had forecast the storm but it affected a wider area than expected. A state of \"red alert\" was declared in nine departments, but lifted by the end of Saturday.\nThe storm caused havoc from the Dordogne area to the Pyrenees. Torrential rains caused flooding in some areas prompting thousands of calls to the emergency services.\nThe force of the storm also led to the closure of airports in Bordeaux, Pau, Biarritz and Toulouse, and train services also ground to a halt, leaving several hundred passengers stranded in stations. Many roads were also blocked.\nMark Richardson, a BBC News website reader visiting Bordeaux from the UK, said the city ground to a standstill following the storm overnight and felt like a ghost town.\nAnother reader, Simon Ritchie, witnessed the damage wrought by the storm in the French town of Rodez.\n\"This morning, I awoke to the sound of very strong winds and lashing rain or hail,\" he said.\n\"I looked out of my kitchen's skylight window to see scaffolding and sheets or corrugated iron blowing of the adjacent cathedral. One such sheet blew about 50 yards from the tower and landed on a car below, smashing it in completely.\"\n\"People were screaming on the street below, and bits of masonry and scaffolding continued to fall,\" he added.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["south-western France","south-western France","northern Spain"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killing four children","Eleven people died in separate incidents","Some 1.3 million homes in France suffered power cuts"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["184km/h (114mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 A winter storm warning is in place for Washington, D.C. and the American states of Virginia and Maryland with schools closed and transport advisories in place. (NBC Washington)","document":"Roads and sidewalks will refreeze overnight, and several D.C. area school districts have already decided to stay closed Wednesday.\nThe majority of public schools in the D.C. area, along with the federal government, closed Tuesday after a wintry storm dumped several inches of snow onto the region. The storm dropped at least 4 inches of snow on the metro area; 6 inches piled up in some areas south of D.C. Winter storm warnings are effect until noon Tuesday. \nUntreated roads and sidewalks will remain hazardous with an overnight refreeze.\nThen Wednesday, another arctic front could bring more snow. A 15-30 minute burst between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. is expected to leave a trace to a half inch of snow, which will stick because of the cold.\nThen wind chills will drop to zero and below into Thursday.\nFriday could set a record low of 4 degrees for Feb. 20.\nThe federal government's closure, the first of the winter, was expected to keep tens of thousands of commuters off the roads and rails Tuesday. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said non-emergency personnel in the Washington area had excused absences, while emergency employees and telework-ready employees were to follow their agencies' policies.\nD.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the city government's closure early Tuesday morning ahead of a snow emergency that went into effect at 7 a.m. and continued until 2 p.m. More than 130 cars were ticketed and towed.\nViolators of snow emergency parking restrictions face a $250 ticket, a $100 tow and a $20-per-day storage fee until they pick up their vehicles.\nThe snow emergency is designed to allow transportation workers to clear snow emergency routes curb to curb. Property owners are asked to clear their sidewalks and help their neighbors clear theirs if needed.\nWMATA suspended Metro Access service, while Metrorail is running on a Saturday schedule. Metrobus service was suspended overnight and operated under a severe snow plan Tuesday until transitioning to a moderate snow plan at 1:30 p.m., meaning more routes were in service with detours to keep buses off hills, narrow side streets and other problem areas. Rail and bus service are expected to return to normal Wednesday, but delays and detours are possible as road conditions require.\nThe D.C. Taxi Commission began a $15 surcharge at 7 a.m. Tuesday. It is set to expire at 7 p.m.\nIn advance of the storm, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency in the commonwealth.\n\"This could be the worst storm we've had in Virginia in five years,\" the governor told News4.\nSnow stuck to roads across the area, reducing visibility to one half-mile or less at times as the snow fell. The combination of snow-covered roads and low visibility made traveling dangerous.\nVirginia State Police responded to thousands of accidents across the commonwealth.\nIn Loudoun County, officers were called to the scene of a fatal accident at the intersection of Route 15 and Route 50 just after 10 p.m. Monday. The road reopened by 2 a.m. Tuesday.\nA state trooper was also injured while responding to a call in the northbound lanes of I-495 just after 6 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the trooper was invetigating an accident near Exit 45 when his patrol car was rear ended by another vehicle.\nThe trooper was taken to a local hospital for treatment.\nOne fatal crash was reported in Maryland Tuesday morning. A southbound driver apparently took a curve too fast on Route 97 at the Howard-Montgomery county line, hit a patch of slush on the right shoulder, and swerved sideway in to northbound traffic where he was struck by a pickup truck. Zeyu Zhang, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene, and three teenagers in the pickup were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The road had been plowed.\nTransportation officials asked people to stay off the roads. Pre-treatment chemicals are less effective when the temperature is below 20 degrees.\nDue to the subfreezing temps, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) added sand to its normal mixture to give cars a little more traction.\n\"When the temperatures are going to be as low as they are [Tuesday], in the teens and 20s and even below, the chemicals don't work well on the roads,\" said Steve Shannon of VDOT on Monday. \"There's no chemical that really does.\"\nMcAuliffe said up to 2,500 VDOT workers and contractors were prepared to work in shifts to treat roads and haul off snow statewide. Almost 12,000 pieces of equipment were prepared Monday, as well as more than 550,000 tons of salt, sand and other abrasives and 565,000 gallons of calcium chloride and brine.\nVDOT said its goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours after a winter storm ends.\nMontgomery County offered free parking in county-owned lots and garages to encourage residents to park vehicles off roadways and to ease Montgomery County's snow removal efforts, according to a press release. Parking fees were suspended in lots, garages and metered spaces.\nHundreds of flights have been canceled at the three major airports in the Washington-Baltimore region. The flight tracking service FlightAware.com shows that more than 215 flights in and out of Reagan National Airport were canceled Tuesday. At BWI-Marshall Airport, about 60 flights had been canceled. And at Dulles International Airport, more than 50 flights were canceled.\nAmtrak will continue operating under a modified schedule Wednesday.\nRT @MDSHA: Snow falls in Southern Md. (MD 5 at MD 243) [PHOTO] #MdSnow #MdWx #MdTraffic pic.twitter.com/4AIc2pfmdU\nGrocery stores turned a brisk business Monday, as shoppers loaded up on staples in advance of the severe weather.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["4 inches of snow on the metro area","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","Snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","Snow","6 inches piled up in some areas south of D.C"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Virginia","Virginia","Virginia","Virginia","D.C","Maryland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A southbound driver apparently took a curve too fast on Route 97 at the Howard-Montgomery county line, hit a patch of slush on the right shoulder, and swerved sideway in to northbound traffic where he was struck by a pickup truck. Zeyu Zhang, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene, and three teenagers in the pickup were taken to a hospital with minor injuries","scene","taken","hospital","officers were called to the scene of a fatal accident at the intersection of Route 15 and Route 50","scene"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Winter storm","winter storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is predicting that a low pressure system in the Coral Sea will develop into tropical cyclone Marcia within 24 hours and bring heavy rain to South East Queensland with the potential to cause flooding. (The Age)","document":"Queensland's north is on cyclone watch while residents in the south-east prepare for destructive winds, abnormally high tides, dangerous surf and as much as two months' rain in a day.\nThe Bureau of Meteorology is warning a low hovering in the Coral Sea about 1000km off Bundaberg is likely to become a tropical cyclone as it heads south-east in the next 24 hours.\nQueensland swiftwater rescue crew training in preparation for the storm and cyclone season.Credit:Allen Mechen\nIt's predicted to bring 200-400mm of rain between Rockhampton and the Gold Coast from Thursday with higher falls likely in localised areas.\nBrisbane's average rainfall for February is 158mm.\nThe Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and the State Emergency Service are both gearing up for a busy few days and urging residents to do the same.\n\"That means things like ensure that you're house is in good order, particularly your roof,\" SES Brisbane regional manager Steve Waddell said.\n\"Loose tiles, loose iron, loose nails, loose screws can cause leaks into your home and damage to your furniture and interior so please have your roof checked and have it ready.\n\"Make sure your gutters are clear, your downpipes are clear.\n\"Any furniture that is loose in the yards and kids playground equipment like trampolines, move that indoors so it can't become a danger to yourselves and other people.\"\nThe Bureau is warning both river-based and localised flooding are likely in low-lying areas as the heavy rainfall combines with the highest tides of the year so far.\nQFES technical rescue unit manager Daryl Rush said extra swift-water rescue crews were being trained to be sent to the areas most in need.\n\"Our message to Queenslanders is, if it's flooded, forget it,\" he said.\n\"It's really important that people heed all of these messages.\n\"If you do come across a flooded roadway you do not access or try to pass those roadways.\"\nIt's a message the RACQ is echoing.\n\"It's not worth taking the risk of crossing flooded roads even if the water appears shallow, as it's hard to know just how deep it may be,\" RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said.\n\"It's far better to find an alternative route or wait until the water subsides than end up being swept away.\"\nBOM forecasters expect scattered showers to start in Brisbane as early as Wednesday afternoon with the brunt of the wild weather to hit late Thursday night or early Friday morning. Sustained heavy rainfall should last between 24 and 36 hours in most areas.\nThe bureau expects the low to develop into tropical cyclone Marcia within 24 hours and make landfall near Gladstone some time Friday morning.\nBOM spokesman Jess Carey said it was expected to bring winds of up to 90km/h right along the south-east coast.\n\"With those forecasted rainfall totals of 200-400mm, potentially localised rainfall of in excess of 500mm, if we got that rainfall over quite a short period of time, potentially that could cause some quite significant flood issues,\" he said.\n\"Of particular note to remember is we've also got dangerous surf and also high tides as well alongside that.\n\"Beach erosion is looking likely and beaches may be closed.\"\nThe State Disaster Coordination Centre at Kedron is open and should be fully operational from 6am Thursday.\nQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk added her voice to the chorus urging residents to be prepared.\n\"Our message to Queensland is start getting ready now and we'll be able to provide further advice tomorrow morning,\" she said.\n\"Safety is paramount, so parents should make sure that their children do not go in to stormwater drains, into the river systems or into the rough surf that will be off the Queensland beaches.\"\nThe state Disaster Coordination Group met on Wednesday and the Queensland disaster management cabinet committee will meet on Thursday morning.\nResidents in low-lying areas are being urged to prepare for potential flooding and have evacuation plans and food supplies in order.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Bureau of Meteorology","Bureau","bureau"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["200-400mm","200-400mm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Queensland","Queensland","Queensland","Queensland","Queensland","Queensland","Queensland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and the State Emergency Service are both gearing up for a busy few days and urging residents to do the same","urging residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["south-east","south-east","south-east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical cyclone","tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 Tropical Cyclone Lam intensifies to Category 3 as it moves towards the Northern Territory's Arnhem Land. (Weatherzone)","document":"\n\n\n\t\t\tSchools and even a mechanical workshop have become temporary cyclone shelters in remote Indigenous communities ahead of the arrival of the category three Cyclone Lam, which is strengthening off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) expects the cyclone, which is gusting at 165kph, to intensify as it moves slowly parallel to the coast, and then make landfall on Friday morning.At 11:00pm (CST) on Wednesday, the cyclone was about 165 kilometres north-north-east of Elcho Island and 165 kilometres north-north-west of Nhulunbuy, about 600km east of Darwin.It was moving north-west at around 6 kph, and was expected to start moving south-west towards the coast during Thursday.Residents of Nhulunbuy, Elcho Island and Gapuwiyak have been advised to immediately find shelter.Coastal residents between Millingimbi and Nhulunbuy have been warned a storm tide will cause flooding.Residents on Elcho Island were sheltering in a school hall and mechanical workshop in Galiwin'ku, in the south of the island, while northern communities such as Gawa had been evacuated.\"Gawa's the first northern point on the island so the roads are sort of flooded all the way up to there at the moment,\" Elcho Island resident Ewen Nettleton said.\"There's pretty limited access. The town itself, people are starting to move into the shelter at the school. \"There's about a hundred people up there now and everyone else is filling up with fuel and stocking up with groceries.\"In far east Arnhem Land, staff at the Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts centre were trying to protect irreplaceable Aboriginal artefacts ahead of the weather.\"We've got a collection here of woven artefacts so they've been put into a cabinet and locked up, some of the larger carvings that are in the collection we've wrapped in plastic ... basically just in case the roof goes,\" manager Leon Stainer said.\"I mean the stock can be replaced or is covered by insurance but this stuff is a special collection.\"West of Gapuwiyak, on the coast and in the path of Lam, manager of the One-Six-Eight general store Terry Chiang said people had stocked up.\"It looks like very busy today, everybody is coming to do shopping ... yeah, today the business is better than the normal day,\" he said.Wind gusts over 170kph expected: BoMA category three cyclone is powerful enough to cause roof and structural damage to homes, with power failures likely and some caravans destroyed.On Wednesday night the BoM said destructive winds with gusts greater than 170 kilometres per hour would likely continue the Wessel islands overnight, and were expected to extend onto the mainland coast between Milingimbi and Gapuwiyak late on Thursday. \"Very destructive winds may extend further east towards Nhulunbuy overnight Thursday and into early Friday if the cyclone takes a more southward track,\" it said.\"Winds with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour should develop about the mainland coast between Maningrida and Nhulunbuy during Thursday before possibly extending over adjacent inland areas on Friday.\"Gales with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal areas between Elcho Island and Nhulunbuy overnight or during early Thursday before possibly extending to Goulburn Island and Cape Shield and over adjacent inland areas during Thursday. \"Gales may extend further west to Croker Island or south to Port Roper and over inland areas towards Bulman and Gunbalanya on Friday depending on the track the cyclone takes.\"Storm surge dangerThe BoM warned coastal residents tides would rise significantly above the normal high mark, with damaging waves and very dangerous flooding. \"If you do have accommodation constructed to the Building Code or are unsure of your present accommodation you should proceed immediately to shelter with family, friends, or one of the local emergency shelters,\" it said.At 11:00pm on Wednesday the warning zone, in which gales are expected within 24 hours, included Goulburn Island to Cape Shield, including Nhulunbuy.The watch zone, in which gales are expected within 24 to 48 hours, included Croker Island to Goulburn Island and Cape Shield to Port Roper, including Groote Eylandt.Cape Shield to Alyangula, including Groote Eylandt were no longer under warning, but remained under watch status. \t\t\t- ABC","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)","BoM","BoM"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory","coast","coast","coast","coast","coast","Elcho Island","Elcho Island","165 kilometres north-north-east of Elcho Island and 165 kilometres north-north-west of Nhulunbuy","north-west","west","Nhulunbuy","Elcho Island","Nhulunbuy","Elcho Island","east Arnhem Land","Nhulunbuy","Nhulunbuy","Elcho Island","Nhulunbuy","Nhulunbuy"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents of Nhulunbuy, Elcho Island and Gapuwiyak have been advised to immediately find shelter.Coastal residents between Millingimbi and Nhulunbuy have been warned a storm tide will cause flooding.Residents on Elcho Island were sheltering in a school hall and mechanical workshop in Galiwin'ku","mechanical workshop","Elcho Island","Nhulunbuy","Elcho Island","Gapuwiyak","Gapuwiyak","Gapuwiyak","Nhulunbuy","Nhulunbuy","Elcho Island","Nhulunbuy","warned coastal residents","Nhulunbuy","staff at the Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts centre were trying to protect irreplaceable Aboriginal artefacts","Residents on Elcho Island were sheltering in a school hall and mechanical workshop in Galiwin'ku","Residents","Elcho Island","residents","people are starting to move into the shelter at the school","shelter","school","people","people","shelter","There's about a hundred people up there now and everyone else is filling up with fuel and stocking up with groceries"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["parallel to the coast","coast","coast","coast","coast","coast","expected to start moving south-west towards the coast","coast","expected","expected","expected","expected"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday morning.At 11:00pm (CST)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category three Cyclone","category three cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["north-west","north-north","north-north","north-west","west","165kph","6 kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lam","Lam"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 A snowstorm in the Turkish city of Istanbul leads to the closure of Istanbul Atatürk Airport, causes the cancellation of 300 Turkish Airlines flights and closes the Bosphorus Strait to shipping. (Al–Arabiyah)","document":"A snowstorm in Istanbul grounded planes, halted traffic and forced the closure of the Bosphorus Strait shipping channel on Wednesday, Turkish officials said.\nTurkish Airlines, Europe’s fourth-largest carrier, said it was forced to cancel more than 300 flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.\nAtaturk Airport, Istanbul’s main airport and the fourth-busiest in Europe, closed briefly in the morning because of the adverse weather, but reopened by early afternoon.\nSome commuters in the city of 15 million had to walk to work after as much as 60 cm (24 inches) of snow fell in two days in parts of Istanbul.\nThe storm also stranded members of the Besiktas football team for hours. The Istanbul side is scheduled to play Liverpool in England on Thursday.\nThe club said on its website the players had finally departed from Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side of the city instead of the planned morning flight from Ataturk.\nDiscount carrier Pegasus also called off some flights at its hub at Sabiha Gokcen.\nThe Bosphorus, which divides Istanbul into Asian and European districts, was shut in both directions at 8:10 a.m. (0610 GMT).\nAt least 13 tankers were waiting to enter the strait at both ends and were now scheduled to make the voyage on Thursday, shipping agent GAC said. The Dardanelles at the opposite end of the Sea of Marmara remained opened, it said.\nMaritime authorities regularly shut the Bosphorus, the only navigable waterway for Russian commodities, due to reduced visibility in winter months, which raises cargo costs. Some 10,000 tankers carry 150 million tons of petroleum products through the narrow, winding strait each year.\nIcy roads had led to more than 800 traffic accidents since late on Tuesday, the mayor's office said. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["60 cm (24 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Istanbul","Istanbul","Istanbul","Istanbul","Istanbul"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Some commuters in the city of 15 million had to walk to work after as much as 60 cm (24 inches) of snow fell in two days in parts of Istanbul","Istanbul","Istanbul","Istanbul","city","Istanbul","Turkish Airlines, Europe’s fourth-largest carrier, said it was forced to cancel more than 300 flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday","forced","Wednesday","said","fourth","Thursday","Thursday","stranded members of the Besiktas football team for hours"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["snowstorm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 Cyclone Marcia is expected to strengthen to category 5 before making landfall in Central Queensland. (Brisbane Times), (ABC Australia)","document":" Updated 20 Feb 2015, 1:48amFri 20 Feb 2015, 1:48am\nTropical Cyclone Marcia is slowly tracking towards Central Queensland and is due to make landfall as a category five system on Friday morning.\nIt is due to hit between St Lawrence and Gladstone.\nSo far residents in St Lawrence, Clairview, Ogmore and Marlborough have been asked to evacuate.\nPolice Constable Matt McKinnon said it was in the best interest of locals who had homes built before 1984 to go to shelters.\n\"The pre-1984 homes are not structurally sound to take that amount of wind gusts,\" he said.\nA very destructive central core of the cyclone could generate gusts up to 295 kilometres an hour, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.\n Late Thursday night the cyclone warning zone was outlined as between Mackay to Double Island Point, extending inland to Blackwater, Moura, Biloela, Monto, Taroom, Mundubbera, and Murgon.\nOnce the cyclone makes landfall it is due to track south to reach Biloela as a category one system about 10:00pm.\nBoM regional director Rob Webb said Cyclone Marcia started tracking south late on Thursday night.\n\"It was a remarkable intensification, we still do feel that it could cross as a category five,\" Mr Webb said.\n Scores of schools and regional airports will be closed on Friday and the Whitsunday Islands are in lockdown.\nPremier Annastacia Palaszczuk was briefed by the state's disaster management committee at Kedron, in Brisbane's north, late on Thursday afternoon.\nShe said Queenslanders not only had to brace for the destructive winds, but for heavy rain.\n\"This is a serious event,\" she said.\n\"Queenslanders need to be prepared now.\"\n Heavy rain may be experienced from Mackay to the New South Wales border which could cause flash flooding.\nSome 24-hour totals are expected in excess of 300 millimetres on the coast and nearby ranges.\nBoM regional director Rob Webb said the cyclone would dump between 200 millimetres and 300 millimetres of rain but some areas may record higher than that.\n\"Those falls up to 500 millimetres or more are possible,\" he said.\nA flood watch is current for the Wide Bay and Burnett, south-east coast and the Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts.\nGladstone residents have also been warned to expect a massive storm tide at 10:00am on Friday, which is expected to be 70 centimetres above the highest tide of the year.\nMore than 200 swift water rescue officers have been sent to flood-prone areas.\nAbnormally high tides were experienced on Thursday, expecting to continue Friday with water levels expected to rise above the highest tide of the year on the high tide.\nResidents between Mackay and Double Island have been warned of the potential for a dangerous storm tide.\nGold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the city's northern beaches were likely to bear the brunt of the big seas and erosion.\nClosures were expected to be in place for several days.\n\"From Main Beach, Surfers Paradise all the way to Nobbys is where it's going to be hit the hardest,\" Cr Tate said.\nPeter Sherriff's pineapple farm at Tansy, 10 kilometres from Yeppoon, was torn apart by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC Rural: Audience submitted)\nRockhampton resident Eric Stanley clears trees that fell on the roof of his home during Tropical Cyclone Marcia in central Queensland. (ABC News: Allyson Horn)\nA gaping hole stands at one end of the shed on Peter Richardson's property in Marmor, south of Rockhampton, after Tropical Cyclone Marcia tore off the two roller doors and blew out the back wall. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)\nPowerlines remain down in Rockhampton in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC Open Capricornia: Lisa Clarke)\nA damaged home in John St, Yeppoon. The family have returned to clean up damage caused by Cyclone Marcia, which hit the region the day before. (AAP Image: Karin Calvert)\nYeppoon residents begin cleaning up in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nThe Burnett River flows over the weir at Mundubbera following Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Kathy McLeish)\nA downed tree in Rockhampton left in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC Open: Lisa Clarke)\nMen assess damage on Archer Street in South Rockhampton. (ABC News: Lisa Clarke)\nA damaged house in Agnes Street in Rockhampton. (Supplied: Michelle Landry)\nThere has been localised flooding in Gympie, where another 100mm of rain fell on Saturday. (ABC News: Kathy McLeish)\nThe bathroom in the home of Yeppoon resident John McGrath. (Supplied)\nThis spring-free trampoline in Yeppoon was snapped in half by Cyclone Marcia. (Supplied: Lindsay Kasprowicz)\nFlooded town of Jambin, south of Rockhampton in central Queensland. (Audience submitted: Sue Wilkie, Jambin publican and farmer)\nView down Murphy street in South Rockhampton where fallen trees and power lines cover the street. (ABC News: Lisa Clarke)\nDamage from Cyclone Marcia outside a paint shop in Rockhampton. (ABC News: Paul Robinson)\nRoofing tin on the ground outside the Heritage Hotel in Rockhampton. (ABC News: Paul Robinson)\nDamage outside a cafe in Rockhampton after the cyclone hit. (ABC News: William Rollo)\nA large tree was pulled out by the roots in Rockhampton's city centre. (ABC News: William Rollo)\nA house destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Marcia in the Queensland coastal town of Yeppoon. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nA house torn apart by Tropical Cyclone Marcia in Yeppoon. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nTrees down in the Queensland town of Yeppoon during Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nThe aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Marcia that hit Yeppoon. (AAP: Karin Calvert)\nGreat Keppel Island's beachfront is impacted by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (Supplied: Margaret Gearin)\nA house with its roof torn off by Tropical Cyclone Marcia in Yeppoon. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nTrees down in the Queensland town of Yeppoon during Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nChildren shelter behind a wall on Queensland's Gold Coast as Tropical Cyclone Marcia brings huge seas to south east Queensland. (AAP: Dave Hunt)\nBeach at Great Keppel Island washes away as Tropical Cyclone Marcia passes through. (Supplied: Margaret Gearin)\nSurfers take advantage of big seas at Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, as Tropical Cyclone Marcia brings huge seas to south east Queensland. (AAP: Dan Peled)\nThe roller doors of an enclosed outside area at a motel in Yeppoon are blown open by winds from Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (AAP: Karin Calvert)\nSurging tides from Cyclone Marcia hit Main Beach in Yeppoon. (AAP: Karin Calvert)\nWaves break over the seawall at Yeppoon. (SBS World News: Stefan Armbruster)\nA surfer battles winds at Yeppoon as Tropical Cyclone Marcia begins to cross the coast. (SBS World News: Stefan Armbruster)\nA police car makes its way down a street in the centre Yeppoon. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nRangers and volunteers scramble to relocate turtle nests at Mon Repos Conservation Park near Bundaberg, ahead of the high tide and storm surge caused by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Courtney Wilson)\nDebris covers the footpath next to the shore at Bargara, near Bundaberg. (ABC Local: Ross Kay)\nWaves pound the coast at Yeppoon, north Queensland. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nOne loaf of bread remains on a store shelf in Bundaberg ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Marcia. (ABC Local: Ross Kay)\nA resident in Yeppoon tapes the windows of her house. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nVIIRS infrared imagery of Tropical Cyclone Marcia as it approaches the coast of Queensland. (Twitter/@NASANPP)\nRock fishermen try to make the most of wild conditions at Kingscliff. (Audience submitted: Larissa Nicholson)\nA resident in Yeppoon, north Queensland, loads sandbags into a ute. (ABC News: Marlina Whop)\nSurfers brave the waves at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast ahead of incoming Cyclone Marcia. (ABC News: Damien Larkins)\nResidents collect sandbags in the Brisbane suburb of Morningside. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Bureau of Meteorology"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["200 millimetres and 300 millimetres of rain","rain","rain","300 millimetres","rain"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["due to hit between St Lawrence and Gladstone","due","St Lawrence","due","Gladstone","hit","hit","hit","hit","hit","Central Queensland","central Queensland","central Queensland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["residents in St Lawrence, Clairview, Ogmore and Marlborough have been asked to evacuate","St Lawrence","residents","Residents","residents","Residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["south","south","South","south","south","South","south","South","south","south"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","Tropical Cyclone","category five system"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["295 kilometres an hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia","Marcia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 Residents of Goulburn Island off the coast of the Northern Territory are evacuated ahead of Cyclone Lam. (News Limited)","document":"LIVE UPDATES: Cyclone Marcia has damaged homes in Yeppoon and torn iron from buildings in Rockhampton to the south. And it’s not over yet. Cyclone Marcia Destroyed house in Yeppoon - Pic Jack TranSource:Supplied\nCyclone Marcia has damaged homes in Yeppoon and torn iron from buildings in Rockhampton to the south. And it’s not over yet. As the tropical cyclone continues to makes its way south we’re beginning to see the trail of destruction its left in its wake. WHAT WE KNOW:\n* Cyclone Marcia has been downgraded to a category 1 system but many residents are facing a damp and dark night with thousands without electricity. * Power is expected to be cut for several days and emergency services are calling on residents to use water only when absolutely necessary. * The severe tropical cyclone made landfall as a category 5 cyclone and has left a trail of destruction over Yeppoon and Rockhampton. *The cyclone was at category 5 when it grazed Yeppoon battering the coastal town with 285km/h winds. It was downgraded to category 3 when it hit Rockhampton in the afternoon. * Marcia’s destructive core with gusts to 155km/h continued southwards towards Biloela. * In the Northern Territory, Cyclone Lam made landfall as a category 4 system and has now been downgraded to a tropical low. LIVE UPDATES:\n12.30am\nOne Rockhampton man has told the ABC about the frightening moment when his roof was ripped off his house and support beams started crashing down on him and his flatmate. “Everything just went,” Phil Tout said. “I got belted across the back of the head with bits of timber and Christ knows what else.”\n10.50pm\nA State of Emergency has been declared for parts of the Top End hardest hit by Cyclone Lam. Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Peter Chandler says the declared area includes the communities of Milingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak and Mapuru Outstation. “I’ve taken this step to re-establish the normal pattern of life for residents and communities affected by Cyclone Lam,” Mr Chandler said. “It assists with restoring facilities and services necessary for the normal functioning of communities.”\nRamingining residents venture out after Tropical Cyclone Lam passed the remote community. Picture: Carli MerkelSource:Supplied\nNhulunbuy locals navigate the flooded roads.Source:News Corp Australia\n10.40pm\nRockhampton Regional Council says the Rockhampton Airport will remain closed until further notice. A serviceability inspection will be undertaken early Saturday morning. There is a possibility that the airport will re-open with a reduced runway length due to wet conditions. Flooding at Rockhampton airport after Cyclone Marcia. Nate Sinclair surveys the damage. Picture: Geoff SinclairSource:Supplied\n10.20pm\n#BREAKING: The Callide Dam’s automatic gates near Biloela have been opened and a massive amount of water is heading towards Jambin. Locals have been asked to evacuate. Gladstone Regional Council has also warned residents that Awoonga Dam is about to overflow and could flood Pikes Crossing. 9.10pm\nThousands of people are without power in Queensland and are looking at a dark and wet evening. More than 1000 people have no electricity in Gladstone, where a flood warning has also been issued, and there are also outages in Brisbane, on the Sunshine Coast and other Queensland areas including Biloela, which is in the path of Cyclone Marcia. Alan from Biloela: Windy, but not too dangerous. Power is out, so a dark and damp night ahead. #CycloneMarcia\n8.50pm\nCyclone Marcia has been downgraded to a category one storm. Gales with gusts to 120 km/h between Rockhampton and Double Island Point tonight, including Biloela, Monto, and Mundubbera. Abnormally high tides will be experienced between Gladstone and Double Island Point. Dangerous surf is also expected. There is heavy rainfall between Gladstone and Double Island Point, and is expected to continue tonight and Saturday morning as the cyclone moves south. A Flood Watch is current for the area. 8.40pm\nAmateur footage has emerged of the moment the roof of Yeppoon home is torn off by strong winds. 8.20pm\nSo many surfers in the water at Snapper Rocks in the Gold Coast today. Cyclone conditions no deterrent to surfers today. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images\n8pm\nThe Australian Defence Force will support Queensland emergency officials with post-disaster assessment in the aftermath of Cyclone Marcia. Defence has tasked the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to dispatch an AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and a KA350 King Air tactical mobility aircraft to central Queensland to help with wide area surveillance, and to provide high-resolution imagery and analysis of the area impacted by the cyclone. 7.45pm\nRockhamption Airport is under water after heavy rain, which has also closed the Bruce Highway north of the regional city. Nate Sinclair surveys the flooding at Rockhampton Airport","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Northern Territory"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category 4 system and has now been downgraded to a tropical low","downgraded","downgraded","downgraded"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cyclone Lam","Cyclone Lam","Cyclone Lam","Cyclone Lam"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2015 The United Nations will send emergency aid to Vanuatu with at least four people officially dead and reports of dozens more dead after Cyclone Pam hit yesterday. (Reuters via Daily Mail)(AP)","document":"By Reuters Published: 09:58 BST, 14 March 2015 | Updated: 09:58 BST, 14 March 2015 By Christopher McCall\nSYDNEY, March 14 (Reuters) - One of the Pacific Ocean's most powerful ever storms devastated the island nation of Vanuatu on Saturday, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and killing at least eight people with the toll set to rise, aid officials said.\nThe United Nations was preparing a major relief operation and Australia said it was ready to offer its neighbour whatever help it could.\nWith winds up to 340 kph (210 mph), Cyclone Pam left Vanuatu cut off, with little power, poor communications and a looming threat of hunger and thirst.\nUnconfirmed reports said the number of dead could run into dozens but aid workers said it would be days or weeks before the full impact was known.\n\"It felt like the world was going to end,\" Alice Clements, a spokeswoman for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), said from Vanuatu.\n\"It's like a bomb has gone off in the centre of the town. There is no power. There is no water.\"\nTom Skirrow, country director for the Save the Children aid group, told Reuters that Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office had confirmed eight dead and 20 injured. He said he expected those figures to rise substantially.\nAid workers in Papua New Guinea said at least one person had been killed by the storm there.\nSatellite photographs showed the storm covering virtually all of Vanuatu, a sprawling country of 83 islands and 260,000 people 2,000 km (1,250 miles) northeast of the Australian city of Brisbane.\nThe president of Vanuatu, Baldwin Lonsdale, told a disaster risk conference in Japan he had no confirmed report of the impact of the storm but he appealed to the world to \"give a lending hand\".\nAustralian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Canberra would be willing to offer Vanuatu whatever help it could.\nFormerly known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was jointly ruled by France and Britain until independence in 1980. It is among the world's poorest countries and highly prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and storms.\nWitnesses described sea surges of up to eight metres (26 feet) and flooding throughout the capital, Port Vila, after the category 5 cyclone hit late on Friday.\nAid officials said the storm could be unprecedented in the island's history and one of the worst natural disasters the Pacific region has ever experienced.\nThey said the storm was comparable in strength to Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in 2013 and killed more than 6,000 people.\nFEARING THE WORST\nChloe Morrison a spokeswoman for the World Vision aid group said the storm had been terrifying.\n\"Trees are across the roads. Some of them are piled up so you can barely see over them,\" she said. \"There are reports that there have been casualties across all of the islands.\n\"This is going to need a long and sustained response. People in Vanuatu are subsistence farmers. They grow food for their own consumption. Crops will be absolutely wiped out from this.\"\nOutlying islands may take weeks to reach, aid officials said, while a lack of clean water and widespread damage to crops meant the situation could deteriorate sharply in coming days.\nThere were no reports of looting but Skirrow described men whose homes had been destroyed walking the streets of Port Vila with machetes and families huddling without shelter after their flimsy homes of thatch were torn away by the wind and rain.\nMany residents were in evacuation centres, he said, but the authorities were ill prepared.\n\"These people are homeless now. These people are going to be there for probably six weeks,\" Skirrow said.\nAs darkness fell on Saturday, the storm was moving off to the south but the wind was still strong.\nU.N. relief workers were gearing up for a rapid response on Sunday, with members drawn from as far away as Europe.\nHowever, with the airport closed and high wind still blowing it was not clear how they could reach Vanuatu.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killing at least eight people","eight dead and 20 injured","one person had been killed"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 5"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["340 kph (210 mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cyclone Pam"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2015 The government of the island nation of Vanuatu declares a state of emergency for Shefa Province containing the capital Port Vila as authorities struggle to assess the full impact of the category 5 storm. Once assessments of the damage have been done in other provinces, authorities are likely to widen the declared area in a state of emergency. (The Guardian), (ABC via Weatherzone)","document":"Government says there are fears of widespread destruction and heavy loss of life after several islands were directly hit by eye of category five superstorm\n \nFirst published on Sun 15 Mar 2015 00.29 GMT\nThe true scale of the disaster in Vanuatu after cyclone Pam has begun to reveal itself as aircraft from Australia arrive to survey the scene and deliver the first wave of urgently needed relief.\nThe Vanuatu lands minister, Ralph Regenvanu, said the government of the shattered South Pacific archipelago regarded the “entire population” of about 266,000 people as having been affected by the huge category five storm system that ripped through on Friday night and into Saturday.\nThere were fears of a catastrophic level of destruction and loss of life across the country, with communications outside the capital, Port Vila, still out of commission on Sunday.\nRegenvanu played down suggestions by an aid agency that the toll in Port Vila alone could hit 50, saying it was “probably less than 10”, but added: “We don’t know anything about the rest of the country but the cyclone affected all of the country, it started right up in the north and went all the way south,” Regenvanu told the Guardian after an emergency council of ministers meeting.\n“This is the worst disaster to affect Vanuatu ever as far as we know. We’re going to need a lot of assistance.”\nCare International Vanuatu’s program manager, Charlie Damon, said there were credible sources indicating there could be 40 to 50 deaths in the capital alone.\n“We have no idea how the other islands have fared and we can only assume it’s horrific,” Damon said.\nReports of entire villages being wiped out and dozens of deaths in the northern province of Penama cannot be confirmed.\nOxfam Vanuatu’s director, Colin Collett van Rooyen, said estimates of the death toll, which currently stands at eight confirmed in Port Vila, were still limited by poor communications even in the capital.\n“At this point I’ve heard what Ralph is saying right now but I stress the numbers are related to access to information,” he said.\n“We have to remember at this point in time most people’s mobile batteries would have gone flat, so even comms within Port Vila are very difficult.\n“People working on the crisis won’t be having time to drive across Port Vila because there are obstructions on the road as well.”\nThe government hoped aerial surveys would be carried out with the help of two Australian defence force flights that flew out of Amberley air force base near Brisbane.\nIt was not clear when satellite imagery from other countries which the United Nations said would help the Vanuatu government map the scale of disaster will be available.\nA private tourist operator, Vanuatu Helicopters, was also set to help with the aerial surveys and the urgent task of re-establishing telecommunications towers on other islands, Regenvanu said.\n“Unfortunately we can’t communicate with anyone outside Port Vila so there’s no way to assess what the situation is,” he said.\n“We’re hoping the first aerial surveys will be going today.”\nPreparing the airport in Port Vila to receive more flights is one of the government’s priorities, with suggestions that commercial flights could be delayed by as much as a week, a major constraint on aid efforts. Another is restoring the operations of Port Vila’s hospital and possibly establishing mobile clinics amid concerns about contamination of drinking water even though municipal supplies are still running.\nRegenvanu said international aid would “hopefully” be rapidly forthcoming.\n“We’ll see how fast our partners respond – when they need to respond to this is right now,” he said.\nThe director of Save the Children Vanuatu, Tom Skirrow, said there was “still a real vacuum of information” from other islands outside the capital.\n“What is clear is people are going to be based in evacuation centres in Port Vila and around the country for some time because their houses have been completely destroyed,” Skirrow said.\n“I think the key is that people need to get there, they need to be safe, they need to be fed, have their children protected.\n“Then they need to start rebuilding homes and the problem is if they rebuild homes like they built before, then they won’t last long again in another cyclone.”\nSkirrow said the need for foreign aid was particularly urgent given the local shortage of food and building supplies.\n“This place doesn’t have the building materials for the amount of damage that’s been done, it doesn’t have significant amounts of food supplies considering the crop damage,” he said.\nAuthorities in the capital on Saturday talked of the need to establish more temporary morgues, with the sole morgue in Port Vila able accommodate only two bodies.\nDamon said this was as much a reflection of the lack of existing facilities as of fears of the numbers of deaths.\n“Of course they’re expecting fatalities - I’ve heard varying reports. Six confirmed yesterday but there are others who have heard more stories so we’re looking at something more like between 40 and 50 in Port Vila alone,” she said.\n“But in Vanuatu culture, if someone dies normally you bury them the next day. It’s expatriates who use the morgue here and the morgue they have in place has space for two people.\n“Port Vila’s a real mix, we’ve got tourists, we’ve local expatriates and we’ve got the Ni-Vanuatu. There’s a massive expatriate community here, so of those fatalities, I’m not sure how many (of those there are) so that makes a difference to how many they need. (Morgues) are a very western thing.”\nIn Port Vila, 29 evacuation centres currently held 2,000 people.\nDamon said the number was sure to rise as the full scale of damage to private homes was realised.\n“We’re looking at what we need to do to make sure those centres were safe,” she said.\nDamon said that number would also likely swell as word spread that Vanuatu could be hit later this week by a second tropical cyclone, Nathan, which threatened the north coast of Queensland before changing direction last week.\n“As soon as the rumour gets out that there’s going to be another cyclone here, I think given what we’ve just experienced, the numbers in those centres are going to significantly increase,” she said.\n“Yesterday (there) was an odd feeling (among people) as we were driving around, absolute shock at the devastation of Port Vila but also a kind of, not elation, but relief that they were alive because they obviously had experienced such a frightening night.”\nThe clean up in Port Vila, which was undermined on Saturday by still dangerous conditions with wind gusts shifting debris, was aided by clearer weather on Sunday.\n“The community yesterday were already cleaning up, cutting away all those trees that have gone down everywhere, which is amazing to see, that resilience,” Damon said. “But as they do that that’s when the reality of what’s just hit kind of kicks in.”\nThere were signs of immediate improvement in Port Vila’s basic infrastructure with the mobile phone network and parts of the electricity grid reestablished.\nBut reports estimating some 80% of structures in the capital have suffered damage seemed credible, Damon said.\n“It was interesting to see the buildings that don’t have any damage versus those that do, because there’s no rhyme or reason,” Damon said.\n“Some, you look at them, and it’s like, you should have been blown away, how are you still standing, and then there are some that have lost their roofs and you just wonder. My friend over from Australia here lost the roof of their house and she lives in a very good house.”","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A private tourist operator, Vanuatu Helicopters, was also set to help with the aerial surveys and the urgent task of re-establishing telecommunications towers on other islands","islands","islands","aerial surveys","help","help","aerial surveys","islands","266,000 people as having been affected","affected","People working on the crisis won’t be having time to drive across Port Vila because there are obstructions on the road as well","time","time","aircraft from Australia arrive to survey the scene and deliver the first wave of urgently needed relief","most people’s mobile batteries would have gone flat, so even comms within Port Vila are very difficult"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday night and into Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category five storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["cyclone Pam"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2015 Enele Sopoaga, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, estimates that 45% of the population has been displaced by the cyclone. (Radio New Zealand)","document":"The Prime Minister of Tuvalu says nearly half of the population has been displaced by Cyclone Pam.\nEnele Sopoaga said most people living on the outer islands had been severely affected, with houses and crops being washed away and at least one island being entirely flooded.\nTuvalu has a population of 9876 at the last census in 2013.\nHe said there was a health and safety concern following some cemeteries being destroyed.\n\"Forty five percent of the population of Tuvalu, most of whom are on the outer islands, have been affected, badly, severly affected. We are worried about the aftermath in terms of hygeine and supplies of essential materials like food, medicine and water.\"\nEnele Sopoaga said government boats would travel to the outer islands this afternoon to assess the extent of the damage and hand out emergency supplies.\nTuvalu has been battered by Cyclone Pam's storm surge over the last four days Photo: Supplied","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Tuvalu","Tuvalu","Tuvalu","Tuvalu"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Forty five percent of the population of Tuvalu, most of whom are on the outer islands, have been affected, badly, severly affected. We are worried about the aftermath in terms of hygeine and supplies of essential materials like food, medicine and water","Tuvalu","population","outer islands","affected","Tuvalu","supplies","Tuvalu","half of the population has been displaced","population","population","most people living on the outer islands had been severely affected, with houses and crops being washed away","outer islands","outer islands"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cyclone Pam","Cyclone Pam"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2015 Cyclone Nathan intensifies to a category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) and is expected to make landfall near the Queensland town of Cooktown on March 19. (WA Today)","document":"The storm intensified to category 2 on Wednesday morning, generating wind gusts of up to 130km/h at its core.\n\n\n.\n\n\n\n\nA video animation shows the likely coastal crossing of Tropical Cyclone Nathan.\nResidents from Coen to Cardwell are expecting heavy rain and winds as strong as 200km/h by the time the system makes landfall on Friday.\nBut Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott said he was most worried about the prospect of a storm surge adding to already high tides.\nCyclone Nathan is predicted to make landfall at Cooktown on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted Nathan would be a category 3 cyclone when it hit Cooktown, about 170 kilometres north of Cairns.\nCr Scott said fortunately most of Cooktown was high enough to avoid tidal flooding but the suburb of Marton would likely be under threat along with Ayton and Wujal Wujal on the Bloomfield River.\nOn Wednesday morning BOM forecasters extended the cyclone watch area north to Coen and further inland.\nThe district disaster management group is due to meet on Wednesday in Cairns to plan the region's response.\nAlready the State Emergency Service has deployed about 20 volunteers, and electricity network operator Ergon Energy has brought in extra generators.\nCr Scott encouraged residents to check gutters for any debris strewn around by Cyclone Nathan's first pass and make use of sandbags available from council depots if needed.\n\"Apart from that it's the same old story,\" he said. \"Look for a safe place to shelter. If your home was built after 1985 that's the best spot.\n\"Make sure your neighbours or any elderly people are well prepared, [and have a] cyclone kit.\n\"We're hoping it's going to be short and sharp but you never know, things might develop and sit out there and churn away so you can't take anything for granted.\"\nAt 10am Wednesday, Cyclone Nathan was about 425 kilometres east of Cooktown and heading southwest at 4km/h.\nIt's expected to intensify to a category 3 system by Thursday morning.\nBureau of Meteorology spokesman Jess Carey said the cyclone was forecast to make landfall near Cooktown on Friday morning as a high-end category 3 storm.\n\"That will be close to 200-220km/h near the centre but you'll still be getting quite strong winds, gusts up to 110 kilometres extending up to 150km/h from the centre of the cyclone,\" he said.\n\"Even if you're not getting a coastal crossing on top of you, you're still going to get quite strong winds within 150 kilometres of the eye either way.\n\"They're pretty strong winds. we're not talking Cyclone Pam winds, which was closer to 300km/h gusts but certainly those sorts of winds are very significant and to be respected by the local community.\"\nThere were clear skies and relatively cool temperatures across the far north on Wednesday, with winds and rain set to rise from Thursday afternoon.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Bureau of Meteorology","Bureau","Meteorology"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Cooktown, about 170 kilometres north of Cairns","Cooktown","Cooktown","Cairns","Cooktown","Cooktown"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["southwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 2","category 3 cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["130km/h","4km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2015 Authorities in the Australian state of Queensland prepare for the impact of Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan which is forecast to make landfall near Cooktown early tomorrow morning. (AAP via Wa Today)","document":"Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says preparations are well under way as the state's far north braces for the arrival of Cyclone Nathan.\nMs Palaszczuk says the cyclone, which on Thursday morning was about 300km north northeast of Cooktown, was expected to hit the coast between Cooktown and Cape Melville as a category four system about 2am on Friday.\nCyclone Nathan's winds may gust to 260km/h.Credit:earth.nullschool.net\n\"Can I please stress to everyone this is a serious situation, but we do have the rest of the day to prepare,\" Ms Palaszczuk said from the state's emergency services headquarters in Brisbane on Thursday.\n\"The other good news is that we do not expect it to coincide with high tide.\"\nCyclone Nathan intensifies off the Queensland coast.Credit:NASA\nMs Palaszczuk said residents in the Hope Vale and Cooktown regions needed to start their cyclone preparations immediately.\nThe bureau would update the cyclone's movements every hour, she said.\nIts latest update said Nathan was packing sustained winds near its centre of 140 km/h, with gusts of up to 195 km/h.\nA cyclone warning remains current from Lockhart River to Port Douglas, extending inland to areas including Laura and Palmerville.\nCyclone Nathan would be a small system but it would \"pack a punch\", according to Bureau of Meteorology regional director Rob Webb.\nMr Webb said category-three strength winds would continue whipping the coast up to 30 kilometres around the core of the system.\n\"We are also suggesting people around about 140 kilometres around the cyclone may get some form of damaging winds as the winds gradually reduce away from the cyclone,\" he said.\n\"We expect given the size of the cyclone that it will decay quickly over land.\"\nMs Palaszczuk said the category-four rating meant the cyclone would be severe and urged residents to remain in their homes.\n\"Once dark falls that is a time that people should stay off the roads, stay in your homes because your safety and your family's safety is absolutely paramount,\" she said.\nShe said about 950 people in Hope Vale and 2,300 people in Cooktown were in Nathan's firing line.\nThe premier said she was confident state agencies were well resourced despite a clean-up still occurring in the aftermath of category-five Cyclone Marcia, which struck Queensland's central coast last month.\nThe system is likely to drop back to a low pressure system by the time it drops into the gulf on Saturday, and forecasters say there's a chance Nathan could re-intensify into a cyclone again.\n\"Anywhere across the cape can expect a short period of heavy rainfall and damaging winds as this cyclone makes its way inland and back out over the water,\" Mr Webb said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Ms Palaszczuk","Ms Palaszczuk","Ms Palaszczuk","Ms Palaszczuk"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["expected to hit the coast between Cooktown and Cape Melville","Cooktown","coast","Cooktown","coast","Cooktown","coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["2am on Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category four"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["260km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan","Nathan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2015 Thousands of people are evacuated from the Philippines island of Luzon ahead of Typhoon Noul (Dodong). (Reuters via Daily Mail)","document":"By Reuters Published: 06:07 BST, 9 May 2015 | Updated: 06:07 BST, 9 May 2015 MANILA, May 9 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Saturday evacuated thousands of people in the northeastern part of its main island of Luzon on Saturday, less than 24 hours before a powerful typhoon was expected to make landfall.\nTyphoon Noul, a category 4 storm with winds of 160 kph (99 mph) and gusts of up to 195 kph, was about 210 kms (130 miles) north northeast of Catanduanes island in the central Philippines.\nIt was expected to hit the rice-producing provinces of Cagayan and Isabela at around 5 a.m. [2100 GMT] on Sunday before weakening as it moved across the Sierra Madre mountains and into northeastern Luzon.\nThe weather bureau raised storm alerts in 19 areas on Luzon, warning that strong winds and intense rain could produce a 2.5 metre high storm surge along the coast areas and landslides in mountainous areas.\nRaben Dimaano, a disaster official in Sorsogon province, said more than 11,000 people were moved to temporary shelters in two towns around Mount Bulusan, a volcano which erupted twice this week, because of the danger of mud flows.\nAlexander Pama, head of national disaster risk reduction and management council, said Noul's intense rainfall within a 300-km diameter area could topple power lines, uproot trees, blow roofs off thatched houses and damage crops like rice and corn in the region. (Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing By Kim Coghill)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["expected to hit the rice-producing provinces of Cagayan and Isabela","expected","rice","Sierra Madre mountains and into northeastern Luzon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The Philippines on Saturday evacuated thousands of people in the northeastern part of its main island of Luzon on Saturday","Philippines","Luzon","Luzon","people","more than 11,000 people were moved to temporary shelters in two towns around Mount Bulusan","moved"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["5 a.m. [2100 GMT] on Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["160 kph (99 mph) and gusts of up to 195 kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Noul","Noul"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2015 Tropical storm Ana forms near the states of North and South Carolina weeks before the official start of the hurricane season. (Accuweather)","document":" Note: Select a region before finding a country. Subtropical Storm Ana has formed off the southern Atlantic coast of the United States, making it the first named tropical system of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season.\nA subtropical or hybrid storm has some warm, tropical features and some cool, non-tropical features.\nHurricane hunter aircraft began flights into the storm on Thursday morning. Ana, which formed late Thursday night, will affect part of the southeastern United States with rain, wind and rough surf through the Mother's Day weekend as it reaches the Carolina coast.\nAna could gain full tropical storm designation with slight increase in strength by this weekend.\nOn Thursday, rain arrived well ahead of the storm along the Carolina coast. The rain will continue on and off into early next week. Winds and surf will increase from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Daytona Beach, Florida, through the weekend.\nWinds guiding the storm along are very weak. The center of Ana will wander close to the coast of the Carolinas with landfall likely later this weekend.\n\"The mostly likely area for the storm to wander onshore is between northern South Carolina and the southern tip of North Carolina on Sunday,\" AccuWeather.com Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.\nSince winds and rain extend well ahead of the storm, exactly where the center of circulation tracks will have little bearing on impacts.\n\nSlow movement of the system will mean long-duration impacts. Rounds of drenching rain, gusty winds and rough seas will pester part of the coast, with the most significant conditions focusing on the Carolinas.\nThe risk to lives and property will be low for land areas, due to Ana forecast to remain a subtropical or tropical storm. However, there are some risks for people remaining on land and significant danger for those venturing in the surf or heading to sea.\n\"The slow movement of the storm will bring several straight days of periods of rain to portions of the Carolinas and perhaps southeastern Georgia, with the heaviest rain falling during the afternoon and evening hours,\" Kottlowski said.\nRainfall averaging 2-4 inches in the coastal Carolinas will raise the risk of flooding on roadways and low-lying areas. Persistent onshore winds will also bring the potential for coastal flooding in portions of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, particularly at times of high tide.\nThe constant bombardment of rough surf will lead to beach erosion focusing on North Carolina. The rough surf will cause frequent and strong rip currents, which will pose dangers to bathers.\nWhile winds are not likely to become strong enough to cause widespread damage, there could be downed tree limbs, especially where locally gusty thunderstorms occur. A couple of brief tornadoes and waterspouts could be spawned by the storm. If and where these occur, damage could be more severe.\nSince some strengthening of Ana is possible this weekend, prior to making landfall, winds will increase into Saturday along the Carolina coast. Winds will reach average an speed of 30-40 mph with gusts frequenting 50 mph and occasionally reaching 60 mph along the Carolina coast for a time this weekend. Gusts can be significantly higher in thunderstorms.\n\"Seas were averaging 8-12 feet offshore during early Friday and will translate to the coast in the form of very rough and dangerous surf into the weekend, before subsiding early next week,\" Kottlowski said.\nSeas will increase as the storm strengthens a bit.\nRough seas and squalls associated with the storm will make for dangerous conditions for small craft outside of protected coastal waters. Cruise ships will want to avoid the area of rough seas, which will extend from off the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to near the northern part of the Bahamas and eastern Florida.\n\"While people should stay out of the water along the Carolina and Georgia coasts in this situation, this will be a storm for people to think of what they need to do for hurricane preparation for the upcoming season,\" Kottlowski said.\nAna will help to strengthen an area of high pressure that will pump building warmth and sunshine in much of the East.\nDirect impact from Ana as a subtropical storm is not likely to occur in the Northeast or penetrate hundreds of miles inland in the South this weekend.\nAna, in diminished form, will be pulled northeastward ahead of an approaching cool front across part of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England Monday into Tuesday. Ana's moisture will become embedded with moisture from the front in the form of showers and thunderstorms.\nThe atmospheric roadblock will keep rounds of severe weather focused on the Plains this week, and the threat could ramp up even more over the weekend.\nAccuWeather.com Chief Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok is monitoring the Atlantic Basin for additional development later in May.\n\"It is possible a tropical system slowly takes shape in the Gulf of Mexico during the third week of May along the tail end of a front with high pressure to the north,\" Pastelok said.\nAccuWeather has released its summer forecast for the U.S. and will release its Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast for 2015 on May 13.\nThe combination of a cool front swinging in from the Midwest and moisture from a diminishing Ana will bring an end to the summerlike weather in the Northeast early next week.\nAn outbreak of severe weather spawned dozens of tornadoes across the southern Plains this week, leaving behind extensive damage across portions of Oklahoma and Nebraska.\nThe threat of severe weather will continue over the southern Plains on Friday evening with an elevated risk of storms continuing into the weekend.\nSubtropical Storm Ana will approach the Carolina coast with rounds of rain, wind and rough surf through Mother's Day weekend.\nThe worst thing that people who live along coastlines can do is not to prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes.\nThe persistent drought in California and other parts of the country continues to be a drag on the agricultural sector of the U.S. economy, according to the Federal Reserve.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["southern Atlantic coast of the United States","United States"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2-4 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":["late Thursday night"]},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Subtropical Storm","subtropical storm","Subtropical Storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["30-40 mph with gusts frequenting 50 mph and occasionally reaching 60 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana","Ana"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2015 Record breaking rain causes flooding in the American states of Oklahoma and Texas with Oklahoma City recording record rainfall levels for the month of May. (CNN)","document":".\nA firefighter dies early Sunday while performing a high water rescue\nOverall monthly rain record shattered in Oklahoma City\n \n The bottom dropped out over northern Texas and Oklahoma overnight. Rainfall broke records and river banks, and killed a firefighter early Sunday, as emergency crews scrambled to pull residents from floodwaters. With more rain falling, the torrents have already pushed Oklahoma City handily past a rain record, and rescuers have carried out at least 48 high-water rescues. By late Saturday, 3.15 inches had drenched the city, bringing the total for the month to 17.61 inches. “It … shatters the all-time monthly record of 14.66 inches set in June of 1989,” said CNN weather producer Sean Morris.\n And in the town of Claremore, near Tulsa, a firefighter died while attempting a high-water rescue, said local emergency manager Thomas Hudson.\n In Hays County, Texas, adjacent to Austin, hundreds of people were rescued or evacuated from their homes, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Lt. Jeri Skrocki.\n Many of the rescues were along the Blanco River, she said. Hays County set up emergency shelters in two schools, a community center and a nursing home.\n “We have 25 active rescues that we are working right now,” said Kristi Wyatt, communications director for the city of San Marcos, the seat of Hays County. “We have people on car tops and rooftops awaiting rescue. People in homes are going to higher levels in the homes. Emergency workers are working around the clock trying to get to those people and get them out safely,” Wyatt said. Authorities had to open more evacuation centers because the first one filled up so quickly.\n “We had over 300 residents at the first location and the second location is getting filled up as well,” Wyatt said. “These are just people who had no friends or relatives to go to, so there are many more residents than that evacuated,” she explained, adding that the National Guard was coming to Hays County to provide air assistance. An area of about 400 homes around Louis Creek Dam is under mandatory evacuation, according to Miranda Haas with the Montgomery County, Texas, Office of Emergency Management. The dam has not breached and workers continue to pack soil on it. “Our construction efforts have been phenomenal, they have made tremendous progress, it’s just the weather is not letting up at all,” she said. Haas said a Red Cross shelter was opened at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. ET) Friday night and remains open Saturday.\n Wichita Falls, Texas, was warned that its river could widely overflow its banks and severely flood broad swaths of surrounding areas, as well as large parts of the city. Officials published a potential flooding map with a red zone nearly the size of the city.\n “Predictions from the National Weather Service indicate that significant flooding along the Wichita River is very likely,” the town’s emergency management agency said. “The National Weather Service is calling this an ‘historic’ flood event.” The agency called for the voluntary evacuation of 2,177 homes.\n Wichita Falls is having the rainiest May ever recorded there and “could set an all-time record for rainiest month ever recorded there,” CNN’s Morris said. Broad, muddied flood waters gushed across fields, towns and roads in images from both states, turning land expanses into lakes, half burying cars and houses. Blue and red emergency vehicle lights bounced off dark, watery surfaces, as rescuers worked through the night.\n On the National Weather Service map, chartreuse squiggles signified overflowing rivers and creeks from southern Texas to northern Missouri. Much of the state of Oklahoma was covered in the bright green.\n Motorists abandoned cars in streets and parking lots, as rising waters took them over. The weather service put out its usual flood mantra to drivers, “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.” The weather service also told campers and hikers to seek higher ground.\n In addition to the worst-hit areas, flood watches and warnings reached from the Texas and western Louisiana Gulf coasts up through eastern Kansas and western Missouri.\n Despite the heavy rain, western Oklahoma and parts of the Texas Panhandle and central Texas are still facing moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The rainfall should put a dent in it, though.\n But the current deluge might be a bit much.\n “I didn’t hesitate telling people… there’s going to come a day when we’re gonna wish the rain would stop,” Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barham told CNN affiliate KAUZ. “I think that day is probably here.”\nIn 2011, drought and wildfire brought heavy damage to Texas. The drought caused at least $5 billion in economic damage, and wildfire damage amounted to tens of millions of dollars, authorities said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["3.15 inches had drenched the city, bringing the total for the month to 17.61 inches","City","City","city","city","city","month"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed a firefighter","firefighter","firefighter"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2009 Seven people are killed in hurricane–force winds reaching 130 km/h in Poland and two more are killed by wind in the Czech Republic. Hail falls on 60,000 hectares of crops in Austria, causing damage of at least €20 million. (Sydney Morning Herald) (BBC)","document":"EXTREME weather has killed and injured dozens of people across Europe, with Spain, France and Italy hit by summer wildfires and parts of central Europe deluged by storms.\nThe deadly fires spread in Spain, France, Italy and Greece, while violent storms felled trees and ripped off roofs in central Europe.\nWestern and south-western Poland were hardest hit, with hurricane-force winds reaching 130 km/h in some areas.\n\"Seven people died in all, while 82 sustained serious injuries,\" Poland's national fire brigade spokesman Pawel Fratczak said. High winds also claimed two lives in the neighbouring Czech Republic.\nIn Austria, hail pounded 60,000 hectares of crops, causing damage worth an estimated €20 million ($35 million).","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of central Europe","central Europe","Western and south-western Poland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed and injured dozens of people across Europe","Seven people died in all, while 82 sustained serious injuries"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["130 km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 A tropical depression forms in the Pacific ocean. It is not supposed to threaten land, and is also the first storm of the season. (Weather.com)","document":"\nTropical Depression One-E formed on Thursday afternoon well off the west coast of Mexico, kicking off the 2018 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which doesn't officially begin until May 15.\n(MORE: Hurricane Central)\nThe tropical depression is currently centered more than 1,400 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California.\nAdditional strengthening is not expected as One-E is approaching an area of stronger wind shear to its west.\nTropical Depression One-E will, therefore, be short-lived, and given it's far from land and has weak steering winds, it will be no threat to land as it drifts toward the west-northwest through Friday night.\nThough not expected, if the depression were to become a tropical storm, it would earn the first name of the 2018 Eastern Pacific hurricane season: Aletta.\n\n\nOne year ago Wednesday, Tropical Storm Adrian became the earliest tropical cyclone on record to form in the Eastern Pacific Basin.\nAdrian became a tropical depression, then strengthened to a tropical storm on May 9, 2017, south of the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Guatemala before wind shear tore it apart the following day.\nThe Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through Nov. 30, beginning roughly two weeks earlier than the Atlantic hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center, an average Eastern Pacific season has its first named storm by the second week of June.\nSince 2000, however, 19 named storms have formed in May in the Eastern Pacific Basin. Nine of those storms eventually became hurricanes and six became major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger).\n(\nAnd, unlike the current system, some of these storms had land impact.\nFive of those May storms made landfall either in southeastern Mexico's Gulf of Tehuantepec or in Central America. One of these, Barbara in 2013, made landfall as a hurricane along the Gulf of Tehuantepec coast.\nThe 2015 Eastern Pacific hurricane season got off to a record start, including a frenetic May, fueled by an intensifying El Niño.\nHurricane Andres formed over the open waters on May 29, then intensified to Category 4 intensity as the calendar turned to June.\nThat was followed immediately by another Category 4 hurricane, Blanca, which first became a tropical depression on May 31.\nBlanca went on to become the earliest landfalling tropical storm on record in Baja California, moving ashore on June 8.\n(\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["the west coast of Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":["Thursday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["more than 1,400 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Baja California"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical depression","Tropical Depression","tropical depression","tropical depression"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tropical Depression One-E","Tropical Depression One-E"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2007 The President of the United States George W. Bush declares a state of emergency in Oklahoma following the death of 11 people in a midwinter storm. Twenty–five people have died in the midwestern United States as a result of the storm. (AFP via ABC News Australia)","document":"A massive winter storm has moved across the central United States, killing at least 25 people and prompting President George W Bush to declare an emergency in the state of Oklahoma. Since Friday, weather-related accidents have killed 11 people in Oklahoma and eight in Missouri, according to local officials. The Kansas City Star newspaper reports that six people have died in Kansas. Mr Bush declared an emergency in Oklahoma, where an ice storm has left more than 100,000 people without power. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management says the declaration has prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to distribute generators and bottled water to communities impacted by the ice storm. In Missouri, seven people have been killed in traffic accidents caused by slick conditions while one died from carbon monoxide poisoning - a common cause of death when those without power use fuel-burning stoves to heat their homes. More than 300,000 people lost power in Missouri due to downed power lines, the state reported on Sunday.\nOne line worker was injured when he fell from a utility pole. In Kansas, five people were reported killed in weather-related traffic accidents and one person was poisoned by carbon monoxide exposure, said state officials quoted by the Kansas City Star. In Texas to the south, the Governor called out the National Guard after more than six inches of rain caused flash flooding and dramatic high-water rescues. The storm forced the cancellation of dozens of flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, with temperatures reported near freezing. CNN television says there has also been flooding in the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. Record-breaking cold weather even hit the Pacific Coast state of California, where mild temperatures usually prevail all year. In central Los Angeles, the thermometer dropped to 2.0 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, a record-setting temperature not felt in the city for 75 years.\nFarmers in the Central Valley and the southern part of the state worried about freezing temperatures ruining the lucrative citrus crop, the Los Angeles Times and other media reported. Photographs showed icicles hanging off of tangerine trees in a Central Valley orchard near Fresno, a rare sight in the state. Californian oranges, lemons and other produce worth as much as $US500 million ($A639 million) have probably been ruined, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing an industry spokesman. The storm in central states is moving eastward, and has already caused ice storms in western parts of New York state, forecasters say. The National Weather Service expects the storm to to cause less trouble as it crosses the north-east New England region.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","Missouri","Missouri","Missouri","central United States"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed 11 people in Oklahoma and eight in Missouri","Oklahoma","Missouri","Missouri","five people were reported killed in weather-related traffic accidents and one person was poisoned by carbon monoxide exposure","weather","weather","Weather","killing at least 25 people and prompting President George W Bush to declare an emergency in the state of Oklahoma","Oklahoma","emergency","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Emergency","Emergency","state","state","More than 300,000 people lost power in Missouri","Missouri","six people have died in Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to distribute generators and bottled water to communities impacted by the ice storm","ice storm","ice storm","seven people have been killed in traffic accidents","traffic accidents","One line worker was injured when he fell from a utility pole"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["eastward"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["massive winter storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2007 Hurricane force winds claim at least 40 lives in Western Europe including 10 lives in Britain and 11 in Germany, and other victims in The Netherlands (6), Poland (6), Czech Republic (3) and France (3). (BBC) (CBS News) (CNN)","document":"At least six people were reported killed in Poland as winds of more than 200km/h (124mph) were recorded.\nGermany, the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands were picking themselves up on Friday after the storm passed.\nSome services returned to normal, but thousands of travellers were still stranded and homes left without power.\nLate on Friday, high winds reached Russia and Ukraine, with a pipeline carrying Russian oil to the EU via Ukraine being temporarily shut down after power was knocked out.\n'Hurricane force'\nRoads, rail lines and electricity pylons have been taken out of action across northern Europe by falling trees, collapsing walls and flying wreckage.\nChart the storm's progress\nIn maps\nIn Germany, the 11 dead included an 18-month-old baby killed by a door that was ripped off its hinges in Munich, while a 73-year-old man died in Augsburg when a barn door fell on him.\nEleven people were killed in Britain, including a two-year-old boy who was crushed by a wall, and the managing director of Birmingham Airport, whose car was hit by a tree.\nMeteorologists said the winds reached severe gale force in Britain and were the strongest there since January 1990.\nThey hit hurricane force in Germany, the worst in nearly a decade.\n STORM DEATHS\n Britain: 11\nGermany: 11\nThe Netherlands: 6\nPoland: 6\nCzech Republic: 4\nFrance: 3\nBelgium: 2\n\n\n\n In the Netherlands, an 11-year-old boy was killed in the town of Riel when he was blown into a car, AFP reported.\nAs the storm moved east, a Polish crane operator in the southern town of Katowice was reported killed when his machinery collapsed, and another died in Zaborow, near Warsaw, when the roof of his house fell in.\nAt one point, in the Czech Republic a million people faced power cuts. A million households in Germany also suffered blackouts and tens of thousands of homes in Poland, Austria, northern France and the UK were also hit.\nNormal rail operations were resuming in Germany after the entire network was closed down as a precautionary measure for the first time in its history.\nThe disruption came after Berlin's new central station, the biggest rail hub in Europe, was evacuated after the winds tore off a two-tonne steel girder, which crashed 40m (130ft) onto a stairway.\nAre you in the areas affected by the heavy storms? Send us your experiences using the form below:\nIf you have any pictures of the storms you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Please do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Poland, Austria, northern France","Poland","Russia and Ukraine","Ukraine","Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands","Germany","Germany","Germany","Netherlands","France","Belgium","Netherlands","Germany","France","UK","Germany","uk","Poland","Poland","Czech Republic","Czech Republic"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Polish crane operator in the southern town of Katowice was reported killed when his machinery collapsed, and another died in Zaborow, near Warsaw, when the roof of his house fell in","reported killed","Eleven people were killed in Britain, including a two-year-old boy who was crushed by a wall, and the managing director of Birmingham Airport, whose car was hit by a tree","killed","Britain","hit","Britain","killed","hit","11 dead included an 18-month-old baby killed by a door that was ripped off its hinges in Munich, while a 73-year-old man died in Augsburg when a barn door fell on him","73-year-old man","year-old boy","11-year","year-old boy","11-year-old boy was killed in the town of Riel when he was blown into a car","killed","car","town","six people were reported killed","reported killed","thousands of travellers were still stranded and homes left without power","thousands","a million people faced power cuts"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Late on Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["200km/h (124mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2007 Cyclone Favio hits central Mozambique. (BBC)","document":"Cyclone Favio made landfall in the central province of Inhambane, near the town of Vilanculos, and is heading north towards the city of Beira.\nWinds reportedly hit 170mph (270km/h) and there are fears of flooding.\nMozambique is still struggling after floods left an estimated 120,000 people homeless earlier this month.\nThe category-four storm tore through the tourist town of Vilanculos, damaging homes, the town court and prison and uprooting trees.\nRoads were also blocked by heavy rainfall.\n\"I can't do anything because all the roads have been blocked by falling trees and it's even impossible to try and rescue the people whose homes have been hit because there is no access,\" Sulemane Amugy, the town's mayor, told Reuters.\nTravel warning\n\"It's dangerous for people. They have to close their windows, doors and they have to look for safer places and avoid being under trees,\" said Helder Sueia from the meteorological office.\n\"[Favio] is a category four cyclone... It's a very strong cyclone.\"\nThe cyclone is expected to lose much of its power over land, but the fear is that heavy rainfall may add to severe flooding in Mozambique, says the BBC's Adam Mynott.\nThere are fears Favio's heavy rainfall may add to severe floods\nThe Mozambican authorities are on high alert, and thousands of volunteers are on stand-by to help move people to the relative safety of communal buildings, such as schools and churches. The UK's Foreign Office has advised against all travel to the tourist islands around Bazaruto, as well as low-lying coastal areas. The cyclone passed through Bazaruto but there is no word yet of its effect there. There have also been storms as far south as Xai Xai.\n \n \n\nThe government in Mozambique has been praised for its response to the recent crisis, says the BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles.\nIt has been far better prepared than it was seven years ago when hundreds of people lost their lives during the worst floods in the country's history.\nExperts tracking the expected path of Cyclone Favio over the past week think it is unlikely to badly affect the flooded areas around the Zambezi river, but they emphasise that cyclones are highly unpredictable.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["entral province of Inhambane, near the town of Vilanculos","town","Vilanculos","town","town"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["120,000 people homeless"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category-four storm","category"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["170mph (270km/h)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cyclone Favio","Cyclone Favio"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2007 A tornado strikes southern Missouri killing a seven–year–old girl. Tornadoes in Alabama kill at least ten people including eight students at Enterprise High School. In Georgia, at least nine people die in storms. It is part of a larger tornado outbreak. (The Birmingham News) (AP via Houston Chronicle) (KDKA CBS)","document":"Tornadoes killed at least seven people in south Alabama today, including five at Enterprise High School, where students were trapped as a hallway roof collapsed.\nOne person died elsewhere in Enterprise, in Coffee County, and one man died in Wilcox County, Alabama Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Yasamie Richardson said shortly after 8 p.m. At least 35 people from the Enterprise area were hospitalized with injuries.\nRichardson said a higher number of deaths at the school was reported erroneously earlier in the evening because of \"miscommunication at the site.\" But she said search and rescue efforts were continuing in Enterprise on tonight, and the number of dead could rise.\nThe damage at Enterprise High School was horrific, as rescue personnel scrambled to find trapped students or staff after the tornado hit around 1 p.m.\nEleventh-grader Francisco Paulino said students had been sent to the halls for safety just before the winds struck.\n\"Most of the third hall was blown in by the wind,\" said a shaken Paulino, whose arm was heavily bandaged following his storm injuries. Paulino said some students were trapped under debris and others were helping get them out.\nStudents were taken from the school in more than a dozen ambulances. Some were evacuated by helicopter to Dothan. A triage center to decide who needed the quickest medical care was set up at City Hall, about a mile from the school. As late as 4 p.m., dozens of ambulances and police cars were coming and going at City Hall.\nIn the large parking lot in front of the school, windows were blown out of almost all of the 100-plus cars. Some cars had been tumbled over by the wind, and the smell of leaking engine oil filled the air.\nEnterprise officials searched for students or faculty believed trapped at the high school until 6 p.m., said state trooper spokesman Cpl. Tracy Nelson.\n\"At this point, they believe they have gotten everybody out, and there are none others trapped,\" Nelson said. \"They are in the process of getting the parents with the students.\n\"Officials are in recovery mode, but the school is destroyed. It's unbelievable.\" Downtown Enterprise was littered with power lines, trees and other debris. Roofs were damaged and windows blown out. Clothing fluttered like distress flags from some trees.\nGov. Bob Riley quickly ordered about 100 National Guard members to the south Alabama city to help in recovery. Dothan sent a search and rescue team and the Alabama Department of Emergency Management also sent a team.\n \"Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage. The state is and will continue to offer all available assistance,\" Riley said. He declared a state of emergency today, the first step to obtaining federal aid in disaster recovery.\nA curfew went into effect in Enterprise at nightfall today, lasting until daybreak Friday. The city was completely dark, but around the collapsed high school hallway at 7 p.m., high-powered emergency lights shone in areas that had been cordoned off by police.\nPresident Bush called Riley at 6:10 tonight, saying he was \"deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life,\" according to White House spokesman Blair Jones.\nBush extended his condolences and told Riley \"he was thinking of the families of the victims, the citizens of the state, and that the administration stands ready to help,\" Jones said.\nAlso Thursday, Sen. Richard Shelby, along with the entire Alabama congressional delegation, requested a disaster declaration for ravaged parts of the state.\nRiley is scheduled to arrive by helicopter at Enterprise High School at 10 a.m. Friday to assess the damage.\nIn Wilcox County, the deadly twister struck Millers Ferry about midday, destroying or heavily damaging about 20 lakeside homes in the Sand Island subdivision. The one man killed was Cliff Gaston, found in the rubble of his mother's house trailer.\nMillers Ferry is about 10 miles northwest of Camden, at the Dannelly Reservoir along the Alabama River. Commissioner Mark Curl said the destruction at Sand Island was like what he had seen along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. He said hundreds of rescuers were at the scene.\n\"If they plucked you out of Biloxi and put you down in the middle of Millers Ferry, you wouldn't know the difference,\" Curl said. \"The homes, the trees -- everything's gone.\"\nCurl said most of the wrecked dwellings were unoccupied because they were second homes or weekend retreats. But he said Jamie Wallace, a former Selma journalist and an employee of the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission in Camden, was in his lakeside house with his wife when the storm struck.\n\"Within five seconds after they got in the storm shelter, it hit,\" Curl said. \"Their home was completely demolished and they were trapped in the storm shelter for a good while before rescuers were able to get the trees off of it.\"\nThe state EMA also reported damage in Henry and Covington counties.\nWinston County also was hit by the storms. Damage was reported in Arley near Smith Lake after a storm hit at 4 p.m. Roofs on several homes were damaged, at least one chicken house was blown down and about a half dozen roads were blocked by fallen trees.\nThere had been plenty of warning that today might turn into a tragic day. As early as 9 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters at the Calera office of the National Weather Service knew that conditions in the atmosphere Thursday would mean a high threat of severe thunderstorms -- including the risk of tornadoes -- across much of Alabama.\nThat is the highest level of threat, said meteorologist Jim Stefkovich.\nOnly 10 threats at that level have been issued by the Weather Service in Calera since 1989. Four of them produced storms with significant damage, including the Oak Grove F5 tornado on April 8, 1998, that was on the ground for 30 miles, destroying 1,000 homes, killing 32 people and injuring more than 250.\nJeff Hansen, Joseph D. Bryant, Tom Gordon, Ginny MacDonald, Kent Faulk and Mary Orndorff\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Enterprise High School","Enterprise High School","Enterprise High School","Wilcox County","Wilcox County","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One person died elsewhere in Enterprise, in Coffee County, and one man died in Wilcox County","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Enterprise","Wilcox County","students had been sent to the halls for safety","students","sent","sent","students were trapped as a hallway roof collapsed","trapped students","students","students","trapped","Students","students","trapped","trapped","students","trapped","35 people from the Enterprise area were hospitalized with injuries","injuries","killed at least seven people","one man killed was Cliff Gaston"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1 p.m"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tornado","tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2014 The remnant of Hurricane Norbert causes heavy flooding in the state of Arizona leading to the declaration of a state of emergency and causing one death. (CNN),","document":"(CNN) -- Record-setting rains slammed the southwestern United States on Monday, turning roadways into rivers as flash floods washed away cars.\nUp to 200 children were briefly trapped in an elementary school in Moapa, Nevada, due to the waters, the state highway patrol said Monday night.\nThe students at Perkins Elementary school, about 60 miles from Las Vegas, were with teachers and not in danger, said Highway Patrol Spokesman Loy Hixson.\nFlash flooding also washed a portion of Interstate 15 away near the community of Glendale, taking many vehicles with it. No one has been injured but it has taken so much of the highway that it may not be fixed until Wednesday, Hixson said.\nIn Arizona, the governor declared an emergency Monday as flooding from the historic rains closed roads and schools in her state.\nA woman was killed after her car was submerged in floodwaters, the Tucson Fire Department said. Rescuers were unable to reach the vehicle in time.\n\"Within a minute of us getting there, the car washed away,\" Capt. Barrett Baker told CNN. The waters were up to 12 feet deep, he said, and swept the car for several blocks.\nIn Phoenix, the flooding left morning commuters stranded on Interstate 10, CNN affiliate KTVK reported.\n\"This rain is coming down so hard you can't even see to drive, not to mention the thunder and lightning right now,\" KTVK reporter Jill Galus said in a Twitter post early Monday morning.\nIn just 24 hours, Phoenix saw more than 6 inches of rain, said Chad Myers, CNN meteorologist and severe weather expert.\n\"The problem with this ... was that it happened in the dark, it happened before the sunlight, and people were driving into it,\" he said.\nWhat's causing the record-setting rains and flash floods in the Southwest?\nBlame Norbert, which hit Mexico's coast as a hurricane on Saturday. Now the storm system is moving through the United States, and it's still packing a punch.\n\"This could go on for a few more days,\" Myers said.\nUsing the Twitter hashtag #TurnAroundDontDrown, Gov. Jan Brewer's office warned motorists to stay off the streets and said non-essential state employees should remain at home.\nBy mid-morning Tuesday, the National Weather Service said 2.96 inches of rain had fallen at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, breaking the record of the largest amount of rain to fall in a single calendar day. The airport remained open but fights were delayed by the weather.\nThe rainfall total in just one day was more than the average amount of rain the area typically sees during its rainy season, officials said.\nVideos and photographs from CNN affiliates showed cars submerged in fast-moving floodwaters.\nAt least 5,000 customers are without power due to flooding and storms in the Phoenix metro area, and the number is expected to grow, Arizona Public Service spokesman Steve Gotfried said.\nThe Roosevelt School District called off classes \"due to the heavy rains and low visibility as a result of fog,\" officials said in a Facebook post.\nPhoenix Mayor Greg Stanton declared a state of emergency and said his city was facing a historic amount of rain. Police and fire dispatchers fielded thousands of calls as the storm hit, officials said.\n\"I am confident as mayor that all the appropriate steps have been taken, are being taken right now and will be taken,\" Stanton told reporters. \"Obviously, we're monitoring the weather very, very closely.\"\nBy Monday afternoon rains had stopped in Phoenix, but storms could pick up again overnight, Myers said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2.96 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southwestern United States"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Up to 200 children were briefly trapped in an elementary school in Moapa, Nevada","Elementary school","A woman was killed after her car was submerged","car","car","submerged"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2014 Tropical Storm Fung-wong heads towards Taiwan after leaving five people dead and 200,000 displaced in the Philippines. (Reuters via ABC News Australia)","document":"Storm Fung-Wong is churning towards Taiwan after killing at least five people in the Philippines and forcing some 200,000 people into temporary shelter, including in the capital Manila, to escape massive flooding.\nMost schools on the main island of Luzon remained closed for a second day as a huge mopping-up operation began. Some public offices have reopened.\n\"Some of our things are buried in mud, it will take awhile to clean up,\" a resident in Marikina City said while clearing up layers of mud and debris inside their residence.\nFung-Wong, with winds of 95kph and gusts of 120kph, slammed in the northern tip of the Philippines on Friday, cutting power in many areas and soaking rice and corn farms and bringing the capital to a near standstill.\nThe storm, travelling north at 15kph, is expected to hit the Taiwan on Monday, according to the state weather bureau.\nFung-Wong, locally known as \"Mario\" centre, is currently around 137km northeast of Laoag City in the Ilocos province in the north. It was expected to be at 647kms north of Batanes on Monday, outside the Philippine area of responsibility.\nAlexander Pama, executive-director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said five people died, including a two-year-old girl who drowned in the capital. Two were electrocuted while wading in flood waters.\nMr Pama said seven people were injured and one more was still missing in floods.\nA boat capsized in the central Philippines but all 53 crew and passengers were rescued by the navy, Mr Pama said.\nOfficials have declared a state of calamity in some areas in the capital and in Cebu City in the central Philippines due to floods, that have left some parts of the city 2 metres underwater.\nTrading on the city's stock exchange and local currency market was suspended on Friday and will resume on Monday. At least 40 domestic flights were grounded and six international flights were diverted by civil aviation authorities.\nMore than 700,000 people were affected by the storm and about 200,000 people were forced out from their homes and staying in shelter areas, disaster officials said.\nMr Pama said some residents were rescued perching on their roofs or trapped inside their homes in Marikina and Quezon City. More than 300 areas in seven regions in the country were flooded.\nTropical storms regularly hit the Philippines, with Fung-Wong the second to hit in two weeks.\nLast year, typhoon Haiyan struck in the central Philippines, killing more 6,300 people. An average of 20 typhoons hit the country every year. Reuters\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["state weather bureau"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Taiwan","Taiwan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["forcing some 200,000 people","000 people","000 people","at least five"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north","north","north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["around 137km northeast of Laoag City in the Ilocos province in the north","north","north"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fung-Wong","Fung-Wong","Fung-Wong","Fung-Wong"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["95kph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2014 At least four people are dead as Typhoon Phanfone makes landfall in central Japan. (AFP via ABC News Australia)","document":"At least one US military official is dead and two are missing after being swept away by big waves when Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in Japan.\nThe three officials were swept away by high waves lashing the south-western island of Okinawa on Sunday. One was found dead and two are still missing. A surfer was also swept out to sea.\nAbout 10 people have been injured across the nation in storm-related accidents.\nThe storm brushed past Tokyo on Monday morning, and by noon was moving rapidly north-east, clearing skies enough that Mount Fuji was clearly visible to the south-west of the city.\nMore than 600 domestic flights have been cancelled, with Japan Airlines saying it had cancelled 19 international flights. Service west on the Shinkansen bullet train has been suspended and commuter train services have been delayed or suspended in the capital, affecting millions of commuters.\nClose to 200,000 households throughout eastern Japan were urged to evacuate due to fears of landslides or flooding as rivers threatened to burst their banks. This included 20,000 in Tokyo.\nSome areas were forecast to see a month's worth of rain before the storm weakened and headed out to sea.\n\nOne city in the central area of Shizuoka had 9cm of rain in an hour.\nPhanfone made landfall near the central city of Hamamatsu, prompting Honda to halt production at its Hamamatsu and Suzuka plants, while Nissan said it was halting production at its Oppama plant. Meanwhile, the storm has forced Japanese authorities to suspend the search for the bodies of those still missing at Mt Ontake, more than a week after the volcano erupted.\nAuthorities are still searching for the bodies of at least 12 hikers believed to be lying on the still-smouldering Mount Ontake, from where 51 have already been retrieved.\n\n\n\"We want to resume operations as soon as possible when weather permits,\" said an official of the crisis management office of Nagano, where the volcano sits.\n\n\n.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["9cm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan","Japan","Japan","near the central city of Hamamatsu","Hamamatsu","brushed past Tokyo"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The three officials were swept","swept","swept","At least one US military official is dead and two are missing","One was found dead and two are still missing","missing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Phanfone","Phanfone"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2014 Supertyphoon Vongfong becomes the most intense storm of the year as it heads for Japan. (Live Science)","document":"An enormous storm in the Western Pacific rapidly strengthened overnight into the year's most powerful super typhoon.\nSuper Typhoon Vongfong reached sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) this morning (Oct. 7), with gusts of up to 190 mph (306 km/h), according to the U.S Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.\nSatellite estimates from the Japan Meteorological Agency suggest the massive storm's central pressure dropped to 905 millibars, making it the most intense storm of any kind this year, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog. (The average sea level pressure is 1,013 millibars. Typically, storms with a big pressure gradient, or difference in pressure, have stronger winds.) [Super Storms: 8 Terrible Typhoons]\nVongfong is the fifth super typhoon to threaten the Pacific this year. There were also five super typhoons in 2012 and five in 2013, including the deadly Super Typhoon Haiyan, which was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. Late July through October is peak typhoon season in the Western Pacific.\nSuper Typhoon Vongfong is currently a Category 4 tropical cyclone but could grow into an even more powerful Category 5 storm by Wednesday as it lumbers over warm water, which will fuel its powerful spin. In the Western Pacific, tropical storms become super typhoons when their winds top 150 mph (241 km/h). Super typhoons are equivalent to Category 4 or 5 hurricanes.\nVongfong is expected to sharply turn and head north by Thursday, weakening before it nears Japan, according to current forecasts. The storm is following a similar track to Typhoon Phanfone, which lashed central and eastern Japan with fierce winds and torrential rain last week.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan","Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Vongfong","Vongfong","Vongfong","Vongfong"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["150 mph (241 km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2011 Two people in Oklahoma and seven in Arkansas are killed by a strong tornado outbreak. (CNN) (UPI) (NewsOK)(BBC)","document":"TUSHKA, Okla., April 15 (UPI) -- At least nine people were reported dead by emergency agencies across the southern United States Friday as a fierce storm system rolled through the region.\nMore than two dozen reported tornadoes spun out of the system in Alabama and Mississippi, AccuWeather said, and more heavy weather was expected to blow through northern Georgia during the night.\nSeven deaths were reported in Arkansas where a falling tree killed a woman and her 8-year-old son in Little Rock and a 6-year-old White County boy was killed when a tree blew over on to his house, KARK-TV and KATV-TV in Little Rock reported.\nBrian Smith of the National Weather Service told The Arkansas Democrat experts began surveying the damaged areas to determine if any of the many funnel clouds reported had touched down.\n\"This has probably been one of the more significant events we've had in awhile,\" Smith said.\nThe mayor of Clinton, Miss., told CNN his community suffered \"extensive damage\" from a tornado that narrowly missed a daycare center and school with an estimated 650 children inside.\n\"We have a lot to be grateful for,\" Mayor Rosemary Aultman said. \"It could have been a lot worse.\"\nOklahoma was still tallying the damage from an outbreak of twisters Thursday night. One of the storms hit the small town of Tushka, killing two people and possible a third, The Oklahoman said. Dozens of injuries were also reported by emergency officials.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Alabama and Mississippi"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least nine people were reported dead","Seven deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2011 More than forty people die in the tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011, with North Carolina being the worst affected state. (CNN)","document":" WTVD, WRAL, WNCN, News14, WITN (CNN) -- Powerful storms that have ripped across the Southeast killed more than 40 people over the past three days, according to the National Weather Service and reports from several states.\nA CNN meteorologist called the storms' impact on North Carolina \"epic.\"\nAmong the worst-hit places was Bertie County, North Carolina, a rural area in the northeast part of the state. The weather service reported 14 deaths in the county. Zee Lamb, county manager, said there were 11 fatalities. Photo gallery: Damage from tornado outbreak\nMore than 50 people were taken to hospitals in Greenville, and between 50 and 70 homes were destroyed, Lamb said. \"Reports are still incoming,\" Mike Sprayberry, deputy director of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, said Sunday morning.\nThe death toll across six states includes another nine in other parts of North Carolina; four in Virginia; seven in Alabama, two in Oklahoma, seven in Arkansas and one in Mississippi.\nThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center said it received reports of at least 230 tornadoes across the region during the past three days, though some of those reports were likely sightings of the same twister.\nVirginia Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency \"to direct all possible resources towards responding to this event.\"\nFor North Carolina, \"When the storm count is finalized, this will likely be an historic tornado outbreak,\" said CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. \"It is quite unusual to have this many supercell tornadoes of this intensity strike the area.\"\niReport: Drive-by look at Raleigh damage North Carolina normally gets about 19 tornadoes a year, according to the National Climatic Data Center. There are 90 preliminary reports of tornadoes in the state in the latest storm system. A single tornado often gets multiple reports, so it is not immediately clear how many there were, Jeras explained. \"But regardless, this is an epic event.\"\nThe deaths in North Carolina included three people in Raleigh who were killed in mobile homes, the weather service said. In eastern North Carolina, two people died near Ammon, one was killed in the Bladenboro area and another died in the Benson and Black Creek area, the weather service said.\niReport photos: Damage in N.C. | More\nNorth Carolina state Rep. Mike Stone reported two additional deaths in Lee County.\nAt Camp Lejeune, according to a news release, roughly a dozen homes were destroyed and as many as 120 were damaged following a series of tornadoes that touched down near a housing area Saturday evening.\nOne seriously injured child was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the statement. CNN affiliate WTVD broadcast images of damaged homes and vehicles in Smithfield, North Carolina, as local residents and emergency workers surveyed the damage.\nGov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for the entire state, according to the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.\n\"We've been assured we'll have whatever federal support we'll need,\" Perdue told reporters late Saturday.\nThe governor said that as of late Saturday, the number of storm-related power outages had dropped from 250,000 to 143,000.\nIn South Carolina, a tornado cut through Berkeley County, destroying a church and injuring six people, the weather service said.\nMeanwhile, emergency crews in Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama worked to assess the damage after the storm system moved north through the Carolinas and up into southern Virginia.\niReport photos: Lightning strike in Alabama | More In Virginia, three Gloucester County residents died and 64 suffered injuries from the fast-moving storms Saturday, according to Bob Spieldenner, director of public affairs for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.\nA tornado also ripped the roof off a school in the county, felled trees that blocked multiple roads and severed power lines, leaving 9,300 people without electricity, according to Spieldenner.\nIn the Shenandoah Valley, in the western part of the state, a child died after being swept away in a flash flood, according to the National Weather Service. Spieldenner said authorities rescued another flood victim, but a third is missing.\nThe storms were the latest in a round of severe weather that has hit parts of the Midwest and South since Thursday.\nThey left a trail of downed trees and power lines, scattered cars and crushed homes as it moved east and then turned north.\nCNN's Kara Devlin, Ben Smith, Greg Morrison, Stephanie Gallman, Anna Gonzalez and Georgette Knuckles contributed to this report.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Bertie County, North Carolina, a rural area in the northeast part of the state","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","state","North Carolina","North Carolina","state","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina state","North Carolina","state","state","North Carolina","state"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["14 deaths in the county","County","county","County","County","County","county","two additional deaths in Lee County","The deaths in North Carolina included three people","deaths","deaths","killed more than 40 people","More than 50 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2011 A snow storm hits the Mountain West and Great Plains areas of the United States. (CNN)","document":" -- Snow began falling over Colorado and Kansas on Tuesday as yet another round of winter weather began marching across the United States barely a week after a record-setting winter storm roared across the Midwest.\nA powerful weather system poised over the Rockies is forecast to dump several feet of snow in the Mountain West and up to 10 inches in some parts of Oklahoma, forecasters said.\nMuch of Oklahoma is under a winter storm warning, but snow and sleet are predicted as far south as central Texas, with 2 to 4 inches expected to coat the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the National Weather Service said. Later in the week, the system is expected to bring rain and snow to many areas of the Deep South before delivering a wintry mix along portions of the East Coast by Thursday.\nSnow is expected to spread into Oklahoma and north Texas on Wednesday and into Wednesday night, said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen. By Wednesday, it also will begin spreading into the Southeast. Cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas, could see 4 to 8 inches of snow, while lesser amounts are expected in Nashville; Birmingham, Alabama; and Atlanta.\nBitterly cold temperatures will lock the center of the country in the deep freeze as the system moves east.\n\"Maximum temperature departures are expected to run 30 to 40 degrees below average for the central U.S. (Tuesday) with the same departures sinking south into Oklahoma and north Texas on Wednesday,\" the Weather Service said.\nRain is likely across most of the Southeast on Wednesday and Wednesday night.\nScattered snow is expected in the Great Lakes region Wednesday.\nA historic storm left its mark on at least 30 states last week, dumping about 2 feet of snow on the Chicago area and prompting Oklahoma's governor to declare a state of emergency.\nAnother winter system at the end of the week left central and southern Texas a mess.\nIce caused 800 crashes across the Houston metropolitan area and many freeways were closed because they were too dangerous to navigate, CNN affiliate KPRC reported.\nHundreds of flights were canceled as the winter weather threatened the plans of Super Bowl enthusiasts headed for the game last Sunday in Arlington, Texas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Weather Service","CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["10 inches","2 to 4 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma and north Texas","north Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2011 A snowstorm hits the Southeastern United States and Tennessee Valley with warnings in place across ten states. (CNN)","document":" iReport. Atlanta (CNN) -- A winter storm spread snow across the Southeast and the Tennessee Valley for the second time in two weeks early Thursday, dumping more than 6 inches in parts of the region.\nThe National Weather Service had warned that snow accumulation in some areas, combined with freezing temperatures, could lead to hazardous driving conditions. The system was dropping sleet and rain in addition to snow.\nBy late Thursday morning, winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories that had been in effect in 10 states had largely expired, remaining in effect only in eastern North Carolina. Hard freeze warnings had stretched from Texas' border with Mexico into Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi.\nEven as those alerts expired, the Weather Service put new hard freeze warnings in place for Friday morning in central Mississippi, southeast Louisiana and southern Texas.\nThe agency had warned that snow accumulation in some areas, combined with freezing temperatures, could lead to hazardous driving conditions late Wednesday and into Thursday morning. The system was dropping sleet and rain in addition to snow.\n\"I've been here a long time and I've never seen anything like it,\" said Sharon Hickman, who manages Back Yard Burgers in Tupelo, Mississippi.\nNearly a half foot of snow fell in Tupelo. Freezing temperatures Thursday morning made Hickman's commute to work \"scary.\"\n\"There was a lot of slipping and sliding and cars in ditches,\" said Mischel Wright, who manages Log Cabin Family Restaurant in Rogers, Arkansas. \"My grandchildren love it. Me, there's nothing I can do about it. It's all God. You just have to deal with it.\"\nIn Atlanta, however, drivers were relieved to find the metropolitan area received only a dusting of snow and the roads were mostly clear Thursday morning as the temperature hovered around freezing. About a half-inch had fallen in the city, with up to an inch elsewhere and up to 2 inches in the northern part of the state. Accumulation was mainly restricted to grassy areas. Nearly the entire northern half of Alabama had received snow by 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to CNN affiliate WBRC. Snowfalls of at least an inch were reported, with the heaviest snowfall in west Alabama. Many offices and schools across the South delayed opening or were to remain closed Thursday.\nThe weather system dumped significant levels of snow and ice on Missouri and Oklahoma, along with parts of Kentucky, Arkansas and the panhandle of Texas on Wednesday.\nIn Arkansas, youngsters got a chance to work on their sledding skills Wednesday, because schools were closed in advance of the approaching system. The snow fell for nine hours in Hot Springs, according to CNN affiliate KATV. Some sections of the state got up to 2 feet of snow, the Weather Service said.\nWright and her husband checked into a motel in Rogers before the storm so she could make it to work at the Log Cabin Family Restaurant. \"We can't go home because we can't navigate the hills,\" Wright said Thursday morning.\nNeither could those customers who live too far away from the restaurant to walk.\n\"Yesterday afternoon we did have two or three families with kids that were going nuts,\" Wright said. \"I don't know what today's going to be like.\"\nIn parts of Kansas and Kentucky, road crews hustled to clear snow from interstates and highways Wednesday. Snow fell furiously; wind pushed it sideways and at times the sky took on the look of a white-out. This forced travelers to slow their pace to a crawl. Dangerous conditions near Newton, Kentucky, prevented vehicles from getting traction on hills and sent some sliding off roads and into gullies and ravines.\nSnow closed schools in parts of Missouri as well. About 2 inches of snow fell in Kansas City, Missouri, but it was enough to cause several accidents and cover roads in the southeast part of the state.\nParts of Oklahoma received up to 12 inches of snow, according to the state Department of Emergency Management. The National Weather Service reported up to 2 feet of snow in remote areas.\nO.D. Powell, owner of OD's Fastop in Claremont, Oklahoma, said Thursday the beer delivery truck is now 10 days behind schedule.\n\"I have a grocery delivery that comes out of Texas,\" Powell said. \"The driver called yesterday from Oklahoma City and said he couldn't make it\nAs the snow fell in the heartland Wednesday, wind chills were 10 to 30 degrees below zero in some areas, and authorities urged people to stay off the roads. Not all travelers were able to heed that warning, and traffic inched slowly along icy interstates. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol worked in conjunction with the National Guard to rescue stranded motorists using heavy Humvees, according to CNN affiliate KOCO.\nWind chills across the northern and central Plains were well below freezing early Thursday.\nAt least two people were killed near Miami, Oklahoma, which is close to Oklahoma City. A truck plunged 80 feet off a bridge along Interstate 44. Police told KOCO that the driver lost control on an icy bridge, flipped over the railing and landed upright on the riverbed below. At least five survivors were able to climb out of the sun roof and wait for rescue on top of the vehicle.\nEarlier, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said 80 people in Oklahoma had been injured as a result of the storm. That total included 63 falls, one carbon monoxide poisoning, 14 injuries in traffic accidents and two \"cut/pierce injuries.\"\nDallas-area volunteers for Meals on Wheels, an aid organization that delivers prepared food to housebound people, worked nonstop to get extra meals ready before snow and icy conditions closed roads, according to CNN affiliate KTVT. The weather system that closed Dallas last week left the group unable to reach its customers for four days. Tom Hauser, with the Collin County Committee on Aging, which runs the Meals on Wheels program, told KTVT Wednesday. \"We've already delivered over 2,500 meals in the last two days that are nutritious meals.\"\nThe latest storm came barely a week after another record-setting weather system pummeled the Plains and Midwest.\nLast week's historic storm left its mark on at least 30 states, dumping about 2 feet of snow on the Chicago area and prompting Oklahoma's governor to declare a state of emergency.\nAnother winter system at the end of the week left central and southern Texas a mess. Hundreds of flights were canceled as the winter weather threatened the plans of Super Bowl enthusiasts headed for the game last Sunday in Arlington, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the Weather Service","Weather Service","Weather Service","The National Weather Service","National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to 2 inches","2 inches","6 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Southeast and the Tennessee Valley","southeast","southeast","the northern part of the state","state","central Mississippi, southeast Louisiana and southern Texas","southern Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Thursday","early Thursday","Friday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Storms hit the American state of Texas causing at least two deaths with one person reported missing. Rivers overflowed as more than a foot of rain fell in some areas while tornadoes ripped through buildings outside San Antonio. (NBC News) (Reuters)","document":" At least two people are dead and another two are missing after storms thundered through parts of Texas Friday, dumping more than a foot of rain on some areas and causing flash floods that trapped school buses and other vehicles, officials said.\nThe body of a driver who went missing in the floods was found in Travis County Friday, the county Office of Emergency Management said.\nAnother body was found at Joint Base San Antonio Camp Bullis in Bexar County after a driver was swept away in flood waters on Camp Bullis Road at around 6:15 a.m., base spokesman Oscar Balladares said. The driver's identity was not released, but Balladares said he was a contract employee.\nTwo people are missing in the Austin area: an elderly woman last seen at her home and a 37-year-old man last seen in his car on the state highway, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Department.\nPHOTOS: Violent Storms Batter Central Texas\nA possible tornado tossed a tractor-trailer onto the roof of a hotel in Floresville, Texas, and damaged cars and homes.\nIn the San Antonio area, four special needs students and two adults were rescued from a bus that became trapped in floodwaters just after 7 a.m., the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said.\nAnother bus with three students and two adults on board became trapped by high water, and five vehicles flooded in other parts of the county, the sheriff’s office said. There were no injuries.\nAn estimated 14 inches of rain fell near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday, the National Weather Service said. Parts of Travis County got 7 inches of rain in just an hour and a half, the weather service said.\n\"We really couldn't take this type of rainfall that we've seen today,\" National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Runyen told The Associated Press.\nHomes were ordered evacuated along the San Marcos and Blanco rivers, authorities said.The Blanco River, where a house with nine people inside was swept away in May, surged to more than 26 feet, or 13 feet above flood stage, on Friday. The river later subsided.\n\"We didn't know where we were going, it was dark — the water was rising so fast,\" Kathleen Haney, who was trapped at a bed and breakfast near Wimberley, said.\nA possible tornado was reported in Hays County on Friday afternoon, and authorities in other towns said they had spotted twisters and the damaging effects of high winds.\nMedina County Sheriff Randy Brown said a tornado touched down in D'Hanis, 50 miles west of San Antonio, destroying a bank and damaging other buildings in the tiny town of about 550 residents, reported NBC affiliate WOAI.\nA tornado is also believed to have damaged a high school gymnasium in Floresville, southeast of San Antonio, early Friday, according to The Weather Channel. There were occupants inside the school, but no immediate reports of injuries. In response, the local school district said it was canceling school Friday.\nMuch of Texas, including the San Antonio area, is still recovering from heavy rains that battered the region last week, as remnants of Hurricane Patricia washed over the state.\nThe rainfall triggered flash flood warnings and caused a train to overturn on waterlogged tracks south of Dallas.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["An estimated 14 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Texas Friday","parts","Parts"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Two people are missing in the Austin area","two people","missing","At least two people are dead and another two are missing","missing","missing","Another bus with three students and two adults on board became trapped","two adults"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 A second round of storms and strong winds moves east across Texas in the American Southwest, with three radar–confirmed tornadoes damaging homes and causing injuries in the Houston area that got up to eight inches of rain since Friday night. Six people have been killed. (AP via USA Today) (AP update)","document":"As many as five people have died in extensive flooding in Texas, including two possible victims whose bodies were found Saturday in Houston.\n“We’ve executed over 130 water rescues,” said Michael Walter, public information officer for Houston’s office of emergency management.\nOne of the bodies was found in a flooded ditch, the other in a wooded area east of downtown. Whether the deaths were due to the floods isn't yet know. “We’re waiting for confirmation from our medical examiner,\" he said.\nHouston has experienced significant street flooding as have areas of Harris county, which surrounds the city, Walter said. At least 57 structures in Houston have been flooded.\nBetween six and 10 inches of rain fell in eastern Harris county between Friday and Saturday, and up to 14 inches in Liberty County to the east, according to the National Weather Service.\nAn entire neighborhood near Hunting Bayou on Houston's east side was “significantly flooded,” Walter said.\n“We’ve got multiple homes under water and we had to put in high water rescue vehicles to get people out,” he said.\n“They’ve also had tornadoes in Pasadena and Friendswood to the southeast,” Walter said.\nPower was out across portions of the area. CenterPoint Energy reported that 12,300 customers were without power at 4:00 pm.\nBy Saturday afternoon the rains had stopped for the next few days, but the danger hasn’t passed. A National Weather Service flash flood warning for portions of southeastern Texas was in place until early Sunday morning.\n“Everything that was upstream is now coming downstream,” Walter said.\nSeveral bayous in Houston are over their banks, or still threatening to spill over. A bayou is a slow moving, often marshy or boggy stream on flat ground.\n.\nTwo bodies were recovered after flooding in the Austin and San Antonio areas on Friday and a third on Saturday in Travis County.\nThe flooding was the results of storms that moved east across Texas on Saturday, including at least three radar-confirmed tornadoes .\nThe storms and suspected tornadoes, which forecasters say were caused by an upper-level disturbance from Mexico, socked an already-sodden swath of Texas that was still drying out from the remnants of Hurricane Patricia.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Between six and 10 inches","up to 14 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five people have died","12,300 customers were without power"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2015 In the United States, the National Weather Service issues a blizzard warning for northeastern Colorado and western Kansas with an expected snowfall by midday of 12 inches in Denver, Colorado. Denver International Airport cancels 143 arriving and departing flighits. Several tornadoes occur overnight in northern Texas, western Kansas, and southern Nebraska. (Reuters), (USA Today)","document":"A blizzard walloped portions of the nation's midsection Tuesday while parts of the Plains and South contended with severe weather.\nHeavy snow and high winds brought blizzard conditions to parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Kansas on Tuesday morning. More than a foot of snow was possible in the Denver area, where a section of I-25 was forced to close due to blowing snow and jack-knifed trucks.\nThe highest total from the snowstorm so far was two feet reported near Ouray, Colo., in the southwestern part of the state.\nSnow cancels Denver flights; storms disrupt schedules in Texas\nOn Tuesday morning, 145 arrivals and departures were canceled for Denver International Airport, KUSA-TV reported. Delays were also reported as the storm was forecast to dump up to 16 inches of snow at the airport.\nDeicing is underway at the airport as of just before noon MST, KUSA-TV reported. One hour delays are expected.\nSnow is also falling in Wyoming and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. The snow is forecast to taper off Tuesday night, as the storm lifts northward into the Upper Midwest.\nFurther to the east and south, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are battering the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley throughout the day on Tuesday.\nDamage was reported in the Dallas area as a line of thunderstorms rolled through during the early morning hours, WFAA-TV reported.\nA tornado watch has been posted for eastern Texas, western Louisiana and southern Arkansas.\nIn addition to the severe weather, drenching rain will soak much of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri, where flash flooding is possible.\nThe system will move east Wednesday, bringing showers and thunderstorms to the Ohio Valley and southeastern U.S., finally reaching the Eastern Seaboard by early Thursday morning, the weather service said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["two feet"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Kansas","parts","portions of the nation's midsection","eastern Texas, western Louisiana and southern Arkansas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday morning","Tuesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["blizzard","blizzard","tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2015 Some 25,000 households in Ireland lose power as a result of Storm Barney. (The Independent Ireland)","document":"\n\n\nStorm Barney with its damaging gusts up to 175 kilometres per hour hit Loughrea Lake, County Galway.\n\n\nSome 25,000 households will be without electricity overnight as Storm Barney sweeps across the country.\nThe damage \"can be predominantly attributable to large trees which have fallen on the overhead lines in the southern half of the country as a result of gale force winds with gusts of up to 125km/h\", ESB reported this evening.\nThe main areas affected are Tullamore, Loughrea, Athlone, Ennis, Tralee, Limerick, Killarney, Newcastlewest, Kilkenny, Clonmel, Roscrea, Bray and Arklow.\nESB Networks have dispatched crews who worked throughout the evening at numerous locations nationwide.\nWe are experiencing very high call volumes due to #stormbarney ,we have updates on Powercheck.ie and Our Webpage https://t.co/lEYoXEDnEX\nOur crews are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,Stay Clear of fallen wires or damaged network #staysafestayclear\nFault updates https://t.co/xZe8FmLmxu If you cant see a fault in your area call 1850372999 with your MPRN #staysafe\nGust recorded of 122kmh at Shannon airport, Co.Clare @ShannonAirport #StormBarney pic.twitter.com/6emsOG7XCw\nThey have already restored electricity to approximately 20,000 homes.\nHowever, approximately 25,000 households will remain without power ovenight.\nEstimated restoration times, when available, will be updated on http://www.esbpowercheck.ie\n\"Unfortunately due to the large number of faults, many customers will remain without power overnight,\" a spokesperson said.\n\"So far, our crews have restored power to approximately 20,000 customers since the height of the storm. \n\"We expect power to be restored to the majority of our customers by tea time tomorrow.\"\nRead about the people and stories that get Dubliners talking with our free Friday newsletter. Enter email address\nThis field is required\nSign Up\nThe forecast is for a windy and stormy evening with a Status Orange weather warning in operation for Munster, Leinster and South Connacht.\nDublin, Wicklow, Galway, Kerry, Clare, and Limerick can expect gust speeds to reach upwards of 100-125 km/hr along the coast.\nA status yellow warning has also been issued for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.\nGardaí are advising motorists to drive with care during the stormy conditions, and have asked for anyone spotting \"falling or fallen debris\" to contact their local garda station.\nSpeaking to Independent.ie, a Met Eireann spokesperson said the 'Orange Alert' will come into force in the late afternoon and evening for Dublin and Wicklow, and will remain in place for counties Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry for the foreseeable future.\n“We are getting the front end of Storm Barney and its affecting mostly the southern half of the country.\n“The winds will peak in early afternoon with the southern counties definitely feeling it.”A scattering of showers in the west is expected to extend to all parts of the country by midday, the Met said.\nElsewhere, Limerick City and County Council are warning residents to avoid travel where necessary this evening.\nDon't use any naked flames for light other than candles. Look after your wheelie bins #StormBarney will attack them. pic.twitter.com/gch5rc9Vnu\n#StormBarney is hitting the west Wales coast now. Debris on roads, power cuts. Take care everyone if you have to drive anywhere tonight\nAt least av emergency lights in house. 3 hours of light during a power cut.Every home should have it. Power is back ... for now #StormBarney\n#Barney #StormBarney #storm pic.twitter.com/1WgAum0X8K\nThank god I'm now home, think it's time to batten down the hatches as it's blowing a hooley out there! #StormBarney\nLovely big Christmas tree in Ballymun ready to go. Hope #StormBarney doesn't take it away.. pic.twitter.com/W1zyYDrxp0\nA statement from Limerick Council reads: \"It is important that members of the public pay attention to Met Éireann's advisory as this weather system has the potential to deliver Storm Force 10 winds to Limerick for a period during the afternoon to early evening.\n\"Members of the public are advised to remain indoors where possible during the storm and to stay away from rivers and other water bodies.\"\nPaul Moroney, Senior Engineer for Clare County Council added: \"County Clare is likely to be affected to a greater extent than most other areas with the impact extending for a considerable distance inland through the afternoon.\n\"Our advice is to defer any planned road journeys during this period and to take special care in coastal and exposed areas.\"\nAA RoadWatch is also advising motorists to take precautions “normally appropriate during such weather conditions”, asking drivers to be mindful of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists this afternoon.\n“Wind blown debris is likely to be a problem on secondary routes in particular.\n“High sided vehicles are particularly vulnerable on open or exposed roads.”\nFire crews throughout the country are dealing with fallen trees.\nIn Dublin, fire crews were dealing with fallen trees in the city centre, Tallaght, Dublin Mountains and the Malahide\nFlights\nA Ryanair flight aborted two attempted landings at Shannon Airport today before being forced to divert to Liverpool. \nThe airport reported the highest winds in the country as Storm Barney battered the island with the west coast suffering the brunt of its force.\nWith winds at Cork and Dublin also too strong for Ryanair flight FR-1183 from London Gatwick, the opted to divert to the nearest suitable airport which in this case was Liverpool.\nThe flight was due in Shannon at 2.40pm and the crew had commenced an approach when they decided to abort the attempt. The crew performed a ‘go-around’ procedure and entered a holding pattern in the hope the winds would die down.\nThe pilot confirmed that the maximum wind speed in which they could land was 50 knots (92.6 kmh) and they would not be able to land in anything higher than that.\nA short time later, the crew commenced a second approach to the airport however winds were still too strong for a safe landing.\nAt the time, winds at Shannon Airport were gusting as high as 61 knots (113 kmh) while later, winds reached as high as 69 knots (128 kmh).\nWinds in Dublin and Cork were also reported to be gusting over the 50 knot limit so the flight was unable to land at either airport.\nA Ryanair spokeswoman said: \"This flight from London Gatwick to Shannon performed a routine go-around before diverting to Liverpool due to high winds at Shannon Airport.\n\"The aircraft landed normally at Liverpool and will depart for Shannon when the weather improves. Ryanair sincerely apologised to all customers affected by this weather diversion which was entirely beyond our control.\"\nElsewhere in Clare, Shannon Ferries, which operates between Killimer in Clare and Tarbert in Kerry suspended sailings as a result of the winds.\nWinds\nThe fire service and council staff responded to multiple reports of trees that fell on roadways in various parts of the county.\nIn Ennis, a road-sign buckled under the force of the wind and crashed onto the footpath near the town’s rail and bus station. No one was injured in that incident.\nTwo motorists escaped serious injury when they lost control of their cars in separate incidents on the M18 motorway. The first happened at around 7.30am in the northbound lane between Barefield and Crusheen.\nShortly before 1.00pm, a car lost control and collided with a crash barrier in the central reservation of the M18 between Newmarket on Fergus and Dromoland.\nUnits of the fire brigade from Shannon along with Gardaí and an ambulance responded to the incident.\nOne fire service vehicle created a rolling roadblock and brought traffic to a safe stop before they reached the accident scene. One person has been taken to hospital with minor injuries.\nTraffic had been backed up for over a kilometre for about 40 minutes before one lane of the route was reopened. Once the crashed car was removed from the scene, the second land of the motorway was also opened.\nAs gale-force winds batter large parts of the country, Garda have shared footage of a patrol car's close call with a falling branch during high winds to warned motorists to stay safe this evening.\nIn a video posted its official Facebook page, a Garda spokesperson shared a near miss incident involving one of its Burglary Response units.\n\"Be careful out there! Severe weather warning in place!!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Tullamore, Loughrea, Athlone, Ennis, Tralee, Limerick, Killarney, Newcastlewest, Kilkenny, Clonmel, Roscrea, Bray and Arklow","Loughrea","Limerick","Kilkenny","Limerick","Limerick","Limerick","Limerick","Ennis","across the country","country","country","country","country","country","country","Loughrea"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Barney","Barney","Barney","Barney","Barney"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["175 kilometres per hour hit","up to 125km/h\""]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 The number of people confirmed killed in central and eastern Japan by Typhoon Hagibis rises to 66, with 15 people still missing and more than 200 injured. (Reuters)","document":"KORIYAMA, Japan (Reuters) - The death toll in the worst typhoon to hit Japan for decades climbed to 66 on Tuesday as rescuers slogged through mud and debris in an increasingly grim search for the missing, and as thousands of homes remained without power or water.\nFifteen people remain missing nearly three days after Typhoon Hagibis smashed into central and eastern Japan, national broadcaster NHK said. More than 200 people were injured in the storm, whose name means “speed” in the Tagalog language.\n\nThe highest toll was in Fukushima prefecture north of Tokyo, where levees burst in at least 14 places along the Abukuma River, which meanders through a number of cities in the largely agricultural prefecture. At least 25 people died in Fukushima, including a mother and child who were caught in flood waters, NHK said. Another child of the woman remains missing.\nResidents in Koriyama, one of Fukushima’s larger cities, said they were taken by surprise by the flooding. Police were searching house-to-house to make sure nobody had been left behind or was in need of help.\n“The river has never flooded like this before, and some houses have been completely swept away. I think it might be time to redraw hazard maps or reconsider evacuation plans,” said Masaharu Ishizawa, a 26-year-old high school teacher who was cleaning up at his family home in Koriyama.\nHe said there are a lot of elderly in his area and many of them were taken in by relatives.\n“We have never seen damage like this before, and maybe global warming and environmental change has something to do with it.”\nPart of his family’s back garden had been washed away, breaking water pipes and electricity lines. The family was using water carried from a local community centre to clean up. Two doors down, an old house had collapsed after the flood washed its foundations away.\nRelated Coverage\nAbout 133,000 households were without water while 22,000 lacked electricity, well down on the hundreds of thousands initially left without power but a cause for concern in northern areas where temperatures are falling.\nSurvivors described how water rose rapidly to chest height in about an hour and mainly at night, making it hard to escape to higher ground. Many of the dead in Fukushima were elderly, NHK said.\n“I checked the flood hazard map but it didn’t have my area as being at risk,” said Yoshinagi Higuchi, 68, who lives about 100 metres from one levee and waited out the flood on the second floor of his house as the ground floor filled with water.\n“I heard there was a flood once before the war, but we just weren’t expecting the water to come over the levee despite all the warnings.”\nResidents were warned by the public address systems that are a feature of Japanese cities and some evacuated to a local elementary school, he added as he and neighbours piled sodden tatami straw mats and other damaged furniture on the street.\n“Nobody from city hall has come to check on us yet,” Higuchi said.\nFukushima is home to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that was crippled by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Officials for Tokyo Electric Power Co 9501.T, which owns the plant, have said there was no leakage of contaminated water.\nAround the nation, manufacturers took stock. Electronics maker Panasonic Corp 6752.T said flooding had damaged its plant in a large industrial park in Koriyama.\nAutomakers Nissan 7201.T, Honda 7267.T and Subaru 7270.T said there was no major damage to their factories, while Toyota 7203.T said all its plants were operating normally. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that the economic impact could be prolonged.\n“The national government will continue to do everything possible so that the victims of this disaster can return to their normal lives as soon as possible,” Abe told a parliamentary committee.\nFinance Minister Taro Aso said there was 500 billion yen ($4.6 billion) in reserves for disaster recovery and more money would be considered if needed.\nThousands of police, fire officials and military personnel continued to search for people who may have been cut off by floodwaters and landslides, with hope diminishing that the missing would be found alive.\nThough the threat of rain is expected to diminish on Tuesday, temperatures are likely to drop in many areas later this week, in some cases to unseasonably low levels, NHK said.\nFour of Japan’s major refiners said there was no impact on their refinery operations from the storm.\n($1 = 108.3300 yen)\nAdditional reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, Daniel Leussink, Kaori Kaneko and Elaine Lies, writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Stephen Coates and Raju Gopalakrishnan\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["central and eastern Japan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 25 people died in Fukushima","Fukushima","Fukushima","Fukushima","Fukushima","Fukushima","66","Fifteen people remain missing","More than 200 people were injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["typhoon","Typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hagibis"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Typhoon Soudelor (Hanna) strengthens to the strongest storm of 2015; it is expected to be equivalent to a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane when it hits Taiwan. (The Independent) (Free District)","document":"The storm is forecast to continue to weaken before making landfall, but is still expected to be a large and powerful typhoon — likely equivalent to a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane — when it hits Taiwan. Super Typhoon Soudelor spares Philippine, locally known as Typhoon Hanna, is currently a tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, which recently wrecks the Northern Mariana Islands.\n“The thirteenth named storm of the annual typhoon season developed as a tropical depression just west of the International Dateline on July 29.”\nAccording to the latest updates on Wiki, Typhoon Soudelor passed directly over Saipan on August 2 as a Category 2 equivalent storm, causing widespread damage on the island. The National Weather Service’s anemometer at Saipan International Airport broke after recording a gust of 146 km/h (91 mph). The winds downed numerous trees and power lines, leaving much of the island without power and rendering roads impassible. In some areas, cars were flipped over by the force of the wind.\nSuper Typhoon Soudelor sparing Philippines, as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of the typhoon was located at 1,720 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour. It was forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.\nPHILIPPINES –The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 a.m., Typhoon Soudelor was located based on all available data at 1,855 kilometers east of Luzon and was moving west northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (kph). The typhoon’s maximum sustained winds has increased to 215 kph from 210 kph.\nThe Super Typhoon Soudelor is expected to leave Philippines Thursday morning, the typhoon will be at 850 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes and by Friday morning, it is expected to be at 400 kilometers east northeast of the town still in the country’s territorial limits at Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It will be at 520 kilometers north of Itbayat, or already outside the PAR by Saturday morning.\nJAPAN —Japan Meteorological Agency estimated Soudelor’s central pressure at 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday was 900 millibars, making Soudelor the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth so far in 2015. That central pressure has come up quite a bit, reflecting Soudelor’s weakening, to an estimated 930 millibars.\nFor now, the main island of Okinawa (including Kadena Air Base) lies to the north of the forecast swath, but it remains too soon to rule out a more northward trend. If the track trends closer to Okinawa, the nearest pass would occur Thursday night or Friday morning, according to Weather.com report.\nCHINA —It is expected to make landfall in Fujian and neighboring Zhejiang Province late on Saturday. In southeast China, the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong are most at risk of a typhoon landfall this weekend. These provinces have a combined population of 200 million. Soudelor’s circulation is then expected to curl northward, potentially bringing heavy rain to Jiangxi, Anhui and Hubei provinces.\nSoudelor will continue a west-northwest track the next couple of days over open waters of the western Pacific Ocean and is expected to strengthen again before hitting Taiwan later this week. Image courtesy of CNN\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["hits Taiwan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["he eye of the typhoon was located at 1,720 kilometers east of Luzon","typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","located","Luzon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Super Typhoon","Super Typhoon","Super Typhoon","likely equivalent to a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["20 kilometers per hour (kph)","20 kph","kph","kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hanna"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["215 kilometers per hour","215 kph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Typhoon Soudelor (Hanna) strengthens to the strongest storm of 2015; it is expected to be equivalent to a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane when it hits Taiwan. (The Independent) (Free District)","document":"Super Typhoon Soudelor tore across the western Pacific Ocean yesterday with wind gusts of up to 220mph, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The typhoon was rated at a maximum category five.\nOn Sunday night and Monday morning, Soudelor devastated Saipan as it passed across the Northern Mariana Islands, AFP reported.\nIt flooded the island’s power plant and ripped the roofs of homes, forcing hundreds of residents to take refuge in shelters.\nNo deaths were reported but some people received treatment for cuts and wounds.\nJohn Hirsh, executive director of the American Red Cross in Saipan, told Pacific Daily News: “I’ve seen multiple primary power poles down; I’ve seen cars flipped over the road; I’ve seen lots of torn roofs.”\nActing Governor of Saipan Ralph DLG Torres declared a “state of disaster and significant emergency”.\nSoudelor became a super typhoon on Monday but was expected it to become more powerful on Tuesday, peaking at 150 knots.\nThe typhoon is expected to weaken by the time it reaches Japan, Taiwan and China later this week, NASA said.\nSatellite pictures of the typhoon have been posted on social media:\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["across the western Pacific Ocean","across","Saipa"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["some people received treatment for cuts and wounds"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["On Sunday night and Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["rated at a maximum category five"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Soudelor","Soudelor","Soudelor"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["220mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 The death toll in China from Typhoon Soudelor rises to at least 22 people with more missing and millions without power. (USA Today)","document":"The remnants of a devastating typhoon swept through eastern China on Sunday, leaving at least 22 people dead, homes destroyed and millions of people without power.\nAfter lashing Taiwan and leaving at least five people dead and scores injured, Typhoon Soudelor hit Putian City in southeastern China's Fujian Province on Saturday night, and was downgraded into a tropical storm as it moved across the region.\nChina's official Xinhua news agency reported that power to more than two million homes was affected, according to State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co., Ltd.\nThe typhoon triggered mudslides in the mountainous Pingyang county in Zhejiang province, north of Fujian, killing nine people and leaving three others missing, Xinhua reported. More than 370,000 people were evacuated and around 32,000 boats were ordered back to port before the typhoon struck land, the AP said.\nTyphoon Soudelor made landfall in Taiwan on Saturday, leaving at least five people dead and at least 185 injured. An 80-year-old man was found drowned in his home and a man was killed by a falling tree, the Taipei Times reported.\nAn 8-year-old girl, her twin sister and their mother were swept out to sea, a firefighter was killed and another was injured after being hit by a drunk driver as they tried to move a fallen tree, the AP reported. More than 4 million homes in Taiwan were left without power as a result of the typhoon, and more than 500 flights were canceled or delayed, the news agency added.\nThree airports in Fujian Province were closed, and more than 530 flight canceled Sunday, Xinhua reported.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","eastern China","eastern China","Putian City in southeastern China's Fujian Province","Fujian Province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least five people dead and at least 185 injured","least five people dead","at least five people dead and scores injured","least five people dead","at least 22 people dead","millions of people without power","killing nine people and leaving three others missing","More than 370,000 people were evacuated"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday night","Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Soudelor","Soudelor"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 The season's first hurricane, Hurricane Danny, is upgraded to Category 3, as its winds strengthened to 115 mph. On its current track, the hurricane will move across the Leeward Islands by Monday but may weaken when it reaches Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (USA Today), (Weather Channel updated)","document":"Danny's winds strengthened to 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane as it spins toward the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said Friday.\nThe storm is \"likely at is peak intensity\" now, as it's expected to weaken over the next couple of days.\nThe hurricane is a \"major\" hurricane, which is defined as any storm of Category 3, 4 or 5 strength. A crew aboard a \"hurricane hunter\" aircraft, which flew into the storm, confirmed the hurricane's strength Friday afternoon.\nAs of 5 p.m. ET, Danny was located 860 miles east of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands and was slowly moving to the west-northwest at 10 mph. On its current track, the storm will move across islands such as Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and Antigua and Barbuda by Monday.\nDanny should \"weaken below hurricane strength as it approaches the Caribbean islands,\" the hurricane center said. The storm could actually deliver needed rain to many of the parched Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, much of which is in a drought.\nDespite its wind speeds, \"Danny is a tiny hurricane,\" the hurricane center said. \"Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles.\"\nMeanwhile, in the central Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Kilo formed Friday morning. Kilo has maximum winds of 40 mph and is about 720 miles southeast of Honolulu. It's forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and potentially threaten parts of Hawaii by early next week, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the hurricane center","Hurricane Center","hurricane center","Hurricane Center","the National Hurricane Center said"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Caribbean","Caribbean","Caribbean","Caribbean","as Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and Antigua and Barbuda"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west-northwes"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3 hurricane","Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["10 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Danny's","Danny","Danny","Danny"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["115 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 The season's first hurricane, Hurricane Danny, is upgraded to Category 3, as its winds strengthened to 115 mph. On its current track, the hurricane will move across the Leeward Islands by Monday but may weaken when it reaches Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (USA Today), (Weather Channel updated)","document":"\nThe National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory for Danny at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, stating that there was no longer a closed circulation center based on Hurricane Hunter data. Danny was moving into the Leeward Islands at the time the final advisory was issued.\nDanny formed on Aug. 18, 2015 as Tropical Depression Four and strengthened into a tropical storm later that day.\nDanny then became a hurricane on Aug. 20, and peaked as a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds up to 115 mph on the afternoon of Aug. 21, 2015. This made Danny the first major hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season.\nA \"wall of wind shear\" near the Caribbean weakened Danny quickly Aug. 22-24, 2015. Wind shear can blow convection (shower and t-storm activity) away from the center of a tropical cyclone. If strong enough, it can rip apart existing tropical cyclones like we saw with Danny. In addition, those west to southwest winds aloft transported more dry air into the circulation of Danny. This dry air is also stable, meaning it suppresses upward vertical columns of air needed to maintain or form new thunderstorms. All of this led to Danny's demise.\n(MORE: Expert Analysis | Hurricane Central)\nDanny did bring some gusty winds and rain to the Leeward Islands on Aug. 24, but overall impacts were minimal. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands saw some rain from Danny's remnants on Aug. 25.\nOn the afternoon of Aug. 21, a NOAA research plane sent back near real-time radar images from a hurricane for the first time.\nIncidentally, while small, Danny wasn't the smallest tropical cyclone on record. According to the NOAA's Hurricane Research Division, Tropical Storm Marco in 2008 had gale-force winds extending only 12 miles from the center. Danny's tropical storm-force winds extended up to an estimated 60 miles from the center on Aug. 21.\nDanny became only the fourth named storm to become a hurricane in the strip of the Atlantic Ocean from off west Africa to the Lesser Antilles since the start of the 2011 season. Gonzalo (2014), Humberto (2013) and Katia (2011) were the only others to do so in that stretch of over four seasons.\nDanny was the first hurricane to strengthen to Category 3 intensity in that Lesser Antilles to west Africa strip of ocean since 2010's Julia.\nSenior meteorologists Nick Wiltgen and Jonathan Erdman and meteorologists Chris Dolce and Quincy Vagell contributed to this report.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Leeward Islands","Leeward Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3","Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny","Danny"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["115 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Typhoon Goni makes landfall in southwestern Japan with at least 26 people injured but no people killed. The death toll in the Philippines rises to 21 while South Korea is on alert. (AP), (Yonhap)","document":"SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was on alert Tuesday as powerful Typhoon Goni approached after causing casualties and property damage in Southeast Asia, weather officials said.\n The typhoon, packing winds of up to 43 meters per second, passed through waters about 360 kilometers southeast of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, by around 6:00 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).\n The KMA forecast the typhoon will dwindle starting from Tuesday afternoon in waters around 190 kilometers southeast of the southern port city of Busan.\n The weather agency issued an alert for heavy rains taking effect as of 9:40 a.m. in the southern resort island of Jeju, as well as the rest of North and South Gyeongsang provinces and some parts of Gangwon Province.\n \"An average of 30 millimeters of rain per hour is expected through Wednesday,\" said a KMA official, adding that a lot of rain and strong winds are forecast in Jeju Island, North and South Gyeongsang provinces and Gangwon Province.\n On the way to the Korean Peninsula, the typhoon pounded several Southeast Asian countries, resulting in deaths in the Philippines, as well as damaged buildings and flooded streets in southwestern Japan.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Korea Meteorological Administration","The KMA forecast","KMA official"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["An average of 30 millimeters of rain per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Southeast Asia","Southeast Asia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Goni"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["43 meters per second"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Four people are killed on the Caribbean island of Dominica as a result of floods and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Erika. (WRAL)","document":"\nROSEAU, Dominica — Tropical Storm Erika pounded the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica on Thursday, unleashing flooding and mudslides that killed at least four people and knocked out power and water supplies.\nThe storm, which was forecast to reach Florida as a hurricane by Monday, dumped 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain on Dominica late Wednesday, followed by another 6 inches (15 centimeters) early Thursday, according to the weather service in the nearby island of Antigua.\nPolice Superintendent Daniel Carbon said three of the deaths occurred during a mudslide in the southeast of the island. Authorities recovered the bodies of an elderly blind man and two children from the home.\nA fourth death occurred in the capital of Roseau. The man was found near his home following a mudslide but the cause of death has not yet been determined, Carbon told The Associated Press.\nEven though the eye had passed, heavy wind and rain were still buffeting the island known for its lush forests and steep terrain, and authorities had yet to do a full damage assessment.\n\"We're advising people to stay put,\" Carbon said, adding that they have received reports of several injuries but that he had no details.\nAbout 80 percent of the island was without electricity, and water supply was cut off, authorities said. The main airport was closed due to flooding, with water rushing over cars and at least one small plane, and the scaffolding of some buildings collapsed.\nThe main river that cuts through the capital overflowed its banks and surging water crashed into the principal bridge that leads into Roseau, whose roads were littered with fallen trees and light poles. Some streets were turned into fast-flowing rivers.\n\"The situation is grim. It is dangerous,\" said Ian Pinard, Dominica's communications minister.\nErika was centered about 160 miles (255 kilometers) west of Guadeloupe, and was moving west at 16 mph (26 kph) with maximum sustained winds that had slipped slightly to 45 mph (75 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.\nErika was expected to move near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Thursday and be near or just north of the Dominican Republic on Friday as it heads toward South Florida early next week. The storm was not expected to gain strength in the next two days.\nErika is now more likely to hit the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, said chief forecaster James Franklin at the National Hurricane Center.\n\"That would certainly not be good news for Hispaniola,\" he said. \"They're very vulnerable to flooding. And even if Erika is a weak system, that could be very bad there.\"\nOfficials shuttered schools, government offices and businesses across the region and warned of flash flooding because of dry conditions caused by the worst drought to hit the Caribbean in recent years. Authorities warned power and water service might be temporarily cut off.\nPuerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said the storm could bring badly needed rains to the parched U.S. territory.\n\"We're happy given the dry conditions, but it does highlight the need to be on alert,\" he said, adding that heavy downpours could lead to flash floods.\nGarcia activated the National Guard as a precaution and asked that everyone head home by noon on Thursday.\nThe heaviest rains were expected to hit Puerto Rico's eastern region, with the storm expected to pass about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the island overnight Thursday, said Odalys Martinez, with the National Weather Service in San Juan.\nDozens of flights were canceled in the region, and the U.S. Coast Guard closed all ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\n.\n\n\n___\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Odalys Martinez, with the National Weather Service in San Juan"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["9 inches (23 centimeters)","6 inches (15 centimeters)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica","Dominica","Dominica","Dominica","near or just north of the Dominican Republic","near","near","Dominican Republic","north","Florida","Florida","South Florida","move near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands","Virgin Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["three of the deaths","A fourth death"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Monday","Friday","early next week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["160 miles (255 kilometers) west of Guadeloupe","west"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["16 mph (26 kph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["45 mph (75 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Florida Governor Rick Scott declares a state of emergency as Erika is forecast to hit the Gulf Coast of Florida on Monday. The storm is over Hispaniola with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, but is expected to weaken this weekend. Of particular concern is Tampa Bay, which has had historic rainfall in late July and early August. (The Tampa Bay Times), (The Miami Herald)","document":"Meteorologists may have remained divided Friday evening on the fate of Tropical Storm Erika, but bay area leaders prepared for the worst following a month of historic flooding.\nAt 11 p.m., National Hurricane Center officials in Miami reported that Erika was moving west northwest at 20 mph and dumping heavy rains across the island of Hispaniola. Erika was forecast to degenerate into a tropical depression that would bring heavy downpours.\nStill, \"any additional rain will have a big impact on us,\" said Preston Cook, director of Hillsborough County's Emergency Operations Center. \"It's a brutal situation.\" Pinellas County officials said they were also in monitoring mode after tracking the storm's movements Friday.\nWhatever Erika becomes, \"we're preparing for a tropical storm,\" said Mary Burrell, public information manager for Pinellas County. Emergency management officials offered the same advice Friday afternoon: Even in a weakened condition, do not dismiss Erika. Buy supplies. Make a plan. Communicate with family members. The anticipated track for Erika shifted west Friday morning after the storm swept through Puerto Rico and Dominica, where hundreds of homes, bridges and roads were destroyed and least 20 people died.\nDominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in a televised address late Friday that \"we have, in essence, to rebuild Dominica.\"\nIn Puerto Rico, Erika caused more than $16 million in damage to crops, including plantains, bananas and coffee. Meteorologist Dennis Feltgen, with the National Hurricane Center, characterized Erika as \"weak and unorganized.\" He said Hispaniola's mountainous terrain could flatten Erika and lessen its potency. \"If (Erika) doesn't get past Hispaniola,\" Feltgen said, \"it's a moot point.\" Others seemed less convinced. \"The problem is, the core of it hasn't been moving over Hispaniola,\" said WTSP 10 Weather chief meteorologist Jim Van Fleet. \"I think it's highly volatile whether it's going to become a depression.\"\nThe latest track shows a greater likelihood that Erika will hit near Naples along the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning. Earlier Friday, the track showed Erika heading for Miami before making a straight sweep through the spine of Florida and brushing Tampa Bay. While wind shear should weaken the storm system, Van Fleet said the biggest question is whether Erika continues to travel northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, where slightly warmer waters could serve as \"high-octane fuel,\" potentially restoring its power.\n\"There are several things that are promising,\" Van Fleet said of the weather reports. \"And there are several things that spell bad news.\" Although predictions are hazy, the general consensus revolves around rain. What does that spell for an already-soaked bay area?\nEven if Erika hits Florida as a weak tropical storm, it will still deluge much of the state, said Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground. Between 3 and 6 inches of rain could fall in many areas, he said, and Tampa Bay would be especially vulnerable because of the sodden ground. Some local waterways are still at or near flood stage.\n\"You should look for some of the worst flooding you've seen there over the past five years,\" Masters said.\nIn line with the cautionary messages, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Friday in face of the storm. At a news conference, Scott said no area of Florida is more saturated than Tampa Bay after the massive stretch of rain.\n\"If we get a lot of rain here, that's probably one of our biggest concerns,\" said Scott, who also visited Tampa to ensure residents were prepared. \"You need three days of water, three days of food,\" he said. Times staff writers Katie Mettler, Michael Majchrowicz, and Steve Contorno contributed to this report. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center officials in Miami","Miami","Pinellas County officials"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Miami","Miami","near Naples along the Gulf of Mexico","Gulf","Mexico","the spine of Florida and brushing Tampa Bay","Florida","Florida"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["20 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Hawaii Governor David Ige signs an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Ignacio on Monday. Ignacio is expected to strengthen to Category 2 this weekend. The state is still recovering from precipitation from Tropical Storm Kilo which skirted the islands earlier this week. In addition, Hurricane Jimena, which is expected to intensify to near category 5 strength on Saturday, is trailing Ignacio and also heading toward Hawaii. (Hawaii News Now), (AP via The Washington Post), (Maui Now), (The Honolulu Star-Advertiser)","document":"As of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. advisory bulletin, Hurricane Ignacio was 840 miles east-southeast of Hilo, traveling at 10 miles per hour in a west-northwest direction that is expected to continue before taking a slight northwest turn.\nForecasts predict that the forward movement will decrease through Sunday.\nHurricane Ignacio is holding maximum sustained winds of 90 mph with the expectation that it will continue to strengthen through late Saturday before beginning to weaken. The intial strengthening will be helped by a friendly environment, according to CPHC, who says low shear is a contributing factor.\nCPHC officials say that the center of Hurricane Ignacio should pass close by, but to the northeast of the Big Island as a hurricane early next week.\n\n.\n\n.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["CPHC","CPHC","CPHC officials","Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s","Forecasts"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["840 miles east-southeast of Hilo"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["10 miles per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["90 mph with the expectation that it will continue to strengthen","continue"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Hawaii Governor David Ige signs an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Ignacio on Monday. Ignacio is expected to strengthen to Category 2 this weekend. The state is still recovering from precipitation from Tropical Storm Kilo which skirted the islands earlier this week. In addition, Hurricane Jimena, which is expected to intensify to near category 5 strength on Saturday, is trailing Ignacio and also heading toward Hawaii. (Hawaii News Now), (AP via The Washington Post), (Maui Now), (The Honolulu Star-Advertiser)","document":"LAST UPDATED: 9:18 a.m. HST, Aug 25, 2015\t\nAnother tropical depression, the 12th of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, is expected to become a hurricane before weakening on a path toward Hawaii.\nAt 5 a.m., Tropical Depression 12E was packing sustained winds of 35 mph and moving slowly west at 6 mph. It was 1,565 miles east-southeast of Hilo.\nIt is forecast to become a tropical storm on Tuesday and a hurricane on Thursday, before weakening back to tropical storm strength as it approaches Hawaii island.\nThe storm could bring heavy rain to the islands early next week.\nForecasters cautioned that it is still to early to know the exact path of the storm. However, \"the moisture surge surrounding the cyclone may produce significant effects ... as the events of the last couple of days demonstrated,\" forecasters said.\nBehind it, another area of rains and thunderstorms about 575 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico has an 90 percent chance of intensifying over the next 5 days.\nTwo storms swirling in the Central Pacific are moving through the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, but are not likely to directly impact the main Hawaiian Islands.\nTropical Depression Kilo will not bring strong winds to the main islands, but moisture associated with the storm created the muggy conditions this and last week, and the heavy rain and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday.\nThe storm's projected path should take it west, away from the islands.\nAt 8 a.m. Tuesday, Kilo was about 650 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and about 185 miles northeast of Johnston Island. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, was moving north at 3 mph. It remained unorganized Tuesday morning, but is still expected to strengthen into a tropical storm.\nLoke became a hurricane overnight with sustained winds of 75 mph. \nAt 8 a.m., Hurricane Loke was 335 miles east-northeast of Midway Island, moving north-northeast at 17 mph.\nLoke is expected to move into cooler waters, weaken and be absorbed into what’s left of former-Typhoon Atasani in the North Pacific.\nCentral Pacific Hurricane Center\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","tropical storm","tropical storm","a tropical storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["6 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["sustained winds of 35 mph","sustained winds","sustained winds"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Five deaths occurred in Haiti as Tropical Storm Erika dumped heavy rains there, on the Dominican Republic, and on Puerto Rico. The storm weakened to a Tropical Depression before it hit Cuba (max winds 56 kph (35 mph), heading to the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. (WTSP), (Relief Web), (Deutsche Welle), (NHC)","document":"Tropical storm Erika has broken up over eastern Cuba, bringing heavy rain to the drought-stricken region. Earlier, it killed at least 20 people in Dominica and caused widespread devastation.\n Tropical storm Erika \"dissipated\" as it crossed Cuba on Saturday, with its maximum winds dropping to 56 kph (35 mph), the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said.\n It said the storm still posed a threat of wind gusts and flooding in Cuba and then Florida, possibly regenerating into a tropical storm before reaching the northwest Florida Panhandle, the NHC said.\n But Erika also brought welcome rains to Cuba, with the region suffering its worst drought since 1901.\n \"The rains, at times intense, are received with pleasure, given the intense drought that has affected this region since the end of last year, \" the official Cuban news agency Prensa Latina said.\n Dominica 'set back 20 years'\n Before making landfall in Cuba, Erika pounded the Caribbean island of Dominica on Friday, killing at least 20 people and unleashing floods and mudslides.\n \"The visual damage I saw today, I fear, may have set our development process back by 20 years,\" Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said on Friday after inspecting the damage wrought by the storm, which wrecked highways and washed away bridges. He said that several people were confirmed missing in addition to those killed.\n Erika then went on to lash impoverished Haiti, where at least one man was killed in a landslide in the town of Carries, and dumped heavy rain on the Dominican Republic, which takes up the other half of the island of Hispaniola where Haiti is located.\n Authorities in the Dominican Republic closed schools, ports and beaches during the storm, but no casualties have so far been reported.\n\nAfter leaving up to 20 people dead on the island of Dominica, the storm is set to make landfall in Florida by Monday. Other Caribbean islands have battened down the hatches, as strong winds and rain wreak havoc. (28.08.2015)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the island of Dominica","Dominica","Dominica","island","Dominica","Dominica","island","Florida","Florida","Florida","eastern Cuba"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 20 people","least 20 people","20 people dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika","Erika"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["maximum winds dropping to 56 kph (35 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2015 Hurricane Ignacio, which has weakened to a Category 3 (115 mph) storm, is expected to side-step Hawaii this week though will still generate high surf, rain and powerful winds. The Big Island and Maui remain on a tropical storm watch. Ignacio may re-strengthen to a hurricane when he clears Oahu on Wednesday. (The Inquisitr), (Reuters)","document":"Hurricane Ignacio has been flexing his muscles and forcing Hawaiians to take notice as he marches across the Pacific toward the island paradise and surf mecca.\nBut despite being formerly listed as a fairly macho category 4 hurricane, Ignacio isn't forecast to hit the Hawaiian Islands directly, the hurricane instead side-stepping Hawaii to the north and northeast, but still causing the Big Island and Maui to be under a tropical storm watch entering the week, reports AP.\nAt the same time, high surf, rain and powerful winds will be blasting Hawaii as Hurricane Ignacio blows by, adding more wet to an already saturated Hawaii, which has experienced an abnormally high amount of rain this August.\nIn fact, one Hawaiian farmer on the Big Island, Greg Colden, via Hawaiian Telecom, cited the coming Ignacio rain as being his biggest concern about Hurricane Ignacio. As a co-owner of Kona Natural Soap in Holualoa, Colden has 450 coffee trees and 1,250 cacao trees that are his primary concerns.\nCurrent forecasts anticipate Hurricane Ignacio passing off the the northeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii on Monday before moving on past Maui on Tuesday. Though the current Hurricane precautions for Ignacio call for tropical storm watches, forecasts say Hurricane Ignacio can still have \"hurricane strength\" as he blows by Hawaii.\nAccording to Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ignacio was pushing sustained winds of 130 mph and said that while Ignacio wouldn't hit Hawaii directly, \"very high surf\", and strong wind gusts would be significant.\nHawaiian officials such as the Mayor of Maui, Alan Arakawa, and the Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, have both endorsed emergency proclamations as Hawaii prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Ignacio.\nIn Honolulu, meanwhile, Mayor Kirk Caldwell cited a specific - and particularly unpleasant - problem on Sunday, saying at a news conference that sewage spills, and their prevention, were of particular concern should Hurricane Ignacio impact Oahu.\nPrevious rains have already caused a million gallons of \"treated, but not yet disinfected wastewater\" to gush out of the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment plant, forcing the closure of the popular Sandy Beach and other areas on Thursday.\nAla Moana Beach Park also took a pre-Hurricane Ignacio sewage hit on Monday when 400,000 gallons of foul water overflowed into the area following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Kilo.\nIn the mean time, Hurricane Ignacio continues barreling across the Pacific and should be on his way away from Hawaii by Wednesday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecasts","forecasts","Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Cente"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the the northeast coast of the Big Island of Hawai","Big Island","Big Island","side-stepping Hawaii to the north and northeast","northeast","past Maui"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Hawaiians"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["130 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 Tropical Storm Fred's predicted track will turn northeast toward the Azores islands off the coast of Portugal as a Tropical Depression. (Weather.com)","document":".\nFred was just the fourth Atlantic named storm to form east of 19 degrees West longitude, the National Hurricane Center said in its advisory issued for the storm Sunday morning.\nThe Associated Press reported all airports were closed in the republic Monday, in anticipation of the storm. They also reported that the storm caused flooding, scattered power outages and uprooted some trees, but no major damage was noted.\nAccording to a blog from Bob Henson of wunderground.com, there is no reliable record of a hurricane ever making landfall in Cabo Verde. Henson said that an 1892 storm reportedly intensified into a hurricane while passing to the south of the northwest Cape Verde Islands. In 1998, Jeanne reached hurricane status while passing south of the islands by about 100 miles, Henson added.\nThe islands have seen deadly impacts from tropical storms. The deadliest was Tropical Storm Fran in 1984 whose heavy rains caused flooding that killed more than two dozen people, Henson said.\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","Bob Henson"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fred"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 Tropical Storm Ignacio, currently headed north-northwest away from Hawaii, is anticipated to turn northeast on Sunday, heading for the Alaskan panhandle and northwestern British Columbia. (AccuWeather), (SurfLine.com)","document":" Steering winds could take Ignacio, as a remnant storm, into the Alaskan Panhandle or British Columbia during the middle days of next week.\nIgnacio will lose tropical characteristics well north of Hawaii in the coming days. However, a part of the storm system will survive over the cooler waters.\n\nRegardless of the strength of the system when it reaches the Alaska/British Columbia coast, there will be impacts.\n\"A round of heavy rain, gusty winds and rough seas will occur, most likely spanning Tuesday into Wednesday,\" AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. \"Ignacio could be a problem for fishing, shipping and cruise interests in the region.\"\nAreas from Yakutat to Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, to as far south as Prince Rupert, British Columbia, should monitor the storm system.\nAfter Ignacio gets pulled northward into the Labor Day weekend, it will turn eastward by early next week.\n Latest Statistics on IgnacioIgnacio Stirs High Surf Warnings on the Big Island, HawaiiAccuWeather Hurricane Center\nAccording to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, \"Ignacio will become part of the storm train stretching along the northern rim of the Pacific Ocean.\"\nWhether or not Ignacio merges with one of the other storms in the train will determine its intensity when it reaches southeastern Alaska and neighboring British Columbia.\n\"If Ignacio were to merge with another storm system, impacts could be severe along a small part of the coast and into the coast ranges,\" Pydynowski said. \"If it remains a separate entity, less severe winds and more strung-out rainfall could occur in the region.\"\nThe storm could especially be a problem for cruise ships which travel north-south in the region.\n\"Swells will approach from the west and could cause considerable rocking motion on some vessels,\" Anderson said.\nPeople traveling on vessels in these waters during the first part of next week may want to bring along medication for sea sickness.\nIn terms of expired typhoons and hurricanes reaching southern Alaska, British Columbia and Washington, remnant tropical systems from the western Pacific occur more often than the central Pacific.\n\"Remnant systems from the central Pacific are extremely rare when compared to the western Pacific,\" Anderson said.\nThis is due to a warm current flowing northeastward in the western Pacific and a typical fast flow of air stretching from eastern Asia to southern Alaska. Both tend to move the systems along quickly and slow down their total breakdown.\nSystems moving up from the central Pacific tend to move more slowly and relatively spend more time over cooler waters.\nVongfong (2014), Roke (2011) and Freda (1962) are but a few examples of former typhoons reaching the upper Pacific coast. Freda caused fatalities, widespread power outages and nearly $600 million (Canadian) in damage to British Columbia. Roke produced wind gusts to 105 mph (170 km/h) on Solander Island, British Columbia.\nAna from 2014 is an example of a system from the central Pacific that merged with a non-tropical storm and hit the British Columbia and Washington coasts with drenching rain and flooding problems.\n\"A cycle of warmer-than-average waters off the coast of southern Alaska and British Columbia this year could play a role in keeping Ignacio more organized as it approaches,\" Anderson said.\nTemperatures will be a few degrees below average across the UK this weekend, but largely dry conditions are expected.\nAfter no rain for almost a month, Santiago braces for rain early in the week. Cool air follows, spreading into Chile, Argentina and Uruguay mid-week.\nThere is a significant chance that Jimena will turn back toward Hawaii and threaten the islands during the second week of September.\nAn unusually strong push of cool air for early September will move southward along the Atlantic Seaboard into the Labor Day weekend before July-like heat returns by next week.\nSteering winds could take Ignacio, as a remnant storm, into the southeastern arm of Alaska or British Columbia during the middle days of next week.\nStrong thunderstorms will roll across the Upper Midwest while rain and strong winds roar through the Northwest this weekend.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Meteorologist Brett Anderson"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southeastern arm of Alaska or British Columbia","British Columbia","Alaska/British Columbia","the Alaska/British Columbia coast","Alaska","Alaska","Alaska","Alaska","Alaska","Alaska","Alaskan Panhandle or British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia","British Columbia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["during the middle days of next week","middle days","next week","middle days of next week","next week","next week","next week","middle days","next week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio","Ignacio"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 Tropical Storm Vamco makes landfall south of Da Nang, Viet Nam, causing flooding in the region. (Accu Weather)","document":" Tropical Rainstorm Vamco will bring flooding rain to portions of Indochina through at least Wednesday.\nAs of Monday evening local time, 215 mm (8 inches) of rain from Vamco has been reported in Da Nang, Vietnam, before making landfall south of the city as a tropical storm. Wind gusts up to 70 km/h (45 mph) were reported in the city as well.\nThe tropical cyclone will quickly weaken across the mountainous terrain of Vietnam and Laos Monday night local time, but flooding will persist in the region.\nHeavy rain will press south and west into Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam Tuesday and Wednesday; 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) with more isolated areas receiving 300 mm (12 inches) of rain will threaten these areas.\nDue to the mountainous terrain of the region, rivers are expected to rapidly rise leading to life-threatening flash flooding. Water-logged hillsides may give way and lead to mudslides.\n:Detailed Forecast for Da NangInteractive Satellite for IndochinaWestern Pacific Typhoon and Tropical Storm Center\nDrenching downpours and the threat for flooding could remain across Cambodia, Thailand and southern Myanmar during the second half of the week.\nDespite containing locally damaging winds at the time of landfall, flooding rain is expected to be the primary concern and will threaten areas for several days.\n\n\n\n.\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["215 mm (8 inches)","300 mm (12 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["portions of Indochina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Vamco","Vamco"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["70 km/h (45 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Joaquin is slowly moving on an east/northeast trek lowering the possibility of a direct hit to the U.S. East Coast. However, unrelated storms have already drenched the eastern seaboard this week. Streets were underwater up and down the coast at this afternoon's high tide. Adding Joaquin's wind and rain could create deadly, unprecedented downpours, flooding, wind damage, and power outages. (WorldNetDaily) (Reuters) (AP via Portland Press-Herald).","document":"As much of 15 inches of rain is possible in the Carolinas, even with the hurricane itself expected to miss the U.S. coast.\t\nMillions along the East Coast breathed a little easier Friday after forecasters said Hurricane Joaquin would probably veer out to sea. But a freakishly powerful rainstorm fueled in part by the hurricane threatened to bring ruinous flooding to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard over the weekend.\nWith the soil already soggy and roads swamped in places from days of rain, East Coast states braced for what forecasters said could be deadly and unprecedented downpours.\nNew Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and parts of Maryland and Delaware were under states of emergency. Meteorologists said the Carolinas will probably get the worst of it, with 15 inches of rain in places and landslides possible in the mountains.\n“It’s going to be enormous,” meteorologist Ryan Maue of Weather Bell Analytics said. “It’s going to be a slow-motion disaster.”\nFor days, authorities had feared that Joaquin would link up with the rainstorm, multiplying the disastrous effects. Various computer models showed the hurricane hitting North Carolina’s Outer Banks, New Jersey, New York’s Long Island or Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.\nBut on Friday, as Joaquin raked the Bahamas with winds of 130 mph, forecasters said it appeared the hurricane would pass well off the U.S. coast.\n“It looks like we dodged a bullet this time,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said at the Jersey shore, which nevertheless got hit with street flooding nearly three years after it was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”\nThe rainstorm threatened to bring a gusty and prolonged drenching from Georgia to New England. Forecasters warned that even if Joaquin peels away from the coast, its effects will still be felt, because it will continue to supply tropical moisture to the rainstorm.\nSouth Carolina could get more rain in three days that it normally gets during the entire fall.\n“We are growing increasingly concerned about the situation in South Carolina, western North Carolina and perhaps even in northeast Georgia,” said David Novak, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center. “We’re pretty confident that some places are going to have 15 inches. A lot of places are going to have 5, 6, 7 inches of rain, particularly the whole state of South Carolina.”\nParts of Virginia and Maryland could get up to 5 inches.\nThe storm was already blamed for at least one death in South Carolina, where heavy rain has fallen for days. Sylvia Arteaga, 56, drowned in a flash flood under a railroad bridge in Spartanburg while driving home from the night shift.\nAuthorities around the region also warned that the saturated soil could cause trees to topple. They said that might have played a role in the death of a passenger whose vehicle was hit by a tree on Interstate 95 near Fayetteville, North Carolina.\nBy mid-morning Friday, water was flowing over South Main Street on Virginia’s Chincoteague Island.\n“Every year, we kind of hold our breath, knowing that we’re due,” said Brian Shotwell, manager of a sandwich shop.\nStreets were underwater at high tide in the afternoon in cities and towns up and down the coast, including Norfolk, Virginia; Atlantic City, Sea Isle City and Stone Harbor, New Jersey; and Ocean City, Maryland, which had 5 feet of water in low-lying areas.\nIn Poquoson, Virginia, Joy Bryant had to cancel a yard sale because her property was half-submerged and cars couldn’t get down the road. She planned to spend the evening putting sandbags in front of her garage.\n“Of course, we don’t know what to expect this weekend,” she said, “but since the storm is moving out and not on the track that it was yesterday, we’re very relieved.”\nSteve Stougard stood in his front yard in Norfolk, watching one motorist after another decide whether to try to drive through a flooded intersection.\n“It’s convenient that we’re not getting a direct hit from a major hurricane. I consider that an answered prayer,” he said. “But we still have to deal with the rain, still have to deal with the tides.”\nMeanwhile, Joaquin tore off roofs, uprooted trees and unleashed heavy flooding in the Bahamas, and the U.S. Coast Guard searched for a missing 735-foot cargo ship with 33 people aboard.\nResidents of Princeville, North Carolina, couldn’t help thinking of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, when muddy, swirling floodwaters wiped out 850 homes in the community of about 2,000 that is considered the oldest U.S. town chartered by blacks.\nJackie Vines and her husband wound up living in a trailer in an encampment that was dubbed FEMA City. As for the storm now threatening Princeville, Vines said: “All of that’s in God’s hands. I just pray about it.”\nSuccess. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Meteorologists","meteorologist"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["15 inches of rain","15 inches","rain","15 inches","As much of 15 inches of rain","rain","15 inches","rain","rain","rain","rain","rain","5, 6, 7 inches","up to 5 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Carolina’s Outer Banks, New Jersey, New York’s Long Island or Massachusetts’ Cape Cod","New Jersey","New Jersey","New Jersey","Bahamas","Bahamas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least one death in South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","56, drowned in a flash flood"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["winds of 130 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Joaquin is slowly moving on an east/northeast trek lowering the possibility of a direct hit to the U.S. East Coast. However, unrelated storms have already drenched the eastern seaboard this week. Streets were underwater up and down the coast at this afternoon's high tide. Adding Joaquin's wind and rain could create deadly, unprecedented downpours, flooding, wind damage, and power outages. (WorldNetDaily) (Reuters) (AP via Portland Press-Herald).","document":"The latest tracking of Hurricane Joaquin by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration estimates the storm will stay at sea and not directly strike the Northeastern U.S. as feared, but forecasters warn it will indirectly produce dangerous flooding and high winds.\n\"People should not let their guard down due to a shifting track of the hurricane as the risk to lives and property in this complex situation remains high,\" Accuweather.com's senior meteorologist, Alex Sosnowski, reported Friday evening.\n\nThe storm already is being blamed for a lost cargo ship near the Bahamas with 33 people aboard, including 31 Americans. The 735-foot ship El Faro was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Jacksonville, Florida, Fox News reported.\nThe U.S. Coast Guard, which is searching for the vessel, said it received notification that the ship had lost power around 7 a.m. Eastern Time Thursday near Crooked Island in the eastern Bahamas. The crew reported it was taking on water but eventually contained the flooding. The Coast Guard has been unable to reestablish communications with the ship.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Oceanic","Atmosphere Administration","Accuweather.com's senior meteorologist, Alex Sosnowski"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["33 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Joaquin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 U.S. President Barack Obama declares a state of emergency for South Carolina, after the state receives over two feet of rain in some areas. More than 250 roads across the state close. A low pressure area funnels heavy tropical moisture into the region, as well as, pulls in Hurricane Joaquin-related precipitation. (CNN), (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News Unprecedented and deadly rainfall turned South Carolina roads into rivers and parking lots into lakes on Sunday, prompting officials to warn residents not to leave their homes for any reason — even on foot.\n\"We haven't seen this level of rain in the Low Country in 1,000 years,\" said Gov. Nikki Haley during a news conference Sunday. \"That’s how big this is.\"\n: Charleston Int'l Airport had 17.70\" of #rain the past 5 days, breaking the all-time 5-day record for the state of South Carolina.\nMore than 250 roads across the state were closed due to the storm that dumped over two feet of rain in some areas, according to the state's department of transportation, which reported it had responded to nearly 1,200 distress calls and more than 300 collisions. One DOT employee was unaccounted for, said South Carolina Transportation Secretary Christy Hall Sunday, without offering additional details.\nA record-breaking 8.7 inches of rain fell during a 24-hour period over the weekend in Columbia, South Carolina, the National Weather Service reported.\nMany rivers in major flood stage. Interactive map from Southeast River Forecast Center: http://t.co/V4jZMetmB3 #scwx pic.twitter.com/crY2pGdOBp\nHaley advised people to stay off the roads not only to stay safe but to keep streets clear for rescue crews, as well as utility trucks working to restore power to 25,000 customers. Haley and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said people shouldn't even leave their homes on foot.\n\"If you are in your house, stay in your house,\" Haley said. \"This is not something that you want your kids playing in ... this is not something that you want to be taking pictures of.”\nHaley encouraged local government offices businesses and schools to close Monday and maybe even Tuesday, as the damage to roads and bridges couldn't be immediately assessed. Some schools had already announced cancellations, and North Charleston County, Lexington County and the city of Columbia announced a curfew that would start at 10 p.m. Sunday and last until 6 a.m. Monday.\nSeven people had already died in weather-related incidents across North Carolina and South Carolina since Thursday, according to authorities.\nA woman who drove around a flood barrier in Spartanburg drowned in the standing water Thursday, Sherri Iacobelli, a spokeswoman with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, told NBC News. And three more people have died in separate weather related traffic incidents in South Carolina since Friday, according to the state's department of public safety.\nMichael Wukela, 36, didn’t have a choice but to venture out. The Columbia Mayor’s Office employee had to head into the emergency operations center, but told NBC News, “I’m going on official city business. People should stay indoors. Do not drive.”\n“I’ve never seen anything like this in Columbia,” Wukela, who has lived in the city since 2006, said. “And I lived in Florence during Hurricane Hugo.”\nEthan Nunn, from North Carolina, also drove through South Carolina Sunday, with the goal of getting to a Foo Fighters concert in Atlanta, Georgia. “For an hour, hour and a half, we were in pouring rain, very windy, the roads were flooded,” said Nunn, who was celebrating his 21st birthday.\nNunn said he and his friends were detoured by police in Columbia where the group saw “a car where the water was up to the window.” Nunn said he and his friends made it safely to Georgia and didn’t plan to travel back home until Monday.\nColumbia resident, Portia Bell, on the other hand, wasn’t taking any chances. The 46-year-old said she’s lived in Guam and California — and living through other extreme weather events has taught her to stock her apartment because driving isn't worth the risk.\n“I’m used to being in areas where you have to be prepared for acts of God like this,\" Bell told NBC News. \"But the flooding — this is the first time I’ve seen flooding like this and flooding so close to me.\"\nThe downpours and \"catastrophic\" flooding were expected to persist not only in South Carolina, but along the east coast through the night Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Part of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia were under coastal flood warnings on Sunday.\nIn a Delaware town on the shore, firefighters had already rescued two people from truck that got caught in floodwaters Saturday, according to NBC Philadelphia. In New Jersey, the floods dislodged an entire house from its pilings in a low-lying town, according to NBC New York.\nThe effects of the storm could be felt long into the week. \"A lot more damage is still yet to be done,\" NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins said on MSNBC. \"The rivers are going to be a problem in this area for days to come.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["17.70\"","8.7 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Columbia, South Carolina","South Carolina","Columbia","Columbia","Columbia","Columbia","Columbia","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["25,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 The El Faro, missing since Thursday, is categorized as sunk with 33 people on board during Hurricane Joaquin after a debris field is found. (NBC News)","document":" A cargo ship missing since Thursday with 33 crew members on board was believed to have sunk 15,000 feet in the teeth of Hurricane Joaquin, which began strengthening and moving closer to its path almost as soon as it set to sea.\nThe search was continuing, Coast Guard Capt. Mike Fedor said. One \"unidentifiable\" body, in a survival suit, was found Sunday in a 225-square-mile debris field of wood and cargo, he said.\nThe Coast Guard planned to focus on finding \"people in the water,\" Fedor said. \"We are not looking for the vessel any longer.\"\nThe 790-foot ship, the El Faro, was likely swallowed by the Category 4 hurricane two days after it left Jacksonville, Florida for San Juan, Puerto Rico. When it set off on Tuesday, Sept. 29, Joaquin was just a tropical storm with wave swells of 7.5 feet and sustained winds of 65 mph.\nFour hours earlier, the National Hurricane Center had issued an advisory warning that the storm was moving toward the Bahamas and could reach hurricane status by Sept. 30.\nAn hour and a half after the ship left port, a new forecast put Joaquin even closer to the Bahamas and, fatefully, closer to the El Faro's route. By the time the ship, built in 1975, passed the Bahamas the afternoon of Sept. 30, winds were at 85 mph.\nThe captain was keeping a close eye on conditions and was not alarmed.\n\"On Wednesday he sent a message to the home office with the status of the developing tropical storm he said he had very good weather ... and that his crew was prepared,\" said Phil Greene, president of TOTE Services, the parent company of the ship’s owner.\nAs night fell, Joaquin grew. Tropical storm winds had expanded some 140 miles from the center and hurricane force winds were sweeping out 35 miles, packing the punch of the Category 4 hurricane.\nThe storm itself was moving slowly at just 6 mph. That meant the same area of water was being hit over and over by the winds — the perfect conditions for building monster waves.\nAs Joaquin slowed and strengthened, the El Faro was in trouble. The crew reported on Oct. 1 that the ship — which had two auxiliary power generators — had lost power, was taking on water and was listing at 15 degrees.\nThat was the last contact made with the ship. At the time, the center of Joaquin was about 175 miles out and maximum sustained winds had hit 120 mph. Overnight, they were howling at 130 mph and moving ever nearer to the El Faro's last known position.\n\"If the vessel did sink on Thursday, and that crew was able to abandon ship they would have been abandoning ship in a Category 4 hurricane,\" Fedor said. \"Those are challenging conditions to survive.\"\nHe pointed out, however, that the crew of the El Faro were trained mariners, saying, \"We’re not going to discount somebody's will to survive.\"\n\"As the search for the El Faro mariners continues, our thoughts and prayers remain with them and their families,\" said Michael Sacco, the president of the Seafarers International Union, which represents American merchant mariners. “In this age when we are all accustomed to instant information and quick answers, it has been an agonizing wait these last few days.\"\nTim Nolan, president of TOTE Maritime, which owns the ship, said the \"the entire TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico family is distressed that it now appears the El Faro sank at or near its last known position.\"\n\"We continue to hold out hope for survivors,\" he said. There were 28 Americans on board. At least five have been identified.\nSouth Florida men Jeremy Riehm, 46, and Steven Shultz, 51, were named by their families as among the missing, according to NBC station WBBH of Fort Myers, Florida. A third American was identified as Keith Griffin.\nShultz's mother told WBBH that she believes her son, a Merchant Marine for 30 years, is alive along with the rest of the crew, but is worried that supplies are running out.\nOther missing American crew members include 51-year-old Mariette Wright, engineer Mike Holland and Second Mate Danielle Randolph.\nErik Ortiz is a staff writer for NBC News focusing on racial injustice and social inequality.\nTom Winter is a New York-based correspondent covering crime, courts, terrorism and financial fraud on the East Coast for the NBC News Investigative Unit.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["33 crew"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 hurricane","Category 4 hurricane","Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin","Joaquin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["sustained winds of 65 mph","sustained winds"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Thousands of people are evacuated on the Japanese island of Hokkaido as Typhoon Choi-wan approaches from the east. (AAP via SBS)","document":"\nA powerful typhoon bearing down on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido has forced authorities to order the evacuation of thousands of residents.\nThousands of residents in northern Japan have been ordered to evacuate as a powerful typhoon bears down on the island of Hokkaido.\nLocal authorities issued evacuation orders for Nemuro city on the coast and neighbouring areas, as Typhoon Choi-Wan approached from the east, the Hokkaido daily reports.\nAbout 170 flights have been cancelled and scores of train services suspended, the paper says.\nThe season's 23rd typhoon, still several hundred kilometres east of Japan, had maximum sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of 162kph, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["island of Hokkaido","island","Hokkaido","Hokkaido","northern Japanese"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Thousands of residents","thousands","residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["east","east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Choi-Wan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Koppu strengthens to a typhoon ahead of threatening lives and properties in the Philippines island of Luzon over the weekend. (AccuWeather)","document":". Typhoon Koppu will put lives and property across Luzon Island of the Philippines in danger this weekend and early next week.\nKoppu developed into a typhoon early Friday morning local time and is currently churning between Guam and the Philippines. Disruptive wind shear has prevented Koppu from taking advantage of the warm waters of the Pacific and strengthening significantly. That should change by this weekend as Koppu approaches Luzon.\n\"Rapid intensification is likely to occur right before Koppu reaches Luzon,\" stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty. \"Koppu could become a significant typhoon, possibly the equivalent to a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.\"\nKoppu will not only strengthen as it approaches the Philippines but will also slow down significantly. The combination of a powerful and slow-moving typhoon could spell a disastrous situation for residents and communities in its path, which will be northern Luzon Island in Koppu's case.\nFrom this weekend into early next week, Koppu will crawl toward or into northern Luzon Island before eventually turning to the north. Koppu is expected to make landfall, but how quickly it turns north will determine the duration of life-threatening conditions for northern Luzon.\nWhile damaging winds are a concern, the greatest threat will be life-threatening flooding from days of torrential rainfall.\n\"A total of 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 inches) of rain is expected to be widespread,\" stated Douty. There will even be localized amounts upwards or in excess of 900 mm (36 inches). Such rain is sure to trigger severe and life-threatening flooding and mudslides.\n\"The most significant rain will fall in the mountainous terrain of northern Luzon,\" added Douty.\nResidents in Baguio, Bangui, Aparri, Tuguegarao and Pagudpud are among those across northern Luzon who are being urged to prepare for the impending severe flood danger. Heed all evacuation orders and begin making plans to seek shelter away from areas prone to flooding and mudslides.\nStreams and rivers will quickly turn into raging waterways and flood neighboring homes and land, roads and bridges can get cut off and low-lying communities could get turned into lakes.\nWhile dangerous flooding is the primary concern, Koppu will also bring a threat of damaging winds, coastal flooding and extremely rough seas to northern Luzon.\n\"Wind damage will be greatest along the northeast coast of Luzon with wind in excess of 160 kph (100 mph) possible,\" Douty continued. The damaging wind threat will become more expansive and severe across northern Luzon the farther Koppu tracks inland. The potential for winds to knock down trees will only increase as the rain persists and further saturates the soil.\nRELATED:Philippines Weather CenterAccuweather West Pacific Typhoon CenterJapan Weather Center\nBased on current indications, Koppu will stay far enough to the north for Manila to escape most of the impacts, however heavy rain may push into the city and surrounding areas on Sunday night into Monday. During this time there will be a heightened risk for flash flooding.\nImpacts from Koppu will not be limited to the Philippines. Taiwan, Japan and far eastern China remain on alert for potential hazards next week.\n\"By Tuesday, we should see Koppu slowly begin to pull to the north and impacts in Taiwan should gradually increase,\" stated Douty.\nHow long Koppu tracks over Luzon and stalls before turning to the north will determine whether far eastern China or Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands join Taiwan in facing hazardous weather next week.\nThe faster that Koppu shifts northward, the more likely it is that the storm will cross near or east of Taiwan and then be pulled northeast with some impacts possible for Japan.\nThe longer Koppu sits over Luzon, the more time high pressure will have to build north of the cyclone producing more of a easterly component to the steering flow which would then likely lead to the cyclone tracking somewhere between Hong Kong and Taiwan during the second half of next week.\nThis scenario would bring the greatest threats to western Taiwan and the east coast of China. While Koppu would likely be a much weaker storm than when it impacts the Philippines, locally damaging winds and flooding rainfall will still be a serious risk.\n\"If Koppu instead continues to the north past Taiwan and into the East China Sea, it will encounter increased wind shear and should significantly weaken,\" Douty said. \"Because of this, if there are impacts to Japan, we do not think they will be significant.\"\nAccuWeather meteorologists will continue to provide updates on the expected track and more precise details of its potential impacts to lives and property in the upcoming days.\nBehind Koppu is Champi, which strengthened into a tropical storm in the western Pacific Basin on Wednesday.\nWATCH: Flash Flood Washes Across Utah Desert Road\nDouty expects this system to cross the Northern Mariana Islands on Friday and will either be at or approaching typhoon status.\n\"Saipan is probably the largest island that will be impacted by this system as it will pass to the north of Guam,\" he said.\nLatest indications point toward this system then curving to the north, then northeast away from Japan next week.\nContent contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister.\nRescue efforts are underway in Southern California, as heavy rains triggered flash flooding and mudslides, leaving motorists stranded and major roadways shut down in Los Angeles County.\nProgressively colder air will lead to the first snowflakes and snowfall of the season, as well as the first freeze in parts of the Great Lakes, Northeast and neighboring Canada this weekend.\nTyphoon Koppu will put lives and property across Luzon Island of the Philippines in danger this weekend and early next week.\nA cooldown with clouds, showers and thunderstorms is in store for Southern California and much of the Southwest following recent heat and sunshine.\nSince the first indication that a powerful El Nino was set to develop, there has been significant speculation about what impacts it would have within the United States.\nA dominant storm track featuring storms moving west to east across Europe will result in a stark contrast between cold air building across Scandinavia and milder air masses entrenched near the Mediterranean.\nDaylight in the Northern Hemisphere is increasing at its highest rate during March and April. Later in May and June, daylight is increasing at a much slower pace. Denver, CO (1984)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Douty","Douty","Douty","Douty","Douty","Douty","Douty","AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["excess of 900 mm (36 inches)","excess","A total of 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Luzon Island of the Philippines","Philippines","Luzon Island","Luzon Island","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Luzon Island","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["this weekend and early next week","weekend","weekend","early next week","weekend","weekend","early next week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","Typhoon","possibly the equivalent to a Category 3 or 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["160 kph (100 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Typhoon Koppu (Lando) heads towards the Philippines island of Luzon where it is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm, linger and deposit up to 50 inches of rain in some areas. (Mashable)","document":"Typhoon Koppu is barreling toward the island of Luzon in the Philippines, where it is forecast to hit land over the weekend as a Category 4 storm and then refuse to leave. Because of its slow movement, the storm could dump a catastrophic amount of rain through Tuesday, with totals in some mountainous areas potentially reaching as high as 50 inches, and as much as a foot or more falling across a wide area. The storm, named Lando in the Philippines based on the local weather agency's naming system, may undergo a period of rapid intensification on Saturday morning local time, with several computer models predicting that the storm will become an extremely intense Category 4 storm prior to making landfall on Saturday night. \nThe most likely landfall location as of early Saturday morning local time was forecast to be near Casiguran, a small city in Aurora Province, which is on the northeastern coast of Luzon. The exact path of the storm could change before it makes landfall, however, with any shift in track toward the south likely to bring more significant winds and rains to the Manila area.\nStorm surge flooding of 2 meters (7 feet) or more, and winds greater than 170 kilometers per hour, or 105 miles per hour, can be expected near where the center of the storm crosses the coast, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or PAGASA. If the storm does reach Category 4 strength, however, the winds will be higher, potentially greater than 140 miles per hour.\nThe PAGASA is posting its latest warnings and advisories on its Facebook page.\nFrom its landfall location, Typhoon Koppu is going to make an agonizingly slow trek across the northern Philippines. Up to a foot of rain may fall in the capital of Manila, a densely populated, low-lying city that is prone to flooding. Heavier rains will fall further north, with 15 to 50 inches not out of the question depending on where the heavy rain bands form and how quickly they move. Luzon's complex topography will make landslides and mudslides likely, and rainfall amounts highly variable depending on elevation. Higher elevations will see greater rainfall totals.\nForecast radar image around the time that Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Lando, makes landfall.\nImage: WeatherBell Analytics\nWith the first rains from the storm already beginning in eastern Luzon, it's conceivable that for some residents of northern Luzon in particular, it won't stop raining until late Tuesday or sometime on Wednesday, local time. The long-lasting heavy rains could produce devastating rainfall totals in a country that is prone to flooding.\nProjected rainfall totals from Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Lando, from the U.S. GFDL computer model.\nHurricane expert Jeff Masters of Weather Underground wrote on Friday that \"widespread damaging flooding\" is likely, and that this flooding will be \"capable of causing a top-five most expensive disaster in Philippine history.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["as high as 50 inches","50 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near Casiguran, a small city in Aurora Province, which is on the northeastern coast of Luzon","Luzon","island of Luzon in the Philippines","Philippines","Luzon","Philippines","Luzon","Luzon","Luzon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over the weekend","Saturday night","early Saturday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 storm","Category 4 storm","Category 4 strength"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["greater than 140 miles per hour","greater","greater","than 170 kilometers per hour","105 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Typhoon Koppu (Lando) makes landfall in northern Luzon in the Philippines with forecasters warning it could stay in the area for several days. Thousands of people have been evacuated or are stranded. (AFP via Yahoo), (The Inquirer)","document":"Powerful Typhoon Koppu hit the northern Philippines early Sunday, the country's weather agency said, battering the coast with powerful winds that forecasters warned could last up to three days. About 6,500 people were evacuated from their homes and taken to safer ground just before the typhoon struck, the civil defence office said. The eye of Koppu struck the remote coastal town of Casiguran, 215 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Manila around 4:00 am (2000 GMT Sunday) with gusts of up to 210 kilometres an hour, the state weather service said. \"It is nearly stationary.... We hope it will leave the country soon,\" Alexander Pama, head of the government's National Disaster Risk Reduction Council said over DZBB radio. Local radio stations said the typhoon downed trees and power pylons in Aurora province including Casiguran as well as nearby Isabela province and that power was cut in those areas. Pama said landslides and overflowing rivers caused by intense rains dumped by Koppu had cut several roads across the region, made up of mountainous areas with farmland along river valleys. Because of another nearby weather system, officials fear the typhoon could linger for days on the main island of Luzon, home to about half the country's 100 million people. Although the storm will not directly hit the capital, Manila, the weather service has warned it is so huge that even the southern regions were likely to be affected by strong winds and rain. The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms each year, many of them deadly.\n\n\nF\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["town of Casiguran, 215 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Manila","Casiguran","Manila","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["About 6,500 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","4:00 am (2000 GMT Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Koppu","Koppu","Koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 210 kilometres an hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Typhoon Koppu (Lando) makes landfall in northern Luzon in the Philippines with forecasters warning it could stay in the area for several days. Thousands of people have been evacuated or are stranded. (AFP via Yahoo), (The Inquirer)","document":"As Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) pummels northern provinces, thousands of people have been evacuated while others remained stranded in several ports.\n: Lando wreaks damage even before landfall\nBut as of latest, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Alexander Pama said no casualties have been reported so far.\nIn a press briefing on Sunday morning, Pama said 1,760 families sought refuge in evacuation centers in the provinces of Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, and Cagayan.\nMeanwhile, 5,039 passengers were stranded in several ports as well as 65 motorized vessels, 43 motor bancas, and 467 rolling cargoes.\nTwo cities and 22 municipalities in northern Luzon also lost power due to the typhoon.\nAt least eight bridges in Casiguran, Aurora, where Lando made its first landfall, have also been rendered impassable.\nHowever, Pama said that the Department of Public Works and Highways has begun its clearing operation in areas affected by the typhoon.\nThirty flights, 28 of which were domestic, were canceled.\nREAD: Typhoon ‘Lando’ slightly weakens as it makes landfall\nIn its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the slow-moving typhoon slightly weakened, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 210 kph.\nOn Saturday night, Lando packed maximum sustained winds of 185 kph with gusts of up to 220 kph.\nIt also slowed from 12 kph to only 3 kph on Sunday morning. It continues to move westward.\nThe eye of the typhoon was located 135 km east northeast of Baler, Aurora or 90 km east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora.\nStorm surge in affected areas were expected to a maximum of 3 to 4 meters in Aurora and neighboring provinces while wave height in open sea may reach up to 14 meters or higher.\nREAD: ‘Lando’ to linger for 3 days\nPagasa also advised fisherfolk not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboard of Mindanao.\nSignal No. 4 Aurora was still raised over Aurora.\nSignal No. 3 was up in Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Ifugao and Northern Quezon including Polillo Island.\nMeanwhile, Metro Manila was still at signal no. 2 as well as in Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Benguet, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, and the rest of Quezon.\nSignal no. 1 was up in Zambales, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Camarines Norte, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Batanes .\nStorm signals elsewhere were now lowered.\nProvinces under signal no. 2, 3 and 4 will experience stormy weather while the rest will experience occasional rains and gusty winds.\nResidents in low lying and mountainous areas of the affected provinces were also alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. RAM\n\n\ne\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people","1,760 families","5,039 passengers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lando","Lando","Lando","Lando","Lando","Lando","Koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Slow-moving Koppu weakened after blowing ashore with fierce winds in the northeastern Philippines leaving at least two people dead and at least six missing, displacing 16,000 villagers, and knocking out power in entire provinces, according to authorities. (AP via NBC News), (UPI)","document":"MANILA, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- At least one person is dead and six are missing as Typhoon Koppu continues to pummel the northern Philippines.\nNearly 16,500 people were evacuated as the massive typhoon, with winds up to 125 mph, made landfall. The storm, locally named Lando, made landfall about 1 a.m. Sunday and has almost remained stationary, the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.\nThe storm has washed out at least 14 roads and 10 bridges and power outages were reported across the region. A total of 5,580 passengers, 78 vessels and 48 motorized bancas, among other water vessls, are stranded due to rough sea condition, officials said. Dozens of flights were canceled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at several local airports.\nUncertain of our flight back to Manila because of #lando #koppu stuck at Mactan International Airport. \nAlexander Pama, head of the government disaster agency, said locals have fled from areas in the typhoon's path, including from towns prone to flash floods and landslides.\nAuthorities said local crops, including bananas, coconuts, rice and corn, have been destroyed. Roofs have been torn off businesses and residences have been flattened. Rain is expected to fall for at least the next 24 hours, heightening the chances for more damage.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least one person is dead","six are missing","Nearly 16,500 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1 a.m. Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lando","lando","Koppu","koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 125 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 The death toll for Typhoon Koppu (Lando) in the Philippines rises to 54 with more than 1.2 million affected. (Rappler) (The Guardian)","document":"Half a million people have been forced from their homes as torrential rains submerge villages along the coast\n\nThe death toll from a ferocious typhoon in the Philippines climbed to 54 on Thursday, as home-wrecking floods shifted downstream to coastal villages, displacing tens of thousands of residents.\nInundations from torrential rains in mountain regions caused by Typhoon Koppu cascaded into coastal fishing and farming villages, submerging them in waters up to 3m deep, officials said.\nResidents of Bulacan and Pampanga province, around two hours’ drive from the capital Manila, fled by foot to evacuation centres as the waters rose quickly overnight, aggravated by a high tide.\n“The waters have nowhere else to go. Imagine two to three days worth of rain from the mountains coming down,” Nigel Lontoc, assistant director of the region’s civil defence office, told AFP.\nClose to 60,000 people left their homes in Bulacan and Pampanga, a geographic catch basin for waters from the upland provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora, which bore the brunt of Koppu on Sunday and Monday.\nLontoc said the floods in the coastal areas may last a week.\nKoppu made landfall on the east coast of Luzon, the Philippines’ biggest and most populated island, early Sunday with 210km-per-hour (130-mile-per-hour) winds.\nKoppu, the second strongest typhoon to hit the disaster-weary country this year, then crawled over vast swathes of Luzon for three days, bringing torrential rains that triggered landslides and massive flooding.\nA report from the national disaster monitoring office said close to 500,000 people had been displaced by flooding.\nThe waters had receded considerably in the upland provinces and many had returned to their mud-covered homes.\nBut the death toll climbed to 54, from 47 on Wednesday, based on an AFP tally of confirmed figures from national and local authorities.\nIn the Cordillera mountain region, the civil defence office confirmed five more deaths from landslides on Monday and Tuesday, raising the death toll to 21 from 16 on Wednesday.\nIn the central farming regions of Luzon, the deaths of two 12-year-old girls were reported, one of whom died from drowning and the other from a snake bite, according to the regional civil defence office.\nKoppu had weakened into a low pressure area on Thursday, bringing moderate rains over the outlying Batanes islands in the far north of the Philippines, state weather forecaster Gener Quitlong told AFP.\nThe Philippines is battered by an average 20 typhoons a year, many of them deadly. In November 2013, 7,350 people were left dead or missing after the most powerful storm on record, Haiyan, wiped out entire communities in the central islands.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","the east coast of Luzon","Luzon","Luzon","coastal fishing and farming villages"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Close to 60,000 people","close","Half a million people","54"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu","Koppu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["210km-per-hour"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2013 A massive two mile wide tornado strikes south of the US city of Oklahoma City, causing widespread damage and causing the National Weather Service to issue a rare tornado emergency. (MSN)[permanent dead link] (NPR)(NBC News), (ABC News)","document":" \n \nA woman carries her child through a field near the collapsed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., on Monday A tornado as much as a mile wide with winds up to 200 mph roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. A massive tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, killing at least 51 people, according to the state medical examiner's office. The death toll was expected to rise. Helicopter images showed large tracts of Moore, Okla., completely leveled by what the National Weather Service says was at least an EF-4 tornado with winds in excess of 166 mph. The tornado stayed on the ground for 40 minutes and traveled 20 miles. Where Things Stand:\n— A tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City at 2:56 p.m. CT. The town of Moore was the hardest hit. — Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that at least 51 people have died. At least 40 people are injured. — The National Weather Service said the tornado was at least an EF-4, the second most powerful category, with winds of up to 200 mph. — The tornado stayed on the ground for 40 minutes and traveled 20 miles. — Two schools and a hospital were in the direct path of the storm. On video aired by KFOR-TV, emergency personnel could be seen sifting through rubble, walking over mounds of twisted debris. Source: National Weather Service\n\nJoe Jolly, a Moore resident, told our Newscast unit that his neighborhood looked like a \"war zone.\" \"I pretty much don't have much of a house right now,\" he said. \"I'm still kind of in shock right now. It was intense... I really don't know what to say. It's a big deal, devastating.\" KWTV in Oklahoma reports that hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed. Jayme Shelton, a public information officer for the Moore Police Department, told All Things Considered the tornado hit two schools and a hospital. Lance West, a reporter from KFOR, was in front of Plaza Tower Elementary School. West said rescue workers were looking through what was left of the building, searching for children. One of them was pulled out alive and reunited with his parents. \"The walls are gone,\" West said. \"Cinderblock walls that are ten inches thick are gone.\" Earlier today, the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for the Oklahoma City metro area. That's a rare warning from the weather service, which says it issues one \"when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a tornado is imminent or ongoing.\" The National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., is tweeting updates. At 4:22 p.m. ET. it warned that:\n\"the tornado is so large you may not realize it's a tornado. If you are in Moore, go to shelter NOW!\" This story is breaking, so the news will surely change quickly. We'll concentrate on information from news outlets and authorities at the scene and will update this post as we get more. KFOR is streaming its live coverage. Update at 11:45 p.m. ET. Obama Signs Disaster Declaration\nPresident Obama signed a disaster declaration late Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area. \"The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie,\" a White House statement said. The assistance can be in the form of grants for temporary housing and home repairs, \"low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover.\" Update at 9:00 p.m. ET. Search And Rescue Underway:\nOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, speaking at a news conference Monday evening, said rescue efforts were underway and officials were \"working as quickly as we can\". \"It will be dark pretty soon and we want to do everything we can to continue to look,\" she said. Fallin said that rescue dogs were being called in to assist in the search. \"We do know there are fatalities, but we don't have a number count yet,\" she said. Authorities said they expected a federal disaster declaration shortly. \"As you know, we've been through this before, but I can tell you that our citizens are resilient,\" Moore city manager Steve Eddy told reporters. \"This city will recover and we will rebuild.\" Update at 8:30 p.m. ET. Death Toll Rises To At Least 51:\nAt least 51 people have been killed, spokesperson Amy Elliot of the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office, tells NPR. Elliot said the death toll is expected to rise. Scott Coppenbarger, a spokesman for OU Medical Center, says the hospital has admitted 20 people for treatment due to tornado-related injuries — 12 adults and eight children. Update at 7:39 p.m. ET. 'All Hands On Deck:'\nOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin tells KFOR that the state has \"all hands on deck.\" \"We have called out everyone we can,\" she said, adding that she has activated the National Guard and that three out-of-state rescue teams are on the scene. President Obama called Fallin to say the federal government \"stands ready to provide all available assistance as the Governor's team responds to the storm and that he has directed his team to ensure that they are providing available resources as the response unfolds.\" In a read-out of the president's call, the White House said:\n\"FEMA has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team to the state emergency operations center in Oklahoma City to support state and local officials on the ground and additional personnel and resources stand ready to be dispatched as necessary. The President told Governor Fallin that the people of Oklahoma are in his and the First Lady's thoughts and prayers and, while his team will continue to keep him updated, he urged her to be in touch directly if there were additional resources the Administration could provide.\" Update at 7:33 p.m. Three Dead: The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says at least three people are dead. Norman Regional Health System spokesperson Paula Price tells NPR they have received a total of 40 are injured. Update at 7:17 p.m. ET. A History Of Okla. Tornadoes:\nScott has put together a post that details the history of tornadoes in Oklahoma. We also added these other posts:\n-- Measuring The Power Of Deadly Tornadoes\n-- VIDEO: A Time-Lapse Of The Tornado In Oklahoma\nUpdate at 6:45 p.m. ET. Two Schools And A Hospital: Jayme Shelton, a public information officer for the Moore Police Department, said the tornado had hit two schools and a hospital. The Moore Medical Center, Shelton told All Things Considered, is closed because it was heavily damaged. Shelton said they have not gotten any reports of casualties. \"What we need is people who are not in the area to stay out of the area,\" Shelton said. Update at 6:19 p.m. ET. Dramatic Video: David Massey, a Twitter user, has uploaded dramatic video of the tornado and the aftermath. NPR's Andy Carvin is collecting reaction, videos and images that are moving on social media. Update at 6:13 p.m. ET. At Least An EF-4: The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, reports:\n\"Preliminary Rating of Newcastle-Moore Tornado at least EF-4 #okwx\"\nAn EF-4 tornado has winds speeds of 166 to 200 mph. It is the second strongest rating for a tornado. For perspective, that is more severe than a category 5 hurricane, which has maximum sustained winds of more than 157 mph. Update at 6:06 p.m. ET. 'Like A War Zone:'\nJoe Wertz of NPR member station KGOU is in Moore. He described a devastating scene for our Newscast unit. \"Every window on every house is completely shattered,\" he said. \"Police have shut down a lot of roads, there are power lines down, there's an air conditioning unit, roof material... there is just debris everywhere.\" Joe Jolly, a Moore resident, told our Newscast unit that it looked like \"war zone.\" \"I pretty much don't have much of a house right now,\" he said. \"I'm still kind of in shock right now. It was intense... I really don't know what to say. It's a big deal, devastating.\" Update at 5:37 p.m. ET. Search And Rescue: KWTV in Oklahoma reports:\n\"Complete devastation in Moore, OK. Hundreds home homes and businesses destroyed. National Guard, EMSA, Police and Fire are in search and rescue mode.\" Update at 5:23 p.m. ET. 1999 Tornado:\nAs we've told you, local meteorologists are comparing this tornado to one that ripped through the same area on May 3, 1999. According to NOAA, that outbreak of tornadoes, which spanned a 38-mile path left \"46 dead and 800 injured, more than 8,000 homes damaged or destroyed, and total property damage of nearly $1.5 billion.\" The National Weather Service also put together a map comparing the two tornado paths. Update at 5:22 p.m. ET. Danger Is Not Over: One thing to keep in mind is that the danger is not over for the Oklahoma City metro. The National Weather service is reporting that a \"dangerous storm may produce a tornado near Ryan and Sugden in Jefferson County.\" Update at 5:20 p.m. ET. Elementary School Hit: The AP just moved this alert:\n\"Police: Elementary school in Oklahoma City suburb takes direct hit from mile-wide tornado.\" KFOR showed images of what they believed was Plaza Torres Elementary School. Very little was left of the building. Update at 5:04 p.m. ET. Tornado Track:\nThe National Weather Service has put together a preliminary map of the tornado's tracks. The NWS reports:\n\"Newcastle-Moore OKC Tornado was on the ground approx.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["The town of Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Moore","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","the Oklahoma City suburbs"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 51 people have died","least 51 people","killing at least 51 people","least 51 people","least 51 people","At least 40 people are injured","injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday afternoon","2:56 p.m. CT"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["EF-4 tornado","EF-4","EF-4","EF-4","EF-4 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 200 mph","200 mph","200 mph","excess of 166 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2013 Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport is evacuated due to a tornado threat with three tornadoes touching down with five people dead and others reported missing. (CNN), (USA Today)","document":"Multiple tornadoes hit Oklahoma City and the metro area Friday night, killing at least 5 people and injuring more than 50.\nThe storm also brought heavy rain and hail. Floodwaters topped 4 feet in Oklahoma City early Saturday and are expected to rise as flash flooding continued in parts of the state. Across east and central Oklahoma, repeated rounds of thunderstorms have produced between 4 to 7 inches of rain since midnight Saturday.\nThe area along the state's I-40 corridor, packed with motorists when the storm occurred, was particularly hard-hit.\nA mother and a child were killed when their car rolled over, KFOR-TV reported.\nThe Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirms several motorists are missing.\nAnother person died at El Reno, the first city struck by the storm, said Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner. Details on the two other deaths were not available, Elliott said.\nSaturday, Elliott told the Associated Press that she had no word of additional fatalities beyond the five reported.\nA tornado was reported on the ground in Moore, where a mammoth May 20 twister killed 24 people and left the southern Oklahoma City suburb in ruins, KOKH-TV reported.\nWill Rogers World Airport, southwest of Oklahoma City, was closed Friday evening and reopened overnight.\nRick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Norman, said that while the storm packed a powerful punch, with winds estimated at 80 mph, it wasn't as strong as the Moore tornado.\nSmith also said it was fortunate that the storm largely bypassed the center of the city.\nThe Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported at least 86,200 power outages related to the storms as of early Saturday.\nIn Missouri, the combination of high water and fallen power lines closed dozen of roads, snarling traffic on highways and side streets in the St. Louis area. At the Hollywood Casino in suburban of Maryland Heights, gamblers rushed from the floor as a storm blew out windows and tore off part of the roof.\nWeather Channel meteorologist Mike Bettes sustained minor injuries after the \"tornado hunt\" car in which he was riding in Oklahoma was thrown some 200 yards by a tornado.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["7 inches of rain","rain"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oklahoma City and the metro area","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killing at least 5 people","injuring more than 50","A mother and a child were killed","Another person died at El Reno"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2013 It is determined that the May 31 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma, US, was the widest ever on record and a rare EF5. (USA Today)","document":"The National Weather Service reported Tuesday that the killer tornado that struck near Oklahoma City last Friday was a ferocious EF5 twister, which had winds that neared 295 mph.\nAn EF5 tornado, the highest number on the \"Enhanced Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity,\" is any tornado that has wind speeds of 200 mph or higher.\nThis beats every world wind record except the more-than-300-mph reading measured during the Moore, Okla., tornado in 1999, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell.\nThe weather service also said the twister's 2.6-mile width is the widest ever recorded. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the tornado blew up from one mile to 2.6 miles wide in a 30-second span.\nFor perspective, Manhattan is 2.3 miles wide at its widest point near 14th Street.\nThe tornado, which carved a path 16.2 miles long near El Reno, Okla., surpasses a 2.5-mile-wide F4 tornado that hit Hallam, Neb., in 2004.\nThe Enhanced Fujita scale (with \"EF\" ratings) replaced the old Fujita scale (with \"F\" ratings) in 2007.\nThe weather service had originally rated the tornado as an EF3. But the agency upgraded the ranking Tuesday after surveying damage and reviewing measurements from a \"Doppler on Wheels\" vehicle that measures wind speeds remotely.\nNineteen people were killed in the tornado and flooding in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including three professional storm chasers. One of the chasers was pioneering scientist Tim Samaras and his son.\n\"I have heard that Tim Samaras was deploying probes in the path of the tornado before his tragic death,\" AccuWeather meteorologist Mike Smith notes on his blog. \"I hope those probes can be recovered so we can learn more about this storm.\"\n\"Fastest winds were in the multiple suction vortices revolving about the parent tornado,\" writes Weather Channel severe storm expert Greg Forbes on his Facebook page. \"They were traveling about 185 mph as they were steered along within the parent tornado winds and had winds about their own axis of about 100 mph that added to the parent tornado's winds.\"\nThere have only been eight F5/EF5 tornadoes in Oklahoma since 1950, the Weather Underground reports, and two of them have hit in the past two weeks. The other hit Moore on May 20, killing 24 people.\nOn average, more than 1,000 tornadoes hit the U.S. each year, and only one might be an EF5, reports National Climatic Data Center.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Oklahoma City","Oklahoma City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["last Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["EF5 twister","5/EF5 tornado","EF5 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["wind speeds of 200 mph or higher","wind speeds","neared 295 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2014 Violent storms in western Germany with high winds and flooding kill six people. (Daily Mail)","document":"\nHeavy rains, hail and high winds have left at least six people have died in western Germany after violent storms battered the region. In the North Rhine-Westphalia capital of Duesseldorf, police said two men and a woman who had sought refuge in a garden house were killed late Monday when a large tree fell on the building, the dpa news agency reported Tuesday. Firefighters were able to rescue six others, who were taken to hospitals. Lightning bolts illuminate the sky as they strike near high voltage power lines in Sehnde, near Hanover. At least six people have died in western Germany as heavy rains, hail and high winds battered the region\nLightning illuminates the sky as storm fronts move east near Soest. Many flights from Duesseldorf airport were delayed and some train routes were still closed today\n Police say two bicyclists were killed when hit by falling tree limbs in separate incidents in Cologne and Krefeld, and a man in Essen collapsed and died near midnight as he was working to clear debris from a street. Many flights from Duesseldorf airport were delayed and some train routes were still closed today.\n After a scorchingly hot three-day holiday weekend, thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain pounded the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia\n A tree branch on a house roof in Recklinghausen. In the North Rhine-Westphalia capital of Duesseldorf, police said two men and a woman who had sought refuge in a garden house were killed when a large tree fell on the building\nTrain services were temporarily suspended and fallen trees blocked some streets in Duesseldorf, where trams and underground trains were also stopped due to damaged overhead lines\n Train services were temporarily suspended and fallen trees blocked some streets in Duesseldorf, where trams and underground trains were also stopped due to damaged overhead lines.\n Some locals reported electrical outages.\nThe storm front moved further northeast and the German Meteorological Service issued weather warnings for regions including Hanover and Bremen for the night.\n Fallen tree branches on a street in Gelsenkirchen.Police say two bicyclists were killed when hit by falling tree limbs in separate incidents in Cologne and Krefeld, and a man in Essen collapsed and died near midnight as he was working to clear debris from a street\n Municipal workers and firemen remove tree branches from the garden of a house in Recklinghausen. The storm front moved further northeast and the German Meteorological Service issued weather warnings for regions including Hanover and Bremen for the night\nA lightning strike during a thunderstorm over the French city of Paris\n I know exactly how this felt, as I have just arriv...\n\t ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["western Germany","western Germany"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least six people have died in western Germany","least six people","died","western Germany","at least six people have died","least six people","two men and a woman","two men","woman","two bicyclists were killed","two bicyclists","six others, who were taken to hospitals"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2014 Typhoon Neoguri hits the main Japanese island of Honshu causing flooding, landslides and three deaths. (BBC)","document":"Heavy rain in Japan brought by Typhoon Neoguri has caused three fatalities, extensive damage and forced thousands to leave their homes.\nA 12-year-old boy was killed in the central farming town of Nagiso after rocks and boulders swept away his home. Neoguri, which first threatened Japan as a super typhoon, had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it came ashore but was still gusting at up to 126 kph (78 mph).\nHeavy rains prompted cancellations of hundreds of flights and trains in the country and more wet weather is expected. Jenny Wivell reports.\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["three fatalities","thousands","A 12-year-old boy was killed"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Neoguri","Neoguri"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 126 kph"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2014 The Philippines braces for the impact of Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) which is expected to pass over the capital Manila causing flooding. Thousands have fled to evacuation centres and ports and airports in the country are closed (ABC News Australia), (AAP via SBS)","document":"Thousands of people living in coastal areas of the Philippines are evacuating as the first major storm of the rainy season barrels towards the archipelago.\nTyphoon Rammasun is expected to make landfall tonight in the eastern Philippines, and pass over the capital Manila of more than 12 million people. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration says Rammasun has intensified into a Typhoon, and is moving slowly west toward the Bicol region.\nAt 4am local time, it was around 270 kilometres east of Legazpi City, Albay, and packing peak winds of up to 120 kilometres an hour and gusts of up to 150 km/h.\nRammasun, known locally as Glenda, is expected to hit fishing communities in the eastern Philippines late Tuesday and then bring heavy rain to Manila and other heavily populated northern areas, civil defence officials said.\nThe Philippine Red Cross says the typhoon has strengthened as it crosses the western Pacific Ocean, but may weaken after making landfall.\nSecretary General Gwendolyn Pang has told Radio Australia the Red Cross is preparing for the impact of the typhoon and its after-effects.\n\"In the past, as we have observed, even with slight rain we have flooding in central Manila,\" he said.\n\"So this one, if it's brought by a typhoon, we're expecting heavy flooding, because with slight rain we are experiencing flooding already.\"\nFor more information, see ABC Emergency's storm plan page\nEven the central Philippines province of Leyte which was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan late last year with more than seven thousand people killed or missing, has been placed under a storm alert. Several tents of Haiyan survivors have been damaged by rains from Typhoon Rammasun. Food and other items have been readied by government agencies. Schools are closed today, and thousands of passengers have been stranded as sea travel, and several domestic and international flights have been cancelled in the northern and eastern regions.\nThe Philippines is hit by about 20 major storms a year, many of them deadly, and Rammasun will be the first to make landfall since the rainy season began last month.\nAuthorities said they were taking every precaution to avoid fatalities, after Super Typhoon Haiyan left about 7,300 people dead or missing when it tore across the central Philippines in November last year.\n\"We are already warning the public to be on alert for possible effects of the weather disturbance: landslides, flash floods, strong rains and winds,\" said Alexander Pama, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.\nMiguel Villafuerte, governor of Camarines Sur province in southern Luzon which is expected to be hit hard by the storm, said many people in vulnerable areas were already being urged to flee.\n\"We are extra-cautious because of what happened with Yolanda last year,\" he said, using the local name for Haiyan.\nThe disaster management council said it had already alerted over 1,300 villages susceptible to floods or landslides they were in Ramassun's direct path and residents should be prepared to shelter in evacuation centres.\nThe second level of a three-step storm alert has been raised over the Bicol archipelago southeast of Manila, where the storm is expected to first hit. Classes on all levels have already been suspended.\nStorm alerts have also been posted for the more than 12 million people in Manila.\nThe new storm is expected to bring 7.5 to 15 millimetres of rainfall per hour, the disaster council said.\nCouncil spokeswoman Mina Marasigan warned that the storm could become even more powerful as it moves across the sea.\nShe said there were concerns it might bring rainfall comparable to Typhoon Xangsane in 2006, which killed more than 200 people and displaced nearly two million due largely to widespread and heavy flooding.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["7.5 to 15 millimetres"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern Philippines, and pass over the capital Manila","eastern Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Thousands of people","people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["tonight"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rammasun","Rammasun","Rammasun","Rammasun","Rammasun"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 120 kilometres an hour"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2014 Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) heads for southern China and northern Vietnam after killing at least 38 people in the Philippines with eight missing. (Reuters) (WTOP-FM)","document":"MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The death toll from a typhoon that hit the Philippines is now 12.\nThe capital, Manila, was spared a direct hit today, but the fierce storm still brought down trees and utility poles and tore off roofs.\nOfficials say most of those killed were pinned by falling trees and electrical posts. A fire volunteer died when he was hit by a block of concrete while hauling down a Philippine flag.\nNone of the deaths were in Manila.\nThe typhoon weakened later in the day before it blew out of the country, heading possibly toward northern Vietnam or China’s Hainan Island.\nForecasters say it could regain strength while crossing the South China Sea.\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","northern Vietnam or China’s Hainan Island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["12"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2014 The death toll from Typhoon Rammasun rises to 26 in southern China and 11 in northern Vietnam. (CTV News)","document":"A woman looks at a tree uprooted by Typhoon Rammasun in Nanning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, July 19, 2014. (AP Photo)\n\tHANOI, Vietnam -- A typhoon that barrelled into northern Vietnam killed at least 11 people and left several missing, state media said Monday, while in China the death toll from the strongest storm to strike the country's south in four decades rose to 26.\n\tTyphoon Rammasun made landfall in Vietnam over the weekend, triggering heavy floods, destroying homes and crops, and blocking roads with landslides, said the Vietnam News, an English-language daily published by the official Vietnam News Agency.\n\tThe paper's website carried photos that showed streets and local markets in the city of Lang Son and elsewhere submerged in water, with residents floating on rubber tires or rafts or huddling under makeshift tents.\n\tRammasun had earlier battered southern China, killing 26 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.\n\tIt was the strongest typhoon to hit China's southern region in 41 years, damaging roads and ports, cutting electricity and water supplies, and hampering rescue efforts as it swept through dozens of coastal cities.\n\tWorst hit was the island province of Hainan, where the storm made its first landfall Friday. By Monday, 51,000 houses and 40,600 hectares (100,300 acres) of crops had been destroyed.\n\tThe typhoon wreaked havoc in the northern Philippines last week, leaving 94 people dead.\nA vehicle sits under a collapsed building after landfall of typhoon Rammasun in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Saturday, July 19, 2014. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Vietnam","Vietnam","Vietnam","Vietnam","Vietnam","northern Vietnam","south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region","south China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 11 people","left several missing","killing 26 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over the weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rammasun","Rammasun","Rammasun","Rammasun"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2009 A line of severe thunderstorms rolls through Ontario, Canada, spawns over 18 tornadoes in one day which has been declared to be the largest tornado outbreak in Canadian history, at least four F–2 tornadoes were confirmed, including one touching down in the town of Durham, Ontario, northwest of Toronto where at least one person was killed, and the other in a Toronto suburb of Vaughan, Ontario where over 600 homes were damaged or destroyed.(CTV)","document":"An 11-year-old boy died when a string of severe thunderstorms -- and two confirmed tornadoes -- ripped through parts of southern Ontario, tearing roofs off houses, overturning cars and prompting at least two municipalities to declare states of emergency. The boy was attending a day camp when a F2 tornado hit a conservation area in the town of Durham, south of Owen Sound, Ont., on Thursday afternoon. F2 tornadoes pack winds in the 180 to 240 kilometres-per-hour range. Ontario has been struck by at least 10 twisters this summer, leading to four deaths. Environment Canada is warning more could be on the way. \"We could easily see that number climbing,\" meteorologist Geoff Coulson told The Canadian Press, referring to the season's number of tornadoes. On Friday, Grey County EMS manager Mike Muir said \"a number of injuries occurred\" in the conservation area where the boy died. \"Those injuries were as a direct result of the storm and the storm damage, with buildings collapsing as well as debris flying around the area,\" Muir said at a news conference in Durham on Friday morning. Police say the boy was killed by debris. West Grey Police Chief Rene Berger said emergency crews performed CPR on the boy just before 4 p.m. Thursday, but he could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Berger said the family does not want the boy's name released. Also in Durham, the tornado destroyed a printing press facility and tore the roof off of a fitness centre, while a police officer was working out inside. The town is under a state of emergency on Friday as a result of the damage. Deputy mayor Dan Sullivan said residents are being asked to stay away from damaged areas so that emergency crews can continue cleaning things up. \"We have people who know what to do out there -- just give us room to do it,\" he said. Hospital officials said at least six people were injured in the storm. Path of destruction The system that hit Durham moved west to east across southern Ontario on Thursday, moving with such a destructive pace that Environment Canada at one point advised people to take shelter in basements or other secure areas. Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson said that the storm system started in the Sarnia and Windsor, Ont., areas and simply got worse as it moved eastward across southern Ontario. The presence of a very warm and humid air mass sitting over the southwestern and south-central parts of the province was the key ingredient in the recipe for yesterday's funnel clouds, Coulson said during an Friday morning interview with CTV's Canada AM in Toronto. The suspected tornado that hit Durham moved east to the top of Blue Mountain before hitting the town of Craigleith, located between Thornbury and Collingwood, Ont. \"It was a large funnel cloud, coming over the top of the mountain and then touching down... shearing off the tops of homes, said OPP Sgt. Chris Maecker. The twister then moved across Georgian Bay and across to Gravenhurst, causing more damage along the way, Maecker said. 'Like a scene out of a movie' A state of emergency is also in effect in Vaughan, Ont., just north of Toronto, where the storm tore the roofs off houses, uprooted trees and overturned cars. At least one tornado is believed to have touched down there. Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson said Thursday's events caused \"millions and millions of dollars worth of damage\" to the area. \"I'm presently in the Woodbridge area this morning and just coming here, it looks like a scene out of a movie,\" she said in a phone interview. \"It's absolutely unbelievable the destruction that has happened in my community.\" At a news conference in Vaughan later Friday, Jackson said hundreds of local houses had significant damage during the storm. She said that 600 houses had been severely damaged and at least 44 homes would need to destroyed. Building inspectors were surveying four damaged areas of the city. Jackson said it was a \"miracle\" no one was killed in her city. Rob Damiani's parents had the roof torn off their house in Vaughan. \"My parents were inside the house, they were down in the basement, thank God,\" he told CTV's Canada AM from Vaughan on Friday morning. \"When they got out, everything was gone in just a split second.\" He said they had been living there for 30 years. Based on the TV storm footage available on Thursday night, Coulson said the funnel cloud seen in the Vaughan area and in nearby Woodbridge, Ont., was \"obviously\" a tornado. Others still need to be confirmed, he said. With files from The Canadian Press Residents look over a destroyed printing facility by damage caused when an apparent tornado touched down on the edge of Durham, Ontario, Thursday, August 20, 2009. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["conservation area in the town of Durham, south of Owen Sound, Ont","conservation area","Durham","Durham","town","Durham","Ont","south","Durham","town","Ont","Ont","Ont","Durham","parts of southern Ontario","southern Ontario","southern Ontario","parts"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["An 11-year-old boy died","four deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["F2 tornadoes","F2 tornado","a F2 tornado","F2 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["180 to 240 kilometres-per-hour range"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2009 Two tornadoes injure 24 people and damage 108 homes in Mississippi, United States. (CNN)","document":" (CNN) -- Mississippi's governor declared a state of emergency Thursday for 12 counties after a severe weather system moved across the southern half of the state overnight Wednesday and Thursday.\nThe storms, which included two tornadoes, damaged at least 108 homes.\n The storms -- which included two confirmed tornadoes -- damaged 108 homes and injured 24 people, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Operations Center.\n Simpson County, about 40 miles southeast of Jackson, was hit the worst, it said.\n A tornado touched down in the county about 4 a.m. Thursday, said Katherine Gunby, spokeswoman for the Emergency Management Agency.\n Sixty homes were damaged and 20 people were injured in the county, the agency said. Seventeen people were treated in local hospitals and three were transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, it said. Condition reports were not immediately available.\n Another tornado was reported in Lauderdale County, in eastern Mississippi, where one business was destroyed and 11 homes and a business were damaged, according to the agency.\n The state of emergency declared by Gov. Haley Barbour \"will allow state resources to be used throughout the affected areas to assist local governments as they respond to this disaster,\" said Mike Womack, director of the Emergency Management Agency, in a written statement.\n Damage to homes also was reported in Jasper, Jones and Lawrence counties, and power lines and trees were down in Adams, Amite, Lincoln and Madison counties, the agency said. Three injuries were reported in Jones County and one in Jasper County, it said. It gave no further details.\n The tornadoes destroyed Corinth Baptist Church in Simpson County, leaving only its doors standing.\n \"The church means so much to this community,\" Pastor Jay Westbrooks told CNN affiliate WAPT.\n \"We're going to survive. The building is destroyed, but the church is alive,\" he said. \"We're going to come back and rebuild. The weather's not going to stop us.\"\n The Mississippi Department of Transportation and utility companies are working to restore power to the state, Gunby said.\n While the state of emergency is currently only for nine counties, it will be extended to any future counties that report damage, the Emergency Management Agency said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Mississippi's governor","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southern half of the state","state","state","state","state","state"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["injured 24 people","20 people were injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday and Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","4 a.m. Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2010 A severe sandstorm affecting northern parts of China hits the capital Beijing, with health authorities urging people to stay inside. (China Daily) (BBC) (Bernama)","document":"Beijing has been shrouded in orange dust as a strong sandstorm blew hundreds of miles from drought-struck northern China to the nation's capital.\nThe authorities have issued a level-five pollution warning and urged people to stay indoors. In Tiananmen Square, clouds of dust obscured monuments and visitors wore masks to avoid the dust and soil. The storm has already caused havoc in Xinjiang, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei regions and is heading to South Korea. Residents of the South Korean capital, Seoul, as well as those in central and western regions, have been advised to stay indoors. 'Improving situation'\nBy Saturday, the storm had spread over an area of 810,000 sq km (313,000 sq miles) with a population of 250 million, state news agency Xinhua reported. It was expected to last until Monday, the meteorological agency said in a statement on its website. Guo Hu, head of Beijing's meteorological agency, said the storm came from the deserts of Inner Mongolia. Beijing has long-suffered from sandstorms - including a single instance in April 2006 when 300,000 tons of sand poured down on the city, Xinhua reported. But Mr Guo said the storms had become less frequent in recent years. \"The situation improved tremendously after [the 2006 storm],\" he told Xinhua. \"Thanks to the mild climate and conservation efforts, Beijing had only one sandstorm last year.\" Experts say the storms are, in part, caused by deforestation and the rapid expansion of urban areas in recent decades.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Xinjiang, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei regions and is heading to South Korea","South Korea","northern China to the nation's capital","capital"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["250 million"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2010 A powerful tornado hits Chongqing municipality in south–western China, killing at least 25 and injuring more than 160 people in Dianjiang and Liangping counties. (The Independent) (BBC) (news.com.au) (China Daily) (Xinhua)","document":"Two trees are broken by strong gale as torrential rain hit Shiling village, Guixi township in Chongqing municipality Thursday morning. \nCHONGQING - The death toll of a disastrous weather featuring strong gale, even tornado, torrential rain and hailstorm, which plagued southwestern China's Chongqing from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, has risen to 26 at press time, according to the emergency office of the municipal government.\nAnother 161 people were injured in the extreme weather.\nLiangping county was hit by a tornado and hailstorm at around 2:00 a.m., leaving six people dead and another 34 injured. Nineteen people died and 127 people were injured in Dianjiang county, according to preliminary statistics. One more death was reported in Fuling district.\nIn Dianjiang county, the heavy rain is continuing, which, together with strong gale, had toppled down 980 houses and damaged more than 10,000. Direct economic loss was estimated at more than 120 million yuan (17.6 million U.S. dollars), according to the county government.\nLocal meteorologists said that in the county seat precipitation topped 68 mm, while other townships in Dianjiang recorded averaged rainfall of more than 30 mm.\nA total of 112 medical workers have been dispatched to the townships, and they have provided medical services for 83 injured people in the county.\nMore details about other areas of Chongqing are being collected.\nThe Chongqing municipal civil affairs bureau responded to the disaster swiftly and started relief work, sending 300 tents, 1,000 quilts and emergency lights to the counties.\nThe municipal health authorities have dispatched two teams of medical workers to Dianjiang and Liangping counties.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southwestern China's Chongqing","Chongqing","Shiling village, Guixi township in Chongqing","CHONGQING","Chongqing","Chongqing","Chongqing","Dianjiang county","Dianjiang county","Liangping county"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One more death","death","127 people were injured","injured","Another 161 people were injured","another 34 injured","26","six people dead","Nineteen people died"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday night to Thursday morning","Thursday morning","Thursday morning","around 2:00 a.m"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2010 A powerful tornado hits Chongqing municipality in south–western China, killing at least 25 and injuring more than 160 people in Dianjiang and Liangping counties. (The Independent) (BBC) (news.com.au) (China Daily) (Xinhua)","document":" State media report fatalities caused by storm, floods and landslides\nSevere storms and a tornado have killed at least 39 people near the city of Chongqing in south-western China.\nState news agency Xinhua reported that at least 150 others were injured after heavy rain, a hail storm, gales and a tornado struck two rural districts. Rescue work was underway in Liangping and Dianjiang districts, Xinhua said, and some 70,000 people were temporarily evacuated from areas near Chongqing. The storms destroyed some 1,000 homes, damaged crops, and caused power cuts. Local reports said almost 1,000 homes in Chongqing - a municipality of more than 30 million people - had partially collapsed and thousands more were damaged. A nurse at a hospital in the area told the BBC that equipment was damaged when power was lost. She said she could see several uprooted trees and houses with broken windows. The BBC's South China correspondent, Chris Hogg, says most of the houses damaged were the older type of Chinese dwellings with tiled roofs. Most of the roofs blew off and the weaker houses collapsed. Up to 157mm (6.5in) of rain had fallen in parts of the region from late Wednesday to Thursday afternoon, the China News Service said. The storms were caused by a heatwave from the south colliding with a northern cold front, it added. The worst affected area reported winds of more than 100km/h (62mph). Local government has told the BBC it will take two days to restore power. Our correspondent says tornadoes which kill are relatively rare in China.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["157mm (6.5in)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the city of Chongqing in south-western China","near Chongqing","Chongqing","two rural districts"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 39","at least 150 others were injured","some 70,000 people were temporarily evacuated"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["more than 100km/h (62mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2010 Severe rainstorms have killed at least 70 people since a powerful tornado hit Chongqing municipality in south–western China in Dianjiang and Liangping counties. Inclement weather in the next two days will affect Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. (Sina)","document":"At least 70 killed, aid for flood victims boosted GUANGZHOU - Severe rainstorms that have killed at least 70 people since Wednesday are expected to continue in the southern and central parts of the country, with strong winds and hailstorms in some areas, meteorological authorities have said.\nInclement weather in the next two days will affect Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the China Meteorological Administration forecast on Sunday.\nOn Sunday, authorities sounded a yellow-level alert, two levels lower than the highest red alert, to warn of storms continuing in Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces until Monday.\nTorrential rain, gale and hail are also expected to hit the areas, the administration said.\nMany affected areas, such as Yunnan and Guizhou, had just emerged from the worst drought in decades.\n\"Floods usually start in June, but South China has already entered its flood season. The biggest floods have yet to come,\" National Meteorological Center meteorologist Sun Jun told Xinhua News Agency. The storms have already affected 2.55 million residents and forced 250,000 people to be relocated, Xinhua reported.\nThe storms have triggered flash floods and mudslides in the past few days. They have swollen rivers, burst dikes, threatened reservoirs as well as damaged highways, bridges and power and telecommunication facilities.\nThe storms affected up to 100,000 hectares of arable land and leveled 9,900 houses, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said. In Guangdong, heavy rains trapped more than 5,000 people in mountain areas in the villages of Minzhi, Youxi and Shaoguan. Floods also cut off power and food supplies to Minzhi village.\nSince Friday, downpours of up to 107.7mm in Guangzhou claimed six residents' lives and submerged thousands of cars in garages and streets, authorities said.\n\"The road down at the foot of the building I live in turned into a river. When I waded to the Shiejiedaguan bus station, I found the street like a vast ocean,\" said a resident in the city's Tianhe district.\nOn Saturday, the Guangdong bureau of China insurance regulatory commission said 13,000 claims of compensation had already been filed for flood-hit cars in the past two days. The compensation amount is expected to exceed 125 million yuan ($ 18.3 million).\nAbout 90 car owners who failed to reach agreements with property management companies on the liability for the damage to their cars reportedly blocked traffic in the city's Baiyun district. Police placed eight of them under administrative custody.\nHeavy rain also delayed up to 174 flights at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Sunday.\nThe rain is forecast to continue in the city until Monday.\nGuangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang pledged all-out efforts for rescue and relief work in the affected areas.\nLocal authorities in the affected regions are also required to monitor the development of rainstorms to boost early warning efforts, said a statement from the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.\nAuthorities have also allocated 31 million yuan to help resettle flood victims and rebuild collapsed houses in Chongqing municipality.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["China Meteorological Administration forecast"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["107.7mm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region","Guangdong","Hunan","Fujian","Jiangxi","Guizhou","Guangdong","Guangdong","Guangdong","the southern and central parts of the country"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 70 killed","at least 70 people","2.55 million residents","forced 250,000 people to be relocated"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2015 A winter storm causes the cancellation of school in the midwestern United States and the cancellation of 1,000 flights. (Daily Mail)","document":"\nA slow-moving winter storm has delivered heavy snow and near blizzard conditions to a large swath of the Midwest and by Sunday evening had begun to have an impact on the Northeast.\nWinter storm Linus put the metropolitan Chicago area's more than 9 million people under a blizzard warning and another 65 million people were also under a winter storm warning across 18 states.\nOn Sunday afternoon, snow was falling simultaneously all the way from eastern Nebraska to central Pennsylvania, a distance of more than 1,100 miles.\nBy 3 p.m. on Sunday, parts of Iowa had received up to 14 inches of snow. In Chicago more than 8 inches of snow had fallen at O'Hare International Airport and just to the west at Midway Airport, more than 9 inches of snow had fallen.\nScroll down for video\n A man digs out his car along a snow-covered Chicago street on Sunday: A slow-moving winter storm has delivered heavy snow and near blizzard conditions to a large swath of the Midwest and by Sunday evening had begun to have an impact on the Northeast\nWinter storm Linus put the metropolitan Chicago area's more than 9 million people under a blizzard warning and another 65 million people were also under a winter storm warning across 18 states\nOn Sunday afternoon, snow was falling simultaneously all the way from eastern Nebraska to central Pennsylvania, a distance of more than 1,100 miles\nA blizzard warning remained in effect for the Chicago Metro Area until midnight local time for gusty winds blowing snow around and creating white-out conditions.\nMore than 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled on Sunday, many of them in and out of Chicago, according to Flightaware.com, an online flight-tracking service. Already for Monday, more than 1,000 flights have been scratched.\nThe snowstorm is expected to be the most far-reaching of the season to date, according to the National Weather Service.\nBy Sunday evening, the snow was continuing to fall from Chicago to Detroit and areas of light snow were predicted to overspread cities from Pennsylvania to New York and New Jersey.\nA wintry mix and areas of heavy rain was expected further south from Indianapolis to the mid-Atlantic.\nParts of New England still digging out from a storm early last week were readying for yet another round of snow to arrive Sunday and last through Monday.\nForecasters also said the storm was moving unusually slowly, meaning accumulations of between 10 to 16 inches of snow are possible for parts of northern Illinois, Indiana and northwest Ohio. Similar amounts of snow are expected for the Northeast later Sunday and throughout Monday.\n'It's not wise to travel, unless you have an emergency,' said David Beachler a National Weather Service meteorologist in the Chicago area.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["8 inches of snow","snow","more than 9 inches of snow","up to 14 inches of snow","snow"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["a large swath of the Midwest","large swath","Midwest","eastern Nebraska to central Pennsylvania","eastern Nebraska","central Pennsylvania"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday evening","Sunday evening","Sunday evening","Sunday afternoon","Sunday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2008 A strong cold front sweeps across south–eastern Australia, bringing destructive winds to South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. In Melbourne, a woman died when part of a wall collapsed in the suburb of Mentone. (ABC News Australia)","document":"\nA 57-year-old woman was killed when a three-metre wall collapsed on her in high winds, as she walked past a post office at Mentone, in Melbourne's south-east.\nThe wild weather, including gale force winds, has caused damage across the state with the weather bureau reporting wind gusts of up to 132 kilometres per hour at Mount Gellibrand.\nThe State Emergency Service (SES) has received more than 1,200 calls for assistance with storm damage.\nMore than 215,000 electricity users are without power because of the weather.\nAt the peak of the blackout, more than 290,000 users were without power, with Melbourne's eastern suburbs the worst affected.\nScott Parker from energy company Alinta says emergency crews are working to restore services, but some people may be without power until early tomorrow.\n\"We have around 200 crew members out on site making sure people and areas are safe before we making decisions about getting people back on,\" he said.\nSES spokesman John Parker says their phone lines are jammed and some people will have to wait for assistance.\n\"We're just asking people to be patient,\" he said.\nPart of the roof of the Caulfield hospital in Melbourne's south-east has been torn off.\nAn 89-year-old man is in hospital after being blown off a roof at Bulleen in the city's east and two people have minor injuries after a tree hit their car at Dandenong.\nAt Mornington, one boat has sunk and 15 have broken their moorings and washed ashore on Mothers Beach.\nThe Mornington Yacht Club Commodore, John Hart, says another five boats may break free, after winds of up to 72-knots lashed the area.\n\"We're not too sure what their damage is, but the total value of the boats on the beach at the moment would be in the region of $2 million,\" he said.\n\"One large motor cruiser has sunk, it broke its moorings and smashed one of the piers off and has sunk in the harbour.\"\nSome lanes on the Westgate Bridge have been closed with drivers being warned to take extreme care going over the bridge.\nThe Sandown races had to be abandoned and the Melbourne Flower and Garden show in the Carlton Gardens was closed after a falling branch struck a man.\nThere are also major delays for rail commuters on all lines.\nConnex says trains have been hit by lightning and trees are down across railway tracks.\nSpokesman John Rees says there could be delays of two hours or more.\n\"The system is continuing to experience widespread disruptions, they are very severe indeed,\" he said.\n\"But we will run buses where we are unable to run trains, and we're just looking at a very, very delayed network.\"\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mount Gellibrand"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A 57-year-old woman was killed","An 89-year-old man","215,000 electricity users","more than 290,000 users"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 132 kilometres per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2008 The National Weather Service states that tornadoes hit Suffolk, Virginia, Colonial Heights, Virginia and Brunswick County, Virginia. (AP via Google News)","document":"Meteorologist Bryan Jackson says the twisters hit Suffolk, Colonial Heights and Brunswick County on Monday afternoon. Authorities say at least 200 people were injured. Property damage was widespread.\nJackson says the Brunswick County tornado was estimated at 86 mph to 110 mph, and cut a 300-yard path of destruction. Assessments of the other twisters were planned for Tuesday, but Jackson described Suffolk's as a \"major tornado.\"\n\nRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Apparent tornadoes swept through central and southeastern Virginia on Monday afternoon, damaging multiple homes and buildings and injuring more than 200 people, authorities said.\nGov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency for the damaged areas of southeastern Virginia.\nTwo apparent tornadoes struck the city of Suffolk, city spokeswoman Dana Woodson said. Bob Spieldenner from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said at least 200 people were injured there.\nAt least 18 more people were injured when the storm hit Colonial Heights, Spieldenner said. Three of those were taken to hospitals. Woodson initially said one person died in Suffolk but later said the death was not connected to the storm.\nSentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk was damaged, but remained operational, Spieldenner said. Another hospital in the city also was treating the injured, Woodson said.\nSentara spokesman Dale Gauding said about 60 people were being treated, and he expected most to be released.\n\"We have lots of cuts and bruises,\" plus leg and arm injuries, he said. Some of the hospital's windows were cracked, apparently by flying debris.\n\"Multiple buildings have been destroyed, homes have been destroyed,\" Woodson said. She said the areas around the hospital and in the community of Driver were hardest hit.\nThe storm in Colonial Heights overturned cars and blew out vehicle windows in the Southpark Mall area. Some buildings also were damaged.\nSouthside Regional Medical Center treated one storm victim with minor injuries and was poised to receive more, hospital spokeswoman Terry Tysinger said. John Randolph Hospital in Hopewell was put on \"high alert.\"\nProperty damage also was reported in Brunswick County, one of several localities where the National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning. Sgt. Michelle Cotten of the Virginia State Police said an apparent twister destroyed two homes. Trees and power lines were down, and some flooding was reported.\nThe National Weather Service had not confirmed any of the tornado reports, system forecaster Rick Curry of the Wakefield office said. However, he said the service was reasonably certain that a tornado hit Colonial Heights based on televised images and an eyewitness account from a weather service employee.\nAbout 18,000 Virginia Dominion Power customers were without service.\nThe storm also damaged some homes in North Carolina, but the damage was not widespread or severe.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Colonial Heights","Colonial Heights","Suffolk, Colonial Heights and Brunswick County","Brunswick County","Suffolk","Suffolk","Suffolk","Suffolk","Colonial Heights","Brunswick County","Colonial Heights","through central and southeastern Virginia","southeastern Virginia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 200 people were injured","least 200 people","injured","injured","injured","at least 200 people","200 people","least 200 people","At least 18 more people","About 18,000 Virginia Dominion Power customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday afternoon","Monday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["86 mph to 110 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2008 Weld County Tornado: One person is killed and at least 100 are injured in Weld County, Colorado after a tornado tears through the county. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter declares a state of emergency and activates the Colorado National Guard in the affected region. (The Denver Post)(ABC 7)","document":"Windsor was hit by a mile-wide tornado around lunch time, and at least one person died as the twister carved a swath of destruction through Weld County. Colorado State Trooper Ryan Sullivan said the tornado caused multiple crashes and multiple injuries on highways in Weld County. The Weld County coroner's office has confirmed at least one death. The man was a resident at a campground outside Greeley, the county said in a statement. Weld County Sheriff's Cmdr. Ken Poncelow said \"dozens of houses and dozens of cars\" were badly damaged and that several semis were rolled off U.S. 85 north of Gilcrest. There are no other reports of fatalities and relatively few injuries, mostly minor. He said all agencies have been mobilized Seven people were admitted to Medical Center of the Rockies with injuries, but their conditions weren't available, said spokesman Gary Kimsey. Poudre Valley Hospital, which is part of the same hospital system, received no casualties. Both facilities moved patients into hospital hallways as a safety precaution from 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. as the storm moved through. Poudre Valley Hospital also moved about 200 non-medical personnel and visitors into the basement. Patrick Love of the Poudre Valley Fire Authority, who is acting as spokesman in Windsor, said that Windsor was hit by \"multiple tornadoes\" on the southeast side of the town. \"We have multiple structures damaged and multiple injuries,\" said Love. He said that by 4 p.m., about 70 percent of the area hit by the tornadoes had been searched. The heaviest damage was reported in Dacono, Windsor and Greeley, according to the weather service. A daycare center in Windsor was damaged, but the children had been evacuated to a nearby bank before the tornado hit. Hundreds of businesses and homes in the town of 18,670 were damaged. Trees and power lines were down throughout Windsor. Cars were smashed by falling On a farm just outside of Windsor, a corrugated metal barn was destroyed, and dead calves were strewn on the road nearby. The bodies of cattle littered a field nearby, and shredded metal was everywhere. Chris Schmachtenberger, a spokesman for Carestream Health, said the company's manufacturing plant in Windsor had minor damage. He said the company still is assessing the impact. Kodak and Carestream, which operate on the same campus in Windsor, lost power because of a downed transmission line but said no injuries were reported. The State Farm building in Greeley, the regional headquarters of the insurance agency, received a \"direct hit.\" The weather service said the roof of the Swift The tornado was three-quarters of a mile to one mile wide when in moved through Greeley, according to the weather service. The Red Cross is setting up a shelter at the Windsor Community Center, 250 11th St., and the Denver chapter is sending people and supplies to help the Fort Collins chapter. Larimer County spokeswoman Deni La Rue said The Ranch (Budweiser Events Center & Fairgrounds) at Crossroads Boulevard and I-25, is also open as a shelter. The Ranch has canceled all events tonight and is preparing 200 meals to help. Approximately 500-1000 people will shelter there tonight, she said in a news release, and the center can house up to 300 livestock. Gov. Bill Ritter declared a state of \"We will be doing all we can to assist the people of Weld County as we assess the damage and determine how the state can provide the most effective aid,\" Ritter said in a news release. \"My heart goes out to the people of Weld County during this very dangerous time.\" Large, golf-ball to quarter-sized hail and rain were reported as the large storm system moved northeast. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said a spotter saw a funnel cloud in southwest Loveland at about 12:45 p.m. Others were spotted at the Fort Collins Emergency Operations Center, Fossil Creek Reservoir and north of Wellington, and 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail were reported at Buckhorn Mountain. A Schools in affected areas were put on lockdown. By 3:30, the Poudre district was letting parents pick up their children. Larimer sheriff's spokesperson Eloise Campanella said residents in one home near County Road 54 were trapped inside by a fallen tree, and a home east of Interstate 25 on 5CR 6 appeared to have been hit. Wendy Forbes of the North Metro Fire Protection District said a call came in about 12:30 p.m. of a \"microburst or possible tornado\" near the intersection Weld County Road 11 and Weld County Road 6. A man was injured when the five-wheel trailer he was in flipped over, trapping him inside. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Five outbuildings were leveled, she said, one home damaged and metal fencing also was destroyed. Xcel Energy spokesman Mark Stutz said the tornado damaged three power transmission lines, including a pair of 230,000-volt lines at the utility's Fort St. Vrain power plant near Platteville. \"We estimate that as many as 60,000 customers lost service as the storm passed through,\" Stutz said. About 15,000 Xcel customers in Windsor, Johnstown, Platteville and Gilcrest will remain without power until at least Friday, he said this evening. The company has restored power for about 45,000 other customers. More than 200 power poles were damaged by the tornadoes, including a half-dozen transmission poles. Stutz said Xcel will have to rebuild the system from scratch. \"It's pretty bad,\" he said. \"We've seen tornadoes before, but rarely do they strike in such a population center.\" He said the best-case scenario is that the company will spend several days on repairs. It has dispatched 25 crews to the affected areas and will send 10 more by tomorrow. Xcel also had reports of about a half-dozen natural gas leaks, but those are contained. To report outages or leaks, call Xcel at 800-895-4999. A Qwest crew was on site assessing the damage to service in the affected areas, said spokeswoman Jennifer Barton. \"Additional crews have been dispatched,\" she said. \"I don't have details on exact services impacted, number of customers potentially impacted, or any information on restoration yet.\" Jennifer Dimas of Windsor, manager of media relations for Colorado State University in Fort Collins, said the school sent a text message campus-wide about the tornado warning. Then she called her son's school, St. Joseph's in Fort Collins, to alert them. The school verified the information and put the school on lockdown, she said. Finally, she called her husband, Ted, who was working in Windsor. Earlier he had told her it was \"hailing like crazy\" and that he was outside with the video camera. She couldn't reach him on the phone, so she texted him to get home and into the basement quickly. Then she didn't hear from him for a while. \"I was an absolute wreck for about an hour,\" Dimas recalled. \"If you can't get a hold of someone, you can get in a panic.\" Her husband did call, telling her that he was OK and that their home had minor wind and hail damage. \"I grew up in Colorado, so tornados usually don't rattle me too much,\" she said. \"I wasn't that concerned, and then I started seeing what it had done to my town.\" Residents were advised to take tornado precautions, including taking shelter in basements or under sturdy furniture such as workbenches. In buildings without basements, interior hallways or closets are considered safest, according to the National Weather Service. Residents of mobile homes are advised to evacuate them for stronger shelters or to seek ditches and low spots if trapped outdoors. Severe thunderstorms could develop this afternoon around Fort Morgan, Byers and Limon, the weather service said, and large hail and heavy rain is possible. Winds on the plains associated with the storms could gust up to 45 mph. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory this afternoon that included northeastern Larimer County. A tornado watch for the area is in effect until 8 p.m. Staff writers Kieran Nicholson, Howard Pankratz, Bruce Finley, Cynthia Pasquale, Vikki Migoya, Kevin Simpson, Andy Voung and The Associated Press contributed to this report.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Weld County","Dacono, Windsor and Greeley","Greeley","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Greeley","Greeley","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor","Windsor"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least one person died","at least one death"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 45 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2008 At least four people die with the balance missing when the ferry MV Princess of the Stars, carrying 700 passengers, sinks near Sibuyan island in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. (Reuters) (Reuters)","document":"CEBU, Philippines (Reuters) - More than 800 people were missing on Monday after a Philippine ferry capsized in a typhoon that has killed scores and left a trail of destruction across the archipelago.\nPhilippines death toll rises\n\nSulpicio Lines, the owner of the MV Princess of Stars, revised up the number of people missing to 845 after discovering an extra 100 passengers on the ship’s manifest. Only four people are so far known to have survived the ferry disaster and they said many did not make it off the ship in time.\nCrowded life-rafts sank in cold, storm-tossed seas.\n“Many of us jumped, the waves were so huge, and the rains were heavy,” a survivor identified only as Jesse told local radio.\n“There was just one announcement over the megaphone, about 30 minutes before the ship tilted to its side.” “Immediately after I jumped, the ship tilted, the older people were left on the ship.”\nFour people have been confirmed dead. Children’s slippers and life jackets have washed ashore.\nThere were 724 passengers and 121 crew on board, including at least 20 children and 33 infants.\nIn the central city of Cebu, where Princess of Stars was meant to dock, dozens of relatives maintained a vigil at a small passenger terminal, waiting for news.\n“The last time I heard from my son was on Friday evening when the ship left Manila. He texted to say he was coming home,” said Celecia Tudtud, a mother of four.\nRelated Coverage\n“I really hope he’s ok,” she said, wiping away tears.\nA spokesman for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who flew to the United States on Saturday night, said she would not cut short her eight-day state visit, which includes meeting U.S. President George W. Bush in the White House on Tuesday.\nA coastguard vessel was trawling the waters around the 23,824 gross tonne ferry, which is upside down with only its bow above the waves, trying to confirm reports some passengers had made it to a small island.\n“We are hoping more people will have reached the shoreline,” Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, the head of the coastguard, told Reuters.\nPrincess of Stars ran aground on Saturday but the coastguard was unable to reach it because of huge swells and bad weather caused by Typhoon Fengshen, which crashed into the central Philippines on Friday.\nAt least two other coastguard vessels were en route to help in rescue efforts and Tamayo said he hoped divers would be able to scour the submerged ship later on Monday.\nHe said there was no sign fuel was leaking from the ferry but said an oil-spill response team would arrive with one of the two coastguard ships before dawn on Monday.\nPrincess of Stars sank 3 km (2 miles) from Sibuyan island in the centre of the archipelago.\n“WORST DISASTER”\nTyphoon Fengshen, with maximum gusts of 195 kph (121 mph), has killed at least 155 people in central and southern Philippines, with the western Visayas region, famed for its sandy beaches and sugar plantations, the worst affected.\nIn Iloilo province, 101 people were reported dead after flood waters over two meters high engulfed communities, forcing tens of thousands to scramble onto the roofs of their homes.\n“Iloilo is like an ocean. This is the worst disaster we have had in our history,” Governor Neil Tupaz told local radio.\nIn neighboring Capiz, more than 2,000 houses were destroyed in the provincial capital and officials were struggling to make contact with communities further afield.\n“We got hit real bad this time,” said Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippines’ Red Cross.\nAfter battering Manila on Sunday, Fengshen spun out into the South China Sea on Monday. The storm was en route to Taiwan, where it could make landfall in the next few days, according to storm tracker website www.tropicalstormrisk.com.\nMore than 30,000 people were being housed in evacuation centers in the centre and south of the archipelago.\nAn archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 800 people were missing","missing","number of people missing to 845","Four people have been confirmed dead","four people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2008 Typhoon Kalmaegi (Helen) strikes Taiwan, resulting in at least one fatality, eight people missing and four people injured. (AFP via Google News)","document":"TAIPEI (AFP) — Thousands of workers continued search and rescue operations on Saturday after Tropical Storm Kalmaegi wreaked havoc across Taiwan, leaving 13 dead and eight missing, officials said.\nThe casualties from floods or mudslides were reported in worst-hit central and southern Taiwan, where up to 950 millimetres (37 inches) of rain fell in less than two days, said the National Fire Agency.\nNearly 60,000 government and civilian rescuers have been mobilised to combat floods and on rescue missions, with 87 people evacuated to safety, the agency said.\nBut eight people, believed to have been washed away by floods or buried alive, remained missing while eight others were injured, it said.\nMeanwhile, the Central Weather Bureau has come under criticism for underestimating the impact of Kalmaegi, downgrading it from a typhoon to a tropical storm late Thursday.\n\"In a weather forecast the margin of error is inevitable,\" the bureau's weather forecast centre director Wu Teh-rung told reporters.\nThe bureau urged residents in central and southern Taiwan to guard against further downpours although the storm was moving towards the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian.\nKalmaegi also ravaged fields and farms, causing an estimated 316 million Taiwan dollars (10 million US) in damage, the government said.\nTelevision footage showed swollen rivers and flooded streets in various parts of the island as the storm disrupted traffic, electricity and water services.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["950 millimetres (37 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["across Taiwan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["leaving 13 dead","eight missing","eight people","while eight others were injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Kalmaegi","Kalmaegi","Kalmaegi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Hurricane Patricia strengthens to Category 4 ahead of making landfall in Mexico. (The Weather Channel)","document":"\nThis article was last updated on Thursday, Oct. 22. Click here for the latest information on Patricia.\nTwo major Mexican resort cities are under hurricane warnings as Category 4 Hurricane Patricia bears down on Mexico's Pacific Coast, bringing the threat of destructive winds, flooding and mudslides beginning Friday.\n\nIn the past 24 hours, Patricia rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm to a major hurricane. It is forecast to remain a Category 4 cyclone by the time it makes landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast Friday night.\n\nAs of 4 p.m. CDT, Patricia was located about 250 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, or about 355 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. The storm reached hurricane status early Thursday morning and reached Category 4 status, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 kph), early Thursday afternoon, according to data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft.\nA hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area within 48 hours. A watch means hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area. \nTropical storm conditions are possible as early as late Thursday night in the warning areas and hurricane force winds are expected to reach the warning area Friday afternoon or evening.\nWhile the resort area of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo may see heavy rainfall associated with Patricia, there are no watches or warnings for tropical storm or hurricane conditions there. Acapulco is also not under any watches or warnings for Patricia.\nA dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the right of where the center of Patricia makes landfall. In addition, Mexico's national water comission, CONAGUA, warned Thursday that waves of up to 12 meters (39 feet) may crash onto beaches near the landfall point.\nSome additional strengthening is possible given a favorable environment that includes particularly warm sea-surface temperatures and very low vertical wind shear.\nThe projected path for Patricia shows that the center of the hurricane will make landfall late Friday somewhere on the coast from near Manzanillo to near Puerto Vallarta. Note that even areas outside the projected path, including Manzanillo, could see significant impacts from Patricia.\nPatricia is expected to dump 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300 millimeters) of rain over the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero. Life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides are possible. Localized amounts as high as 20 inches (500 millimeters) are possible.\nPatricia is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane. If it does so, it would join just three other eastern Pacific major hurricanes to do so this late in the season dating back to 1949.\nOnce this system moves inland, mid-level moisture and energy from it may get pulled into the south-central U.S. This may add more fuel to a heavy rain and flooding threat in Texas and nearby states this weekend.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico's Pacific coast","Mexico","Pacific Coast","Mexico's Pacific Coast","Mexico","Pacific coast","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["250 miles south","355 miles south-southeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday night","Friday afternoon or evening","as early as late Thursday","early","early"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4","Category 4","Category 4","Category 4 Hurricane","a Category 4 cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Hurricane Patricia makes landfall at Playa Perula in Mexico's western Jalisco state . The storm strengthens into a powerful Category 5 hurricane with winds of 200 mph and gusts up to 245 mph. The NHC has called the storm \"potentially catastrophic\" for Mexico. Patricia is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches, through Saturday. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. (National Hurricane Center) (Reuters), (AFP via ABC News Australia)","document":" Hurricane Patricia strengthened into an \"extremely dangerous\" Category 4 storm on Thursday as it churned toward Mexico's Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. \n\nPUERTO VALLARTA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Hurricane Patricia strengthened into an \"extremely dangerous\" Category 5 storm late on Thursday as it churned toward Mexico's Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.\nThe storm, which became a hurricane overnight, had maximum sustained winds of about 160 miles per hour (260 km per hour) as it moved toward the north-northwest at 10 mph (16 kph).\nPatricia was last located about 200 miles (320 km) south-southwest of the port of Manzanillo, where a hurricane warning had been issued. A hurricane warning was also in effect for the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta.\nThe storm, which is a \"Category 5\", the highest rating possible, is expected to weaken somewhat before making landfall in the hurricane warning area by Friday afternoon or evening, the Miami-based hurricane center said.\nThe United States government issued an advisory urging its nationals to steer clear of beaches and rough seas, and to take shelter as instructed by Mexican officials.\nSome businesses in Puerto Vallarta had begun boarding and taping up windows late on Thursday as a precaution, while several domestic flights had been delayed.\nMexican emergency officials began to prepare shelters and warned people in the states of Colima, Jalisco and Michoacan to get ready for torrential rainfalls.\nNone of the major installations of Mexican state oil giant Pemex lie in the projected path of the storm. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the U.S. National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico's Pacific coast","Mexico","Pacific coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["200 miles (320 km) south-southwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5 storm","Category 5","Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["10 mph (16 kph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Patricia","Patricia","Patricia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["160 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Hurricane Patricia becomes the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere with winds of 200 mph (320 km/h). (NBC)","document":" Follow NBC News Hurricane Patricia became the strongest storm ever measured on the planet early Friday, with experts warning it could trigger 40-foot waves along southwestern Mexico and \"life-threatening\" flash flooding.\nMore than 7 million residents — and an estimated tens of thousands of U.S. citizens visiting or living there — were told to prepare for the \"worst-case scenario\" as the ferocious storm was expected to race ashore on Mexico's Pacific coast between 6 to 10 p.m. ET Friday.\nAt 5 p.m. ET, Patricia was about 60 miles west of Manzanillo, and about 110 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes.\nThe U.S. National Hurricane Center said Patricia was expected to make landfall \"in the next several hours.\" A hurricane warning was in place for San Blas to Punta San Telmo.\nThe tourist magnets of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo were directly in the Category 5 storm's projected path, and Puerto Vallarta's airport was closed Friday out of precaution as some stranded vacationers described their inability to fly out of a \"nightmare.\"\nBy 5 p.m. winds had weakened slightly to 190 mph, the Hurricane Center said. Winds of 200 mph were measured earlier, and the Hurricane Center labeled Patricia as the \"strongest hurricane on record\" in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific Basins.\nMexico has not formally requested help from the U.S., but State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters Friday that America \"stands up to offer any assistance that we can in the aftermath of what at least appears to be a pretty epic event in terms of the intensity and size of the storm.\"\nCategory 5 EPAC hurricane #Patricia was just sampled by #NOAA43 (@NOAA P3). This is the eye radar img 10/23/2015 pic.twitter.com/QRhZLEUigx\nNBC News meteorologist Bill Karins warned that Patricia would be \"the most devastating storm to ever hit Mexico\" with \"catastrophic damage\" likely between the posh resort of Puerto Vallarta and the bustling port city of Manzanillo.\nWhile typhoons Nancy and Violet had stronger estimated winds, Patricia was the strongest storm ever actually observed, Karins added. Patricia already has \"put on quite a show\" in how rapidly and unexpectedly it has strengthened, he said.\nTyphoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013, made landfall with 190 mph winds.\nWhile Patricia weakened slightly to 190 mph winds since the afternoon, \"Patricia is expected to remain an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane through landfall,\" the NHC said. “Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”\nHurricane warnings stretched from San Blas to Punta San Telmo, an area that includes Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. CONAGUA, the Mexican national water commission, predicted waves about 40 feet at landfall.\nThe National Hurricane Center said the hurricane was expected to produce deadly rip currents and \"life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.\"\nIt added: \"Some fluctuations in intensity are possible today, but Patricia is expected to remain an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane through landfall.\"\n#SanPatricio & #BarraDeNavidad will experience equivalent EF5 tornado & 20 foot tsunami at same time. #Patricia pic.twitter.com/qMyWOeNTTO\nUp to 20 inches of rain was predicted for the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero through Saturday, the NHC said.\nThe Mexican government declared a state of emergency.\nThe U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara urged Americans in the hurricane warning area to \"make preparations immediately to protect life and property.\"\nHistoric #Patricia God help these people in its path. pic.twitter.com/hLgDM3Xsz1\nRogelio Estreda, a representative for the Grand Fiesta Americana Resort in Puerto Vallarta, told NBC News that the site would be evacuated at 7 a.m. local time (8 a.m. ET).\n\"We are expecting something bad, but maybe nothing will happen,\" Estreda said. \"It can change at any time.\"\nPatricia would be only the second Category 5 hurricane to hit the entire Pacific coast since full record-keeping began in 1949. An unnamed storm struck in late October 1959 near Manzanillo, killing an estimated 1,800 people — 800 of them from mudslides alone.\nKarins added that 10 inches of rain were already predicted for Texas over the next three days, warning that \"what's left of Patricia will make flooding in south Texas even worse\" on Sunday.\n12H 23/1800Z 18.8N 105.4W 180 KT 205 MPH! What that says is in 12 hours when this is coming ashore it will be at 205 MPH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\nLaura Diane Rebholz, who co-owns a modeling agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, told NBC News early Friday that she felt it was \"safer to ride the storm out\" at the Puerto Vallarta hotel where she's vacationing.\n\"It's almost as if it's literally 'the calm before the storm,'\" she said. \"It's very much business as usual around the resort with staff seemingly unfazed by the hurricane.\"\nBut Australian newlywed Natalie Griffin said Friday that she and her husband were trying to catch an early flight out of Puerto Vallarta after five days of vacationing. At the hotel on Thursday, she said, guests were told that they could be evacuated by bus to Guadalajara, Jalisco's capital city located further inland.\nGriffin said she decided to take her chances at the airport early Friday, but flights out were looking grim.\n\"We were all excited as we thought we were about to board, and now they have said the airport is closed but they want to get special permission to fly this plane out,\" she told NBC News. \"Everyone wants to know if we are flying or not so we can make plans to leave the area.\"\nMore extreme preparations in Puerto Vallarta. #Patricia #protectthosestogies pic.twitter.com/xUKHjIC3wZ\nAmong those hunkering down include Atlanta-born Ian Hayden Parker, who founded the Vallarta Daily News in Puerto Vallarta, which has established 18 hurricane shelters.\n\"We live in a resort town, but outside of the tourist zone, there is still a lot of poverty and people without computers, Internet or phones,\" said Parker, who hopes to continue to inform locals about the storm's impact.\nAfter residents were urged to begin storm preparations Thursday, Parker said, \"many people followed our advice and are now just playing the wait and see game.\"\nFor some tourists, the impending hurricane created an unexpected upheaval in their plans — and forced them to pack up quickly and head for safer ground.\nJason Sapp and Teri Batterfield were set to get married Friday night on the beach outside of the Hyatt Ziva in Puerto Vallarta. Instead, they and about 25 other guests were on a bus heading to Guadalajara — a ride they were told would take 10 hours because of all the traffic from people evacuating the coastal area.\nDaughter Jessica Sapp, of the San Diego area, told NBC News that it's been a \"nightmare\" for the couple and the other guests who flew in on Thursday for the wedding. The Hyatt, she added, has been shut down.\n\"They were putting boards on the windows and everybody had to evacuate,\" she said. \"They had a little bit of food for us, but everything is shutting down.\"\nFiona Bronte, 24, said she first checked into the Vidanta resort in Puerto Vallarta on Saturday with her grandparents and parents. Guests at her hotel were awaiting anxiously Friday afternoon to be redirected to a shelter — but their patience was fraying.\n\"Everyone is starting to get worried and trying to stock up on food and water,\" the San Francisco woman said, adding, \"People are remaining calm at the moment, but nerves are starting to run high.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Hurricane Center","Hurricane Center","Hurricane Center","Hurricane Center","experts"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico's Pacific coast","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Pacific coast","San Blas to Punta San Telmo","San Blas","Punta San Telmo"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["60 miles west of Manzanillo","Manzanillo","Manzanillo","Manzanillo","Manzanillo","about 110 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["between 6 to 10 p.m. ET Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia","Patricia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["190 mph","190 mph","190 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2019 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to make landfall in the state within days. (WOFL) (The New York Times)","document":"Hurricane Dorian is expected to swell to a Category 4 hurricane, and its powerful winds could begin bashing the Florida coast as early as Saturday night.\nBy Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Florida coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early as Saturday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["swell to a Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 After killing at least five people in the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian is downgraded to a Category Four hurricane as it approaches the southeastern United States. (The New York Times), (MSNBC)","document":"The Category 3 storm came to a standstill as it pummeled the Bahamas. It is expected to move “dangerously close” to the Florida coast Tuesday night. By Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Frances Robles and Patricia Mazzei\n\nWhat happened to it? It pushed it way up! Oh my God. Power lines are down, lampposts are down, trees are across the street. It is very dangerous to be outdoors if you don’t have to be outdoors. As soon as the weather permits, our first responders will go to those areas where we had reports from individuals who were in distress. That’s my bedroom and the waves hitting there, that is over 15 feet. You look out here in the backyard, you can see the real depth. But the house is actually sealed really well. Look at these cars, man! Totally gone. We’re facing a hurricane, Hurricane Dorian, that, one that we’ve never seen in the history of the Bahamas. We are in a situation where the storm is stalling very close to our coast. It is going to make a movement. And the movement that it makes is going to have a lot of impact on Floridians. Dorian Hits Bahamas and Threatens U.S.\nHurricane Dorian continued its unrelenting assault on the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands on Monday, causing “extreme destruction” as storm surges rose 12 to 18 feet above normal tide levels and at least five people were confirmed dead. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas said the Royal Bahamas police force confirmed the deaths late Monday. Details about how the people died were not immediately available. “We are in the midst of a historic tragedy,” Mr. Minnis said at an evening news conference. He added: “Our focus is search, rescue and recovery. I ask for your prayers for those in affected areas and for our first responders.”\nMr. Minnis said the videos of vast destruction in the country were heartbreaking. “Many homes, businesses and other buildings have been completed or partially destroyed,” he said. \n“Downtown Grand Bahama is under three feet of water, including the ground floor of its hospital and the prime minister’s office,” Mr. Minnis added. Because of the storm’s stubborn refusal to move past the Bahamas, officials with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, a relief group based in Barbados, may not be able to visit the islands until Wednesday afternoon. Forecasters said at 2 a.m. on Tuesday that the hurricane was stationary, even as its winds swirled at 120 m.p.h. After moving toward the islands over the weekend, it came to a halt on Monday evening above them. The hurricane moved just 14 miles from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m, and sat about 105 miles off the coast of Florida. The storm was expected to continue drubbing the islands — which have a combined population of about 77,000, the majority of whom live on Grand Bahama — through Tuesday, forecasters said, before resuming its course toward the Atlantic coast and turning up the coast. “Tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll start to see the pull to the north that we’ve all been anxiously awaiting, because we really need to get this thing off of the Bahamas and moving northward,” Ken Graham, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said in a Facebook video on Monday. Advertisement\n\nLouby Georges, the director of international affairs for Human Rights Bahamas, said at least one friend had run out of drinking water and others had left tearful voice messages for loved ones. The islands’ water systems were expected to be compromised, so aid workers planned to send pumps and a two-week supply of food because food warehouses were most likely flooded. Ronald Jackson, the executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, said that children made up about 15 percent of the islands’ population. Less than 10 percent are elderly. Abaco is home to enclaves of vulnerable Haitian migrants, he said. Dozens of worried families posted pleas for information about their loved ones on social media, and videos showed water rising around houses and devastated scenes of decimated homes, with roofs sheared from buildings and insulation strewn about the floor. State Representative Shevrin Jones of Florida, whose district includes portions of Broward County, has been receiving updates from relatives in the Bahamas. He posted one message on Twitter in which one of his cousins described finding a mother, father and son curled up together, dead. In one video from a relative, a man said he was stuck inside a house with no roof as water could be seen spraying inside. Mr. Jones said in an interview that he planned to organize a trip of 20 to 30 people from South Florida to the Bahamas to join the search and rescue missions. \n“Right now, it’s literally all hands on deck,” he said. “We just have to get over there and help them as soon as possible.”\nThe hurricane center advised people on both islands to remain in their homes or shelters until conditions improved, warning that it could take several hours. Forecasters continued to warn that hurricane conditions were expected across Florida and the southeastern coast of the United States. A hurricane warning was extended to about 240 miles of the Florida coast on Monday afternoon — from just north of West Palm Beach to the beach adjacent to Jacksonville — and tropical-storm-force winds blew on a South Florida beach. For much of Monday, the closely monitored cone of uncertainty overlapped with nearly all of the state’s central and northern coast, meaning the eye could move over the eastern edge of the state during the next two days. While a revised forecast in the evening took South Florida’s coastline and Orlando out of the storm’s predicted path, forecasters have emphasized that even a minor diversion from its route could bring the storm onto land. “It cannot be stressed enough that only a small deviation to the left of the N.H.C. forecast could bring the core of the extremely dangerous hurricane onshore of the Florida east coast within the hurricane warning area,” a forecaster wrote in a briefing on Monday morning, using the abbreviation for the National Hurricane Center. Advertisement\nAt 2 a.m., forecasters said the hurricane would move “dangerously close” to the Florida coast, beginning late Tuesday night and continuing through Wednesday evening. Then, it is expected to continue toward the Georgia and South Carolina coasts beginning late on Wednesday. President Trump “reiterated his full support for Florida” in a phone call with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning, according a statement from the governor’s office. Even if the hurricane’s center does not reach the Florida coast, strong winds and rain are all but certain to disrupt life in that region. Much of Florida’s eastern coast is also susceptible to dangerous storm surges, and tropical gusts up to 57 m.p.h. were expected to reach parts of South Florida overnight. “It’s like being stalked by a turtle,” said Ben Foster, the general manager of Brother Jimmy’s BBQ in downtown West Palm Beach, in describing the long wait for Hurricane Dorian to brush the state. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ was the only restaurant open in the area at lunchtime on Monday, and it was bustling with about two dozen people watching the United States Open and “SportsCenter.” A group of men played a golf video game, a respite from boarded-up homes. Mayor Jerry Demings of Orange County, which includes Orlando, said 150 residents were staying in shelters in the county. He said the region would be hit with winds from the storm around midday on Tuesday and its effects would last through Wednesday afternoon. \nRain from the storm reached the southern coast on Monday, and the National Weather Service’s office in Miami said on Twitter that the first tropical-storm-level wind was recorded at 40 m.p.h. at Juno Beach Pier just before 1 p.m.\n Maps tracking the hurricane’s path as it makes its way toward Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Officials in states north of Florida are growing increasingly anxious about the storm’s path toward their coastlines and have ordered some coastal residents to evacuate. Hurricane Dorian is now projected to approach South Carolina and Georgia as a major hurricane before barreling along the North Carolina coast as a Category 2 storm. “We know that we cannot make everybody happy, but we believe that we can keep everyone alive,” Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina said at a news conference, announcing that residents in portions of eight counties must begin evacuating by noon on Monday. North Carolina’s governor declared a state of emergency, and officials in at least two coastal counties, Hyde and Dare, issued mandatory evacuations for visitors and residents. State officials warned that heavy rain could cause life-threatening flooding from Wednesday night to Friday and that there was a possibility for tornadoes. The University of North Carolina, Wilmington said students must evacuate its campus by Tuesday evening.\n Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia declared a state of emergency on Monday. The storm could drift over Norfolk and Virginia Beach on Friday afternoon. Norma Lemon, the owner of a Caribbean-themed restaurant on South Carolina’s coast, has evacuated three times in the last few years because of several hurricanes. She said on Sunday that she was near tears at the thought of leaving her restaurant in Mosquito Beach again. “It just feels like here we go again with this one, like it’s not going to be good, you know?” she said. South Carolina could receive five to 10 inches of rain, with isolated areas inundated with up to 15 inches. José Andrés, the celebrity chef who led a massive feeding operation in the wake of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico two years ago, said he was in Nassau, the capital, preparing to do the same in the Bahamas. “We are making 10,000 sandwiches as we speak,” Mr. Andrés said in a telephone interview. He said he had spoken with the prime minister and the secretaries of tourism and transportation, who told him that the airports were under 10 feet of water. “The situation is as bad as you can imagine,” Mr. Andrés said. “Before food, they need to take care of rescue missions.”\n\nMr. Andrés, who runs World Central Kitchen, said he had arranged for teams to work out of hotels on Grand Bahama Island. They are hoping to be on some of the first flights to Abaco Island on Tuesday, he said. What did he bring? “Nothing,” he said. “We never bring anything. We bring ourselves. We are a brain. We are a software organization, not a hardware organization. “There is always food,” he added. As Hurricane Dorian’s outer rain bands moved over South Florida, the barrier island of Palm Beach, which is in a mandatory evacuation zone, felt eerily calm on Monday morning. Roads were empty. Businesses were closed and shuttered. Still, a small crowd gathered along the beach, staring in awe at the wild gray waves crashing onto the shore. “I just wanted to take a look at this — it’s crazy,” said Brandon Atkinson, 40, a West Palm Beach resident. “You admire it for the beauty but know its devastation.”\nA handful of young surfers braved the water, despite warnings from the authorities. “We’re not worried about the storm,” said one of them, adding that he had driven south from Vero Beach, Fla., and planned to continue driving south once the waves in Palm Beach got too big. “We’re probably going to surf all day.”\n\nHe encouraged his friends to join him, and they hopped onto the sand. “Come on — let’s surf,” he said. Inside the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center in Lake Worth, Fla., PeggyAnn Cromartie sat with a pile of knitting as Dorian’s rains pelted the shelter outside. “I wanted to be safe, because you never know what may happen,” said Ms. Cromartie, 72, of Pahokee, Fla. “It’s not really scary, but I thought about the flooding or the lights going out.”\nShe arrived on Sunday afternoon with her dog, Garfield, a 5-year-old Maltese, and shared half of a queen size air mattress with another evacuee. Dinner was a hot meal of chicken, rice, carrots and a bread roll, Ms. Cromartie said, and breakfast an assortment of cereal, bagels and coffee. By Monday morning, the pet-friendly shelter was housing 75 people and 114 animals, including 75 dogs, 28 cats and several birds and rabbits. A sign posted outside warned that no livestock, reptiles or vicious dogs would be accepted. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, someone tried to come in with a chicken, said Yleana Arias, one of the shelter’s managers. Randye Carol Pollack, 68, of Boynton Beach, Fla., brought her parakeet, Sweet Pea, and spent the night in a hard plastic chair by his cage, “to keep him company.”\n“I didn’t sleep at all,” she said. She covered the cage with two blankets to keep him warm and said she was grateful for a place that would take them both. Advertisement\nMs. Pollack planned to pass the time with a transistor radio and a magazine. Ms. Cromartie brought her knitting, crochet and her Bible. Ms. Cromartie said she would pray for the Bahamas. “God is very good,” she said. “He’ll see us through.”\nMr. DeSantis, the Florida governor, has said for days that coastal residents should expect to lose power. Florida Power and Light Co., which serves about 10 million residents, announced that it had assembled 16,000 employees and contractors and asked them to be ready to respond to outages around the state. “We’ve assembled the largest prestorm restoration work force in company history,” Eric Silagy, the company’s chief executive and president, said in a statement. He added that the team would “work around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible.”\nAs of Monday morning, there were no substantial power failures in the state. Anticipating Dorian’s movements has been unusually difficult for forecasters. With the storm’s path uncertain, almost 600 flights have been canceled, and airlines and hotels are waiving fees in a widening area. As a newborn hurricane, Dorian hit the Virgin Islands but largely spared Puerto Rico. What our photographers are seeing as Florida braces for a major hurricane.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands","Grand Bahama","Grand Bahama","Grand Bahama","the Florida coast","Florida coast","Florida coast","Florida coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least five people were confirmed dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Tuesday night","Tuesday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["The Category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 m.p.h"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Hurricane Dorian increases to a Category Three storm as it approaches The Carolinas in the United States. (The Washington Post)","document":"Stronger and a little larger, Hurricane Dorian has exited Florida, setting its sights on the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas. These areas face a triple threat of “destructive winds, flooding rains, and life-threatening storm surges,” according to the National Hurricane Center.\nWhile Dorian stayed far enough off the coast to largely spare Florida from the worst of its wrath, it is forecast to make a much closer approach to the coastline of the Carolinas Thursday and Friday and could even make landfall. Impacts are thus expected to be more severe.\nIn addition, Dorian has gained some added strength, increasing the risk of storm hazards. It maximum sustained winds are back up to 115 mph, meaning it has regained Category 3 intensity. If it makes landfall in North Carolina, it would be the first Category 3 to strike since Fran in 1996. While intensifying, its wind field has expanded, with tropical-storm and hurricane-force winds covering more territory.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["to the coastline of the Carolinas","Carolinas","the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas","Carolinas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday and Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3","Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian","Dorian","Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 115 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 U.S. President Donald Trump uses an altered map showing the projected forecast of Hurricane Dorian in order to support a disputed claim that Alabama has recently been threatened by the storm. If deliberate, the action is a federal offense. (Newsweek)","document":"As the battle between President Donald Trump and his administration's weather forecasters rumbles on over whether or not Hurricane Dorian threatens Alabama, which it does not, a new question has emerged: Did he break U.S. law by altering a map with a pen?\nTrump has repeatedly insisted that Alabama is at risk from Dorian, even as the National Weather Center corrects him to say that the state will face no impact because the storm is too far east. Alabama is not in Dorian's path, though neighboring states, including Florida and Georgia, are.\nThe controversy over the president's misleading remarks about Dorian escalated when an image appeared of Trump in the Oval Office with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) map showing the hurricane's path, mysteriously extended by pen.\nThis map was displayed during a briefing on Wednesday about Dorian. It is not clear who altered the original NOAA map, titled \"Hurricane Dorian Forecast Track and Intensity,\" or why. Trump insisted Alabama was in the original forecast and was due to be hit \"very hard.\"\nThe so-called \"Sharpiegate\" then erupted on social media, with Twitter users accusing President Trump of looping in Alabama himself with a pen to justify his insistence that Dorian will hurt the southern state in some way.\nAaron Blake, a senior political reporter at The Washington Post, noted a piece of law from 1948—18 U.S. Code § 2074 on \"False weather reports\"—that could mean that if anyone but an official weather forecaster altered the map, it was unlawful to do so.\n\"Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both,\" the law states.\nThe White House did not respond immediately to Newsweek's request for comment.\nOn Wednesday evening, Trump shared to Twitter a forecast map dated August 28 from the South Florida Water Management District showing Dorian touching Alabama. The forecast map carries a disclaimer: \"If anything on this graphic causes confusion, ignore the entire product.\"\n\"This was the originally projected path of the Hurricane in its early stages,\" Trump tweeted. \"As you can see, almost all models predicted it to go through Florida also hitting Georgia and Alabama. I accept the Fake News apologies!\"\nIn its latest forecast, the National Weather Service warns: \"Hurricane Dorian continues to move along the Southeast US coast and is expected to approach South Carolina through Thursday. Dorian will remain a dangerous hurricane, bringing heavy rain, storm surge, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes along and near the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and portions of southeast Virginia and the southern Chesapeake Bay through late week.\"\nIt's illegal to \"knowingly issue or publish any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau\"I doubt Trump would get in trouble, though\nThis was the originally projected path of the Hurricane in its early stages. As you can see, almost all models predicted it to go through Florida also hitting Georgia and Alabama. I accept the Fake News apologies! pic.twitter.com/0uCT0Qvyo6\nTrump responds to #sharpiegate with an obscure map released by an obscure agency, the South Florida Water Management District, on Aug. 28. But what was the South Florida Water Management District using that day to alert the public? The National Hurricane Center map, unsharpied: https://t.co/VCIUjLxJd3 pic.twitter.com/Iy8bzNdyAK\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)","NOAA","the National Weather Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian's","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Hurricane Dorian spawns several tornadoes in the Carolinas and causes power outages to 230,000 people in South Carolina. (Charlotte Observer) (Washington Examiner)","document":"In Wilmington, North Carolina, several tornado warnings popped up over the area Thursday morning. \"Radar shows nasty mini-supercells in the outer band of #Hurricane #Dorian with tornado warnings all over the place - please take quick action if you get a warning as these storms mean business!\" said National Hurricane Center specialist Eric Blake on his personal Twitter account.\nRadar shows nasty mini-supercells in the outer band of #Hurricane #Dorian with tornado warnings all over the place - please take quick action if you get a warning as these storms mean business! \nSoon there were reports of multiple tornadoes in the area touching down.\nHurricane #Dorian is still about 70 miles off the coast of South Carolina... But multiple tornadoes have already reportedly touched down around Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, NC. We're tracking the latest on this and what you can expect at home now on @WTVA9News. \nThe National Weather Service station in Wilmington shared a video of what it said was a tornado.\nVideo of a tornado passing near Pender County Fire Station 18 along Highway 17 near Sidbury Rd. Video courtesty of Station 18. Time was around 6:55-7:00 AM EDT Thursday Sept 5, 2019 \nAll this was happening even as the center of Dorian was roughly 70 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and roughly 160 miles south-southwest of the city of Wilmington as of 8 a.m.\nA waterspout off Emerald Isle. This was around 9 AM, Bogue Inlet Pier courtesy @surfline #dorian Please seen an interior room if you are under a Tornado WARNING along the Crystal Coast! \nNearly 200,000 power outages have been reported across South Carolina and there have been reports of flooding in the streets of Charleston. Dorian regained some strength Wednesday and returned to Category 3 status late in the day. Landfall somewhere over the Carolinas remains a possibility this week as the storm heads north and hugs the East Coast.\nHeavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous storm surge remain possibilities in the forecast not just on the coast from Florida to southern Virginia, where states of emergency have been declared and mandatory evacuations have been issued, but also in some areas farther inland.\nOnly Washington Examiner Access members can comment on articles.Access Members, click here to login\nIf you want to join the conversation, you should subscribe TODAY!Click here to subscribe to The Washington Examiner\nThis space is for readers to share their opinions with us. It's reserved for our magazine subscribers, but everyone will be able to read the comments. We're not going to edit what people say, but we hope everyone who joins the conversation will engage others in respectful language even when they disagree strongly. And obviously many opinions here will be ones we disagree with —— that's what debate is all about! Please choose a reason below:","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center specialist Eric Blake"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Wilmington, North Carolina","Wilmington","Wilmington","Wilmington"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","dorian","Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 At least 43 people are now confirmed to have been killed by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The death toll is expected to rise further. (BBC)","document":"Hundreds of Hurricane Dorian survivors have fled affected areas of the Bahamas as thousands more anxiously await evacuation from the worst-hit islands.\nThe hurricane tore through northern islands earlier this week, leaving a trail of destruction and a humanitarian crisis in its wake.\nThe official death toll rose to 43 on Friday, but is expected to increase further, officials told local media.\nWith aid efforts under way, many survivors are scrambling to evacuate.\nOn Friday, crowds desperate to leave amassed in their thousands at ports in Great Abaco and Grand Bahama, the two worst-hit islands.\nFrustrations mounted as survivors, carrying what few possessions they had left, complained of \"chaotic\" and slow evacuations.\nAs Gee Rolle, 44, waited for a private boat with his wife, he criticised the government, telling the Associated Press \"only animals can live here\".\nBahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, speaking to survivors at the port in Abaco, called for calm and promised more free transport. Later on Friday, Mr Minnis confirmed the death toll had risen to 43, up from 30. In a statement he said: \"The loss of life we are experiencing is catastrophic and devastating.\"\nTourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar implored travellers to \"continue visiting the Bahamian islands that were not impacted by Hurricane Dorian as this will help our people tremendously\".\nNow a category one hurricane, Dorian is currently churning along the Atlantic coast of North America, towards the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.\nEarlier on Friday, hundreds who refused to evacuate Ocracoke Island in North Carolina were stranded when the hurricane made landfall.\nOn Friday, many of the evacuations were carried out by private boats and planes, as the Bahamian government awaited the arrival of other transport. Helicopters and boats had been deployed but could be delayed by severe flooding, the Bahamian Health Ministry said. Around 250 evacuees left Abaco on a boat bound for the Bahamian capital, Nassau. National Voice of the Bahamas radio reported that another boat with hundreds aboard was on its way. A further 200 people were evacuated from Abaco on Bahamasair flights. In Grand Bahama, a large cruise ship offering free passage to Florida allowed passengers with permission to enter the US to board. One survivor, 75-year-old Firstina Swain, told Reuters news agency the \"people of Abaco need to get out\" because \"there are too many bodies\". \"Nobody can help anybody in Abaco, there's no place safe, everything is destroyed,\" she said.\nAccording to the UN, at least 70,000 Bahamians are in need of immediate humanitarian relief after their homes were destroyed by the hurricane.\nThe PM and his government have been criticised for the speed of their response to the humanitarian crisis.\nChaotic air traffic control is said to be hampering relief and evacuations operations, the Miami Herald reports.\nAt 08:00 local time on Saturday (12:00 GMT Saturday) Dorian was south of Maine, moving north-east. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said tropical storm conditions were expected in the extreme south-east of Massachusetts and Maine.\n\"On the forecast track, the centre of Dorian should pass to the southeast of extreme south-eastern New England Saturday morning, and then across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland later today and tonight,\" the NHC said.\nThe hurricane had maximum sustained winds of about 85mph (140 km/h), and was moving at a speed of 21mph (41km/h).\nForecasters said 10in (25 cm) of rain had fallen between Charleston in South Carolina and Wilmington, 170 miles away in North Carolina.\nDorian hit the Bahamas as a category five hurricane with winds reaching 185mph (298km/h). It matched the highest ever wind speed recorded at landfall, and stayed over affected areas for two days.\nOfficials say hundreds, possibly thousands, are still missing and the final death toll could be \"staggering\".\nThe International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - were severely damaged or destroyed.\nParts of the Bahamas received up to 35in (89cm) of rain, leaving vast areas flooded.\nThe island of Great Abaco is virtually uninhabitable, with bodies piled up, no water, power or food, and militias formed to prevent looting, local media report.\nAerial images over the Abacos showed mile upon mile of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels.\nUse our guide to see how these deadly storms form, their devastating effects and how they are measured:\nA guide to the world's deadliest storms\nHurricanes are violent storms that can bring devastation to coastal areas, threatening lives, homes and businesses.\nHurricanes develop from thunderstorms, fuelled by warm, moist air as they cross sub-tropical waters. Warm air rises into the storm.\nAir swirls in to fill the low pressure in the storm, sucking air in and upwards, reinforcing the low pressure.\nThe storm rotates due to the spin of the earth and energy from the warm ocean increases wind speeds as it builds.\nWhen winds reach 119km/h (74mph), it is known as a hurricane - in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific - or a typhoon in the Western Pacific.\n\"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Well, we're about to get punched in the face.\" Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn, ahead of Hurricane Irma (2017)\nThe central eye of calmer weather is surrounded by a wall of rainstorms.This eyewall has the fastest winds below it and violent currents of air rising through it.\nA mound of water piles up below the eye which is unleashed as the storm reaches land. These storm surges can cause more damage from flooding than the winds.\n\"Urgent warning about the rapid rise of water on the SW FL coast with the passage of #Irma's eye. MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER!\"Tweet from the National Hurricane Center\nThe size of hurricanes is mainly measured by the Saffir-Simpson scale - other scales are used in Asia Pacific and Australia.\nWinds 119-153km/hSome minor flooding, little structural damage. Storm surge +1.2m-1.5m\nWinds 154-177km/hRoofs and trees could be damaged. Storm surge +1.8m-2.4m\nWinds 178-208km/hHouses suffer damage, severe flooding Storm surge +2.7m-3.7m\nHurricane Sandy (2012) caused $71bn damage in the Caribbean and New York\nWinds 209-251km/hSome roofs destroyed and major structural damage to houses. Storm surge +4m-5.5m\nHurricane Ike (2008) hit Caribbean islands and Louisiana and was blamed for at least 195 deaths\nWinds 252km/h+Serious damage to buildings, severe flooding further inland. Storm surge +5.5m\nHurricane Irma (2017) caused devastation in Caribbean islands, leaving thousands homeless\n\"For everyone thinking they can ride this storm out, I have news for you: that will be one of the biggest mistakes you can make in your life.\" Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin ahead of Hurricane Gustav, 2008\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nr\n\n\nT\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["areas of the Bahamas","Bahamas","Bahamas","areas","Bahamas","areas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Hundreds","hundreds","hundreds","hundreds","The official death toll rose to 43","at least 70,000 Bahamians"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian","Dorian"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Tropical Storm Imelda makes landfall in Texas, threatening severe flash flooding throughout Eastern Texas and the Houston area. (The Washington Post)","document":"The tropics are active with a trio of systems brewing in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean: a tropical storm, a hurricane and a tropical depression.\nClosest to home is newly-named Tropical Storm Imelda in the western Gulf of Mexico (as of 1:45 p.m. eastern Tuesday), upgraded to a storm just 45 minutes after being designated a tropical depression (at 1 p.m. eastern). While the storm contains maximum sustained winds of around 40 mph, the biggest concern is its flood threat for the vulnerable Houston metro area.\nMore than half a foot of rain is set to fall in the nation’s fourth-largest city during the next few days from this system as it approaches Houston from the Gulf of Mexico, sending multiple rounds of heavy thunderstorms slowly lumbering ashore. The National Weather Service cautions that some locations could see a foot or more of rain before this event ends Thursday, raising flash flood concerns. Rainfall rates in the heaviest bands could approach 3 inches per hour.\nAt the same time, Category 2 Hurricane Humberto is on its way to major hurricane status as it churns toward a position just north of Bermuda late in the week. A tropical storm warning is up for the island, as the storm is forecast to remain far enough away to spare it from its worst winds and heaviest rains.\nMeanwhile, an additional disturbance over the open tropical Atlantic has become a tropical depression and is forecast to become a tropical storm and then a hurricane in the coming days as it meanders west-northwestward. Assuming it reaches tropical storm-strength, it will be named Jerry. Computer models expect this storm to pass near or just north of the Lesser Antilles, but it’s not yet clear where it will go from there.\nThe rain was already pouring down in buckets on the Texas Gulf Coast on Tuesday morning, where flash flood watches blanketed the greater Houston metro area.\nShower and thunderstorm activity will continue to blossom Tuesday from the Matagorda coast to Port Beaumont, with a couple bands of rainfall spreading into southwestern Louisiana. The flood risk in Louisiana, particularly from Sabine Lake through Lake Charles, is increasing as well.\nA widespread 5 to 10 inches, with localized higher amounts, may fall through Wednesday afternoon in the Houston-Galveston corridor.\nA tropical storm warning was posted for Sargent to Port Bolivar along Texas’ coast, and includes Galveston.\n“The difference of just a few miles could be the difference of several inches of rain,” the NWS wrote, stressing the highly variable nature of thunderstorm-driven rainfall totals. While 1- to 3-inch per hour rainfall rates are possible, they’ll be realized only beneath the heaviest downpours. But where these downpours do repeatedly traverse the same areas, dangerous flash flooding and top-tier rainfall totals may result.\nIt’s not out of the question that one or two very isolated locales pick up a foot and a half of rainfall.\nBy Thursday, uncertainty in the forecast increases. It will probably still be raining in Houston. But will the storm interact with some approaching energy aloft and shift the axis of heaviest rainfall farther east? That would be good news for the Interstate 45 corridor, but bad news for coastal Louisiana. While still not the most likely solution right now, the odds for that scenario have increased some since Monday. However, there’s an equal or greater shot that the rains continue Thursday in the Houston area, as the area of low pressure over the Gulf strengthens some as it moves inland.\nThis latest episode underscores the fact that storms do not need to be a hurricane to be dangerous. Most recently, Hurricane Harvey painted a dire picture of what just water can do, with a record 60.58 inches on Nederland, Tex. With a price tag of $125 billion, it ties with Katrina as the costliest U.S. tropical cyclone on record. And most of the damage occurred when it was a tropical storm.\nThis time, Imelda could rank among the heaviest rainfall producers on record in some Houston suburbs. Have a plan to take action should a flash flood warning be issued for your location.\nA tropical storm warning is up for Bermuda, where Humberto could make a close pass later this week.\nAs of Tuesday morning, the Category 2 storm was about halfway between the United States and Bermuda. According to the National Hurricane Center, “Humberto is expected to become a major hurricane by [Tuesday night] or Wednesday morning.” Humberto’s cloud shield is nicking the coastal Carolinas, which are contending with rough surf and rip currents, but otherwise its impacts are largely relegated to the open ocean.\nOn the forecast track, Humberto is predicted to track well north of Bermuda on Wednesday night into Thursday, clipping the British island territory of 65,000 with its outermost rain bands. Tropical storm-force winds of greater than 39 mph are possible, along with rip currents and 1 to 3 inches of rain.\nThe National Hurricane Center announced a new tropical depression formed Tuesday morning about midway between the Leeward Islands and Cape Verde. Forecasters at NHC say it’s likely to become a tropical storm by Tuesday evening.\nThe incipient storm is on a track westwards, though a curve to the west-northwestward is anticipated as it intensifies. It may become a hurricane by late Thursday or Friday, with a track taking it ominously close to Puerto Rico and perhaps the southeastern Bahamas.\nThe track is uncertain at this point. However, models have been inching it closer to land masses, with the “out to sea” scenario a little bit less likely now. However, modeling weak tropical systems can be especially challenging until clearly defined circulation centers become better established, which should happen by Tuesday night.\nThis is a storm that needs to be closely watched in the days ahead.\nIt’s possible that there will be a potentially significant uptick in Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane activity during the last week in September and extending through early October. The anticipated awakening of the tropical Atlantic is thanks to a overlap of weather systems that will encourage rising air over the Atlantic’s main development region, to the west of Africa and east of the Lesser Antilles.\nThat will give an extra nudge to encourage any developing systems. Coupled with more favorable upper-level winds, the stage may be set for a turbo-boost to the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, leading to a few weeks that bear close watching.\nThe most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["1 to 3 inches","3 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the western Gulf of Mexico","Mexico","Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["as of 1:45 p.m. eastern Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 2","Category 2"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Imelda","Imelda","Humberto","Humberto","Humberto","Humberto","Humberto"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["around 40 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Authorities in Texas report a fifth death from Tropical Storm Imelda. (Los Angeles Times)","document":"The widespread damage brought to the Houston area by one of the wettest tropical cyclones in U.S. history came into broader view Saturday, as floodwaters receded to reveal the exhausting cleanup effort that lies ahead for many communities and homeowners.\nHundreds of homes and other buildings in the region, extending eastward from Houston and across the Louisiana border, were damaged by Imelda, as the one-time tropical storm slowly churned across the region, dumping more than 40 inches of rain in some spots and being blamed for at least five deaths.\nOfficials in Harris County, which is home to Houston, were trying to determine if millions of dollars in uninsured losses were enough to trigger a federal disaster declaration, Francisco Sanchez, a spokesman for the county’s Office of Emergency Management, said Saturday.\nAuthorities raised the storm’s death toll to five, saying it is believed to have killed a 52-year-old Florida man who was found dead Thursday in his stranded pickup truck along Interstate 10 near Beaumont, which is near Texas’ border with Louisiana. Jefferson County spokeswoman Allison Getz said that although floodwaters seeped into Mark Dukaj’s truck, investigators don’t believe he drowned, though they do believe his death is storm-related. An autopsy will determine the cause.\nA section of the highway just east of Houston remained closed Saturday after at least two runaway barges struck two bridges carrying eastbound and westbound traffic. Nearly 123,000 vehicles normally cross the bridges each day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The Coast Guard has said that witnesses reported early Friday that nine barges had broken away from their moorings at a shipyard along the fast-moving San Jacinto River.\nTwo barges remain lodged against the bridges, said Emily Black, a spokeswoman for the state Transportation Department.\n“The current is really very strong right now so it’s kind of pushed them up against the columns,” she said.\nInspectors hope that the water will recede and the current will slow down enough for the barges to be removed this weekend so that a better assessment of the damage to the bridges can be made.\nSeveral schools in the Beaumont area were damaged by floodwaters and two are closed indefinitely as officials evaluate the extent of the damage, the Beaumont Enterprise reported. The closure of schools in two separate school districts could affect more than 3,000 students.\nCounties in the region, meanwhile, imposed curfews to ensure motorists stayed off roadways that still have standing water. Elsewhere, in Galveston County, officials said people along a Gulf Coast peninsula could be without fresh water service for a month because a water treatment plant was knocked out of operation by flooding, the Galveston County Daily News reported.\nMust-read stories from the L.A. Times\nGet all the day's most vital news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning.\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["40 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Houston area"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least five deaths","death toll to five"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Imelda"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2015 Typhoon Chan-hom strengthens as it heads towards the Pacific island of Guam. (Accuweather)","document":" After blowing through Guam over the weekend with up to 304.8 mm (12 inches) of rain, Chan-hom has its eye set on intensification as it tracks toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands and eventually east-central China.\nAfter achieving typhoon status, Chan-hom dramatically weakened last Friday due to disruptive wind shear. As that shear gradually lessens, Chan-hom will strengthen once again as it tracks to the northwest this week.\nConditions across Guam deteriorated Saturday night as Chan-hom crossed the island into early Sunday. Rainfall over the weekend averaged around 150 mm (6 inches), but some places received as much as 304.8 mm (12 inches). Wind gusts also reached up to 100 kph (65 mph) near Chan-hom's center.\n Western Pacific Typhoon and Tropical Storm CenterInteractive Satellite in Western PacificDetailed Forecast for Guam\nHeading into this week, Chan-hom will continue tracking to the northwest as the strengthening tropical system moves over the open Pacific Ocean between Guam and Japan.\nThe combination of very warm ocean waters and relatively low wind shear will provide a conducive environment for Chan-hom to strengthen with the potential for rapid intensification into a super typhoon during the first part of the week.\nStrengthening into a very large and dangerous cyclone is expected regardless of whether or not super typhoon status is reached.\nDue to the large size and expected strengthening, this system will be capable of producing life-threatening conditions within several hundred kilometers (miles) of its track.\nAnyone from Shanghai to Taipei and Okinowa should continue to monitor the progress of Chan-hom for updates to potential impacts, as the latest indications point toward the Ryukyu Islands and eastern China facing the greatest risk for destructive winds, flooding rain and an inundating storm surge from Chan-hom later next week.\nAccuWeather meteorologists will continue to provide more precise details in the upcoming days to help residents make necessary precautions to protect lives and property.\nOn the heels of Chan-hom is newly-formed Tropical Storm Nangka. This system will also track northwestward through the western Pacific Ocean, slightly more to the north of Chan-hom and strengthen in the process. Interests in the Northern Mariana Islands should be on alert for potential impacts around the middle of next week.\nMeteorologists Adam Douty, Eric Leister and Anthony Sagliani contributed to this story.\n\n\nAfter blowing through Guam over the weekend with up to 304.8 mm (12 inches) of rain, Chan-hom has its eye set on intensification as it tracks toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands and eventually east-central China.\n\n.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["AccuWeather meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["304.8 mm (12 inches)","12 inches","304.8 mm","304.8 mm","304.8 mm","up to 304.8 mm (12 inches)","12 inches","12 inches","150 mm (6 inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Guam","Guam","Guam","Guam","Guam","Japan's Ryukyu Islands","Japan","Ryukyu Islands","Japan","Ryukyu Islands","east-central China","east-central China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["100 kph (65 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2015 China is dealing with two typhoons in a week. Typhoon Linfa lost power after making landfall in southern China's Guangdong province Thursday. Typhoon Chan-hom (Falcon) is headed for landfall in eastern China near Shanghai this weekend. (CNN) (CRI English) (Weather Channel)","document":" .\nOver a 12-day period, Typhoon Chan-hom brought at least some wind and rain to four different locations in the western Pacific and eastern Asia in early-mid July 2015.\nBased on satellite estimates from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Chan-hom reached its peak intensity, the equivalent of a Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, on July 10 as it was near the far southwest Japanese island of Miyakojima.\nSunday, July 5, Chan-hom soaked Guam with up to 16 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. \nAndersen Air Force Base, Guam, reported a peak wind gust to 62 mph that afternoon. Guam International Airport just east of Hagatna, Guam, clocked a peak gust to 43 mph, while Rota Island measured a peak gust to 37 mph.\nOkinawa Island was battered by the first spiral band outside of the typhoon's immediate core much of Thursday night, July 9. The Japan Meteorological Agency's observation site at Itokazu, near the southern end of Okinawa Island, clocked a peak gust of 111.6 mph at 1:05 a.m. Japanese time Friday, July 10. Minutes later it reported a sustained wind of 33.0 meters per second (73.8 mph), right at the minimum threshold for a typhoon.\nKadena Air Base on Okinawa clocked tropical storm-force sustained winds up to 59 mph Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. A peak gust of 78 mph occurred there around 3:20 a.m. Friday Japanese time. \nKitahara, on the island of Kumejima west of Okinawa, had a peak gust of 100 mph Friday.\n(FORECAST: Kadena Air Base)\nAt least 27 people were injured by Chan-hom in Okinawa, according to Fuji TV. In addition, 30,800 customers were without power at one point in Okinawa Power territory.\nAccording to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Chan-hom made landfall in Zhoushan city, Zhejiang Province at 4:40 p.m. local time Saturday (4:40 a.m. EDT Saturday in the U.S.). Zhoushan is along the coast just southeast of, and across Hangzhou Bay from, Shanghai.\nThis was the strongest landfalling storm to hit within 200 miles of Shanghai in at least 35 years, according to Weather Underground's Dr. Jeff Masters.\n\nTyphoon-force winds (74 mph or greater) began to reach the coast of China in the Zhejiang Province Saturday morning, local time. An observation station well south of Shanghai at Shipu reported sustained winds of 74 mph and a gust to 110 mph. Shanghai's Pudong International Airport saw a peak gust of 56 mph at 11 a.m. local time Saturday.\nThe China Meteorological Administration raised a \"red warning of typhoon\" Friday morning for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Several other areas were placed under orange and yellow typhoon warnings, including areas as far north as Qingdao.\nXinhua News Agency said around 1.1 million people were evacuated from coastal areas. The country's railway service said more than 100 trains between the region's cities are canceled through Sunday and over 600 flights were canceled on Saturday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["16 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Guam","Guam","Guam","Guam","the western Pacific and eastern Asia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["July 5"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom","Chan-hom"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2015 Typhoon Nangka makes landfall on the Japanese island of Shikoku. (Weather.com)","document":" .\nTyphoon Nangka made landfall in Japan late Thursday, lashing the country with heavy rainfall before petering out over the Sea of Japan early Saturday.\nMore than 2 feet of rain were reported in parts of Kōchi, Wakayama, Nara and Mie prefectures in the central part of the country. Many rivers went out of their banks as a result. Heavy rains came well in advance of landfall as well, bringing up to 10 inches of rain to northern parts of the Greater Tokyo area.\nThe center of Typhoon Nangka made its first Japanese landfall at 11:07 p.m. Thursday night local time near Muroto city, which is on the Pacific coast of Shikoku, one of Japan's four main islands.\nNangka was the equivalent of a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale at landfall with maximum sustained winds estimated at 75 mph, according to both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (Japan is 13 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time.)\nAbout seven hours later, Nangka made a second landfall after crossing the Seto Inland Sea separating Shikoku from Japan's largest island, Honshu. The second landfall, as a tropical storm, occurred in Kurashiki city, Okayama prefecture.\nNangka's center exited Tottori Prefecture and emerged over the Sea of Japan around 3 p.m. local time Friday. Later, JMA said Nangka had weakened to a tropical depression as of 3 a.m. local time Saturday, when it was centered over the Sea of Japan just west of the Noto Peninsula of central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2 feet","10 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","near Muroto city"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["11:07 p.m. Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 1 tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nangka","Nangka","Nangka","Nangka","Nangka","Nangka"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 An EF1 tornado strikes the Orleans residential community of Ottawa, Canada, creating a track of damage but without serious injuries. (Ottawa Citizen)","document":"Resident of an Orléans neighbourhood described seeing a funnel cloud and hearing what sounded like a train Sunday before a tornado ripped trees out of the ground and damaged homes and cars.\nSeveral residents of the Chatelaine Village neighbourhood north of Place d’Orléans said they only received an emergency alert on their phone after the storm was over — and that the warning was about a possible tornado in Gatineau.\nEnvironment Canada said late Sunday that preliminary information indicates the tornado was a Category EF-1 and may have been on the ground for more than 30 minutes.\nFirefighters, police and city workers were on-hand soon after the storm Sunday helping clear debris tossed around the neighbourhood and to check on residents.\nThere were no reports of serious injuries.\nOttawa Paramedic Service spokesman Marc-Antoine Deschamps said the service had not received any calls to respond to significant injuries.\n“It looks like we got extremely lucky,” Deschamps said.\nThe tornado was in Ottawa’s east end, north of Highway 174 and east of Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard, according to a city bulletin. Residents are asked to avoid damaged areas.\nOn Singleton Way one home had a hole punched through the roof and trees down across the front of the house. Next door, windows were broken and debris was scattered around. The street was lined with fallen trees. A trampoline was mangled around a fence.\nIn nearby Big Bird Park, numerous trees were uprooted.\nDavid Redmond, whose Singleton Way house sustained structural damage to the roof, said he was in Vanier when his son called around 6 p.m. to say there had been a tornado and the house was damaged.\nRedmond said he got on the highway to head home and could see “this giant tornado in the sky hovering over this area, and it lasted the whole drive here.”\nDana Miller said she was about to go for a walk when the sky got dark and “things started moving around in my room.” She looked outside and saw a funnel cloud and “it was heading this way.”\nOthers reported hearing loud sounds like a train before they headed to safety in their basements.\nRita Heather on nearby Burnt Ember Way said she heard a noise that her husband thought was a low-flying plane.\n“All of a sudden we saw the debris flying and he hollered let’s get in the basement. It got really loud and then it started to get softer.”\nThe fence at Heather’s house was smashed and a blooming crabapple tree was upended.\n“My heart dropped when I saw that tree.”\nAt a nearby house, three cars were damaged, trees were snapped and broken and debris was scattered around the yard.\nThe force of the wind blew debris inside the house underneath the front door, said Mary-Jean Achtell.\n“Everything is damaged, but we are safe,” she said.\nA steady stream of people wandered through the streets and parks to survey the damage, some cleaning up debris as they went.\nNumerous fire trucks were on the scene in an area around Place d’Orleans inspecting the damage from the sudden storm. A Ottawa First spokesman said there were no reports of anyone being trapped, but some of the damages to houses was significant.\nMarc Messier, an inspector with Ottawa Fire, said his son watched what looked like a funnel cloud rip down his street in Orléans. He was driving toward Orléans when he saw what appeared to be a tornado and filmed it, later posting it on social media.\nOttawa Police Service tweeted about downed trees and property damage to some houses in the area.\n“There are no reported injuries at this time,” the statement said, adding the following roads are closed because of debris: Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard between Tenth Line Road and Trim Road, Highway 174 between Cameron Street and Trim Road. “There are also several residential streets impassable due to debris and fallen trees.”\n 1 of 10 Environment Canada issued tornado warnings for Gatineau and Prescott Russell just after 6 p.m., but not for Ottawa.\nA tornado was spotted near the Gatineau airport late Sunday afternoon and a tornado warning was issued for Gatineau and the area around the Lièvre River and Papineauville-Chénéville. The warning was later expanded to Prescott and Russell after a tornado was reported near Rockland.\nOn Sunday night, Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said the tornado that touched down there did no significant damage.\nKen McGrath, director of operations for the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, said there was no reported damage to the airport. “We just had a little bit of hail. Everything went south of us, toward the (Ottawa) river.”\nNumerous people posted images funnel clouds in Ottawa’s east end on social media.\nThe first alert was issued for the Gatineau area by Environment Canada at 6:01 p.m. It was lifted for Gatineau at around 7 p.m., but maintained for Papineauveille-Chénéville and Lachute.\n“Persons in or near this area should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions. Watch for updated statements,” the advisory said.\nAt 7:26 p.m., Environment Canada said a confirmed tornado was located near Alfred, moving east at 30 km/h. “Locations impacted include Alfred, L’Orignal, Coins Gratton, Blue Corners, Ritchance, Evanturel, L’Ange-Gardien, Village Lanthier, Cassburn and Henrys Corner,” it said.\nA second possible tornado was near Wendover, moving east at 30 km/h, it added, with affected locations including Wendover, Glenburn, Rockdale, The Rollway, Jessups Falls, Centrefield, Treadwell, Plantagenet, Senecal, Curran and Plantagenet Station.\nJust past 8 p.m., Environment Canada said a possible tornado was located near L’Orignal, moving east at 30 km/h. The storm was expected to be east of the region by 8:30 p.m., it added.\n“As a city, as a community, we always want to be there for anyone who needs help moving forward from events like this,” Innes Coun. Laura Dudas said, adding this is just the latest in a string of weather-related crises for the city. “We need to be thinking about how we can be proactive in handling this.”\nCumberland Coun. Stephen Blais was returning to Ottawa by train when the tornado hit. Asked what this latest weather incident might mean in terms of emergency preparedness for the municipality, Blais noted that the city was already in a state of emergency because of severe spring flooding.\n“I think it will be a day or two before we know much more,” Blais said.\nAfter a briefing from emergency services, Orléans Coun. Matthew Luloff said only one minor injury had been reported.\n“And that person is going to be taken care of and is just fine. We were very lucky,” Luloff said.\nLuloff also cited the already declared state of emergency because of flooding and said the response by both city staff and residents had improved.\n“Over the last year, I think more people now take these incidents a heck of a lot more seriously.”\nThe overall goal should be to ensure that similar levels of response became standard, Luloff added.\n“I don’t believe you ever get to a point with emergency preparedness where you have everything worked out, and you can always improve.”\nResidents in parts of Ottawa and Gatineau hit by tornadoes last September are still cleaning up and trying to rebuild.\nOttawa Health tweeted a link to resources where residents can get help if they are feeling stressed, including the Ottawa Distress Centre at 238-3311.\nThe impact of a stressful event such as a #tornado can be immediate or delayed. These are normal reactions to stress. \n\nOttawa Tornado ?. @jenmilligan23 took this from Riverside Dr looking east over Via Rail. \nThe not-yet-confirmed tornado over Ottawa just now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nr","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Chatelaine Village neighbourhood north of Place d’Orléans","Place","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau","Gatineau"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Resident of an Orléans neighbourhood"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category EF-1"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 Three people on a rescue mission are killed when Storm Miguel, with max winds of 129 km/h (80 mph), overturned their National Society of Sea Rescue boat off the west coast of France in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm, unusual at the start of the summer tourist season, hit Spain, the Netherlands and southern England and Wales yesterday and is heading north toward England, Wales and Scotland. (BBC) (AccuWeather)","document":"A rescue boat has overturned in the Atlantic off the west coast of France leaving three crew dead, amid winds of up to 129 km/h (80 mph).\nThey were part of a crew of seven who had gone to the aid of another boat which had got into difficulty as Storm Miguel struck the area.\nWinds of up to 147km/h hit northern Spain earlier, swirling around the Bay of Biscay and moving on to France.\nThe storm is unusual, coming at the start of the summer tourist season.\nPhotographs of the National Society of Sea Rescue rescue boat captured it rolling in large swells in the moments before it capsized, after which the vessel ran ashore upside down.\nFour of the seven crew aboard the rescue boat managed to swim to shore. Three helicopters and around 60 firefighters were attempting to find the bodies of the three dead.\nThe strongest winds were recorded in the north-western Spanish region of Asturias late on Thursday while earlier there was damage to some buildings in Galicia.\nAs the storm hit land on the Ile d'Yeu in western France on Friday, forecasters recorded wind speeds of 129km/h. Down the coast of the Vendée area, off the beach resort of Les Sables-d'Olonne, a crew from the SNSM sea rescue service went to the aid of a fishing boat in trouble and capsized some 800m off shore.\n\"The sea was quite atrocious,\" mayor Yannick Moreau told news channel BFMTV. \"The boat had a crew of seven and three rescuers have died. It's a big shock for us and a big shock for the whole town.\"\nTen French departments were placed on orange alert and warned of potential damage, particularly to trees. Rail travel in the west was disrupted by the storm and forecasters said such images were rare in June.\nAlerts were also in place further north, with warnings of heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 100 km/h in the western half of the Netherlands.\nHigh winds had already ravaged the Dutch coast in the early hours of Thursday, leading police in the coastal province of Zeeland to stumble on a cocaine laboratory.\nWhen they were alerted to a tree that had fallen during the night, they saw some suspicious men loitering around a barn and noticed a strange smell.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["France","France","France","northern Spain","Bay of Biscay"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["three crew dead","seven crew"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Miguel"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["129 km/h","147km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vayu is in the Arabian Sea less than 600 miles south-southeast of Karachi, Pakistan, and is strengthening as it heads north. Vayu is expected to be a Category 2 or 3 storm when it approaches the Indian state of Gujarat early Thursday (local time), then should weaken as it approaches southeastern Pakistan over the weekend. (The Weather Channel) (Al Jazeera)","document":".\nTropical Cyclone Vayu is moving away from northwestern India's Gujarat state, but outer rainbands and gusty winds continue to lash parts of the coastline.\nMore than a quarter-million people were evacuated from several towns and villages in harm's way along India's western coast, according to the Associated Press. This was done with assistance from 39 National Disaster Response teams that were deployed to the region.\n\nOn the forecast track, Vayu will move away from India's Gujarat state into this weekend. Western India is 9.5 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time in the United States.\nHowever, outer rainbands may continue to produce locally heavy rain and gusty winds at times.\nThe track of Vayu is more uncertain late this weekend into early next week, and it could turn back toward northwestern India or southeastern Pakistan. It will be weakening but will also likely be moving slowly, which could result in prolonged heavy rainfall.\nVayu didn't officially make landfall in Gujarat state, but it would have been a rare occurrence if it did. Landfalling tropical cyclones are not very common along northwestern India's Gujarat coast, and stronger tropical cyclones with hurricane-force winds are even rarer.\nThere have been just three tropical cyclones on record to make landfall in this region of India as a Category 2 or stronger equivalent, according to NOAA's tropical cyclone database. The last one was a Category 3 tropical cyclone, which made landfall in Gujarat in May 1999.\nWe recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. Take control of your data.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecast"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northwestern India or southeastern Pakistan","northwestern India","northwestern India"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than a quarter-million people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Vayu","Vayu","Vayu","Vayu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2019 Seven people, including six foreign tourists, are killed and 100 others injured during a violent storm that swept across Thessaloniki, Greece. (BBC)","document":"Seven people, including six tourists, have been killed in a violent storm that swept across a region of northern Greece on Wednesday night.\nGale-force winds, heavy rain and hailstorms lashed Halkidiki, near the city of Thessaloniki.\nA Czech couple died when their caravan was blown away, and two Romanians and two Russians also died. A seventh body was later found in the sea.\nOfficials say at least 100 others were injured, with 23 people hospitalised.\nA state of emergency has been declared, with dozens of rescue workers dispatched to help. Charalambos Steriadis, head of civil protection in northern Greece, described the storm as an \"unprecedented phenomenon\".\nIt followed a spell of very hot weather in Greece with temperatures soaring to 37C (98F) over the past two days.\nWinds of more than 60mph (100km/h) were recorded in the region, Reuters news agency reports.\nImages and video posted on social media show trees toppled, cars overturned and buildings damaged.\nEmily Kishtoo, from Surrey in the UK, was at a beach party with her family when the storm hit on Wednesday night. \"It literally came out of nowhere,\" she told the BBC. \"The lights cut out on the beach that we were in - it was chaos.\n\"People running, screaming and just trying to basically get off the beach.\"\nShe says staff at the resort where she was staying with her children, aged three and five, directed the family to a bar area - which then began to flood.\n\"We've got two young children, there were lots of children crying, obviously very upset, very, very scared.\"\nElectricity access at the resort has been intermittent since, she said, with no running water on Thursday morning.\nWitnesses say the worst of the freak storm lasted only about 20 minutes.\nThe Romanian woman and her child were killed when the roof of a restaurant collapsed at Nea Plagia, officials say, while the Russian man and his son were killed by a falling tree near their hotel in the seaside resort of Potidea.\nA seventh body was later found in the sea on Thursday. Formal identification is yet to take place, but a 62-year-old Greek fisherman was reported missing in the area. Those injured are mostly tourists, officials say.\n\"It is the first time in my 25-year career that I have lived through something like this,\" said Athansios Kaltsas, director of the Nea Moudania Medical Centre which treated many of the injured.\n\"It was so abrupt, so sudden.\"\nThe country's newly elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled his schedule and is being briefed on the situation, officials say.\nDefence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos was quoted as saying the army was ready to clear debris and would offer generators - amid reports up to 80% of the area lost its power. This is the latest in a series of other extreme weather events across Europe in recent weeks. A heat-wave brought record June temperatures to several countries.\nGolf ball-sized hail has been reported in parts of the south of France and Italy and there were forest fires in Sicily on Wednesday, including in popular beach resort areas. Hail batters south-east France\n\n.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["a region of northern Greece","northern Greece","region","near the city of Thessaloniki","near"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A seventh body","seventh body","Seven people","A Czech couple","two Romanians","two Russians","at least 100 others were injured","23 people hospitalised"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday night","Wednesday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["60mph (100km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2019 At least 56 people have been killed and more than a million forced from their homes as Typhoon Lekima hits eastern China. (BBC)","document":"China's largest video-streaming platform has apologised after it mistakenly said a typhoon had killed everyone in Shandong province - home to around 99 million people.\nTencent Video made the error in a push notification about Typhoon Lekima, sent to subscribers on Monday. It later corrected the death toll for the province to five.\nThe nationwide death toll from the typhoon had reached 56 by Wednesday, according to official media reports.\nIn its mistaken push notification on Monday, Tencent cited the Shandong Emergency Response Office as saying: \"Typhoon Lekima has left the entire province dead, seven people are missing.\" The company later posted a statement expressing regret on Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, and blamed the error on \"editorial mistakes\". It apologised for any harm caused, and promised to review its work practices.\nTencent Video had 89 million subscribers at the start of 2019, according to a financial report released in May.\nTyphoon Lekima hit eastern China in the early hours of Saturday, and swept through the provinces of Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui over the weekend.\nAround two million people were forced to leave their homes, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said, and more than 1,000 flights were cancelled.\nState media said weekend rainfall levels in Shandong were the highest since records began in 1952.\nScreenshots showing the Tencent message were widely shared on Weibo, where many were less than forgiving. \"Where are your editorial standards? It's a major natural disaster situation, how could you get something like this wrong?\" said one commenter. \"Are you crazy Tencent? Sending out a [notification] like this has serious consequences,\" another posted.\nOthers made light of the error, however.\n\"I live in Shandong,\" said one commenter. \"Tencent is really amazing, I didn't even know I died.\" Census data from 2016 showed that Shandong is home to 99.4 million residents. Chinese censor calls Tencent app 'vulgar'\nOne million evacuated as deadly typhoon hits China\nDeath toll rises as typhoon moves up China coast\nBuildings swept away in China typhoon\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["provinces of Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui","Shandong","Shandong","Shandong","Shandong","Shandong","Shandong province","eastern China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five","56","Around two million people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early hours of Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lekima","Lekima","Lekima"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2014 The American state of California prepares for its worst storm in five years with schools closed in the San Francisco Bay Area. (USA Today)","document":"A ferocious storm is forecast to batter California with drenching rain, heavy snow, pounding surf and howling winds through Friday.\nThe National Weather Service said the barrage is \"expected to be one of the strongest storms in terms of wind and rain\" since storms in October 2009 and January 2008.\nModerate rain and gusty winds began hitting Northern California late Wednesday. Officials in San Francisco, Oakland and Marin County said schools would be closed Thursday because of expected heavy rain and winds. San Francisco closed the Great Highway, a road that runs along the far western side of the city, next to the Pacific Ocean, also because of the risk of high winds and heavy rain.\nSouthern California saw dark clouds move in Wednesday afternoon. Los Angeles County officials closed a pair of main roads around Castaic Lake, a state recreation area in mountains north of Santa Clarita, in anticipation of mud flow.\nA system fueled by the \"Pineapple Express\" is delivering a steady stream of moisture directly from Hawaii to the West Coast starting Wednesday. Meteorologists describe the Pineapple Express as a long, narrow plume that pipes moisture from the tropics into the western United States.\nAbout 3-6 inches of rain is possible in parts of Northern California, including much of the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, AccuWeather said. Some spots could see as much as 9 inches of rain.\nThe rainfall could overwhelm waterways and road drainage systems, possibly leading to flash floods.\nIn the Sacramento area, strong winds expected with the storm — gusts as high as 60 mph — could take down outdoor holiday decorations.\n\"I'm not putting any of it up until after the storm because even though it's pretty durable, it will just blow over,\" Sacramento resident Tim Adams said.\nPeople were advised to take down their holiday lights, especially inflatable decorations that are not properly anchored.\nMark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, issued a warning that the storm will present a risk of flash flooding and debris slides, particularly in the northern and southern areas of the state that had wildfires this year.\n\"Burned areas are especially at risk for debris slides. Even regions that don't experience regular seasonal flooding could see flash flooding during this intense storm system,\" he said in a statement.\nThe intense rain from this storm still won't end the region's drought, although it will be a major step in the right direction, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.\nRunoff from the storm could cause streams to surge with high water before eventually emptying into lakes and reservoirs.\nAs much as 4 feet of snow could fall in the Sierra Nevada. A blizzard warning was posted for portions of the northern Sierra, where winds could rage to 80 mph with heavy, swirling snow. A winter storm warning is also in effect for the southern Sierra.\nIn some communities, groups opened shelters.\nThe weather service warned that travel in the northern Sierra will be \"extremely dangerous\" because of blizzard conditions: \"Do not travel. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded ... stay with your vehicle.\"\nThe storm is expected to dump enough snow on California's mountains that the state's snowpack — currently only 35% of average for this time of year — could be at 75% or higher by this weekend.\nOregon and Washington were the first to see the storm's effects Wednesday. At least 24,000 customers had lost power by Wednesday afternoon because of the rain and wind in western Washington, with more outages and rough weather forecast through Thursday.\nOddly, along with the rain in Washington came warmth, as Sea-Tac Airport hit 66 degrees, the highest December temperature ever recorded there, according to the weather service.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["as much as 9 inches","much","much","About 3-6 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["California","California","California","California","California","California"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate join the list of retired Atlantic hurricane names. (USA Today)","document":"Goodbye and good riddance. The names of last year's monster hurricanes — Harvey, Irma and Maria — will never be used again after they were officially \"retired\" Thursday.\nThe hurricanes killed hundreds of people, caused more than $200 billion in damage and brought misery and hardship to millions of Americans. The World Meteorological Organization also retired Nate, a hurricane that hit central America as a tropical storm, killing dozens, then hit the U.S. Gulf Coast.\nHarvey, a Category 4 hurricane that hit Texas with winds of 132 mph, killed 68 people and dumped historic amounts of rain on Houston. With damage of $126 billion, it's the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind Katrina.\nIrma lashed the Caribbean and the U.S., making seven separate landfalls as it tore across the islands and the Southeast U.S. A Category 5 storm at its height with winds of 178 mph, Irma killed more than 100 people and devastated the island of Barbuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\nHurricane Maria, with winds of 172 mph at its height, ravaged the island of Dominica as a Category 5 on Sept. 19 and later devastated Puerto Rico as a high-end Category 4 hurricane, producing catastrophic damage to the U.S. territory.\nThe meteorological organization retired the four names from its rotating list used for hurricanes and tropical storms in light of the death and destruction the storms caused.\nThe organization reuses storm names every six years in lists for the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins. The nation hardest hit by a storm can request its name be removed because the storm was so deadly or costly that future use of the name would be insensitive. \nThe removal also avoids confusion caused by a future storm having the same name. In 2005, five storm names, including Katrina, were retired — the most for a single season.\nThe list from 2017 will be used again in 2023. The organization will replace Harvey with Harold, Irma with Idalia and Maria with Margot. Nate will be replaced by Nigel. \nThis year's Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 — with Alberto.\nMore:It's going to be another busy, above average hurricane season, meteorologists say\nIn all, 86 hurricane names have now been retired. When a storm name is retired from the Atlantic's list of names, member countries of the meteorological organization from that region select a new name. For Atlantic storms, the name can be French, Spanish or English, reflecting the languages of residents of countries that could be hit by a hurricane. \nIn 1953, the U.S. began using female names for hurricanes and, by 1979, male and female names were used. The names alternate between male and female.\nThere are no Q, U, X, Y or Z names because of the lack of usable names that begin with those letters. If more than 21 storms form in one season, such as in 2005, the Greek alphabet is used to name the additional storms.\nThere are also separate lists for typhoons in the western Pacific and tropical cyclones in Australia and the Indian Ocean. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the island of Dominica","island","central America","U.S. Gulf Coast","Texas","Puerto Rico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["hundreds of people","millions of Americans","killing dozens","killed 68 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5","Category 5","Category 4 hurricane","Category 4 hurricane","tropical storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Harvey","Harvey","Harvey","Irma","Irma","Irma","Irma","Maria","Maria","Maria","Nate","Nate"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["132 mph","172 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2014 Typhoon Kalmaegi hits the northeast Philippines with warnings of potential floods and landslides. (AP via Daily Mail)","document":"By Associated Press Published: 05:35 BST, 16 September 2014 | Updated: 05:35 BST, 16 September 2014 BEIJING (AP) — A typhoon struck China's southernmost island of Hainan on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights as it headed northwest toward Vietnam.\nAbout 90,000 people in southern China were evacuated from high-risk areas ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. But the typhoon's course was giving only a glancing blow to southern China as the storm headed toward northern Vietnam, where it was expected to make landfall Tuesday night.\nThe storm was sending winds of 137 to 144 kilometers per hour (85 to 90 mph) over southern mainland China, according to the country's National Meteorological Center. Hainan's international airport canceled 69 flights, Xinhua said.\nA Filipino holds a duck outside his house as a swollen river slowly recedes in suburban Quezon city, Philippines Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Fast-moving typhoon Kalmaegi blew out of the northern Philippines Monday after causing flash floods and landslides. Three people died when big waves and strong winds sank a stalled ferry over the weekend. \nVietnam ordered residents in high-risk areas to evacuate and fishing boats to take shelter.\nTyphoon Kalmaegi slammed into the northern Philippines on Monday, unleashing flooding and killing at least two people.\nA Filipino man carries a pig over floodwaters as residents who earlier evacuated due to a swollen river return to their homes in suburban San Mateo, Rizal province, Philippines Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Fast-moving typhoon Kalmaegi blew out of the northern Philippines Monday after causing flash floods and landslides. Three people died when big waves and strong winds sank a stalled ferry over the weekend.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["China's southernmost island of Hainan","China","China","China","China","Hainan","northern Philippines","northern Philippines","northern Philippines","northern Vietnam"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Three people died","Three people died","About 90,000 people","at least two people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday night","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Kalmaegi","Kalmaegi","Kalmaegi","Kalmaegi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["137 to 144 kilometers per hour (85 to 90 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2011 A tornado hits the town of Rayne in the US state of Louisiana resulting in one death, at least eleven injuries and 50 homes destroyed. (AP via Indiana Republic)[permanent dead link], (The Daily Advertiser), (CNN), (Fox News)","document":"RAYNE | The tornado path takes in the northwest side of this city, cutting a swath about an eighth of a mile wide through residential and commercial areas. Early estimates have as many as 50 homes destroyed, along with a dozen businesses.\nThe triage station, at the pavilion next to the Rayne Frog Festival grounds, is packed with emergency responders from Rayne's fire, police and municipal employees to utility providers, Acadian Ambulance workers and State Police units. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development crews are bringing in lights to allow operations to continue after night falls.\nTroy Guidry, Acadian Ambulance's director of operations, said 12 patients had passed through the triage station. Of those 12, only one had serious injuries, with the other 11 being minor. They were each treated on the scene then dispatched to nearby hospitals.\nRayne Fire Department Chief Barry Granger said his department got the first call around 10:20 a.m. Center Point Energy has crews on location trying to shut down gas that is leaking from damaged homes and businesses in the storm's path.\n\"This damage is pretty significant,\" Granger said. \"As long as I can remember this is probably the worst tornado to hit the city.\"\nAs of 1:05 p.m., evacuations were underway in the northwestern portion of Rayne as the smell of natural gas permeates the air. \"They are evacuating northwest Rayne from the railroad tracks to Interstate-10 and from the boulevard back,\" said State Police Troop I spokesman Stephen Hammons. \"There have been no confirmed deaths, but there is a heavy smell of gas in the air. Crews are going house to house through the area seeking the injured or dead.\"\nAccording to Rayne High School student Kristen Petitjean, 16, the Rayne High School north gym roof suffered visible damage, as well as the school's math building. Cody Bergeron said he walked down the boulevard and saw that the O'Reilly's Auto Parts store's roof is gone.\nBut the damage seems most severe in the northwest quadrant of the town. As the crews clear each house, they are marking them with paint, creating a scene reminiscent of the post-Katrina flooding in New Orleans, where crews used painted grids to tell other searchers that homes had been cleared and what had been found.\nHammons said the evacuees were being taken to the Rayne Fire Department building or to nearby relatives' homes. Though there have been reports of nine injuries, at least one critical, Hammons could not confirm any numbers as far as casualties are concerned. He did say a number of houses in the storm's path are total losses.\nRumors of a death from the storm have not been confirmed.\n\"We're talking about having several thousand people to evacuate,\" said Maxine Trahan of the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office.\nThe Northwest corner of Rayne is being evacuated due to a gas leak. Anyone wondering about the whereabouts of friends or family members can contact the Rayne Fire Department at 334-4443.\nThe number of injuries caused by the tornado in the Rayne area is now reported to be up to nine.\nAt least one tornado touched down in Acadiana Saturday, leaving destruction and injuries in its wake. Emergency responders are working after a storm passed near Rayne Saturday morning, causing damage and some injuries according to initial reports.\nAcadian Ambulance dispatchers received the first calls for help at 10:01 a.m. According to the National Weather Service, a radar signature indicated a tornado near Mire at 10:07.\nSearch and rescue operations are underway. Acadian Ambulance has established a triage point at Gossen Park in Rayne. Two people have been transported to nearby hospitals so far.\n\n\nThe gateway to Rayne High School was one of the areas hit when a tornado tore through the northwest quadrant of the town Saturday morning. (P.C. Piazza | The Daily Advertiser)\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northwest side of this city","city","Rayne area","Acadiana"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["up to nine","nine","12 patients","Two people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2011 Storms in Guangdong, southern China, kill at least 18 people and leave 150 injured. (BBC) (Xinhua)","document":"Violent storms in southern China have killed at least 18 people and injured more than 150, state media report.\nGale-force winds, heavy rains and hailstones battered Guangdong province at the weekend, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.\nThe authorities say those who died where struck by falling objects or collapsing walls. The extreme weather has caused millions of dollars of damage to buildings as well as farmland, officials said. The storms, packing winds of up to 164 km/h swept through the provincial capital, Guangzhou, and the nearby cities of Foshan, Dongguan and Zhaoqing.\nThe storms have affected more than 3,200 people, and at least 45 houses have been destroyed, a spokesman from the province's flood control headquarters was cited by Xinhua as saying. The civil affairs ministry put the cost of the damage at 96m yuan ($14.7m). About 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) of crops were damaged, state media reported.\nThe local government has begun a relief mission to provide aid to those affected, and move the injured to hospital. Guangdong province is the manufacturing heartland of China. Thousands of factories produce goods for export round the globe - but there have been no reports of any serious damage to assembly lines. Chinese rain storms kill dozens\nXinhua \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Guangdong province","Guangdong province","southern China","Guangzhou","the nearby cities of Foshan, Dongguan and Zhaoqing"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 18","injured more than 150","hundreds of people to evacuate","3,200 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["164 km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 In Japan, tens of thousands are forced to evacuate due to flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Etau. So far, one person is reported as missing. (Radio NZ Online), (AP via U.S. News & World Report), (Al Jazeera English Online), (BBC)","document":"Authorities in central Japan have ordered tens of thousands to flee their homes after rain flooded rivers and triggered landslides, with one person missing after a mudslide buried houses.\nA hotel building falls into the floodwaters at Nikko mountain resort in Tochigi prefecture. \nThe Japan Meteorological Agency issued special downpour warnings for areas north of Tokyo.\nAt an emergency media conference, it said the scale of the downpour has not been experienced before and it warned of grave danger.\nAuthorities in Tochigi prefecture have ordered more than 90,000 residents to evacuate, while another 80,000 were advised to leave their homes.\nThe swollen Kinugawa River in Joso city, northeast of Tokyo and home to 65,000 people, burst its banks.\nSome people were left clinging to the roofs of their houses, waiting for helicoptors to rescue them.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Japan Meteorological Agency"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["areas north of Tokyo","Tokyo"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["tens of thousands","one person missing","90,000 residents","Some people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 In Japan, tens of thousands are forced to evacuate due to flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Etau. So far, one person is reported as missing. (Radio NZ Online), (AP via U.S. News & World Report), (Al Jazeera English Online), (BBC)","document":"Widespread flooding and landslides in north-east Japan have forced more than 90,000 people to abandon their homes.\nThe city of Joso, north of the capital, Tokyo, was hit by a wall of water after the Kinugawa River burst its banks. Helicopter rescue teams have been plucking people from rooftops. At least eight people are still missing and 100 need rescuing.\nThe rains come a day after a tropical storm brought winds of up to 125km/h (78mph) to central Aichi prefecture. The chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, said that the rainfall was \"unprecedented\" for that part of Japan.\n\"We can say this is an abnormal situation and there is imminent serious danger,\" he went on.\nJapan gets hit by, on average, 20 to 30 such storms each year. This is the 18th this year so despite the heavy rainfall that we have experienced over the last few days, it was difficult to predict how severe the damage would be. The Kinugawa River bursting its banks took even experts by surprise, especially because of the widespread areas that it has affected. Just as in previous natural disasters, including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Japan's non-combat military Self-Defence Force is playing a major role in the rescue operations and it is receiving lots of praise so far. But there are concerns that these storms are getting stronger in recent years and more preparations may be needed in the future. The hardest-hit areas have been Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. Japan's Meteorological Agency had put both regions on its highest level of alert.\nSaori Mori, who lives close to the Tone River in the town of Abiko, told the BBC that \"the water is right up to the top of the banks now\". \"We have been told to pack and prepare to evacuate as soon as we are told to,\" Ms Mori said, adding that she and her family were \"getting ready for a fast exit\". In pictures: Floods in Japan\nTelevision footage from Joso in Ibaraki showed people clinging to the rooftops before helicopter rescue teams winched them to safety. Entire homes and cars were carried away on the torrent as the Kinugawa River burst its banks after two days of heavy rainfall. The flood waters reached as far as 8km (5 miles) from the breach.\nIn Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, double the amount that normally falls there throughout the whole of September, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.\nParts of central Tochigi have seen almost 600mm of rain since Monday evening, breaking records.\nMany other areas of eastern and north-eastern Japan have also been issued weather warnings, including Fukushima prefecture, home to the still-damaged nuclear plant hit in 2011's earthquake and tsunami.\nThe downpour overwhelmed the site's drainage pumps, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said. Huge volumes of water, used to cool the plant's crippled reactors, are being stored at the site.\nThe Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 15 people had been injured across Japan. Two were elderly women seriously injured after being knocked over by strong winds.\nThe BBC's Mariko Oi says seven people are missing in Joso and one in Tochigi prefecture, and the authorities fear that number will rise.\nShe said officials confirmed 265 people had been rescued, but at least 100 remain in need of help as rescue efforts are hindered by the night time.\nSome areas have had power cuts and transport was disrupted, with many air and train services cancelled or delayed. Some roads were also closed.\nPrime Minister Shinzo Abe said the authorities were doing their best.\n\"The government will stand united and do its best to deal with the disaster... by putting its highest priority on people's lives,\" he told reporters.\nLast month, powerful Typhoon Goni hit Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, killing at least one person and injuring 70 others.\nHouse dragged away by flood\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["500mm (19 inches)","600mm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north-east Japan","north","central Aichi prefecture"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["seven people are missing","missing","100 remain in need of help","100 need","90,000","At least eight people","15 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 At least three people die, 27 are injured, and 26 people are missing, the majority of them in and around Jōsō city in Ibaraki Prefecture, as a result of floods and landslides in Japan after heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Etau. (Reuters) (The Independent-UK)","document":"At least three people have died and dozens are missing after severe flooding that has devastated cities in north-east Japan.\nTwo women and a man were killed and at least 27 have been injured - eight seriously - according to the BBC.\nIt has reported that at least 26 people are missing, with the majority of them in and around Joso city in Ibaraki, 34 miles north-east of the country’s capital Tokyo, where the Kinugawa river burst through a flood barrier on Wednesday.\nHundreds of people are stranded, including several pensioners, in the aftermath of the flooding, caused by heavy rain in the wake of Typhoon Etau, which swept through the region earlier this week.\nHouses have been ripped from their foundations and 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.\nThe Japan Meteorological Agency called it an “unprecedented” downpour.\nOfficials confirmed that a 63-year-old woman was killed when her house was hit by a landslide in Kanuma City in Tochigi, the BBC reports.\nAnother woman, aged 48, died after her car was swept away in Kurihara city in Miyagi.\nA man also died after falling into a drain he was trying to clear in Nikko, Tochigi.\nThe country’s Meteorological Agency has issued fresh alerts for heavy rain, warning rivers in Tochigi, Ibaraki and Niigata could burst their banks today, with the possibility of landslides across eastern and north-eastern Japan.\nJ\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 26 people are missing","missing","dozens are missing","missing","Two women and a man","man","a 63-year-old woman was killed","At least three people","at least 27 have been injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Etau"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2015 The death toll from flooding in Japan caused by Tropical Storm Etau rises to seven. (Straits Times), (Asia One)","document":"TOKYO - The death toll from floods which have devastated parts of Japan in recent days rose to seven Sunday, with thousands of homes submerged, as rescuers searched for 15 people still missing.\nPolice Sunday found the bodies of two men in rice paddies in Joso, the worst-hit city. Earlier in the day they discovered the body of a 68-year-old man inside a submerged car in a flooded ricefield in the town of Tochigi north of Tokyo.\nParts of Joso, a community of 65,000 residents, were washed away Thursday when a levee on the Kinugawa river gave way, flooding an area spanning 32 square kilometres (12 square miles) after the worst rains in decades.\nToru Takasugi, mayor of the city about 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside Tokyo, apologised at a press conference for not ordering residents to evacuate before the river burst its banks, local media reported.\n\"We thought it might break its banks but we couldn't predict where. We are deeply sorry for not handling the situation properly,\" he said.\nFour days have passed since the flooding but a total of 1,800 rescuers including police, firefighters and military were still struggling Sunday to find 15 people still missing from Joso, public broadcaster NHK said.\nThe weather agency warned of the possibility of more heavy rain in the flood-hit area later in the evening.\nA Japanese city was flooded Thursday when a raging river burst its banks\ndestroying homes and cars as desperate residents waited for help\nand as thousands of people were ordered to evacuate.\nDramatic television footage showed a wall of muddy water gushing from the swollen Kinugawa river in Joso city, north of Tokyo, which is home to around 65,000 people.\nSeveral people are reportedly missing across the country as waist-high floods in some areas left rescuers scrambling to pluck residents to safety\nas a wide area was deluged in the wake of Typhoon Etau.\nThe huge rains also exacerbated a contaminated water problem at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant\nas it overwhelmed the site’s drainage pumps, sending radiation-tainted water into the ocean.\n“This is a scale of downpour that we have not experienced before,” forecaster Takuya Deshimaru told an emergency press conference.\nPrime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government was on high alert.\n“The government will stand united and do its best to deal with the disaster... by putting its highest priority on people’s lives,” he told reporters.\nIn Joso, houses and vehicles were washed away along with some power lines\nas military personnel headed to the area to help with the rescue mission.\nA solitary man clutched onto a concrete power pole, unable to move as raging water surged by him. He was later rescued.\nNearby, an emergency official was suspended from a helicopter to rescue a person from a submerged home.\nDesperate residents waved towels at rescuers as they stood on second-floor balconies waiting for help.\n“Please continue to ask for help. Please do not give up hope,” an NHK broadcaster said in an apparent message to helpless residents.\nThe city is about 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside the capital Tokyo, which has also been hit by flooding.\nJoso is in Ibaraki prefecture, where the Japan Meteorological Agency had issued special warnings urging vigilance against mudslides and flooding. It had similar warnings for Tochigi prefecture.\n“The prefecture has requested assistance from the Self-Defence Forces and police helicopters from the region. We are receiving their help,” a prefectural official told AFP.\n“We do not have updated information about the damage, but we know it is extensive and affected wide areas,” he added.\nTochigi authorities ordered more than 90,000 residents to evacuate\nwhile another 116,000 were advised to leave their homes, public broadcaster NHK said. In Ibaraki , at least 20,000 were ordered to evacuate for fears of floodings.\nIn Tochigi’s Kanuma city, a local official said rescuers were searching for a missing person believed to be buried in mudslides.\n“We don’t know details of this person yet,” he said.\nNHK reported it was a woman in her 60s buried after mudslides destroyed houses. Her husband was rescued soon after, it added.\nTwo men were missing in Nikko, a city known for its historical shrines, after possibly being buried by landslides, public broadcaster NHK said.\nTwo other men in Nikko were rescued after being swept into a drainage gutter, but one was unconscious, the broadcaster said.\nEtau, which smashed into Japan on Wednesday, moved out into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) by the end of the day\n but a wall of rain continued to lash the country.\nJapanese farmer Teppei Takahashi inspects his damaged rice fields due to high winds and heavy rains of Typhoon Etau in Isumi city, Chiba prefecture, Japan, 09 September 2015. More than a dozen people were injured\nincluding a 77-year-old woman who broke her leg after falling in strong winds, local reports said.\nA protester (C) shouts slogans at a rally against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bill and his administration in Tokyo, during heavy rain caused by typhoon Etau, September 9, 2015. A protester (C), with a placard and illumination lights hung around his neck, attends a rally against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bill and his administration, during heavy rain caused by typhoon Etau in Tokyo September 9, 2015. Officials said more than 1,650 people were still at evacuation centres in Joso Sunday afternoon as over 4,000 houses were submerged and the water supply remained cut off.\nThe number of missing in Joso dropped from 22 to 15 Saturday after police found more victims alive, including a pair of eight-year-old children.\nIn Kanuma city north of Joso a 63-year-old woman was killed by a landslide, while a 48-year-old woman was found dead in the northern prefecture of Miyagi.\nA 25-year-old man was killed while helping to clear blocked drains in the city of Nikko, known for its historic shrines.\nPolice also found the body of a man in a river in Miyagi.\n \n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The weather agency"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people","thousands","people","people","people","Several people are reportedly missing","15 people still missing","15 people still missing","two men","Two men","seven","a 68-year-old man","at least 20,000"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Etau","Etau","Etau","Etau","Etau"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 The Philippines prepares for Typhoon Megi, potentially the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year. (ABC News Australia) (BBC) (Philippine Inquirer)","document":" Body of drowning victim foundBlackout hits 5 N. Luzon provinces2 more domestic flights cancelledDepEd: Class suspensions now based on Pagasa storm signalsPool calamity funds for disasters—DILG2 missing amid rains spawned by ‘Juan’—Coast GuardSuper typhoon Juan makes landfall in Sierra Madre—PagasaJuan claims 1st deathFloods and political will\nRodolfo Yunipa braves the heavy downpour as he fixes the roofing of his hut near the shoreline in Barangay Maura, Aparri, Cagayan. Super-typhoon “Juan” (international code name: Megi) is expected to strike at the northern provinces of Luzon Monday morning. EDWIN BACASMAS\nExpected path of Super-typhoon “Juan” based on models plotted by various weather tracking centers.\nGov’t evacuates folk in Cagayan, Isabela\nMANILA, Philippines—Authorities on Sunday began evacuating thousands of villagers in vulnerable areas hours before Super-typhoon “Juan” was to hit northern Luzon.\nPacking winds of 260 kilometers per hour, Juan (international code name: Megi) was expected to make landfall in Cagayan province by 8 a.m. Monday and exit Ilocos Norte in the afternoon.\nWith Juan intensifying into a super-typhoon, the weather bureau hoisted Signal No. 4 over Cagayan and Isabela at 6 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.\nSignal No. 4 is the highest warning signal used by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).\nPAGASA said the last time the country declared Signal No. 4 was in 2006, when “Reming” battered the Bicol region. Reming had gusts of 320 kph.\nAs of 4 p.m. on Sunday, Juan was spotted 390 km east of Aparri, moving westward at 22 kph, PAGASA said. The super-typhoon had sustained winds of 225 kph and gusts of 260 kph.\nBut in its 11 p.m. advisory on Sunday, PAGASA placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Signal No. 1 after the super-typhoon changed its track in the past six hours.\nJuan was now moving west southwest at 20 kph, slightly slower than the 22 kph issued in the 5 p.m. forecast. As of 10 p.m., the super-typhoon was 290 km east northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan.\nPAGASA officer in charge Graciano Yumul Jr. said Metro Manila and other parts of southern Luzon will experience rains as it was now within the typhoon's rain band.\n\"Just because it's Signal No. 1, it doesn't mean that we should not be prepared. Manila was only under Signal No. 1 during (Tropical Storm) ‘Ondoy’\" Yumul said, referring to last year's storm (international name: Ketsana) that flooded 80 percent of the metropolis.\nUnder Department of Education standards, elementary classes in Metro Manila and other areas under Signal No. 1 are suspended, Yumul said.\nAside from Metro Manila, Signal No. 1 was placed over Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Polillio Island, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Rizal and northern Quezon.\nThe super-typhoon could uproot trees, blow away houses made of light material, damage power lines and communication services, trigger landslides and cause storm surges.\nNot only did the typhoon’s wind speed and strength intensify, its radius also grew from 300 km to 350 km, said Robert Sawi, the chief forecaster at PAGASA.\nSawi said Juan’s rainfall was expected at 20 millimeters per hour, about half the volume dumped by Ondoy.\nOfficials said the rainfall amount was a conservative estimate, noting that the data came from the fringes of Juan.\nJuan is the 10th and strongest storm to hit the country this year. The country is battered by an average of 20 storms a year.\nJuan intensified into a super-typhoon with winds of over 215 kph as it approached the coast of Cagayan Sunday, PAGASA said.\nBrunt\nPAGASA’s Yumul said Juan would further intensify based on models used by the agency and the forecasts of other weather agencies.\n“Those that will bear its brunt are northern Luzon and central Luzon,” Yumul said.\nSignal No. 3 was raised over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and northern Aurora.\nSignal No. 2 was hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet and the rest of Aurora.\nEvacuations\nAt least 700 people moved out of their homes to safer ground on Saturday in mountainous Isabela province, said Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).\nIn nearby Cagayan, authorities have ordered villagers to move out of high-risk neighborhoods in 12 coastal towns.\n“If nobody will budge, we may carry out forced evacuations,” said Bonifacio Cuarteros of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.\nFarmers have been warned to harvest as much of their crops as possible before Juan hits or risk losses, Cuarteros said.\nPresident Benigno Aquino III ordered all government agencies to be on high alert to prevent any casualties, while the Coast Guard was instructed to ban all fishing vessels from setting off to sea in the north.\nThousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on stand by, along with helicopters, including six Chinooks that were committed by US troops holding war exercises with Filipino soldiers near Manila, Ramos said.\nRescue boats and thousands of food packs have been prepositioned near vulnerable areas, he said, adding that schools along the typhoon’s path would be closed.\n“This is like preparing for war,” Ramos, a retired Army general, said. “We know the past lessons and we’re aiming for zero casualties.”\nCommand conference\nAn angry Mr. Aquino fired the head of the weather bureau in July for failing to predict that a typhoon would hit Manila. More than 100 people were killed in Manila and outlying provinces by that storm.\nThe President will preside over a command conference of the NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City at 9 a.m. on Monday, his spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Sunday night.\nNo instructions\nIn Aparri, Cagayan, residents of a coastal settlement were worried that local officials still had not given any safety instructions to them as of 6 p.m. Sunday.\nJournalists and photographers stationed in Cagayan witnessed how the residents of Barangay Maura living near the sea made various attempts to fortify their houses.\nAs early as 2 p.m. Sunday, the skies over Aparri were dark gray and the sun was not visible for the rest of the afternoon.\nFishermen helped each other push their boats to safer areas and many residents waiting for Juan killed time watching the waves slam on the beach.\nSeveral mothers raised fears that water from the sea might enter their houses, or worse sweep them away.\nCalm before storm\nHours earlier, residents of northern Luzon woke up to a sunny morning amid preparations by local governments and disaster-response officials for what was touted to be the strongest typhoon to hit the country since January.\nThe weather was so good that some candidates for the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Benguet found time to campaign, finding the typhoon a convenient excuse to engage their neighbors and push their bids.\nBut it was the proverbial calm before the storm. By mid-afternoon, reports reaching the Philippine Daily Inquirer showed that strong winds started to be felt in northern Cagayan as strong rains fell.\nNorma Talosig, Office of Civil Defense director in Cagayan Valley, said her office had issued repeated warnings to residents in coastal towns and flood-prone villages to stay on alert and prioritize their safety.\n“I have this warning to villagers—do not wait until tomorrow to evacuate as the typhoon’s radius is very wide ... So far, [there were no reports of] forced evacuation,” Talosig said in a text message sent at about 4 p.m. Sunday.\nAt least four evacuation centers in Gonzaga and Santa Ana towns in Cagayan have been readied for residents of coastal areas as officials started preemptive evacuation there.\nRescue teams\nEdna Junio, provincial social welfare and development officer, said local government and rescue teams had assisted residents living near rivers and coastlines transfer to evacuation centers.\nA statement from the NDRRMC said evacuation of residents had started in Aparri, Buguey, and Ballesteros towns, also in Cagayan.\nThe Isabela provincial government has formed a 24-hour emergency response team manned by personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and trained rescue personnel.\nRelief goods\nIsabela Gov. Faustino Dy III ordered the delivery of relief goods to various towns on Saturday and Sunday, taking advantage of the good weather.\nThe Laoag City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council started mobilizing quick response teams in preparation for the typhoon.\nSirens at the Laoag City Hall were also sounded each time the weather bureau raised storm signals.\nIn the Cordillera Administrative Region, a warm Sunday greeted Baguio and Benguet barangay candidates, who included tips about storm preparation in their campaign spiels.\nMayor Gregorio Abalos Jr. of La Trinidad, Benguet, met with local rescue officials about the condition of houses in Barangay Puguis, where a landslide triggered by last year’s Typhoon “Pepeng” (Parma) wiped out a section of the community of Little Kibungan.\nWilted palay\nIn Nueva Ecija province, a sunny day frustrated farmers as they eagerly awaited rains from Juan that would feed their rice farms.\nVirgilio Santaygillo, 48, a farmer from Barangay Cabu in Cabanatuan City, said news about possible heavy rains had given him hope that he could save his already wilting palay (unmilled rice).\n“We fear excessive rains but we pray for water [for our crops],” he said.\nNathaniel Servando, PAGASA administrator, said Juan might not be the last destructive typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2010, a La Nińa year. \n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Philippine Atmospheric"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["20 millimeters per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern provinces of Luzon","Luzon","Luzon","Luzon","Luzon","Cagayan, Isabela","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Isabela","Cagayan","Cagayan","Isabela","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Cagayan","Isabela","Isabela","Cagayan province","northern Luzon","northern Luzon","northern Luzon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of villagers","villagers","Thousands","thousands","villagers","At least 700 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["spotted 390 km east of Aparri, moving westward","Aparri","Aparri","Aparri","Aparri","290 km east northeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["8 a.m. Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["22 kph","22 kph","20 kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Juan","Megi","Megi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["260 kilometers per hour","225 kph","215 kph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 The Philippines prepares for Typhoon Megi, potentially the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year. (ABC News Australia) (BBC) (Philippine Inquirer)","document":"Authorities in the Philippines are preparing for the onslaught of Typhoon Megi, the tenth tropical cyclone and the strongest to hit the country this year.\nThe typhoon is moving towards the northern regions of the Philippines with winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour.\nEighteen provinces in the northern Philippines have been placed under a storm alert as Typhoon Megi moves closer to land.\nPresident Benigno Aquino called on the people, as well as government agencies and private sector groups, to be prepared and to cooperate to ensure no casualties.\nDisaster response teams and equipment have been readied for evacuation and other emergencies.\nSocial welfare offices have stocked up on food and other supplies.\nFarmers in the north harvested their crops early while sea travel in the region has been cancelled due to stormy weather.\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Authorities in the Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern regions of the Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Megi","Megi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["195 kilometres per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 One person is missing and thousands of people have fled as Typhoon Megi, the first supertyphoon of the 2010 Pacific typhoon season, makes landfall in the Philippines. (Bloomberg via Business Week), (BBC)","document":"A \"super typhoon\" has struck the northern Philippines with heavy rain and winds of up to 260km/h (162mph), leaving at least three people dead.\nTyphoon Megi made landfall in Isabela province at 1125 local time (0325 GMT), destroying buildings and crops, cutting power and telecommunications.\nThousands sheltered in public buildings or fled to higher ground, and a \"state of calamity\" was declared in Isabela.\nThe category-five storm is forecast next to head towards China and Vietnam.\nMore than a dozen people are already missing in central Vietnam after floodwaters swept away a bus. At least 20 others are known to have been killed in floods as heavy rain pounded the region. On the southern Chinese island of Hainan, the rain prompted more than a 100,000 people to leave their homes over the weekend.\nWith sustained winds of 225km/h (140mph) and gusts of up to 260km/h, Megi was the strongest storm the Philippines has faced since 2006, when 1,000 people were killed by mudslides triggered by Typhoon Durian.\nShortly before midday on Monday, Megi made landfall at Palanan Bay on the main northern island of Luzon, whipping up huge waves - forecasters had said they might be greater than 14m (46ft). Local media said the rain meant there was near-zero visibility and that the wind was so powerful people could barely walk outside. Ships were told to stay in port, and domestic and international flights were cancelled.\nMore than 4,150 people took shelter in school buildings, town halls and churches as the typhoon blew over Isabella, officials said. Many others fled to higher ground after warnings of flash floods and landslides.\nTelevision footage showed uprooted trees lying on roads, and metal and thatched roofing blown off houses. Up to 90% of communications in Isabela and Cagayan provinces might have been knocked out, officials said.\n\"We are marooned inside our home. We cannot go out. The winds and rain are very strong. Many trees are being uprooted or snapped in half,\" Ernesto Macadangdang, of Burgos, Isabela, told local radio.\nDespite the destruction, only three people have so far been reported killed.\nOne man who had just rescued his water buffalo slipped and fell into a river and drowned in Cagayan province. A woman was killed when a tree crushed her house and injured her child in Kalinga province, and a security guard died after being struck by a tree in Baguio, in Benguet province.\nAt a news conference in Manila, the director of the national disaster agency expressed sadness over the deaths.\n\"The governor of Isabela declared a state of calamity, so there could be massive damage and destruction there,\" Benito Ramos said.\n\"Power has been cut and crops about to be harvested could have been destroyed. We have no actual report because we're waiting for the weather to clear up to make an assessment.\"\nThousands of military reservists and volunteers are on standby to assist those affected, along with several helicopters, Mr Ramos added. Trucks, rescue boats and food packs were also pre-positioned near vulnerable areas.\nFarmers were urged to harvest as much of their crops as possible before the typhoon hit, the BBC's Kate McGeown in Manila. The area in the storm's path was one of the country's main rice-growing regions.\nCorrespondents say the Philippines is the world's biggest rice importer, and damage from the typhoon could see it buy more than had been expected for 2011, which could push up international prices.\nIn July, President Benigno Aquino sacked the head of the weather bureau after he failed to predict a typhoon which unexpectedly changed course and hit Manila and its outlying provinces, killing more than 100 people.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Isabela","Isabela","Isabela","Isabela","Isabela","Isabela province","China and Vietnam","Vietnam","northern Philippines","Palanan Bay on the main northern island of Luzon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least three people","Thousands sheltered","More than 4,150 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1125 local time (0325 GMT)","before midday on Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["The category-five storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Megi","Megi","Megi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["260km/h","260km","225km/h (140mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 Tropical Storm Richard lashes Honduras's Caribbean Coast with heavy rain before becoming a hurricane and making landfall in Belize. (AP) (CNN), (Reuters), (AP via Yahoo)","document":"(CNN) -- Hurricane Richard made landfall just south of Belize City Sunday night, said CNN Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras.\nShe said the eye of the hurricane hit land around 7:45 p.m. CT (8:45 p.m. ET), some 20 miles (35 kilometers) south-southwest of Belize City.\nThe storm known as Richard intensified in the Caribbean from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane as maximum sustained winds increased to 90 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center reported.\nThe storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland.\nMonday, it is seen moving across northern Guatemala and into southern Mexico.\nThe Belize National Emergency Management Organization said Sunday all public buses have stopped running and advised private cars to also get off the road.\nIt urged people living in Dangriga, a town in southern Belize, and in vulnerable parts of Belize City to seek shelter immediately. All vessels should remain in port, the organization also advised.\nBelize, a small country in Central America popular among tourists for its pristine beaches and coral reefs, has a hurricane warning in effect, the National Hurricane Center reported. A hurricane watch is in effect for areas along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.\nAlong with hurricane force winds, the main threat from the slow-moving Richard is the large amounts of rain it will dump on Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. It is expected to produce three to six inches of rain with local amounts totaling 10 inches. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, especially in the mountainous terrain.\nHurricane Richard is expected to weaken over land and reemerge in the Bay of Campeche as a tropical depression. Conditions are not favorable for redevelopment in the extreme southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center expects Richard to continue to dissipate into a remnant low.\n\"It is not a concern for the U.S.,\" said John Cangialosi with the hurricane center. \"Even if it does get into the southern Gulf of Mexico, a very strong wind sheer of that area will continue to weaken the system.\"\nA wind sheer is caused when winds go in different directions, causing the storm to weaken.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["south of Belize City","south","Belize City","Belize City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["people living in Dangriga"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday night","7:45 p.m. CT (8:45 p.m. ET)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["some 20 miles (35 kilometers) south-southwest of Belize City","south","Belize City","Belize City"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 1 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Richard","Richard","Richard","Richard","Richard"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["90 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 Hurricane Tomas heads into the Caribbean after hitting the Lesser Antilles becoming a Category 2 hurricane. (AP), (CNN)","document":"Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Tomas continued to lose brawn in the Caribbean Sea on Monday morning after pummeling the island of St. Vincent over the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.\nAs of 5 a.m. ET Sunday, Tomas, a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), was located about 135 miles (220 kilometers) northeast of Curacao, according to the Hurricane Center. The storm was moving west at about 14 mph (22 kph).\nTropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometers) from the center of Tomas.\nTomas moved over the Caribbean Sea after leaving heavy rain and wind on St. Vincent. More than 1,000 people entered shelters on St. Vincent as Tomas struck the island, an emergency official said. Two people were injured, including one critically, when they tried to repair roof damage during the storm, said Michelle Forbes, acting director of National Emergency Management.\nTomas also left downed trees that blocked many roads, Forbes said, and large areas of the island lacked power. More than 100 homes sustained roof damage, she said, and authorities expected the number to rise.\nThe main hospital on the island, Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, lost power temporarily but was able to get a generator up and running, according to Forbes. Tomas was forecast to continue heading west over the next day or two. The Hurricane Center said restrengthening could begin by late Tuesday. A projection map shows the storm turning north later this week. Tomas could approach Haiti on Friday, possibly as a hurricane. Tomas could deal a harsh blow to Haiti as the impoverished nation is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in January and is currently dealing with a cholera outbreak.\nBut \"Tomas could still hit anywhere from the Dominican Republic to eastern Cuba,\" CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Hurricane Center","Hurricane Center","Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the island of St. Vincent","St","Vincent","St","Vincent","island","island","island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 1,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["135 miles (220 kilometers) northeast of Curacao","moving west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["14 mph (22 kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["50 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2010 At least 14 people are killed as Tropical Storm Tomas passes over Saint Lucia. (BBC) (Jamaica Observer)","document":"At least 14 people are now known to have died on the Caribbean island of St Lucia after Hurricane Tomas triggered landslides, officials say.\nTourism minister Allan Chastanet told local radio that the southern town of Soufriere had been worst hit and resembled \"a war zone\".\nThe storm, which struck at the weekend, also battered the island of St Vincent.\nTomas, now a tropical storm, is veering towards Haiti where thousands are still homeless after January's earthquake.\nIn St Lucia, Prime Minister Stephenson King declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance, local media reported.\nBridges were destroyed, and some of the worst-hit communities in the south could only be reached by boat. \"Recovery efforts are very slow. Our efforts to get help to the ravished community have been weakened as a string of fires in homes brings us to our knees,\" a firefighter in the capital Castries told the BBC.\nHe said the water mains were empty and that trying to get water to the fires \"was an exercise in near futility\" due to the mountainous landscape.\nTomas, downgraded from a hurricane on Sunday evening, lashed islands in the eastern Caribbean with sustained winds of 75mph (120km/h).\nOn Tuesday it was about 355 miles (570km) south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and moving west at 12mph (19km/h) with sustained winds of 50mph (85km/h).\nForecasters have warned that Tomas could strengthen again to a hurricane and that parts of Haiti are in its projected path for later in the week.\n\"Right now they just need to stay tuned - this is the stage to be aware,\" said John Cangialosi at the US Hurricane Center in Miami.\nUN humanitarian co-ordinator Nigel Fisher said relief workers in Haiti were trying to gather emergency shelter, water and sanitation supplies.\n\"We need as much of it as possible in place before Tomas hits,\" he said.\nImogen Wall, of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said warehouses in Haiti were being emptied of rope and tarpaulins to protect those in the camps.\nThe US Navy ship Iwo Jima is steaming toward Haiti to be on hand if emergency relief is needed, US officials said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["St Lucia, Prime Minister Stephenson King","St Lucia","Forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the island of St Vincent","island","parts of Haiti","Haiti","the Caribbean island of St Lucia","St Lucia","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","in the eastern Caribbean"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 14 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["moving west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["weekend","Sunday evening","later in the week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","a tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["12mph (19km/h)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["sustained winds of 75mph (120km/h)","sustained winds","50mph (85km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2010 At least 14 people are killed as Tropical Storm Tomas passes over Saint Lucia. (BBC) (Jamaica Observer)","document":"MIAMI, USA (CMC) — Tropical Storm Tomas continued to weaken yesterday after causing death and widespread destruction as it made its way across the Eastern Caribbean as a Category One hurricane over the weekend.\nThe storm has been blamed for at least 12 in St Lucia, which Tourism Minister Allan Chastanet said occurred in the southern town of Soufriere.\n\"I would say to you right now we have 12 confirmed dead...unfortunately there are still people who are buried....,\" he told a local radion programme, noting that the authorities had tried desperately to reach the area on the first day after the storm.\nEarlier in the day, Prime Minister Stephenson King said that he had received reports that a visitor and a resident of the east coast village of Dennery died during the passage of the storm.\nHe said that the visitor, whose named was not disclosed, drowned on a north east coast beach while a 31-year-old woman died after her vehicle ran off the road and fell down a precipice.\nKing said that he had taken an aerial survey of the storm damage and it is clear that there had been extensive damage.\n\"From the air, the southern town of Vieux Fort appeared to have received the brunt of Tomas's fury and we will have to go into this area which was still blocked by landslides and virtually inaccessible to carry out a more detailed account of the damage.\n\"The village of Dennery on the east coast once again suffered from the elements with the Dennery Hospital and Primary School losing their roofs, while a number of bridges vital to the operation of the country's road network were washed away, \"he said.\nKing said flood water damage to the commercial community in the capital and outskirts would probably result in business places remaining close yesterday.\nKing, who had been in Barbados during the passage of the storm, said that he has already held talks with United States government representatives as well as the World Bank.\nThe prime minister said that the vital banana industry had been severely affected and that this could have a \"severe effect on the economy of St Lucia\".\nMinister for Communications Guy Joseph speaking on radio on Sunday, told listeners the damage is \"worse than we could think of\".\nHe said that St Lucians should expect water problems as the Roseau dam was inaccessible.\nIn neighbouring St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves described the damage caused by the storm as \"the worst we have seen in living memory.\n\"Fortunately, we have had no loss of lives,\" Gonsalves said, adding \"the damage has been horrific\".\nGonsalves, who has appealed to the regional and international community for help in rebuilding the country\nThe prime minister said that a number of people were still in various shelters across the island and that 350 houses had destroyed and the banana industry had been \"wiped out\".\nGonsalves said that the road net has been damaged and that north east section ofg the island has been \"badly affected\".\nBy yesterday afternoon, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Tomas, which was downgraded to a tropical storm was located 135 miles north east of Curacao with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (mph).\nThe centre of the tropical storm was located near latitude 13.8 north and longitude 67.7 west and it is moving at 14 mph. The NHC said that this general motion with a decrease in speed is expected for the next 48 hours.\n\"Additional weakening is forecast over the next 24 hours, but re-strengthening could begin by late Tuesday (today),\" the NHC said.\nMeanwhile, as Jamaica prepare for Tomas, Prime Minister Bruce Golding yesterday called a special meeting of the country's emergency relief agencie amidst fears that Tomas could regain strength as it nears the island.\nDirector General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson said that the agency was monitoring the progress of the system before activating its response mechanism.\nHe, however, urged the public to remain calm.\n\"I know that there is some amount of anxiety, I want to advise the public to use this opportunity to review any family disaster plans or any mechanism that they have in place..,.\" he said.\nJunior Minister for Local Government Robert Montague said all emergency agencies have been put on full alert.\n\"All parish disaster teams are on alert and the cleanup work from hurricane Nicole will be intensified over the next few days. So by tomorrow we should be at least eighty percent there in terms of preparedness\"\nMeanwhile, Tomas has weakened to a tropical storm but could regain strength near Jamaica later this week.\nThe National Meteorological Service said that Jamaica should feel begin feeling the impact of the storm by Thursday as it passes to the east of the island.\nHaitian and foreign aid agency officials yesterday urged citizens to take every precaution in the likelihood that the country is affected by the rains and winds associated with the weakening storm.\nHaiti, which was battered by an earthquake in January and is now recovering from an outbreak of cholera, has been sending out text messages and broadcast warnings of a possible landfall late this week.\n\"This is absolutely what the county does not need right now. It's tragedy after tragedy,'' said Imogen Wall, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. \"We are managing three large-scale responses simultaneously\".\nTropical storm Tomas also ripped off dozens of roof tops, blew away galvanised sheets, and uprooted trees and utility poles in Barbados over the weekend","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the southern town of Soufriere","southern town","St Lucia","St Lucia","St Lucia","across the Eastern Caribbean","across"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 12","12 confirmed dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category One hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas","Tomas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2010 At least one person dies in Haiti from flooding caused by Hurricane Tomas, adding to the fourteen people who died in Saint Lucia. (BBC)","document":"Heavy rain from Hurricane Tomas has battered western Haiti, causing floods which have killed at least four people.\nThe eye of the storm clipped the island with winds of 140km/h (85mph). Up to 25cm of rain was forecast.\nThere is a danger of mudslides and further flooding, which could worsen the current cholera epidemic affecting parts of the country.\nBut the storm appeared to have spared the hundreds of thousands of people who rode it out in flimsy tent camps.\nThe BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Haiti, said many people have already spent one miserable, windy, muddy night in exposed conditions.\nThe government had urged those living in tented homes to find better shelter, but many said they had nowhere to go.\nOur correspondent says that the storm has underlined the fact that nearly a year after Haiti's devastating earthquake, more than 1.3m people are still living in makeshift canvas homes.\nCholera fears\nRains continued off and on for hours after the storm moved on to Cuba.\nAnd there were fears that the death toll could rise once isolated areas of the country were reached.\nOn Friday evening, the southern town of Leogane was completely under water three metres (10 feet) deep in places, civil defence official Philippe Joseph was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.\n\"We are going to have more victims because of the floods and mudslides, but we cannot yet reach the communities most affected,\" the official said.\nIn the city of Port-au-Prince, Haitians were up to their ankles in water in some of the refugee camps that have grown up around the city since the earthquake.\nThere are fears that the conditions could help incubate and facilitate the spread of cholera, our correspondent says.\nFew refugees heeded the government warning to evacuate, although mothers and babies were evacuated from an exposed camp near the mountains, our correspondent says.\nFour people were killed attempting to cross rivers by car or on foot in the mountainous region to the west of Leogane, Haitian officials said. Two more people were missing in Leogane.\nSituation 'precarious'\nPresident Rene Preval had earlier pleaded with people to \"protect\" their lives. But he acknowledged that the authorities did not \"have enough places [on buses] to move everyone\".\n\"We have two catastrophes that we are managing. The first is the hurricane and the second is cholera,\" the president said in a television and radio address.\nStefano Zannini, Medecins Sans Frontieres' head of mission in Haiti, described the situation as \"precarious\". The US National Hurricane Center has warned of hurricane conditions - winds of 74mph or greater - for Haiti, the south-eastern Bahamas, the Caicos Islands and the Cuban province of Guantanamo.\nIt also issued a tropical storm warning for Jamaica and the Cuban provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguin. Doctors have warned that torrential rain could flood sanitary installations and contaminate drinking water, worsening a cholera epidemic in the country.\nOn Wednesday health officials said there had been a 40% jump in the number of new cholera cases and the death toll was 442, with 105 more deaths since Saturday.\n\n\n\nr\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The US National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Up to 25cm"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti, the south-eastern Bahamas, the Caicos Islands and the Cuban province of Guantanamo","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Cuban province","western Haiti"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Tomas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["140km/h (85mph","74mph or greater"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2013 Authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh prepare for the arrival of Cyclone Mahasen, which has already killed at least seven people and displaced nearly 4,000 in Sri Lanka. (Reuters)","document":"SITTWE, Myanmar (Reuters) - Authorities in Myanmar struggled on Wednesday to evacuate tens of thousands of people, most of them Rohingya Muslims, before a cyclone reaches camps in low-lying regions that have been their home since ethnic and religious unrest last year.\nCyclone Mahasen has already killed at least seven people and displaced 3,881 in Sri Lanka, its Disaster Management Center said on Tuesday.\nThe storm is moving north over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to reach land on Thursday, hitting north of Chittagong in Bangladesh.\nThe Myanmar government had planned to move 38,000 internally displaced people, most of them Rohingya Muslims, by Tuesday but many have refused to relocate from camps in Rakhine State in the west of the country, afraid of the authorities’ intentions.\nAt least 192 people were killed in June and October last year in violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya, who are denied citizenship by the government in Myanmar and considered by many Buddhists to be immigrants from Bangladesh.\nAt a camp near the sea by Hmanzi Junction on the outskirts of Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, several people told Reuters they would rather perish in the storm than evacuate.\n“We arrived here last year because of the clashes between Rakhine and Muslims. I lost everything. Both my mother and my two young daughters died,” said Hla Maung, 38, a Muslim.\n“If the cyclone hits here, I will pray to Allah. Everyone here wants to die in the storm because we lost everything last year.”\nThe U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which is helping Myanmar’s government in Rakhine State, said the storm appeared to have weakened but could still threaten 8.2 million people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.\nThere are up to 250,000 Rohingya living in southern Bangladesh, many of whom fled from Myanmar in the early 1990s complaining of abuses by the army.\nThe U.N. refugee agency said about 40,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh were living in two unofficial sites and the government had given an assurance that everyone would get help.\nAuthorities in Bangladesh started moving people out of low-lying areas on the coast as the storm approached to within 800 km (500 miles). It was likely to intensify and bring a storm surge of up to 2.1 meters (seven feet), authorities said.\nThe port in the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and the airport in Cox’s Bazar were closed on Wednesday.\nThe evacuations in Myanmar are seen as a test of the government’s willingness to help the Rohingya, an impoverished, long-persecuted people who bore the brunt of sectarian violence in Rakhine State and suffered before that during half a century of military rule.\nHla Maung and others had rejected efforts by the U.N. refugee agency on Tuesday to move them to a nearby army barracks. They were told early on Wednesday they could take shelter in a school, but many still refused to go.\nMost of the people in the camp had lived in Thandawli, a village in the Sittwe region destroyed in last June’s violence.\nAbout 140,000 people were displaced in June and a second wave of violence in October.\nEven before the storm developed, the United Nations has said about 69,000, most of them Rohingya Muslims, were living in Rakhine State in accommodation at risk of flooding and other damage during the rainy season, which starts this month.\nIt warned last week there could be a humanitarian catastrophe if people were not evacuated.\nOne of a small convoy of boats carrying Rohingya Muslims capsized at around midnight on Monday after hitting rocks off Pauktaw in Rakhine State. Official media said 42 people had been rescued but 58 were missing. Some reports have said eight bodies were found.\nSpeaking at a coordination meeting for Cyclone Mahasen in Yangon on Tuesday, President Thein Sein urged officials to use the experience gained in 2008 after Cyclone Nargis killed up to 140,000 people in the Irrawaddy Delta, south of the main city, Yangon. He stressed the need to treat everyone equally.\n“Security, safety, food and health care are crucial. And it’s very important to carry out relief work on humanitarian grounds for all regardless of race and religion,” official papers quoted him as saying.\nMyanmar is a mainly Buddhist country but about 5 percent of its 60 million people are Muslims. They face a growing anti-Muslim campaign led by radical Buddhist monks and a Reuters Special Report found apartheid-like policies were segregating Muslims from Buddhists in Rakhine State.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north of Chittagong in Bangladesh","north","Bangladesh","Bangladesh","Bangladesh","Bangladesh","Bangladesh","Chittagong","Sri Lanka"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["tens of thousands of people","at least seven people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north","north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mahasen","Mahasen"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2013 At least one person is killed and a dozen injured after a series of tornadoes hits the US states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. (BBC), (CNN)","document":"A massive tornado has ripped through neighbourhoods near Oklahoma City, on the second day in a row the state has been pummelled by destructive twisters.\nThe \"mile-wide\" storm sparked fires and flattened homes as it tore through.\nOn Sunday, at least two people died and 21 more were injured by the tornadoes.\nThe worst damage was caused by a twister near the town of Shawnee, 35 miles (55km) from Oklahoma City, where a mobile home part was razed and thousands have lost electricity.\nTornadoes, hail and high winds also hit Iowa and Kansas, part of a storm system stretching from Texas to Minnesota.\nThe National Weather Service (NWS) says there is a continuing risk of dangerous thunderstorms in the region that could produce hail and tornadoes on Monday afternoon.\nOn Sunday, a tornado smashed a trailer park on Highway 102 near Shawnee.\nSteelman Estates Mobile Home Park resident James Hoke said he had emerged from a storm cellar with his family to find their mobile home vanished.\n\"Everything is gone,\" he said. As he tried to help neighbours, Mr Hoke said he found his wife's father covered in rubble.\n\"My father-in-law was buried under the house. We had to pull Sheetrock off of him,\" Mr Hoke said.\nOklahoma's state medical examiner confirmed on Monday that two people had been killed near the trailer park: Glen Irish, 79, and Billy Hutchinson, 76. Both lived in Shawnee, but it was not immediately clear if either or both lived in mobile home park. The Oklahoman newspaper reported that five people were brought to Norman Regional Hospital for injuries, with three injured critically.\n\"This is the worst I've seen in Pottawatomie County in my 25 years of law enforcement,\" county Sheriff Mike Booth said.\nThe massive storm system had prompted the NWS to issue a blunt warning to residents in the affected states.\n\"You could be killed if not underground or in a tornado shelter,\" the agency warned. \"Complete destruction of neighbourhoods, businesses and vehicles will occur.\"\nOne resident, Amber Ash, said her home had been hit by a tornado as she waited in a storm shelter.\n\"Once it passed, we got out and saw the devastation,\" she said. \"Everything I had was destroyed.\"\nThousands of residents in the affected areas have been left without power.\nOklahoma Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency in 16 counties in order to send aid to the worst-hit parts of the state.\nAt least four tornadoes ravaged the state on Sunday, part of a storm system that was moving north-east across the Midwestern states and Texas.\n\"Right now we're in a rescue and recovery stage,\" Gov Fallin said. \"We're still not in the clear yet.\"\nA twister with an estimated 110mph (177km/h) wind speed touched down on Sunday afternoon near Wichita's Mid-Continent airport.\nIt knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses, but bypassed the most populated areas of Kansas' largest city.\nPresenters of a local afternoon news programme were forced to evacuate during a live broadcast as the tornado touched down.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service (NWS)","NWS"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Iowa and Kansas","Kansas","near Oklahoma City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["near the town of Shawnee","near","near Shawnee","near","Shawnee","near","thousands","Thousands","thousands","at least two people","21 more were injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2005 Hurricane Beta, the first hurricane named with the Greek letter Beta, approaches Nicaragua and Honduras as a Category 3 storm, (BBC), and makes landfall on the Mosquito Coast at Category 2 intensity. Thousands of residents of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua have been evacuated to shelters. (VOA), (Scotsman)","document":"Beta made landfall as a Category Two hurricane, with winds of 175km/h (110mph) at 1100 GMT, ripping off roofs and uprooting trees. Flood and landslide warnings remained in place as the storm headed west, expecting to dump up to 38cm (15in) of rain in Nicaragua and Honduras.\nBeta is the 13th hurricane of the Atlantic season - a record.\n\"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,\" the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.\nUrgent evacuation\nBeta was initially forecast to hit the city of Puerto Cabezas on Nicaragua's north-eastern coast but changed direction.\nThey brought us here without telling us anything. We don't have food or water\n Norma SmithPuerto Cabezas resident\nIt made landfall about 100km (62 miles) further south, damaging houses and uprooting trees in the villages of Sandy Bay and Karawala. No casualties have been reported.\nBeta was expected to continue to lose strength as it moved inland on Sunday, US forecasters said.\nAn evacuation order had been in place in Puerto Cabezas, which has a population of 60,000, as authorities were expecting a direct hit from Beta.\nAmong the residents was Norma Smith, a mother of six, who had sought shelter in a school with about 200 other people.\n\"We had a very bad night. The water leaked in, the children were cold. They brought us here without telling us anything. We don't have food or water,\" she told the Reuters news agency.\nHurricane record\nEarlier, Beta damaged low-lying wooden homes on the Colombian island of Providencia in the Caribbean, while residents took refuge in brick shelters built on high ground.\nAll the islanders were believed to be safe but many homes had been damaged, Capt German Collazos, chief of ports, told Associated Press.\nThis hurricane season has seen 23 named storms, more than at any point since record-keeping began in 1851. The previous record of 21 was set in 1933.\nLast week Tropical Storm Alpha formed - the first time a letter from the Greek alphabet has been used because the list of storm names has been exhausted.\nAlpha, which struck earlier this week, killed 26 people in the Caribbean and caused flooding and mudslides in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It has now subsided.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["US forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["38cm (15in"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["villages of Sandy Bay and Karawala"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1100 GMT"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category Two hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Beta","Beta","Beta","Beta","Beta","Beta"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["175km/h (110mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2005 Hurricane Beta, the first hurricane named with the Greek letter Beta, approaches Nicaragua and Honduras as a Category 3 storm, (BBC), and makes landfall on the Mosquito Coast at Category 2 intensity. Thousands of residents of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua have been evacuated to shelters. (VOA), (Scotsman)","document":"\nMerry Lopez, 29, evacuee of Cayo Miskitu, arrives in a boat the wharf of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua\nHurricane Beta has made landfall in northeast Nicaragua, pounding the country's Caribbean coast with strong winds and heavy rain.\nThe U.S. National Hurricane Center says Beta hit land Sunday as a category two storm with sustained winds near 175 kilometers per hour.\nForecasters expect Beta to steadily weaken as it moves inland but say it could dump up to 40 centimeters of rain on parts of Nicaragua and eastern Honduras.\nNicaraguan authorities have moved tens of thousands of people into temporary shelters.\nHonduras has declared a state of emergency, and has begun evacuating more than 100,00 people from areas prone to flooding and mudslides. Beta is the 23rd named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, the most in a single year since record-keeping began in 1851.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["40 centimeters"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northeast Nicaragua"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Merry Lopez, 29, evacuee of Cayo Miskitu","tens of thousands of people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category two storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Beta","Beta","Beta","Beta"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["175 kilometers per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2006 At 0730 AEST, Tropical Cyclone Larry makes landfall near Innisfail, Queensland, Australia, with wind gusts of 290 km/h (180 mph) recorded, which would make it a Category 5 storm on the Australian scale for severity of cyclones. (AAP)","document":"The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will send helicopters and transport medical personnel to battered north Queensland, which has been hit by Cyclone Larry.\nPeople made homeless by the natural disaster will be eligible for ex-gratia payments of up to $1,000 under federal government assistance programs.\nThe cyclone swept through the north Queensland town of Innisfail early on Monday, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses with heavy rain and winds of up to 300kph.\nReports suggest one in five homes in Innisfail had suffered structural damage because of the storm.\nPrime Minister John Howard said the government had authorised ex-gratia payments for people who had lost their homes or whose principal dwelling had been made uninhabitable.\nApplications for $1,000 for each eligible adult and $400 for eligible children are to be made through Centrelink.\n\"This will be over and above the support to be given by the Australian government to the Queensland government under the long-standing natural disaster relief arrangements,\" Mr Howard said.\nAs part of a mission christened Operation Larry Assist, the ADF will despatch a range of equipment and personnel in response to requests for help from the Queensland government.\nDefence Minister Brendan Nelson said Emergency Management Australia had formally asked the ADF for several forms of assistance.\nIt includes helicopter aerial reconnaissance to conduct low-level damage assessment and rescue and recovery tasks as well as transport to take a six-person medical team and equipment from Townsville hospital to Innisfail.\nTownsville, 260km south of Innisfail, is home to Australia's largest military base.\nA Navy Seahawk helicopter and three Army Black Hawk helicopters will provide support as soon as conditions allow.\n\"The ADF is also ready to provide, if requested, capabilities such as medical and engineering support, water purification, initial damage assessment and general humanitarian assistance,\" Dr Nelson said.\n\"Additional Seahawk and Black Hawk helicopters, a Sea King helicopter and Iroquois helicopters are currently deploying to Townsville in case they are required.\"\nDr Nelson said RAAF C-130 and Caribou transport aircraft and navy landing craft from Cairns would be made available, if required.\nMr Howard said he had spoken with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and they had agreed to work together on the relief effort.\n\"This is certainly a very fearful and challenging time for the people of far north Queensland and I want them to know that their fellow Australians are with them,\" Mr Howard said.\nFederal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Emergency Management Australia would be the coordinating agency for federal relief.\n\"As the weather begins to clear, a better assessment of the damage can be made and we will be able to provide a broader range of assistance to the people of Queensland,\" Mr Ruddock said.\nHe said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the departments of health, family and community services, transport, and foreign affairs as well as Centrelink would also provide support.\nMr Howard said the nation was well-prepared for such emergencies.\n\"Australians are very good at responding to these things because everybody pitches in,\" he said.\nMeanwhile, more than 120,000 people in far north Queensland are without electricity.\nErgon Energy's manager regional services Geoff Bowles said that at 3pm (AEST) 121,500 customers were without power.\nAnother 54,000 had experienced relatively brief interruptions and 10,200 had lost power but it had been restored.\nAreas affected by the outages extended from Ingham to Mossman and across the tablelands, with the greatest impact being felt in the Innisfail area which bore the brunt of the cyclone.\nMeanwhile, Cyclone Larry has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as it moves across far north Queensland, but could still damage property.\nThe Bureau of Meteorology said Larry, with wind gusts of up to 160kph, was at 5pm (AEST) 70km north northeast of Georgetown, more than 100 kilometres west of the Queensland coast.\n\"Tropical Cyclone Larry still poses a threat to property in the warning area,\" the bureau spokesman said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north Queensland","north Queensland","north Queensland","north Queensland","north Queensland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["People made homeless","more than 120,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early on Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 2 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Larry","Larry","Larry","Larry","Larry"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["300kph","up to 160kph"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 Costa Rica declares a national emergency as Hurricane Otto prepares to make landfall after killing at least three people in Panama. (The Guardian)","document":" Thousands ordered to evacuate in Nicaragua and Costa Rica after storm strengthens over the Caribbean First published on Thu 24 Nov 2016 02.45 GMT\nCosta Rica’s president has declared a state of emergency and thousands have been evacuated from its Caribbean coast as hurricane Otto strengthened and began heading towards land.\nLuis Guillermo Solís urged vehicles off the roads and said hospitals in the most at-risk areas had suspended elective surgeries and were transferring patients elsewhere.\nThe unusually late-season storm is heading towards neighbouring Nicaragua, which closed schools and was evacuating more than 10,000 people from communities in the storm’s path. Heavy rains were expected to affect the entire country on Thursday and Friday, raising the possibility of flooding and landslides in the interior.\nThe US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Otto was a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140km/h (85mph) and was moving west at a speed of 15km/h (9mph). On Wednesday night, the storm was 160km (100 miles) north-northeast of Limon, Costa Rica. It is forecast to make landfall on Thursday in Nicaragua, just north of the Costa Rican border.\nThe National Hurricane Center 2-Day Graphical Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission said it was evacuating 4,000 people from the area where the storm was expected to hit and where rivers could overflow. The effort was expected to involve evacuations by plane, boat and road in the low-lying coastal areas. School was called off nationwide for the rest of the week. Heavy rain was already causing flooding in some areas and the president announced that public employees would not have to work Thursday or Friday.\nThe country’s National Meteorological Institute noted that a hurricane had never made landfall in Costa Rica since records began.\nHeavy rains from the storm have been blamed for three deaths in Panama so far.\nJose Donderis, Panama’s civil defense director, said a landslide just west of Panama city early on Tuesday trapped nine people. Seven were rescued but two bodies were pulled from the mud. In the capital, a child was killed when a tree fell on a car outside a school.\nPanamanian authorities have released water from the locks and lakes feeding the Panama Canal.\nCosta Rica’s president said Otto could damage the country’s important coffee and agriculture sectors. Nicaragua also feared Otto could threaten coffee crops that are almost ready for harvest, placing further pressure on impoverished farmers.\nJennifer Zapata, a regional director for Heifer International, a US-based anti-poverty group, said Otto “could seriously jeopardize food security for small-holder farmers who rely on maize, beans, cocoa, honey, coffee and livestock for their livelihoods”.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Costa Rica’s president","president","president","The US National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Nicaragua, just north of the Costa Rican border","Nicaragua","Nicaragua","north","Nicaragua","Caribbean coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands","Thousands"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category one hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15km/h (9mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Otto","Otto","Otto","Otto","Otto"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["140km/h (85mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 Three people are dead after a tornado hits in Jackson County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Four other people are injured in neighboring De Kalb County. (WAFF), (NBC News)","document":"ROSALIE, AL (WAFF) - Three people are dead after storms moved through Rosalie early Wednesday morning. The Jackson County Sheriff Chuck Phillips tell us \"they appear to be from the same household\".\nAuthorities identified them as Justin Lance Wright, 26, Jessica Loren Fleming, 21, and April Annette Wright,22.\nA survey team with the National Weather Service confirms the damage was consistent with an EF-2 tornado.\nWe've also learned two people were injured and were taken to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.\nJackson County commission chairman Matthew Hodges confirmed the fatalities and added that multiple more are injured.\nHodges reports Rosalie sustained significant damage.\nDeKalb County EMA Director Anthony Clifton tell us houses are damaged on County Road 159 and County Road 330 in Ider.\nThe Deputy Director of Jackson County, Felix Jackson tells us the Rosalie Plaza and Macklin Baptist Church both located on highway 71 have severe structural damage.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Rosalie","Rosalie","Rosalie"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Three people are dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Wednesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["EF-2 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 Three people are dead after a tornado hits in Jackson County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Four other people are injured in neighboring De Kalb County. (WAFF), (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News Alabama and Tennessee were assessing the damage Wednesday from severe storms overnight that killed five people and injured dozens across the two states.\nSearch and rescue teams were combing McMinn County, Tennessee, after a tornado touched down there and injured up to 23 people, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said.\nMore than 30 commercial and residential structures were damaged, McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said Wednesday afternoon.\nHe urged the public to stay away from areas affected by the storm and said a Red Cross shelter had been set up at a local Methodist church.\nThere was some good news: In Athens, one of the hardest hit areas of the county, a healthy baby was delivered after a pregnant woman, thrown from her destroyed home, was taken to the hospital, Gentry added, holding back tears.\nBoth the baby and mother were doing well, he said.\nThere were no deaths in McCinn County, but a husband and wife died in nearby Polk County, where a post office was among the buildings significantly damaged, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said.\nEight Tennessee counties experienced severe weather overnight. Three other people were injured in Marion County, where structures had collapsed and trees and power lines were downed.\nMeanwhile, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley issued a state of emergency throughout the state after a tornado killed at least three people early Wednesday, authorities said.\nThe deaths were reported near Highway 71 in Rosalie, Jackson County. All three victims died in one home, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen told NBC News.\nTen others were also critically injured in Jackson and DeKalb counties in northeastern Alabama. The injuries ranged from minor to critical, Art Faulkner, director of Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said at a news conference.\n\"Just know that this is not the first time this area has faced these kind of tragedies and I am confident that the people up here will do as they have always done, and they will rise up and neighbors will help neighbors,\" Faulkner said.\nAlso in DeKalb County, a day care center was \"completely destroyed,\" according to authorities.\nOfficials initially described it as a \"24-hour day care\" but later confirmed that it was not open when the storm hit. Its operators, who live in a nearby mobile home, sought shelter in the building. Three adults and three children from that family were later transported to the hospital, DeKalb County Emergency Management director Anthony Clifton said.\nThe three adults were listed in critical condition.\nIder Christian Daycare Academy also wiped out completelyAt least 25 homes and six poultry operations were destroyed across DeKalb County, Clifton added.\nChuck Phillips, Jackson County sheriff, said \"numerous\" homes in the county had been destroyed and many had been damaged, including two churches, and electricity lines and trees were downed throughout the area.As of 11:30 a.m. ET, Alabama Power reported that 6,500 customers were suffering outages, including 1,600 in Birmingham.\nThere were also \"multiple areas with damage\" in Colbert County in the northwest of Alabama, a local police official told NBC News.\nThe storms continued into Wednesday afternoon. Atlanta Fire Rescue said there were reports of a tornado touchdown in Cobb County, including Atlanta, while another tornado was reported in Temple, Georgia.\nThe band of storms stretched from the coast of Louisiana, across Mississippi and Alabama and into Georgia. New Orleans was among the cities under a tornado watch Wednesday.\nA tornado watch has been issued for parts of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee until 10 AM CST\nBetween tornado watches and heavy rain, about 10 million people from Louisiana through western North Carolina were under severe weather risk.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee","Alabama","Tennessee","Georgia","Georgia","Alabama and Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Tennessee"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five people","injured dozens across","injured up to 23 people","a husband and wife","at least three people","Ten others","6,500 customers were suffering outages"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2016 Typhoon Nock-ten (Nina) strikes the Philippines. (BBC)","document":"A typhoon packing gusts of wind up to 255km/h (158mph) has made landfall in the eastern Philippines.\nNock-Ten hit the coast near Catanduanes island at 18:30 local time (10:30GMT) but there are no reports yet of damage or casualties.\nHowever, some 100,000 people have been moved from areas at risk in the Bicol region amid fears of widespread flooding and possible landslides.\nDozens of ports have closed, with warnings of two-metre (6.6ft) waves.\nIn October, Super Typhoon Haima hit the country, killing at least four people.\nThe landfall of Nock-Ten, also known as Nina and the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, was reported on the Twitter account of Pagasa-Dost, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.\nIt issued a local thunderstorm warning and has forecast the typhoon will travel west at 15km/h.\nIts sustained winds are currently about 185km/h.\nIt will pass across the southern area of the main island of Luzon, possibly weakening as it travels close to the capital, Manila, before heading into the South China Sea.\nIn Manila, officials ordered big roadside advertising boards to be taken down, fearing that strong winds could uproot them and injure people.\nThere have been fears Filipinos would ignore evacuation warnings to stay at home with family at Christmas, the biggest holiday in the largely Catholic nation.\nThe strength of the typhoon is equivalent to a Category Three hurricane in the Atlantic, according to the JTWC data, or a Category Two storm based on the information from the Philippines' weather office.\nIn 2013, super typhoon Haiyan claimed more than 7,350 lives.\nEvacuations in Philippines as typhoon strikes\nDeadly super typhoon batters Philippines","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern Philippines","the coast near Catanduanes island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["some 100,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["18:30 local time (10:30GMT)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nock-Ten","Nock-Ten","Nina"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["255km/h (158mph)","185km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 A California storm in the Calaveras Big Trees State Park fells the 1,000–year–old American tree, the Pioneer Cabin Tree. (BBC)","document":"Storms in California have toppled one of America's most famous trees - the Pioneer Cabin Tree. The giant sequoia was known for having a hole cut through its trunk - big enough for a car to drive through. The tree, estimated to be more than 1,000-years-old, was felled by the strongest storm to have hit the area in more than a decade. California and Nevada have been hit by unusually high rainfall levels, leading to flooding and falling trees.\nThe Calaveras Big Trees Association first reported that the drive-through Pioneer Cabin Tree - carved 137 years ago - was no more.\nThe storm was \"just too much for it\", the group wrote in a Facebook post that has drawn nearly 2,000 comments.\n\"Many memories were created under this tree,\" one read. \"They will remain good memories.\"\nOthers pointed out that the tree might have survived for longer if a tunnel had not been carved into it.\n\"You can't cut a hole in a tree like this and expect it to live,\" said one comment. \"This hole always bothered me so much. Why not just drive around it?\"\nPark volunteer Jim Allday said the sequoia, also known as the Tunnel Tree, shattered as it hit the ground.\n\"We lost an old friend today,\" he wrote in a social media post.\nGiant sequoia are closely related to the redwood tree, which is considered the tallest tree species on earth, reaching 250ft (76 metres). They can only grow naturally in the groves of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.\nThe tree fell as parts of California and Nevada were drenched by a seasonal weather system known as the Pineapple Express.\nNot to be confused with the Seth Rogen movie of the same name, the Pineapple Express is an \"atmospheric river\" that extends across the Pacific from Hawaii to the US West Coast, meteorologists say.\n\"This is a serious flood situation,\" the National Weather Service said in a special flood statement late Sunday night after the Russian River in California and the Truckee River in Nevada burst their banks.\nHundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes in Northern California and Nevada as water levels rise, and avalanches and mudslides close roads. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["as parts of California","California","California","California","California","California","California","Nevada","Nevada","Nevada","Nevada","Nevada"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Hundreds of people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Pineapple Express","Pineapple Express"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 An Italian rescue official says a number of people have been killed by an avalanche, possibly connected to Wednesday's earthquakes, that buried a ski resort on a slope of the Gran Sasso mountain in Italy's Abruzzo region. About 30 guests and staff were at the hotel. The only survivors are two men who had been outside when the disaster struck. (BBC) (Daily Express) (Reuters)","document":"Rescuers have removed two bodies from a hotel engulfed by an avalanche in central Italy as a desperate search for up to 35 other people continues. Heavy snow and disruption caused by multiple earthquakes have hindered rescue efforts in the rubble of the Rigopiano hotel, in the Abruzzo region.\nRescuers say they have heard nothing in the rubble while sniffer dogs are reportedly unable to locate victims.\nTwo people who were outside the hotel at the time of the avalanche survived. Four earthquakes above magnitude five rocked central Italy on Wednesday, with tremors continuing into the night. The quakes compounded problems resulting from snow and freezing weather, with power lines brought down and villages temporarily cut off. Rescue operations are under way across central Italy and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said the EU is ready to help. It appears the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the four-star spa hotel, close to the Gran Sasso mountain, to await evacuation following the earthquakes.\nTwenty-two guests and seven staff members were registered as being at the hotel, among them children, but rescuers say the actual number could be 35. The avalanche struck some time between 16:30 (15:30 GMT) and 17:40 on Wednesday, when the first known appeal for help was made. It partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (11 yards) off its foundations.\nA guest who was outside the building at the time raised the alarm with his phone. Giampiero Parete, whose wife and two children are missing, said he had gone to get something from his car: \"I was covered by the snow but I managed to get out. The car was not submerged and I waited for the rescuers to arrive.\"\nA couple was quoted as telling rescuers in a message: \"Help, we're dying of cold.\"\nMr Parete, who was taken to hospital with a fellow survivor, continued to make phone calls but it reportedly took until 20:00 before his pleas were acted on by the authorities. A list of 23 names given by La Stampa newspaper suggests that most are Italians but they include a Swiss national and a Romanian.\nThree are children aged six, seven and nine, and the oldest person on the list is a man of 60. Seven of the missing are from the neighbouring region of Marche.\nA couple from Marche who are not recorded in La Stampa's list, Marco Vagnarelli and Paola Tomassini, were last heard from at 16:30 on Wednesday, when Marco contacted his brother Fulvio on WhatsApp, Ansa reports. The avalanche had still not started at that point.\nMarco had told his brother that their departure from the area was being delayed by the bad weather. Video shows hotel interiors choked with walls of debris and snow.\n\"The hotel is almost completely destroyed,\" Antonio Crocetta, a member of the Alpine rescue squad who was at the scene, told Reuters news agency by phone.\n\"We've called out but we've heard no replies, no voices. We're digging and looking for people.\"\nThe first rescuers only reached the hotel on skis at 04:30 on Thursday morning. A line of rescue vehicles snaked along an approach road as they waited for it to be cleared. Earlier on Thursday, Italian media said three bodies had been extracted while, according to an unconfirmed report, a fourth body had been found inside but not yet recovered. But the fire service said only two bodies had been retrieved. The tremors caused chaos across central Italy, compounding problems caused by heavy snow and freezing weather.\nRescue services initially struggled to reach rural communities in regions like Marche.\nOne man was killed by a falling roof in Marche and another person swept away by a landslide in Abruzzo. People have been evacuated from their homes in some areas.\nAn earthquake rocked central Italy on 24 August, killing 298 people die. Another quake in October killed no-one, as most of the population centres had been evacuated.\nBy Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent\nThe Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October. A succession of quakes like this is often how the geology works.\nThe big picture is reasonably well understood. Wider tectonic forces in the Earth's crust have led to the Apennines being pulled apart at a rate of roughly 3mm per year - about a 10th of the speed at which your fingernails grow.\nBut this stress is then spread across a multitude of different faults that cut through the mountains. And this network is fiendishly complicated.\nIt does now look as though August's event broke two neighbouring faults, starting on one known as the Laga and then jumping across to one called the Vettore.\nThen came October with a swathe of quakes that broke the rest of the Vetorre. But the stress, according to the seismologists, wasn't just sent north, it was loaded south as well - south of August's event. And it's in this zone that we have now seen a series of quakes in recent days. About a dozen magnitude fours and fives. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Rigopiano hotel, in the Abruzzo region"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two bodies","two bodies","up to 35 other people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["between 16:30 (15:30 GMT) and 17:40 on Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 Italian emergency crews rescue 10 people, including four children, from 16½ feet of snow and wreckage from the luxury Hotel Rigopiano following yesterday's Gran Sasso mountain avalanche. Searchers find four bodies, while families of at least 16 people still missing wait for news. (CBS News)","document":"But for the loved ones of at least 16 others believed still trapped in the doomed mountain resort, the agonizing wait to learn their relatives’ fate dragged on.\nCheers of “Bravo! Bravo!” rang out early Friday as the first survivors were pulled from the debris, boosting spirits two days after the massive snow slide buried some 30 people. Four children were among those found alive. \n“Today is a day of hope. There’s a miracle under way,” declared Ilario Lacchetta, mayor of the tiny town of Farindola, where the hotel is located. The rescues buoyed spirits after four bodies were discovered earlier in the rubble of the luxury Hotel Rigopiano, 112 miles northeast of Rome, where the avalanche dumped 16½ feet of snow on top of the resort Wednesday. Relatives of the missing rushed from the rescue operations center in the mountains to the seaside hospital where the survivors were taken for treatment in hopes that their loved ones were among the lucky few to be found. First word of the survivors came around 11 a.m. when a boy wearing blue snow pants and a matching ski jacket emerged through a tunnel dug in the snow more than 42 hours after the avalanche struck. It was Gianfilippo Parete, the 8-year-old son of Giampiero Parete, a chef vacationing at the resort who was outside the hotel when the deluge of snow hit and first sounded the alarm by calling his boss. Emergency crews mussed the boy’s hair in celebration. “Bravo! Bravo!” they cheered. Next to emerge was the boy’s mother, Adriana Vranceanu, 43, wearing red snow pants and appearing alert as she told rescuers that her 6-year-old daughter, Ludovica, was still trapped inside. Mother and son were taken by stretcher to a helicopter for the ride out. They were then reunited with Parete at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara, suffering from hypothermia and dehydration but otherwise in good health, hospital officials said. “They had heavy clothes,” said Dr. Tullio Spina, director of the hospital’s intensive care and anesthesia unit. “They had ski caps to cover themselves. They remained away from the snow and cold, they were always inside the structure. That’s why the hypothermia wasn’t severe.” Little Ludovica was rescued several hours later and upon emerging asked for cookies: Ringos, an Italian version of Oreos, said Quintino Marcella, the restaurant owner who rallied the rescue after getting the phone call from her father. \nThe Italian fire brigade tweeted a video showing children being pulled out alive. The tweet in Italian reads: “the moving moment when three small children were rescued.”\n#HotelRigopiano il momento commovente del salvataggio dei tre bambini #USAR #vigilidelfuoco pic.twitter.com/FmmykZMUTh\nSome 30 people were believed trapped inside the hotel in the Gran Sasso mountain range when the avalanche hit after days of winter storms that dumped nearly 10 feet of snow in some places. The region was also rocked by four earthquakes on Wednesday, though it was not clear if they set off the avalanche. \nAs the rescue work continued, relatives of the missing gathered anxiously at the Pescara hospital waiting for word of their loved ones. “I just hope that my niece and her boyfriend will make it out of there,” said Melissa Riccardo. “We came to see if she was here.” A few erupted in frustration at an evening news conference. “The only news I have has been from the internet. They haven’t given me anything direct,” said Domenico Angelozzi, awaiting news of his sister and brother-in-law. The number of survivors found and extracted evolved over the course of the day. Marco Bini, a member of a police squad participating in the rescue, said the team opened a hole in the hotel roof Thursday night but “heard nothing.” Still, the persisted, following a floor plan of the hotel until they found signs of life. Upon seeing their rescuers, the survivors “called them angels,” he said. “They weren’t in a lot of space” but it was enough to survive, an area probably protected by the snow, Bini told Italian state TV. Late Friday, civil protection chief Fabrizio Cari said a total of 10 people had been found alive: Five who had been extracted, including four children. Rescuers were working to remove the rest, he said. “A beautiful feeling. Wonderful. I can’t describe it!” marveled Simona Di Carlo, aunt of Edoardo Di Carlo, after hearing word that he was among the survivors. “But I would like to see him.” Rescue crews said one group of survivors was found in the hotel’s kitchen area in an air pocket that formed when reinforced cement walls partially resisted the avalanche’s violent power. “It’s probable that they realized the risk and took protective measures,” firefighter Giuseppe Romano said. Those being rescued were in remarkably good condition, rescue workers said. Titi Postiglione, operations chief of the civil protection agency, said survivors would help rescuers try to locate others trapped in the hotel. Prosecutors opened a manslaughter investigation into the tragedy and were looking into whether the avalanche threat was taken seriously enough, and whether the hotel should have been evacuated earlier given the heavy snowfall and forecasts. “That hotel, in that historic moment, should it have been open?” prosecutor Christina Tedeschini was quoted by the ANSA news agency as saying. “If the people wanted to leave, what prevented them from doing so?” Parete, the survivor who sounded the alarm, said the guests had all checked out and were waiting for the road to be cleared so they could evacuate. But the snowplow never arrived and the avalanche hit around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. In addition, pleas for a rescue team initially went unheeded by Italian authorities. Marcella, Parete’s boss, said his call to the Pescara prefect’s office was rebuffed because the hotel had informed it a few hours earlier that all was OK there. He persisted with other emergency responders and eventually someone took his information seriously and mobilized the rescue some two hours later. Tedeschini said the delay was “a relevant theme that we will look into.” The operation has also been hampered by fears of triggering new avalanches and building collapses onto possible survivors trapped in the rubble. Workers have been clearing a 5.5-mile road to bring in heavier equipment, but the mountain road can handle only one-way traffic and is covered with snow and fallen trees and rocks. \nDays of heavy snowfall had knocked out electricity and phone lines in many central Italian towns and hamlets, and the hotel phones went down early Wednesday, just as the first of the four powerful earthquakes struck. \nThe force of the massive snow slide collapsed one wing of the hotel and rotated another off its foundation, pushing it downhill. \nAn Alpine rescue team was the first to arrive at the hotel on cross-country skis after a seven-kilometer journey that took two hours. They found Parete and Fabio Salzetta, a hotel maintenance worker, in a car in the resort’s parking lot. \nParete was taken to a hospital while Salzetta stayed behind to help rescuers identify where guests might be buried and how crews could enter the buildings. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["16½ feet"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["luxury Hotel Rigopiano, 112 miles northeast of Rome"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["some 30 people","30 people","at least 16 others"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 Two to three days of freezing weather and heavy snow kills at least 27 children in Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) (Khaskbahar Hindi)","document":"Heavy snowfall and freezing weather has killed 27 children in a remote district of northern Afghanistan, an official says.\nFifty centimeters of snow blocked roads in Darzaab in northern Jawzjan Province as temperatures plunged to minus 10 degrees Celsius, district Governor Rahmatullah Hashar said on January 26.\nHashar said the deaths occurred over the past two or three days, adding that all of the children were under the age of 5.\nThe fact that access for villagers has been cut off means the toll could rise, he also said.\nHowever, the provincial governor's spokesman, Reza Ghafoori, said aid would be delivered.\nEach winter, heavy snowfall, subzero temperatures, and avalanches kill scores of people in Afghanistan, where poor infrastructure makes it difficult for rescuers to reach isolated areas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Fifty centimeters"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["remote district of northern Afghanistan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["27 children"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 At least 14 Indian Army soldiers and four civilians are killed in a series of avalanches near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. (BBC)","document":"Seven soldiers died on Thursday when their patrol was hit near the Line of Control, the de facto border with Pakistan. Rescuers found four more bodies on Friday morning.\nIn a separate incident, a nearby army post was buried by snow, killing three soldiers. Indian and Pakistani troops die in Kashmir avalanches most winters. Heavy snow has caused chaos across the region, blocking roads and railways.\nThe two avalanches that killed the soldiers happened in the remote Gurez area. Seven soldiers were saved but army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told reporters that bad weather, including heavy snowfall, had hampered rescue efforts. The AFP news agency quoted him as saying that no one else was missing.\nOn Wednesday, four members of the same family were also killed by snowfall in the same area.\nLast year, 10 Indian soldiers were killed in an avalanche on Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield.\nOne of them was rescued after being buried in snow for six days but later died in hospital.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the Line of Control, the de facto border with Pakistan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Seven soldiers died","killing three soldiers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 Several avalanches in Gorno–Badakhshan, Tajikistan, caused by heavy snowfall over the weekend, leave at least seven people dead. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)","document":"Avalanches triggered by warm weather following heavy snowfall have killed at least seven people in Tajikistan's mountainous south.\nA spokeswoman for Tajikistan's Emergencies Committee, Umeda Yusufova, told RFE/RL on January 30 that the death toll may rise as rescue teams continue working on the Dushanbe-Khujand highway and in the Gorno-Badakhshan region, where more than 40 major avalanches were registered over the weekend.\nOfficials said some 500 people stranded in their cars after avalanches blocked the highway were rescued on January 28.\nMountains cover 93 percent of the Central Asian nation, and avalanches and mudslides kill dozens of people every year.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Tajikistan's mountainous south","Tajikistan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least seven people","500 people stranded"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 Multiple tornadoes tear through New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and other parts of southeastern Louisiana, injuring at least 20 people; no deaths have been reported. The severe weather also delivers heavy rain and hail in Mississippi and Alabama. (AP) (Reuters)","document":"Feb 7 (Reuters) - A tornado tore through New Orleans and surrounding parts of Louisiana on Tuesday, injuring at least 11 people and causing severe damage to homes and businesses, the National Weather Service and local media said.\nThe storm hit New Orleans at about 2 p.m. EST, according to the weather service’s website. It said numerous buildings and homes were reported destroyed in the city and in suburban areas of Baton Rouge.\nAt least 11 people were hurt in the twister, the Times-Picayune newspaper said.\nPhotos and videos on social media showed the storm roaring across highways and streets, tearing down trees, power lines and homes.\nNearly 50,000 customers were without power in Louisiana, with more than 10,000 of them located in New Orleans, according to Entergy New Orleans spokeswoman Kacee Kirschvink.\nThe National Weather Service cautioned residents to remain sheltered to avoid flying debris and tornado-damaged areas.\n“Keep the roads clear for emergency responders. Lots of downed power lines and debris,” the weather service’s New Orleans officer said in a posting on Twitter.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New Orleans","New Orleans","New Orleans and surrounding parts of Louisiana","Louisiana","New Orleans","New Orleans","New Orleans"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 11 people were hurt","least 11 people","at least 11 people","least 11 people","Nearly 50,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","2 p.m. EST"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 A major blizzard hits the northeastern United States, cancelling more than 2,400 flights. (The Weather Channel)","document":"A New York City doorman died while shoveling snow as Winter Storm Niko brought blizzard conditions and rapid snow accumulation to the region. \nThursday, 59-year-old Miguel Gonzalez died while shoveling snow on the Upper East Side of New York, CBS New York reports. Authorities say the doorman slipped and crashed through a plate glass window around 9:30 a.m. He was taken to Metropolitan Hospital with injuries to the neck and face and was later pronounced dead.\nSnow emergencies were declared in two major Northeast metro areas, Philadelphia and Boston, as the rapidly strengthening storm blanketed the Northeast with up to 2 feet of snow in places. Thundersnow was also reported at several locations around the region. \n\nGovernors in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio urged people to stay off the roads Thursday, the Associated Press reports, to keep them clear for plows and emergency vehicles. Despite the warnings, the rapid accumulation of snow caught many drivers out in the open. \n\"It's pretty nuts here,\" Felecia White told the Associated Press as she and friends hunkered down in a restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island, waiting for the weather to improve. \"Even with four-wheel drive, you can't do anything. You can't see across the street.\"\nConnecticut State Police responded to more than 600 calls during the storm, including 68 accidents with four injuries and several jackknifed semi trucks that closed stretches of Interstate 95. New Jersey State Police reduced speed limits to 35 mph along the 122-mile length of the New Jersey Turnpike but still fielded more 600 calls for assistance.\nIn New York, dozens of motorists were stranded on Long Island after they couldn't make it up icy ramps, and scores of others were around the NYC Metro area, the Associated Press reports. New York Gov. Mario Cuomo himself stopped to give aid to a driver stuck in a snowbank in Westchester County, helping to attach tow cables from his security detail's SUV onto the man's car.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to 2 feet"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Northeast metro areas, Philadelphia and Boston"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A New York City doorman died","59-year-old Miguel Gonzalez"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Niko"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 At least four skiers are killed in an avalanche at the Tignes resort in France. (The Guardian)","document":"Reports that five other skiers and boarders were missing near Alpine resort of Tignes are now thought to be incorrect First published on Mon 13 Feb 2017 12.28 GMT\nThree members of the same family and their snowboard instructor have died in an avalanche near the busy French Alpine resort of Tignes. The group was swept away at 10.35am local time as they boarded off-piste at an altitude of about 2,100 metres in the Savoie region of the central Alps, near the Italian border.\nIt was at first believed that five other skiers and boarders were missing, but on Monday, local officials said they did not believe there were other victims.\nThe 400 metre-wide avalanche, which struck the particularly high and steep Lavachet peak in the Tovière area, was believed to have been set off by a group of skiers higher up the mountain, the ski station said.\nThe avalanche was the worst to hit the Alps this season. It occurred during the school half-term holidays in France and several other European countries, including Britain, when ski resorts are typically full of children.\nAnother avalanche at La Clusaz early on Monday afternoon swept away a 30-year-old skier who died in hospital of his injuries.\nThe victims of the avalanche at Tignes were reported to be a 48-year-old French man, his 15-year-old son and the teenager’s 19-year-old half-brother, according to the emergency services. The fourth, an Ecole du Ski Français snowboard instructor was named as Laurent Ruiz, 59, an experienced mountain professional. Local officials said they were walking through the snow carrying their snowboards to where they planned to set off down the slope when they were struck. All were reportedly equipped with tracking devices enabling them to be detected in case of an avalanche, but were declared dead when found, the Dauphiné Libéré reported.\nOn Monday afternoon dozens of rescuers scrabbled to find five others believed missing before nightfall, but late afternoon the local prefect told journalists: “We have good reason to believe there are no other victims.”\nA fifth snowboarder reported to have been with the group “a few minutes” before the avalanche, but who escaped, was being interviewed on Monday to establish exactly what had happened.\nIt was later discovered that several others who were due to join the group skiing at Tovière had failed to turn up that morning as arranged, and were not with those hit by the avalanche.\nLocal officials declared the avalanche risk throughout the region to be high, at a rating of three out of five.\nThe ski station said it was a “slab” avalanche, caused when dense wind-packed snow breaks off. Before Monday, 13 accidents had been recorded in the Alps and Pyrenees so far this winter, claiming a total of three lives. One of the worst avalanches in France in the past decade took place in the summer of 2012 in the Mont Blanc range. Nine climbers from Britain, Germany, Spain and Switzerland were killed as they tried to scale the north face of Mont Maudit.\nLast month 29 people died in Italy after an avalanche buried a hotel in the central town of Rigopiano. The force of the impact has been calculated by police as being equivalent to that of 4,000 fully loaded trucks.\nIn January last year 11 soldiers were swept away by an avalanche as they skied near Valfréjus in the Savoie. Five were killed and a sixth died in hospital several days later.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the busy French Alpine resort of Tignes","near","Tignes","near","Tignes","near"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five other skiers and boarders were missing","five","skiers","boarders","missing","missing","five other skiers and boarders","five","skiers","boarders","skiers","five","Three members of the same family and their snowboard instructor","snowboard instructor"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["10.35am local time"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 Cyclone Dineo kills seven and destroys twenty–thousand homes in Mozambique. (Newsweek)","document":"Tropical storm Dineo has killed seven people in Mozambique since it hit the eastern coast on Wednesday, the government's disaster centre said Thursday.\nThe storm has brought heavy rain and winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), raising the risk of flooding and crop damage in the impoverished southern African country.\nMozambique's emergency operational centre said in a statement about 130,000 people living in the Inhambane province, 500km north of the capital Maputo, had been affected by the storm. About 20,000 homes were destroyed by heavy rains and fierce winds.\nOne of the world's poorest countries and also in the throes of a financial crisis, Mozambique is prone to flooding. It is especially vulnerable after a major drought last year as soils degraded or hardened by dry spells do not easily absorb water.\n\"The system will pose a great risk for the next 36 to 48 hours, particularly in terms of further exceptionally heavy rainfall and resultant flooding,\" the South African Weather Service said in a statement.\nThe Mozambican government said the situation was less severe in Gaza, which has the popular resort town of Xai-Xai as its capital and is near the border with South Africa.\nGovernment said, however, that it feared flooding in the area due to the torrential downpour.\nExperts said the storm should weaken as it moves over land, but that it could still bring heavy rainfall.\nDamage could be inflicted on Mozambique's multi-million dollar macadamia nut industry. Subsistence maize farmers recovering from last year's El Nino-triggered drought are also at risk.\nFloods in 2000 and 2001 killed hundreds of people in Mozambique and two cyclones in January 2012 killed 26 and displaced more than 125,000, according to official data.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killed seven people","about 130,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Dineo"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour)"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 Severe storms, from the weather system that hit Southern California Friday, reach southwest Texas injuring several people and damaging at least 100 homes with one confirmed tornado in San Antonio. Heavy rains continue today with flash floods likely as the storm moves to eastern Texas and southern Louisiana. (USA Today) (Weather Channel)","document":"Residents in San Antonio were picking up the pieces Monday after severe overnight storms ripped through south-central Texas, damaging more than 150 homes.\nThe National Weather Service confirmed Monday that at least four six tornadoes hit San Antonio. Five minor injuries were reported, the Associated Press said.\nAt one point Sunday night, 46,000 customers were without power in the San Antonio area.\nThunderstorms and pounding rain rattled eastern Texas and southern Louisiana throughout the day and into Monday night. Fortunately, no severe thunderstorms are forecast anywhere in the U.S. on Tuesday, the Storm Prediction Center said.\nA family of five said they hid under a mattress to stay safe from what they describe as tornado-like winds over their home Sunday night in San Antonio.\nHomeowner Lucy Duncan said the family was watching TV as the storms were starting to pick up. \"I couldn’t even describe it because I’ve never experienced it before,” Duncan told KENS-TV. “I knew immediately something was wrong.”\nThe storm ripped part of the roof from Duncan’s house. Duncan said the swing set and and outside structure in their backyard are both completely gone.\n“We were acting on instinct,” Duncan said. “The reality is setting in now like, ‘Oh my goodness I can’t believe that happened,’ but in the moment we were just trying to survive.”","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["San Antonio","San Antonio","San Antonio","San Antonio","south-central Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Five minor injuries","46,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 Severe storms, from the weather system that hit Southern California Friday, reach southwest Texas injuring several people and damaging at least 100 homes with one confirmed tornado in San Antonio. Heavy rains continue today with flash floods likely as the storm moves to eastern Texas and southern Louisiana. (USA Today) (Weather Channel)","document":"\nSevere storms rolled through Texas Sunday night into Monday morning, where four confirmed tornadoes left widespread damage in northern San Antonio and four more were confirmed near Austin.\nMore than 100 structures were damaged when a severe storm hit just south of San Antonio International Airport, ABC News reported. Most of the damaged buildings were homes, but an elementary school was also damaged, the report added.\nKTRK-TV said there were five minor injuries reported following the storms.\n\n\"The same weather system that struck Southern California last Friday caused severe storms to develop in Texas and southern Oklahoma late Sunday,\" said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.\nNear Olmos, Lucy Duncan took shelter under a mattress with her husband and three children as the storm closed in on their home. She told KENS-TV that the roof of their home was torn off, but the family escaped unharmed.\n\"I couldn’t even describe it because I’ve never experienced it before,\" Duncan told KENS. \"I knew immediately something was wrong.\"\nAt the height of the outages, CPS Energy reported nearly 40,000 customers without power due to the storms.\nThe National Weather Service gave the San Antonio tornado damage near Ridgeview and Alamo Heights an EF2 rating with maximum winds of 120 mph. It was on the ground for about four and a half miles, according to the initial damage survey results. A separate EF0 tornado was confirmed east of Interstate 35 in the San Antonio area between Windcrest and Converse. A third tornado was confirmed on Putting Green Road and was rated EF1. A fourth tornado packing 85 mph winds in the Garden Ridge area was rated an EF0.\nStorms also caused problems in southeastern Austin Monday morning, where thousands lost power and at least 20 homes were damaged, according to KEYE-TV.\n\"We were sitting on the couch and watching the tornado warning on the TV,\" Sammye Mason, who was in a friend's home when it got damaged, told KEYE. \"The next thing we know, the lights go out and then, 'whoosh,' the door came flying open and we were knocked off the couch.\"\nTwo confirmed tornadoes hit Williamson County near Thrall. Both received preliminary ratings of EF2. In Hays County, an EF1 was confirmed, as well as an EF0 that tracked into Travis County.\nAn EF0 tornado overturned several RVs and damaged some sheds and outbuildings in southern Guadalupe County south of the town of Seguin.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern San Antonio","near Austin","south of San Antonio International Airport"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five minor injuries"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday night into Monday morning","Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["EF0","EF0","EF0","EF2","EF2","EF1","EF1","EF0 tornado","EF0 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 mph","85 mph winds"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 The Met Office issues travel warnings for parts of Wales, Scotland and England as Storm Doris, described as a “weather bomb”, brings gales, heavy rain and snow to the United Kingdom. At least one person is killed. (The Guardian) (The Independent)","document":"Woman dies in Wolverhampton as high winds, heavy snow and rain also bring major disruption to roads, trains and flights\nFirst published on Thu 23 Feb 2017 06.31 GMT\nThe Met Office has declared Storm Doris a “weather bomb” as gales and snow hit parts of Britain.\nHigh winds brought widespread travel disruption on roads, rail, in the air and on the water. A woman died in Wolverhampton city centre after suffering serious head injuries after being hit by falling debris.\nIn Cornwall, a man was taken to hospital after being rescued by firefighters when a tree hit his van on the A374 near Torpoint. The extent of his injuries was not known.\nThe QE2 bridge in Dartford, Kent, the Orwell bridge in Suffolk and the Severn bridge between England and Wales were closed because of the high winds. The port of Liverpool was closed due to gusts of 100mph. In Scotland, the M80 was closed between Glasgow and Stirling because of heavy snow but later reopened.\n In north Wales, a 94mph gust hit Capel Curig, although later wind speeds of 80mph were recorded, suggesting the storm had passed its peak. Winds of 60mph-plus were reported elsewhere. A weather bomb is an intense low-pressure system with a central pressure that falls by 24 millibars in a 24-hour period.\nThe Met Office extended its amber – be prepared – warning covering Wales and much of England to London, where winds were expected to reach 60-70mph. It said damage to structures, interruptions to power supplies and widespread disruption to travel networks were likely, and there was a danger of injury from flying debris. Trees were likely to be damaged or blown over, it said.\n#StormDoris continues to bring very strong winds, heavy rain and snow in places. Here are the highest wind gusts so far \nAer Lingus cancelled 12 flights within England and between England and the Republic of Ireland, while Heathrow advised passengers to check for delays and cancellations before travelling. Network Rail imposed speed restrictions on some lines, and services were disrupted by debris and fallen trees. Damage to overhead power lines in St Albans caused trains from St Pancras station in London to be cancelled. Network Rail warned of disruption till midday.\nMore than 200 homes in Macclesfield, Cheshire, lost electricity because of a fallen tree and there were also reports of power outages on the island of Anglesey, north Wales.\nAn amber warning of snow remains in place for north-east England and southern and central Scotland. The Met Office said up to 30cm was possible on higher ground.\nYellow – be aware – warnings were in place for Northern Ireland and the rest of Scotland, for wind and snow respectively. In the Republic of Ireland, where Met Éireann issued a yellow warning predicting winds of up to 75mph, almost 50,000 homes were without power on Thursday morning, mainly due to fallen trees knocking down power lines.\nHighways England issued a weather alert on major roads. It said high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes were particularly at risk, and it “strongly advised” drivers to avoid travelling on some stretches of road in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the east and north-west.\nRichard Leonard, the head of road safety at Highways England, said: “We’re expecting Storm Doris to have a significant impact on the roads throughout the day so are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather. Drivers should look out for warnings on the electronic message signs and listen for updates in radio travel bulletins.”\nAA spokesman John Snowling said: “The unpleasant combination of torrential rain, severe gales and heavy snow will create some very poor driving conditions, with the potential for roads to be affected by black ice, debris or standing water.\n“Wind can also bring down tree branches, blow you off course or blow other vehicles into your path. Expect travel disruption as some roads will be treacherous.”\nStorm Doris is expected to move on quickly, with the worst of the weather gone by Thursday evening. More wind and rain is forecast for the weekend and into next week, but it is not expected to reach the extremes of Doris. The bad weather contrasts with earlier in the week when visitors to Kew Gardens in west London enjoyed the UK’s warmest day of the winter so far, at 18.3C (64.9F). Parts of London and the south of England had temperatures warmer than southern Spain.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Wolverhampton","Wolverhampton","parts of Britain","Parts"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Woman","woman","A woman","a man"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Doris","Doris","Doris","Doris"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["100mph","a 94mph","80mph","60mph","60-70mph"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 The Met Office issues travel warnings for parts of Wales, Scotland and England as Storm Doris, described as a “weather bomb”, brings gales, heavy rain and snow to the United Kingdom. At least one person is killed. (The Guardian) (The Independent)","document":"A woman has been killed by a piece of debris blown into the street as a storm battered the UK with winds of up to 94mph.\nStorm Doris – described by meteorologists as a \"weather bomb\" – uprooted trees, grounded planes, caused chaos on the roads and forced the closure of the Port of Liverpool.\nTemperatures are set to plummet as the storm leaves an icy trail in its wake, but winds will drop as it moves out to the North Sea, said the Met Office.\nThe unnamed victim was killed when an object said to be the \"size of a coffee table\" was blown into the street in Wolverhampton city centre.\nPasser-by Rebecca Davis, 40, a teacher from the city, saw medics trying to save the woman's life.\nShe said the victim, who looked to be aged \"between 20 and 30\", appeared to have been hit by something looking like a piece of roof which had fallen off a building nearby.\n\"I think the wind broke it and caused it to fall. I don't know if it was hit by something else or just the wind did it,\" she said.\nShe added that while the woman had been hit \"right outside Starbucks\", it was unclear if the debris had fallen from the coffee shop or from a nearby building.\n\"I don't think anyone else was hurt. It was a big piece about the size of a coffee table but I think it just hit her,\" she said.\nStarbucks said in statement: \"We are shocked and saddened by this terrible incident.\n\"We are supporting the police with their investigation and our store will remain closed until further notice.\"\n\n\n\n\nThe Met Office said a top wind speed of 94mph was recorded in Capel Curig, North Wales, on Thursday morning.\nThe storm is set to leave frost and wintry showers and a plunge in temperatures of 7C, reaching around 3C in the south and dropping to freezing in some cities overnight.\nWarnings of strong winds and heavy rain in North Wales, the Midlands, the East and the North West have also now been extended to include the London area.\nThere were reports of trees felled by the winds across the country, with one trapping a man in a van on the A374 in Cornwall, and others collapsing on to houses in London and Wigan.\nAs Doris hit, Peel Ports in Liverpool announced the city's port had been closed due to \"100mph gusts of wind\".\nThe company said: \"All operations are stood down for the safety of our employees, contractors and customers of the port.\"\nNetwork Rail said the violent weather had caused \"significant disruption throughout the country\", with an enforced speed limit on some lines.\nWith fallen trees, objects caught in overhead wires, heavy rain, flooding and debris on the tracks causing delays across many services, a spokesman said employees are \"doing all we can to keep the network running\".\nFlights were also affected, with a Heathrow spokesman warning of a \"10 per cent reduction\" in the airport's schedule.\nA number of roads were closed including the M6 Thelwall Viaduct in both directions between junction 20 and 21 in the North West and the QE2 Bridge in Dartford, Kent.\nIn Scotland snowfall saw the M80 closed in both directions, as well as schools shut and some ferry services cancelled.\nUp to 15cm (6 inches) of snow was expected to fall across parts of Scotland and north-east England, bringing treacherous, blizzard-like conditions.\nAnd in Ireland almost 46,000 households woke up to no electricity after violent gusts battered large swathes of the country throughout the night.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Peel Ports in Liverpool","Liverpool","Capel Curig, North Wales","North Wales"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A woman","woman","woman"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Doris","Doris"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["94mph","94mph","100mph"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 An avalanche near the northern Italian town of Courmayeur, kills at least three people and injures another three, while two others are believed missing. (BBC)","document":"Three people have been killed, two are believed to be missing and three wounded in a major avalanche near the northern Italian ski resort of Courmayeur, reports say. The deaths are reported to have happened in an off-piste area as skiers made their way through fresh snow.\nOfficials said the injured skiers were hit by falling rocks and had been taken to hospital by helicopter.\nThere have been several skiing deaths in the Alps this winter.\nRescuers on Thursday said that skiers from Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Italy were caught up in the avalanche.\nA second avalanche on Thursday was reported to have taken place in the same area soon after the first. Two off-piste skiers were caught up in it, but neither was reported to have been injured. France avalanche: Four killed at Tignes ski resort\nTrapped skiers rescued from cable cars in Italian Alps\nThe avalanche risk - in one of the busiest weeks of the year for skiing in the Alps - has been assessed by officials to be three out of five, because of recent heavy snowfalls and powerful winds which have caused drifting in some areas.\nCourmayeur - on the slopes of Mont Blanc - is renowned for the high difficulty levels of its skiing. Jersey man killed in skiing accident\n\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the northern Italian ski resort of Courmayeur","Courmayeur"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two","Two","Three people","three wounded"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 Intense, Category 4 Cyclone Enawo is intensifying, as it closes in on the northern tip of Madagascar. (The Weather Channel)","document":"\nTropical Cyclone Enawo made landfall March 7 in Madagascar in what turned out to be the island's strongest landfall in 13 years.\nJust prior to landfall at 11 a.m. local time March 7, the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane.\nMeteoFrance estimated Enawo's central pressure was 925 millibars in the few hours before the eye crossed land between Antalaha and Sambava.\nAccording to NOAA's best track database, Enawo appeared to have been the strongest landfall in Madagascar, by peak estimated winds, since Gafilo made landfall as a Category 4-equivalent storm in roughly the same area of northeast Madagascar in March 2004, claiming 363 lives, according to the EM-DAT International Disaster Database. More than 20,000 homes were destroyed, according to MeteoFrance.\n(MORE: Hurricane Central)\nThe Associated Press reports that five people were killed by Enawo. Damage caused by the cyclone also forced 10,000 people to leave their homes.\nMore than a foot of rain drenched the town of Sambava near where the center of Enawo moved inland. \n(MORE: Impacts From Enawo)\nAccording to the World Bank Indicators, only 11 percent of Madagascar's roads are paved. \nAccording to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, activity in February in the Indian Ocean was at its third-lowest level on record. February is typically a peak month for hurricane-strength systems in that basin.\n(MORE: Cyclone Dineo Kills At Least 7 in Mozambique)\nThe southwestern Indian Ocean typically sees about 9 to 10 tropical cyclones each year, while 4 to 5 of these become hurricane-strength systems. \nThe last tropical cyclone of at least hurricane strength to landfall in Madagascar was Hellen on Mar. 31, 2014.\nOnly two hurricane-strength tropical cyclones have made landfall on Madagascar's east coast this decade: Giovanna on Feb. 13, 2012, and Bingiza on Feb. 14, 2011, according to NOAA's Best Track database. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Madagascar","Madagascar","Madagascar","Madagascar","Madagascar","Madagascar"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["March 7","March 7"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4-equivalent storm","Category 4","Category 4 hurricane","4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Enawo's","Enawo","Enawo","Enawo","Enawo","Enawo","Enawo"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["145 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 Dozens of tornadoes spawned by thunderstorms touch down in the American Midwest, damaging or destroying numerous homes and businesses and causing some injuries. The Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas is closed following heavy damage caused by the severe weather. (ABC News)","document":"A reported 29 tornadoes touch down in the Midwest. Tornadoes tear through parts of the Midwest\n— -- The Midwest was slammed with 29 reported tornadoes Monday, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, leaving a trail of damaged homes and displaced and injured residents.\nMissouri, Illinois, and Kansas were among the states hit.\nSeveral homes damaged in Oak Grove by possible tornado \nSeveral homes damaged in Oak Grove by possible tornado \"These 29 reported tornadoes occurred late Monday afternoon into Monday night,\" ABC News meteorologist Daniel Manzo said. \"This made a for a very perilous situation for millions of Americans ... in addition to the tornadoes, giant tennis ball sized hail was reported across eastern Kansas and Missouri.\"\nHail up to tennis ball-sized reported in parts of the metro District in Oak Grove, Missouri, told ABC News Monday night that between 100 and 200 people have been displaced from their homes, but that figure may increase. He added that \"dozens and dozens\" of homes have sustained moderate to severe damage in Oak Grove, with a significant number of additional sustaining light to minimal damage.\nScarborough said he is aware of 12 people who were treated for injuries, three of whom were transported to the hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening.\nMost of Oak Grove -- located about 30 miles east of Kansas City -- was without power, as of Monday night, as power lines were down as a result of falling trees and airborne debris.\nIn Smithville, Missouri, located about 22 miles north of Kansas City, police Chief Jason Lockridge told The Associated Press that 20 to 25 homes were damaged. Planes and hangars at the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas, were also damaged.\nThe city of Smithville posted on it Facebook page that \"one person was injured but was not transported to the hospital.\"\nKansas City Power & Light reported on its website early Tuesday morning that about 40,000 customers were without power. That's down from more than 100,000 late Monday night.\nLooking ahead, Manzo says \"the threat for severe weather shifts southward today with possible damaging winds and large hail from northern Louisiana to Southern Tennessee.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of the Midwest","Midwest","parts","Midwest","Midwest","Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas","Kansas","Missouri","Missouri","Kansas","Missouri","Kansas","Kansas","Kansas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["one person was injured","injured","between 100 and 200 people","12 people","40,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Hurricane Florence regains strength to a category 4 major hurricane and is expected to threaten the East Coast of the United States near the Carolinas in the coming days, with the potential for a category 4 or 5 landfall with very large rainfall totals. Preparations are underway for evacuation of around 1 million coastal inhabitants of South Carolina. (Upi) (Post and Courier)","document":"Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Florence early Sunday weakened into a depression but was forecast to still cause flash flooding and major river flooding over much of the Carolinas.\nAt 5 am., the National Hurricane Center in a report said Florence had dissipated into a depression and announced it would be the last advisory. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center is issuing future advisories.\nThe center of the storm made landfall around 7:15 a.m. Friday near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., close to the South Carolina border. Forecasters said Florence hit land with winds of 90 mph -- a Category 1 hurricane -- and slowed a bit in its movement as its outward winds lashed North and South Carolina.\nFor more than a day Florence was moving about 3 mph per hour. But as winds diminished, it moved quicker across the Carolinas.\nThe Prediction Center said Sunday that Florence was moving at 10 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph and was 40 miles west of Columbia, S.C., and 215 miles southwest of Raleigh N.C.\nA turn toward the northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected Sunday, followed by a turn toward the north and northeast with an additional increase in forward speed Monday. On the forecast track, Florence's center Sunday will move across the western Carolinas and then recurve over the Ohio Valley and Northeast United States on Monday and Tuesday.\nAll watches and warnings have been discontinued. But the Prediction Center said \"interests in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence due to the heavy rainfall threat.\"\nAn additional 5 to 10 inches, with storm total accumulations of 15 to 20 inches in western North Carolina, are forecast.\n\"These rainfall amounts will produce catastrophic flash flooding, prolonged significant river\nflooding, and an elevated risk for landslides in western North Carolina and far southwest Virginia,\" the Prediction Center.\nIn southern North Carolina and northern South Carolina an additional 4 to 6 inches, and isolated 8 inches, is forecast. This rainfall will result in additional flash flooding and also exacerbate the\nriver flooding, the Prediction Center said.\nStorm total accumulations of 30 to 40 inches in southeast North Carolina are forecast.\nAn observer near Swansboro, N.C., told the NHC more than 30 inches of rain had fallen so far, a record-breaking total surpassing the tropical cyclone record of 24.06 inches for North Carolina set during Hurricane Floyd in 1999.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North and South Carolina","South Carolina","north","North","North","North","South Carolina","North","North","Wrightsville Beach, N.C., close to the South Carolina border"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["7:15 a.m. Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 1 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["3 mph per hour","10 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["90 mph","35 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Hurricane Florence weakens to a category 1 storm, but \"life-threatening storm surge and rainfall\" to the Carolinas remain likely with tropical-storm-force winds on Thursday. (WBIR), (Business Insider)","document":"Hurricane Florence's center made landfall in North Carolina Friday morning after it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm late Thursday night, with sustained winds topping 90 mph.\nThe storm knocked out electricity services to more than 150,000 customers in North Carolina. Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender counties were most affected by the outages late Thursday night, North Carolina Emergency Management reported.\n\"If you are in the path of Florence, please stay safe and take shelter today,\" FEMA said on Twitter Thursday. \"Communicate with family and friends. Let them know where you are and how you’ll stay in touch.\"\nThe NHC has issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for the coastal areas between the South Santee River in South Carolina and Duck, North Carolina as well as Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. \nPowerful waves and walls of water have moved inland, bringing flooding. North Carolina's barrier islands, from Cape Fear to Cape Lookout could see the biggest storm surge: between 7 and 11 feet.\nMuch of the rest of the Carolina coastline, from the Virginia border down to Edisto Beach, South Carolina is under hurricane and storm surge watch. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 80 miles from Florence's center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles.\n\"This is a very serious storm. The power could go out for many weeks,\" Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday morning.\nFlorence was expected to slow down considerably, according to the NHC, meaning it will likely sit over the Carolinas late into the weekend, pounding the area near the shore with rain.\nAround 5.25 million people live in areas under hurricane warnings or watches, and 4.9 million live in places covered by tropical storm warnings or watches, the National Weather Service said, per The Associated Press\n\"Storm surge is why many of you have been placed under evacuation, and we are asking citizens to please heed the warning. Your time is running out,\" Long said.\nFive states declared states of emergency ahead of the storm: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, along with Washington, DC.\nEvacuation orders were issued in one of South Carolina's four coastal counties. Virginia's governor, Ralph Northam, issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of the state's low-lying coastal areas as well. In North Carolina, evacuations were ordered in Dare County, which includes the Outer Banks, as well as other coastal counties, according to The Observer. \nThe storm could leave thousands of buildings flooded. Duke Energy, the Carolinas' major power supplier, said up to 3 million customers could lose power, perhaps for weeks, according to The New York Times. \n\"This may be a marathon, not a sprint,\" Cooper added.\nRead More: The 14 most important things you should do to prepare for a hurricane\nFlorence is currently a Category 1 hurricane, meaning it has maximum wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph. \nPredicting hurricane paths is a difficult science, and there are still uncertainties about this storm's track. But if predictions hold, Florence will move over South Carolina and western North Carolina, followed by eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. \nThe chart below shows the probability that an area that will see winds of at least 39 mph. The area in purple corresponds to a 90% or higher probability of experiencing those gusts.\nHurricane Florence is predicted to slow over the Carolinas, where rainfall totals could reach 40 inches.\nHeavy rain, up to 10 inches, may extend as far inland as Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, and Raleigh, its capital. The NHC also said the storm's effects — including rain, high winds, rip currents, and tidal surges — would most likely be felt outside the \"cone of probability\" and could extend hundreds of miles from the storm's center.\nSluggish or stalled hurricanes — like Hurricane Harvey, which flooded swaths of Houston, Texas, and the Gulf Coast last year — can become even more dangerous as they stick around, pouring rain.\nThese types of slow-moving hurricanes are becoming more frequent. Recent research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that storms had slowed by an average of 10% over land between 1949 and 2016. \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The NHC","NHC","NHC"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["could reach 40 inches","up to 10 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the coastal areas between the South Santee River in South Carolina and Duck, North Carolina as well as Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","North Carolina","South Carolina","coastal areas","well","North Carolina","South Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","South Carolina and western North Carolina, followed by eastern Kentucky and Tennessee","South Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["more than 150,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 1 storm","1"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence","Florence's","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["90 mph","at least 39 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Hurricane Florence makes landfall in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane. and leaves over 895,000 residences and businesses without electrical power. A 105 mph (169 km/h) gust hits Wilmington, the strongest wind recorded there since Hurricane Helene in 1958. Florence is later downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it moves inland with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). (ABC News) (The Morning Call) (AP) (NHC) (Reuters)","document":"Tropical Storm Florence continues to flood roads and neighborhoods Hurricane Florence slammed into the East Coast, knocking out power in parts of the Carolinas, dumping torrential rains and inundating several areas with floodwater.\nHere is a look at the dangerous storm by the numbers:\n17: The number of fatalities as of the afternoon of Sunday.\nA 41-year-old mother and her 7-month-old son were killed in Wilmington, North Carolina, when a tree fell on their home, officials said. The woman's husband was injured in the incident and taken to a nearby hospital, according to police.\nA 78-year-old man in Kinston, North Carolina, was electrocuted when he tried to connect two extension cords outside in the rain, according to Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail.\nA 77-year-old man in Lenoir County, North Carolina, fell and died from \"a cardiac event\" while checking on dogs outside during the storm, officials said.\nAn 81-year-old man died in Wayne County when he fell and struck his head while packing to evacuate, officials said.\nA 68-year-old man died when he was electrocuted while plugging in a generator in Lenoir County.\nA husband and wife also died in a house fire in Cumberland County, officials said.\nIn South Carolina, a woman was killed when she struck a tree while driving, and a couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator being operated inside their home, officials said.\n105 mph: As the storm made landfall Friday morning, Wilmington, North Carolina, was hit by a 105 mph wind gust, the strongest wind in the city since 1958.\n100: The number of people who needed to be rescued in flooded New Bern, North Carolina, on Saturday morning.\n\"We have three rescue teams who are working around the clock to get into communities to retrieve people,\" the city said in a statement.\nNew Bern resident George Zaytoun, who chose not to heed evacuation warnings and was trapped inside his home, told \"Good Morning America,\" on Friday, \"It’s like a bomb has gone off.\"\n“Everything around us is underwater,\" he said.\n\"This is twice the size of Hurricane Hugo,\" which tore through the Carolinas in 1989, New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw told \"Good Morning America.\"\n65: Number of trees blown across roads in Raleigh, North Carolina, Saturday morning.\n33.89 inches: As of Sunday, Swansboro, North Carolina, had received an unofficial total of 33.89 inches of rainfall, breaking the all-time rain record for North Carolina of 24.06 set in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd. Wilmington, North Carolina, had received 23.59 inches of rain, a record for a single weather event.\n592,370: Number of customers without power in North Carolina on Sunday.\n27,456: Number of customers without power in South Carolina on Sunday.\n1 million: Up to 1 million people have evacuated their North Carolina homes, Gov. Cooper said Friday.\n20,000: More than 20,000 people in six states -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland and Tennessee -- took shelter in 206 Red Cross and community shelters on Thursday.\n730,000: The number of blankets available for evacuees. Six-thousand cots and 6 million meals have also been provided.\n11 feet: Storm surge may reach this point in parts of North Carolina.\n\"People do not live and survive to tell the tale about what their experience is like with storm surge,\" FEMA administrator Brock Long told \"GMA.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["East Coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A husband and wife","husband","A 78-year-old man in Kinston","A 78-year-old man","A 77-year-old man in Lenoir County","Lenoir County","A 77-year-old man","Lenoir County","An 81-year-old man","A 68-year-old man","17","A 41-year-old mother and her 7-month-old son","100"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["105 mph","105 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 More than 150 residents in New Bern, North Carolina, are left stranded after 10-foot (3 m)–high storm surges flood the city. (CBS News)","document":" Hurricane Florence is thrashing the Carolina coast with devastating flooding and hurricane-force winds. One of the hardest hit areas so far is New Bern, North Carolina, where about 150 people are waiting to be rescued after more than 10 feet of powerful storm surge flooded the small city. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the area earlier this week. \nPolice say 150-200 residents have already been rescued in New Bern and 150 or more people are awaiting rescue, reports CBS News' Kris Van Cleave. Water levels are expected to rise further later today during high tide. \nAs the storm slowly churned toward the shore, people who chose not to evacuate got caught in the floodwaters. They tried desperately to return to their homes as the Neuse River overflowed its banks. The city of New Bern tweeted to its residents early Friday morning, \"We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.\"\nNew Bern residents were putting out calls for help on social media, claiming they couldn't get through to 911. Lt. David Daniels of the New Bern Police Department told \"CBS This Morning\" that 911 calls in his town are being answered and the \"system is up and working.\" If anybody could help... our cars is under water and so is our house stuck in attic. Phone about to die please send help to 611 Watson ave, new bern. NC\nDaniels said there are no reports of injuries at this time and recommends people get out if they're able to safely do so but warned against driving in standing water. New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw confirmed there were no reports of fatalities as of early Friday morning. \"New Bern is just not used to this level of a hurricane,\" Outlaw said. The New Bern Police Department tweeted early Thursday evening \"City of New Bern officials are encouraging all residents to shelter in place due to Hurricane Florence.\" But Outlaw said on Friday morning it's \"not a bad idea to get in your car and get west of I-95\" if residents feel they can safely do so. Update: Pics of flooding downtown while looking for citizens who may need assistance.Emergency Management confirmed reports there are New Bern residents trapped on rooftops. Storm surge search and rescue operations have been underway across the county.\nNew Bern police have issued a 24-hour mandatory curfew starting at 7 a.m. Friday morning. \nSo that really did just happen. The water started rising and we evacuated almost an entire TV station in about 15 minutes.\nThe Category 1 storm forced ABC affiliate WCTI 12 in New Bern to evacuate during a live broadcast. WCTI anchor Jaime McCutcheon tweeted: \"So that really did just happen. The water started rising and we evacuated almost an entire TV station in about 15 minutes.\"\nMeanwhile, CBS affiliate WNCT reports that more than 60 people, including an infant and children, were rescued from a hotel in Jacksonville, N.C. after strong winds threatened the structural integrity of the building.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New Bern, North Carolina","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","new bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","New Bern","the Carolina coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["150 people","150 or more"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 1 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Super Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong) approaches the Philippines as one of the strongest in its history, with sustained winds of 205 kilometres per hour (127 mph) and gusts of up to 285 km/h (177 mph). (The Guardian)","document":"Five million could be hit by super storm as gusts of up to 255km/h are expected\nFirst published on Fri 14 Sep 2018 03.19 BST\nThe Philippines is braced for one of the strongest typhoons in its history, as authorities evacuate families in their thousands, close schools and put rescuers and troops on full alert in the country’s north.\nFive million people are expected to be affected by Typhoon Mangkhut, which experts have categorised as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category-5 Atlantic hurricane.\nBy Friday morning, almost 10,000 people across three regions had been evacuated and 22 domestic flights cancelled. By the evening, strong winds had already downed trees in Tuguegarao, a city in the main northern island of Luzon, where almost all businesses had been shuttered and police were patrolling otherwise quiet streets.\nWeather experts said the storm almost matched the strength of Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced more than five million in the central Philippines in 2013.\nMangkhut was on course to hit north-eastern Cagayan province early on Saturday local time. It was tracked on Friday about 250 miles (450km) away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205km/h and gusts of up to 255km/h, Philippine forecasters said. Forecasts indicated that waves could climb to six metres on the coasts of Cagayan.\nIt was predicted to travel across the South China Sea and pass within 62 miles of Hong Kong on Sunday morning.\nWith a massive rain-cloud band 560 miles wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon could bring intense rains that could trigger landslides and flash floods, the forecasters said. Storm warnings were raised in 25 provinces across Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.\nRicardo Jalad, the country’s civil defence chief, told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte that about 4.2 million people in Cagayan, nearby Isabela province and outlying regions were vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoon’s 78 mile eye. Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhut’s winds.\nVideo shows Super Typhoon Mangkhut tearing through Guam, in the western Pacific. It has caused widespread flooding and power loss, with parts of the US territory still without electricity on Thursday morning. Across the north, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces and moved fishing boats to safety.\nManuel Mamba, the governor of Cagayan, said that evacuations of residents from risky coastal villages and island municipalities north of the rice-and corn-producing province of 1.2 million people have started and school classes at all levels have been cancelled.\n“The weather here is still good but we’re moving them now because it’s very important that when it comes, people will be away from peril,” Mamba said.\nA change in the typhoon’s track prompted authorities to rapidly reassess where to redeploy emergency teams and supplies, Mamba said.\nDuterte asked cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work if needed, but told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid.\n“It would depend on the severity of the crisis,” Duterte said. “If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help.”\nThe typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Mamba said. The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.\nOfficials said other northern provinces started evacuating residents from high-risk areas, including in northern mountain provinces prone to landslides.\nMore than 43 million people could be affected by Super Typhoon #Mangkhut, predicted to be most powerful storm since records began and Hong Kong could take direct hit:Duterte cancelled his appearance at a missile test firing aboard a navy ship off northern Bataan province due to the approaching typhoon.\nOn Guam, where Mangkhut passed, residents dealt with flooded streets, downed trees and widespread power outages. Government agencies were conducting damage assessments and clearing roads, according to the Pacific Daily News. About 80% of the US territory was without power but it was restored by Thursday morning.\nMangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north-eastern Cagayan province","north","north"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Five million people","almost 10,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category-5 Atlantic hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["255km/h","255km","205km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Super Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong), one of the strongest in the history of the Philippines, kills at least 59 people. The typhoon struck also Hong Kong, injuring more than 200 people while four persons died in China. A woman died in Taiwan after being swept out to sea. (BBC) (Taiwan News)","document":"Rescuers in the Philippines are digging through mud to retrieve bodies buried by a landslide that hit as Typhoon Mangkhut battered the country.\nAt least 32 people in the mining town of Itogon, in Benguet province, were crushed in a single shelter. Teams are raking through the rubble with their bare hands, passing blocks of concrete and pieces of wood down a 50ft line to clear the area. Typhoon Mangkhut is now weakening over southern China. Four people were killed in the province of Guangdong - three by falling trees.\nThe storm ploughed across the main Philippine island of Luzon over the weekend. More than 60 people have been killed, mostly in landslides triggered by heavy rains, with the majority in Benguet province.\nA group of artisanal goldminers in the village of Ucab, which lies in a valley in Itogon municipality, had huddled with their families in a two-storey shelter, Conrad Navidad of the International Organization for Migration told the BBC. The building was crushed, and 29 people remain missing.\n\"It was used as a worship area for the church group of the mine workers and their families,\" said Mr Navidad, who was at the scene earlier on Monday. \"Before the typhoon hit, their pastor invited them to take refuge in that bunkhouse - and then the disaster happened and they were buried by the landslide.\n\"They are not hoping for survivors anymore - just for the retrieval of the bodies buried.\"\nThe Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said mining operators had been told to leave, but that a mine near the shelter had been operating illegally.\nThe Philippine government on Monday said it was deploying security forces to put a stop to illegal small-scale mining in the vast Cordillera mountain region, a practice which is credited with increasing the likelihood of landslides in communities like Itogon.\nThe BBC's Howard Johnson, who has been covering the storm, described a trail of destruction along the northern coast of Luzon, with forests ripped to shreds and electricity poles felled.\nThere is also concern over the economic cost of the typhoon, which has caused extensive damage to farmland in Cagayan, a key agricultural province.\nFrancis Tolentino, a political adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte, told the BBC he estimated only a fifth of produce there had been harvested in advance - threatening staples like rice and corn. Preparation and evacuation procedures have nonetheless improved since Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 7,000 people.\nWarnings were issued, travel was restricted, schools closed, and the army was put on standby in advance. Typhoon Mangkhut is one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in decades. It made landfall on the Chinese coast near Jiangmen city on Sunday afternoon.\nIt is now weakening as it makes its way across southern China and has been downgraded to a tropical storm.\nMore than 2.5 million people have been evacuated in Guangdong and on Hainan island.\nIn Hong Kong, which was hit hard over the weekend, videos on social media showed apartments swaying in the wind, scaffolding crashing to the ground and commercial buildings with windows shattered.\nTransport services were suspended, with flights cancelled, trains stopped, and major roads closed. Officials put the number of injured at more than 200.\nThe city managed to avoid serious casualties but now faces a difficult recovery as thousands remain affected by flooding and travel disruptions.\nWhile it avoided a direct hit, winds there reached more than 110mph and water levels surged by almost 3.5m (12ft) in places.\nAuthorities had issued their maximum alert, warning residents to stay indoors and away from windows to avoid flying debris.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the main Philippine island of Luzon","Luzon","southern China","southern China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 32 people","Four people","More than 60 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over the weekend","weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Super Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong), one of the strongest in the history of the Philippines, kills at least 59 people. The typhoon struck also Hong Kong, injuring more than 200 people while four persons died in China. A woman died in Taiwan after being swept out to sea. (BBC) (Taiwan News)","document":" The body of a teacher who was swept away by waves Friday afternoon turned up on another beach in Yilan Saturday morning.\n TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - The body of a 30-year-old woman who was swept away by a three-meter wave off the coast of Yilan Country Friday turned up on another beach Saturday, as the outer rim of Typhoon Mangkhut (山竹) lashed Taiwan.\n While the super typhoon had been downgraded to regular typhoon status and was hitting the Philippines instead of Taiwan, sea alerts were still in force for the seas east and south of Taiwan Saturday, with torrential rain, strong waves and flooding possible.\n On Friday afternoon, Tainan teacher Chen Hsuan-ju (陳鉉濡) had been visiting Fenniaolin (粉鳥林) Beach in the township of Su’ao with four female friends when a wave swept her away. A search by helicopter and Coast Guard ships did not turn up any results.\n However, Saturday morning, the body of a woman washed ashore on Neibei (內埤) Beach in Nanfang’ao, the Apple Daily reported. A local coast patrol took a picture and sent it to relatives, who provisionally identified the woman as Chen.\n She graduated from the Chinese language department at National Changhua University of Education and started work at the Xinshi Junior High School in Tainan City five years ago.\n Her father, who lives in Chiayi, and most of her colleagues were unaware she had traveled to Yilan County for the day, according to the Apple Daily.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["a teacher","teacher","a 30-year-old woman"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["regular typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mangkhut"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 The death toll rises to at least 32, as flooding continues to inundate North Carolina. (BBC)","document":"As flooding continues to inundate North Carolina, the death toll from Florence has risen to at least 32, with 25 deaths confirmed in North Carolina.\nThe state's governor, Roy Cooper, said on Monday that the \"epic storm\" was still an immediate danger as rivers reach major flood levels.\nThe coastal city of Wilmington became an island amid heavy floods following the storm.\nOfficials have warned evacuated residents to stay away. At a news conference on Monday, Gov Cooper said \"catastrophic flooding and tornados are still claiming lives and property\" across the state.\n\"For many parts of North Carolina the danger is still immediate,\" he said. \"Some areas have not seen the worst flooding yet. This is a monumental disaster for our state.\"\nAn initial estimate from Moody's Analytics puts the cost of Florence between $17bn (£13bn) and $22bn, making the storm one of the 10 costliest hurricanes in US history, according to NPR.\nMost of the monetary damage is due to property loss, and the company said these figures could rise as inland flooding continues.\nIn Wilmington, with its population of about 120,000, some 400 people have had to be rescued from flood waters, and most of the city remains without power. The governor said that 23 truckloads of supplies were able to make it into Wilmington this morning, though officials are uncertain whether the single road into the city will remain functional as rivers continue to flood.\nThe National Weather Service has warned of at least two further days of possible flash flooding in the area before conditions are forecast to improve.\n\"Do not come here,\" New Hanover County Commission Chairman Woody White said. \"We want you home, but you can't come yet.\"\nA city-wide curfew has been extended after five people were arrested on suspicion of looting from a store on Saturday.\nThe area is usually best known as a filming location for US dramas One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek, and as the childhood home of US basketball legend Michael Jordan.\nFlorence has now weakened to a tropical depression with winds of 30mph (45km/h), according to the National Hurricane Centre.\nSome parts of the Carolinas have seen up to 40in (100cm) of rain since Thursday.\nOn Monday, the National Weather Service announced that the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville, North Carolina, is expected to reach the major flood stage - levels over 60ft (18m) - by this evening.\nThere were several tornado warnings across North Carolina on Monday morning.\nOne twister touched down in Elm City, causing some damage to buildings and power lines, according to local media reports.\nIn Richmond, Virginia, one person died in a tornado on Monday afternoon as Florence began making its way north.\nOfficials in North Carolina say some 900 people have been rescued from floodwaters by the US Coast Guard and volunteers, and about 14,000 people are still in emergency shelters. US President Donald Trump - who may visit North Carolina in the coming days - has declared a disaster in several North Carolina counties, freeing up federal funding for recovery efforts.\nFEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are working really hard on hurricane Florence. As the storm begins to finally recede, they will kick into an even higher gear. Very Professional!\nGov Cooper said he has been in touch with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who visited North Carolina on Monday. \"We know that we're going to need significant federal resources, and they have promised them across the board,\" Gov Cooper said on Monday of Fema and DHS. Power companies are working to restore power to the nearly half a million homes and businesses in both states that are still without electricity. The storm has begun to move into Virginia and West Virginia, and is expected to turn toward New England on Tuesday. On Monday, police in Union County, North Carolina, recovered the body of a one-year-old boy who had been swept away by floodwaters.\nThe boy's mother had driven around a barricade in the road and ended up stalled in rushing water. As she tried to leave the car, she lost grip of the boy and he was carried off in the floods, the News & Observer reported.\nAn 88-year-old man was also found dead in Union County on Monday, next to a car that had been submerged in the floods.\nAmong the other fatalities were two men in their 70s who died in Lenoir County - one had been connecting extension cords and another was blown by high winds when checking on his dogs. Four road deaths in South Carolina have been blamed on the storm, and two people died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator inside their home.\nA guide to the world's deadliest storms\nHurricanes are violent storms that can bring devastation to coastal areas, threatening lives, homes and businesses.\nHurricanes develop from thunderstorms, fuelled by warm, moist air as they cross sub-tropical waters. Warm air rises into the storm.\nAir swirls in to fill the low pressure in the storm, sucking air in and upwards, reinforcing the low pressure.\nThe storm rotates due to the spin of the earth and energy from the warm ocean increases wind speeds as it builds.\nWhen winds reach 119km/h (74mph), it is known as a hurricane - in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific - or a typhoon in the Western Pacific.\n\"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Well, we're about to get punched in the face.\" Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn, ahead of Hurricane Irma (2017)\nThe central eye of calmer weather is surrounded by a wall of rainstorms.This eyewall has the fastest winds below it and violent currents of air rising through it.\nA mound of water piles up below the eye which is unleashed as the storm reaches land. These storm surges can cause more damage from flooding than the winds.\n\"Urgent warning about the rapid rise of water on the SW FL coast with the passage of #Irma's eye. MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER!\"Tweet from the National Hurricane Center\nThe size of hurricanes is mainly measured by the Saffir-Simpson scale - other scales are used in Asia Pacific and Australia.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["40in (100cm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 32","25 deaths","some 400 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["30mph (45km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 The death toll of the Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines rises to 81. 59 others are still missing. (Philippine Star)","document":"MANILA, Philippines — The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon \"Ompong\" (international name Mangkhut) has climbed to 81 and could hit triple digits as searchers dig through a landslide where dozens are presumed dead, authorities said Wednesday.\nOmpong swamped farm fields in the nation's agricultural north and smashed houses when it tore through at the weekend with violent winds and heavy rains.\nSince then the toll has climbed mostly due to the corpses recovered from the massive landslide in the mining town of Itogon where dozens are still believed buried under the mud.\n\"From the list I saw 59 people are still missing (at Itogon),\" Ricardo Jalad, civil defence chief, told AFP. \"If you add that to those already recovered it's possible the toll could top 100.\"\nThe typhoon, the most powerful to strike this year, also battered Hong Kong and killed four in China's southern province of Guangdong.\nSearchers at Itogon continued their grim work on Wednesday, digging with shovels and their bare hands in the vast expanse of mud that crushed dwellings used by small-scale miners.\nThe area was primed for disaster before Mangkhut hit, as it came on the heels of nearly a month of continuous monsoon rains that saturated the soil of the already hazardous area.\nOf the hundreds digging through the debris, many were miners themselves who were looking for friends and relatives, determined to make sure they received a proper burial.\nThe Philippines's deadliest storm on record is Super Typhoon \"Yolanda\" (international name Haiyan), which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013.\n\nTyphoon Mangkhut is feared to gain strength as it approaches the Philippine area of responsibility. The tropical cyclone will be named \"Ompong\" once within the country's vicinity.\nThe United States Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center records that \"Mangkhut\" has maximum sustained winds of 80 knots or 148 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 185 kilometers per hour as of Monday morning.\nForecast track of the cyclone shows that it is heading toward the northernmost tip of the country's water off northern Luzon by Friday.\nThe Department of the Interior and Local Government tallies 66 dead, 62 missing in wake of Typhoon Ompong, ONE News reports.The department says it will also look into potential lapses in local governments' disaster preparations.\n \nThe United Church of Christ in the Philippines clarifies Tuesday that a church reported to have collapsed in a landslide in Itogon, Benguet was an old bunkhouse that was being used as a place of worship by United Church Fellowship (Pentecostal Group).\nThe casualty figure on Monday was at 56 dead but the figure is expected to rise, with around 40 to 50 people believed to still be buried in the mud as search and retrieval operations continue.\nPresidential spokesman Harry Roque, who said he is a member of UCCP, on Monday played down President Rodrgo Duterte's remark over the weekend that the \"church\" would not have collapsed if people had replaced the priest there. He also said priests are stupid.\n\"Ang tingin ko naman po, hindi naman po seryoso ang presidente. Let's not take his words always literally,\" Roque said.\nBenguet was one of the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) over the weekend.\nPhilippine and Chinese authorities say the death toll from a typhoon has risen to at least 69 with dozens missing.\nMangkhut weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning as it moved deeper into southern China, where rain and strong winds were expected to continue through Tuesday.\nA Philippine national police report said the death toll as of Monday midday was 65, with 43 people missing and 64 injured. Chinese authorities reported four deaths from falling trees and building materials in Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub.\nMany of the missing in the Philippines are gold miners and their families feared buried in a landslide after seeking shelter in a bunkhouse-turned-chapel in a village in Benguet province.\nMangkhut battered the northern Philippines on Saturday before slamming into southern China on Sunday. It was the most powerful typhoon to hit Hong Kong since 1979, packing winds of 195 kilometers per hour (121 mph). — AP\nMangkhut has weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it moves deeper into China.\nThe storm was still affecting southern China's coast and the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan on Monday morning and rain and strong winds were expected to continue through Tuesday.\nHong Kong residents were being told to stay away from the coastline and be on alert for occasional gales. Bus, ferry and rail services were suspended and almost 900 flights were canceled at the city's airport, one of the world's busiest. The South China Morning Post said Hong Kong's hospitals had to use backup power due to outages caused by the storm.\nMangkhut earlier lashed the Philippines, sparking landslides and building collapses that killed at least 64 people. At least two deaths have been reported in China. As of Monday morning Mangkhut was on track to pass over the Guangxi regional capital of Nanning.\nThe Hong Kong Observatory reported Mangkhut was the most powerful cyclone to hit the city since 1979, packing maximum sustained gusts of 195 kilometers per hour (121 mph). — AP\nAustralia is providing A$800,000 (P30.9 million) worth of humanitarian supplies to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Ompong. This includes sleeping mats, blankets and hygiene and shelter kits for up to 25,000 people in the most affected areas.\nThese supplies are being distributed by the Philippine Red Cross.\nAustralia also deployed humanitarian experts to the Philippines.\n\"Our Embassy is coordinating closely with Philippine authorities and our international partners... We stand ready to provide further assistance, if requested by the Philippine Government,\" the Australian government says.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northernmost tip of the country's water off northern Luzon","country","farm fields in the nation's agricultural north","Philippine area of responsibility"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["81","59 people are still missing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["weekend","weekend","weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ompong","Ompong","Ompong","Ompong","Ompong","Ompong","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut","Mangkhut"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["148 kilometers per hour","up to 185 kilometers"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Two people are killed by Storm Ali as it brings winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) in Ireland. (BBC)","document":"Two people have died after Storm Ali swept across parts of the UK and Ireland, bringing winds of up to 100mph.\nA woman died after the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff in the Irish Republic, while in Northern Ireland a man was killed by a falling tree. Others have been injured, including a woman who was badly hurt when a tree fell on a car in Cheshire. Thousands of homes are without power, lorries have overturned and a cruise ship broke free from its moorings.\nA yellow warning, meaning \"be aware\", is in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England until 22:00 BST.\nAli is the UK's first named storm of the season. A man in his 20s was killed and another in his 40s was injured, after a tree fell on them at the gates of Slieve Gullion Forest Park, near Newry, County Armagh.\nThe men were working on behalf of Northern Ireland Water.\nIt is understood the woman who was killed in County Galway was a tourist in her 50s who had been staying at a campsite in Claddaghduff.\nCheshire Police said a woman in Crewe was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a tree fell on a car on the A49. In Scotland efforts will continue throughout the night to restore power supplies and clear debris from roads and rail. One person was injured after being blown over by high winds outside the new V&A Dundee museum, which was later closed.\nFive hundred cruise passengers and crew were stranded in Greenock after severe weather broke their ship's mooring lines. Tugs were called in to assist the Nautica.\nA 102mph gust was recorded on the Tay Road Bridge between Dundee and Fife at 15:00.\nEarlier a \"major incident\" was declared in Dumfries and Galloway, where a number of people were hurt by flying debris. Children in the area were told not to walk home from school until the weather subsided. Dumfries and Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team said some children had been injured by flying debris.\nThe team said the \"major incident\" had now ended.\nEarlier, a freight train derailed on the Highland Main Line after striking fallen branches.\nAnd strong winds also caused a cruise ship to slip its moorings in the port of Greenock, Inverclyde. Oceania Cruises said all guests and crew were safe and tugs were able to bring the vessel back to its berth on Wednesday evening.\nIn Edinburgh, a section of Princes Street in the city centre was closed after parts of the roof of the Top Shop building came off in strong winds. Thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Scotland.\nPower cuts and fallen trees have also caused disruption in Cumbria, where residents were warned of flying debris. In Northern Ireland, about 65,000 homes were without power, while two councils closed some public spaces because of the storm.\nBelfast City Council said it had closed all its parks, pitches and playgrounds, while Derry City and Strabane District Council closed all its parks and cemeteries \"until further notice\".\nBelfast Zoo was also closed due to the weather.\nDozens of roads are known to have been affected, with a number closed by fallen trees.\nBBC Weather said on Wednesday evening that the wind had dropped - although the yellow warning remains in force across the whole of Scotland, and parts of North Wales and northern England.\nThose areas are likely to experience gusts of up to 60 mph but could face similar levels of danger and damage.\nBBC Weather said the storm could have a greater impact because of the time of year.\nIt said most trees were still in full leaf and were \"acting like sails\", making it more likely they could be pulled over and cause travel problems.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of the UK and Ireland","Ireland","Ireland","UK","Ireland","Ireland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A woman","woman","woman","woman","a man","man","Two people","Others"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ali","Ali"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["100mph","A 102mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Tropical Storm Rosa forms off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Although Rosa is expected to strengthen, forecasters say that it will remain offshore. (ABC News) (CBS News)","document":" Updated on: September 26, 2018 / 3:00 PM\n / CBS News\n Tropical Storm Rosa, which formed off the Pacific coast Tuesday, is expected to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane Wednesday and a major hurricane Thursday. But the National Hurricane Center, in Miami, says Rosa is likely to stay far offshore.\nAs of 5 a.m. EDT, Rosa was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was some 470 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the NHC said in an advisory early Wednesday. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 10 mph, with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward up to 60 miles from the center.\nThe NHC said there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but swells generated by Rosa would affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico and the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico later this week into the weekend. \"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,\" the hurricane center said.\nMeanwhile, record flooding is likely on the South Carolina coast in wake of Hurricane Florence. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, was producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side. \nFlorence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Sept. 14 and has since killed at least 47 people across multiple states.\nEconomic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that the storm has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output, one of the 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. The worst disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cost $192.2 billion in today's dollars. Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","a major hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rosa","Rosa","Rosa","Rosa"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["65 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Hurricane Rosa strengthens to a category 4 hurricane in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to affect parts of the coastlines of southwestern Mexico, the Baja California Peninsula, and Southern California. (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News Hurricane Rosa intensified into a major storm in the Pacific Ocean, with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said late Thursday.\nSwells generated by Rosa are forecast to affect parts of the coastlines of southwestern Mexico, the southern Baja California Peninsula, and Southern California later this week and .\n\"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,\" the Miami-based center said.\nAt 8 PM PDT...Rosa was moving west at 8 Knots. She is now a CAT 4 hurricane, the 7th of the EastPac 2018 season. Maximum sustained winds are 145 mph. Slight strengthening is possible overnight before weakening and turning north Fri into Sat. Large swells are headed \nThe Category 4 storm was moving west at around 7 mph at 2 a.m. ET on Friday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of the coastlines of southwestern Mexico, the southern Baja California Peninsula, and Southern California"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["this week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a CAT 4 hurrican","Category 4","a major storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rosa","Rosa","Rosa"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["145 miles per hour","145 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 A Mediterranean tropical–like cyclone (also known as a \"Medicane\") strikes Greece near Kalamata, causing power outages and gale force winds near the capital Athens. In the storm's formative stages, heavy rains killed four people in Tunisia. (Weather Underground), (The Weather Channel)","document":"A deep area of low pressure with tropical storm-like characteristics that formed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Thursday night made landfall in the southwest Peloponnese of Greece on Saturday, with the center crossing just west of Kalamata. The pressure fell as low as 989.3 mb in Kalamata near 12Z Saturday as the center passed, with sustained 10-minute average winds of 34 mph and a peak wind gust of 55 mph recorded at 12:20Z. In the Greek islands, sustained tropical storm-force winds of 41 mph (10-minute average) with gusts as high as 55 mph were measured at Strofades between 9Z – 9:30Z, and sustained 10-minute average winds of 46 mph were measured at Rodos at 7:20Z. The meteo.gr twitter feed is showing a video of a waterspout that moved over land from the Medicane. A PWS in Pylos recorded 2.54” of rain and a peak wind gust of 54 mph. A PWS in Voutsaras recorded 4.35” of rain and a peak wind gust of 65 mph.\nThe Mesoscale discussion from Estofex, the European Storm Forecast Experiment, had this to say about the storm:\nThe intensity estimate now suggests a Dvorak T4.0 number of 4.0 and a central pressure of 987 mb, as well as marginal hurricane wind speed of 33 m/s (65 kt). At 12 UTC Kalamata, a little north of the centre, reported a pressure of 989 mb, which corroborates this intensity estimate. Near hurricane-force winds are affecting the far southern Peleponnese and the Cyclades. Torrential rainfall is expected to be the most important hazard though. Severe flash floods with possible landslides are possible, particular in Southeastern Peloponnese, Attica, Euboia, and Eastern Thessaly where 100-300 mm storm totals are expected. These amounts are forecast for other regions:Central and Eastern Makedonia: 80-160 mmWestern and Central Peloponnese, Central Greece, Southern and Western Crete, Turkish coastal regions from Kash until Canakkale: 30-100 mmCyclades: 30-60 mmAdditionally, storm surge of 1 to 1.5 m are likely on the Peloponnese coast.Finally, there is a risk of tornadoes in the northeast quadrant of the cyclone, where long curved low-level hodographs are present, primarily affecting southern Peloponnese and Attica.\nThis storm formed over waters with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of around 27°C (81°F), and was classifiable as an extratropical storm initially. The system spent enough time over warm waters, though, that it developed a warm core and began using the heat energy of the ocean as its primary energy source, becoming a hybrid storm that was not fully tropical nor extratropical (phase space diagrams from Florida State University suggest that the Medicane was not fully tropical). These type of storms in the Mediterranean are called “Medicanes” due to their hurricane-like structure, but they are weaker than a hurricane.\nThe Medicane is expected to move east-northeast along the south shore Greece’s Peloponnese on Saturday, bringing sustained winds near 30 - 35 mph over the ocean and 20 - 25 mph inland. By Sunday, the storm will weaken due to land interaction and cooler SSTs, and turn more to the northeast, affecting western Turkey. The greatest danger from the storm is heavy rain. According to Severe Weather Europe, recent model runs predict 4 – 6” of rain along the track of the storm, through southern Greece and into extreme western Turkey.\nT","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["4.35”"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southwest Peloponnese of Greece","Greece","Greece","Greece"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["west of Kalamata","Kalamata","Kalamata"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["55 mph","55 mph","34 mph","41 mph","46 mph","65 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Hurricane Walaka becomes a category 5 hurricane. It is expected to hit the Johnston Atoll. (Star-Advertiser)","document":"Hurricane Walaka, a dangerous Category 5 storm, maintained its intensity as it continued on a course toward Johnston Atoll, far southwest of the main Hawaiian islands.\nAt 11 p.m. Monday, Walaka was 210 miles south of Johnston Island, the largest of the four islands of Johnston Atoll. Walaka had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was moving north-northwest at 8 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds of 75 mph or more extend out 45 miles from the center while tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out 185 miles.\nThe storm was centered 955 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and is not expected to threaten the main Hawaiian islands.\nJohnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning, while Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef — is under a hurricane watch.\nWalaka is expected to pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday.\n5 p.m.\nMassive Hurricane Walaka is expected to pass dangerously close to the tiny Johnston Atoll Tuesday as a Category 5 storm.\nAt 5 p.m., Walaka had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was centered 240 miles south of Johnston Island, the largest of the atoll’s four islands, and about 965 miles southwest of Honolulu. The storm was moving northwest at 7 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.\nSome strengthening is expected tonight before Walaka starts weakening, forecasters said. Hurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend out 185 miles.\nJohnston Atoll remains under a hurricane warning, and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef — is now under a hurricane watch. Walaka is expected still be a major hurricane when it reaches the monument, northwest of the main Hawaiian islands, by Wednesday night.\nFour members of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biology field crew are working on Johnston Island, a wildlife refuge. A spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service said the “on-island staff are sheltering in place at a steel and concrete structure built to withstand hurricanes.”\n2:25 p.m.\nHurricane Walaka is now a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, and is expected to intensify further as it threatens tiny Johnston Atoll, far southwest of Hawaii.\nJohnston Atoll is one of the most isolated atolls in the world, located between Hawaii and the Line Islands.\nFour members of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biology field crew are working on Johnston Island — one of four islands that make up Johnston Atoll, home to the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.\n“In preparation for any possible impacts from Hurricane Walaka, the field biology crew secured the year-round field camp,” Megan Nagel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Pacific Region, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an email. “Currently, on-island staff are sheltering in place at a steel and concrete structure built to withstand hurricanes.”\nThe refuge is within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; its boundary includes Johnston Island and extends 12 miles from the shorelines.\nThe Central Pacific Hurricane Center said this afternoon that Walaka was centered 265 miles south of Johnston Island and 965 miles southwest of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 9 mph.\nThe storm is expected to make a turn to the north and pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday. Some strengthening is expected through early Tuesday before Walaka starts a gradual weakening trend.\nHurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from Walaka’s center while tropical storm-force winds extend 185 miles.\nTropical storm-force winds, of more than 39 mph, are expected to reach Johnston Island starting late tonight or early Tuesday, with hurricane conditions expected by Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said. Large surf and heavy rain is also expected to start hitting the island tonight.\nThe storm is expected to peak Tuesday with 165 mph maximum sustained winds, which would make it the strongest Central Pacific storm since Hurricane Ioke in 2006.\nJohnston Island is a U.S. possession located 825 miles southwest of Honolulu. The atoll is a wildlife refuge that was had been used by the U.S. military to store chemical weapons.\nJohnston Atoll, which is now under a hurricane warning, has been hit several times by hurricanes, including Ioke in 2006, Dora in 1999 and John in 1994.\nHurricane center forecasters also said that “interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (northwest of the main Hawaiian islands) should monitor the progress of Walaka.”\n11:50 a.m.\nHurricane Walaka is bearing down on Johnston Atoll as a powerful Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph that are expected to continue strengthening.\nBy late this morning, the storm was 950 miles southwest of Honolulu and 265 miles south of Johnston Island, moving northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii.\nJohnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning and Walaka is expected to approach the island Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds up to 165 mph.\n“A turn toward the north is expected late tonight through Tuesday with a gradual increase in forward speed,” forecasters said late this morning. “On the forecast track, the center of Walaka is expected to pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday.”\nHurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from Walaka’s center and tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 160 miles.\n“The northeastward track after Tuesday is also expected to take the hurricane across the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument between French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island on Thursday, and a hurricane watch may be needed for these locations later today or tonight,” forecasters said.\n8 a.m.\nNow a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Walaka is continuing to strengthen southwest of the Hawaiian islands.\nLocated about 940 miles southwest of Honolulu and 290 miles south of Johnston Atoll at 8 a.m., Walaka was packing maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and is headed west-northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.\nA hurricane warning is in effect for Johnston Atoll. A turn toward the northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn toward the north late tonight through Tuesday night with a gradual increase in forward speed, weather officials said.\nRapid intensification is expected to continue today into tonight, with little change in intensity forecast Tuesday and Tuesday night.\nHurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.\n5 a.m.\nHurricane Walaka continued to strengthen overnight and is now a Category 3 storm southwest of the Hawaiian Islands.\nLocated about 925 miles southwest of Honolulu and 315 miles south-southeast of Johnston Atoll at 5 a.m., Walaka was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and is headed west-northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.\nA hurricane warning is in effect for Johnston Atoll. A turn toward the northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn toward the north late tonight through Tuesday night with a gradual increase in forward speed, weather officials said.\nRapid intensification is expected to continue today into tonight, with little change in intensity forecast Tuesday and Tuesday night.\nHurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.\n11:20 p.m Sunday\nHurricane Walaka grew to a powerful Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, and while it poses no threat to the main Hawaiian islands, Johnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning.\nAs of 11 p.m. Sunday, Walaka was 905 miles southwest of Honolulu and 355 miles south-southeast of Johnston Island, moving west at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 miles from the storm’s center while tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out up to 125 miles, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.\nWalaka is expected to grow to a major Category 4 hurricane — with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph — by Tuesday, as it moves northward and passes near Johnston Atoll, forecasters said.\nThe warning for Johnston Atoll calls for tropical storm-force winds late Monday night or early Tuesday, and hurricane conditions by Tuesday afternoon. High surf and heavy rainfall may reach the atoll starting Monday night.\nIn addition, forecasters warn that “interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (northwest of the main Hawaiian islands) should monitor the progress of Walaka.”\nBy the end of the week, Walaka is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it moves north over cooler water far from the main Hawaiian islands.\n5:20 p.m.\nWalaka has strengthened into a hurricane, centered 860 miles southwest of Honolulu but moving away from the islands.\nAt 5 p.m., the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving west, further away from the state, at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out up to 90 miles.\nA turn to the north is expected in the next two days, putting Johnston Atoll in Walaka’s path, prompting a hurricane warning for the tiny northwestern islands.\n“A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous,” forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu said. “Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Walaka.”\nJohnston Island can expect tropical storm-force winds starting early Tuesday, and hurricane conditions by Tuesday afternoon. Large surf will reach the Johnston Atoll reefs and shorelines starting Tuesday, forecasters said.\n2:30 p.m.\nWalaka’s maximum sustained winds continue to strengthen as the tropical storm keeps moving further away from the islands.\nAs of 2 p.m., Walaka was 845 southwest of Honolulu and had sustained winds of 65 mph as the storm moved west at 18 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.\nForecasters expect Walaka to become a hurricane as early as tonight and be a major hurricane Monday through Wednesday when it is projected to be hundreds of miles west of Kauai.\n“With the official forecast track bringing the center of Walaka very near Johnston Atoll on Tuesday, a hurricane watch remains in effect there,” forecasters said today.\nWalaka is expected to weaken back to a Category 1 hurricane later in the week as it moves north over cooler water.\n 12:30 p.m.\nWalaka remains a tropical storm as it moves on a western track that keeps it well south of Hawaii.\nAt 11 a.m. today, Walaka was about 810 miles southwest of Honolulu and 410 miles southeast of Johnston Atoll and moving west near 18 mph with sustained winds of 65 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 70 miles from the center.\nNational Weather Service forecasters based at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu expect the storm to slow and turn nortwest on Monday, followed by a more northernly turn on Tuesday.\nWalaka is forecast to become a hurricane later today and continue to rapidly intensify through Monday night. Wind shear will begin to affect the storm starting late Tuesday or Wednesday, and it will begin to weaken by the end of the week.\nJohnston Atoll is currently under a hurricane watch.\nPREVIOUS COVERAGE\nTropical Storm Walaka intensified overnight, but remains well southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.\nAs of 5 a.m. Sunday, Walaka was located about 770 miles south-southwest of Honolulu and 510 miles southeast of Johnston Atoll, where a hurricane watch is now in effect. The storm is moving west near 16 mph and is expected to continue in that direction through the evening with a decrease in forward speed; maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph, with higher gusts.\nWalaka is expected to take a turn toward the northwest on Monday, then make another turn northward on Tuesday, bringing it very close to Johnston Atoll. Tropical-storm-force winds extend 70 miles from the center.\nAccording to the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Walaka is expected to rapidly intensify through Monday night and become a major hurricane. Wind shear will begin to affect the storm starting late Tuesday or Wednesday, and it will begin to weaken by the end of the week","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["ohnston Atoll, far southwest of the main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","far southwest","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian islands","main Hawaiian islands","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll","main Hawaiian Islands","ohnston Atoll","ohnston Atoll"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest","northwest","north-northwest","northwest","northwest","north","northwest","northwest","north","northwest","northwest","north","northwest","northwest","north","northwest","north","north","north","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["955 miles west-southwest of Honolulu","southwest","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","southwest","Honolulu","Honolulu","southwest","southwest","Honolulu","Honolulu","240 miles south of Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island","Johnston Island"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5 storm","Category 5 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["8 mph","8 mph","8 mph","7 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka","Walaka"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["160 mph","160 mph","160 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Tropical Storm Michael becomes Hurricane Michael and is upgraded to a category 1 storm. (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News The National Hurricane Center declared Tropical Storm Michael a hurricane on Monday morning and said it is expected to strengthen rapidly to a Category 3 in the next 24 to 36 hours.\n\"Michael could produce three life-threatening hazards along portions of the northeastern Gulf Coast: storm surge, heavy rainfall, and hurricane-force winds, with storm surge and hurricane watches in effect,\" the NHC tweeted.\nThe storm initially formed near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region, as well as the Carolinas, are expected to receive \"life-threatening\" flash flooding through Thursday, according to the hurricane center.\n\"Let me be clear: Hurricane Michael is a monster storm and the forecast keeps getting more dangerous,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday evening after being briefed by officials in Escambia County.\nHe said some areas could see storm surges of 8 to 12 feet, which can travel far inland and potentially cover the roofs of houses. Even in areas outside of the forecast path, deadly storm surges could occur, Scott said. The storm could also produce tornadoes, he said.\n\"Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida panhandle in decades,” Scott said.\nScott requested that President Donald Trump declare a pre-landfall emergency for the state.\nThe governor also expanded his initial emergency declaration from 26 to 35 counties — activating a total of 1,250 National Guard personnel with an additional 4,000 available, and the state will be bringing in an additional 30,000 emergency personnel from neighboring states.\nWhile attending the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, Scott said, \"I want to thank President Trump, we had horrible hurricanes. Trump couldn't have done more than he's done.\"\nSoon after, Trump responded to Hurricane Michael while giving a speech at the same convention.\n\"As Hurricane Michael nears landfall we are working with state and local officials in Florida to take all necessary precautions,\" the president said. \"I told Rick Scott that we are ready for you. Looks like another big one, but we've handled them well.\"\nEarlier Monday, Scott had said, \"Hurricane Michael poses a deadly threat. We have never seen a storm like this hit this part of our state.\"\nA hurricane warning was issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from the Alabama border east to the Suwannee River, the hurricane center said. The center of the hurricane is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or the Big Bend area on Wednesday, according to the hurricane center.\nHurricane #Michael continues to strengthen over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Here are the updated 10 PM CDT Key Messages for Hurricane #Michael. \nAlabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide state of emergency late Monday afternoon in anticipation for possible power outages, wind damage and debris. She warned that the storm could also cause tornadoes and flash flooding, and urged residents to heed warnings and instructions from authorities.\n\"Alabama is once again in the path of a hurricane, but I know Alabamians will once again come together and be prepared for whatever Michael may bring,\" Ivey said. \"On the state level we are prepared, now is the time for residents in south Alabama to review your emergency preparedness plans and also get prepared.\"\nLast month's Hurricane Florence left surge flooding in North Carolina, record flooding in South Carolina as well as high tide in the coast of Virginia. The hurricane left a total of at least 49 dead in the three states, with North Carolina having the highest toll with 39 fatalities.\nWhen Florence made landfall from the Atlantic in September, the cities along the coast in North Carolina faced the hardest initial impact. The days following the hurricane are when storm surge, flooding and loss of electricity began to hit more inland.\nIn the city of New Bern, North Carolina, more than 1,200 residents fled to shelters upon mandatory evacuation announcements. Many residents returned to extensive damage to their homes and are still working with local and federal agencies to rebuild as they are now in Hurricane Michael's path.\n\"It's very important not to concentrate just on that path, but the impact of the rain on the surrounding areas,\" Ken Graham, director for NHC said in a Facebook Live. \"One of the biggest impacts is the storm surge that comes which causes half of the fatalities in these types of storms.\"\nGraham said that Tallahassee and central parts of Georgia could receive as much as 6 to 10 inches of rain by midweek.\nFlorida State University campuses in Tallahassee and Panama City are set to close Monday night and remain shuttered through Friday.\nFlorida's Gulf County issued mandatory evacuations for all of Cape San Blas, the entire Indian Pass area as well as Simmons Bayou, Highland View, Windmark, portions of the City of Port St. Joe, St. Joe Beach and Beacon Hill. Voluntary evacuation orders were issued for parts of Hernando, Leon, Liberty and Santa Rosa counties, Scott's office said. In some of those orders, people in mobile home parks and low-lying areas were urged to leave.\nShelters are set to open Tuesday morning and sand bags will be provided for residents. The county's schools are closed from Tuesday till Wednesday, Oct. 17.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Hurricane Michael strengthens to a category 2 storm with 110 mph winds as it continues to ascend through the Florida Panhandle. (Washington Post) (Tampa Bay Times)","document":" Hurricane Michael, now a Category 4, takes aim at Florida Panhandle\nFlorida’s northern Gulf Coast faces its most serious hurricane threat in more than a decade as Michael edges closer. The intensifying storm is likely to make landfall Wednesday afternoon and conditions will begin to deteriorate early in the day.\nOn Tuesday evening, Michael’s peak winds rose to 125 mph — a strong Category 3 — while the National Hurricane Center said the storm was “getting much better organized” and is now forecast to strike Florida as a Category 4.\nFlorida’s Panhandle, from Pensacola to Apalachicola, and its Big Bend area are the zones of greatest concern. Michael is poised to push ashore a “life-threatening” surge of ocean water that could inundate more than 325 miles of coastline. The storm also will bring destructive winds and flooding rain throughout Wednesday.\nPopulation centers that could witness some of the most severe hurricane effects include Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach and Apalachicola.\nThe surge, or the rise in ocean water above normally dry land along the coast, could reach nine to 13 feet in the hardest-hit areas, inundating roads, homes and businesses. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in several Florida counties.\nThe latest news updates on Hurricane Michael.\n“The window of time to prepare is closing,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) tweeted Tuesday. “This is a serious and life-threatening situation — don’t take any chances. If you have been told to evacuate, leave.”\nDevastating hurricane effects are expected to expand inland far beyond the coast.\n“A potentially catastrophic event is developing,” wrote the National Weather Service forecast office serving Tallahassee and surrounding areas. The office warned of “widespread power outages, downed trees blocking access to roads and endangering individuals, structural damage to homes and businesses, isolated flash flooding and the potential for a few tornadoes.”\nDamaging winds and flooding rain were also predicted to reach southern Georgia and southeast Alabama on Wednesday.\n“This will not be just a coastal event, with dangerous winds and flooding rains spreading far inland over the southeastern U.S.,” said Rick Knabb, the Weather Channel’s hurricane expert. “Shelter from hurricane-force winds like you would for a tornado, and don’t stay in mobile homes, even for a tropical storm.”\nHurricane Michael: A city-by-city forecast\nBy Wednesday night and Thursday, heavy rains from Michael are likely to streak into the Carolinas, perhaps bringing more flooding to some of the same areas still recovering from Hurricane Florence.\nAs of 11 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday, Hurricane Michael’s peak winds were 125 mph, a Category 3, as it moved north at 12 mph. The storm was centered about 220 miles south of Panama City, Fla.\nThe storm became the second major hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season Tuesday, joining Florence.\nDuring the evening Tuesday, the storm was “undergoing a rapid deepening phase” the Hurricane Center said, signaling intensification.\nMichael was already pushing ocean water above typical levels at the coast Tuesday afternoon, with tides running about two feet above normal along Florida’s Gulf Coast.\nEnvironmental conditions are favorable for Michael to continue strengthening up until landfall, the National Hurricane Center said. Warm waters fuel storm development, and ocean temperatures are two to four degrees above normal. Wind shear, which tends to slow hurricane development, was forecast to ease.\n“Michael is now explicitly forecast to become a category 4 hurricane before landfall occurs,” the Hurricane Center said Tuesday night.\nAt Michael’s current rate of advance, tropical-storm-force winds should reach the northern Gulf Coast very early Wednesday, after which conditions will deteriorate. Landfall is projected for Wednesday afternoon.\nHurricane warnings have been posted from the Alabama-Florida border to the Suwannee River, just northwest of Cedar Key on Florida’s west coast. Tropical storm warnings extend farther south, to Chassahowitzka, and to the west along the Alabama coast. A tropical storm watch is in effect around the Tampa Bay area.\nOn Tuesday, the Hurricane Center extended tropical storm warnings to the southeast Atlantic coast, from the Florida-Georgia border to around Charleston. A tropical storm watch was issued from north of Charleston, S.C., to Duck, N.C.\nStorm surge warnings are in effect from the Okaloosa-Walton county line in Florida to the Anclote River around Tarpon Springs. The Tampa Bay area is under a storm surge watch.\nStorm surge\nMichael is projected to strike an area that is exceptionally prone to storm surge because of the adjacent shallow shelf water and the concave shape of the coast. Like a bulldozer, the storm will push a vast amount of ocean water inland, potentially inundating homes, roads and businesses.\nAreas to the east of where the storm center tracks will experience the greatest storm surge, and flooding will be worst around the high tides.\nStorm surges just east of where the center makes landfall could reach eight to 12 feet if the storm comes ashore around high tide. Here are specific storm surge projections from the Hurricane Center for locations in Florida:\nRainfall\nThe Hurricane Center projects widespread rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, from the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend areas north into southeast Alabama and southern Georgia, and isolated amounts of up to a foot. “This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods,” it said.\nHeavy rain could arrive in Florida on Tuesday night and in southern Alabama and southern Georgia early Wednesday. By Wednesday night and into Thursday, heavy rain will rapidly streak through Georgia and into the Carolinas.\nRainfall of 3 to 6 inches is likely to affect some of the areas recovering from Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, which could lead to more flooding. Parts of eastern Georgia and southern Virginia may also receive 3 to 6 inches.\nThe rain is expected to reach the eastern Mid-Atlantic late Wednesday night into Thursday before rapidly exiting by Friday. Depending on the track of Michael’s remnants, southern New England could also see a period of heavy rain late Thursday. One to three inches of rain is most likely in the eastern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.\nMichael’s rain may skirt D.C., while soaking areas just to the southeast\nWind\nMichael’s maximum sustained winds are forecast to be around 130 mph when it strikes the coast. Winds this strong will be confined to the ring around its calm eye, known as the eyewall, and “catastrophic” wind damage could occur in this narrow zone. Here is the damage the Hurricane Center describes associated with Category 4 winds:\nAfter the storm strikes land, this eye wall will quickly collapse and winds will weaken.\nWhile hurricane-force winds of over 74 mph will be confined to a relatively small area, tropical-storm-force winds of 39 to 73 mph will occur over a much larger zone and could result in minor structural damage and many downed trees and power outages. The Weather Service tweeted that tropical-storm-force winds “currently extend more than 300 miles across.”\nA computer model run at the University of Michigan projects 2 million customers will lose power, the majority in the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia.\nMichael may join a very small group of storms that have made landfall as a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher, in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend areas.\nIn the area between the Florida-Alabama border and Tampa, 52 hurricanes have made landfall since 1851, but only 12 of them were Category 3 or higher. Hurricane Dennis in 2005 was the last Category 3 or higher storm to strike this region. The only other two major hurricane landfalls since 1950 in this region were Eloise in 1975 and Opal in 1995.\nStrong hurricanes are rare in this region because they get cornered in by the surrounding land and often draw in dry continental air that causes weakening.\nNo storm on record has made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 or 5.\nThe most recent hurricane of any intensity to come ashore along this stretch of coastline was Hermine in 2016. It made landfall as a Category 1.\nThe most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Wednesday afternoon","Wednesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4","Category 4","category 4","Category 4","Category 4","a strong Category 3","Category 3","3","3","3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125 mph","125 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Hurricane Michael strengthens to a \"potentially catastrophic\" Category 4 hurricane and makes landfall on the Florida Panhandle. (NPR) (Fortune)","document":"Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle Wednesday, with 155 mile-per-hour winds establishing it as the strongest storm to hit the continental U.S. since 2004.\nMichael is expected to batter Panama City and nearby areas with a potentially deadly 14-foot storm surge, according to the latest National Hurricane Center update. The swift-moving monster is set to drop as much as 12 inches of rain in some areas as it races north toward Georgia, Alabama and a Carolinas region still recovering from Hurricane Florence.\n“A storm like this could be a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Brett Rathbun, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania. “Winds of this intensity can really knock down any tree or structure in its path.”\nThe storm made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, the Hurricane Center reported. As much as 40 percent of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and 28 percent of natural gas output was shut down as the storm pushed toward land. Regional ports are closed, and almost 300 flights have been canceled. About 104,000 homes and businesses lost power before the storm made landfall.\nAs a Category 4 storm, Michael is the most intense to make landfall on the panhandle in U.S. records dating back to 1851, with the last major hurricane, Dennis, arriving as a Category 3 in 2005. The last storm to batter the mainland at Michael’s strength was Hurricane Charley in 2004, which hit Florida’s West Coast about 90 miles south of Tampa.\nIn September, Hurricane Florence’s winds peaked at 137 miles per hour off the U.S. coast, but dropped in intensity prior to the storm’s landfall in the Carolinas. Now known more for its rains than the strength of its winds, Florence caused devastating floods, killed at least 39 and caused about $45 billion in estimated damages.\nMichael, hitting in a less populated area, is “a different monster than Florence,” AccuWeather’s Rathbun said. Rather than lingering in one region as Florence did, inundating the Carolinas with rain, Michael is expected to race north to Georgia by Thursday, and reach the coast of Massachusetts by the weekend, he said.\nAbout 375,000 people live in areas covered by local evacuation orders.\nThe storm may weaken after landfall as it moves across the southeastern U.S. before reemerging over the Atlantic, the hurricane center said in its advisory. Damage from the storm could reach $16 billion, depending on its intensity after landfall and how quickly it moves through the region, according to Chuck Watson of Enki Research in Savannah, Georgia, with Panama City taking the hardest hit.\n“Michael is definitely shaping up to be a classic hurricane,” Watson said by email. “So the estimates are a bit more stable since you don’t have the stall and wander problem” that made Hurricane Florence hard to calculate.\nAgriculture markets, meanwhile, were shrugging off the storm. Prices for cotton, soybean and corn crops fell on Tuesday, as did orange juice futures. “Hurricanes are nearly always a ‘buy the rumor, sell the fact’ scenarios,” Louis Rose, the director of research and analysis a Rose Commodity Group, in Memphis, Tennessee, said by email.\nWhile the panhandle is more sparsely populated than many other areas of Florida, it includes the capital city of Tallahassee, Pensacola and Panama City. The Atlantic has produced 14 named storms this year. They include Florence and Tropical Storm Gordon, which made landfall on the Alabama-Mississippi border last month.\nHere’s the latest on the storm’s effects: The Coast Guard Tuesday closed ports at Gulfport and Pascagoula in Mississippi, Mobile in Alabama, and Panama City and Pensacola in Florida, and restricted vessel traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway. Total insured losses for Hurricane Michael should be manageable and have minimal impact on property reinsurance pricing, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. analyst Meyer Shields wrote in a note.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["12 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Georgia, Alabama and a Carolinas","Carolinas","Carolinas","Georgia","Georgia","Alabama","Alabama","Panama City and nearby areas","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Florida Panhandle"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155 mile-per-hour","per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 A man in Greensboro, Florida is killed by a tree that crashed through his home, becoming the first reported death from the storm in the United States. Later, a child is killed by a falling tree in Seminole County, Georgia. (BBC)","document":"One of the strongest storms in recorded history to hit the US has battered north-west Florida, flooding homes, washing out beaches and snapping trees.\nRescue services are beginning to assess the full impact of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a category four storm with 155mph (250km/h) winds.\nAt least six people have been killed, most of them in Florida.\nHaving weakened to a tropical storm, Michael has been hitting the Carolinas. Storm-surge warnings are still in place, the US National Hurricane Center says, and residents across the southern US have been warned of the continuing danger from downed powerlines, flash floods and landslides.\nThere are fears for people who ignored evacuation warnings in some of the areas now flooded.\nHundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were left without electricity in Florida, Alabama and Georgia.\nMichael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday.\nIt ranks among the most powerful hurricanes to hit the US in terms of wind speed and barometric pressure, comparable to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Michael was so strong as it swept into Florida that it remained a hurricane for hours as it moved further inland, before being downgraded to a tropical storm.\nIts rapid intensification caught many by surprise, although the storm later weakened.\nUnusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico turbo-charged the storm from a tropical depression on Sunday.\nOn Tuesday it was still a category two hurricane but by Wednesday morning it had reached borderline category five, the highest level.\nFlorida officials say at least four people died as a result of the storm in Gadsden County.\nIn Seminole County, Georgia, a metal car-shelter lifted by a gust of wind hit a mobile home, killing a girl of 11. And a man died when a tree fell on his car near Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday.\nMichael earlier reportedly killed at least 13 people as it passed through Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador.\nThe storm has knocked out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses.\nMore than 370,000 people in Florida were ordered to evacuate but officials believe many ignored the warning.\nThe coastal city of Apalachicola reported a storm surge of nearly 8ft (2.5m).\n\"There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city,\" local mayor Van Johnson was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the US Coast Guard had carried out 10 missions overnight, saving at least 27 people.\n\"So many lives have been changed forever,\" he told reporters. \"So many families have lost everything. This hurricane was an absolute monster.\"\nImages from Mexico Beach show many homes submerged in water, and there was severe damage to buildings in the state's Panama City area.\nA journalist with the Tampa Bay Times said neighbourhoods in that city \"looked like a child's playroom after a massive tantrum\".\nA guide to the world's deadliest storms\nHurricanes are violent storms that can bring devastation to coastal areas, threatening lives, homes and businesses.\nHurricanes develop from thunderstorms, fuelled by warm, moist air as they cross sub-tropical waters. Warm air rises into the storm.\nAir swirls in to fill the low pressure in the storm, sucking air in and upwards, reinforcing the low pressure.\nThe storm rotates due to the spin of the earth and energy from the warm ocean increases wind speeds as it builds.\nWhen winds reach 119km/h (74mph), it is known as a hurricane - in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific - or a typhoon in the Western Pacific.\n\"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Well, we're about to get punched in the face.\" Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn, ahead of Hurricane Irma (2017)\nThe central eye of calmer weather is surrounded by a wall of rainstorms.This eyewall has the fastest winds below it and violent currents of air rising through it.\nA mound of water piles up below the eye which is unleashed as the storm reaches land. These storm surges can cause more damage from flooding than the winds.\n\"Urgent warning about the rapid rise of water on the SW FL coast with the passage of #Irma's eye. MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER!\"Tweet from the National Hurricane Center\nThe size of hurricanes is mainly measured by the Saffir-Simpson scale - other scales are used in Asia Pacific and Australia.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the US National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north-west Florida","North","Carolinas","Gadsden County","Central America"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least six people","at least four people died","at least 13 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category four storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 The storm causes power outages to 550,000 customers in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, and 375,000 people in 22 counties have been ordered to evacuate. (The Weather Channel)","document":"When Hurricane Michael made landfall as a high-end Category 4 storm on the Florida Panhandle Wednesday, buildings along the coast were smashed to pieces, storm-surge flooding lapped at the eaves of beach houses, and an Air Force base sustained extensive damage.\nOne death has been reported in the Panhandle. A Greensboro man was killed when a tree crashed on his home, Gadsden County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Anglie Hightower told the Associated Press. \nFrom Panama City, through Mexico Beach — where the storm made landfall — and into Apalachicola, houses were swamped or blown apart, roofs were ripped off, boats sank, and trees toppled in the high winds.\nTyndall Air Force Base, which sits across the bay from Panama City, posted on its Facebook page that the base sustained extensive damage. A wind gust of 129 mph was measured at the base. No injuries were reported. Base personnel had been ordered to evacuate on Monday. The Facebook post said evacuees should plan on being away for an extended time.\nThe damage extended far inland as well. In Marianna, about 55 miles from Panama City, social media posts showed buildings with collapsed walls and torn off roofs. The police department lost its roof, too. Michael arrived in the city with gusts up to 102 mph.\nOfficials in Tallahassee, the state capital, tweeted that initial assessments of storm damage were showing lots of downed power lines, power poles, and trees.\nAs of 10:30 p.m. EDT, more than 331,000 homes and businesses were without power statewide, most of which were in the areas impacted by the storm, according to PowerOutage.us. The total number of customers without power in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia topped 550,000. \n\nImages from Mexico Beach showed widespread devastation with homes reduced to kindling and roofs lying in the middle of U.S. 98. Storm surge lapped at roof eaves.\nPatricia Mulligan was in a condo on Mexico Beach when Michael slammed into the town. “You can’t drive a car anywhere, you can’t do anything because it’s littered with houses, pieces of houses,” Mulligan told the New York Times. She said her brother's condo was destroyed as were other units nearby. “They’re not there. It’s gone,” she said.\nSeveral storm trackers tweeted that they were shocked by the devastation. \nMark Suddath wrote, \"Walking thru Mexico Beach to receive my GoPro cam and I’m telling you, it’s DEVASTATED. Truly devastated. Some buildings completely swept clean - only slabs.\"\nEarlier he had written, \"Drove from Panama City almost to Mexico Beach and I can tell you this is the worst damage from wind that I have ever seen! Absolutely catastrophic!\"\nJosh Morgerman wrote, \"It's hard to convey in words the scale of the catastrophe in Panama City. The whole city looks like a nuke was dropped on it. I'm literally shocked at the scale of the destruction.\"\nTweets from a resident of Panama City showed a bank where the windows were blown out and two middle schools had major roof damage. Drone video showed the roof peeled back from the gymnasium at Jinks Middle School. \nVance Beu, 29, was staying with his mother at her Panama City apartment when a pine tree stabbed through the roof. Beu told AP the roar of the storm sounded like a jet engine as the winds accelerated. \n\"It was terrifying, honestly. There was a lot of noise. We thought the windows were going to break at any time. We had the inside windows kind of barricaded in with mattresses,\" Beu said.\nKaylee O'Brien was crying as she sorted through the remains of the apartment she shared with three roommates. Four pine trees had crashed through the roof of her apartment, nearly hitting two people. \nFacebook photos showed chunks of U.S. 98 that were washed away by the storm surge.\nThe walls collapsed at the Pawaday Inn, a pet grooming and boarding business in Panama City. A Miami Herald reporter tweeted that the dogs survived, but a cat drowned after being trapped. \nIn Panama City Beach, WJHG-TV employees were told they could evacuate the station if they felt unsafe, but a few remained inside the building, according to reporter Danielle Ellis. The station lost power a few hours later.\nThe Panama City News Herald lost power and stayed in operation using a backup generator, but did not have internet access at the office, the Associated Press reported.\nBay Medical Sacred Heart in Panama City tweeted that hospital \"sustained damage including windows blown out, cracking of an exterior wall, and roof damage.\" The tweet said emergency generators were working, and patients had been moved to safer areas.\nIn Port St. Joe, about 12 miles southeast of Mexico Beach, a church lost its steeple and much of its roof, parts of buildings were torn away, and pine trees snapped like matchsticks. \nPort St. Joe's Mayor Bo Patterson remained in his home seven blocks from the beach during the storm. \"It feels like you don't know when the next tree is going to fall on top of you because it's blowing so ferociously,\" he told Reuters by telephone. \"It's very, very scary. We have trees being uprooted, heavy, heavy rain.\"\nFurther east, Apalachicola saw a lot of damage too. Sally Crown, who rode out the storm in her house, ventured out after the storm had passed.\n\"It's absolutely horrendous. Catastrophic,\" Crown told AP. \"There's flooding. Boats on the highway. A house on the highway. Houses that have been there forever are just shattered.\"\n\"There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city,\" Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson said.\nThe Wakulla County Sheriff's Office said parts of the county, which sits on the coast south of Tallahassee, had seen storm surge of 9 feet. The winds were dying down and crews were beginning to access the damage.\nHours before landfall, reports of damage and flooding were relayed from the coast. Residents who refused to evacuate were cut off when bridges were closed, including along St. George Island, where some called for help Wednesday morning but were told crews would not be able to reach them, a National Weather Service storm report said.\nWednesday morning, Florida Gov. Rick Scott shared dire advice: \"The time to evacuate has come and gone ... SEEK REFUGE IMMEDIATELY.\"\n\"Unfortunately, Hurricane Michael has become a hurricane of the worst kind,\" FEMA Administrator Brock Long told reporters.\nThe Florida Highway Patrol said it pulled its troopers away from coastal areas because it was too dangerous to keep them in those areas.\n\"We have done everything we can as far as getting the word out,\" said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith told the AP. \"Hopefully more people will leave.\"\nMore than 375,000 people along the Gulf Coast in 22 counties were ordered or urged to evacuate, officials said.\nAll airports along the Florida Panhandle closed throughout the storm, and flights were canceled. Tallahassee International Airport tweeted late Wednesday that the airfield had reopened but priority was being given to relief flights. Commercial flights were set to resume midday Thursday, the airport said.\nIn Bay County, first responders were no longer able to respond to emergencies as of Wednesday morning, but the Panama City Fire Department would continue responding to life-threatening emergency calls that came from within the city limits, the county said in a tweet.\n\"There’s no way to put a silver lining on this,\" said Jim Cantore, storm tracker for The Weather Channel, Wednesday morning while reporting live on Panama City Beach.\nOn Wednesday, President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Florida to free up as many resources as possible for storm and emergency response.\nRescue teams and utility trucks descended on the region by the hundreds from all over the country as they prepared to help with the aftermath.\n\"We have a pit in our stomachs, too,\" National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said during a Wednesday morning interview on The Weather Channel.\n\nEvacuation orders were expanded for additional areas in the path of the storm on Tuesday. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Okaloosa Island and Holiday Isle Tuesday afternoon, and voluntary evacuations were in place for residents in flood-prone areas of Pasco County.\nFloridaDisaster.org has a complete list of areas under mandatory and voluntary evacuations.\n\"If you decide to stay in your home and a tree falls on your house or the storm surge catches you and you’re now calling for help, there’s no one that can respond to help you,\" warned Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan during a news conference Monday. \"That’s the criticality of following directions.\"\nScott said more than 3,500 Florida National Guard members were activated for storm response. He added that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was ready to deploy and the Department of Transportation was monitoring the situation.\nAll bridges leading to and from coastal islands were closed Wednesday morning. With road closures expected to be a fluid situation, officials urged residents to follow updates on the Department of Transportation's Twitter page.\n\n\"This is the worst storm that the Florida Panhandle has seen in more than 100 years,\" said Scott.\nFlorida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College all announced that campuses would be closed Tuesday through Friday. FSU opened the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center as a shelter for students and faculty.\nLeon County Schools posted a tweet Monday saying all schools would be closed through the rest of the week. Bay District Schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, the Panama City News Herald reported.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Panama City, through Mexico Beach","Panama City","Panama City","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Panama City","Mexico Beach","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Mexico Beach","Panama City","Panama City","Panama City","Apalachicola","Apalachicola","Apalachicola","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Greensboro man","550,000"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a high-end Category 4 storm","high","up to 102 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Heavy rain and strong winds from Michael are expected in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia on Thursday. (Washington Post)","document":"Hurricane Michael became the most intense hurricane on record to strike the Florida Panhandle Wednesday, and among the most intense hurricanes to hit the U.S. The storm is far from over. Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to sweep through the Southeast Thursday before exiting the Mid-Atlantic coast Friday morning. The storm made landfall early Wednesday afternoon in Mexico Beach, Fla., about 20 miles southeast of Panama City, as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane. Eyewitness photos showed devastating damage in this area. Hurricane Michael news updates\nAt landfall, the storm’s 155 mph peak winds ranked fourth highest on record for a hurricane hitting the continental U.S. and the pressure ranked third lowest (the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm), below even Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Katrina in 2005. As the storm crashed ashore, winds gusted as high as 130 mph along the coast from Panama City to Mexico Beach. The storm surge inundated Apalachicola in over seven feet of ocean water, a new record. Now the concern is Georgia, the Carolinas, southern Virginia and the southern half of the Delmarva Peninsula, where flooding rainfall is a growing threat. 11:15 p.m.: Michael likely to weaken to tropical storm overnight but possible flooding rain to spread over Carolinas\nAt 11 p.m., Michael’s peak winds had dropped to 75 mph and are expected to fall further overnight, which would downgrade it a tropical storm. While damaging winds, downed trees and power outages will remain an issue in south central Georgia overnight along with flooding rain, Michael will increasingly become a rainstorm as it moves into the Carolinas by dawn and eventually toward Southeast Virginia by late Thursday. Into Thursday, rain rather than wind will become the most pressing concern, as flash flooding could develop in the Carolinas, in some of the same areas still recovering from Hurricane Florence. Flash flood watches cover most of South Carolina, North Carolina, Southeast Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula. Here’s a map of projected rainfall through Friday:\n\n10:10 p.m.: Core of Michael progresses toward south central Georgia with ‘damaging winds still occurring’\nMichael is barely holding onto hurricane status, as its peak winds have come down to 80 mph. The storm is 60 miles south-southwest of Macon, Georgia moving to the northeast at 17 mph. In its 10 p.m. update, the Hurricane Center headlined “damaging winds still occurring.”\nRadar showed the storm’s rainbands have mostly departed Florida where winds are subsiding and water levels are receding. The heaviest downpours and strongest winds, associated with the storm’s core, were located between Albany and Macon, Georgia. Just after 8 p.m., Albany reported a wind gust to 81 mph. Moderate to heavy rainfall associated Michael extended well to the north of its core through the Atlanta area. Over the next several hours, rains should spread into Athens and Augusta\n9:20 p.m.: Footage from Mexico Beach, Fla. shows structures ‘completely gone’\nChris Dolce, a digital meteorologist for The Weather Channel, found footage of before and after Hurricane Michael made landfall along a section of Mexico Beach. Houses that previously stood tall were nowhere to be found in the storm’s wake:\nPrior to the storm, the National Weather Service had warned the storm surge could wash entire buildings away. This prediction appears to have been correct. 8:40 p.m.: ‘Hard to convey in words the scale of the catastrophe in Panama City’, says storm chaser\nHurricane storm chaser Josh Morgerman has chased the most intense hurricanes all over the world and is not prone to hyperbole. Here is his account of the situation in Panama City, via Twitter: “It’s hard to convey in words the scale of the catastrophe in Panama City. The whole city looks like a nuke was dropped on it. I’m literally shocked at the scale of the destruction.”\nMark Sudduth, another experienced storm chaser, tweeted similar thoughts: “Drove from Panama City almost to Mexico Beach and I can tell you this is the worst damage from wind that I have ever seen! Absolutely catastrophic! You will not believe your eyes when you see it.”\n8:10 p.m.: Michael decreases to Category 1, but damaging winds battering southwest Georgia\nMichael’s peak winds dropped to 90 mph as of the Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. advisory but continued to general very strong winds in southwest Georgia as well as the northern Florida panhandle and southeast Alabama. In Albany, Ga., winds were recently sustained at 52 mph and gusted to 74 mph. The storm was centered 20 miles southwest of Albany, Ga. and was moving to the northeast at 17 mph. A model simulation shows the storm’s center, which contains its strongest winds, crossing Georgia overnight from the southwest to east central - arriving in South Carolina by around 6 a.m. Thursday. 7:15 p.m.: Michael became first Category 3 hurricane to strike Georgia since 1898\nWhile Michael’s peak winds have now decreased to 100 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane, it arrived in Georgia as a Category 3 last hour - the first storm that strong to hit the state since 1898. At 7 p.m., Michael was centered 35 miles west southwest of Albany, Ga., moving north-northeast at 13 mph. Over the last hour, the Hurricane Center clocked the following wind gusts:\nRadar showed the storm’s core with heavy downpours and damaging winds affecting the area from around Dothan, Ala. to Albany, Ga. Moderate rain from Michael’s outer bands was even spreading into Atlanta. Over next couple of hours the core of the storm should head in the direction of Macon, Ga. which can expect rain and wind to increase. Over 450,000 power outages have been reported due to the storm in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. 7:05 p.m.: Stunning satellite image shows Michael’s perilous journey across Florida Panhandle\n6:10 p.m.: Tropical storm-force winds clocked in Alabama and Georgia\nThe center of Michael has moved into extreme southwest Georgia and radar showed the storm’s core stretches to the west toward Dothan, Alabama and to the northeast toward Albany, Ga. In the last hour, Dothan observed a wind gust to 62 mph and Albany to 51 mph. Extremely heavy rain was also affecting this zone with a flash flood warning in effect near the southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia border, including Dothan. In Florida, where the worst of the weather was beginning to ease (especially at the coast), nearly 300,000 power outages were reported. 5:50 p.m.: As rain exits Panama City and Mexico Beach, the extent of the devastation begins to emerge\nRadar shows the bulk of the rain has now moved north of the region between Panama City and Port St. Joe, which bore the brunt of Michael Wednesday afternoon. “We have seen several building collapses in Panama City,” tweeted Marc Weinberg, a meteorologist at the scene. “The tree damage is incredible.”\nIncoming photos are beginning to show the severity of the damage:\n5:05 p.m.: Eye of Michael exiting Florida, still a Category 3 as it enters Georgia\nMore than three hours after making landfall, Michael is still packing sustained winds to 125 mph as it nears the Florida/Alabama/Georgia border. It continues to unleash violent gusts as it heads northeast at 16 mph. In the last hour, Tallahassee gusted to 69 mph and a gust to 74 mph was recorded closer to the coast. “Although steady weakening is expected as Michael moves over the southeast U.S. through Thursday morning, hurricane-force winds will continue to penetrate inland over the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia through this evening,” the Hurricane Center said. Along the coast, the Hurricane Center said “water levels are beginning to recede in some locations\" but it warned storm surge would continue to be a hazard. 4:30 p.m.: Remarkable NOAA satellite imagery shows lightning generated by Michael\n4:05 p.m.: Storm remains potent as it heads toward southwest Georgia\nEven as Michael moves farther inland, its continues to pack maximum sustained winds of up to 140 mph and has a well-defined eye. At 4 p.m., radar showed the eye of the storm about to pass over Interstate 10 in Florida’s Panhandle. It was centered about 55 miles west northwest of Tallahassee. Torrential rains and powerful winds extend well west and north of the center, expanding over southeast Alabama and into southwest Georgia. In the coming hours, conditions will begin to deteriorate over central and eastern Georgia. Over the past hour, the Hurricane Center compiled the following wind gust reports - mostly in the 60 to 100 mph range:\n3:35 p.m.: Photos and videos reveal more severe damage from wind and storm surge\nThis footage from Mexico Beach, where Michael made landfall, is unbelievable. Homes are engulfed in ocean water, roofs have been sheared off and streets are rivers:\n3:05 p.m.: Storm still producing wind gusts over 100 mph as eye moves inland\nMichael is slowly weakening as it comes further ashore (maximum sustained winds have fallen to 150 mph) but the storm is still generating destructive winds. The Hurricane Center logged the following gusts over the last hour:\nIt warned residents not to be fooled by the lull in winds when the eye passed over inland portions of Bay and Calhoun counties in Florida’s Panhandle. “[H]azardous winds will increase very quickly as the eye passes!,” it said. The number of power outages in Florida was 270,000 and rising. 2:45 p.m.: Water level sets record in Apalachicola\nAs Michael’s winds pushed waters from the Gulf of Mexico into the coast, the observed water level in Apalachicola hit 7.63 feet, surpassing the previous record of 6.43 feet in July 2005. This means there was more than 7 feet of inundation above ground level. Video from the region shows the storm surge waters flooding roads:\n2:20 p.m.: ‘Unbelievable damage’ reported in Panama City and nearby\nThe 130 mph winds which hit this region have taken a severe toll based on initial photos and video coming in:\nThis is a scene from Mexico Beach:\nHere is some video which illustrate how violent the winds were:\n2:15 p.m.: Extreme wind warning expanded inland over Florida Panhandle\nThe eye of Hurricane Michael has charged inland just to the east of Panama City. Even though the most extreme winds, with gusts up to 130 mph or so, were expected at the coast, destructive winds will spread over nearby inland areas and remain a threat for several more hours. An extreme wind warning is in effect for not only the zone from Panama City to Port Saint Joe along the coast but also in areas to the north and northwest:\nFor more details on this kind of extreme alert, see this related story: Rare ‘extreme wind warning’ posted for Hurricane Michael. Here’s what that means. 1:45 p.m.: Michael makes landfall in Mexico Beach, Fla., near Panama City, with 155 mph winds\nThe National Hurricane Center said Michael made landfall in Mexico Beach, Fla. with sustained winds of 155 mph, just 2 mph shy of Category 5 - around 1:30 p.m. The Hurricane Center said a wind gust of 130 mph was observed at Tyndall Air Force Base and a gust of 129 mph hit Panama City. Hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach tweeted only three storms have hit the continental U.S. with stronger winds: the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 (185 mph winds), Camille in 1969 (175 mph winds) and Andrew in 1992 (165 mph winds). Michael also became the strongest landfalling U.S. hurricane during the month of October. 1:25 p.m.: Waters rising and winds gusting to nearly 130 mph as landfall is underway\nTyndall Air Force Base, near where Michael is currently coming ashore, recently posted a wind gust of 129 mph. Meanwhile, the storm surge in Apalachicola had reached around 7 feet, passing the previous record of 6.4 feet. Here’s a view of the wind and water in Panama City taken Wednesday morning, showing a house under construction collapsing:\n1:05 p.m.: Michael’s pressure is lower than Hurricane Andrew’s and third lowest on record in U.S. The 1 p.m. report from the National Hurricane Center indicated Michael’s pressure had fallen to 919 millibars. The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm. This pressure - if unchanged at landfall - would be lower than Hurricane Andrew when it struck South Florida and Katrina when it struck southeast Louisiana. “Only two continental US hurricanes have made landfall with a lower pressure,” tweeted hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach - the 1935 Labor Day hurricane (892 millibars) and Camille in 1969 (900 millibars). Based on its peak wind speed of 150 mph, it is the second strongest storm on record so far north, only trailing Camille, Klotzbach added. At 1 p.m., the storm’s center was just 15 miles west-southwest of Mexico Beach and 20 miles south of Panama City, meaning landfall is likely in the next hour or so. 12:50 p.m.: Wind gusts topping 100 mph as eyewall begins to come ashore\nThe eyewall, the most intense part of Hurricane Michael surrounding its calm eye, is coming ashore just to the east of Panama Beach. Two reports of wind gusts over 100 mph have coming in: a gust to 106 mph in Port St. Joe and 116 mph in Mexico Beach. 12:25 p.m.: Rare “extreme wind warning” issued for zone from Panama City to Apalachicola\nThe National Weather Service has issued its most severe wind alert for coastal areas in parts of Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend. The “extreme wind warning” calls for destructive winds in excess of 130 mph as Michael’s eyewall roars ashore. “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the Weather Service said. Apalachicola recently clocked a wind gust to 87 mph and winds are expected to keep increasing through mid-afternoon. The Weather Service advised those in the path of these winds to treat them like a tornado and to shelter in safe room. For more details on this kind of extreme alert, see this related story: Rare ‘extreme wind warning’ posted for Hurricane Michael. Here’s what that means. 12:05 p.m.: Weather Service director - ‘This is a worst case scenario’\nLouis Uccellini, director of the National Weather Service, called for residents of the Florida Panhandle to “stay inside & survive” in a tweet just before noon, warning that Hurricane Michael’s imminent landfall is a “worst case scenario.”\nThe Hurricane Center’s noon advisory showed the storm just 40 miles southwest of Panama City. As the storm is moving north-northeast at 14 mph, landfall could occur within two to three hours. Winds and water levels continued increasing. Apalachicola recently recorded a gust to 76 mph. 11:45 a.m.: Michael is still strengthening: Winds up to 150 mph. At 11:30 a.m., the Hurricane Center sent out a special advisory indicating peak winds had increased to 150 mph, which is just 7 mph shy of Category 5. The storm’s pressure fell further, down to 923 millibars. (The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.) If this pressure holds, it will rank as the third lowest on record at landfall in the state of Florida and sixth lowest to strike the U.S. coast. Along the Florida Panhandle, winds continued to ramp up as gusts hit 72 mph in Apalachicola. 11:35 a.m.: Alarm bells raised for central and east Georgia Because Michael has become so strong so fast, the National Weather Service issued a special advisory for central and eastern Georgia warning of a “potentially historical tropical event.”\nIt warned of hurricane-force winds and the potential for the downing of “hundreds to potentially thousands of trees.” It also said tornadoes were possible and rainfall of more than five inches, which could cause localized flash flooding. “With this being the tail end of Hurricane Season and with the long ordeal of Hurricane Florence for some, it can be easy to become complacent,” it cautioned. “This is not the storm to do that with! !”\n11:10 a.m.: Core of Michael closing in on Florida Panhandle, life-threatening hazards ‘imminent'\nIn its 11 a.m. advisory, the Hurricane Center said life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall were “imminent” along the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The storm was centered just 60 miles south-southwest of Panama City and headed north-northeast at 15 mph meaning landfall could occur within a three to four hours. Winds were gusting over 60 mph at Bald Point, Fla., which is to the east of Apalachicola. Tallahassee, to the north, had clocked a gust to 46 mph. These winds will rapidly increase over the next few hours, reaching hurricane-force. The storm surge in Apalachicola had already reached 6 feet, close to its record height of 6.4 feet, and waters were continuing to rise. The storm’s pressure had fallen to 928 millibars, lower than Hurricane Irma when it crossed the Florida Keys. Assuming pressure don’t rise before landfall, Michael’s will rank among the top 10 lowest on record for a landfalling storm in the United States. 10:35 a.m.: Tropical storm conditions spread over Florida Panhandle as storm’s pressure tanks\nTropical storm conditions swept over Florida’s Panhandle Wednesday morning and a wind gust of 58 was clocked at Apalachicola Regional Airport between 9 and 10 a.m. The Hurricane Center also reported water levels were rising quickly at the coast. Conditions over Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend area are predicted to rapidly deteriorate over the coming hours. At 10 a.m., the storm’s center was just 65 miles south-southwest of Panama city, meaning the eyewall - most dangerous part of the storm with the strongest winds - could hit the coast by midday. The storm’s pressure had fallen to 931 millibars which would rank among the lowest on record for a hurricane hitting Florida. As Michael rapidly intensified Tuesday night and early Wednesday, forecasters on Twitter described feelings of sickness and dread. “Hurricanes that intensify overnight just before reaching land are the worst nightmare of forecasters and emergency managers,” tweeted Weather Underground’s Bob Henson. Both the Florida Panhandle, from Pensacola to Apalachicola, and the Big Bend area are forecast to be hardest hit. The storm surge was predicted to reach up to 14 feet potentially inundating more than 325 miles of coastline, including roads, homes and business. Population centers that could witness some of the most severe hurricane effects include Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach and Apalachicola. “#Michael will make new history for central Panhandle, Big Bend,” tweeted Rick Knabb, the Weather Channel’s hurricane expert. “Some of you could get water and wind worse than ever before.”\nWhile the most severe hurricane conditions are expected along the coast, devastating hurricane effects are forecast to expand considerable distances inland.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico Beach, Fla","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Fla","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Fla","Mexico Beach","Fla","Mexico Beach","Mexico Beach","Fla","Florida Panhandle","Florida panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle","Florida Panhandle"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northeast","northeast","northeast","northeast","northeast","northeast","northeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","early Wednesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["south central Georgia","south central Georgia"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["17 mph","17 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael","Michael"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155 mph","155 mph","155 mph","80 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Hurricane Willa strengthens to a category 4 hurricane off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. (CBS News)","document":" Hurricane Willa, a potentially catastrophic storm, swept toward Mexico's Pacific coast with winds of 155 mph, the National Hurricane Center said Monday. Forecasters expect the Category 4 storm to make landfall along Mexico's southwestern coast Tuesday afternoon or evening. Willa is an \"extremely dangerous storm\" that is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over west-central and southwestern Mexico, the hurricane center. After it briefly strengthened to a Category 5 storm, it weakened slightly Monday afternoon.\nWilla was located about 135 miles south-southwest of Las Islas Marias, Mexico, and some 110 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, the hurricane center said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory. It was moving north at 8 mph.\nA hurricane warning was posted for a stretch of shore between San Blas and Mazatlan. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Playa Perula to San Blas and north of Mazatlan to Bahia Tempehuaya.\nEnrique Moreno, the mayor of Escuinapa, said officials were trying to evacuate everyone in the village of Teacapan, the Associated Press reports. He said nearly 3,000 were affected but some residents would stay.\n\"The people don't want to evacuate, but it's for their security,\" he said.\nIn Mazatlan, Mayor José Joel Bouciegues said officials were preparing shelters and monitoring low-lying areas, the AP reports. The popular vacation town is home to a large number of American and Canadian expatriates.\nForecasters said Willa was expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with local amounts up to 18 inches, across portions of western Jalisco, western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa in Mexico. The rainfall could cause life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.\nFarther inland, Willa was expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches across portions of Zacateca, Durango, southeast Chihuahua, and Coahuila in Mexico, with local amounts up to 6 inches possible. That could cause life-threatening flash flooding.\nAfter Willa makes its way across Mexico, it could drop between 1 and 3 inches of rain on central and southern Texas during the middle of the week. The additional rainfall could cause additional flooding in already saturated areas.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","Forecasters","the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico's Pacific coast","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","along Mexico's southwestern coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north","north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["west-central and southwestern Mexico","central"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["the Category 4 storm","a Category 5 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["8 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Willa","Willa","Willa","Willa","Willa","Willa"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Hurricane Willa hits the coast of Western Mexico. It is also expected to become a nor'easter after it passes through the United States. (Boston Globe)","document":"Hurricane Willa will move into Mexico Tuesday evening, and once it’s over land it will quickly lose its tropical characteristics. However, this is not the end of the storm. Weather knows no country boundaries, and this particular storm will move into the United States on Wednesday and then along the Gulf Coast before making the turn toward the Northeast late this week.\nAn active jetstream will capture what’s left of Willa and reform it into a fall nor’easter. Meteorologically, it’s quite interesting that the storm will take this track and will end up affecting Canada as well.\nSince we haven’t had a nor’easter in several months, it’s worth reminding folks that the term doesn’t necessarily mean snow. It just means that a storm will move up the coastline and provide northeasterly winds. The strength of a nor’easter varies, and the precipitation type also can be quite different depending on the time of year and the location. Tides are, astronomically, somewhat high this weekend, so minor coastal flooding is possible.\nIf you’re making weekend plans, it appears that precipitation will move into Southern New England sometime during the day Saturday, and it may remain unsettled into Sunday and Monday. With several days until the storm really gets its act together, there will be changes to the forecast in terms of timing as well as the potential amount of rainfall. We could get by Saturday morning without rainfall, but it’s also possible the rain moves in earlier and all of Saturday is wet.\nAdvertisement\nBecause there will be cold high pressure north of New England as the precipitation begins, there may actually be some wet snow in the higher elevations. Whether places like the Worcester Hills or the Berkshires see some wet snow is yet to be determined, but it’s not out of the question that this could end up as our first snow event for some.\nAdvertisement\nIf the storm strengthens enough, we could also see quite a bit of leaf drop, marking the end of a very mediocre leaf-peeping season around here.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mexico","the United States","along the Gulf Coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday evening","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Willa","Willa"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Super Typhoon Yutu makes landfall on Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands as a category 5 storm. The typhoon becomes the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike any part of the United States since 1935. (Saipan Tribune), (The Washington Post)","document":"Super Typhoon Yutu is currently making its passage over the Marianas, posing most threat to the islands of Saipan and Tinian. As Yutu moves past the Saipan-Tinian Channel, residents, especially those living in the southern part of Saipan and northern region of Tinian, will begin to feel the intensity of the storm. Sustained winds of 165-175 mph with gusts up to over 200 mph may be expected for the next two hours.\n \nSuper Typhoon Yutu is being classified as a dangerous Category 5 typhoon, making it an extremely dangerous and life-threatening hazard for the islands of Saipan and Tinian. For the next 2-3 hours, residents can also anticipate lightning and flash flooding. HSEM continues to urge the community to remain indoors and brace for worst conditions lasting until 3AM.\n \nAfter 3am, wind strength will begin to dissipate to tropical storm-force winds of 60 mph with gusts up to 75-85 mph. These conditions will continue to pose a threat to the residents of Saipan and Tinian, and should not be taken lightly.\n \nUpon daybreak, conditions will begin to improve.\n \nAt this time, HSEM reminds the public to remain indoors until the “All Clear” has been issued by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. Remain off roadways to allow first responders to clear debris and attend to those who need assistance most.\n \nMore updates will be provided as they become available. (HSEM)\n \nThe Saipan Tribune gives its readers timely, accurate, balanced, and wide-ranging coverage of what is happening in the Northern Mariana Islands and around the globe.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the islands of Saipan and Tinian","Saipan-Tinian","Saipan","Tinian","islands","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5 typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Yutu","Yutu","Yutu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["165-175 mph","200 mph","60 mph","up to 75-85 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Super Typhoon Yutu makes landfall on Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands as a category 5 storm. The typhoon becomes the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike any part of the United States since 1935. (Saipan Tribune), (The Washington Post)","document":"Typhoon Yutu’s 180 mph winds overturned cars, knocked down hundreds of power poles and left an island of thousands without a medical center and another without an airport. Buildings were reduced to haphazard piles of tin and wood; if a structure wasn’t made of concrete, one resident said, it was probably wiped out by the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit any part of the United States since 1935.\nYutu spent roughly seven hours thrashing the small islands of Saipan and Tinian, the most populous part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, early Thursday morning local time. Residents of the islands north of Guam are accustomed to typhoons but quickly attested that this was the worst they’d seen.\nYutu’s gigantic eye enveloped much of Saipan and all of Tinian, leaving the islands “mangled,” as one local official told The Washington Post. Rescue and relief operations have begun, but officials say their efforts are being hampered by dangerous weather and widespread destruction, which includes “extensive damage to critical infrastructure,” according to an update Thursday from the governor’s office. One woman on Saipan, who took shelter in an abandoned building that collapsed on her, died during the storm.\n“We just went through one of the worst storms I’ve seen in all my experience in emergency management,” local emergency management official Gerald J. Deleon Guerrero said in a statement.\nThe Thursday update cited hundreds of downed power poles and a “significantly large number of downed transformers and conductors” on Saipan and Tinian. It said that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had been asked for “700 to 800 power poles, transformers, and additional materials to begin power restoration,” which will have to be done before water service can be restored.\nAccording to figures released by the Weather Underground website, Yutu was tied with the fifth-highest wind speed of any storm on record as it made landfall. Only a few storms, including 2013′s Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines, have been stronger, and even then not by much. For the United States, just one storm — the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that hit the Florida Keys — is believed to have been more powerful.\nThe Northern Mariana Islands are the most recent U.S. territory to have been pummeled by a strong hurricane in the past two years. The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico suffered calamitous strikes in the 2017 hurricane season, and Guam was recently struck by Typhoon Mangkhut.\nOverall, the escalating impacts on U.S. island territories in the Pacific and Caribbean underscore that as seas rise and storms worsen with climate change, small islands face some of the most extreme risks on Earth. Many have organized into the Alliance of Small Island States to push for strong action to curb global warming. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa are affiliated with the organization.\nJohn J. Marra, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s regional climate services director for the Pacific islands, said in an interview that in the short term, natural variability will play a greater role in determining where typhoons hit and how intense they are.\n“It isn’t this steady march. It’s really waves of change,” he said by phone, adding that the intensity of typhoons in the Pacific will vary. “But each time it’s going to be worse because the baseline is shifting up over time. The sea level’s a little higher; the sea surface temperature’s going to be a little warmer.” Nikolao Pula, who directs the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs, said in a phone interview that Secretary Ryan Zinke heard Pacific leaders' concerns about climate change during his recent tour of the region. Zinke noted that there are other large greenhouse gas emitters besides the United States but that the department is focused on addressing the territories' immediate needs.\n“Hey, how can we help fix those issues we need to fix, and we will leave the science to the scientists,” Pula said, describing the secretary’s approach.\nAt the moment, there are plenty of items in need of fixing.\nJose Mafnas, a resident of Saipan, told The Post in a phone interview that he lost his roof.\n“We heard the tin fly out. It got stripped,” the 29-year-old attorney said, describing the moment Yutu took his roof. “Water was coming in through the wooden ceiling, and then eventually the whole ceiling just collapsed down to the floor. My house and my neighbors' houses are pretty much destroyed. … There’s just tin roofing all over the place.” The National Weather Service in Guam had warned residents that the winds would be so strong that “most homes will sustain severe damage with potential for complete roof failure and wall collapse. Most industrial buildings will be destroyed.” Still, Mafnas said, he was “at a loss for words” when he first saw the havoc Yutu wreaked on his island. “I knew the damage would be significant, but coming out in the morning, even with that knowledge, I was still surprised by how devastating it was.\" Frank Camacho, a photographer from Saipan who was on Guam, about 135 miles to the south, stayed in touch with family members and friends via WhatsApp and relayed to The Post what they were experiencing.\n“Massive flooding in homes, roofs being blown off, storm shutters flying off concrete buildings, buildings being leveled, and the storm is still hitting in the 70-100 mph range,” Camacho said in an email as dawn broke Thursday on the islands. (The islands are 14 hours ahead of Eastern time.) “My sister just lost her whole house on Saipan. … [People] hiding in their bathrooms as the eye passed over the islands.” The full extent of the damage is not known, Nadine Deleon Guerrero, an external affairs officer with the commonwealth’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, told The Post in a phone interview. Preliminary assessments cannot be carried out until the weather improves, but speaking on the basis of “windshield assessments,” Guerrero said the devastation caused by Yutu is “five times worse” than that from Typhoon Soudelor, which slammed the islands in 2015. Soudelor was the strongest tropical cyclone in the 2015 Pacific typhoon season.\nIn general, the northwest Pacific, where tropical cyclones are referred to as typhoons, not hurricanes, has the most numerous and strongest storms on the planet.\n“It’s so much damage,” Guerrero said. “This is the worst storm that I’ve ever seen.\" Nola Hix, another Saipan resident, told The Post via WhatsApp that she lived through Soudelor and had “prayed we’d never experience [that] again.” Unfortunately, Yutu was Soudelor “x 20,” she wrote.\n“We are all grateful to God to be alive,” Hix added, noting that her brother’s and mother’s homes were destroyed. “It was very scary. I had never heard wind and rain like that, and it went on for a long time.” On Tinian, conditions were equally grim.\n“Tinian has been devastated by Typhoon Yutu,” Mayor Joey San Nicolas said in a video on Facebook. “Many homes have been destroyed. Our critical infrastructure has been compromised. We currently have no power and water at this time.” San Nicolas said that rescue operations were underway but that access to several areas throughout the island remained very limited. “Tinian has been destroyed … but our spirits have not,” he said. “We are in the process of recovering from this typhoon, and we ask for your continued prayers.” Emergency shelters on Saipan and Tinian are full, Robert Schwalbach, a spokesman for Del. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D), the islands' representative in Congress, told The Post in an email. Saipan’s health center is running on emergency power, and the one in Tinian, which has no patients, “sustained major damage,” Schwalbach said.\nOn Saipan, Guerrero said the government’s main priority is providing aid to those who lost their homes. It is not yet clear how many lack shelter, but the number is likely in the hundreds, she said. The plan is to work with local and federal agencies to distribute tents that can survive winds of up to 60 mph, she said.\nPresident Trump declared a disaster in the Marianas before the storm made landfall, and dozens of FEMA personnel were positioned on Saipan and Tinian because they had been working on Guam because of Mangkhut. On Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency in the territory.\nFEMA spokesman Marty Bahamonde said in a phone interview Thursday that agency officials on the ground in the Northern Marinanas had sheltered in place and started working with local officials Thursday to assess the damage. He added that the agency activated its national response coordination center to operate on a 24-7 basis Wednesday night, allowing all of the federal agencies involved in the response to start planning and moving supplies that are needed in the region.\n“We are synced with the Saipan government and are working to understand what the damages are and what the needs are going to be,” Bahamonde said.\nThe Interior Department’s Pula — who said his field representative on Saipan was texting updates Thursday as he hid under his table and part of his roof blew off — reported that many of the roofs at the island’s community college had blown off, and other schools had sustained serious damage. With ports closed, Saipan’s airport shut down and major power outages taking place, he added, the islands' vibrant tourism sector had suffered a severe blow.\n“Now with this hurricane, they’re going to have to rebuild again,” he said. “It’s going to take months to get up and running.” The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["small islands of Saipan and Tinian","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Saipan","Tinian","small islands","Saipan","Saipan","Saipan","Saipan","Tinian","Tinian","Tinian","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Saipan","Tinian","Saipan","Saipan","Saipan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["tropical cyclone","tropical cyclone","tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu","Yutu’s"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["180 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2018 At least 21 people have died, 180 have been injured and tens of thousands have been displaced by heavy rains that have affected Iraq. (Times Now)","document":"Baghdad: At least 21 people have died and tens of thousands displaced by heavy rains that have battered Iraq over two days, the health ministry and United Nations said on Sunday. Women and children were among the dead, health ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr told AFP. Some had drowned, but others had died in car accidents, were electrocuted, or were trapped when their houses collapsed.\nAt least 180 more were injured, he added. Iraq and neighbouring countries have been hit by heavier-than-average rainfall in recent weeks, resulting in deaths and widespread damage. The country's north has borne the brunt of it, and the UN's Iraq office said the downpour had forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes.\nAn estimated 10,000 people in Salahaddin province and 15,000 people in Nineveh are in desperate need of help, including families living in displacement camps, the UN said.\nIn the Al-Sharqat district in Salahaddin, about 250 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, thousands of homes were left totally underwater by the rains.\nAnd in Mosul, the Islamic State group's onetime bastion in Iraq, the heavy storms submerged two floating bridges along the Tigris river, which bisects the city.\nThey were the only way to move between Mosul's eastern and western halves, after its bridges were all bombed by the anti-IS fight.\nPrime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi announced Friday he was establishing a \"crisis cell\" of security forces and local authorities to coordinate a response. The ministries of electricity, oil, and trade had also indicated their willingness to help.\nIraq is one of the hottest countries on earth but when heavy rains do hit, they can result in casualties because of deteriorating public infrastructure.\nIn 2015, 58 Iraqis were killed in floods and cases of electrocution due to intense downpours.\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Iraq","Iraq","Iraq","Iraq","Iraq"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["tens of thousands","tens","thousands","thousands","An estimated 10,000 people in Salahaddin","10,000 people","Salahaddin","At least 21 people","15,000 people in Nineveh"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2018 A severe storm system brings tornado watches and warnings throughout the U.S. states of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. A \"large and dangerous\" tornado is confirmed near Gore, Oklahoma. Several other tornadoes are seen by storm chasers. (4029 News)","document":"12:30 a.m. The strongest storms have exited the 40/29 viewing area. The Tornado Watch for much of western Arkansas has been cancelled. 12:10 a.m. Tornado Warning for Johnson, Logan, and Pope Counties has been allowed to expire. New Severe Thunderstorm Warning for eastern Johnson County and NE Logan County until 1:00 a.m. A line of severe thunderstorms is moving NE at about 65 mph. 60 mph wind gusts with quarter-sized hail are possible. 11:57\nA Tornado Warning has been issued for southern Johnson County - including Clarksville until 12:15 a.m.\nAt 11:57 p.m., A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Hoyt - near Clarksville - moving east at 65 mph. 11:52 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for NE Benton Co., northern Madison Co, Carroll Co., and NE Washington County until 12:45 a.m. 60 mph wind gusts are possible. 11:30 p.m. The Tornado Warning over Crawford and Sequoyah counties has been allowed to expire. A new Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for most of Benton County and the northern part of Washington County until 12:30 a.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued for Polk County until 12:15 a.m. 11:20 p.m. A Tornado Warning has been issued for parts of Crawford and Sequoyah counties. At 11:09 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Short moving northeast at 55 mph. 10:40 p.m.\nA Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for parts of Crawford and Washington counties until 11:15 p.m. At 10:37 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over Cedarville, moving north at 50 mph. 60 mph wind gusts and quarter sized hail are possible. 10:30 p.m. The Tornado Warning has been extended into parts of Benton, Adair, and Cherokee counties until 11:00 p.m. 10:25 p.m.\nA Tornado Warning remains in effect for Adair/Cherokee counties until 10:45 p.m. Shortly before 10:20 p.m., a confirmed, large tornado was located near Procter, moving northeast at 45 mph. As of 10:25 p.m. the tornado continues to track across NW Adair County. 10 p.m.\nStorm spotter reports power lines down along Highway 64 east of Highway 10 and damage to cars and at least one home in the Tenkiller area. 9:40 p.m.\nA storm spotter reported a tornado on the ground near Gore, Oklahoma.\nA \"large and dangerous\" tornado was reported in that area.\nDamage was reported near the Gore exit of I-40.\n---------------------------------------\n9:20pm, Friday Update: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Adair, Sequoyah, and Cherokee counties until 10pm. The storm is moving toward the northeast at 45 mph. The main concern 60 mph winds. This storm was Tornado warned toward the south of Sequoyah county. 8:oopm, Friday UPDATE: The Storm Prediction Center has moved the Enhanced Risk for severe weather a little farther north, now including much of NW Arkansas. The hatched area, indicating the area at greatest risk for a strong tornado, was also pushed a little farther north and west.\nAll this means is that the SPC is now a little more confident that the severe weather could end up being a little more north than originally expected.\nAnd I'm going to tell you the same thing we've been telling you... the severe threat extends over our entire area, and it's not that much higher in one area or the other. Certainly the threat, in theory, is slightly higher in the River Valley, but, it's certainly no guarantee that the worst storms will inevitably occur there. We're all in the area of concern tonight. We'll keep watching it carefully.\nA Tornado Watch Has Been Issued For The Following Counties: Sebastian, Crawford, Washington, Benton, Franklin, Carroll, and Madison Effective Until 2:00 am\nA Tornado Watch Has Been Issued For The Following Counties: Polk, Scott, Johnson, and Logan Effective Until 2:00 am Get severe weather alerts and the latest forecast on your phone with the free 40/29 News app, available on Apple and Android devices 5:30pm, Friday UPDATE:\nThe first Tornado Watch has been issued for Eastern Oklahoma. It includes Sequoyah, Delaware, Adair, and Le Flore counties until Midnight. We do expect additional tornado watches in Arkansas. Those should come out in the next hour or two.Again, a few tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds possible across our entire area tonight, thru about 2am.12:05pm, Friday UPDATE:\nThe Storm Prediction Center continues to highlight much of NW Arkansas, and especially the River Valley and the SW corner of Arkansas, for the threat of severe weather this evening and overnight. The yellow indicates the Slight risk, the orange is the Enhanced risk, where severe weather is most likely with this system.\nBottom line... our entire viewing area has a chance to see a few storms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds, and even a few tornadoes. The area I've highlighted in the black circle is where the SPC thinks a strong tornado (EF2 or stronger) is a little more likely. As always, we'll be watching it carefully at 40/29 and we'll have updates throughout the night, as needed.\nChief Meteorologist Darby Bybee\nThe Storm Prediction Center has updated the projections for severe weather in our area. The line of division is basically I-40. If you live NORTH of I-40, you have a SLIGHT chance of severe weather tonight. If you live along and SOUTH of I-40, you have an ENHANCED chance of severe weather. The timing of the storms has basically stayed the same. While we could see a few spotty showers during the day, the chance for stormier weather doesn't begin going up (first in the River Valley) until later this afternoon ( after 5pm). The chances of storms intensifying increases throughout the evening. However, all showers and storms should be out of here by 2:00 Saturday morning. The peak threat looks to be between 9pm and midnight...\nKeep in mind that all modes of severe weather are possible tonight. Winds greater than 60 mph, large hail, and even isolated tornadoes could all be in the mix. And while the greatest threat for severe weather looks to be in the River Valley and southward, we will also be watching NW Arkansas for the development of any strong to severe storms throughout the night. Remember, the threat for severe weather tonight is very real. We'll be watching it very closely in the 40/29 Weather Center, and will have updates on 40/29 News and on line leading up to tonight's storms.\nChief Meteorologist Darby Bybee\nHearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Benton, Adair, and Cherokee counties","Benton","Benton","parts","parts","Adair/Cherokee counties","Adair","Adair","Cherokee counties","Benton","Adair","NE Benton Co., northern Madison Co, Carroll Co., and NE Washington County","most of Benton County and the northern part of Washington County","Washington County","Crawford and Sequoyah counties","Crawford","Sequoyah counties","Crawford","Crawford","Crawford and Washington counties","Crawford","southern Johnson County - including Clarksville","Polk County"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northeast","northeast","northeast","east","east","north","north","north","north","NORTH"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["65 mph","65 mph","55 mph","50 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["60 mph","60 mph","60 mph","60 mph","60 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2018 Severe winter storms in the southeastern United States kill three people and leave 310,000 others without power. (BBC)","document":"A heavy snowstorm has swept through US south-eastern states, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.\nA state of emergency has been declared in North Carolina, with some areas reporting as much as 0.5m (18.5ins) of snow over the weekend.\nOne man died after a tree fell on his car. A search is under way for a driver whose vehicle was found in a river.\nThousands of flights were also cancelled across the region.\nSnow, sleet and freezing rain continues to impact the South. At a news conference on Monday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said \"a year's worth of snowfall fell in some places in a day\".\nMore than 300,000 people were affected by electricity outages in the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia on Sunday, while storm warnings remained in place in the south-east \"especially North Carolina and Virginia\", the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a tweet.\nThe storm was expected to move off the coast on Monday, although the NWS's lead forecaster Michael Schichtel warned it would continue to be \"a dangerous system\".\n\"It's slow to move off the Carolinas but a saving grace is that it won't hit New England,\" he told Reuters news agency.\nIn some areas, so much snow fell the weight brought power lines crashing down.\nAll that heavy wet #snow is starting to weigh #powerlines and tree branches down. Here on the 2800 block of Beck Rd a power pole has broken. Remember when the power goes out to safely use alternative heating and lighting sources. #NCWx #DurhamWeather #WinterStorm #WinterSafety pic.twitter.com/aikCgH3htM\nBut the main danger appeared to be on the roads.\nAlmost 60 crashes were reported in Virginia, state police told local media, with the number rising to 672 in North Carolina as of Monday morning.\nNWS officials warned of black ice forming on roads on Monday and into Tuesday.\nGov Cooper emphasised that the roads could \"turn into ice rinks\" even as the storm passes.\nOn Monday, the governor confirmed three storm-related deaths, saying the snow \"turned into a nightmare and tragedy\".\nA man was killed in a suburb of Charlotte when a tree fell on his car. A second person was taken to hospital following the accident, WRAL.com said.\nA woman receiving hospice care in the western part of the state also died during the storm. Near Winston-Salem, another individual died of a heart condition on the way to a shelter, according to the governor's office.\nGov Cooper urged residents to check on their loved ones and neighbours, particularly senior citizens.\nThe North Carolina National Guard remains active. The troops rescued 20 people in Wilkesboro, Brig Gen Todd Hunt said at the news conference, and continue to assist with road clearing and traffic accidents.\nSeveral hundred miles east, in Kinston, divers were searching for another driver, whose tractor-trailer apparently crashed into the Neuse River.\nOfficials were alerted after debris was spotted on a bridge over the river, ABC12 said.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["0.5m (18.5ins)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["US south-eastern states"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["hundreds of thousands","Thousands","at least three people","One man died","More than 300,000 people","A woman"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2019 An avalanche near the Austrian Lech am Arlberg ski resort kills three skiers and leaves a fourth missing. (NBC News) (BBC)","document":" Follow NBC News BERLIN — Three German skiers have been killed in an avalanche in Austria and a fourth is still missing, police said Sunday as snowfall set in again in the northern Alps. In France, two ski patrollers were killed when the devices they use to trigger avalanches exploded.\nThe two accidents brought to at least 26 the number of weather-related deaths reported in parts of Europe this month.\nIn Austria, the wife of one of the German skiers reported them missing on Saturday. The bodies of the men, aged 57, 36 and 32, were recovered later Saturday evening near the ski resort of Lech.\nPolice in Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost province, said they had to call off the search for another missing German skier in the group, age 28, because of heavy snow and the risk of avalanches.\nPolice said the four friends had apparently skied onto a trail that was closed. Although they had avalanche protection equipment and deployed airbags, the victims were buried by the avalanche and suffered multiple injuries. They were located with the help of cellphone tracking.\nIn France, the Haute-Savoie region's high mountain gendarmerie said the two ski patrollers were killed Sunday morning in Morillon before ski slopes were opened to the public. Officers were investigating the scene to determine the cause of the rare accident.\nSki patrollers are in charge of preventing potential dangers to skiers, notably by triggering controlled avalanches with powerful explosive charges.\nAuthorities in southern Germany and Austria had used a break in the weather to clear heavy loads of snow from roofs and roads, but snow set in again on Saturday night.\nIn the Bavarian town of Kempten, local authorities closed 11 sports halls as a precaution through Tuesday fearing that the weight of snow on their roofs was posing increasing dangers, the German news agency dpa reported.\nTrains between the German cities of Munich and Lindau were traveling more slowly than usual because of a risk of snow-laden trees falling onto the tracks.\nThe small Alpine resort of Balderschwang on Germany's border with Austria was cut off Sunday after the pass leading to it was closed for fear of avalanches.\nIn central Switzerland, trains carrying cars through the Furka tunnel were suspended because of an avalanche on a nearby road.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Austria","Austria","Austria","Austria","Austria","northern Alps"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two ski patrollers","two ski patrollers","Three German skiers","a fourth"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2019 An avalanche near the Austrian Lech am Arlberg ski resort kills three skiers and leaves a fourth missing. (NBC News) (BBC)","document":"Three men have been killed in an avalanche near the Austrian ski resort of Lech am Arlberg, local police say. The search for a fourth person, declared as missing, had to be halted due to the ongoing avalanche risk. The group came from southern Germany and were reported missing by one of their wives on Saturday night.\nIn France, two employees at the Morillon ski resort died when the avalanche-control charges they were trying to set accidentally went off. The accident took place at an altitude of 1,800m (6,000ft) as the two men were preparing the pistes ahead of their opening with an avalanche prevention programme, mountain rescuers said.\nWeather forecasters had warned of a high risk of avalanches in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions following fresh overnight snowfall.\nThe three dead German men, aged 32, 36 and 57, were found at about 23:00 (22:00 GMT) on Saturday.\nPolice in the western province of Vorarlberg said they were located through mobile phone tracking, near the Langer Zug slope - one of the steepest in the world.\nIt had been closed due to dangerous conditions.\nThe men were wearing touring skis, which are used to climb uphill slopes and ski off-piste. The three victims bring the number of weather-related deaths in parts of Europe this month to at least 24, the Associated Press news agency reports.\nAustria has seen record snowfall, with more forecast for the weekend. Soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers have been battling to clear cut-off roads and rooftops during breaks in the weather. On Friday, troops airlifted 66 German students and teachers to safety, after they became stranded at the Kasberg ski station in Grünau.\nThe same day, the Red Cross helped drivers stuck on a motorway in the south German state of Bavaria, and a nine-year-old boy was killed near Munich when a tree collapsed under the weight of snow.\nSome have seen 3 times their normal January snowfall already, but after a bit of a respite in Austria and southern Germany, there's more heavy #snow to come - especially through tonight and into tomorrow. Matt pic.twitter.com/eTfQeEhv8X\nIn Switzerland, an avalanche hit the restaurant of the Hotel Säntis in Schwägalp, injuring three people. Local reports said the avalanche had been 300m (984ft) wide when it came down the nearby mountain pass.\nA Nasa graphic tweeted by BBC Weather showed how the geography of Europe has shaped the snow's progress.\n\"Little to no snow has fallen on the Italian side of the Alps,\" meteorologist Matt Taylor noted. \"The sheer scale of the Alps has blocked the snow-bearing clouds making it over.\"\nToo much #snow on the northern side of the #Alps recently, but check out this NASA satellite image from yesterday. Little to no snow has fallen on the Italian side of the Alps. The sheer scale of the Alps have blocked the snow-bearing clouds making it over. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Weather forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the Austrian ski resort of Lech am Arlberg"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Three men","a fourth person","The three dead German men"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2019 A state of emergency is declared in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as a large winter storm makes its way to the northeastern United States. Three people have already been killed due to it. (AccuWeather) (The Weather Channel)","document":"\nWinter Storm Harper has forced thousands of flight cancelations, caused numerous crashes and killed at least five people as it makes its final push Sunday into the Northeast. A Kansas Department of Transportation worker was killed Saturday in a rollover crash during snow removal operations on southbound U.S. 69 in Johnson County. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.\nThe driver was identified later Saturday as 52-year-old Stephen Winder. He died after the rig he was driving rolled over around 6 a.m. local time. Windler was reportedly thrown from the vehicle, which then landed on top of him. The crash is under investigation.\n“My heart is breaking for the family of this dedicated KDOT employee,” said Gov. Laura Kelly in a press release. “Our KDOT personnel work very hard, at all hours, in dangerous conditions to make our roads safer for their fellow Kansas citizens. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire KDOT family at this devastating time.”\nThe Missouri State Highway Patrol reported two deaths from weather-related crashes.\nThe storm had already claimed two lives in California earlier this week. A United Airlines jetliner slid off the runway Saturday morning after landing at O'Hare International Airport, the Chicago Tribune reports. No one was injured when United Airlines flight 656 from Phoenix to Chicago rolled off the concrete surface into a grassy area.\nOn Friday, Southwest Airlines 1643 slid off the runway at Eppley Airfield after landing about 2:05 p.m. local time, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Freezing drizzle was falling at the time.\nThe airport, which closed for several hours because of the accident, tweeted: \"There are no injuries and airport fire crews are working with Southwest to deplane the passengers and take them to the terminal.\"\n\"It seemed like it would be OK, but then once we were slowing down to turn, you could feel them trying to get the brakes going and it was just too slick. So we ended up off the runway in the grass,\" Ali Schwanke tweeted Friday.\nMore than 1,600 flights have been canceled as of Sunday morning, flightaware.com reports. Thousands of flights have also been delayed.\nA ban on tractor-trailers and buses on most highways in the state began at 3 p.m. ET Saturday. \"Safety is our number one priority and with the anticipated storm impacting most of New York State, we are implementing this ban on tractor trailers and buses so our plow operators, fire, law enforcement and emergency personnel can keep roads clean and respond to emergencies as quickly as possible,\" Cuomo said. \"I am also urging drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.\"\n\nThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shut down commercial access to Interstates 70, 76 and 80 beginning at 12 p.m. ET Saturday. “We want to be aggressive in managing this storm, during which snowfall rates could exceed one to two inches per hour,\" Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said. \"Our top concern is the safety of residents. If you do not have to travel during the storm, please avoid it. Please heed warnings from emergency responders and personnel, and remember to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.”\nIn Ohio, the state's Department of Transportation said Saturday it had more than 1,000 crews out statewide clearing roadways, while a level 1 snow emergency was declared for several northern counties. A level 1 emergency indicates that \"roads may be hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. In addition, roads could be icy.\"\nU.S. 24 was closed near Napoleon, Ohio after a big rig slid off the road and blocked lanes. More than 13,000 Ohio customers were without power Sunday, according to poweroutage.us.\nIn Indiana, a jackknifed tractor-trailer was blocking southbound lanes Saturday afternoon on Interstate 65, south mile marker 231.\nThe storm caused travel woes across the Plains on Friday as it pushed towards the Midwest.\nA 15-vehicle pileup on Interstate 55 near Thayer, Missouri, which temporarily closed a section of the interstate in the southeastern side of the state. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 1608 calls for service, 575 stranded motorists, 285 crashes and 43 injuries in addition to the two fatalities.\nThe Minnesota Department of Transportation said Saturday at least five snowplows had been hit by passing vehicles in the past 24 hours. A jackknifed semitrailer truck shut down part of Interstate 35 in Minnesota on Friday afternoon from the Clarks Grove exit to near Albert Lea, the Albert Lea Tribune reported. It was one of a number of crashes affecting traffic on I-35 and Interstate 90.\nThe Kansas Highway Patrol said there were several crashes and vehicles sliding off the road on Interstate 70 in Geary and Riley counties. The interstate was partially blocked near mile marker 316.\nNo injuries were reported after a vehicle collided with a snowplow Friday on a South Dakota road.\n\"Early this morning a driver tried to pass a snow plow and collided with the wing blade in a white out,\" the South Dakota Highway Patrol tweeted Friday. \"Now we have 1 less (snowplow) to clear the road. Poor driving decisions affect us all!\"\nFriday afternoon, a second snowplow was hit by a car. No injuries were reported in that crash.\nIn Nebraska, numerous spin outs were reported on I-29 outside Omaha, including three tractor-trailers that slid into ditches. Across the Northeast, officials were finalizing preparations for the storm that is expected to produce heavy accumulations of snow and dangerous ice.\nThe governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. Both declarations took effect 12 p.m. ET Saturday.\nAmtrak announced Friday that it would be modifying its service in the Midwest and Northeast because of the storm. (MORE: Winter Storm Harper Latest Forecast)\nOn Sunday, five Acela trains and six Northeast Regional trains are canceled between New York and Boston. Six Keystone trains will not operate between New York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Two Pennsylvanian trains between New York and Pittsburgh are canceled. Two Vermonter trains on Sunday will not operate between St. Albans, Vermont, and New Haven, Connecticut, the Associated Press reports. Service between New York and Washington will run as scheduled.\nIn anticipation of the storm, airlines including American, Southwest, United and Frontier are waiving change fees for cities impacted by the storm. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least five people","A Kansas Department of Transportation worker","two deaths","two lives"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harper","Harper"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2019 Major midwestern cities, including Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee, are under severe wind chill advisories with wind chills approaching −55 °F (−48 °C) at night. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declare states of emergency due to the record low windchill temperatures. (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Sun-Times) (WDJT-TV) (WBBM-TV) (WILX-TV) (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)","document":"Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed, and first thing Tuesday morning will file with the Secretary of State, an order declaring a state of emergency in Michigan to help address threats to public health and safety related to forecast sub-zero temperatures over the next few days. “Keeping Michiganders safe during this stretch of dangerously cold temperatures is our priority,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Such widespread, extreme conditions have not occurred in Michigan for many years and it is imperative that we are proactive with record-low temperatures being predicted by the National Weather Service. Wind chills are predicted as low as 50 degrees below zero in many places, such as metro Detroit which is especially unaccustomed to these temps.” With a winter storm impacting much of the Lower Peninsula and statewide temperatures forecast to hover around 0 degrees with wind chills at 50 below or colder in some areas, the state is actively working with local communities and emergency management partners to ensure they have all the resources they need to respond. Conditions and needs will be continually assessed, and appropriate action will be taken as warranted to protect public health and safety. In addition to the emergency declaration, Gov. Whitmer has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). Located at Michigan State Police (MSP) Headquarters in Dimondale, the center is overseen by the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) and coordinates response and recovery efforts by state agencies and local government. The SEOC is staffed by members of state agencies and other partners for decision making and information coordination during disasters or emergencies in the state of Michigan. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Gov. Gretchen Whitmer","Gov","Gov","the National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Michigan","Michigan","Michigan","Michigan","Michigan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2019 Washington Governor Jay Inslee declares a state of emergency as a winter storm that could bring up to 8 inches (20 cm) of snow begins to affect the state. (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News SEATTLE — Residents of the Pacific Northwest took to neighborhood hills with skis, sleds or even just laundry baskets Saturday to celebrate an unusual dump of snow in a region more accustomed to winter rain.\nSome areas received more than a foot of snow, and meteorologists say more is on the way early next week. Hundreds of flights were canceled in Seattle and Portland, and heavy snow drifts closed major highways in eastern Washington. Around 50,000 people lost power.\nResidents cleared out grocery store shelves and left work early Friday afternoon as the storm arrived. More than a foot of snow was recorded by Saturday morning in some areas, including on the Olympic Peninsula, in the nation's latest bout of winter weather.\nIn Tacoma, hundreds of people turned out for a snowball fight in a park after someone who lives nearby suggested it on Facebook. They took cover behind picnic tables and used sleds as shields.\n\"This is a perfect morning to bundle up and play in the snow, but stay off the roads if possible,\" Gov. Jay Inslee wrote on Twitter.\nOther parts of the country were also wrestling with difficult weather. Residents of Hawaii were bracing for coastal flooding amid extreme surf predictions.\nIn California, more than 120 visitors and staff members were rescued after being snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort for five days.\nUp to 7 feet of snow had trapped the guests and staff beginning Sunday at Montecito Sequoia Lodge in Kings Canyon National Park, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Alicia Embrey said.\nCrews had to travel by snowmobile to get to the lodge in mountains east of Fresno. Heavy equipment and crews then cleared more than 20 fallen trees and 8 miles of deep snow on the road leading to the lodge to allow guests and staff to leave the property Thursday night.\nAnother winter storm was on the way to the region.\nIn Yosemite National Park, as many as 50 housing structures near Half Dome Village were damaged by trees toppled during a snowstorm earlier this week, displacing more than 160 employees who provide food, lodging and other services for visitors.\nElsewhere, more than 148,000 customers were without electricity in Michigan following days of freezing rain. The Consumers Energy utility said power would be restored by late Sunday.\nIn Seattle, officials urged people to stay off the roads as traffic slowed to a standstill in some places because of the snow.\n\"Doesn't matter where you're going, expect it to take a very. long. time,\" the Washington Department of Transportation said on Twitter.\nSchools and colleges had canceled classes ahead of the storm expected to bring 6 to 8 inches of snow. Scores of flights were cancelled or delayed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.\nSnowfall from Sunday and Monday lingered into the week as below-freezing temperatures gripped the area. A 59-year-old man died Thursday from exposure at a Seattle light rail station.\nAdditional shelter space opened by city and county officials was filling up. The city was focused on people who are willing to come inside, Will Lemke, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, told the Seattle Times.\n\"This is an extreme weather event, and offering shelter is the most important thing we can do right now,\" he said.\nResidents in Portland and Seattle, two cities where rain is more common than snow in the winter, emptied grocery store shelves and waited in long lines to buy shovels and de-icer.\nAutumn Sang was at a mobbed grocery store in Tualatin, Oregon, on Friday stocking up for the coming storm for herself and her neighbor, who is disabled and doesn't have a car.\nSang said she had never seen the store so crowded. She grew up in southern Oregon, where snow is more common, and wasn't fazed by the forecast.\n\"I love it. I'm excited about it,\" she said of the snow. \"I think that Portlanders, most of them are city people and they come from a lot of different places, so they're not so used to it. It's like, 'Use your brain! If you don't have to go out, don't go out.'\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Up to 7 feet"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Around 50,000 people","more than 120 visitors"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Friday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2019 A winter storm is expected to bring up to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow to the Midwestern and Northeastern United States in the upcoming days. (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News A storm is forecast to drop a foot of snow on the Midwest and Great Lakes starting Monday before doing the same in the Northeast over the next two days.\nThe stretch between eastern Iowa and northern Michigan could get up to a foot of snow by Tuesday before the storm moves to New York and New England, parts of which could also get a foot of snow or more by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.\nThe NWS warned of \"significant travel impacts\" and \"power disruptions\" in those parts of the country during the beginning of the week.\nIn the warmer South, the same storm system will bring rain from Louisiana to the Ohio Valley, and could \"move over the same areas repeatedly\" causing flash flooding, according to the NWS.\nOn the opposite side of the country, the Northwest was grappling with uncharacteristic cold and heavy snowfall from Washington down to Northern California, which woke up to 1 to 4 inches on the ground Monday morning.\nSeattle has gotten more snow this February than ever before, at 14.1 inches, according to the NWS, and more snow and freezing rain was expected to fall there through Wednesday.\nClasses were canceled at University of Washington's campuses and Seattle Public Schools were also closed Monday.\nOne person has died as a result of the nasty Northwest weather. A woman lost control of her SUV on ice covered roads near Florence, Oregon, and slammed into a delivery truck, leaving the woman and her dog dead, according to Oregon State Police.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to a foot","foot","foot","up to 1 to 4 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Midwest and Great Lakes","Northeast","New York and New England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One person"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2019 A winter storm hits Hawaii, depositing snow at record–low elevations at Polipoli State Park, along with massive waves, coastal flooding, and strong winds, resulting in at least one death. (AP) (The Washington Post)","document":"HONOLULU (AP) — A strong storm hitting Hawaii has knocked out power, brought down tree branches, flooded coastal roads — and even brought snow.\nSnow is not unheard of in mountainous parts of the tropical island chain, but officials say the coating at 6,200 feet (1,900 meters) at a state park on Maui could mark the lowest-elevation snowfall ever recorded in the state.\nThe National Weather Service says gusts hit nearly 70 mph (110 kph) in some areas, and the agency is warning of coastal flooding. A high-surf advisory was in effect for north- and west-facing shores of several islands.\nThe Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that trees were toppled on several islands along with power outages and roof damage. Two ground hornbill birds escaped from the Honolulu Zoo after the storm damaged their enclosure.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["6,200 feet (1,900 meters)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Hawaii"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["nearly 70 mph (110 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2019 An avalanche at the Crans–Montana ski resort in Switzerland injures four, one seriously, with fears that up to a dozen skiers may have been hit according to witnesses. 240 rescuers including police and army search the affected piste area. No further victims are immediately found, or missing persons reported. (Fox News) (SwissInfo)","document":"One of the people rescued from an avalanche at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana died in the hospital overnight. Three other people were injured by the huge avalanche that hit a ski slope on Tuesday. Rescuers suspended a coordinated search on Wednesday morning.\nThe man who died was a 34-year-old French ski patroller who had worked since 2010 at the Swiss resort, police said. When the avalanche hit the piste, he had been helping an injured skier.\nOn Tuesday, a huge avalanche swept down the mountain at an altitude of 2,500 metres, just below the Plaine-Morte Glacier, and hit the popular Kandahar ski slope at 2.20pm at a spot known as “Passage du Major”.\nIn all, four people were quickly pulled from the snow and flown by helicopter to Sion Hospital. Three had light injuries; the French ski patroller later died overnight from his serious injuries.\nRescuers continued working on Tuesday night above the resort in canton Valais to try to find skiers who might have been trapped in the avalanche. Witnesses had told police that there could be more people under the snow.\nMore\nA Nobel Prize for the country’s astrophysicists is a reminder Swiss scientists are at the forefront of space research. This video by Swiss public radio, RTS, shows the extent of the avalanche. The police said it measured over 840 metres long and 100 metres wide and spread over the slope for about 400 metres.\nRescue services were immediately on the spot and the search continues. Eight helicopters and more than 240 police and rescue workers are involved in the emergency operation, including army officers who were there to help prepare for two Women's Alpine Ski World Cup races next weekend.\nA report by the Valais-based Le Nouvelliste newspaper quoted the commune's president Nicolas Feraud as saying 10 to 12 people were believed to be trapped in the snow.\n“We heard a loud noise. After, there was a huge avalanche. I have never seen a 1.5-metre-4 metre high avalanche in my life. It was just impressive. We were almost left behind too. It was a close call,” Martial, a 40-year-old skier, told 20Minutes news site.\nAccording to the local avalanche bulletin, the avalanche danger was level 2 (moderate) on a scale of 1-5 on Tuesday. The accident came as warm temperatures over the past week began melting heavy snow and coincided with school holidays in some cantons. \n+ What are the real risks from avalanches?\nThe cause of the avalanche is unclear and an investigation has been opened. The police said it had either been set off by skiers or by the weather conditions. Avalanches that hit resort ski slopes are rare. According to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in DavosExternal link, since 1996 there have been five similar accidents where an avalanche hit a resort slope, resulting in a total of five deaths.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana","below the Plaine-Morte Glacier"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One of the people rescued","Three other people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","2.20pm"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2019 President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi suggests the death toll of Cyclone Idai could reach over one thousand. The current official toll stands at 84. (BBC)","document":"The death toll in Mozambique from Cyclone Idai could be as high as 1,000, President Filipe Nyusi has said.\nMr Nyusi flew over some of the worst-hit areas on Monday. He described seeing bodies floating in the rivers. The storm made landfall near the port city of Beira on Thursday with winds of up to 177 km/h (106 mph), but aid teams only reached the city on Sunday.\nA UN aid worker told the BBC that every building in Beira - home to half a million people - had been damaged. Gerald Bourke, from the UN's World Food Programme, said: \"No building is untouched. There is no power. There is no telecommunications. The streets are littered with fallen electricity lines. \"The roofs on so many houses have fallen in, likewise the walls. A lot of people in the city have lost their homes.\"\nRescue crews spent much of the night helping people from trees, Jamie LeSeur, the head of the IFRC assessment team, told the BBC.\nThe official death toll in Mozambique stands at 84 following flooding and high winds. The cyclone has killed at least 180 people across southern Africa.\nThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) described the damage as \"massive and horrifying\".\nIn Zimbabwe, at least 98 people have died and 217 people are missing in the east and south, the government said.\nThe death toll included two pupils from the St Charles Lwanga boarding school in the district of Chimanimani, who died after their dormitory was hit when rocks swept down a mountain.\nMalawi was also badly hit. The flooding there, caused by the rains before the cyclone made landfall, led to at least 122 deaths, Reliefweb reports.\nThe UK government said it would provide humanitarian aid worth £6m ($8m) to Mozambique and Malawi. It also said it would send tents and thousands of shelter kits to Mozambique.\nMost of those known to have died so far were killed around Beira, the country's fourth largest city with a population of about 500,000, authorities there said.\nMore than 1,500 people were injured by falling trees and debris from buildings including zinc roofing, officials in the capital Maputo told the BBC.\n\"Almost everything has been affected by the calamity,\" Alberto Mondlane, the governor of Sofala province, which includes Beira, said on Sunday. \"We have people currently suffering, some on top of trees and are badly in need of help.\"\nLocal people in Beira have put in an \"incredible effort\" to reopen roads in the city, Mr LeSeur told the BBC's Newsday programme.\nThe road linking Beira to the rest of the country was damaged, but air links have now resumed. President Filipe Nyusi cut short a trip to eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, to visit the affected areas.\nA state of disaster has been declared in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home early from a trip to the United Arab Emirates to \"make sure he is involved directly with the national response\", the authorities say.\nThe ministry of information has shared pictures of pupils from St Charles Lwanga School, who have now been rescued.\nSt Charles Lwanga School children are now safely in Chipinge and currently receiving medical attention. pic.twitter.com/Ad9LSC7WhS\nShocked survivors at a hospital in Chimanimani district told how the floods destroyed their homes and swept away their loved ones.\n\"I still have not found where my daughter is buried in the debris,\" Jane Chitsuro told the AFP news agency. \"There is no furniture, no more clothes, there is only rubble and stones.\"\nPraise Chipore's house was also destroyed. \"My daughter who was with me in bed was washed away from me and a bigger flood carried me further away,\" she said.\nShingai Nyoka, BBC Africa, eastern Zimbabwe\nMy journey to Chimanimani ended abruptly when we came across a huge crater in the road. The river was raging below and scores of people were standing on either side. This was the main road linking the city of Mutare to the villages of Chimanimani, which have been cut off. Aid teams have been unable to get through.\nPeople who live in this area say they have never seen anything like this. An elderly couple, Edson and Miriam Sunguro, told me that they have been trying to contact relatives in Chimanimani without success.\n\"There is a risk of more rain over the next few days for the northern half of Mozambique and southern Malawi,\" BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes said.\nThere could be thunderstorms, he added, but \"the picture is complicated by thick layers of cloud left over from Idai that could prevent some thunderstorms from starting\".\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the port city of Beira","Beira","Beira","Beira","Beira","Beira","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A lot of people in the city","city","city","people","people","city","city","city","at least 180 people","as high as 1,000","high","84"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Idai","Idai"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["177 km/h (106 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2019 Thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes as two potentially devastating cyclones are expected to hit the country this weekend. Cyclone Trevor will make landfall in the north near Numbulwar and Borroloola, while Cyclone Veronica, a Category 4 storm, will strike Pilbara on Australia's west coast. (BBC)","document":"A vast cyclone has crashed into Australia's northern coast, bringing torrential rains and winds of up to 250km/h (155 mph).\nCyclone Trevor made landfall as a category four storm and officials have declared a state of emergency in some areas.\nAnother storm, Cyclone Veronica, is set to strike the country's west coast.\nThousands of Australians have evacuated their homes in preparation for the two potentially devastating cyclones.\nDestructive winds are expected, while heavy rains and large waves threaten to cause severe flooding. It is only the second time in history that two cyclones are predicted to strike the country at the same time. Tropical Cyclone Trevor hit the communities of Numbulwa and Borroloola in the Northern Territory on Saturday morning. It was downgraded to a category three shortly after making landfall but officials have warned that it is still dangerous.\n \"There's a concern that flash flooding may occur,\" emergency operations official Michael Hebb told AFP news agency.\nThe storm could bring a year's worth of rain in just a couple of days. In the biggest ever evacuation ahead of a cyclone, people living in its the path have moved into tented sites in Darwin and Katherine.\nSome of those who were evacuated say they are worried about what they will return to. \"We are only new to the area and the house we are in isn't going to sustain the expected winds that are predicted,\" Emily Crawford, who evacuated to Darwin, told AFP.\nEmergency services and the military were called in to rescue residents from the island of Groote Eylandt, off the north coast on Thursday. The last evacuation of a similar scale was for Tropical Cyclone Tracy, which killed 49 people in Darwin in 1974. \"All the locals that I've talked to say it really is one of the biggest weather events here in the last 20 years or so,\" Kristy O'Brien, journalist for the broadcaster ABC, told the BBC.\n\"When you look on a map of Australia it just takes up the entire northern half. It's quite phenomenal - it's about 1,000km or so wide.\"\nCyclone Veronica is due to hit the northwest coast of Australia between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Very strong gusts are expected and the Bureau of Meteorology in Western Australia said a \"severe impact\" is likely. Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica remains a Category 4 system and is slowly tracking towards the coast. A severe impact for the Pilbara coast is likely from later Saturday afternoon and on Sunday. #CycloneVeronica https://t.co/B1MVXBYXhh pic.twitter.com/m0P0zaEV2B\nIn the mining town of Port Headland, where the storm is set to strike first, supermarkets have been stripped bare as residents stockpile in preparation, ABC News reported.\nThe town's mayor, Camilo Blanco, has warned residents to be ready for \"this massive weather event\" and people have been protecting their houses with sandbags.\n\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the country's west coast","country","west coast","Australia's northern coast","Australia","Australia","Australia","the communities of Numbulwa and Borroloola in the Northern Territory"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Thousands of Australians"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category four storm","a category three"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Trevor","Trevor","Veronica","Veronica","Veronica"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 250km/h (155 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"o","document":" Johannesburg -- The number of cholera cases among survivors of a devastating cyclone in central Mozambique has jumped to 139, officials have said. Nearly 1 million vaccine doses were being rushed to the region.\nThe Portuguese news agency Lusa reported the number late Thursday, citing national health official Ussein Isse, who had declared the outbreak a day earlier with just five confirmed cases.\nCholera is a major concern for hundreds of thousands of survivors now living in squalid conditions in camps, schools and sodden homes. The disease is spread by contaminated food and water, causes acute diarrhea and can kill within hours if not treated with oral rehydration solution or intravenous fluids in severe cases.\nThe World Health Organization has warned of a \"second disaster\" if waterborne diseases like cholera spread. On Tuesday it said 900,000 oral cholera vaccines were on their way.\n\"You can imagine how much we are sitting on a water and sanitation ticking time bomb,\" the secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Elhadj As Sy, told The Associated Press last week after visiting a school where 3,000 survivors were sheltering with only six toilets between them.\nSome of the hardest-hit communities remained cut off from aid 15 days after Cyclone Idai roared in.\nThey are relying on heavily polluted water, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday, adding that clear water and medical supplies are urgently needed.\nEven in the port city of Beira, the hub of international relief efforts, some of its 500,000 residents have resorted to drinking stagnant water by the side of the road, increasing the chances of diarrhea, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders has said. Others are drinking from contaminated wells.\nThe aid group has seen hundreds of cases of acute watery diarrhea this week.\nThe death toll in Mozambique is now at least 468, with at least 259 dead in Zimbabwe and 56 in Malawi. Officials have warned that those numbers are preliminary and final figures may never be known. Some bodies have been found and buried without being registered with authorities. Others were washed away.\nAs the floodwaters continue to drain, more bodies are expected to be found.\nMozambique President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday announced that the search and rescue phase had ended. He also declared that health care would be free for residents in cyclone-hit areas until the end of the year, Lusa reported.\nThe United Nations has said some 1.8 million people need urgent help across the sodden, largely rural region. Hunger is another growing concern, as the storm wiped out crops on the eve of harvest.\nOfficials have found a slender hope in the weather report, which appears free of rain for the next several days.\nFirst published on March 29, 2019 / 5:41 AM\n© 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["central Mozambique"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["survivors of a devastating cyclone","survivors","survivors","139"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2019 Tornadoes spawned by severe weather in Texas and Louisiana cause at least five deaths and over 17,000 power outages. (USA Today) (CBS News)","document":"Violent storms unleashed floods and tornadoes across Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving at least five people dead.\nThe threat for rough weather will continue Friday, the National Weather Service said. Severe thunderstorms are possible across the mid-Atlantic region, and strong winds and tornadoes are both possible in eastern portions of North Carolina and Virginia. \nTwo people were killed early Thursday in Ruston, in north-central Louisiana, after a tornado ripped through the town and the Louisiana Tech University campus around 2:30 a.m. local time.\n\"I've never seen it this bad in my 43 years. It's tragic, and it's going to be a while before we can get all this cleaned up,\" Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said. \nRuston Mayor Ronny Walker confirmed the two fatalities.\n\"It's bad; real bad,\" Walker said. \"We took a direct hit.\"\nLate Thursday afternoon, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state due to the fierce storms. \nThe National Weather Service said the tornado was rated an EF-3, which means its wind speeds were in the 136 to 165 mph range.\nWeather service hydrologist C. S. Ross says it appears the tornado cut a track over 130 miles from eastern Texas to the Louisiana-Arkansas border.\nThe same cluster of thunderstorms produced flooding and severe weather in Texas on Wednesday, the Weather Channel reported.\nAbout 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth, a woman and two children were killed when the family's car was caught in rushing flood waters, authorities said. The incident occurred at about 6 a.m. in what's usually a small creek just outside Dublin.\nThe Weather Channel said the threat of severe weather, including possible large hail and tornadoes, will continue to move into the Southeast on Thursday night before shifting toward the mid-Atlantic on Friday.\nThursday's opening of the New Orleans Jazz Fest was delayed because of the storms, the event organizers said. The PGA golf tournament in New Orleans was also delayed for several hours because of lightning. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Weather Service","National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas and Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Texas","the town and the Louisiana Tech University campus","eastern portions of North Carolina and Virginia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Two people were killed","killed","at least five people dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Wednesday","Wednesday","around 2:30 a.m. local time"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2019 The death toll in cyclone-hit northern Mozambique has risen to 38, as aid workers struggle to reach the worst-affected areas. Seven people were also killed by the cyclone in Comoros. (BBC) (ReliefWeb)","document":"Mozambique requires urgent life-saving relief to deal with the destructive aftermath of Cyclone Kenneth, an aid organisation has said. Save the Children says the humanitarian situation is significant and life-threatening and more funds are needed. The UN gave Mozambique and Comoros Island $13m (£10m) for food, water and repair of infrastructure. The death toll in cyclone-hit northern Mozambique is 38, but is expected to rise, officials say.\nMeanwhile aid workers are scrambling to reach the areas that were worse hit by the cyclone. Happening now:Rains have paused this morning around Pemba and we are about to leave to Matemo Island with medical supplies from @UNICEF. Aid works will conduct assessments in the island, one of the worst-hit by #CycloneKenneth in #Mozambique.\nThe storm struck the southern African nation last week with winds of 220km/h (140mph), flattening villages and damaging thousands more homes.\nIt lost its strength, but torrential rain was still battering the area on Tuesday, with more expected.\nAs a result, aid efforts by air have been hindered. It is predicted the weather system will dump twice as much rainfall as Cyclone Idai, which struck last month, leaving more than 900 dead across southern Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The flood risk was compounded by Kenneth hitting at the end of the rainy season when river levels were already high, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) noted. Already, Pemba, the regional capital of Cabo Delgado state, has experienced more than 2m (6.5ft) of rain and flooding.\nAid workers have been trying to deliver medical and food supplies to people cut off by the flood waters before more rain falls on Tuesday. Nicholas Finney, Save the Children's response team leader, says that poor people in the region have been hardest hit. \"Those who were already living on the brink of poverty have now been left with nothing. With donations dwindling, we're facing a critical situation,\" he said. According to Mozambique's National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC), 38 people have been killed by Cyclone Kenneth, while another 35,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged.\nThe privately-owned O Pais website reported five people died after part of a rubbish dump collapsed onto homes in Pemba on Sunday evening. It is unclear if these deaths are recorded in the government total.\nOcha says humanitarian needs \"have sky-rocketed, and the humanitarian response will need to rapidly scale up\".\nSome 200,000 people are in danger in Pemba alone, Ocha warned. Spokesman Saviano Abreu added that the situation in the northern towns of Macomia and Quissanga was critical, while there were also worries for the cut-off island of Ibo.\nBut attempts to reach those areas had not been entirely successful.\n\"We managed to send one flight with World Food Programme (WFP) supplies of rice and biscuits, and some non-food items,\" Mr Abreu told news agency AFP. \"But unfortunately the weather conditions are changing too fast and threatening the operation. It's raining again and the second flight couldn't go.\"\nThis satellite image shows the cyclone over northern Mozambique and Tanzania on Friday night.\nOn Sunday a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was appealing for \"additional resources\" from the international community \"to fund the response in the immediate, medium and longer term\".\nTropical cyclones in this part of the Indian Ocean are not that rare.\nHowever, according to the BBC's Environment Correspondent Matt McGrath, Cyclone Idai was the seventh such major storm of the Indian Ocean season when it struck back in March. That is more than double the average for the time of year.\nWhat's even more unusual, however, is the fact Idai and Kenneth hit in such quick succession.\nAccording to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), \"there is no record of two storms of such intensity striking Mozambique in the same season\". It is especially unusual in the context of the trend which has seen tropical cyclones in the region decrease slightly over the past seven decades.\nBut it is far too early - and too small a sample size - to say whether this frequency is a direct result of climate change. Instead, experts point to other elements making the storm's impact worse which they know are related to climate change.\n\"There is absolutely no doubt that when there is a tropical cyclone like this, then because of climate change the rainfall intensities are higher,\" Dr Friederike Otto, from the University of Oxford, told the BBC in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.\n\"And also because of sea-level rise, the resulting flooding is more intense than it would be without human-induced climate change.\"\nCabo Delgado province is not as densely populated as the area hit by Cyclone Idai, and there is apparently more high ground there.\nThat, in addition to warnings by authorities ahead of the storm, could significantly stem losses compared with Cyclone Idai.\nBut reports said many thousands of homes had been flattened by the winds, and the area has been hit by militant Islamist violence in recent months, which could complicate humanitarian operations.\nThousands of people had already fled their homes to seek shelter from violence in camps for displaced people.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","Mozambique","northern Mozambique","northern Mozambique"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["38","38 people","Some 200,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Kenneth","Kenneth","Kenneth","Kenneth"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["220km/h (140mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2019 Evacuation of approximately 800,000 people is underway as Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani heads toward the Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa) and is expected to make landfall Friday with wind speeds in excess of 200 km/h (127 mph). (BBC)","document":"A powerful cyclone has slammed into India's eastern coastline, bringing torrential rains and winds of up to 200 km/h (125mph).\nCyclone Fani, one of the most severe storms to hit the region in recent years, made landfall at 08:00 local time (02:30 GMT) on Friday.\nMore than one million people have been evacuated from the eastern state of Orissa, also called Odisha.\nA state official said two people had been killed.\nFlooding has also been reported in several areas, and forecasters say a storm surge of 1.5m (5ft) could threaten low-lying homes.\nThe cyclone made landfall in the tourist town of Puri, which is home to the 858-year-old Jagannath temple. It is expected to hit 15 districts in Orissa, one of India's poorest states, before weakening on Saturday.\nNumerous flights and train services in and out of the state have been cancelled, while schools and government offices are shut. Operations at three ports on India's eastern coast have also been shut down.\nNaval warships and helicopters are on standby with medical teams and relief materials. The country's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also deployed several teams there.\nIndia's National Disaster Management Authority has warned people along the east coast, especially fishermen, not to go out to sea because the conditions are \"phenomenal\".\nThe agency said the \"total destruction of thatched houses\" was possible, as well as \"extensive damage\" to other structures.\n\"I can confirm two deaths for now,\" Orissa special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi told AFP news agency.\n\"[A] man in one of the shelters died because of a heart attack. Another person went out in the storm despite our warnings and died because a tree fell on him,\" he said.\nThe cyclone is expected to move towards Chittagong in Bangladesh in a weaker form on Saturday.\nIt coincides with high tides in the country, which may exacerbate potential flooding issues there.\nThe port city of Cox's Bazar, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees live in camps with minimal shelter, is also on alert. But the cyclone is currently not expected to hit the camps unless it changes path, which is not thought likely.\nIn February the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) began distributing tarpaulins ahead of the region's \"cyclone season\" - but warned that if a deadly storm rolls in, shelters made of battered bamboo and shredded plastic would offer little protection.\nThe navy, the coast guard and the National Disaster Response Force have all been prepared for deployment. Two ships with divers and doctors have been stationed at the southern port cities of Vishakapatnam and Chennai (formerly Madras), an official told local media. In 2017, Cyclone Ockhi killed more than 200 people and displaced hundreds. In October last year, officials in Orissa evacuated hundreds of thousands of people when another cyclone struck.\nBut India has improved its protections and responses to these disasters in recent years. The state's most deadly cyclone on record took place in 1999, killing almost 10,000 people.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["India's eastern coastline","India","India","India","India"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than one million people","two people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["08:00 local time (02:30 GMT) on Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fani"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["200 km/h (125mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2019 A powerful tornado hits Jefferson City, Missouri, leaving people trapped or injured and structural damage according to city and state officials. At least three people are killed in southwestern Missouri when a storm system sweeps across the state causing extensive damage. (CBS News) (NBC News) (The Kansas City Star)","document":"Updated on: May 23, 2019 / 7:01 PM\n \n A tornado tore apart buildings in Missouri's capital city as part of an overnight outbreak of severe weather across the state that left at least three people dead and dozens injured. The National Weather Service confirmed that the large and \"violent\" twister moved over Jefferson City shortly before midnight Wednesday.\n\"Across the state, Missouri's first responders once again responded quickly and with strong coordination as much of the state dealt with extremely dangerous conditions that left people injured, trapped in homes, and tragically led to the death of three people,\" Gov. Mike Parson said.\nThe tornado cut a path about 3 miles long and a mile wide from the south end of Jefferson City north toward the Missouri River, said police Lt. David Williams. Emergency workers reported about two dozen injuries, Williams said, and dozens of people were in shelters. Hospitals reported treating injuries such as cuts and bruises.\nThere were no immediate reports of any deaths or missing people in the capital city of about 40,000, but door-to-door checks were being done Thursday.\nWeather forecasters had been tracking the storm before it arrived in the capital city, and sirens first sounded in Jefferson City at 11:10 p.m. — about 30 minutes before the first property damage. Parson credited the warning system in central Missouri for saving lives.\nThe Jefferson City tornado hit during a week that has seen several days of tornadoes and torrential rains in parts of the Southern Plains and Midwest. CBS News confirmed four deaths related to those earlier storms. \nCBS Jefferson City affiliate KRCG-TV obtained images of the large funnel.\n\nThe three deaths happened more than 150 miles away near Golden City in Missouri's southwestern corner.\nKenneth Harris, 86, and his 83-year-old wife, Opal, were found dead about 200 yards from their home, and Betty Berg, 56, was killed and her husband, Mark, seriously injured when their mobile home was destroyed, authorities said.\nThe severe weather moved in from Oklahoma, where rescuers struggled to pull people from high water. This week has seen several days of twisters and torrential rains in the Southern Plains and Midwest.\nKerry Ann Demetrius locked herself in the bathroom of her Jefferson City apartment as the storm approached.\n\"It sounded like stuff was being thrown around, everything was just banging together, and then it just went dead silent,\" she said. She emerged to find the roof had been blown off her apartment building.\nJefferson City school district offices were closed because many of its buildings were without power and sustained damage overnight. The state high school track championships scheduled this weekend in the city were moved to different sites in central Missouri, after the Missouri State High School Activities Association issued a release that warned, \"Do not travel to Jefferson City.\"\nAnother natural disaster could be imminent in Jefferson City. Most of the city, including the tornado-ravaged section, sits on a bluff overlooking the south side of the Missouri River. But the swollen river is projected to top a levee on the north side of the river by Friday, potentially flooding the city's airport, which already has been evacuated.\nThe weather service had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday, though some may have been duplicate sightings of the same twister. A tornado also skipped through the town of Eldon, population 4,900, about 30 miles outside Jefferson City, where it damaged the business district and \"tore up several neighborhoods,\" Miller County Emergency Management Director Mike Rayhart said.\nHe said several people were injured seriously enough to be sent to the hospital, but he did not have specifics.\nA twister also caused damage and several injuries in the town of Carl Junction, not far from Joplin, on the eighth anniversary of the catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in that city.\nThe severe weather was expected to push eastward Thursday, with forecasters saying parts of the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic — including Baltimore and Pittsburgh — could see tornadoes, large hail and strong winds. Storms and torrential rains have ravaged the Midwest, from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, in the past few days.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Weather forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Missouri's capital city","Missouri","Missouri","capital city","capital city","Missouri","Missouri","Missouri","Missouri","Missouri","he south end of Jefferson City north toward the Missouri River","Missouri River"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least three people","dozens injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2019 A powerful tornado hits Jefferson City, Missouri, leaving people trapped or injured and structural damage according to city and state officials. At least three people are killed in southwestern Missouri when a storm system sweeps across the state causing extensive damage. (CBS News) (NBC News) (The Kansas City Star)","document":"'Violent tornado' hits Missouri's capital, Jefferson City, after 3 killed in southwestern part of state Sections\n\n Follow NBC News A deadly storm system swept across Missouri on Wednesday, killing at least three people in the southwestern part of the state and causing extensive damage and injuring multiple people in the capital city.\nThe capital, Jefferson City, took a direct hit from a tornado shortly before midnight, marking the 7th straight day of tornadoes around the United States.\nAt least 20 people were injured in Cole County, where the city of 43,000 lies, and there are also reports of people trapped after the twister hit, authorities said at a news conference early Thursday.\n\"At this time, we are still trying to determine exactly how much damage we have,\" Jefferson City Police Lt. David Williams said. \"We are still working very hard to identify any injured people and any places that we need to put more additional personnel.\"\nGov. Mike Parson said of the deaths in the southwestern part of the state near Joplin, \"We are very thankful we didn't have any more fatalities than we did, but three is too many.\"\nThe National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the Jefferson City area shortly after 11 p.m. and upgraded that to an emergency at 11:43 p.m. The tornado hit shortly after that, said Jim Sieveking, science and operations officer for the weather service’s St. Louis office.\n\"Violent tornado confirmed — shelter now!\" the weather service tweeted.\nThe twister hit as the capital city area on Wednesday was bracing for a flood, with sections in the north ordered to evacuate.\nThe Missouri Department of Public Safety tweeted that extensive damage had been reported in some areas of the city, including downed power lines. It said that first responders were going door to door.\nSome government buildings were damaged, including the Department of Labor which had roof damage, the Department of Public Safety said.\nWhile there were no initial reports that homes or other buildings had collapsed, trees were down and roofs and other property had been damaged, Williams, the police spokesman, said.\n\"Materials are all over the roadway\" he said. \"There are power lines down all over this affected area.”\nAll firefighters were called in to assist, the Jefferson City Fire Department said on Facebook. \"Please Pray for our Citizens,\" the department wrote.\nCity officials requested the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NBC affiliate KOMU of Columbia reported. It reported that Missouri Task Force 1 had joined search-and-rescue efforts.\n\"Honestly, I just pray that no one was injured,\" one woman told KOMU, adding that people lost their homes. \"It's devastating,\" she told the station. \"You lose everything you have.”\nIn Jefferson City, the state capital, there is extensive damage along Ellis Boulevard near Highway 54. Power lines are down. Traffic is being diverted as @MSHPTrooperGHQ & local first responders go door-to-door. Consider all power lines live. Stay out of areas with damage. \nEarlier Wednesday night, the three deaths were confirmed after a suspected tornado in Golden City in Barton County, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Mike O'Connell said. Golden City is around 40 miles northeast of Joplin.\nSeveral injuries were also reported in Carl Junction, about 10 miles north of Joplin, he said.\nThe damage there came after a large and destructive tornado was spotted north of Joplin, which eight years ago Wednesday was devastated by a twister that killed 158 people.\nDoug Cramer, NWS meteorologist in Springfield, said that while that tornado was close to the city, \"we do not believe there is any tornado damage in Joplin.\"\nThe tornadoes in Missouri hit as parts of the Plains have been battered for days by severe weather including flooding and twisters. The storms and their aftermath had previously been blamed in at least two deaths.\nIn Oklahoma, the entire community of Webbers Falls, population around 600, was asked to evacuate Tuesday over fears that the Arkansas River could flood, and on Wednesday the town sent an urgent message for residents to leave after barges broke loose and threatened to hit a dam.\n\"Historic and life-threatening flooding is now occurring on the Arkansas River,” an alert on behalf of Muskogee County emergency management Wednesday night read. \"Significant flooding in the town of Webbers Falls is imminent.\"\nA woman in Payne County, Oklahoma, died Tuesday after she apparently drove around a high-water sign. Her vehicle was swept off the road and became submerged in around 10 feet of water, the state highway patrol said in an incident report.\nIn Iowa early Wednesday, one person was killed and another was injured after a tornado touched down in the Adair area, which is west of Des Moines, NBC affiliate WHO-TV of Des Moines reported.\nSevere thunderstorms, with the possibility of strong tornadoes and very large hail, were expected to continue across central parts of the U.S. through early Thursday, the weather service said. On Friday, 17 million people from Chicago to Texas are projected to be at risk of strong winds and even more tornadoes.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Missouri","Missouri","The capital, Jefferson City","capital","Jefferson City","the Jefferson City","Missouri's capital, Jefferson City","capital","capital","Jefferson City","Jefferson City","Jefferson City","capital","Missouri","Jefferson City","Missouri","Jefferson City","capital","Missouri"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["3 killed","at least three people","At least 20 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","before midnight"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2019 Two people are killed and several are missing due to a tornado in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. (ABC News)","document":"At least two people were killed and 29 injured, some critically, when a tornado ripped through an Oklahoma City suburb in the middle of the night, wiping out a hotel, a mobile-home park and several other buildings in just four minutes.\nThe National Weather Service confirmed Sunday that a tornado hit El Reno, a town with a population of nearly 20,000, on Saturday and left a swath of damage that will take weeks to clean up and pain loved ones of the dead will likely never get over.\n\"This community is brokenhearted, we're hurt, we're absolutely devastated,\" El Reno Mayor Matt White said at a news conference Sunday morning.\nWhite said the two deaths occurred in the area of the Sky View mobile-home park where the twister touched down at 10:28 p.m. While sirens signaled the approaching funnel cloud, residents said there was little time to seek shelter.\nSearch-and-rescue teams, according to White, were conducting grid searches through the devastated area, \"picking up walls of debris to make sure nobody is under there.\"\nHe said an unknown number of people are unaccounted for.\nSixteen people were taken by ambulance to hospitals from the epicenter of the calamity and another 13 were raced to emergency rooms in private vehicles, according to White. He said injuries ranged from minor to critical, and that several people were undergoing surgery at the Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City.\nA woman who survived the tornado told ABC station KOCO in Oklahoma City that she and her two grandchildren escaped their mobile home only to find themselves in the middle of a \"disaster zone.\"\n\"We heard screaming and stuff, children and adults both,\" she said. \"A lot of destruction, a lot of chaos and .... death.\"\nThe National Weather Service meteorologists in Norman, Oklahoma, rated the tornado an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning it generated wind speeds in the range of 136 to 165 mph. The highest rating on the scale, an EF5, packs winds topping 200 mph.\nThe weather service reported that the twister cut a 2.2-mile long path of destruction, and was about 75 yards at its widest point.\nThe tornado carried debris more than 4 miles northeast of El Reno, officials said.\nVideo showed the devastation. The tornado slammed a two-story American Budget Value Inn off Interstate 40, ripping off most of its second floor, and reducing much the structure to splintered pieces of wood and shattered glass.\nA lot of destruction, a lot of chaos and .... death.\n\"As far as we know right now, there is no one in the rubble,\" the hotel's owner, Ramesh Patel, told KOCO.\nA woman who was working in the office when the tornado hit suffered a broken leg, Patel said.\nWhite confirmed that everyone at the hotel when the tornado struck has been accounted for.\nAt sunrise Sunday, video showed a mobile home park next to the hotel strewn with shattered glass, wood and other debris that just hours earlier were residences of a thriving community. Aerial footage showed the twister slammed residences in a corner of the mobile home park while leaving other homes virtually unscathed.\nSeveral vehicles were overturned and others were smashed by debris.\nAfter striking the Sky View mobile home park, the tornado hit the hotel and a nearby Dodge dealership, tearing the roof off the business, aerial footage showed.\n\"We have absolutely experienced a traumatic event here in El Reno,\" White said.\nHe asked people to stay away from the area until search-and-rescue teams finish combing through the rubble.\n\"I think El Reno, Oklahoma, needs a lot of prayers,\" White said. \"None of this is easy. We're all shook up.\"\nPolice in the neighboring town of Union City put out an all points bulletin -- for prayer.\n\"Please pray for those affected by these storms as well as the emergency services workers assisting in this ongoing rescue,\" Union City police said in a statement posted to Facebook. \"This is an unfortunate example of just how quickly these types of storms can develop from a simple thunderstorm into a deadly supercell tornado.\"\nA National Weather Service meteorologist confirmed the catastrophic weather event was a tornado by analyzing radar images, seeing a \"debris ball\" in the area, and by detecting telltale evidence of a twister by examining pictures of the damage and eyeballing the devastation in person, officials said.\nEl Reno damageDillon Richards (@KOCODillon) May 26, 2019 El Reno damage pic.twitter.com/XLf2T3YhM0\nThe tornado that hit El Reno comes on the heels of a severe weather week in the Southern Plains. There were 104 tornadoes reported across eight states -- Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Maryland -- from Monday to Thursday.\nThree people were killed in Golden City, Missouri, on Thursday as a tornado moved through the region. The state's capital, Jefferson City, about 170 miles northeast of Golden City, also suffered severe damage the same night from a tornado, but no one was killed.\nAt least four other people were killed from storms, including flash flooding, in the central U.S. this week.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","El Reno","Oklahoma City suburb"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least two people","29 injured","two deaths","Sixteen people","another 13"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["the middle of the night","middle","night","Saturday","10:28 p.m"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 An avalanche kills four skiers in Tyrol, Austria. (BBC)","document":"Four people were killed when a large avalanche swept away a ski group in the Austrian Alps, police say.\nThe avalanche hit the remote Jochgrubenkopf peak in the Tyrol region at about 12:30 local time (11:30 GMT).\nIt engulfed a group of eight foreign tourists, but four managed to free themselves and seek help, according to Austrian reports.\nThree bodies were found quickly but rescuers searched for hours to find the fourth body buried deep in the snow.\nLocal reports said the ski group was visiting from Switzerland.\nRudi Mair from the Tyrol avalanche warning service said \"tonnes of snow\" had come down the 2,400m (7,800ft) mountain. The avalanche was said to have been about 700m (2,300 feet) long. The alert level at the time had been quite low.\nBut Mr Mair told Austrian broadcaster ORF that the avalanche had been triggered by a small amount of fresh snow on top of several, unstable layers of old snow.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Austrian Alps","the remote Jochgrubenkopf peak in the Tyrol region"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["a group of eight foreign tourists","group","group","Four people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["about 12:30 local time (11:30 GMT)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 More than 25,000 people are evacuated from the city of Mackay, Queensland, ahead of Cyclone Debbie which is expected to make landfall in northern Queensland tomorrow. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warns that Cyclone Debbie will be the worst storm to hit Queensland since Cyclone Yasi in 2011. (ABC)","document":" Updated 28 Mar 2017, 2:34amTue 28 Mar 2017, 2:34am\nTropical Cyclone Debbie has intensified to category four and is expected to hit the north Queensland coast on Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned.\nAt 3:55am, the Bureau predicted Cyclone Debbie would make landfall as a category four tropical cyclone between Ayr and Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay, late on Tuesday morning.\nDestructive winds of more than 125 kilometres per hour were already occurring about the Whitsunday Islands, and thousands were without power in Cannonvale, Airlie Beach and parts of Mackay.\nBOM forecaster Brett Harrison said Cyclone Debbie could reach category five. \"At this stage we can't rule out a category five system during the coming hours,\" he said.\n\"But category four — it's a very intense system at the moment — we are expecting wind gusts near the centre of up to 275 kilometres per hour.\"\n\n Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was \"going to be a tough night\".\n\"My priority is for Queenslanders to be safe, right up and down the coastal communities that are in the zone,\" she said.\n\"Please now reassure your children, go to the safest place in your house — the most secure.\n\"We are in the stage now where some communities are already in lockdown, so they should not move.\n\"I want to reassure you that in the daybreak once the storm has passed, we have emergency response personnel there ready to assist you and your families.\"\n Ms Palaszczuk said the BOM had advised it could take up to 18 hours for the cyclone's core to pass.\n\"This is a destructive cyclone,\" she said.\n\"Please do not go outside, don't risk it, please don't risk your life or risk the life of a loved one — stay indoors.\"\n Bruce Gunn from Emergency Management Queensland said the situation was changing rapidly. \"People in the path of the core of the cyclone can expect many, many hours of sheltering,\" he said.\n\"Remember that the lull in the winds may be the eye of the cyclone and the destructive winds will return from the opposite direction, so be very careful about going outside.\"\nMore than 25,000 people were advised to move from low-lying areas in Mackay by midnight, with fears incoming Cyclone Debbie could cause inundation of up to 2.5 metres above the high tide level.\nThe BOM has warned the storm will be the worst since Cyclone Yasi in 2011, and Ms Palaszczuk said it was \"bigger than Marcia\" — the category five system that hit Queensland in 2015.\nQueensland Police Service Commissioner Ian Stewart said residents in Mackay's low-lying areas needed to be moved by midnight.\n\"The range of inundation may be as much as 0.8 metres above highest astronomical tide [HAT] or worst case scenario 2.5 metres above HAT,\" Commissioner Stewart said.\n\"We're asking people who can move out of those low-lying areas to move now.\n\"Don't wait till tomorrow [Tuesday], because you will not be able to move.\n \"We'll do everything we can through the emergency service to try and support and assist residents ... we will also be getting messages to help the vulnerable.\"\nMackay Regional Mayor Greg Williamson said 25,000 text messages were sent out on Monday to residents in low-lying areas.\n \"The text says 'based on the latest information we're advising you to seek refuge with friends and relatives on higher ground',\" Cr Williamson said.\n\"This cyclone moves around a heck of a lot ... we're now well within the firing line. If you can possibly get to higher ground you should do that right now.\n\"As a community we've been here before. Now it's up to us as a community to come together to make sure we're looking after one another, to make sure we get through this severe weather event that's just about on our doorstep.\"\nMr Williamson said it was not a forced evacuation.\n\"If you get this text you should seek refuge. We can't forcibly evacuate you but we're advising you this needs to happen,\" he said.\nOn Monday evening an emergency alert was issued by Mackay Regional Council that advised residents in the areas of North Pioneer, South Pioneer, Louisa Creek, Armstrong's Beach, Dunrock, Ball Bay, Freshwater Point, Grasstree, Half Tide and Seaforth to evacuate immediately.\nQueensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Katarina Carroll said although the latest cyclone tracking map indicated Cyclone Debbie had moved south, residents in Townsville, Ingham, Cardwell and surrounding areas should not be complacent.\n\"Conditions have now deteriorated in some of the cyclone warning areas and soon it will be too late to leave your home,\" she said.\n\"If an official evacuation order has not been issued for your area, the best option is to stay indoors and shelter in place until the cyclone has passed. \"As the cyclone approaches, turn off all your electricity, gas and water and unplug all appliances, bring your family to the strongest part of the house and ensure your emergency kit is close by.\n\"If the building you're sheltering in begins to break up, immediately seek shelter under a strong table or bench or under a heavy mattress.\n\"Stay inside until you have received official advice that the cyclone has passed. Some people are not aware of the calm eye of the cyclone and mistakenly venture outside thinking that the threat has passed.\n\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the Bureau","Bureau","the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)","Bureau","BOM","BOM","BOM"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Ayr and Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay","Mackay","Mackay","Mackay","Mackay","Mackay","the north Queensland coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late on Tuesday morning","Tuesday morning","late","Tuesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category four","category four","category four","a category four tropical cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Debbie","Debbie","Debbie","Debbie","Debbie"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125 kilometres per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 A Category 4 severe tropical cyclone travels over the Whitsunday Islands and crosses the coast of Queensland, Australia, near the town of Airlie Beach. (ABC)","document":" Updated 28 Mar 2017, 5:34pmTue 28 Mar 2017, 5:34pm\nTropical Cyclone Debbie has been downgraded to a category three system, having made landfall along the north Queensland coastline near Airlie Beach earlier this afternoon as a slow-moving category four system.\n One man has already been seriously injured in the storm, and emergency services fear more reports of damage, injury, and even deaths, are still to come.\nThe State Emergency Service has already received hundreds of calls for help, however it is still too dangerous for crews to venture outside.\nThe cyclone, currently 25 kilometres west of Proserpine, is producing destructive winds of 120 kilometres per hour and gusts up to 165kph.\nIt is forecast to move slowly south-west over the next 12 to 18 hours before curving to a more southerly track over inland Queensland.\nAt a media briefing this afternoon, Queensland Police Service Commissioner Ian Stewart said the man was badly hurt when a wall fell on him.\n\"We need to understand we are going to get lots of reports of damage and injury, if not death, and we need to be prepared for that,\" he said.\nPremier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned residents in the path of the cyclone to continue to stay indoors, with strong winds expected to continue for several hours.\n\"Our emergency services personnel cannot go out onto the roads at the moment due to the dangerous conditions,\" she said.\n \"The eye of the storm is of course the most dangerous, those winds around there are escalating.\n\"We're going to see the impact of Cyclone Debbie for the next three to five days as it travels down the coast and these winds can even end up as a low-pressure system right along the coast of the south-east corner here.\"\nThe BOM said destructive winds could extend further north-west along the coast to Ayr and to adjacent inland areas, including Collinsville and Mount Coolon late today and into the evening, but were no longer expected in Townsville, Charters Towers, Mackay or Sarina.\nErgon Energy spokesman Brett Judge said more than 45,000 properties were without power with that number expected to rise.\n\"We have to get the all-clear from emergency authorities before sending crews out to assess the damage,\" he said.\nHe said hospitals, schools and emergency services would be given priority when work began.\nHe also urged residents to call Ergon if they saw powerlines down or problems with solar panels on roofs.\nDebbie is expected to be downgraded to a category two system later tonight.\n Earlier today, ABC reporter Jonathan Hair was sheltered in Airlie Beach when the cyclone's eye wall started to affect the area.\n\"It's really, really loud. That's the only way to describe it. I want to say it's terrifying just because you know what it is and you know how powerful it is and you know the winds are going upwards of 100kph to 200kph and slamming into your hotel room,\" he said.\n \"This is a fairly secure hotel, it's made of concrete. It was built recently, it's cyclone-rated, but at the same time, it's still blown gutters off roofs, doors off the side of the wall — it's blown ceiling fans off the ceiling.\n\"I haven't been outside because we're in lockdown, but we can see some yachts that have broken their mooring and run into each other down at the Port of Airlie Beach.\"\n Sue from Proserpine told ABC Radio parts of their neighbour's roof had been flying off and smashing their windows.\n\"We've got three broken windows now so the rooms are totalled. We've got water coming down the hallway from those rooms,\" she said.\n \"The doors are shaking, the interior doors to those rooms ... we've got water coming down all inside the sliding windows, it's just gushing and I've been mopping and mopping and I'm running out of towels.\"\nSue said she was with her husband, but did not know if they were safe: \"I'm in the safest place but that doesn't mean I'm safe. I'm in a very small bathroom.\"\nTwitter:\nTweet: #QFES says paramedics are not attending call-outs in the Whitsunday, Bowen and Mackay regions due to danger posed by #CycloneDebbie\n Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson told ABC News 24 he was surprised to hear some people were surfing.\n\"It puts everybody else, the agencies, life at risk when you've got to go and rescue them,\" he said.\n Long-time Hamilton Island resident and business owner Gail Harvey described the size of the cyclone and severity of the winds as \"horrendous\".\n\"My ears have been popping from time to time and my head has been quite heavy with the air pressure, so it's just a matter of being patient and riding it out and then the big clean-up,\" she said.\n\"I'm actually tucked away in my unit, which I have been for over 24 hours now … it's very protected. We've got a hill behind us which protects us from the south, and we face north-east, so a very protected little area of the island.\"\nBut Ms Harvey said she was worried about her water-sport business and their vessels in the water.\n\"We pulled out three or four of them and put them into sheltered area, but the bigger boats we stripped all the equipment and tied them down quite securely,\" she said.\n Charlie, also on Hamilton Island, said the trees were blowing about wildly.\n\"It's just like freight trains coming through left and right,\" he said.\n\"The place is just shaking continuously.\"\nThe cyclone could take up to 18 hours to pass.\nThe BOM warned that between 150mm to 500mm of rain could fall today.\nA flood warning has been issued for the Proserpine River, while a moderate flood warning is current for Bowen's Don River, and a minor to moderate flood levels are possible on the Pioneer River in Mackay.\n Premier Palaszczuk said the tidal surge was expected to be less than two metres, which is on the low side of what the BOM had been predicting.\nAbout 25,000 people were urged to evacuate from low-lying areas of Mackay on Monday night to avoid the storm surge and Ms Palaszczuk stood by that decision, saying it was important to err on the side of caution.\nShe is concerned about a second tidal impact later tonight.\n\"It's the largest evacuation that I can remember in this state, of some 25,000 people being asked to move,\" she said.\n\"But I would rather do that ... rather than put people's lives at risk.\"\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["along the north Queensland coastline near Airlie Beach","along","along"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["One man"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["this afternoon","afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category three","category four"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Debbie","Debbie","Debbie"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 kilometres per hour","up to 165kph"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2017 Category 3 Cyclone Cook hits Grand Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. (ABC) (Stuff.co.nz)","document":"A powerful cyclone that hit New Caledonia late on Monday has moved offshore, allowing authorities to lift warnings on the French South Pacific territory.\n Four people received minor injuries in the storm and a search is being conducted for missing people, New Caledonia's Civil Defence and Risk Management agency said in a statement. According to Radio NZ, a 73-year-old has been found dead.\n Resident Gael Toukio said electricity and telephone services had been cut as Cyclone Cook came ashore.\n \"Every gust of wind made my house tremble,\" Toukio said by text message from the capital city of Noumea.\n The main island was hit by winds of up to 180kmh and more than 400mm of rain on Monday, the meteorological service said in a statement.\nAt least 4 injured as Tropical Cyclone Cook makes landfall on the main island of New Caledonia. *Tropical Cyclone Cook set to hit Pacific Islands, NZ could be next * Cyclone Cook set to hammer Pacific, could bring further floods to NZ\n Roads were blocked by uprooted coconut trees and conditions brought a halt to the country's large nickel mining industry.\n The bureau lifted a general warning on Tuesday, while the Civil Defence agency said around 70,000 people were without electricity.\n Vale suspended nickel operations and evacuated staff on Monday. It is restarting on Tuesday, a spokesman said.\n The New Caledonia weather bureau said the weather system - which peaked at a category-three event - has since weakened.\n TVNZ reported that a New Zealander was stranded in New Caledonia after an Air New Zealand flight was cancelled.\n An Air Calin flight from Noumea due to arrive in Auckland at 12.35pm on Tuesday and the return flight, due to depart at 2.30pm, werecancelled.\n Cook hit the main island at almost the same time as high tide, with floods, and waves as tall as 10 metres forecast by weather authorities.\n \"The threat to New Caledonia is very serious,\" the meteorological service said in a cyclone alert.\n The storm hit land late on Monday afternoon as a Category Three storm, said Virgil Cavarero, a forecaster at Meteo New Caledonia, below the destructive Category 4 predicted earlier, which would have been a level off the most dangerous wind speed.\n Eyes now turn to New Zealand as the tracking system could bring heavy rain, high surf and gusty winds later in the week, along with renewed flooding concerns following the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie last week.\n The North Island's flood-stricken regions were bracing for heavy rain thanks to a low from the Tasman Sea, and the tropical cyclone could make matters worse.\n MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said Tropical Cyclone Cook could affect New Zealand later in the week adding to the low that will move across the country from Tuesday.\n Cook developed into a tropical cyclone while crossing the islands of southern Vanuatu on Saturday","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New Caledonia","New Caledonia","New Caledonia","New Caledonia","New Caledonia","New Caledonia","New Caledonia","Pacific Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Four people","a 73-year-old","At least 4 injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late on Monday","Monday","Monday","late","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Cook","Cook","Cook","Cook","Cook","Cook","Cook"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2017 Severe Tropical Cyclone Donna is upgraded to a Category Four, and continues to damage houses and infrastructure in the north of Vanuatu, particularly in Torba Province. (Radio New Zealand)","document":"Cyclone Donna was upgraded to a category four on Saturday as it continued to batter Vanuatu's northern islands for a second day.\nOn Saturday night, the cyclone, which had been tracking west towards open ocean, turned around and continued to linger about 200 kilometres off the northernmost Torba province, where reports of damage were starting to emerge.\nIn a warning on Saturday night, the Vanuatu Meteorological Service said the cyclone had strengthened over the afternoon, and was now packing sustained winds of 165km/h, gusting as high as 235km/h.\nIt sat in roughly the same spot for much of Saturday, continuing to buffet Torba with strong winds and lashing the already saturated province with more rain.\n\"It's been sitting up north for almost two days and our fear is that it might continue to re-energise and intensify further,\" said Levu Antfalo, a senior meteorologist at the service. \"It will probably hang around the north for another 24 hours. It's not good for that area.\"\nDamage in Torba as Donna moves slowly across Vanuatu Photo: Vanuatu Red Cross\nThe continued bad weather made it difficult for teams trying to assess the damage in Torba, particularly the worst-hit Torres groups of islands where houses had been toppled and food gardens destroyed.\nThe head of the National Disaster Management Office, Shadrack Welegtabit, said communication with the province was proving difficult, but some links had been established via VHF Radio and satellite phone.\nHe said the bad weather was slowing down attempts to gauge the extent of damage in the province of about 10,000 people.\n\"[Details] are still sketchy, we still need to get more,\" said Mr Welegtabit.\n\"In Torres you have five islands with people on them, so it's not really easy to get information. We need to get numbers from the other islands,\" an effort Mr Welegtabit said could take a couple of days at least.\nA spokesperson for the Red Cross, Corinne Ambler, said her agency also had reports of extensive damage in Torres, including to water infrastructure.\n\"They're telling us that...quite a few of the houses have been damaged and some have been destroyed,\" she said. \"There's about 1,000 in the affected area and I understand that almost 200 people are taking shelter in a cave on one of the islands.\"\nOn Sunday, the cyclone was forecast to bend to the south and travel towards New Caledonia.\nThere, the government announced that a cyclone \"pre-warning\" would take effect at 11pm, local time, on Saturday, with residents urged to prepare for the cyclone's arrival some time early next week.\nIn a statement, the civil security department said Donna was expected to bend its trajectory toward the territory, with wind and rain forecast to pick up from Sunday.\nThe pre-warning was not expected to have any effect on polling for the French presidential election in the territory on Sunday.\nOn its path towards New Caledonia, the cyclone would maintain its category four strength until Monday morning.\nWhile it was expected to remain over the ocean to the west of Vanuatu's more populated islands, Mr Antfalo said most of the country should be prepared for strong winds and flash flooding.\n\"Severe weather conditions will prevail well into next week,\" he said.\nVanuatu Red Cross activates its Emergency Operating Centre in response to Donna..","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the Vanuatu Meteorological Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Vanuatu's northern islands","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu","Vanuatu"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday night","Saturday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category four","category four"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Donna","Donna","Donna","Donna"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["165km/h","235km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2017 The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says warm ocean waters could fuel an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast calls for 11 to 17 named storms with five to nine hurricanes, warmer-than-average waters across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and a weak or nonexistent El Niño. (CBS News)","document":"Updated on: May 25, 2017 / 4:27 PM\n \n MIAMI -- Warm ocean waters could fuel an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, while storm-suppressing El Nino conditions are expected to be scarce, U.S. government forecasters said Thursday.\nThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast calls for 11 to 17 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes. Two to four hurricanes are expected to be \"major\" with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.\nForecasters expect warmer-than-average waters across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker-than-average wind shear and a weak or nonexistent El Nino, said Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator.\nEl Nino is the natural warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that changes weather worldwide and tends to reduce hurricane activity in the Atlantic. Warm waters feed a hurricane's strength, while strong wind shear can starve it and pull a storm apart.\nWhile climate models show considerable uncertainty, \"there's a potential for a lot of Atlantic storm activity this year,\" Friedman said.\nThe long-term season averages are 12 named storms, with six hurricanes and three major ones. Tropical storms have sustained winds of at least 39 mph, and hurricanes have winds of at least 74 mph.\nA new weather satellite will help forecasters see developing storms in greater detail, especially when it moves later this year into a permanent position over the East Coast with a view over the continental U.S. and tropical waters where hurricanes form, Freidman said.\n\"Its 'lightning mapper' allows us to see lightning in the clouds like we've never seen before,\" he said.\nHigh-resolution hurricane model upgrades also are expected to provide \"much improved\" forecast guidance this year, said Mary Erickson, deputy director of the National Weather Service.\nOfficials urged coastal residents to make evacuation plans and stock up on emergency supplies long before any tropical weather advisory is posted.\nThe National Hurricane Center in Miami is adding advisories highlighting specific storm hazards: Storm surge watches and warnings will be issued when U.S. communities are at risk for life-threatening flooding. The \"uncertainty cone\" showing a storm's projected path will be updated to show how far damaging winds can reach. An experimental \"time of arrival\" graphic will show people when tropical storm-force winds are expected to start hitting their areas.\n\"Key data will be available earlier than ever to make informed decisions,\" said Robert Fenton, acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.\nThe six-month Atlantic storm season officially starts June 1.\nA rare April tropical storm formed this year over the open ocean: Arlene, which was no threat to land. The next tropical storm will be named Bret.\nThe 2016 hurricane season also started early with a January hurricane. It was the first above-normal season since 2012, with 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes.\nFive storms made landfall in the U.S. last year, including hurricanes Hermine and Matthew.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","forecasters","forecasters","The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["at least 111 mph","at least 39 mph","at least 74 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2017 More than 300,000 people are evacuated in Bangladesh as Cyclone Mora approaches. (AFP via Malaysia Sun)","document":"DHAKA: Bangladesh has evacuated nearly 300,000 people as Cyclone Mora barrelled towards its southeastern coast at speeds of more than 85kmph, officials said Monday. The cyclonic storm was 385km from the port city of Chittagong and likely to make landfall early Tuesday, meteorologists said. Evacuation efforts were ongoing, with nearly 300,000 people already shifted to cyclone shelters, disaster management authority spokesman Abul Hashim said. \"We are targeting zero casualties and we will try our best to evacuate more than a million before the landfall,\" he told AFP. Meteorologist Abdur Rahman said estimated wind speeds were between 89kmph to 117kmph, with torrential rain and thunder expected across the South Asian nation. The met office warned coastal districts could face flooding as a result of storm surges along the seafront. \"We have advised the ports to hoist great danger signal number 10,\" Rahman said. The local administration has called in all fishing vessels from the sea and advised them to remain anchored, while the Chittagong port authority has postponed activities. Bangladesh is routinely hit by bad storms between April and December that cause deaths and widespread property damage. In May last year, Cyclone Roanu hit the southern coast of Bangladesh leaving 20 people dead and forcing half a million to flee their homes. Flash floods and excessive rain led to landslides in hilly areas, which caused most of the casualties. \"But this time we are more prepared,\" Hashim said. — AFP","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southeastern coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["nearly 300,000 people","nearly 300,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["85kmph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mora"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2017 At least 134 people are dead and dozens are missing in landslides caused by days of heavy monsoonal rain in Bangladesh. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) (AFP via the Star)","document":"Heavy monsoon rain has triggered landslides in south-east Bangladesh, with officials reporting at least 107 people killed, including five soldiers.\nA spokesman for the Rangamati district administration said at least 60 people were killed in a series of landslides there alone.\nRescue operations are being hampered by bad weather.\nTelecommunication links and electricity have been cut off, and some communities cannot be contacted. \"We have not been able to reach many of the affected places,\" Reaz Ahmed, head of the Department of Disaster Management, told AFP news agency.\n\"Once the rains are over, we'll get a full picture of the damage and get the recovery work in full swing,\" he said.\nIn Rangamati district, a hilly area close to the Indian border, landslides buried residents' houses. \"Some of them were sleeping in their houses on hillsides when the landslides occurred,\" district police chief Sayed Tariqul Hasan told AFP.\nThe soldiers who died had been clearing a road in Rangamati of an earlier landslide when another one hit, a military spokesman told AFP. Traffic in the capital Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh's major port city, has also been disrupted by the torrential rains.\nLast month, at least eight people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed after Cyclone Mora smashed into Bangladesh's south-east. Up to a million people were evacuated.\nLandslides caused by monsoons often occur in the southern hills in Bangladesh. In 2007, about 130 people were killed by a landslide in Chittagong.\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["The soldiers who died had been clearing a road","soldiers","at least 107 people","at least 60 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2017 Four people are killed as intense rains and snowstorms hit central and southern Chile. About 3,000 people are homeless, and hundreds of thousands have lost power. (Reuters)","document":"SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Intense rains and snowstorms in central and southern Chile have left four people dead and nearly 3,000 homeless, as well as hundreds of thousands without power, authorities said on Saturday.\nMost of those displaced live in the southern region of Biobio, where rivers overflowed and 34,000 lost power. Authorities said they were continuing to monitor the storm front, which first hit the country on Thursday night.\nThe South American country’s largest copper mines, mostly located in the north, have not reported any impact on operations from the storm. Chile is the world’s largest producer of the red metal.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["central and southern Chile"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["four people","hundreds of thousands","34,000"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2006 Typhoon Chanchu makes landfall twice in the Philippines. 23 people are killed and five remain missing after a boat capsizes in the stormy seas off Masbate island. (CNEWS)[permanent dead link], (CNN), (Reuters), (SwissInfo)","document":"MANILA (Reuters) - A typhoon whipped through the northwestern Philippines on Saturday, killing at least 24 people in stormy seas and leaving more than 10,000 people stranded as air and ferry services were suspended.\n \nMost of those killed were from a boat that capsized off Masbate island in the south of the Luzon region, the Coast Guard said.\n \nAt least 21 people on the vessel, named the Mae Ann 5, were killed and 18 were rescued, Coast Guard spokesman Joseph Coyme told reporters in Manila.\n \nA fisherman drowned while four others were rescued when their boat sank in rough seas off the coast of Negros Occidental province in the central Philippines, Coyme said.\n \nIn Batangas province, near Manila, a 36-year-old woman was killed when a fence swept by floods crashed into her hut, officials told local radio.\n \nThe National Disaster Coordinating Council said a boy was killed in Laguna province after he was pinned by a coconut tree toppled by Typhoon Chanchu.\n \nEight fishermen were also missing, the council said.\n \nA two-day meeting of Southeast Asian trade ministers at the Boracay resort in the central Philippines was cancelled and moved to Manila, said Ramon Kabigting, director of the Bureau of International Trade Relations. The meeting was scheduled to begin on Monday.\n \nChanchu is slowly moving west but forecasters say it will continue to cause bad weather in the Philippines for another day or so.\n \nWeather Web site www.tropicalstormrisk.com said the typhoon would strengthening to a category four storm, with five the maximum, in the next few days as it turns northwest towards Hong Kong.\n \n\"It's now in the South China Sea, with winds of 110 kph and gusts of 140 kph,\" Ludy Alviar, a meteorologist at the Philippine weather bureau, told Reuters.\n \n\n \nPower has been cut in Boracay since Friday, forcing some resort owners to use generators, a Reuters reporter on the island said.\n \nThe disaster council said the local governments of northern Samar and Batangas City have declared a state of calamity in their areas to speed release of funds for relief operations.\n \nThe disaster council said about 28,000 people were either affected or displaced by Typhoon Chanchu.\n \nHundreds of families fled to evacuation centres as Chanchu, with gusts of up to 120 kph (75 mph), battered a wide area.\n \nThe council said 145 houses were destroyed and 1,124 partially damaged, mostly in the coconut-growing Bicol region.\n \nThere was no immediate report of damage to agriculture.\n \nIn Manila, winds toppled billboards and snapped tree branches, causing power outages in some parts of the city.\n \nSome power suppliers were expected to resume services in Bicol later on Saturday after automatically shutting them down during the peak of the storm on Friday.\n \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northwestern Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 24 people","more than 10,000 people","At least 21 people","A fisherman","a 36-year-old woman","Eight fishermen"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2006 Typhoon Saomai kills 111 people and leaves 4 missing in eastern China, according to the Chinese government. (BBC)","document":"The typhoon, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, was continuing to batter coastal regions with heavy rain and winds. More than a million people were evacuated from their homes to temporary shelters before its arrival.\nOfficial media said that more than 50,000 houses had been destroyed in the storm.\nCollapsed house\nThe typhoon claimed its largest number of casualties in Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province, where it made landfall early on Thursday evening. In the nearby town of Jinxiang, the bodies of 41 villagers, including eight children, were found in the ruins of a collapsed house. \nThey had been sheltering in the concrete structure because they thought it would withstand the storm better than their own houses, state news agency Xinhua said. \"The wind was so strong that whole windows were slammed into rooms,\" an official in Jinxiang told Reuters news agency.\n\"Lots of people were hurt here but my family are all okay,\" said Wu Yelian, a local resident. \"I haven't seen a typhoon this strong in years.\"\nOn a local highway, trees had been blown over and debris from buildings was strewn around.\nHeavy rain\nNeighbouring Fujian province was also hard-hit, with at least 17 people killed and 138 missing, according to Xinhua.\nFifty thousand houses had been destroyed across the two provinces and 3.5 million people were affected, the agency said. Power had been cut in parts of the region, where more than 30cm of rain fell within a twelve hour period in some areas. Soldiers and officials were being sent to the region to help emergency rescue efforts. Saomai has now been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moves inland, but the authorities warn that there is still the risk of landslides and flooding. It was moving towards Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, but continuing to lose force, Xinhua said.\nSaomai, which is the Vietnamese for morning star, is the eighth powerful storm to hit China this year. Just last week, Typhoon Prapiroon killed about 80 people. Tropical Storm Bilis killed more than 600 in July. Typhoons and tropical storms are common in the region between July and October, but this year they have been unusually frequent.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province","Neighbouring Fujian province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than a million people","41 villagers","at least 17 people","138 missing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early on Thursday evening"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a tropical storm","tropical storm","Tropical Storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2006 Hurricane Ernesto becomes the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. Jeb Bush later declares a state of emergency due to its possible impact on Florida later in the week. (ABC News), (Associated Press)","document":" Two people watch the strong waves produced by Tropical Storm Ernesto in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (AP) TAVERNIER, Fla. - Visitors were ordered to leave the Florida Keys on Sunday and Gov. Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency because of the possibility that Hurricane Ernesto could threaten the state. Bush's order came after the Monroe County Emergency Management office told tourists to postpone any immediate plans to travel to the Keys and ordered those already in the island chain to leave.\nAll travel trailers and recreational vehicles were ordered off the islands immediately.\nErnesto, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, was lashing Haiti on Sunday with heavy rain and sustained wind of 75 mph.\nThe storm was expected to move over Cuba, then bring rain and wind to southern Florida by early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Gov. Jeb Bush","the Monroe County Emergency Management office"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ernesto","Ernesto","Ernesto"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2007 2007 Chinese Sandstorms: After severe sandstorms caused communication and transportation problems in Hohhot and other regions of Inner Mongolia, the first severe sandstorm of the year hits Beijing and the surrounding regions of Liaoning, Xinjiang and Tianjin. (CCTV) (SINA)","document":"Sandstorms and snow have begun sweeping through many regions in northern China. However, it was a much different story in the south where the weather was warm. The first sandstorm of 2007 hit northwestern China over the past two days. Some areas of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia were affected the most. Strong winds worsened the situation. People covered themselves with scarves and glasses as visibility was reduced to less than 50 meters in some places. Meteorologists say the storm was caused by a sudden change in air pressure, a decrease in temperature and heavy winds. In Xinjiang for example, the temperature fell below six degrees Celsius.The sandstorms are expected to continue for some time. Meanwhile, some areas in northeastern China received a heavy snowfall.\nBut in southern China, some regions are experiencing hot weather. In Hunan and Shanghai, the temperature reached 30 degrees Celsius, the highest in the 30 years. But, the central meteorological station predicts a large drop in temperature in southern China Friday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern China","Some areas of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["People"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2007 At least ten people are killed and 120 injured as a severe storm hits the twin towns of Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, on the U.S.–Mexico border. (CNN) (BBC)","document":"(CNN) -- Authorities in the southwest Texas border town of Eagle Pass have largely completed search-and-rescue operations in the wake of a powerful tornado that killed 10 people.\nThe focus is turning to cleaning up after the storm and aiding the survivors, a county official said Wednesday afternoon.\nThe storm uprooted mobile homes and battered buildings, killing seven people near Eagle Pass and three across the border in Piedras Negras, Mexico.\nFive family members -- including a young girl -- were killed in the rural area south of Eagle Pass when their mobile home was blown from its foundation and into an elementary school, City Councilman Ramsey English Cantu said. (Watch the scene of destruction as the sun rises over Eagle Pass )\nRescuers said family members were found huddled together in the home's bathtub, according to the Web site of the San Antonio Express-News.\nTexas Gov. Rick Perry was en route to the area to tour the damage Wednesday afternoon, Maverick County Judge Jose Aranda said.\nAt least 80 people in Texas were injured by the strong tornado, including four who suffered serious injuries and were evacuated to a medical facility in San Antonio, said Jack Colley, chief of the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. Of the wounded, 32 have been treated and released, Colley said.\nAcross the Rio Grande in Piedras Negras, authorities told CNN en Español that at least three people were killed by the same tornado. Forty other people were injured, according to Mexico's El Universal newspaper.\nPiedras Negras is a sister city, Cantu said, adding that Eagle Pass has offered to assist the larger town across the Rio Grande.\n\"If we can help them in any way, we will. But we are still focusing our efforts on making sure everybody's out of that area,\" Cantu said, referring to the damaged area outside Eagle Pass. (Watch an Eagle Pass home where nothing remains but plumbing )\nAranda said most of the Texas damage was in a 1,500-acre area south of Eagle Pass that's mostly made up of mobile homes. He described the damage as \"devastating.\"\nAn elementary school \"was hit pretty much head-on by this tornado\" and sustained serious damage, Aranda said. \"There was a wrought-iron fence around the school that was twisted and torn and broken. It was just terrible.\"\nEagle Pass resident Billy Perez told the Express-News: \"There were a lot of power lines that were open, and there were trucks with people bloody all over. People were rescuing people all over the place.\" Earlier, officials had said several mobile homes were missing. But Aranda said Wednesday afternoon that he did not expect more bodies to be found and that search and rescue operations were largely complete.\nAbout 350 people, he said, were being housed in shelters. Authorities were attempting to clear the damaged areas and allow people to return to their homes as soon as possible, he said. \"We're getting ready to assess the entire area and identify exactly how much of a loss it is.\"\nWater services remained intact, Aranda said, and electricity was expected to be restored later Wednesday.\nThe tornado touched down in Eagle Pass at 7:01 p.m., then moved across the Rio Grande into Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was part of a larger weather system that dumped 2 feet of snow in Colorado and produced heavy rain that flooded parts of Nebraska.\nThe storm also produced more than 20 reported tornadoes in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, according to NOAA. (Watch why some people chase tornadoes )\nEagle Pass and Piedras Negras suffered the brunt of the storm system, NOAA said.\nVideo footage of the damage in Piedras Negras showed aluminum siding littering the streets, with one piece wedged in a treetop. The force of the winds overturned some cars, while others were left with the windows blown out.\nFootage from Eagle Pass showed fences and power lines scattered in the streets, with roofs torn off buildings and windows smashed. Mobile homes were reduced to scrap.\nA sewage treatment facility also was damaged and must be repaired before it's operational again, said Aranda, the Maverick County judge.\nNational Guard troops, already in the area helping the U.S. Border Patrol, were called to help sort through what the Maverick County Sheriff's Department chief dispatcher called the \"havoc\" left behind.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["10 people","seven people","Five family members","At least 80 people","Forty other people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2007 At least ten people are killed and 120 injured as a severe storm hits the twin towns of Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, on the U.S.–Mexico border. (CNN) (BBC)","document":"On the US side, a tornado tore through a rural community in Texas, killing six people and injuring dozens more. Just across the border, three people died in the city of Piedras Negras, where winds destroyed houses and cars.\nRescue workers and troops were carrying out door-to-door checks in the area, US officials said.\nThe tornado hit near the town of Eagle Pass, about 145 miles (230km) south-west of San Antonio. Seventy-four people required hospital treatment, Mayor Chad Foster said, and the storm destroyed a primary school, around 20 houses and a local sewage plant. On the Mexican side of the border, at least 40 people were injured and power lines had been toppled, a local official said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["a rural community in Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["six people","dozens","three people","Seventy-four people","at least 40 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2007 Greensburg, Kansas Tornado Outbreak: A massive tornado kills nine people in Kansas including 8 people in Greensburg, Kansas with the town suffering widespread damage. (AFP/Reuters via ABC Online)","document":"Nine people are dead after a massive tornado wrecked a small town, crushing a hospital and levelling homes in the US state of Kansas.\nSharon Watson, spokeswoman for Kansas Emergency Management, said eight people were killed in Greensburg, southern Kansas, after the storm made a direct hit on the small prairie town.\nShe said another person was killed in nearby Stafford County by the storm late Friday (local time). More than 50 people are reported to have been injured.\nThe American Red Cross is setting up 125 cots in a high school gym in Mullinville, Kansas. There are other shelters in nearby towns, but many residents are staying with family in other parts of the state. \"There's a lot of shock and concern,\" said Ralph Rojas, a Red Cross volunteer. \"There's a lot of concern for family members they can't locate.\" Thirty people were pulled from the rubble of Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg as the storm ripped homes off their foundations and even damaged below-ground shelters, according to reports. The US National Weather Centre meanwhile warned of more severe weather in the US midwest Saturday (local time) and two new tornadoes were reported in Nebraska to the north. A tornado warning was issued for a huge swath of land touching seven states from northern Texas to South Dakota, the core of the country's 'Tornado Alley'.\nThe National Weather Service warned of \"an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation\" for central Nebraska due to the threat of severe tornadoes. City administrator Steve Hewitt said 90 per cent of local homes and buildings were destroyed in Greensburg, about 200 kilometres west of Wichita, and communications in the area were severely disrupted. \"This is a huge catastrophe for this small town. My home's gone, my staff's homes are gone,\" he said in a press conference. The town's 1,400 residents were evacuated and ordered not to come back as emergency squads continued to examine the wreckage using tractors and dogs to see if any survivors remained. \"The search and rescue continues. We want to make sure we can find everybody,\" Mr Hewitt said. Television images showed the town virtually levelled, with roofs shredded, branches sheared off trees and school buildings wrecked. \"It sucked the door off of our storm shelter,\" Greensburg resident Kevin Hillhouse told Wichita television KAKE. Emergency workers said they were rushing to re-establish communications facilities after the storm wiped out both land line and mobile phone services. The massive wedge-shaped tornado, caught on film by self-styled 'storm chasers', struck at about 10pm (local time). People in the town said warning sirens went off about 20 minutes beforehand, giving most a chance to get into storm cellars. National weather reports put the tornado at between F3 (severe) and F4 (devastating) on a scale of F0 to F5. An F4 storm carries winds of 331-416 kilometres per hour. \"We are definitely thinking a mile wide\" Darin Brunin, one of the storm chasers told CNN about the extraordinary size of the storm. - AFP/Reuters","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The US National Weather Centre"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["US state of Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","Kansas","Nebraska","Nebraska","a small town","small town","the small prairie town"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Nine people","eight people","More than 50 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2007 The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues its forecast for an above–normal 2007 Atlantic hurricane season with 13 to 17 named storms, 7 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. (NOAA)","document":"May 22, 2007 — Experts at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center are projecting a 75 percent chance that the Atlantic Hurricane Season will be above normal this year—showing the ongoing active hurricane era remains strong. With the start of the hurricane season upon us, NOAA recommends those in hurricane-prone regions to begin their preparation plans. (Click NOAA image for larger view of NOAA’s 2007 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. Please credit “NOAA.”)\n\"For the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA scientists predict 13 to 17 named storms, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher,\" said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. An average Atlantic hurricane season brings 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.\n Climate patterns responsible for the expected above normal 2007 hurricane activity continue to be the ongoing multi-decadal signal (the set of ocean and atmospheric conditions that spawn increased Atlantic hurricane activity), warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the El Niño/La Niña cycle.\nLast year, seasonal hurricane predictions proved to be too high when an unexpected El Niño rapidly developed and created a hostile environment for Atlantic storms to form and strengthen. When storms did develop, steering currents kept most of them over the open water and away from land.\n\"There is some uncertainty this year as to whether or not La Niña will form, and if it does how strong it will be,\" said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. \"The Climate Prediction Center is indicating that La Niña could form in the next one to three months. If La Niña develops, storm activity will likely be in the upper end of the predicted range, or perhaps even higher depending on how strong La Niña becomes. Even if La Niña does not develop, the conditions associated with the ongoing active hurricane era still favor an above-normal season.\" Bell also noted that pre-season storms, such as Subtropical Storm Andrea in early May, are not an indicator of the hurricane season ahead. \"With or without Andrea, NOAA's forecast is for an above normal season.\"\n\"With expectations for an active season, it is critically important that people who live in East and Gulf coastal areas as well as the Caribbean be prepared,\" said Bill Proenza, NOAA National Hurricane Center director. \"Now is the time to update your hurricane plan, not when the storm is bearing down on you.\" (Click NOAA image for larger view of tracks of major hurricanes forming in the main development region as indicated by the green box over a 24-year period. Please credit “NOAA.”) The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity occurring August through October. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center will issue an updated seasonal forecast in August just prior to the historical peak of the season.\nThe Atlantic Hurricane Seasonal Outlook is an official forecast product of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Instituted in 1998, this outlook is produced in collaboration with NOAA scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, NOAA National Hurricane Center, NOAA Hurricane Research Division and the NOAA Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. The NOAA National Hurricane Center has hurricane forecasting responsibilities for the Atlantic as well as the East Pacific basins. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center, NOAA National Hurricane Center and the NOAA Hydrometeorological Prediction Center are three of the NOAA National Weather Service's nine NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which provides the United States with first alerts of weather, climate, ocean and space weather events.\nNOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA Climate Prediction Center","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA Climate Prediction Center","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA Climate Prediction Center","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","NOAA","Climate Prediction Center","Climate Prediction Center","Climate Prediction Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher","hurricanes","hurricanes","hurricanes","higher","hurricanes"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Gale force winds and driving rains are expected to cause major disruptions today in an area from Newcastle to Wollongong.","document":"\nGale force winds and driving rains are expected to cause major disruptions today in an area from Newcastle to Wollongong.\nA low pressure system off the mid-north coast is expected to intensify through the day and drift slowly in a south-south-east direction, bringing heavy rain and storm force winds.\nThe weather bureau has issued a severe weather alert for the Hunter, Sydney metropolitan, Illawarra, South coast, and Central Tablelands regions.\nIt is forecasting winds of up to 90-kilometres-per-hour, heavy rain and flash flooding. There are also warnings of dangerous surf.\nPhil Campbell from the State Emergency Service says about 90 calls for help have been received so far.\n\"The worst affected areas have been the coastal fringe, particularly up in the Hunter and up in the central coastal regions over the past 24 hours,\" he said.\n\"The SES is working closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to monitor the weather conditions.\"\n\"We are expecting these conditions will continue throughout the day and we are urging people to keep a close eye on the weather and listen to the radio for further information and updates.\"\nThe Bureau of Meteorology has warned Sydney residents to prepare for worsening weather conditions this afternoon.\nSpokeswoman Julie Evans says people should stay clear of fallen trees and powerlines, stay indoors and clear their properties.\n\"If people want to really take care, they should perhaps bring in awnings and anything that can blow around in their back gardens,\" she said.\n\"It's always a good idea to just glance around the garden and just check that there's nothing that can be blown away.\"\nThe weather has forced the cancellation of Sydney's Bundeena, Manly and Parramatta ferry services.\nOther harbour ferries are operating at this stage.\nSydney Airport is warning passengers that the weather may cause flight delays later in the day.\nLow lying areas around Dungog and Clarencetown are beginning to flood after more than 100 millimetres of rain overnight.\nDungog High School is asking parents to keep their children at home today.\nThe Paterson and Williams rivers are rising quickly, closing several roads around Dungog.\nLocal resident Julian says he watched the Williams River break its banks.\n\"I did get through earlier to have a look at the Williams River and the depth gauge has disappeared and the bridge has gone under and we've had another 20mm since 6:30, so it's going to keep rising,\" he said.\nSeveral roads throughout the region are currently under water.\nThe State Emergency Service (SES) has responded to numerous calls for assistance, including diverting water out of a local supermarket.\nSeveral homes have needed tarping, as well as an aged care facility.\nDeputy local controller Janelle Risby says the service has not dealt with such severe flooding for seven years.\n\"The Karoola Park, which is an access point for children going to the Roger Street school, has fast flowing water going through it,\" she said.\nThe SES says it is closely monitoring the water levels in the Hunter River.\nAbout 9,000 homes and businesses are without power across the Lower Hunter due to the wild weather bringing down trees and powerlines.\nThe areas affected include East Maitland, Tenambit, Toronto, Carey Bay, Kilaben Bay, Birmingham Gardens, Shortland, Morisset, Wyee and Raymond Terrace.\nThe SES has received more than 80 calls for help.\nThe wet weather and debris is causing havoc on the roads and police are urging motorists to drive to the conditions.\nA tree is blocking one southbound lane of the F3 Freeway near Killingworth. The southbound lanes of the Pacific Highway at Bennetts Green have been blocked for several hours due to fallen powerlines.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The Bureau of Meteorology","bureau","Bureau","Meteorology","The weather bureau"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Hunter, Sydney metropolitan, Illawarra, South coast, and Central Tablelands regions","Hunter","Hunter","Hunter","area from Newcastle to Wollongong"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["today","today"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 90-kilometres-per-hour"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2007 A tornado kills 14 people and injures at least 146 near Tianchang, Anhui Province, in eastern China. (Reuters)","document":"BEIJING (Reuters) - A tornado swept across eastern China, killing 14 people and injuring 146, state media reported on Wednesday, the latest casualties from bad weather that has devastated parts of the country this summer.\nThe tornado hit three villages around Tianchang in Anhui province on Tuesday, destroying more than 100 houses, the official Xinhua news agency said. The bodies of seven people had been recovered from the rubble.\nState television showed footage of uprooted trees, toppled electric poles and a truck blown into a river.\nOf the 93 injured, 35 were in serious condition, Xinhua said. A further 200 people had been evacuated.\nSeven people were killed in Gaoyou city in neighboring Jiangsu province, the agency said, adding that 53 were injured.\n“Winds and heavy rain cut off power and telecommunications, ripped off rooftops and uprooted thousands of trees,” a Gaoyou government official was quoted as saying.\nThe winds at the centre of the tornado reached speeds of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph), Xinhua said.\nForecasters were now warning of possible floods along the Huai river, which runs through the region. The upper reaches of the Huai had already reached critical levels.\nUp to Monday, 18 provinces and major cities across China had been hit by floods and accompanying disasters, with a total of 233 people killed and 118,500 houses destroyed, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on its Web site (sfdh.chinawater.com.cn).\nThe office warned that China was entering the main flood season and must brace for surging waters along major rivers.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["across eastern China","three villages around Tianchang in Anhui province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["seven people","Seven people","killing 14 people","injuring 146","93 injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 Five people are confirmed dead as thunderstorms hit the Northeastern United States. (ABC News)","document":"Five people are dead and nearly half a million customers in the Northeast are without power due to severe weather that includes thunderstorms, flash flooding, hail, winds up to 80 mph and possibly tornadoes.\nAn 11-year-old girl was killed in Newburgh, New York, by a falling tree that also injured her mother. Also in Newburgh, police said a tree fell on a women who was operating a vehicle. She died later. In Danbury, Connecticut, one person died after a tree fell on his truck. A fourth person was killed by a falling tree in New Fairfield, Connecticut. And a 31-year-old male died when a tree fell on his car in the Poconos at around 4 p.m.\nAs of 8 p.m. ET, 496,777 customers in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut had lost electricity. That had declined to 359,534 by 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday.\nThe National Weather Service had received more than 100 severe storm reports shortly after 6 p.m., including reports of baseball-size hail and wind gusts up to 80 mph.\nAlthough the storm is moving quickly east, severe thunderstorm watches remain in effect from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia and New York City to Boston. New flash flood watches have also been issued for the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas.\nService on one of the busiest train lines in the Northeast has been suspended due to the weather.\nAll of the Metro North lines have been suspended due to downed trees, leading to a frenzy at Grand Central Station in New York City during rush hour on Tuesday. Thousands of people were stranded at the station, ABC New York station WABC reported.\nAmtrak service in the Northeast has also been canceled due to the storm, according to WABC.\nVideo out of New York City showed ominous clouds rolling in just after 5 p.m. ET.\nConditions were so bad in Newburgh that the city decided to close all roads due to the damage to trees and electrical infrastructure. Brookfield, Connecticut, declared a \"town disaster\" in response to the weather, urging people to remain indoors until officials can assess the damage.\nA tornado watch was issued this afternoon for upstate New York, the Hudson Valley, northeast Pennsylvania, western Connecticut, Massachusetts and southern Vermont. Winds up to 80 mph and large hail are also threats in those areas.\nThe severe threat will likely pass by about 9 p.m.\nThe Southeast is also expected to see heavy rain over the next several days. Flash flooding is possible throughout the week.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["496,777 customers in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut","New York","Connecticut","Connecticut","New York","New York","New York","New York","Connecticut","New York","Connecticut","nearly half a million customers in the Northeast","Northeast","Northeast","northeast Pennsylvania","An 11-year-old girl","Five people","her mother","a women","A fourth person","a 31-year-old male"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 80 mph","80 mph","80 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States predicts a near- or above-average hurricane season for 2018. (NOAA)","document":"\n NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 75-percent chance that the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be near- or above-normal.\nForecasters predict a 35 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season, and a 25 percent chance of a below-normal season for the upcoming hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to November 30.\n“With the advances made in hardware and computing over the course of the last year, the ability of NOAA scientists to both predict the path of storms and warn Americans who may find themselves in harm’s way is unprecedented,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The devastating hurricane season of 2017 demonstrated the necessity for prompt and accurate hurricane forecasts.”\nNOAA’s forecasters predict a 70-percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes. \nThe possibility of a weak El Nino developing, along with near-average sea surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, are two of the factors driving this outlook. These factors are set upon a backdrop of atmospheric and oceanic conditions that are conducive to hurricane development and have been producing stronger Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995.\n“NOAA’s observational and modeling enhancements for the 2018 season put us on the path to deliver the world’s best regional and global weather models,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction. “These upgrades are key to improving hurricane track and intensity forecasts, allowing NOAA to deliver the best science and service to the nation.”\nNOAA’s suite of sophisticated technologies – from next-generation models and satellite data to new and improved forecast and graphical products – enable decision makers and the general public to take action before, during, and after hurricanes, helping to build a more “Weather-Ready Nation.” New tools available this year to assist in hurricane forecasts and communications include:\nNOAA’s fleet of earth-observing satellites is more robust than ever with the successful launch of the GOES-17 satellite in March. This satellite, along with the GOES-16 satellite – now GOES-East – contribute to a comprehensive picture of weather throughout the Western Hemisphere, allowing forecasters to observe storms as they develop.\nThe new polar-orbiting satellite, NOAA-20, will join the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite and use a suite of sophisticated instruments to gather high-resolution data from around the globe to feed NOAA’s weather models, driving the 3-7 day weather forecast that is critical to preparedness and effective evacuations.\nThe National Weather Service will run a version of the Global Forecast System (called FV3 GFS) with a new dynamic core alongside the current GFS model – often referred to as the American model – during the 2018 season. This will mark the first dynamic core upgrade to NOAA's flagship weather model in more than 35 years, representing the first step in re-engineering NOAA’s models to provide the best possible science-based predictions for the nation.\nNOAA’s hurricane-specific model – the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast system – will be upgraded to offer greater resolution than ever before, increasing model resolution from 1.2 miles to 0.9 miles (2 km to 1.5 km) near the center of a storm. Additionally, the Hurricanes in a Multi-scale Ocean coupled Non-hydrostatic model was first implemented in 2017 and will undergo upgrades for the 2018 season to include greater resolution, new physics and coupling with ocean models.\nNOAA’s National Hurricane Center will make the Arrival Time of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds graphics operational for this hurricane season. One graphic displays the “earliest reasonable” arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds, at which point further preparedness activities could be hindered. A second graphic displays the ��most-likely” arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds.\n\"Preparing ahead of a disaster is the responsibility of all levels of government, the private sector and the public,\" said acting FEMA Deputy Administrator Daniel Kaniewski. \"It only takes one storm to devastate a community so now is the time to prepare. Do you have adequate insurance, including flood insurance? Does your family have a communication and evacuation plan? Stay tuned to your local news and download the FEMA app to get alerts, and make sure you heed any warnings issued by local officials.”\nIn addition to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA also issued seasonal hurricane outlooks for the eastern and central Pacific basins. An 80 percent chance of a near- or above-normal season is predicted for both the eastern and central Pacific regions. The eastern Pacific outlook calls for a 70-percent probability of 14 to 20 named storms, of which 7 to 12 are expected to become hurricanes, including 3 to 7 major hurricanes. The central Pacific outlook calls for a 70-percent probability of 3 to 6 tropical cyclones, which includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.\nNOAA will update the 2018 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August, just prior to the peak of the season.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["NOAA’s forecasters","Forecasters","forecasters","forecasters","NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["74 mph or higher","higher","39 mph or higher","higher","higher"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Florida Governor Rick Scott, and Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant each declare a state of emergency as Subtropical Storm Alberto, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), approaches the Southeastern United States. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will make landfall over the northern Gulf Coast late Monday afternoon or Monday night, with heavy rainfall and tropical storm conditions preceding actual landfall. (USA Today) (National Hurricane Center)","document":"Governors in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama have declared a state of emergency ahead of Subtropical Storm Alberto as it makes its way toward the Gulf of Mexico on a path that meteorologists say could strengthen the storm. \nAlberto, currently northwest of Cuba, is heading north toward the Gulf and is expected to bring days of heavy rainfall and possible flooding to the coast over the weekend. On its current track, the storm would make landfall along the Gulf Coast near the Florida-Alabama border late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nParts of the Alabama and Florida coast were placed under a tropical storm warning Saturday afternoon with Mississippi still under a watch. \nTo prepare, all three states in the storm's current path declared a state of emergency. The executive orders in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama will help free up resources and allow for the activation of the National Guard. \n\"Whether you’re a resident of this state or just visiting, you need to stay updated on this evolving tropical system,\" Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement. \"Coastal and inland flooding could be a serious issue in the coming days. I ask everyone to please make final preparations to your family emergency plan, especially those that live in mobile homes and low-lying areas.\"\nAlberto is the first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season according to the National Hurricane Center. It follows the deadly and disastrous 2017 hurricane season that destroyed large parts of Puerto Rico and left coastal areas of Texas under water. \nFlorida Gov. Rick Scott's emergency order affected all 67 counties in the state. Scott said \"it is critically important that all Florida counties have every available resource to keep families safe and prepare for the torrential rain and severe flooding this storm will bring.\"\nIn Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey signed an order Saturday evening to declare a state of emergency. The order covers 40 southern counties, which currently would feel the brunt of the storm. \nIvey’s said residents should be \"prepared for the potential of significant flooding.\"\nMeteorologists say Alberto is currently packing sustained winds near 40 mph but strengthening is expected as it moves through warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico. For the storm to reach hurricane strength, it would need to have at least 74 mph winds. \n\"Alberto could bring tropical storm conditions and storm surge to portions of the central and eastern Gulf Coast later this weekend and early next week,\" the hurricane center said. \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Governors in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama","Florida-Alabama","Alabama","Florida","Mississippi","Florida","Mississippi","Alabama","Mississippi","Florida","Florida","Alabama","the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","meteorologists","Meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Parts of the Alabama and Florida coast","Alabama","Alabama","Alabama","parts","Alabama"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Alberto","Alberto","Alberto","Alberto","Alberto"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 At least 50 people are reported to have died amid heavy thunder and lightning storms in northern India. (BBC)","document":"At least 50 people are reported to have died amid heavy thunder and lightning that battered parts of northern India on Tuesday, officials said. High-speed winds and lighting strikes devastated many villages, bringing down walls and leaving dozens injured.\nThe eastern state of Bihar was the worst hit, with 20 confirmed deaths due to lightning.\nThe latest incidents come weeks after devastating dust storms killed more than 100 people across north India.\nLightning strikes are common in India during heavy monsoon rains.\nFifteen people have been killed in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and at least 12 have died in the eastern state of Jharkhand, officials told BBC Hindi. Three children died after a tree collapsed on them in the northern state of Uttarakhand, according to the PTI news agency.\nIndia's Meteorological Department told the BBC that temperatures across northern India may touch up to 47C in the coming weeks, which could lead to more high-speed winds and storms in the future. They also warned that electricity could be disrupted across states due to the severe weather.\nMany of the dead were sleeping indoors when their houses collapsed after being struck by lightning or gusts of wind. India state records 36,749 lightning strikes in 13 hours\nAt least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.\nLarge parts of India have been struck by deadly storms in the past month. More than 100 people died in northern India on 4 May due to intense dust storms and heavy rains.\nAuthorities at the time said they were shocked by the ferocity of the storms, adding that it was one of the worst they had seen.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["The eastern state of Bihar","eastern state","parts of northern India","northern India","northern India"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 50 people","dozens","20 confirmed deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2018 Hurricane Bud grows into a category three hurricane off the Pacific coast of Mexico. (CBS News)","document":" MEXICO CITY -- Hurricane Bud grew to Category 3 force off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday. Forecasters said it was likely to weaken before a possible brush with the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late in the week.\nThe U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph at midday Monday. It was centered about 450 miles south-southeast of the tip of the Baja peninsula and was moving northwest at 7 mph.\nForecasters said Bud was expected to strengthen further before a slow weakening trend starts Tuesday.\n\"Significantly cooler waters around the southern tip of Baja California should reduce Bud's intensity below hurricane status before it reaches that land,\" the center said.\nThe hurricane center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico's southwestern coast. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible into Tuesday afternoon.\nMeanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta weakened into a tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean far off the Mexican coast and was expected to degenerate further and become a remnant low-pressure system later in the day. The hurricane center said it had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.\nThe storm peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","Forecasters","The U.S. National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late in the week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["7 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Bud","Bud","Bud","Bud"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2018 Hurricane Bud grows into a category four hurricane with winds of 130 miles per hour (210 km/h) off of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. (CBS News)","document":" MEXICO CITY -- Hurricane Bud weakened slightly and was once again a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday. Earlier it had just barely crossed the threshold of wind strength to be classified a Category 4 storm.\nForecasters said they expected cooler waters to rob most of its punch before a potential collision with resorts on the southern Baja California Peninsula.\nThe U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was centered about 325 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's southern tip.\nThe hurricane center said the storm was about 225 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, near Puerto Vallarta.\nBud was moving toward the northwest at about 6 mph and was forecast to approach Baja California Sur on Thursday as a tropical storm.\n\"Further weakening, possibly rapid at times, is expected during the next 48 hours, and Bud is forecast to weaken below hurricane intensity by Wednesday night,\" the center said.\nThe center said the hurricane still could generate dangerous surf and rip currents over the coming days, with heavy swells reaching the peninsula later Tuesday.\nRainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible over much of the region.\nThe twin resort cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are popular destinations for international and domestic travelers, receiving millions of tourists annually.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["3 to 6 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["resorts on the southern Baja California Peninsula","Baja California Sur"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["about 325 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's southern tip","Peninsula","peninsula","Cabo San Lucas"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 3 storm","a Category 4 storm","a tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["6 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Bud","Bud","Bud","Bud"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2018 Typhoon Jongdari hits central and western Japan, injuring at least 21 people and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes. The typhoon is the latest in the series of weather events to affect the country, following devastating floods and a fatal heat wave earlier in the month. (BBC)","document":"A powerful storm has hit central and western Japan, injuring at least 21 people and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes.\nTyphoon Jongdari (or \"skylark\" in Korean) brought torrential rain and winds of up to 180km/h (110mph).\nIt made landfall on the country's main island, Honshu, at 01:00 (16:00 GMT Saturday) on Sunday.\nWeather officials have since downgraded it to a tropical storm, but warn that heavy rain could trigger landslides.\nThe severe tropical storm Jongdari continues to move westward. Weather officials say heavy rainfall could trigger landslides and other disasters.\nJapan's public broadcaster NHK reports that 150,000 homes are without power.\nAs of midday local time, the storm was moving westwards and tens of thousands had been urged to leave their homes.\nOn Saturday, evacuation orders were issued to 36,400 people in the western city of Shobara, and 6,300 in the city of Kure.\n\"We are afraid that people may not be able to evacuate due to strong wind or floods blocking evacuation routes,\" said Hiroshima's governor, Hidehiko Yuzaki.\n\"I would like people to evacuate in advance so that they can save their lives.\"\nImages have shown huge waves crashing on to rocks off the coast south-west of Tokyo, and ferry services have been suspended. Late on Saturday, the rough seas smashed through the window of a hotel restaurant in the tourist town of Atami, injuring five people.\n\"We didn't expect this could happen... Waves gushed into the restaurant as the window glass broke but we are grateful that customers followed evacuation instructions,\" a hotel employee told AFP.\nHundreds of flights were also cancelled over the weekend as the storm neared the coast.\nJapan is still reeling from one of its worst flooding disasters in decades earlier this month, which saw more than eight million people ordered to leave their homes. More than 4,000 survivors are still living in temporary shelters.\nThe floods were swiftly followed by an unprecedented heatwave which was declared a natural disaster.\nAt least 80 people have been killed by the temperature, and more than 22,000 hospitalised with heat stroke.\nThe country is now in the grip of typhoon season, which sees tropical storms barrel across the Pacific throughout the summer months.\nJapan declares heatwave a natural disaster\nJapan recovers from floods after rainfall\nJapan floods and landslides kills scores\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Weather officials","Weather officials"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the country's main island, Honshu","country","central and western Japan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 21 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["01:00 (16:00 GMT Saturday) on Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jongdari","Jongdari","skylark"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 180km/h (110mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 Hurricane Lane enters the central Pacific as a category 4 hurricane. (Honolulu Star-Adviser)","document":"Hurricane Lane, a powerful Category 3 storm, is moving west in the Central Pacific on a path that will take it south of the Hawaiian islands later this week.\nLane is packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts and was about 1,180 miles east-southeast of Hilo moving west at 16 mph as of late Saturday night. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from Lane’s center and tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 105 miles, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii.\nThe storm is forecast to follow a similar path as Hurricane Hector which passed safely south of Hawaii earlier this month.\nThe five-day forecast for Lane calls for it to weaken to tropical-storm strength south of the islands by midweek.\n“Lane is forecast to pass south of the main Hawaiian islands Wednesday and Thursday, potentially causing local impacts as it tracks west-northwestward,” forecasters said at 11 p.m. Saturday. “Interests in those islands should watch the progress of Lane closely, since long-range forecast track and intensity errors can be large.”\n\n5 p.m. Saturday\nHurricane Lane moved into the Central Pacific this afternoon as a category 4 hurricane.\nLane is located 1,050 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 1,260 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. It has maximum sustained winds at 130 mph and is moving toward the west at 16 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center.\nA motion between west and west-northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.\n11 a.m.\nHurricane Lane is expected to cross into the Central Pacific basin in the next few hours.\nThe category 4 hurricane is located 1,135 miles east-southeast of Hilo with winds at 140 mph. Lane is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph. A motion between west and west-northwest with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.\n6:19 a.m.\nHurricane Lane continued to strengthen this morning, now packing maximum sustained winds of up to 140 mph with higher gusts.\nAs of 5 a.m. Hawaii time, Lane was located 1,230 miles east of Hilo and forecasted to reach the Central Pacific basin later today. Forecasters are predicting little change to Lane’s strength today and a gradual weakening beginning Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nHurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the eye of the hurricane and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","forecasters","the Central Pacific Hurricane Center","forecasted"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["south of the Hawaiian islands","south","Hawaiian islands","the Central Pacific basin","Central Pacific basin"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west-northwest","west","west","west","west","west","west-northwest","west","west","west-northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["later this week","later","today","today"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 4 hurricane","category 4 hurricane","Category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["16 mph","16 mph","15 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 140 mph","140 mph","140 mph","125 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 Hurricane Lane weakens to a Category 3 storm and is expected to pass south of Hawaii throughout the next few days. (CBS News) (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)","document":"Updated on: August 19, 2018 / 5:45 PM\n \n Hurricane Lane grew to a Category 4 storm on Saturday, but then weakened Sunday morning to a Category 3 as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center said. As of 11 a.m. ET Sunday, Lane was located 885 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.\nThe storm's maximum sustained winds are 120 mph, and it's moving west at about 15 mph. Forecasters say Lane is expected to lose power as it continues west-northwest over the next few days.\nThe current forecast track has it passing south of Hawaii's Big Island, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB reports. \nThere have already been strong storms in the Pacific Ocean in 2018, and water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego hit a record high this month. While hurricanes are virtually unheard of in California, conditions could potentially raise the threat.\n\"It could happen, especially if the ocean temperatures continue to stay in this anomalously warm state,\" said Art Miller, an oceanographer.\nScientists at the Scripps Pier have been recording historic temperatures in the Pacific Ocean as high as 79.5 degrees. That's about 10 degrees above normal.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","Forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 storm","a Category 3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lane","Lane","Lane"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 Hurricane Lane strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane for around three hours as it heads toward Hawaii, before returning to Category 4. (CNN)","document":"Hurricane Lane strengthened into a Category 5 storm as it rolled toward Hawaii -- just two weeks after Hurricane Hector passed the islands.\n\nHurricane Lane has weakened to a Category 4 storm, though it is forecast to remain a dangerous hurricane as it draws closer to the Hawaiian Islands, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says.\n\n.\n\nHurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii, as the Central Pacific does not see as many storms as the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific, and the Hawaiian Islands present a small target in the vast Pacific Ocean.\nOnly four named storms -- two hurricanes and two tropical storms -- have made landfall in Hawaii since 1959. Even close calls are somewhat rare, with Hawaii getting a named storm within 60 miles of its coastline about once every four years on average.\nTrack the storm here\nBut Hurricane Lane looks poised to affect the Aloha State, and was about 480 miles southeast of Honolulu early Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, just above the Category 5 threshold.\nThe forecast puts the storm very close to the islands, with a direct landfall possible later this week.\nThough the storm is expected to weaken somewhat as it approaches Hawaii, Lane has become one of only two Category 5 hurricanes to come within 350 miles of the state in recorded history, the National Weather Service said.\n\"On the forecast track, the center of Lane will move very close to or over the main Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday,\" the weather service said. A hurricane warning is in effect for Hawaii County while a hurricane watch has been issued for Maui County and Oahu.\nA hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area, and is issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.\n\"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,\" the National Weather Service said.\nA hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, according to the National Weather Service's (NWS) Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. More watches and even warnings could be necessary for additional islands as the storm moves closer in the next day or two.\nAmerican Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines issued travel advisories to customers flying to or from Hawaii. Both are waiving reservation change fees as the hurricane approaches.\nTropical-storm-force winds could arrive on Wednesday in the Big Island, and in the smaller islands by Thursday or Friday.\nIn addition to strong winds, the primary threats will be rough surf, coastal erosion, and heavy rainfall, even if the center of the storm does not move directly over the islands.\nLarge waves are already being experienced along the eastern edge of Hawaii, with a \"sizable swell already propagating out from this storm, which is currently impacting the eastern exposures throughout the Hawaiian Islands, showing strongest along the Hilo Side of the Big Island,\" according to Jonathan Warren, lead forecaster for Surfline.com.\nWhile there is still considerable uncertainty in the forecast for Lane, it appears the storm will be passing close enough to the islands on Thursday through Saturday to bring significant impacts to the southern portions of the islands, especially along the coastline.\nHawaii has been experiencing a volcanic eruption for much of the summer. Mount Kilauea began producing lava flows in early May and portions of the southeastern coastline of the Big Island have been transformed by the lava flows that covered over 13 square miles (35 square kilometers).\nFortunately, the eruptive activity of Kilauea has \"paused,\" with no new lava flows since August 9, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.\nSince there is not much lava reaching the ocean anymore, the hurricane shouldn't have too much of an impact on the volcano region, according to Denison University Geophysicist Erik Klemetti.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the Central Pacific Hurricane Center","Central Pacific Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaii","Hawaiian Islands","Hawaiian Islands","Hawaiian Islands","Hawaiian Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 5 storm","Category 5","5","a Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane","Lane"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 A study from the Milken Institute School of Public Health finds that a total of 2,975 people died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria, bringing the official death toll up from 64. (ABC News)","document":"Using a study from a team of independent researchers, officials in Puerto Rico said they're raising the official death toll from Hurricane Maria to 2,975 from 64.\nResearchers have determined that an estimated 2,975 people died from September 2017 through the end of February 2018. The independent study, from George Washington University's (GWU) Milken School of Public Health, was commissioned by the Puerto Rican government.\nAt a press conference Tuesday in San Juan, Gov. Ricardo Rossello announced he would be raising the island's official estimate to match that of the study.\nRossello called the announcement \"painful\" and said it's a time for Puerto Ricans to mourn and reflect.\nThe GWU report also showed that the risk of dying in the aftermath of Maria was 60 percent higher for those in the poorest communities and 35 percent higher for those aged 65 or older.\n\"There are huge inequalities in Puerto Rico that were brought up by the hurricane,\" said Carlos Santos-Burgoa, one of the principal investigators of the study.\nThe estimate of 2,975 was determined using a mathematical model based on historical patterns, with adjustments made for age and sex, researchers said. That sum is more than 4,500 percent higher than the original estimate of 64.\nPresident Donald Trump, who visited Puerto Rico in the days following the storm, initially told a crowd of Puerto Ricans to be \"very proud of all of your people\" because the death toll was so low.\n\"If you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died ... 16 people versus in the thousands,\" he said. Hurricane Katrina claimed more than 1,800 lives, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nOn Wednesday, a day after the announcement that thousands of lives were lost to Hurricane Maria, the president remained steadfast that his administration did a \"fantastic job.\" The storm was a \"tough one,\" Trump said, but he blamed the level of destruction on the island's geography and faulty electrical system.\n\"Puerto Rico was actually more difficult because of the fact it's an island,\" Trump said. \"With Texas, you're land-based, with Florida it was land-based ... I only hope they don't get hit again.\"\nIn a statement to ABC News, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz strongly disagreed with the president's characterization.\n“President Trump continues to demonstrate his inability to understand what his job in this crisis was all about: This was never about him, this was never about politics, this was about saving lives,\" Cruz wrote. \"His lack of sensibility is beyond offensive -- 2,975 people died because of his inability to get the job done. We will never forget!”\nDr. Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken School of Public Health, told ABC News the death rates have still not returned to the baseline, and that the deaths for the poor and elderly did not stop after the study concluded in February.\n\"We thought we would capture all the deaths if we looked at the period between September 2017 and February 2018, but in reality, even in February, there was still some excess deaths among the poor and the elderly,\" Goldman said. \"It might make sense to follow through for the next six months to see when the death rates actually return to baseline.\"\nHurricane Maria \"caused problems for people for months -- loss of electricity, issues with getting food and water, healthcare and other things people needed,\" Goldman added.\nThe GWU report also offered a blistering criticism of Rossello and his government, saying there was \"inadequate preparedness and personnel training for crisis and emergency risk communication.\"\nThese factors \"decreased the perceived transparency and credibility of the Government of Puerto Rico,\" the report said.\nRossello said he takes responsibility for what happened as a result of the passing of the storm.\n\"Yes, I made mistakes,\" he said. \"We could have done things differently.\"\nThe governor announced the creation of a commission that will start by working off the GWU recommendations to improve public health and safety as well as the creation of a registry of people considered vulnerable to future disasters. Rossello also said the commission would update Puerto Rico's preparedness plans to endure stronger hurricanes.\nA memorial at the University of Puerto Rico to commemorate the lives lost because of Maria also is planned, the governor said.\nOn Wednesday, Trump offered praise for the governor.\n\"We're still helping Puerto Rico, the governor is an excellent guy,\" he said. \"And he is very happy with the job we've done.\"\nGoldman said assistance provided to Puerto Rico needed to include assistance to the island's understaffed Department of Health.\nThe GWU team plans to conduct a second phase of the study to better understand everything that contributed to the death toll. They're looking for funding for additional phase.\nThe study's findings come after nearly a year of questions, uncertainty and political sparring over the human toll of the storm.\nCruz tweeted following the release of the study: \"The # of deaths 2,975 reinforces the pain inflicted on the people of PR and the violation of our human rights. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.\"\nShe added in the subsequent tweet: \"I am sure the small minded will now compare studies and concentrate on the difference in #s. Remember, no matter the # thousands died.\"\n\"We need to come to terms with the fact,\" Goldman told ABC News, \"that these storms are getting bigger and there are more of them and we all need to be prepared for them.\"\nOn Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the federal government will continue to support Rossello's efforts \"to ensure a full accountability and transparency of fatalities resulting from last year's hurricanes -- the American people, including those grieving the loss of a loved one, deserve no less.\"\n\"We are focused on Puerto Rico's recovery and preparedness for the current Hurricane season,\" Sanders said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["2,975","estimated 2,975"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 The National Hurricane Center issues advisories for what forecasters call a Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. If it strengthens to a tropical storm, it would be known as Florence. (Sun Sentinel)","document":" We can expect a soggy Labor Day holiday, with brief periods of intense rain beginning early Sunday expected to give way to more intense, prolonged rainfall as the day wears on.\n We can thank that broad patch of stormy weather drifting toward the Gulf of Mexico, tropical wave that forecasters now say is likely to become Tropical Storm Gordon off Southwest Florida Monday afternoon.\n Meanwhile, forecasters are also watching Tropical Storm Florence and a new wave off the African coast.\n A briefing issued Sunday morning by the National Weather Service said the system could soak southeast Florida cities from Miami to Jupiter from through early Tuesday. Winds as high as 18 mph, with gusts reaching 22 mph, are expected. Also possible are tornadoes and waterspouts.\n The current wind pattern is expected to gradually change and lead the storm over the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday or Wednesday. That will spread heavy rains across much of the Bahamas, South Florida and the Florida Keys during the next day or two, according to the National Hurricane Center.\n The heaviest rain, with three inches or more possible, is expected to fall along the coast from just south of Miami to just south of West Palm Beach, as the storm system moves through the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Weather Service.\n The mix of high pressure and the approaching tropical wave led the weather service to put out a rip current warning for the coast from Jupiter Inlet to Miami for Monday.\n “It’s related to the east winds that have increased in the last day or so,” said Robert Molleda, a meteorologist with the weather service.\n He said there’s a potential for flooding in the next 36 hours.\n Meanwhile, a patch of bad weather off the African coast formed into Tropical Storm Florence early Saturday morning but is not expected to reach hurricane strength or threaten the United States. It will strengthen over the next few days, however.\n At 11 a.m. Sunday, the tropical storm was located west of the Cape Verde Islands — which puts it about 2,500 miles from South Florida. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, with the system moving northwest at 14 mph. Additional slow strengthening is expected.\n According to the forecast, the system is expected to stay below hurricane strength, reaching a maximum 70 mph in early next week. The system’s current forecast cone appears to show it most likely to veer north into the Atlantic, missing the Caribbean and the United States.\n The forecast track has the future storm traveling west before turning toward the west-northwest over the next few days. Beyond that, it was too early to say with any certainty if the storm would threaten the United States, although some long-range outlooks were throwing doubt on that possibility.\n Forecasts produced by the long-range, computer-powered forecast models used by weather agencies around the world suggest the likely tropical cyclone could head west into the Atlantic before turning north into the open ocean before reaching the Caribbean Sea early next week, reducing the likelihood of landfall in the Caribbean islands or the United States.\n Also Sunday, forecasters are keeping an eye on a new tropical wave that just emerged off the African coast. The wave is forecast to move westward over the far eastern tropical Atlantic for the next several days. Upper-level winds are expected to gradually become more conducive for some slow development of this disturbance by the middle of the week.\n But forecasters warn that any long-range forecast should be viewed with skepticism because conditions could change.\n Other weather watchers are pointing that conditions in the Atlantic hurricane zone, which includes the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, are becoming more hospitable to cyclone formation.\n So far in 2018 the Atlantic tropics have been relatively quiet. At the start of August, hurricane experts at Colorado State University said that conditions in the Atlantic — cooler than average ocean surface temperatures and varying wind speeds in the atmosphere — have diminished the chances of a hurricane striking the U.S. during the remainder of the hurricane season, which goes until Nov. 30.\n John Homenuk, a meteorologist at nymetroweather.com, said in a tweet that “[d]evelopment conditions are about to become much less hostile in the Tropical Atlantic.”\n We’re also entering the peak of the hurricane season, when so-called Cape Verde storms emerge in the far eastern Atlantic.\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecasters","forecasters","forecasters","forecasters","National Weather Service","National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["three inches or more"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","eastern","Mexico","eastern"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["18 mph","22 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 The Typhoon Jebi in Taiwan killed six people while another was declared missing. (Taiwan News)","document":"TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Rogue waves have claimed six lives over the course of two days on the beaches of northeastern Taiwan's Yilan County as Typhoon Jebi, the strongest storm observed the planet so far this year, churns in the western Pacific Ocean. \nAt total of eight people were swept away and six have lost their lives after a series of rogue waves struck on Sunday and Monday at Mystery Beach and Lover's Bay, also known as Neipi Bay. \n\nThree separate deadly incidents involving rogue waves were reported in Yilan County's Mystery Beach in Nan'ao and Neipei Beach on Sunday.\nOn Nan'ao's Mystery Beach in Yilan County, a 52-year-old man surnamed Chou and his wife surnamed Liu, 50, were riding an ATV along with the 52-year-old ATV rental owner surnamed Ho, who was riding another ATV. Suddenly, they along with their vehicles were washed out to sea by a rogue wave that was estimated to be over 3 meters in height at 3:06 p.m., reported TVBS. \nRescuers said a Coast Guard Administration boat carried a male body to Nansing Inspection Office in Nan'ao at 6:36 p.m., and the body was confirmed to be Chou by his family, the report said. However, Ho is still missing, according to the report.\nLater that day, also on Mystery Beach, a 40-year-old woman surnamed Wei (魏) and her 10-year-old son surnamed Lee (李) were riding on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with friends when a massive rogue wave suddenly crashed into them and sucked them into the ocean, never to be seen again alive. \nAt 5:41 a.m. yesterday (Sept. 3), search and rescue personnel found the body of Wei about 1.6 nautical miles from Nan'ao's Mystery Beach. Four hours later, not far from the beach, the body of Lee was recovered as well. \nOn Neipi beach in Su'ao, an eight-year-old girl, who was enjoying the beach with her family and friends, was suddenly swept out to sea by a rogue wave and a male passerby surnamed Wu (吳) jumped in the water to try to save her. The girl was washed ashore and survived, however, the man drowned, and paramedics were unable to revive him. \nMonday\nAnother victim lost their life on the county's shores yesterday. The Yilan County Fire Department received a report on Monday morning around 11:15 a.m. that a middle-aged woman, had been walking along the shore of Yilan’s Suao (蘇澳) township along the Neipi Beach (內埤海灘) and was swept away by a wave.\nA search and rescue unit responded immediately, however the woman showed no signs of life when brought ashore. According to reports, the search and rescue operation was completed by noon, and the woman was rushed to the nearby Suao Branch of the Taipei Veteran’s Hospital, reports CNA.\nApple Daily reports that the woman was pronounced dead at 12:51 by doctors at the hospital.\nChia Hsin-hsing (賈新興), a supervisor of Weather Risk, said on his Facebook page that there are four types of situations when rogue waves are likely in the area, including: in the winter when the northeast monsoon is strong, in the summer when the southwest monsoon is strong, when typhoons are churning in the outer ocean, and at high tide during the lunar new year festival period, especially if there are monsoons or typhoons. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Mystery Beach and Lover's Bay, also known as Neipi Bay","Mystery Beach","Mystery Beach","Mystery Beach","Mystery Beach","beaches of northeastern Taiwan's Yilan County","Yilan County","Yilan County"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["six lives","At total of eight people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jebi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Tropical Storm Gordon forms in the Florida Keys and is forecast to strengthen over the next 48 hours as it brings strong winds and heavy rain to the Gulf of Mexico. (KXLY) (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News Parts of the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts were under a hurricane warning Tuesday after fast-developing Tropical Storm Gordon moved across South Florida on its way to the northern Gulf of Mexico.\nDozens of schools in Louisiana and Mississippi were closed as a precaution after Gordon became a tropical storm late Monday afternoon, NBC affiliate WDSU of New Orleans reported.\nThe National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for the mouth of the Pearl River, which divides Louisiana and Mississippi.\nGov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday that Louisiana would likely miss the worst of the storm, but he encouraged residents to remain vigilant and prepared. He earlier issued a state of emergency and authorized the activation of 200 National Guardsmen to be positioned in southeastern Louisiana.\n\"We still have some nasty weather headed our way,\" Edwards told reporters, adding that the state could expect winds of 40 mph to 70 mph. \"We're not out of the woods,\" he added.\nAt 11 a.m. ET, Gordon's top sustained winds were at 65 mph. It was about 130 miles south-southeast of the Mobile, Alabama, and was moving northwest at 15 mph.\nTropical storm and storm surge warnings were also in effect along a long stretch of the central Gulf Coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain, to the Alabama-Florida border. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declared states of emergency as the storm moved closer.\nGordon is expected to strengthen into a hurricane when it makes landfall along the northern Gulf Coast, sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but is then forecast to immediately weaken, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nThe center said tropical storm-force winds would hit parts of southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi coast by late Tuesday, with hurricane conditions also expected in the central Gulf Coast. The Mississippi coast can expect 4 to 7 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, it said.\nTropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph) from #Gordon are expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast by Tuesday afternoon, with hurricane-force winds (74-plus mph) expected by Tuesday evening. Power outages are possible in many areas: https://t.co/myUKr4N7ok pic.twitter.com/cqig0XPFvV\nThe Mississippi cities of Gulfport, Biloxi and Long Beach ordered mandatory evacuations of their harbors and marinas, and the U.S. Coast Guard temporarily closed the ports of New Orleans, Mobile and Pascagoula, Mississippi.\nThe storm was projected to become a depression as it moved farther north over Oklahoma and Arkansas.\nAll tropical storm warnings were canceled for South Florida and the Florida Keys as Gordon moved away, but not until after it had battered the region with heavy rain and winds.\nAuthorities in South Florida and across the Gulf Coast urged people to stay out of the water — warnings that beach lovers like Cameron Armstrong and Matthew Ewbanks ignored on their visit to Gulf Shores on the Alabama Gulf Coast.\n\"We got caught up in the undertow, and we almost died,\" Armstrong told NBC affiliate WPMI of Mobile on Monday.\nEwbanks said: \"It almost pulled us straight underneath. I literally had to grab his hand and help him. We got out of it barely alive.\"\nJeff Collier, mayor of Dauphin Island, Alabama, in the Gulf, said the storm was approaching just as the island was finishing up recovery from Hurricane Nate last year.\n\"We've just about got things cleaned up,\" Collier told WPMI. \"It's been a good summer, and hopefully this won't do too much damage.\"\nRay Coleman, a spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said residents should be on highest alert.\n\"My worry is that people might get hurricane amnesia, where they feel like, 'Oh, last year wasn't so bad,'\" Coleman told NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson. \"My thing is, no two storms are alike. Just because you made it through Hurricane Nate last year doesn't mean that this one will be the same.\"\nAs those on the Gulf Coast prepared for Tropical Storm Gordon, another storm was brewing in the Atlantic: Hurricane Florence formed Tuesday and was about 1,240 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nEarly projections show Florence — the third hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season — weakening into a storm before restrengthening as it heads northward.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the mouth of the Pearl River, which divides Louisiana and Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Mississippi","Parts of the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","parts","Louisiana","the northern Gulf of Mexico","northern Gulf","northern Gulf"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a tropical storm","Tropical Storm","Tropical storm","tropical storm","tropical storm","Tropical Storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gordon's","Gordon","Gordon","Gordon","Gordon","Gordon","Gordon","Gordon"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["65 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Typhoon Jebi kills at least 11 people in Japan, while more than 300 are injured. It is considered the strongest typhoon in the country in 25 years. (BBC)","document":"A major international airport in western Japan has been closed, with thousands of people evacuated, in the wake of deadly Typhoon Jebi.\nKansai airport, a major transport hub serving Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, was cut off when an ocean tanker hit and damaged its bridge to the mainland. Jebi, Japan's most powerful storm in 25 years, has killed at least 10 people.\nIn a separate incident, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake caused a landslide on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.\nA number of houses in the town of Atsumi were engulfed and several people were said to be trapped. There were no reports of fatalities.\nThe quake came as Typhoon Jebi left a trail of damage to infrastructure, ripping off roofs, overturning vehicles and cutting power.\nThe tanker was unmoored by the strong winds of Typhoon Jebi and drifted into the bridge.\nKansai International Airport is built on a man-made island and is linked to the mainland by the bridge.\nAbout 3,000 passengers were stranded overnight, some for more than 18 hours in terminals without power, before ferries and speedboats were deployed to evacuate them on Wednesday.\nOne passenger told broadcaster NHK: \"We had a blackout so there was no air conditioning. It was hot.\"\nSome people were able to leave on buses, using an unaffected part of the damaged bridge.\nRunways were also severely hit by surging water, with some aircraft flooded up to their engines.\nAll flights have been cancelled and there is no confirmation of when the airport will reopen. The Kansai airport website could only say that the runways and bridge would reopen on \"6 September or later\". Some reports said it could take a week.\nIn 2016, Kansai handled some 25 million passengers, making it the third busiest in Japan.\nIt recorded winds of up to 216km/h (135mph) and made landfall at about noon local time on Tuesday (03:00 GMT).\nIt moved quickly northwards over the mainland in the west of the country.\nIn addition to the deaths, some 300 people were injured, officials said.\nSome 400,000 households are said to be still without power.\nThe winds brought down part of the ceiling in the main railway station in the tourist hub of Kyoto.\nImages showed containers in ports thrown about like toy bricks and vehicles scattered across roads.\nDozens of cars were engulfed in fire at a depot in Nishinomiya as water short-circuited electrics.\nSome 1.2 million people had been advised to leave evacuated areas as the storm approached and local media say some 16,000 took to designated shelters overnight.\nPrime Minister Shinzo Abe tweeted: \"We continue to make utmost efforts to respond to disaster damage and restore infrastructure.\"\nThe Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka was closed again on Wednesday but should reopen on Thursday.\nFootage on social media showed the 100m (328ft) tall ferris wheel in Osaka spinning rapidly in the storm despite being switched off.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people","at least 10 people","About 3,000 passengers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwards"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jebi","Jebi","Jebi","Jebi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 216km/h (135mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Passengers who were planning on visiting Bermuda are forced to change plans and go to Maine and Canada thanks to a threat of safety posed by Hurricane Florence. (CBS)","document":"WBZ News BOSTON (CBS) – Cruise passengers who had planned to sail to Bermuda will instead be visiting Bar Harbor and other locations up north thanks to Florence.\nThe hurricane-turned-tropical-storm has forced Norwegian Cruise Lines to alter its itinerary. The latest forecast shows Florence strengthening into a Category 3 hurricane and tracking just south of Bermuda next week.\n“The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority,” Norwegian Cruise Lines said in a statement. “Due to Hurricane Florence in the Eastern Atlantic, we have modified Norwegian Dawn’s itinerary.”\nThe Norwegian Dawn, departing from Boston on Friday, will skip Bermuda entirely. Instead, the ship will call in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Bar Harbor, Maine.\n“Our on board team is prepared to ensure the best vacation experience possible given these weather related necessary changes,” the cruise line said. “We will continue to closely monitor the storm and provide additional updates as they become available.”\nThe news was a bitter pill for vacationers all decked out for sunshine. Most took the news in stride.\n“We’ll make sunshine wherever we go,” one woman said. “I don’t care,” another woman said. “We’re on vacation. We’re all together and we’re going to have fun, make the best of it.”\nOther passengers were disappointed, like Elaine and Keith Bornn who drove from Canada to Boston. “Seriously? But I’ve been to all these places,” said Keith. “We’ve been about five months planning it and it’s what, seven hours to drive down yesterday.”\nThey packed for Bermuda ?. Now they’re headed to Maine and Canada instead. Disappointing news for passengers on the Norwegian Dawn changing its itinerary to avoid potentially dangerous weather. #wbz pic.twitter.com/0rg6oBZhV5\n— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) September 7, 2018\nRoyal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines are telling passengers on social media that no decision has been made yet on trips to Bermuda, but they are actively monitoring the storm.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["vacationers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 3 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Florence","Florence","Florence"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2016 The death toll from mudslides in Eastern Mexico triggered by Hurricane Earl rises to 38, with 28 people killed in Puebla, and 10 others in Veracruz. (Reuters)","document":"MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mudslides triggered by intense rainfall in eastern Mexico killed 40 people at the weekend as saturated hillsides collapsed onto modest homes in the wake of now-dissipated Tropical Storm Earl.\nMexicans mourn mudslide victims\n\nThe death toll rose late on Sunday after state governors in the two most affected states confirmed two more deaths from a series of mudslides that struck hillside communities.\nThe head of national emergency services previously put the death toll at 38, the vast majority of whom were found in Puebla state, while the remainder died in neighboring Veracruz.\nRafael Morena Valle, governor of Puebla state, said canine units were searching for the missing, but the number of unaccounted for residents was unclear.\nImages of the damage from Earl, broadcast on Mexican television, showed massive mudslides burying entire hillsides, trees felled and buildings creaking under collapsed walls and roofs.\nOn the Pacific coast, Mexico’s Baja California peninsula braced for another major storm to strike as early as Monday.\nTropical Storm Javier was generating maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (80 kph) on Sunday night and was forecast to become a hurricane late Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a statement.\nThe center of the storm was expected to strike the southern tip of Baja, home to the beach resort of Los Cabos, by Monday night.\nAt least 25 of the deaths in Puebla state were confirmed on Sunday near the town of Huauchinango in the rugged Sierra Norte de Puebla mountains, site of the worst destruction so far.\nEleven people have died in Veracruz, buried in landslides after intense rainfall and flooding struck the Gulf coast state after Earl crossed the Yucatan peninsula.\n“We continue to monitor rivers that are above critical levels,” Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte said in a post on Twitter on Sunday.\nBefore striking Mexico, Earl battered Belize last Thursday, smashing car windows and punching holes in the roofs of Belize City’s wooden houses. It also flooded parts of the coast.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the U.S. National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["death toll at 38","death toll","two more deaths","deaths","40 people","At least 25","Eleven people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Javier","Javier"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["50 miles per hour (80 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2016 Remnants of Hurricane Earl helped form Tropical Storm Javier which is southeast of the Mexican resort of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California Peninsula. A hurricane warning is issued for the southern portion of the peninsula. Rainfall from the storm is expected to impact the American Southwest, starting Tuesday evening. (The Yucatan Times) (The Weather Channel) (NHC)","document":"While remnants of Tropical Storm Earl were helping fuel the formation of Tropical Storm Javier off Mexico’s Pacific coast early Monday Aug. 8, at least 40 people were reported killed by landslides in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz after Earl hit eastern Mexico, according to the official Twitter account of National Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Puente.\nBefore becoming a tropical storm as it moved across the region and then being downgraded to a tropical depression, the storm was Hurricane Earl.\nRainfall totals of 3-6 inches (locally up to 10 inches) are expected over coastal parts of the Mexico’s Sinaloa and southern Sonora states into Baja California.\nIn addition, Javier may help to send a surge of tropical moisture into the Southwest U.S. by midweek, with locally heavy rain and flooding in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.\nJavier formed partially from the remnants of Hurricane Earl, which impacted the Yucatan Peninsula and other parts of southeastern Mexico, as well as Belize and Honduras over the weekend and late last week.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["3-6 inches (locally up to 10 inches)","locally"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern Mexico","eastern Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 40 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Javier","Javier","Javier"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2016 Remnants of Hurricane Earl helped form Tropical Storm Javier which is southeast of the Mexican resort of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California Peninsula. A hurricane warning is issued for the southern portion of the peninsula. Rainfall from the storm is expected to impact the American Southwest, starting Tuesday evening. (The Yucatan Times) (The Weather Channel) (NHC)","document":"\nTropical Storm Javier developed from an area of low pressure, called a Tehuantepecer, and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Earl that crossed mainland Mexico in early August. \nIn the first week of August 2016, an area of low pressure formed south of Mexico and gained moisture from the remnants of the Atlantic's Hurricane Earl. By August 7, the low-pressure system had gained enough organization to be declared a tropical depression. \nBy later that day, the tropical depression developed into a tropical storm. Winds gusted to 46 mph in Manzanillo when Javier was near the southwest coast of Mexico.\nOn August 8, Javier intensified into a 65 mph tropical storm near Cabo San Lucas. Over the next day, Javier paralleled Baja California as it moved toward the north and began to weaken. \nScattered showers and storms mainly on the periphery of former Javier's circulation continued to produce locally heavy rain and flash flooding of normally dry washes and arroyos into the following week. \nAs with many tropical cyclones tracking near Baja California, Javier has helped to pull a surge of moisture northward into the Southwest U.S. For more details on that story,\n\nJavier formed partially from the remnants of Hurricane Earl, which impacted Belize, Honduras and Mexico in early August.\nHow often does a \"ghost\" or remnant of a past tropical storm or hurricane help form a new one in a different basin?\nAccording to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division, it's more common than it sounds.\nIt most recently occurred in October 2014 when eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Trudy made landfall in Mexico. After that, NOAA/HRD says the following occurred:\nIt's happened in the opposite direction, as well.\nIn 2001, Iris made a devastating landfall in southern Belize as a Category 4 hurricane after a less-than-five-day cruise through the Caribbean Sea, spun down to a remnant low, then was reborn as Tropical Storm Manuel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, lasting over a week in that basin.\nNOAA-HRD documented 15 total cases of remnants of tropical storms or hurricanes from one basin helping to form new tropical storms or hurricanes in another basin, dating to 1923. They caution that due to lack of satellite data, some other cases prior to the 1970s may have gone undetected.\nThis has occurred 11 times since the 1970s, or once every 3 to 4 years, on average. One of these cases involved 1974's Hurricane Fifi, responsible for anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 deaths (primarily due to rainfall flooding) in Central America.\n(MORE: Tragic History From Tropical Cyclones in Mexico, Central America)\nAnother bizarre case involved a Category 5 landfall in Belize (Hurricane Hattie in 1961) whose remnant helped form eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Simone.\nBut there's more.\nSimone's remnant then ended up back in the Bay of Campeche, merging with another disturbance to help form Tropical Storm Inga.\nTo recap, that was Atlantic to eastern Pacific back to Atlantic Basin.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Manzanillo"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Earl","Earl","Earl","Javier","Javier","Javier","Javier","Javier","Javier","Javier"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["46 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2016 The National Hurricane Center declares a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning from the Anclote River, north of Tampa, to Destin, Florida, near the Georgia border. Hermine, now at 45 mph (75 km), is expected to reach hurricane strength when it makes landfall Thursday afternoon. Florida Governor Rick Scott, with life-threatening flooding forecast, declares a state of emergency. (Reuters) (NHC)","document":"KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (Reuters) - Hurricane Madeline weakened to a tropical storm on Wednesday as it advanced toward Hawaii’s Big Island, while a hurricane warning was issued for another storm approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida, where the governor has called an emergency.\nStrong winds and driving rain pounded both northwest Florida and Big Island as residents braced for even wilder weather.\nHawaii officials opened shelters and closed offices, schools and roads on Wednesday to prepare for Madeline, which is expected to pass just south of the Big Island.\n“We should all be hunkering down as the storm passes,” said Hawaii County Civil Defense spokeswoman Kanani Aton.\nMadeline, as it weakened with sustained winds of about 70 mph (113 kph) on Wednesday afternoon, was about 75 miles (121 km) southeast of the Big Island, said Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologist Ray Tanabe.\nThe tropical storm, before it moves westward out of reach of Hawaii, could dump as much as 15 inches (40 cm) of rain on parts of the Big Island, according to the National Weather Service. The storm already was lashing the island with rain and wind, resulting in some road closures, Tanabe said.\nHurricane Lester, currently a major Category 4 storm, could affect Hawaii over the weekend.\nHawaii Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation that runs through Sept. 9, freeing up state resources.\nMeantime, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for a portion of northwestern Florida as Tropical Storm Hermine continued to strengthen over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.\nThe system was located about 315 miles (510 kilometer) west-southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h), the Miami-based weather forecaster said late on Wednesday.\nThe NHC said additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 to 36 hours, and Hermine is expected to be a hurricane as it reaches the Florida’s northern Gulf Coast by Thursday afternoon and then sweep across northern parts of the state with driving rain, then northeast along the Atlantic Coast.\nFlorida’s governor declared an emergency on Wednesday ahead of the brewing storm as many school districts along the Gulf Coast canceled after-school activities and ordered students to stay home on Thursday.\nHeavy rains were already pounding parts of the state on Wednesday. As much as 20 inches (50 cm) could fall over northwest Florida, the NHC said, warning of storm surges and “life-threatening inundation.”\nOn its current path, the system would dump as much as 10 inches (25 cm) of rain on coastal areas of Georgia, which was under a tropical storm watch, and the Carolinas.\nLori Hebert, 40, woke up on Wednesday to flood waters seeping into her house in the Tampa Bay region. Catfish came onto her driveway as the street flooded in Gulfport, a small waterfront city.\n“We haven’t gotten the main storm yet,” she said, loading a dozen sandbags into her van.\nU.S. oil and gas producers in east of the Gulf of Mexico removed workers from 10 offshore platforms, moved drilling rigs and shut some output because of the storm.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the governor","Governor","governor","Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologist","the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["15 inches (40 cm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Gulf Coast of Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Gulf Coast","Florida","Gulf Coast","Florida","a portion of northwestern Florida","Hawaii’s Big Island","Big Island","Big Island","Big Island","Big Island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Madeline","Madeline","Madeline","Hermine","Hermine","Lester"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["70 mph (113 kph)","60 mph (95 km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 Residents of the American state of Florida prepare for the impact of Hurricane Hermine which is expected to make landfall today. A state of emergency has been declared in 51 of the 67 counties in the state. (Reuters/AFP via ABC News Australia)","document":"Hurricane Hermine has swept onto Florida's Gulf coast with winds and heavy rain causing flooding and cutting power to tens of thousands of people, as officials warn of \"life-threatening\" conditions.\nThe Category One storm made landfall on Friday morning local time near St Marks, just south of Florida's capital Tallahassee, with 130 kilometre per hour winds extending 72 kilometres from the hurricane's eye, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.\n\"There is a danger of life-threatening inundation within the next 12 to 24 hours along the Gulf coast of Florida,\" it added.\nThe storm is moving north-northeast at 23kph.\nSome 70,000 people in rain-drenched Tallahassee were already without power as local television stations broadcast video footage of buffeting winds and cars driving through flooded streets.\nAuthorities in several counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents living on the coast and in low-lying regions.\n\"This is life-threatening,\" Governor Rick Scott said on Thursday, urging residents to take warnings seriously.\n\"We have a hurricane. You can rebuild a home. You can rebuild property. You cannot rebuild a life,\" he said.\nHundreds of schools and government offices will be closed on Friday as residents brace for the storm's full impact.\nHermine is the first hurricane to hit Florida in 11 years since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.\nPentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said 100 Florida National Guard personnel were activated, with 6,000 more on alert in the state and 34,000 members ready to deploy from elsewhere in the United States.\nPresident Barack Obama has asked FEMA administrator Craig Fugate to keep him updated on the situation \"and to alert him if there are any significant unmet needs\", White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.\n\"Local, state and federal officials have been working diligently to prepare for these storms and have resources on hand to respond to them as necessary,\" he added.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near St Marks, just south of Florida's capital Tallahassee","Florida","Florida's Gulf coast","Florida","Gulf coast","Florida","Florida"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["tens of thousands of people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["The Category One storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["23kph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hermine","Hermine"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["130 kilometre per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 A study concludes that typhoons in Asia are becoming stronger. (The Guardian)(Nature Geoscience)","document":"Giant storms that wreak havoc across China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines have grown 50% stronger in the past 40 years due to warming seas\nLast modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 17.10 GMT\nThe destructive power of the typhoons that wreak havoc across China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines has intensified by 50% in the past 40 years due to warming seas, a new study has found.\nThe researchers warn that global warming will lead the giant storms to become even stronger in the future, threatening the large and growing coastal populations of those nations.\n“It is a very, very substantial increase,” said Prof Wei Mei, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who led the new work. “We believe the results are very important for east Asian countries because of the huge populations in these areas. People should be aware of the increase in typhoon intensity because when they make landfall these can cause much more damage.”\nTyphoons can have devastating impacts in east Asia. In 2013, typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, killing at least 6,300 people and affecting 11 million. Typhoon Nina struck China in 1975, dumping 100cm of rain in a day and leading to 229,000 deaths and 6m destroyed buildings. Last week typhoon Lionrock left 11 people dead in northern Japan and caused power blackouts and property damage, while in July typhoon Nepartak hit Taiwan and China, killing at least nine people and leaving a trail of destruction.\nIn the new research, published in Nature Geoscience, the scientists took data collected independently by centres in Japan and Hawaii and, after accounting for differences in the way it had been collected, showed that typhoons in the north-west Pacific had intensified by 12–15% on average since 1977. The proportion of the most violent storms - categories 4 and 5 - doubled and even tripled in some regions over that time and the intensification was most marked for those storms which hit land.\nThe intensity of a typhoon is measured by the maximum sustained wind speed, but the damage caused by its high winds, storm surges, intense rains and floods increases disproportionately, meaning a 15% rise in intensity leads to a 50% rise in destructive power.\nThe researchers showed that the intensification of typhoons making landfall occurred because warmer coastal seas provided more energy to growing storms, enabling their wind speeds to increase more rapidly.\nScientists are not yet able to determine whether manmade climate change or natural cycles are to blame for the warming seas in the region because 40 years is a relatively short time span for such phenomena. But Wei is clear that the future global warming, as projected by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, would heat the oceans in the region and lead to even more intense typhoons.\nMei said: “We want to give the message that typhoon intensity has increased and will increase in the future because of the warming climate.” He said action was needed to both prepare for future typhoons and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to curb warming: “Understanding intensity change is very important for disaster preparation.”\nProf Kerry Emanuel, an expert on tropical cyclones at MIT and not involved in the new research said: “The results leave little doubt that there are more high intensity events affecting south-east Asia and China, and these are also intensifying more rapidly.”\n“This is significant for these nations because what matters, in the end, is landfall size and intensity,” he said. “Stronger storms cause higher storm surges, which often cause the most destruction and loss of life.” Previous work by Emanuel showed tropical cyclones are likely to become more frequent and stronger if climate change is not curbed.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Prof Wei Mei"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["100cm of rain"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["China","China","China","China","Philippines","Philippines","across China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines","across China","Japan","Korea","Philippines","Japan","Japan","northern Japan","Taiwan and China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 6,300 people","affecting 11 million","229,000 deaths","11 people","at least nine people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haiyan","Nina","Lionrock","Nepartak"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 Typhoon Meranti hits mainland China and Taiwan killing at least eight people and destroying 1,600 houses. (The Wall Street Journal) (AP via ABC News)","document":"At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan.\nChina's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing.\nTaiwanese authorities reported that one person died in the storm.\nAccording to Chinese officials, Meranti forced the relocation of 33 million people and destroyed 1,600 homes. Images shared by state news media showed power lines and destroyed vehicles downed on streets in the coastal city of Xiamen. Taiwanese media reported that parts of southern Taiwan remain flooded.\nBut even as the cleanup is underway there, another typhoon, Malakas, is expected to hit Taiwan late Friday and Saturday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","southeastern China and Taiwan","Taiwan","Fujian province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least eight people","seven","Nine people","one person"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Thursday","late Friday and Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Meranti","Meranti","Malakas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 The storm cuts power and communications in the Philippine province of Batanes as it undergoes a \"state of calamity.\" (Rappler)","document":"The province does not have power, and communication lines are cut in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, and Mahatao\n\nCAGAYAN, Philippines – Batanes province has been placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ferdie (Meranti).\nNorma Talosig, chief of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley region, confirmed to Rappler on Friday, September 16, that the provincial board declared the province under a state of calamity on Thursday, September 15.\nThe declaration follows the recommendation of the provincial disaster management agency, according to Talosig.\nGovernor Marilou Cayco said on Friday that the declaration will allow the provincial government to \"immediately respond to the restoration needs of some facilities which were greatly affected by strong the typhoon and to enable quick response and service delivery to the affected families.\"\nCayco said the provincial government will prioritize families whose houses were totally damaged by strong winds.\nOn Thursday, Batanes Representative Henedina Abad said the province was \"heavily\" damaged by Ferdie.\nAbad said the province still had no power supply, and the communication lines in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, and Mahatao had been cut.\n“Our communities at the moment do not have access to water or electricity, and communication across the province is difficult to establish,” Abad said, adding that there was also great damage in agriculture and infrastructure.\n\nShe said she's \"thankful\" that there were no casualties reported.\nTalosig, meanwhile, reported 50 houses were totally damaged while 100 were partially damaged.\nThe buildings of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Technical Education Development Authority (TESDA), Basco Central School, Batanes National High School, Provincial Capitol building and Sto Domingo Church also suffered damages.\n'No help yet'\nIn a Facebook post, Rachel Ponce, Abad's aide who is a resident of Itbayat, pleaded for help as they have yet to contact some towns.\nPonce lamented the lack of media coverage on the aftermath of Ferdie in Batanes, saying the damage had left some town islands isolated.\n\"Nakakalungkot na [sobra ang] media coverage [sa] Senate samantalang ang mga kahilyan (kababayan) sa Itbayat eh nagiiyak na sa pag aalala sa Itbayat Island,\" Ponce said.\n(It is saddening that the Senate is receiving a huge media coverage while our countrymen in Itbayat are crying and worried of what had happened to our families in Itbayat Island.)","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Norma Talosig, chief of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)","the provincial disaster management agency"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the towns of Basco, Itbayat, and Mahatao","towns","Basco","Itbayat","Mahatao","Basco","Itbayat","Itbayat","Itbayat","Itbayat","Itbayat","Batanes province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ferdie","Ferdie","Ferdie"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 Taiwan braces for the potential impact of Typhoon Megi which is strengthening as it approaches the island. (AccuWeather)","document":" Typhoon Megi will continue to strengthen through Monday before threatening lives and property across Taiwan and eastern China this week.\nOn Monday, outer rain bands from Megi will begin to move into Japan's southernmost Ryukyu Islands and eastern Taiwan, but the most intense winds will remain across the Philippines Sea posing hazards only to shipping interests as rain, wind and seas increase around its center.\nDanger to lives and property will heighten Monday night as the typhoon takes aim at land.\n\"The most likely area to experience significant impacts will be across Taiwan and then into southeastern China,\" AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.\nJapan's southernmost Ryukyu Islands or far northern Luzon Island in the Philippines could be grazed by gusty showers and rough surf as well.\nEven though the Philippines will escape the damaging winds and flooding rain from Megi, moisture may still be drawn onto western Luzon Island and trigger flash flooding, including in Manila.\nTaiwan, on the other hand, should brace for Megi to make a direct hit.\nTaiwan weather centerAccuWeather typhoon centerVIDEO: Building crumbles into raging river during deadly flooding in China\n\"Impacts to Taiwan are expected to gradually increase on Monday, but will be the worse from Monday night through Tuesday (local time),\" Douty said.\nThe strength of Megi will be equal to that of a Category 3 hurricane when it slams into southeastern Taiwan with destructive winds, flooding rain and an inundating storm surge.\nNear the point of landfall in southeastern Taiwan, wind gusts are expected to be near 200 km/h (125 mph). Rainfall will exceed 250 mm (10 inches) in many areas. Over 500 mm (20 inches) could fall in some of the mountainous terrain.\nEven though Megi will pass well to the south of Taipei, the city could still see damaging wind gusts of 65-130 km/h (60-80 mph). Power cuts and minor structural damage are possible.\nThere is a greater risk of Megi causing wind damage and flooding across Taiwan since the island has been affected by both Super Typhoon Meranti and Typhoon Malakas in the last two weeks.\n\"Even though Megi will not be nearly as strong as Meranti, it could cause more damage than expected because of infrastructure already weakened by Meranti and the glancing blow from Malakas,\" AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.\nAlready saturated and loose soil could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.\nMegi will then threaten eastern China after battering Taiwan, likely on Tuesday night into Wednesday.\nA closeup look of Megi in the western Pacific Ocean. (NOAA satellite)\nDouty is most concerned for Megi to move into southeastern China, likely from eastern Guangdong to Fujian, he said.\n\"While we should see weakening by [the time Megi reaches China], there could still be damaging wind near the point of landfall along with flooding rain,\" Douty said.\nThe mountainous terrain of Taiwan will cause Megi to be past its peak intensity as it tracks toward eastern China, but will likely be a tropical storm or possible a typhoon at landfall.\nMegi will continue to weaken once over land in eastern China. While the risk of damaging winds will lessen as Megi weakens, flooding rain will likely remain a concern until Megi dissipates.\n\nA tropical wave is likely to become the Atlantic Basin's next tropical storm as it approaches or crosses the Caribbean Sea later this week and potentially pose eventual threats to North America.\nFall air has finally arrived in the northeastern United States and may yield the first frost of the season in parts of the region to end this weekend.\nTyphoon Megi will continue to strengthen before threatening lives and property across Taiwan and eastern China this week.\nDownpours will not be so quick to depart Texas as other parts of the central United States into Monday, further heightening the risk of flooding.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["across Taiwan and then into southeastern China","across Taiwan","southeastern China","across Taiwan and eastern China","across Taiwan","eastern China","across Taiwan","eastern China","eastern China","eastern China","across Taiwan","eastern China","Japan's southernmost Ryukyu Islands and eastern Taiwan","Japan","southernmost Ryukyu Islands","eastern Taiwan","eastern Taiwan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["this week","week","this week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi","Megi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 Taiwan authorities close schools and offices as Typhoon Megi approaches the island. (AP via Star-Telegram)","document":"A massive typhoon left one person dead in eastern China on Wednesday, a day after killing four and injuring 260 in Taiwan.\nTyphoon Megi weakened to a tropical storm after hitting the coastal city of Quanzhou in Fujian province before dawn, packing winds of up to 118 kilometers (74 miles) per-hour, China's National Meteorological Center said.\nOne person died after several structures collapsed in Quanzhou, state-approved news media reported. In Fuzhou, Fujian's provincial capital, people were shown on state television walking through knee-deep waters that had swamped major roads. Schools were closed and dozens of flights were canceled.\nThe storm was forecast to move northwest Wednesday and fade gradually.\nIn Taiwan on Tuesday, the typhoon's bands of heavy rain and sustained winds of 162 kilometers (100 miles) per-hour blanketed the island by midafternoon as the eye of the storm made landfall on the east coast. Authorities had raised alert levels for Taiwan, which is prone to landslides and flooding, said National Fire Agency Director-General Chen Wen-lung.\nThe 268 injured included eight Japanese tourists traveling in a tour bus that turned on its side in central Taiwan. Three people suffered fatal falls and a fourth person died in a truck crash, said Lee Wei-sen, a spokesman for Taiwan's Central Emergency Operations Center. Many of the injuries were from falling and wind-blown objects.\nMegi was 500 kilometers (310 miles) in diameter at its largets, and rainfall had topped 300 millimeters (12 inches) in the south and eastern mountains of Taiwan.\nMore than 8,000 people were evacuated, mostly from mountainous areas at risk of landslides or floods. About 2,800 went to shelters, Chen said. Approximately 2.9 million households lost power overnight.\nThe weather delayed more than 121 flights and forced the cancellation of 253 more at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport, while another seven were diverted to other Taiwanese airports. Authorities had closed schools, offices and most of Taiwan's railway system.\nMegi is the fourth typhoon of the year to hit Taiwan and third in the last two weeks.\nOn the Chinese coast, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Taiwan at its nearest point, fishing boats were ordered back to port, China's official Xinhua News Agency said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the coastal city of Quanzhou in Fujian province","Quanzhou","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","eastern China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["one person dead","killing four","injuring 260","One person died"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","before dawn"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Megi","Megi","Megi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["118 kilometers (74 miles) per-hour","per-hour"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2016 Hurricane Matthew becomes a category-5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds up to 160 mph, the strongest hurricane to form over the Caribbean Sea since Hurricane Felix in 2007. It is expected to impact parts of Haiti, Jamaica and eastern Cuba. (ABC News), (AP)","document":"— -- Hurricane Matthew continues to be unpredictable: At 10:57 p.m. on Friday, the National Hurricane Center announced Matthew had strengthened from a Category 4 to a Category 5 hurricane over the Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds up to 160 mph.\nBut less than six hours later, at 4:45 a.m on Saturday, the NHC announced Matthew had weakened and returned to a Category 4 hurricane.\nHurricane #Matthew advisory 13 issued. #Matthew weakens slightly and is now a category 4 hurricane.\nHurricane #Matthew advisory 13 issued. #Matthew weakens slightly and is now a category 4 hurricane.\nAlthough Matthew has officially weakened, ABC News meteorologist Daniel Manzo says its current maximum sustained winds are up to 155 mph -- a decrease of only 5 mph from late Friday night. Plus, it continues to move westward at 7 mph, as it was earlier.\n\"Matthew is still a really powerful and dangerous storm.\" Manzo says. \"Regardless whether the storm is a strong category 4 or a weak Category 5, the storm is very well organized, very intense and has the potential to bring major impacts to parts of the Caribbean early next week\"\nAfter touching CAT 5 status overnight, #Matthew is now a strong CAT 4 #hurricane with 155 mph sustained winds. pic.twitter.com/lhTkFJd3v4— Rob Marciano (@RobMarciano) October 1, 2016\nAfter touching CAT 5 status overnight, #Matthew is now a strong CAT 4 #hurricane with 155 mph sustained winds. pic.twitter.com/lhTkFJd3v4\nPrior to slightly weakening, Matthew had been the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic since Hurricane Felix in 2007, according to the NHC. It is also the second major hurricane in the Atlantic Basin in 2016.\nAs of Friday at 11 p.m. ET, Matthew was centered about 80 miles northwest of Punta Gallinas, Colombia, and about 440 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.\nMatthew is expected to hit eastern Jamaica on Monday. But Evan Thompson, director of the National Meteorological Service, told The Associated Press that the first effects of Matthew may be felt as early as Saturday.\n\"We do consider it serious,\" he said. \"We are all on high alert.\"\nA hurricane watch has been issued for Jamaica, and rainfall totals of 10 to 15 inches with maximum sustained amounts of 25 inches are expected across Jamaica and southern and southwestern Haiti.\nThe U.S. embassy in Kingston announced Friday that its consular services section will be closed on Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of Matthew.\nDue to the anticipated effects of #HurricaneMatthew, @USEmbassyJA will be closed for Consular Services on Oct 3 & 4. https://t.co/tH7sQoz34j— US Embassy Jamaica (@USEmbassyJA) September 30, 2016\nDue to the anticipated effects of #HurricaneMatthew, @USEmbassyJA will be closed for Consular Services on Oct 3 & 4. https://t.co/tH7sQoz34j\nThe hurricane is on path to travel west-by-southwest through the central Caribbean on Friday afternoon and to retain its strength as a major hurricane, the National Hurricane Center showed.\nBy early Sunday morning, Matthew is forecast to begin to turn north toward Jamaica.\nAfter it is expected to hit Jamaica on Monday, the eastern part of Cuba could see a direct hit later that evening from Matthew with damaging winds, flooding rain and large waves.\n\"As Matthew moves over Cuba it will lose some strength due to the friction with the land mass,\" ABC News meteorologist Max Golembo said. \"As it re-emerges north of Cuba in the Bahamas it could regain its strength back.\"\nGolemo added Friday, \"At this time, most forecast models keep Hurricane Matthew east of Florida, and only a few models have it hitting Florida by the middle of next week.\"\nMatthew developed very quickly from a tropical wave into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The only other storm that has done this was Hurricane Debbie in 1961, Golembo said.\nAs Matthew moved over the eastern Caribbean, it brought wind gusts from 50 mph to 60 mph from Dominique to St. Lucia and Barbados. Heavy rain of up to 3 inches fell on the islands, producing landslides and flash flooding. Landslides were so severe that one person was killed by a boulder in St. Vincent.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["westward"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category 4 hurricane","Category 4 hurricane","a Category 4 hurricane","category 4 hurricane","category 4 hurricane","a Category 4 to a Category 5 hurricane","category 4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["7 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155 mph","155 mph","155 mph","up to 160 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew, at Category 4 strength with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), temporarily stalls as it heads towards Jamaica and Haiti. Weather forecasters expect tropical storm conditions today with landfall tomorrow. Further, they expect rainfall of 20 inches, with up to 40 inches in some parts of southern Haiti. (BBC), (NBC News), (The National Hurricane Center)","document":"Hurricane Matthew has weakened slightly as it moves towards Jamaica, but is still packing winds of up to 230km/h (145mph), strong enough to wreck houses, forecasters say.\nIt is now a category four storm, the US National Hurricane Center says, after earlier reaching the top category five on a scale of intensity.\nJamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged citizens to make all necessary preparations.\nThe storm is due to hit land on Monday.\nIt is expected to reach Jamaica's southern coast first, but is also likely to reach Haiti and Cuba. Cuban President Raul Castro has travelled to the eastern city of Santiago to supervise preparations for the storm.\nOfficials have warned the high winds could batter Jamaica's main tourist areas including Montego Bay in the north.\nWith the government on high alert, PM Holness said people should expect the worse.\n\"What we have control over is our ability to prepare,\" he said. \"We hold firm to the view that our preparation can reduce loss of life and damage to property.\"\nLocal emergency teams as well as the police and army are on standby, while shelters are being set up throughout the island, his office said.\nAs the storm approaches, many Jamaicans have been stocking up on water and food.\nTropical storm warnings have also been issued for parts of coastal Colombia and Haiti over the weekend.\nHaitian authorities say the priority is to protect the southern islands of the country, whose inhabitants they have described as \"first at risk\", according to AFP news agency.\nForecasters said up to 38cm (15 ins) of rain could fall across Jamaica and on southern Haiti.\nWhile Jamaica was damaged by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the last major storm in the region was Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Matthew could be the most powerful storm to hit the island since records began, meteorologist Eric Holthaus said on Twitter.\nHurricane strengthens near Bahamas\nHurricane claims life in Jamaica\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecasters","Forecasters","the US National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Jamaica's southern coast first, but is also likely to reach Haiti and Cuba","Jamaica","Jamaica","Jamaica","Jamaica","Jamaica","Jamaica"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category four storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 230km/h (145mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Weather forecasters issue hurricane warnings for eastern Cuba, from Las Tunas to Guantánamo provinces. (The Los Angeles Times), (The National Hurricane Center)","document":"A powerful Hurricane Matthew moved slowly Sunday across the Caribbean Sea on a track that authorities warned could trigger devastation in parts of Haiti.\nThe storm had winds of 145 mph as it moved northwest and the center was expected to pass across or very close to the southwestern tip of Haiti late Monday before reaching Cuba, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.\nA hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. Forecasters said the southern Haitian countryside around Les Cayes could see the worst of it.\n“Wherever that center passes close to would see the worst winds and that’s what’s projected to happen for the western tip of Haiti,” said John Cangilosi, a hurricane specialist at the center. “There is a big concern for rains there and also a big concern for storm surge.”\nMatthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history and briefly reached the top classification, Category 5, becoming the strongest hurricane since Felix in 2007. The hurricane center said it appeared to be on track to pass east of Florida through the Bahamas, but it was too soon to predict with certainty whether it would reach the coast of the United States.\nThe government of Haiti opened 1,300 emergency shelters across the country, enough to hold up to 340,000 people. Authorities broadcast warnings over the radio and across social media, trying to counter a common tendency for people to try to stay in their homes to protect them during natural disasters.\n“The shelters are open but I don’t believe we have anyone inside them just yet,” said Joseph Edgard Celestin, a spokesman for the civil protection agency.\nTeams of civil protection officials were walking the streets of Les Cayes urging residents to secure their homes, prepare emergency kits and warn their neighbors. Many Haitians appeared unaware of the looming hurricane.\n“No, I haven’t heard anything about a bad storm coming here,” farmer Jean-Bernard Mede said with a concerned expression as he took a break from walking three cows along a dirt track outside the town of Leogane. “I’ll do what I can for my animals and my family.”\nForecasters said the slow-moving Matthew was expected to dump 15 to 25 inches of rain over southern Haiti, with a few places getting as much as 40 inches.\nThe impoverished country is particularly vulnerable to devastating floods because of the steep terrain, with hillsides and mountains often devoid of the trees that hold back the water because they have been cut down to make charcoal for cooking fires. Many people often live in houses that are not able to withstand a storm, typically built of scraps of wood with flimsy corrugated-steel roofs.\nAs of 2 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 335 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was traveling north-northwest at 5 mph.\nA hurricane watch was posted for the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. A tropical storm warning was in effect for parts of the Dominican Republic, where authorities began mandatory evacuations of areas at risk for flooding.\nThe hurricane earlier had been projected to move closer to Jamaica, but the risk to the island seems to have diminished somewhat.\n“The center of the system is looking more likely that it will pass to the east of Jamaica but it won’t miss it by that much, so they are still going to see impacts,” Cangilosi said. “The impacts are maybe going to be a little lower there than they would be in Haiti and eastern Cuba.”\nAfter passing Jamaica and Haiti, Matthew is expected to reach Cuba, potentially striking near the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, where authorities were evacuating non-essential personnel, including about 700 family members of those serving there.\nEveryone remaining behind was being told to take shelter, said Julie Ann Ripley, a spokeswoman. There are about 5,500 people living on the base, including 61 men held at the detention center.\nCuban President Raul Castro traveled to the eastern city of Santiago to oversee preparations for Matthew’s arrival. A report on state television showed the 85-year-old leader discussing the hurricane’s path with ministers and saying, “This is a hurricane we need to prepare for as if it were twice as powerful as Sandy,” the 2012 hurricane that devastated much of Cuba’s second-largest city.\nHundreds of troops were moving in convoys around the city and state workers with chain saws were cutting trees overhanging power lines and homes. Trains from Havana to eastern Cuba were canceled and the government called on residents of eastern Cuba to move livestock to high ground, tape up their windows and store potable water ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.\nThe forecast track would also carry Matthew into the Bahamas. Cangilosi said the storm appeared to tracking toward the U.S., but it was too soon to say if it would affect Florida or parts of the East Coast.\n“The message we have for people in Florida is just closely monitor Matthew,” he said. “We can’t rule out any significant impacts just yet but the indications at this point are that the center of it will move to the east.”\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","Forecasters","the U.S. National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["15 to 25 inches","40 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Cuba","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Jamaica","Jamaica","Haiti","Cuba","Jamaica","Haiti","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","southern Haitian countryside around Les Cayes"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northwest","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["145 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Typhoon Chaba, now a super typhoon with winds of 145 knots (165 mph), heads for Japan's southern islands with storm warnings of torrential rain followed by mudslides and flooding. (AAP via SBS), (Weather.com)","document":"Authorities have warned of mudslides, flooding and high waves in the southern Japanese islands due to Typhoon Chaba.\nResidents on Japan's southern islands are preparing for torrential rain and strong winds as Typhoon Chaba bears down on the region.\nAuthorities have warned of mudslides, flooding and high waves as the season's 18th typhoon is projected to hit islands in the southern Japanese archipelago on Monday.\nAll the public schools on Okinawa's main island are closed while dozens of flights in the region have been cancelled.\nThe typhoon could dump rainfall of up to 80mm an hour in some areas of the island, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.\nThe eye of the storm was 290km south of Naha city on Okinawa on Monday morning, travelling north-northwest at 25km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 180km/h and gusts of 252km/h, the agency said.\nIn late August, Typhoon Lionrock pounded northeastern Japan, leaving more than 20 people dead. It was the first typhoon that made landfall on the northeast since records began in 1951.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southern Japanese islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents on Japan's southern islands","Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["290km south of Naha city on Okinawa","Okinawa"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["25km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Chaba","Chaba"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["180km/h","252km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Typhoon Chaba, now a super typhoon with winds of 145 knots (165 mph), heads for Japan's southern islands with storm warnings of torrential rain followed by mudslides and flooding. (AAP via SBS), (Weather.com)","document":"\nChaba hammered parts of Japan's Okinawa prefecture on Monday, Oct. 3 with wind gusts well over 100 mph, but spared Kadena Air Base the worst of its fury. \n\nChaba intensified to a super typhoon for a time on Oct. 3. The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated maximum sustained winds had reached 145 knots, roughly 165 mph, the equivalent of a Category 5 tropical cyclone at that time.\nWind gusts up to 134 mph (59.7 meters per second) were clocked on the Japanese island of Kume as the eastern eyewall passed through late Monday night, local time.\n\nChaba is only the third Category 5 equivalent super typhoon to track within 65 nautical miles of Kume Island, in records dating to the 1960s, and is the strongest on record, there.\nThe Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimated central pressure had cratered at roughly 905 millibars, a \"violent\" typhoon by their classification.\nA final jog of the eyewall westward spared Okinawa Island, home of the U.S. Kadena Air Base, from the eyewall of this violent super typhoon. Winds gusted over 50 mph on Monday, there.\nChaba also brought heavy rain and strong winds as it passed near southern South Korea while weakening.\nFlooding was reported in Gyeongju, South Korea. Sogwipo, South Korea, saw nearly a foot of rain in 24 hours from Chaba.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Japan's Okinawa prefecture"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday, Oct. 3","Oct. 3","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5 tropical cyclone","5","a super typhoon","super typhoon","super typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Chaba","Chaba","Chaba","Chaba","Chaba"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["over 100 mph","145 knots, roughly 165 mph","134 mph (59.7 meters per second)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Heavy rains from Hurricane Matthew's outer bands drench Haiti and Jamaica, killing a Haitian fisherman. The Category 4 storm, with 140 mph ((220 km/h) maximum sustained winds), is heading towards western Haiti, eastern Cuba, and the southeastern and central Bahamas. (CBS News), (The National Hurricane Center)","document":"Updated on: October 3, 2016 / 11:33 PM\n \n KINGSTON, Jamaica -- People from Cuba to the Carolinas are getting ready for the\npotential impact of Hurricane Matthew.\nThe powerful Category 4 storm is already blamed for at least four deaths.\nHeavy rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew\ndrenched Haiti and Jamaica on Monday, flooding streets and sending many people\nto emergency shelters as the sprawling Category 4 storm steamed toward the two\nCaribbean countries.\nA slightly strengthened Matthew had sustained winds of 145 mph late Monday, up from 140 mph earlier in the day. Its center was expected to pass near or over the southwestern tip of impoverished Haiti after dawn on Tuesday, then head for another landfall in eastern Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. \n“We are looking at a dangerous hurricane that is\nheading into the vicinity of western Haiti and eastern Cuba,” said Richard\nPasch, a senior hurricane specialist with the center. “People who are\nimpacted by things like flooding and mudslides hopefully would get out and\nrelocate because that’s where we have seen loss of life in the past.”\nIn Jamaica, many took that advice before the island’s\ngovernment discontinued a hurricane warning and replaced it with a tropical\nstorm warning as Matthew tracked closer to Haiti. More than 700 people packed\nshelters in the eastern parish of St. Thomas and the Salvation Army said there\nwere about 200 people at its shelters in Kingston as it put out a call for\nmattresses and cots.\nJamaica has felt Hurricane Matthew’s outer bands all weekend, striking fear of its fury into residents. Kingston, the nation’s capital with almost 600,000 people, is a virtual ghost town, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reported.\nAnnette Gerald headed for a shelter. \n“My roof is not solid and the hurricane is coming,” she said. “And the hurricane is coming.”\nMany people chose to stick it out at home. Local Government\nMinister Desmond McKenzie said all but four residents of the Port Royal area\nnear the Kingston airport refused to board buses and evacuate.\nIn Haiti, authorities experienced a similar problem in some\nflood-prone areas. In the Port-au-Prince suburb of Tabarre, officials urged\nshantytown residents living next to a muddy river to take shelter at a local\nschool where cots were set up. But many refused, fearing their few possessions\nmight be stolen.\n“If we lose our things we are not going to get them\nback!” Toussaint Laine said as police and officials from the mayor’s\noffice urged the jobless man and his family to evacuate.\nHaiti’s civil protection agency reported the death of a\nfisherman in rough water churned up by the storm. Agency chief Marie Alta\nJean-Baptiste had said early Monday that the body of another fisherman was\nrecovered off the southern town of Aquin but she later said that was wrong and\nhe was still missing.\nThe reported death in Haiti brought the total for the storm to at least three. One man died Friday in Colombia and a 16-year-old was killed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 28 when the system passed through the eastern Caribbean.\nAuthorities went door to door in Haiti’s south coast cities\nof Les Cayes and Jeremie to make sure people were aware of the storm. At least\n1,200 people were moved to shelters in churches and schools.\n“We are continuing to mobilize teams in the south to\nmove people away from dangerous areas,” Jean-Baptiste said.\nThere is no shortage of people with flimsy houses set up in\nrisky places in Haiti. In an unregulated sprawl of shacks built on hillsides\nnear the northern edge of Haiti’s capital, some poor families did the best they\ncould to reinforce their tin-and-tarp houses. But most were just praying they\nwould get through the storm in the shanty metropolis of Canaan without getting\nhurt.\n“I know my house could easily blow away. All I can do\nis pray and then pray some more,” said Ronlande Francois. She lives with\nher unemployed husband and three children.\nIn Port-au-Prince, schools were closed and people lined up\nat gas stations and cleared out shelves at supermarkets as a light rain fell in\nthe capital.\nSome worried the crowded city might not fare well. “We\nare not prepared,” unemployed mason Fritz Achelus said as he watched water\npool on a downtown street.\nForecasters said the storm could dump as much as 40 inches\n(100 centimeters) of rain on some isolated areas of Haiti, raising fears of\ndeadly mudslides and floods in the heavily deforested country where many\nfamilies live in flimsy houses with corrugated metal roofs.\nMatthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in\nrecent history and briefly reached the top classification, Category 5, becoming\nthe strongest hurricane in the region since Felix in 2007.\nThe hurricane center said the storm appeared to be on track\nto pass east of Florida through the Bahamas, but it was too soon to predict\nwith certainty whether it would threaten any spot on the U.S. East Coast.\n“Although our track is to the east of Florida,\ninterests there should remain vigilant and we can’t rule out the possibility of\nimpacts,” Pasch said.\nA hurricane warning was posted for the central Bahamas,\nwhere the storm was expected to move along the eastern length of the island\nchain starting early Wednesday.\nAs of 11 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 100 miles south of Tiburon, Haiti, and 190 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. It was moving north at 7 mph.\nhe U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the central Caribbean as Hurricane Matthew hits.\n“The DART has experts in Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The U.S. Government is also communicating with officials in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, the Cayman Islands and Belize to coordinate relief efforts, if requested,” USAID said in a statement. “USAID is providing $400,000 for initial relief assistance in Haiti and Jamaica. USAID will work with international partners to distribute critical relief supplies, manage emergency shelters and provide logistics support to humanitarian organizations.”\nCuba’s government declared a hurricane alert for six eastern\nprovinces and removed traffic lights from poles in the city of Santiago to keep\nthem from falling due to heavy wind.\nMatthew’s center was expected to make landfall in Cuba about\n50 miles least of the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, where\nauthorities evacuated about 700 spouses and children of service members on\nmilitary transport planes to Florida.\nThe U.S. installation has a population of about 5,500,\nincluding 61 men held at the detention center for terrorism suspects. Navy\nCapt. David Culpepper, the base commander, said emergency shelters had been set\nup and authorities were bracing for storm surge and heavy rain that could\nthreaten some low-lying areas, including around the power plant and water\ndesalination facility.\n“We have no choice but to prepare ourselves to take a\nfrontal assault if you will,” Culpepper said.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Cuba to the Carolinas","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","Caribbean countries"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least four deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4 storm","4","Category 4 storm","4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew moves towards the United States with hundreds of thousands of people being evacuated from the states of Florida and South Carolina. (USA Today)","document":"MELBOURNE, Fla. — Evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people was underway Wednesday in Florida and South Carolina as Hurricane Matthew roared closer to the U.S. after leaving 16 people dead and carving a path of destruction across Haiti.\nThe impending weather prompted Florida Gov. Rick Scott to ask President Obama to declare a pre-landfall emergency, activate 1,000 more National Guard members to join the 1,500 already positioned in the state and suspend all tolls in the affected areas, including the entire Florida Turnpike, Alligator Alley, Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.\n\"Based on the most recent forecast I received from the National Hurricane Center, the eye of Hurricane Matthew is going to be much closer to Florida,\" Scott said Wednesday night in a statement. \"There are hurricane watches and warnings along Florida’s entire east coast and we now have Tropical Storm warnings on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This storm is serious and protecting life remains our number one priority.\"\nDuring a briefing with reporters earlier Wednesday, Scott also implored those who had been ordered to evacuate to do so.\n\"There is absolutely no excuse not to evacuate,\" Scott said during the briefing at the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center in Rockledge, Fla. \"If you are able to leave early, go now,\" before evacuation-related traffic tie-ups get worse.\"\n\"We can rebuild your home. We can rebuild your business,\" Scott said. \"We cannot rebuild your life.\"\nThe governor added that the state is \"preparing for the worst, hoping for the best and not taking any chances.\nTropical storm conditions are expected to reach parts of the Florida coast by early Thursday, intensifying to hurricane conditions in some areas later that day, the National Hurricane Center warned. Matthew had top sustained winds of 115 mph, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Wednesday evening and is forecast to strengthen in coming days, the center said.\n\"People have less than 24 hours to prepare,\" Scott said. \"Having a plan could be the difference between life and death.\"\nFlorida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina declared states of emergency ahead of the most powerful storm to rock the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Felix killed more than 100 people, most in Nicaragua, in 2007.\n“Residents and visitors should take evacuation orders seriously,” Federal Emergency Management Agency chief W. Craig Fugate said. “This is a major hurricane that has the potential to cause significant harm to life and property.”\n. Wednesday evening the storm was about 325 miles southeast of West Palm Beach heading northwest at 10 mph. The storm had weakened but was expected to strengthen later Wednesday and on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","Florida Gov. Rick Scott"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Florida and South Carolina","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","South Carolina","the U.S"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["hundreds of thousands of people","16 people dead"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["much closer to Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Matthew gains strength and again becomes a Category 4 storm with 140 mph (220 km/h) maximum sustained winds. (AP via Philly.com), (The National Hurricane Center)","document":"But the National Hurricane Center says the Category 3 storm's western eyewall is approaching Cape Canaveral with hurricane-force winds.\nAs of 5 a.m. EDT Friday, Matthew is centered about 40 miles east-southeast of Cape Canaveral and is moving north-northwest near 13 mph.\nMore than 270,000 in Florida are without power.\nTwo million people were warned to flee inland as the most powerful storm to threaten the Atlantic coast in more than a decade charged toward Florida. Matthew left more than 280 dead in its wake across the Caribbean.\n\nCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Hurricane Matthew pelted Florida with heavy rains as the deadly storm steamed ever closer to the coast with potentially catastrophic winds of 130 mph Thursday. Two million people across the Southeast were warned to flee inland.\nIt was the most powerful storm to threaten the U.S. Atlantic coast in more than a decade, and had already left more than 280 dead in its wake across the Caribbean.\n\"This storm's a monster,\" Gov. Rick Scott warned as it started lashing the state with periodic heavy rains and squalls around nightfall. He added: \"I'm going to pray for everybody's safety.\"\nAs it moved north in the evening, Matthew stayed about 100 miles or more off South Florida, sparing the 4.4 million people in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas from its most punishing effects.\nBut by Thursday night, more than 80,000 homes and businesses were without power. Streets in Vero Beach were partially covered with water, and hotel guests in Orlando were told to stay inside, though a few sneaked out to smoke or watch the rain.\nThe lobby of the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort was crowded with people and pets, including dogs occasionally snapping at each other. Some meals were served buffet style while other people waited more than 2 hours for a pizza delivery.\nThe hurricane was expected to blow ashore - or come dangerously close to doing so - early Friday north of Palm Beach County, which has about 1.4 million people, and then slowly push north for the next 12 hours along the Interstate 95 corridor, through Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nForecasters said it would then probably hug the coast of Georgia and South Carolina over the weekend before veering out to sea - perhaps even looping back toward Florida in the middle of next week as a tropical storm.\nMillions of people in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina were told to evacuate their homes, and interstate highways were turned into one-way routes to speed the exodus. Florida alone accounted for about 1.5 million of those told to clear out.\n\"The storm has already killed people. We should expect the same impact in Florida,\" the governor warned.\nMany boarded up their homes and businesses and left them to the mercy of the storm.\n\"We're not going to take any chances on this one,\" said Daniel Myras, who struggled to find enough plywood to protect his restaurant, the Cruisin Cafe, two blocks from the Daytona Beach boardwalk.\nHe added: \"A lot of people here, they laugh, and say they've been through storms before and they're not worried. But I think this is the one that's going to give us a wake-up call.\"\nThe hurricane picked up wind speed as it closed in, growing from a possibly devastating Category 3 storm to a potentially catastrophic Category 4. Forecasters said it could dump up to 15 inches of rain in some spots and cause a storm surge of 9 feet or more.\nThey said the major threat to the Southeast would not be the winds - which newer buildings can withstand - but the massive surge of seawater that could wash over coastal communities along a 500-mile stretch from South Florida to the Charleston, South Carolina, area.\nPresident Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, freeing up federal money and personnel to protect lives and property.\nThe Fort Lauderdale airport shut down, and the Orlando airport planned to do so as well. The Palm Beach International Airport reported a wind gust of 50 mph with the center of the storm 70 miles offshore, the National Hurricane Center said. Airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights Thursday and Friday, many of them in or out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale.\nAmtrak suspended train service between Miami and New York, and cruise lines rerouted ships to avoid the storm, which in some cases will mean more days at sea.\nOrlando's world-famous theme parks - Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld - all closed.\n\"I never get time off. I'm a little sad,\" tourist Amber Klinkel, 25, of Battle Creek, Michigan, lamented at Universal.\nPatients were transferred from two Florida waterfront hospitals and a nursing home near Daytona Beach to safer locations.\nThousands of people hunkered down in schools converted to shelters, and inland hotels in places such as Charlotte, North Carolina, reported brisk business.\nAt the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, NASA no longer has to worry about rolling space shuttles back from the launch pad to the hangar because of hurricanes, since the shuttle fleet is now retired. But the spaceflight company SpaceX was concerned about the storm's effect on its leased seaside pad.\nAs evening fell, the winds picked up along Vero Beach, midway between West Palm Beach and Cape Canaveral, stripping away palm fronds, ripping awnings and blowing sand that stung the face. Waves crashed on the beach, and rain came in short bursts.\nThe last Category 3 storm or higher to hit the U.S. was Wilma in October 2005. It sliced across Florida with 120 mph winds, killing five people and causing an estimated $21 billion in damage.\nAs people hurried to higher ground, authorities in South Carolina said a motorist died on Wednesday after being shot by deputies in a gun battle that erupted when he sped away from a checkpoint along an evacuation route.\nThe coordinator for Haiti's Interior Ministry in the area hit hardest by Hurricane Matthew said the confirmed death toll in that southwestern zone was 283. Emmanuel Pierre told The Associated Press late Thursday that he expects the toll to rise as authorities reach remote places that were left isolated by the storm.\nBodies have started to appear as waters recede in some areas two days after Matthew smashed concrete walls, flattened palm trees and tore roofs off homes.\nIn the Bahamas, authorities reported many downed trees and power lines but no immediate deaths.\nAs of 11 p.m. EDT, Matthew was about 125 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, moving toward the northwest at about 13 mph. With hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 60 miles, Matthew could wreak havoc along the coast even if its center stayed offshore.\nGeorgia Gov. Nathan Deal ordered an evacuation of the entire Georgia coast, covering more than a half-million people. It was the first hurricane evacuation along the Georgia coast since 1999, when the state narrowly escaped Floyd.\n\"We have a house that sits right here on the water and we kind of said goodbye to it thinking that, you know, the house ... might not be here when we get back,\" said Jennifer Banker, a resident of Georgia's dangerously exposed St. Simons Island. \"You know, we pray a lot and trust God to provide.\".","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to 15 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Cape Canaveral","Cape Canaveral","CAPE CANAVERAL","Cape Canaveral","Cape Canaveral","Cape Canaveral","Cape Canaveral"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 270,000"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northwest","north","north","north","North","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3 storm","Category 3 storm","Category 3 storm's","Category 3 storm","Category 4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["13 mph","13 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 The death toll is at least 140 people with 136 in Haiti. (Reuters)","document":"PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti/DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - Hurricane Matthew killed almost 900 people and left tens of thousands homeless in Haiti earlier this week before it skirted Florida’s Atlantic coast on Friday and plowed northward over waters just off Georgia.\nThe number of deaths in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, surged to at least 877 on Friday as information trickled in from remote areas previously cut off by the storm, according to a Reuters tally of death tolls given by officials.\nMatthew triggered mass evacuations along the U.S. coast from Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina and North Carolina.\nU.S. President Barack Obama urged people not to be complacent and to heed safety instructions.\n“The potential for storm surge, loss of life and severe property damage exists,” Obama told reporters after a briefing with emergency management officials about the fiercest cyclone to affect the United States since Superstorm Sandy four years ago.\nMatthew smashed through Haiti’s western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mile-per-hour (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm pushed the sea into fragile coastal villages, some of which were only now being contacted.\nWhile highlighting the misery of underdevelopment in Haiti, which is still recovering from a devastating 2010 earthquake, the storm looked certain to rekindle the debate about global warming and the long-term threat posed by rising sea levels to low-lying cities and towns.\nAt least three towns in the hills and coast of Haiti’s fertile western tip reported dozens of people killed, including the farming village of Chantal where the mayor said 86 people died, mostly when trees crushed houses. He said 20 others were missing.\n“A tree fell on the house and flattened it. The entire house fell on us. I couldn’t get out,” said driver Jean-Pierre Jean-Donald, 27, who had been married for only a year","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","the U.S. coast from Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina and North Carolina","Florida","coast","Georgia","coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["almost 900 people","tens of thousands","at least 877"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["this week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew hits the southeastern United States as the death toll in Haiti rises to at least 877. (Reuters), (Sky News), (AP), (ITV)","document":"CHANTAL, Haiti/PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hurricane Matthew’s trail of destruction in Haiti stunned those emerging from the aftermath on Friday, with the number of dead soaring to 877, tens of thousands left homeless and outbreaks of cholera already claiming more lives.\nInformation trickled in from remote areas that were cut off by the storm and it became clear that at least 175 people died in villages clustered among the hills and on the coast of Haiti’s fertile western tip.\nRural clinics overflowed with patients whose wounds including broken bones had not been treated since the storm hit on Tuesday. Food was scarce and at least seven people died of cholera, likely because of flood water mixing with sewage.\nThe storm razed homes to their foundations. The corrugated metal roofs of those still standing were ripped off, the contents visible from above as if peering into doll’s houses.\nAt least three towns reported dozens of fatalities, including the hilly farming village of Chantal, whose mayor said 86 people were killed, mostly when trees crushed houses. He said 20 more people were missing.\n“A tree fell on the house and flattened it, the entire house fell on us. I couldn’t get out,” said driver Jean-Pierre Jean-Donald, 27, who had been married for a year.\n“People came to lift the rubble, and then we saw my wife who had died in the same spot,” said Jean-Donald, his young daughter by his side, crying “Mommy.”\nThe death toll continued to rise on Friday in southwest Haiti. Dozens more were missing, many of them in the Grand’Anse region on the northern side of the peninsula.\n“We flew over parts of the Grand’Anse region. It’s a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Frenel Kedner, a government official in the town of Jeremie in southwest Haiti. “The people urgently need food, water, medicine.”\nIn the town of Anse-d’Hainault, seven people died of cholera, a disease that did not exist in Haiti until U.N. peace keepers introduced it after a 2010 earthquake that killed some 200,000 people.\nAnother 17 cholera cases were reported in Chardonnieres on the south coast.\n“Due to massive flooding and its impact on water and sanitation infrastructure, cholera cases are expected to surge after Hurricane Matthew and through the normal rainy season until the start of 2017,” the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said in a statement.\nWith fatalities mounting, various government agencies and committees differed on total deaths. A Reuters count of deaths reported by civil protection and local officials put the toll at 877.\nHaiti’s central civil protection agency, which takes longer to collate numbers because it needs to visually confirm victims itself, said 271 people died as Matthew smashed through the western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and torrential rain.\nSome 61,500 people were in shelters, the agency said.\nMatthew pushed the sea into fragile coastal villages, some of which are only now being contacted.\nCoastal town Les Anglais lost “several dozen” people, Louis-Paul Raphael, the central government representative in the region, told Reuters.\nLes Anglais was the first place in Haiti that Matthew reached, as a powerful Category 4 storm before it moved north, lost strength and lashed central Florida on Friday.\nWith cellphone networks down and roads flooded by sea and river water, aid has been slow to reach towns and villages. Instead, locals have been helping each other.\n“My house wasn’t destroyed, so I am receiving people, like it’s a temporary shelter,” said Bellony Amazan in the town of Cavaillon, where around a dozen people died. Amazan said she had no food to give people.\nOutside Chantal, stall holders at a makeshift market were selling vegetables and soft drinks, brought in from Port-Au-Prince as roads were cleared to the capital.\n“All our houses have been destroyed. This is our existence,” said one stall holder, who declined to give her name.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["dozens","Dozens","20 more people","people","at least 175 people","877","tens of thousands"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew’s"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew hits the southeastern United States as the death toll in Haiti rises to at least 877. (Reuters), (Sky News), (AP), (ITV)","document":"\"Devastation is everywhere,\" says one official, as the number of lives lost keeps rising and medics fear an outbreak of cholera.\nFriday 7 October 2016 15:00, UK\nThe number of people killed by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti has risen to 572, as medics on the island prepare for a surge in cholera cases.\nThe nation is left with flooded roads, collapsed bridges and power outages in the wake of the hurricane, which has battered the Caribbean and is now near the US east coast.\nAccording to a tally by the Reuters news agency on the basis of numbers reported by local officials, 572 people have been killed and another 61,500 remain in shelters.\nMore than 3,200 homes have been destroyed.\n\"Devastation is everywhere,\" said Pilus Enor, mayor of a town called Camp Perrin on the peninsula's south shore.\n\"Every house has lost its roof. All the plantations have been destroyed,\" he said.\n\"This is the first time we see something like this.\"\nFour people have also been killed in the Dominican Republic, one in Colombia and one in St Vincent and the Grenadines.\nBut it is Haiti, already the hemisphere's least-developed and most aid-dependent nation, that has suffered the most.\n\nMost deaths are believed to have occurred in the southwest region, and officials fear the toll might rise even further as information from remote areas trickles in.\nThe southern city of Jeremie is said to have suffered \"complete destruction\", while a bridge over the La Digue river in Petit Goave has been destroyed.\nIn Les Cayes, home to a major port, a cathedral roof has been completely blown off, and banana and mango crops have been ravaged in fields.\nOfficials say at least 350,000 people will need some sort of assistance, in what will likely become the country's worst humanitarian crisis since a devastating earthquake in January 2010.\nWith crops destroyed, wells inundated by seawater and some water treatment facilities ruined, officials said that food and water were urgently needed.\nThe Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to provide immediate relief to 50,000 Haitians. It is aiming to raise more than £5m for medical relief, shelter and sanitation over the next year. \nHealth officials are bracing themselves for an increase in cases of cholera.\n\"Due to massive flooding and its impact on water and sanitation infrastructure, cholera cases are expected to surge after Hurricane Matthew and through the normal rainy season until the start of 2017,\" the Pan American Health Organisation said.\nEven before the storm hit this week, the impoverished nation was struggling to stem the waterborne disease.\nInternational aid groups are already appealing for donations for a lengthy recovery effort.\nThe UK is sending a team of humanitarian experts, International Development Secretary Priti Patel said.\nIn the coming days, the US military expects to help deliver food and water to hard-hit areas via helicopter.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti","Haiti","Dominican Republic","Colombia","St Vincent and the Grenadines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["572","572 people","another 61,500","Four people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew, responsible for killing 13 people and knocking out power to 2.2 million households and businesses in the Southeastern United States, is now a Category 1 hurricane (75 mph;120 km/h winds) approaching the North Carolina coast. (Reuters), (The National Hurricane Center), (ABC News)","document":"— -- Hurricane Matthew is no longer a hurricane: It was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone around 5 a.m. ET on Sunday as it made an eastward turn and began to move out into the Atlantic at 14 mph. The newly-minted post-tropical storm Matthew has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.\nDespite the downgrade, ABC News meteorologist Daniel Manzo cautions, \"Record-breaking flooding will continue in eastern North Carolina this morning. This will come to an end later on Sunday. The Outer Banks and mid-Atlantic will continue to see very gusty winds and heavy rain this morning.\"\nPresident Obama signed major disaster declarations, which provide more federal money and resources than emergency declarations, for Florida and Georgia on Sunday morning.\nMatthew made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the Cape Romaine National Wildlife Refuge near McClellanville, South Carolina, around 10:45 a.m. on Saturday\n\nAround the same time the National Hurricane Center announced that Matthew had been downgraded, the North Carolina Office of Emergency Management confirmed a fifth death in Pitt County overnight due to weather. The US death toll from Matthew is currently at 19.\nThe state-by-state death toll so far is: North Carolina, 8 deaths; Georgia, 4 deaths; Florida, 6 deaths; and South Carolina, 1 death.\nAs of late Saturday, there were also four people missing in Cumberland County in North Carolina.\nThe latest radar and satellites maps of Hurricane Matthew as it slowly heads offshore \nDuring the early hours of Sunday, Matthew had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving northeast at 16 mph. It was located 30 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.\nMatthew has left 2.2 million households and businesses without power across the Southeast region.\nAt 1 a.m. Sunday, North Carolina officials said there were 670,716 power outages across the state. In South Carolina, there were 768,856 power outages. Georgia was experiencing 205,220 outages, while Florida still had 561,862 outages, as of early Sunday morning.\nThe video below, released the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, shows New York Police Department officers and New York Fire Department firefighters performing a rescue.\nA Fayetteville resident also posted this video to Instagram of a road being washed away amidst the torrential downpour.\n \nStorm surges that could cause flooding have been a concern up and down the coast. The National Weather Service measured a record tide level of more than 12 feet at the mouth of the Savannah River, which borders both South and North Carolina. Forecasters warned that the combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide and large waves could cause rising waters to move inland from the shoreline to flood normally dry areas near the coast.\n\nOn Saturday, Charleston County Emergency Medical Services in South Carolina suspended its service countywide, warning that high-span or exposed bridges are unsafe for public travel due to high winds. A curfew was implemented in Charleston between Saturday 8 p.m. ET through Sunday 8 a.m. ET.\nNearly 17 inches of rain were recorded at Hunter U.S. Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia over a 48-hour period, according to the National Hurricane Center.\nFEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said Friday, \"Many of these areas have not had this level of flooding since, like, the late 1800s.\"\nMeanwhile, the storm left a deadly trail of destruction in Florida. Six people in the state have died from Hurricane Matthew, authorities said.\nIn Jacksonville, officials said at a press conference Saturday morning that one person died in the area but they have not yet confirmed whether it was storm-related. The city's beaches will reopen Saturday at noon as officials continue to assess the damages.\n“I’m grateful that the damage wasn’t worse than it is, but there’s a whole lot of work to do,\" Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said at the news conference Saturday.\nFlorida Gov. Rick Scott said there are \"unbelievable\" amounts of beach erosion and fallen trees, but he was thankful the hurricane didn't make landfall. More than 5,900 people were in 70 shelters across the state as of Saturday afternoon, Scott said.\nMore than 763,000 households and businesses were still without power in Florida as of late Saturday afternoon, the governor said. The Florida Power and Light Company said it expects to have power restored to all customers by end of day Sunday, but \"flooding and severe damage\" will likely extend outages for some homes and businesses through Monday.\nAs of Saturday afternoon, more than 500,000 Floridians were in evacuation zones. As the zones are being lifted, the governor said local law enforcement ultimately decides when it is safe for residents to return to their communities and homes. Meanwhile, all toll suspensions remained in effect and will remain suspended until at least Sunday night.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Nearly 17 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a post-tropical cyclone","post"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["14 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 mph","75 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Matthew, responsible for killing 13 people and knocking out power to 2.2 million households and businesses in the Southeastern United States, is now a Category 1 hurricane (75 mph;120 km/h winds) approaching the North Carolina coast. (Reuters), (The National Hurricane Center), (ABC News)","document":"CHARLESTON, S.C./SAVANNAH, Ga. (Reuters) - Hurricane Matthew slammed into South Carolina on Saturday, packing a diminished yet still potent punch after killing almost 900 people in Haiti and causing major flooding and widespread power outages as it skirted Florida and Georgia.\nNow weakened, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007 unleashed torrential rains and damaging winds in Florida before churning slowly north to soak coastal Georgia and the Carolinas. Wind speeds at midday had subsided by nearly half from their peak about a week ago to 75 miles per hour (120 kph), reducing the storm to a Category 1 hurricane, the weakest on the Saffir-Simpson scale of 1 to 5.\nMatthew, which topped out as a ferocious Category 5 storm days before, made U.S. landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina, a village 30 miles (48 km) north of Charleston that was devastated by a Category 4 hurricane in 1989.\nThe National Hurricane Center in Miami said Matthew passed over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday afternoon, and warned of potentially life-threatening flooding in Georgia and North Carolina even as the storm slowed as it plowed inland.\nAs of 11 p.m. EST (0300 GMT), the storm was about 35 miles (55 km) south of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, the center said in an advisory.\nThe center of the storm will move near or south of the North Carolina coast early on Sunday and east of the state later in the day as it weakens.\nThe storm was blamed for at least 11 deaths in the United States - five in Florida, three in North Carolina and three in Georgia, including two people killed by falling trees in Bulloch County, the county coroner said.\nPower was reported knocked out to more than 2 million households and businesses in the U.S. Southeast, the bulk of those in Florida and South Carolina.\nNorth Carolina Governor Pat McCrory urged residents on Saturday evening to stay off roads and sidewalks to avoid “deadly conditions” caused by severe flooding and debris.\n\nConditions in eastern and central North Carolina were expected to worsen as the storm edged along the coast and toward the Outer Banks barrier islands, the governor said.\nForecasters warned that widespread flooding was possible from heavy rain - 15 inches (40 cm) was expected to fall in some areas - along with massive storm surges and high tides.\nThe storm-stricken stretch of the Atlantic Coast from Miami to Charleston, a nearly 600-mile drive, encompasses some of the most well-known beaches, resorts and historical towns in the southeastern United States. Parts of Interstate 95, the main north-south thoroughfare on the East Coast, were closed due to flooding and fallen trees, state officials said.\nRoads in Jackson Beach, Florida, were littered with debris, including chunks from an historic pier dislodged by the storm, with some intersections clogged by up to a foot of standing water. Beachfront businesses suffered moderate damage.\n“We rode out the storm. It wasn’t this bad at our house, but here there’s a lot of damage,” said Zowi Cuartas, 18, as he watched bystanders pick up shattered signs near the beach.\nFlorida Governor Rick Scott said more than 6,000 people stayed in shelters overnight, but he appeared relieved that the state had been spared from greater harm.\n“We’re all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast,” he said. He predicted electricity would be restored to most homes by Sunday evening.\nStreets in downtown Charleston, known for its historic waterfront architecture, were flooded to the tops of tires on some parked cars, and a few residents could be seen wading near the city’s sea wall as high tide approached.\nTony Williams, 54, who said he is homeless, rode his bicycle against huge wind gusts after spending the night in a public garage. “I just got tired of laying where I was laying,” he said.\nOn Daufuskie Island near the Georgia border, writer Roger Pinckney, 70, said it “blew like hell” as he hunkered down at home despite evacuation warnings during the height of the storm’s fury, but he emerged unscathed.\nSome 8 inches (20 cm) of rain fell in the Savannah, Georgia area, downing trees and causing flooding.\nThe National Weather Service said record-high tides were recorded along the Savannah River at the South Carolina-Georgia border, peaking at 12.6 feet, surpassing those from Hurricane David in 1979.\nThough gradually weakening, Matthew was forecast to remain a hurricane until at least Sunday, when it was expected to creep away from shore, the NHC said.\nStorm damage was far greater in Haiti, where at least 877 people died earlier when the storm plowed directly into the impoverished Caribbean island nation.\nMatthew howled through Haiti’s western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm lashed coastal villages in high surf.\nThe U.S. military began sending aid to Haiti by air and sea, including a Navy amphibious transport ship carrying heavy-lift helicopters, bulldozers, fresh-water delivery vehicles and two mobile surgical units.\nThe Haitian government warned that a deadly outbreak of cholera could worsen, confirming dozens of new cases of the water-borne disease since the storm hit, 13 of them fatal.\nOfficials in Florida, grappling with an outbreak of Zika, said they hoped the flooding would not worsen the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause fever and birth deformities.\n“We have got to get rid of standing water as quickly as we can,” Governor Scott told reporters.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Some 8 inches (20 cm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["McClellanville, South Carolina, a village 30 miles (48 km) north of Charleston","South Carolina","north","North","North","North","North","North","North","Charleston","north","Charleston","Florida and Georgia","Florida","Georgia","Georgia","Florida","Georgia","Florida","Florida","Florida","Georgia","Georgia","Florida","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina","South Carolina-Georgia","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["almost 900 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 1 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 miles per hour (120 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Matthew's death toll in Haiti rises to at least one thousand, with victims being buried in mass graves. An unknown number of people remain missing and authorities report that cholera is spreading in the hardest hit-areas in the country's southwest. (AP/Reuters via ABC News Australia)","document":"As the death toll from Hurricane Matthew in Haiti rises to 1,000 and cholera spreads in the devastated south-west, the nation has started to bury its dead in mass graves, an official says.\nThe powerful hurricane, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, slammed into Haiti on Tuesday (local time), bringing 233 kilometre-per-hour winds and torrential rains.\nNumbers from local officials showed 1,000 people were killed by the storm in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.\nThe official death toll from the central civil protection agency is 336, a slower count because officials must visit each village to confirm the numbers.\n\nAuthorities had to start burying the dead in mass graves in Jeremie as the bodies were starting to decompose, said Kedner Frenel, the most senior central government official in the Grand'Anse region on Haiti's western peninsula.\nMr Frenel said 522 people died in Grand'Anse alone.\nA tally of death reported by mayors from 15 of 18 municipalities in Sud Department on the south side of the peninsula showed 386 people there.\nIn the rest of the country, 92 people died, the same tally showed.\nMr Frenel said there was great concern about the cholera spreading, and that authorities were focused on getting water, food and medication to the thousands of people living in shelters.\nCholera causes severe diarrhea and can kill within hours if untreated. It is spread through contaminated water and has a short incubation period, which leads to rapid outbreaks.\nGovernment teams fanned out across the hard-hit southwestern tip of the country over the weekend to repair treatment centres and reach the epicentre of one outbreak.\n\nDespite the loss, survivors packed what remained of the city's churches on Sunday, many seated in pews under open sky because Matthew ripped away roofs and even walls of the sanctuaries.\nAt least one was so badly damaged that worshippers set up an altar and prayed outside.\nJameson Pierre, 22, saw at least one bright side of the devastation.\n\"There will be lots and lots of jobs since so many homes were knocked down. I've been working for the last three days straight,\" he said.\nThe first three of five cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States have arrived at the airport in the capital Port of Prince.\nThey were carrying 480 metric tons of relief supplies, including 20,000 hygiene kits, 18,000 sets of kitchen utensils for cooking, 40,000 blankets and 500 rolls of plastic sheeting.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["1,000","1,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Matthew","Matthew"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["233 kilometre-per-hour winds"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Hurricane Nicole impacts Bermuda at Category 3 strength, making it the strongest hurricane to effect the British Overseas Territory since Hurricane Fabian in 2003. (The Weather Channel), (The Alabama Media Group)","document":"\nNicole formed as a tropical storm south of Bermuda on Oct. 4, 2016.\nIt meandered in the same general area for several days and briefly became a Category 2 hurricane on Oct. 6. It then weakened to a tropical storm again on the following day.\nBy Oct. 10, Nicole began its crawl northward on a path that would take its center very close to Bermuda. It regained hurricane strength the following day on Oct. 11.\nNicole then rapidly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane late Oct. 12 with maximum sustained winds increasing to 130 mph. It made its closest pass to Bermuda as Category 3 hurricane on Oct 13.\nHowever, the northern, then western eyewall did not spare Bermuda, lashing the island with wind gusts over 100 mph in spots.\n\nSustained winds topped 75 mph at Pearl Island and at L.F. Wade International Airport where peak gusts of 119 mph and 104 mph were measured, respectively on Oct. 13.\nIn fact, the eye of Nicole moved over Bermuda midday Oct. 13 before moving away later in the day. \nNo other center of a Category 3 or stronger hurricane had tracked as close to Bermuda (officially, it did not \"make landfall\", according to the National Hurricane Center) as Nicole's center did since an Oct. 22, 1926 hurricane. (Hurricane Fabian's eastern eyewall struck Bermuda in 2003, but its center remained about 14 miles west of Bermuda at its closest approach.)\nIn a true \"weather geek\" moment, the Bermuda Weather Service launched a weather balloon in the eye, something they also did during Hurricane Gonzalo in October 2014. \nThey described the \"suspended salt spray\", with a \"small of ripped vegetation hanging in the heavy, hot air\". \nPrior to Nicole's direct hit on Bermuda, its large eye, approximately 50 miles wide at one time, was much larger than the width of Bermuda.\n\nHurricanes of this intensity passing near Bermuda are exceedingly rare. Only 12 Category 3 hurricanes have tracked within 75 miles of Bermuda since 1899.\nOnly four October hurricanes have tracked within 50 miles of Bermuda dating back to 1950, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, tropical scientist at Colorado State University.\nAfter impacting Bermuda, Nicole moved across the north Atlantic Ocean for several days. It was finally declared post-tropical by the National Hurricane Center early on Oct. 18. \nNicole was the longest lived Atlantic named storm to form after Oct. 1 since 1906, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a tropical scientist at the Colorado State University.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northward"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a tropical storm","tropical storm","Category 3 hurricane","Category 3","Category 3","a Category 2","Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nicole","Nicole","Nicole","Nicole","Nicole","Nicole","Nicole","Nicole"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["130 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Typhoon Sarika (Karen) arrives at Luzon, Philippines, with the storm's future direction predicted to be toward Vietnam. (The Independent)","document":"A powerful typhoon is bearing down on the Philippines and could be the “most damaging” storm to hit the country this year. Typhoon Sarika, which has already caused several deaths, is gaining strength and expected to make landfall in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. With winds of up to 115mph, Sarika is expected hit the country as a category 3 storm, bringing huge amounts of rain, which could cause landslides and flooding, and storm surges of up to two metres above normal levels.\n\"We can see from the radar that the storm is very destructive,” government forecaster Benison Estareja told AFP news agency. “It can destroy wooden houses, it can topple trees. It can possibly rip off roofs. This could so far be the most damaging typhoon this year.\"\nThe storm, known locally as Karen, is predicted to hit the eastern side of Luzon, the Philippines largest and most populated island, and travel across its centre, also affecting parts of Manila, Mr Estareja added.\nIt is not expected to pass through the central Philippines islands, where Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in 2013.\nHeavy rains have already been battering the capital and other areas and public storm warnings have been issued in provinces across Luzon.\nAfter passing through the Philippines, Sarika is expected to pick up the pace as it travels west across the warm waters of the South China Sea towards Vietnam.\nVietnam has already been dealing with flooding in its four central provinces, which have killed at least 11 people and displaced thousands. Flooding from heavy rainfall brought by a tropical low pressure system since Wednesday has cut food supplies to thousands of people and blocked north-south traffic, the government said in a statement on Saturday.\nSeven people drowned or were electrocuted in Quang Binh province, four others were killed in three nearby provinces, and at least 30,000 homes were submerged, state-run Vietnam Television (VTV) said, citing government reports.\n\"It is our priority now to save people's lives,\" Chairman Nguyen Huu Hoai, of the provincial People's Committee in Quang Binh, said on a VTV bulletin.\nDozens of foreign tourists were among passengers stranded on 22 trains in the affected region, prompting provincial authorities to provide food and water, while many flights to the region were cancelled, VTV said.\nTropical storm Sarika could bring more rain to the affected areas, analysts said. J","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early hours of Sunday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Sarika","Sarika","Sarika","Sarika"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 115mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 The Philippine government places more than two dozen provinces on alert before Typhoon Haima makes landfall over Luzon. Haima, downgraded by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to a Category 4 storm, landfalls Cagayan province in the island's northeast. Weather forecasters expect the storm to impact up to 2.7 million people before veering northwest toward the Chinese coast on October 21. (Media Corp Press Today Online), (CNN via KCCI), (The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System)","document":"MANILA — The Philippines cancelled flights, shut schools and stockpiled supplies before Super Typhoon Haima reaches land on Thursday morning (Oct 20).\nHaima is a Category 5 storm that is packing maximum winds of 145 knots (268.5kph) and gusts of up to 175 knots, according to the latest bulletin from the US Navy and Air Force's Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm is expected to reach land in the northern province of Cagayan, the nation's weather bureau said.\nFour local flights have been canceled as of 9am Manila time (9am Singapore time), airport authorities said. School classes were suspended in Isabela province, while more than 1.28 billion pesos of food and supplies are on standby, the disaster monitoring agency said on its website. Typhoon alerts have been raised in more than 20 areas, including the capital.\nHaima, the second storm to hit the Philippines' main Luzon island in a week, may have a \"high humanitarian impact\" and could affect as many as 11.6 million people, according to the United Nations Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System. Named after a sea horse in China, the Category 5 storm's \"powerful winds in combination with the torrential rain will down trees, and may cause widespread power outages that could linger well after the storm has passed,\" Accuweather said.\nThe Philippines, battered annually by an average of 20 cyclones that form over the Pacific Ocean, is among countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to risk analysis company Verisk Maplecroft. Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms in the world to hit land, killed more than 6,000 people in November 2013 and left more than a thousand missing.\nHaima will remain a \"violent tropical system\" as it approaches China and may impact Hong Kong, Accuweather said. The storm is expected to enter the northern part of the South China Sea on Thursday, edging close to the coast of Guangdong on Oct 21, the Hong Kong Observatory said. BLOOMBERG\n ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["US Navy and Air Force's Joint Typhoon Warning Center","the nation's weather bureau"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern province of Cagayan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday morning (Oct 20)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 5 storm","Category 5 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haima","Haima","Haima","Haima"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["145 knots (268.5kph)","up to 175 knots"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Typhoon Haima, the second tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in less than a week, kills at least seven people and causes flooding, landslides, and power outages before heading out to sea. (AP via The New York Times), (The Epoch Times), (BBC)","document":"VIGAN, Philippines—Super Typhoon Haima weakened and blew out to sea Thursday after smashing the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain overnight. Flooding, landslides and power outages were evident, but large casualties appeared to have been averted after nearly 100,000 people fled to safer ground.\nHaima’s blinding winds and rain had rekindled fears of the catastrophe wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, but there were no immediate reports of any major damage. Several villages are cut off by fallen trees, landslides and floods, impeding communications and aid.\nAlthough storms are a part of life in the country’s north, many villagers were still horrified by Haima’s fury.\n“In my age, I’m 60 years old, this is the strongest typhoon I have ever seen,” village councilor Willie Cabalteja told The Associated Press in Vigan city in Ilocos Sur province. “We haven’t slept. Trees were forced down, houses lost their roofs and fences and metal sheets were flying around all night.”\nAt least seven people were killed in the storm, officials said. But the evacuations from high-risk communities helped prevent a larger number of casualties.\nTwo construction workers died when a landslide buried their shanty in La Trinidad town in the mountain province of Benguet, officials said, while two villagers perished in another landslide and another was swept away in a river and remains missing in Ifugao province, near Benguet. A 70-year-old man died apparently of a heart attack in an emergency shelter while another man died after being pinned by a fallen tree in Isabela province. One other typhoon-related death was reported in northern Ilocos region but details were not immediately available.\nHaima, with sustained winds of 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour, hit northeastern Cagayan province late Wednesday then barreled northwestward before blowing out into the South China Sea with sustained winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph (115 mph), according to forecasters.\nAlthough weakening, the typhoon was expected to blow toward China, Filipino forecasters said.\nAfter dawn, the extent of damage in Cagayan — about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Manila — and nearby regions became evident, with overturned vans, toppled or leaning electric posts and debris blocking roads. Most stores, their window panes shattered and canopies shredded by the wind, were close.\nIn northern Ilocos Sur province, ricefields resembled brown lakes under waist-high floodwaters, although cleanup operations had started.\n“Search, rescue and retrieval operations are ongoing,” Office of Civil Defense administrator Ricardo Jalad said in a statement.\nThe region is still recovering from a typhoon last weekend that killed two people and displaced tens of thousands of villagers.\nPresident Rodrigo Duterte, on a state visit to China, urged people to heed orders by disaster agencies. Duterte is to fly home Friday.\nAbout 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, adding to the burdens in a country also at risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.\nIn November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines with ferocious power, leaving more than 7,300 people dead and displacing more than 5 million others after leveling entire villages.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northern Philippines","northeastern Cagayan province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["nearly 100,000 people","At least seven people","Two construction workers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haima","Haima","Haima","Haima"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour","per hour","225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour","per hour","up to 185 kph (115 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 Typhoon Haima, the second tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in less than a week, kills at least seven people and causes flooding, landslides, and power outages before heading out to sea. (AP via The New York Times), (The Epoch Times), (BBC)","document":"At least four people have been killed in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Haima hit the country.\nThe storm, which brought sustained winds of up to 225km/h (140mph), made landfall over Cagayan in the north on Wednesday.\nNearly 100,000 people were evacuated from threatened areas as the storm approached.\nThere was widespread damage overnight, with homes destroyed and power lines brought down.\nAuthorities said two of those killed were buried in a landslide, and two others buried in a shanty town in a mountainous region. Experts had feared Haima could prove as destructive as the catastrophic super typhoon Haiyan, which claimed more than 7,350 lives in 2013.\nThe Philippines endures around 20 major storms every year, many of them deadly.\n\"I'm 60 years old, this is the strongest typhoon I have ever seen,\" village councillor Willie Cabalteja told news outlet the Associated Press. President Rodrigo Duterte, in Beijing on a state visit, had said he prayed the Philippines would be spared but that they were \"ready\".\n\"We only pray we be spared the destruction such as previous times. Everything has been deployed.\"\nThe storm was upgraded to a super typhoon just before it hit in Penablanca, a town in Cagayan province, around 23:00 local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday.\nOn Thursday morning, there were reports of damage across a wide area. \"Rice and corn plants as far as the eye can see are flattened,\" Villamor Visaya, a teacher in the northern city of Ilagan told the AFP.\n\"Many houses were destroyed. I saw one school building crushed under a large tree... it was as if our house was being pulled from its foundations.\"\nHaima, known as Lawin locally, had a weather band 800km (500 miles) wide, and authorities had warned the public to expect fierce winds and storm surges up to five metres (16 feet) or higher. It is the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in a week, after Sarika struck on Sunday. At least one person was killed in that storm, and three people are still missing.\nHaima is now moving out across the South China Sea towards Hong Kong and southern China.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Cagayan in the north","Cagayan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least four people","Nearly 100,000 people","two of those killed","two others"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haima","Haima","Haima","Haima"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 225km/h (140mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 The Met Office issues warnings for parts of South East England as Storm Angus prepares to make landfall. (BBC)","document":"A 200m-long cargo ship hit a barge full of rocks in the English Channel, as Storm Angus battered the south coast of England with high winds and heavy rain.\nEleven of the 23 crew members were evacuated by helicopter after the ship got into difficulty off Samphire Hoe near Dover.\nThe other 12 members remained on board and are working on getting the vessel to a safe port.\nStorm Angus is the first named storm of the season.\nThe Saga Sky was dragged into the rock barge by severe winds after losing all of its engine power. The coastguard declared the situation \"a major incident\", with two helicopters involved in evacuating crew members and a French tug sent to assist the stricken ship. Andy Roberts, an RNLI volunteer with the Dover Lifeboat House, said although the Saga Sky was damaged and had been taking on water, there was \"no sign of pollution\" in the surrounding waters.\nAfter regaining some engine power, the ship was able to move to a safe anchorage at Dungeness, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the focus is now on moving it to a more secure port of refuge.\nStorm Angus has brought gusts of up to 106mph - recorded 23 miles off the coast of Margate - while gusts hit 80mph at Langdon Bay, both in Kent. More than 1,000 properties in the south west of England - the majority in Devon - were without power, according to Western Power Distribution. Almost all power had been restored by Sunday afternoon.\nOn Sunday evening there were five flood warnings in place across England and Wales, down from more than 25, including one severe, at the storm's height. Angus has now moved out into the North Sea, but bad weather is set to continue into Monday. A further three Met Office weather warnings have been issued for the beginning of the week for Wales and the south-west and north-east of England, which can expect heavy rain and winds of up to 50mph. Devon and Cornwall Police declared a major incident overnight because of flooding at the Mill on the Mole residential park, South Molton, at 04:15 GMT, but residents who had been evacuated were able to return by 05:50.\nDevon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said some properties in Braunton and in Bradiford had been flooded.\nMeanwhile, fire crews were called to flooding to roads and \"multiple properties\" from sea water in East Bar, Swanage.\nIn East Sussex, organisers of the Brighton 10k tweeted that the run had been cancelled because of the high winds.\nAnd in West Sussex. fire crews tackled a \"major\" fire on Bognor Regis seafront in the \"difficult conditions\" brought by Angus.\nThe Port of Dover suspended ferry crossings earlier due to \"very high winds\" but this was later lifted.\nNetwork Rail said the weather had affected train services across the south east, but the majority of lines were now open.\nThe storm's effects have also been felt in the Channel Islands, with a wind gust of 84mph recorded in Guernsey and gusts of up to 87mph in Jersey.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Wales and the south-west and north-east of England","south","England","south west","Wales","South","East","East","West","south east","the south coast of England","England","England","England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Eleven of the 23 crew members"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Angus","Angus","Angus","Angus","Angus"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["106mph","80mph","up to 50mph"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 Storm Angus brings strong winds and heavy rain to southern England and the Channel Islands. (BBC)","document":"The first named storm of winter - Storm Angus - is battering the south coast of England, with winds of up to 80mph forecast to sweep through some areas.\nStorm Angus batters southern England. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the south coast of England","England","southern England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Angus","Angus"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 80mph"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2016 At least 21 are killed and more than 500,000 are displaced by cyclone Roanu in Bangladesh. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera), (The Daily Star)","document":"DHAKA (Reuters) - A cyclone battered coastal Bangladesh on Saturday, killing at least 21 people and injuring many more, but has now weakened into a depression that the weather office said could still bring brief periods of violent wind or rain.\nAuthorities in low-lying Bangladesh have moved about 500,000 people into 3,500 shelters, the disaster minister said. Cyclone Roanu has killed people in house collapses, landslides and a storm surge that broke embankments at two places in the Chittagong port city in the southeast.\n“We’ve shifted most of the people who are vulnerable,” said Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, adding that people were working “all-out” to contain and tackle the damage.\nSeveral people were injured after gusty winds damaged houses and shops and uprooted trees and electric poles. Some places were inundated by a storm surge of 3 to 4 feet (a meter or more) above normal tide height, officials said.\nAuthorities were also evacuating people from hilly parts of Chittagong in case persistent rain triggers more landslides.\nOfficials suspended flights at Chittagong airport while the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority restricted movement of all ships and ferries.\nThe weather office, in its final update for the day, advised fishing boats and trawlers to remain in shelter until Sunday noon.\nBangladesh is frequently battered by such storms. More than 3,000 people were killed by Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and around 200 lives were lost to Cyclone Aila in 2009.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["coastal Bangladesh"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 21 people","injuring many more","about 500,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Roanu"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2016 Tropical Storm Bonnie makes landfall on the East Coast of the United States, affecting mainly the city of Charleston, South Carolina. (AccuWeather)","document":" Despite no longer being a tropical storm or depression, Bonnie will induce daily showers and thunderstorms across the Carolinas into the middle of the week.\nBonnie became the second named tropical system of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season during Memorial Day weekend.\nThe storm made landfall as a tropical depression just east of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Isle of Palms, around 8:30 a.m. EDT Sunday.\nWeak winds high up in the atmosphere combined with a lack of systems moving in from the west will allow Bonnie to sit and spin near the coast for several days.\nInto Wednesday, daily opportunities for wet weather are expected across North and South Carolina as a result of the slow movement of the rainstorm.\n\"Across the eastern Carolinas, drenching showers and thunderstorms will be produced daily as Bonnie crawls eastward across the region into midweek,\" according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.\nAreas along the immediate coast could be socked in with clouds and occasional rain into midweek.\nFarther inland where the sun breaks out for a time, storms are expected to erupt and may become locally strong and gusty.\nPydynowski added that an isolated tornado or two can also be spawned in some of the strongest thunderstorms.\n.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["east of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Isle of Palms","South Carolina","the Carolinas","Carolinas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["the middle of the week","around 8:30 a.m. EDT Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Bonnie","Bonnie","Bonnie","Bonnie"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2016 The National Hurricane Center says this is the earliest a third named storm has ever formed in the Atlantic basin. (CBS News)","document":"Updated on: June 6, 2016 / 9:35 PM\n \n TAMPA, Fla. -- Residents on Florida's Gulf coast filled sandbags, schools closed early and graduation ceremonies were postponed as Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency just before Tropical Storm Colin began drenching the state Monday, threatening serious flooding.\nRain and gusty winds from the storm have already begun to pelt the state's west coast, reported CBS Miami.\nAt 11 a.m., the center of the system was about 285 miles west-southwest of Tampa. It was moving to the north-northeast at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles to the southeast of the center.\nHeavy rains from the storm hit north Florida and southern Georgia on Monday, knocking out power in some areas and flooding roads on the Gulf coast.\t\nResidents filled sandbags, schools closed early and graduation ceremonies were postponed.\nA large portion of Florida's western and Panhandle coast was already under a tropical storm warning when the National Hurricane Center announced that a swift-moving depression had become a named storm. The center said it is the earliest that a third named storm has ever formed in the Atlantic basin. Scientists warned back in May there were likely to be more named storms this year than the past few.\nColin is forecast to take a turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed on Monday. A rapid northeastward motion is expected Monday night and Tuesday. On this track, the center of Colin is forecast to approach the coast of the Florida Big Bend area Monday afternoon or evening and move across portions of Florida and southeastern Georgia early Tuesday morning.\nLittle change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days.\nEarly Monday, Ronald P. Milligan, 74, stopped by a park in St. Petersburg where authorities planned to distribute sandbags because the ditch in front of his home had filled during the previous evening's rain.\n\"If last night was a 'no storm' -- and the water was almost up to the hump in my yard - I'm worried,\" Milligan said, motioning to about knee level. He's lived in Florida since the late 1970s and hasn't ever prepared for a storm this early.\nSandbags also were being distributed in Tampa and nearby cities.\nSchools in at least one Florida Gulf Coast county were dismissed early Monday, and two high school graduations in the Tampa Bay area were postponed due to the storms, with both ceremonies being moved to Wednesday night and Thursday. Winds from Colin also closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa.\nIn addition, two high school graduations in the Tampa Bay area were postponed due to the storms, with both ceremonies being moved to Wednesday night and Thursday. Winds from Colin also closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa.\nFarther north at Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, the storm's arrival this afternoon was due at the same time as high tide, creating even higher risk of severe flooding, said Andrew Gude, manager of the refuge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.\n\"We're taking chain saws home so we can cut our way out of our neighborhoods and cut our way back into work tomorrow,\" Gude said.\nNot everyone in Florida was hunkering down. About 50 people were in the water with surfboards off Treasure Island to take advantage of the rare 2-3-foot swells breaking in the Gulf's warm waters.\t\n\"It's like man against nature,\" said Derek Wiltison of Atlantic Beach. \"Surfers tend to drop what they're doing -- work, relationships, whatever -- to go out and catch a wave.\"\nOne woman in St. Petersburg, Florida, took advantage of the storm in a mermaid costume. Colin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches, and forecasters said up to 8 inches are possible across western Florida, eastern Georgia and coastal areas of the Carolinas through Tuesday.\nForecasters also described Colin as a lopsided storm, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 185 miles east of its center.\nA tropical storm warning was also in effect for the entire Georgia coast and the lower South Carolina coast.\nMeanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott postponed a political meeting with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump scheduled Monday in New York so he can remain in the state capital to monitor the weather.\nScott warned residents not to simply look at the center of the storm, saying the heaviest rain will be to the east and west of it.\n\"I want everyone to be safe. I've talked to utilities and sheriff's departments, but residents have to do their part,\" Scott said.\nColin was expected to pass the Georgia coast before dawn Tuesday, said Dennis Jones, director of the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency.\nJones said flash floods appeared to pose the greatest threat, with the worst flood potential expected late Tuesday.\nAbout 7,600 people were without power in the Tampa Bay area. Duke Energy said Monday afternoon it had 3,600 customers without electricity, while Tampa Electric Company said on its website that 4,022 people were experiencing outages. In Jacksonville on Florida's Atlantic coast, about 2,300 customers were without power as heavy rains hit the area late Monday, according to the Jacksonville Energy Authority.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Gov. Rick Scott","Gov","Rick Scott","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents on Florida's Gulf coast","Florida","Gulf coast","Residents","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida Gulf Coast","Florida","Florida","Florida","residents","residents","Florida","About 7,600 people","3,600 customers","4,022 people","2,300 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northeast","north","northeast","north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["285 miles west-southwest of Tampa","TAMPA","Tampa","Tampa","Tampa","Tampa","Tampa","Tampa","Tampa"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["16 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Colin","Colin","Colin","Colin","Colin","Colin","Colin","Colin"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["50 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2016 A tornado, accompanied by heavy rainfall and hailstones, kills at least 98 people and injures 800 in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu (JSTV). One-hour rainfall reached 102 millimeters (about four inches) in Lianshui County. (Reuters) (China Radio International)","document":"BEIJING (Reuters) - A tornado, hail storms and driving rain killed at least 78 people and injured some 500 in eastern China on Thursday, flattening power lines, overturning cars and ripping roofs off houses in Jiangsu province.\nThe storm struck mid-afternoon near Yancheng city, a few hours’ drive north of China’s commercial capital, Shanghai, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.\nWinds of 125 km per hour (78 mph) battered several townships in Funing county, the official Xinhua news agency said.\n“I heard the gales and ran upstairs to shut the windows,” Funing resident Xie Litian, 62, told Xinhua.\n“I had hardly reached the top of the stairs when I heard a boom and saw the entire wall with the windows on it torn away.” When the storm subsided and Xie escaped, all the neighboring houses were gone.\n“It was like the end of the world,” Xie said.\nOf the roughly 500 hurt about 200 have serious injuries. Power and communications are down in some areas and emergency supplies, including 1,000 tents, have been rushed to the scene, the civil affairs ministry said in a statement.\nPictures posted online showed injured people lying amid destroyed houses, overturned cars, split tree trunks and broken power lines.\nThe summer often brings severe weather to China. Severe floods in the south killed at least 22 people and left 20 missing earlier this week.\nLast June, a freak storm led to the sinking of a Yangtze River cruise ship that killed 442 people, many of them elderly tourists. Only 12 people survived when the Eastern Star capsized in what was China’s worst shipping disaster in seven decades.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern China","several townships in Funing county"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["injured some 500","injured","at least 78 people","roughly 500 hurt"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125 km per hour (78 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2016 Taiwan and China brace for the impact of Typhoon Nepartak, the first major typhoon of 2016. Thousands of people have been evacuated in Taiwan while over 35,000 military personnel have been placed on standby to help with relief efforts. (CNN) (ABC News)","document":"sunrise over Super Typhoon #Nepartak - lashing Taiwan with winds 130 KT, gusts to 160 KT per latest JTWC advisory \nTyphoon Nepartak has hit eastern Taiwan, driving thousands of people from their homes, disrupting power supply and forcing the cancellation of more than 500 flights.\nThe storm was packing sustained winds of 240 kilometres per hour, and gusts at up to 296kph as it rumbled towards the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung.\nThe \"super-typhoon\" is expected to dump torrential rain on the whole island with mountainous areas forecast to be deluged with up to 600 millimetres, potentially triggering landslides that have in the past claimed hundreds of lives.\n\"The wind is very strong,\" said a resident of Taitung, the eastern Taiwan city where the typhoon hit land.\n\"Many hut roofs and signs on the street have been blown off,\" she told the Reuters news agency.\nOne death and 66 injuries were reported, while bullet train services have been suspended.\nAll fishing boats have been called back to port as waves — as high as 14 metres, according to TV reports — battered the eastern coast.\n\"The typhoon could bring in strong winds and torrential rains ... residents must heighten their vigilance,\" senior forecaster Chen Yi-liang told reporters.\nNepartak leaped from tropical storm to the category-five equivalent of a tropical cyclone on Tuesday, and has been intensifying since.\nJames Reynolds of Earth Uncut TV, based in Taitung City, was hiding in his building's stairwell as the typhoon approached at 7:30am (AEST).\n\"Bedlam continues in Taitung, air filled with flying and crashing debris,\" he tweeted.\nSince Tuesday, more than 3,000 visitors have been evacuated from Green Island and Orchid Island, two popular tourist spots off south-eastern Taitung county, local government officials said.\nTaiwan's Defence Ministry said more than 35,000 soldiers were on standby to help with evacuations and disaster relief, while 90 shelters had been set up. More than 300 international and 254 domestic flights have been cancelled, an emergency services website showed, while schools and offices have also been ordered to shut.\nConditions are expected to deteriorate significantly before the storm hits, the weather bureau said.\n\"Its storm circle is gradually approaching the waters off south-eastern Taiwan, posing a threat to all regions and Penghu,\" it added.\nThe tropical storm had a radius of 200 kilometres and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 13 kph, the bureau added.\nIn the path of the expected storm track are the Okinawa Islands, according to the Weather Network, where the impact could be much greater due to strong winds, heavy precipitation and high surf.\nOnce past Taiwan, Nepartak could take a turn to the north and impact the eastern coast of China near Shanghai, and as it moves up the warm waters of the East China Sea and eventually into the Yellow Sea.\nTyphoon Nepartak marks the first typhoon after a record 199 days of calm, the Weather Network said.\nDuring the same period in 2015, the region had nine typhoons, including three super typhoons of category five or more.\nSuper Typhoon Dujuan killed three people and left more than 300 injured in Taiwan last year after it pounded the island with fierce winds and torrential rains that uprooted trees and triggered multiple landslides.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to 600 millimetres"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","eastern Taiwan","eastern Taiwan","eastern Taiwan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people","One death","66 injuries"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nepartak","Nepartak","Nepartak","Nepartak","Nepartak"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["130 KT","240 kilometres per hour","up to 296kph"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2016 Typhoon Nepartak hits eastern Taiwan causing three deaths so far, 124 injuries, thousands of people to be evacuated, disrupting transport and power supplies. (Reuters) (CNN)","document":"TAIPEI (Reuters) - Super typhoon Nepartak hit Taiwan on Friday, driving thousands of people from their homes, disrupting power supplies and grounding more than 600 flights, authorities said.\nTelevision showed toppled motorcycles and signboards being ripped from buildings and swept across roads in southeast Taiwan, where the year’s first typhoon made landfall.\nBy afternoon, the typhoon had moved into the Taiwan Strait, weakening as it headed towards China’s southeastern province of Fujian, but flooding and strong winds continued to lash the island’s central and southern areas.\nMore than 17,300 people were evacuated from their homes, and over 517,000 households suffered power outages, emergency officials said.\n“The wind is very strong,” said a resident of Taitung, the eastern Taiwan city where the typhoon landed.\n“Many hut roofs and signs have been blown off.”\nThree deaths and 172 injuries were reported, bullet train services were suspended and over 340 international and 300 domestic flights canceled, an emergency services website showed.\nThe typhoon halted work in most of Taiwan. There were no reports of damage at semiconductor plants in the south.\nTropical Storm Risk had rated the typhoon as category 5, at the top of its ranking, but it was weakening and should be a tropical storm by the time it hits Fujian on Saturday morning.\nMore than 4,000 people working on coastal fish farms in Fujian were evacuated and fishing boats recalled to port, the official China News Service said.\nThe storm is expected to worsen already severe flooding in parts of central and eastern China, particularly in the major city of Wuhan.\nTyphoons are common at this time of year in the South China Sea, picking up strength over warm waters and dissipating over land.\nIn 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swathe of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing damage of up to $3 billion.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","China’s southeastern province of Fujian","Fujian","Fujian"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people","More than 17,300 people","Three deaths","172 injuries","More than 4,000 people working on coastal fish farms"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 5"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nepartak"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"China issued an “orange alert” for Typhoon Nida on Sunday, predicting the storm would hit the southern province of Guangdong on Tuesday","document":"BEIJING (Reuters) - China issued an “orange alert” for Typhoon Nida on Sunday, predicting the storm would hit the southern province of Guangdong on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua reported.\nThe National Meteorological Center (NMC) raised the threat level to the second-most severe alert on a four-colour scale after issuing a yellow alert earlier in the day.\nIt warned of strong winds and heavy rain along the coast affecting Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan provinces as well as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.\nThe storm is currently off the coast of the Philippines, and weather reports indicate it will also hit the financial centre of Hong Kong.\nTyphoon Nida will be the fourth typhoon this year to hit China, where natural disasters have killed 800 people since June -- the largest number of casualties since a similar period in 2011.\nNida is expected to pick up speed with winds forecasted to reach 38-45 meters per second by the time it makes landfall, according to the NMC.\nEarlier this month, Typhoon Nepartak drove at least 420,000 Chinese from their homes and caused more than 7.1 billion yuan ($1.07 billion) in losses in Fujian province alone.\n($1 = 6.6371 Chinese yuan renminbi)\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Meteorological Center (NMC)","NMC"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the southern province of Guangdong","Guangdong"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nida","Nida","Nida"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2019 At least 28 people are killed after the Typhoon Phanfone battered the Philippines. It led to the evacuation of more than 58,000 people. (BBC)","document":"The number of people killed by a typhoon that battered the Philippines over the Christmas period has risen to 28, say officials.\nTyphoon Phanfone, which made landfall on Tuesday, caused severe floods and destroyed homes in several provinces.\nAccording to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, 12 people remain missing. The typhoon led to the evacuation of more than 58,000 people and stranded thousands over the holiday period. Officials said some of the dead were hit by trees, while others were electrocuted or drowned.\n\"The likelihood is present that the casualty count will still increase. We're hoping against it,\" disaster agency spokesman Mark Timbal told news agency AFP. Phanfone struck close to regions hit by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,000 people and considered one of the Philippines' deadliest storms.\nTyphoon Phanfone, known locally as Typhoon Ursula, made its way through many islands of central Philippines on 25 December.\nIt reached winds of 200kmph (125 miles per hour), leaving thousands stranded as they tried to make their way home for Christmas.\nWestern parts of Visayas, the central of the three main island groups that make up the Philippines, were among the worst affected. In lloilo province, at least 13 people died.\nAccording to news site Rappler, six people from the same family were killed while visiting the town of Batad for a family funeral.\nThe popular tourist island of Boracay was also damaged by the typhoon, with homes destroyed and mobile phone and internet access cut off. \"Communication lines are down. Electricity is still down,\" Jonathan Pablito, a police chief in Alkan province, an island neighbouring Boracay, told agency AFP on Thursday. Tacloban, a low-lying that was destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan, was also among those affected. However, the city escaped the worst of the damage this time round. The typhoon is said to have eased in strength on Thursday and has headed towards the South China Sea. Philippines counts its dead after Typhoon Phanfone\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","many islands of central Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["28","12 people","more than 58,000 people","thousands","at least 13 people died"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","25 December"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Phanfone","Phanfone","Phanfone","Phanfone","Haiyan","Haiyan","Ursula"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["200kmph (125 miles per hour)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2005 Typhoon Mawar (11W) makes landfall at Chiba city, just east of Tokyo, having weakened from super–typhoon strength. (BBC)","document":"Typhoon Mawar brought winds of 108km/h (67mph) and heavy rain, triggering flood warnings for the Tokyo region.\nA large number of flights, express trains and ferry services in and out of the capital were cancelled.\nThe prefectures of Chiba and Shizuoka, on the east and west of Tokyo, were worst hit. Thousands of households were left without power.\nSome 27 million people live in Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures.\nA 55-year-old man died after falling from the roof of his house and at least two other men were injured in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, police said.\nMore than 3,500 households lost power in Chiba, just east of Tokyo.\nHundreds of families were evacuated as rising water levels flooded homes and trigged seven landslides in the two prefectures.\nFlooding concerns\nTyphoon Mawar hit Chiba city at around 0430 on Friday (1930 GMT Thursday), the Meteorological Agency said.\nThe storm was heading north-east at 25km/h (15mph) and was expected to head back out to the Pacific Ocean, becoming a tropical depression early on Saturday, the agency added.\n \nWinds up to 150 km/h (95mph)\nMoving at 15 km/h\n\n \"Since the typhoon's moving speed is slow, there are concerns that heavy rains and winds might occur in the areas where the typhoon stays,\" a spokesman for the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP news agency.\nResidents were warned to expect as much as 35cm (14in) of rainfall within 24 hours.\nThe cancellation of dozens of flights affected some 7,000 passengers on Thursday, airlines said.\nJapanese television reports showed fishing boats returning to port as giant waves hit the coastline before the typhoon struck.\nJapan is hit by two to three typhoons each year, but as many as 10 - the last of which alone killed 90 people - struck the country in 2004. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Chiba and Shizuoka, on the east and west of Tokyo","Tokyo","Tokyo","Shizuoka","west","Tokyo","Chiba","east","Tokyo","Chiba","Tokyo region","Chiba city"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A 55-year-old man","year"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-east","east","east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["around 0430 on Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["25km/h (15mph)","15 km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Mawar","Mawar"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["108km/h (67mph)","up to 150 km/h (95mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2005 Millions of people living in and around the below sea-level Louisiana city of New Orleans are leaving as Hurricane Katrina approaches. Storm surge is forecasted at 25 ft. The Mayor of New Orleans has issued a mandatory evacuation order, citing fears that the storm will break the levees protecting the city. (BBC), (CNN)","document":"Highways were jammed as people obeyed Mayor Ray Nagin's order to leave the Louisiana city for higher ground.\nThose unable or unwilling to leave spent the night in shelters - including the 77,000-seat Superdome stadium.\nAlthough the storm has been downgraded from category five to four, sustained winds were still reaching 155mph (250km/h) as it made landfall.\nWinds of up to 71mph (114km/h) have already been recorded in New Orleans, while Grand Isle - just off the coast - has seen gusts of 91mph (144km/h).\n\n In the Gulf of Mexico, oil production has been hit, with capacity of over 650,000 barrels per day closed down, along with seven refineries and a huge offshore terminal. In Asian trading on Monday, oil prices jumped nearly $5 a barrel to touch a high of $70.80.\n\nIssuing his unprecedented mandatory evacuation order, Mayor Nagin said the city - which sits some 6ft (2m) below sea level - was at risk of serious flooding.\nThe post-hurricane surge could reach 28ft (8.5m) toppling the barriers that protect the city and its historic French Quarter, he warned.\n\"We are facing the storm that most of us have feared,\" he told the city's 485,000 residents.\n\"This is a once in a lifetime event.\"\n\n A series of barriers and pumps protect the bowl-shaped city from the Mississippi River on one side, and Lake Pontchartrain on the other.\nExperts fear the city's defences could be overwhelmed by floodwaters, inundating New Orleans with chemicals from refineries, and human waste from damaged septic systems.\nThere was some hope though, as the storm approached, that the worst of the hurricane might not directly hit the city. Forecasters said the storm had turned slightly eastward, which would put the weaker side of the hurricane over New Orleans.\nThe BBC's Alistair Leithead in New Orleans says many people have headed to hotels in higher areas. Businesses and homes have been boarded up and sandbags stacked up in doorways.\nThe most frail have been given priority in the Superdome stadium, the home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints and now a makeshift shelter. States of emergency\nThe neighbouring states of Mississippi and Alabama are also braced for the storm.\nUS President George W Bush has issued a state of emergency in Louisiana and Mississippi, freeing the path for federal aid.\nThe storm, which formed in the Bahamas, lashed South Florida on Thursday, killing nine people, uprooting trees, downing power lines and causing extensive flooding.\nKatrina is the sixth hurricane to hit the Florida coastline since last August.\nIf Katrina strengthens again, it could be only the fourth category five storm to hit the US since record-keeping began. The last to strike the Louisiana area was Hurricane Camille in 1969, which killed more than 250 people.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Mayor Ray Nagin's"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Gulf of Mexico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["graded from category five to four","category five"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["Winds of up to 71mph (114km/h)","winds","155mph (250km/h)","91mph (144km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Typhoon Talim passes over Taiwan, killing at least one person and injuring 24. (BBC)","document":"At least one person was killed and 24 injured as winds and rain lashed the mountainous, densely-populated island.\nSchools, public buildings and financial markets remained closed, amid warnings that heavy rainfall could still cause landslides and flooding.\nTyphoon Talim is now en route to south-east China, with sustained winds of up to 144 km/h (90 mph).\nMost air and land traffic in Taiwan is expected to return to normal later on Thursday, but weather experts predict that strong winds and rains will continue in central and southern areas.\nSome residents of coastal areas have been evacuated in anticipation of the typhoon, the China Daily newspaper reported.\n\nBy mid-morning local time on Thursday, the storm was centred over the Taiwan Strait, about 60km (37 miles) from the city of Taichung in central Taiwan.\nThe worst of the storm had passed by the time people woke up in the city of Taipei.\n\n A taxi driver told the Reuters news agency that fierce winds and torrential rain had made driving dangerous during the night.\n\"I heard a loud bang and saw scaffolding had crashed into the street right next to my car. It was a close shave,\" he said.\nAn elderly man is reported to have drowned during the storm after slipping into a pond, according to Taiwan's Disaster Relief Centre.\nAn express train from Kaohsiung city to Taipei was cancelled after one of its windows was shattered by a falling signpost.\nNine people - eight prisoners and a policeman - were hurt when the van they were travelling in hit a road barrier.\nTalim had earlier been classed as a category 4 storm out of a five-level ranking, with five being the strongest.\nTyphoons and tropical storms often hit the island between June and September. Last August, an entire village was buried in northern Hsinchu county when Typhoon Aere struck, killing 24 people. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["south-east China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least one person","24 injured"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["the Taiwan Strait, about 60km (37 miles) from the city of Taichung in central Taiwan","city","city"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Talim","Talim"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 144 km/h (90 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 The Japan Meteorological Agency announces Category 5 Typhoon Nabi is set to hit Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands and possibly Kyūshū on Monday. (ABC)","document":"A powerful typhoon churning towards Japan's Okinawa islands has strengthened to a category 5 storm, technically the same strength as Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the US Gulf states.\nAn official at Japan's Meteorological Agency has warned Typhoon Nabi could reach Okinawa by Monday, and could also curve up to threaten Japan's southern-most main island of Kyushu.\nHe says by tomorrow morning, Nabi is expected to increase its wind speed enough to be dubbed violent - the strongest designation Japan uses for typhoons.\nHowever, he also says cooler ocean temperatures near Japan mean Nabi is unlikely to have the same destructive power as Katrina.\nStrong prevailing winds are likely to help dissipate its force relatively rapidly, once it approaches","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["An official at Japan's Meteorological Agency","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan's southern-most main island of Kyushu","Japan","Okinawa","Okinawa","Japan's Okinawa islands","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category 5 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nabi","Nabi","Nabi","Katrina","Katrina"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Typhoon Nabi (Category 3) reaches the Japanese coasts. It will make landfall today, and is expected to take 3 days to cross the island of Kyūshū. (Reuters)","document":"TOKYO (Reuters) - A typhoon lashed southwestern Japan on Monday, creating nine-metre high waves, cutting power supplies and disrupting transport and work at oil refineries.\nWeather officials in South Korea also warned of flooding, while eastern China braced for possible effects from Typhoon Nabi after another storm last week killed at least 84 people in the east of the country, newspapers said.\nNabi was 150 km (94 miles) southwest of the tiny southern Japanese island of Yakushima at 6 p.m. (10 a.m. British time), the Meteorological Agency said. Winds were gusting up to 160 kph (100 mph) at the centre of the typhoon, but the storm weakened slightly as it passed over cooler water.\nThe Tropical Storm Risk Web site had classified Nabi as a Category 4 storm on an ascending scale of 1 to 5, the same category as Katrina, which hit the U.S. Gulf Coast last week. But later on Monday, it downgraded the storm to a Category 3.\nTyphoon Nabi, whose name means \"butterfly\" in Korean, was travelling north-northwest at 15 kph (10 mph), heading directly for the densely populated southern island of Kyushu.\nThe Meteorological Agency expects Nabi to swerve to the east over the next 24 hours, putting it on course to batter much of Japan and southern and eastern parts of South Korea.\nTelevision pictures showed coastal areas of Amami Oshima being engulfed by waves that national broadcaster NHK said were up to nine metres high.\nAt least four people were injured on Kyushu as the storm approached the island, police said.\nJapan's top government spokesman, Hiroyuki Hosoda, said the country's military, police, firefighters and coast guard were on standby.\nHundreds of flights in and out of Kyushu were cancelled on Monday, NHK said. Trains were also cancelled and expressways closed in southern parts of the island. Nearly 20,000 households were without electricity on Kyushu, NHK said.\nSouth Korean airlines have cancelled about two dozen domestic flights to its southern cities due to high winds and airline officials said the number of cancellations would likely increase as the typhoon draws near.\nSouth Korean weathermen said the worst of the typhoon would hit from about Tuesday afternoon.\nNabi has sparked thunderstorms in Tokyo, where more than 110 mm (4.3 inches) of rain fell in an hour in some areas late on Sunday. Two men were killed -- one drowned and one was struck by lightning -- in areas close to the capital, police said.\nThousands of households in or near Tokyo were flooded and lost power, while some highways were closed and trains delayed.\n\nJapanese oil refiners suspended waterborne operations at some of their facilities on Monday, refinery spokesmen said.\nIdemitsu Kosan, Japan's third-biggest refiner, said it had halted waterborne shipments of refined products at its terminals in Okinawa and Kagoshima, both located in southern Japan, because of the storm.\nOperations at Idemitsu's refinery facilities, with a total capacity of 640,000 barrels per day, were unaffected, a company spokesman said.\nJapan Energy, the refining unit of Nippon Mining Holdings Inc., also suspended tanker operations at its 200,200 bpd facility in Mizushima, western Japan.\nKyushu Oil suspended waterborne operations at its 155,000-bpd Oita refinery in southwestern Japan, a company spokeswoman said.\nThe large scale of the storm and the low speed at which it was moving meant it would affect Japan for a relatively long time, possibly causing extensive damage, a Meteorological Agency official said.\nChina's Anhui province took the brunt of the region's previous typhoon, Talim, with 95 people killed.\nTwenty-six more were killed in China's eastern Zhejiang province, where Nabi was expected to make landfall as early as Monday night, state television said.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southwestern Japan","southwestern Japan","eastern China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 84 people","At least four people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15 kph (10 mph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nabi","Nabi","Nabi","Nabi","Nabi","Nabi","Nabi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 160 kph (100 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Over 800,000 people in the Zhejiang province of China are evacuating as the province is hit by Typhoon Khanun which has a packing center winds of 144 kilometers per hour. (Chinadaily)","document":"Typhoon Khanun slams into East China province (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-09-11 16:58\nKhanun, the No. 15 typhoon of this year has slammed into Taizhou city of East China's Zhejiang Province at 14:50 p.m. Sunday, the provincial source announced. Chinese women struggle with their umbrellas in heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Khanun in Wenling, East China's Zhenjiang Province, Sunday, September 11, 2005. The typhoon, with force exceeding 12, will sweep the cities of Taizhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and then enter the Taihu Lake. A Chinese pushes his tricycle in the rain against gusts of wind as Typhoon Khanun made landfall in the east coast of China, Sunday, September 11, 2005.The province has so far evacuated 814,267 people to safer places, said sources with the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, adding that about 35,409 ships and vessels have returned to ports. The headquarters still issued an urgent notice urging local people to prepare for the possible mountain torrents and other geological disasters which might inflicted by typhoon and torrential rains. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["hou city of East China's Zhejiang Province","East China","East China","East China province","cities of Taizhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and then enter the Taihu Lake","Taizhou","Wenling, East China's Zhenjiang Province","East China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["814,267 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["14:50 p.m. Sunday","Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Khanun","Khanun","Khanun","Khanun"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Mandatory emergency evacuation is ordered for Outer Banks in North Carolina as Hurricane Ophelia approaches. (Washington Post), (Reuters)[permanent dead link], (Guardian)","document":"North Carolina's governor pleaded yesterday with the 70,000 people living along the state's coast to flee Hurricane Ophelia, the first major storm to hit the US since Katrina devastated Louisiana and Mississippi two weeks ago.\nOphelia was expected to strike North Carolina with a glancing blow late last night before spinning off into the Atlantic. It was considerably weaker than Katrina, with top sustained wind speeds of 85mph, but the governor, Mike Easley, said it was moving so slowly along the coast it would cause disproportionate flooding.\n\"These floods are going to be worse than anticipated yesterday,\" the governor said. \"We're asking and begging [people to get out] because it's going to be hard to get them out later. Once the high winds come, we cannot get in and get you out - cannot get you by boat, cannot get you by helicopters, cannot get there by plane.\"\nMandatory evacuation orders were issued for the islands off the state's Outer Banks, and for the region's seaside resorts, but there were reports last night that many people had ignored the orders, barricaded their houses and stayed put.\nStung by criticism of its slow response to Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency stationed 250 workers along the North Carolina coast, more than would normally be deployed for a hurricane of Ophelia's magnitude.\nThe main concern was flooding as the hurricane crept northwards up the North Carolina coast. The National Hurricane Centre predicted it would hover over the northern coast for 11 hours, dumping 38cm (15in) of rain and driving storm surges of more than three metres on the shore, and along North Carolina's rivers.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late last night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ophelia","Ophelia","Ophelia","Katrina","Katrina","Katrina"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["85mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Mandatory emergency evacuation is ordered for Outer Banks in North Carolina as Hurricane Ophelia approaches. (Washington Post), (Reuters)[permanent dead link], (Guardian)","document":"FRISCO, N.C., Sept. 14 -- As slow-moving Hurricane Ophelia hugged the North Carolina coast in a torrential embrace Wednesday, federal, state and local officials were taking no chances of a repeat of the sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina.\nHere on Hatteras Island, which was expected to bear the worst of the storm, emergency officials stockpiled enough water and military rations to last 3,000 people for three days. The National Guard was standing by with all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drive ambulances. The National Forest Service had 10 chain-saw teams ready to remove fallen trees.\nGov. Mike Easley (D) urged residents of low-lying coastal areas to evacuate. \"We're asking them and begging them to please do that because it's going to be hard to get them out later,\" he said. \"The storm surge is going to be higher than projected\" Tuesday.\nBut despite a \"mandatory\" evacuation order -- which state officials acknowledged was not really mandatory at all -- many residents stayed behind on Hatteras and neighboring islands along the Outer Banks. They parked dozens of cars, pickup trucks and a fire engine on the lawn of the Cape Hatteras Baptist Church in Frisco, not because it is the holiest ground in town, but because it is the highest.\nThey piled sandbags, stowed boats, bought groceries. And while emergency officials took no chances, some locals did.\n\"Gosh, that was great. Best way to stretch out your back,\" said Jim Bagwell, 52, after a 10-minute swim in the pounding, six-foot ocean surf at the Frisco Fishing Pier, just hours before the eye of the hurricane was forecast to come through. In last year's Hurricane Alex, the 200-foot pier itself was carried away.\nCars pulled in and out of the parking lot as residents came to gawk at the high waves and exchange gossip. Bagwell's Labrador retriever, Gator, started to run after him into the surf, then thought better of it.\n\"They're bringing in truckloads of water. It's paranoia from Katrina,\" said Murray Clark, 77, a retired trawler captain. \"All of us locals are sitting and giggling.\"\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency placed emergency operations centers on 24-hour alert and readied 50 rescue aircraft, spokeswoman Nicol Andrews said.\nThe agency staged three response teams and stockpiled medical supplies in Raleigh, N.C., and held three more in reserve in Virginia and Maryland in case the storm moved north, a FEMA official said. More than 100 medical personnel were in Raleigh.\nWhile North Carolina had stored enough ice to last two days for 10,000 people, federal authorities staged more food, water and ice in Emporia, Va.; Palmetto and Thomasville, Ga.; Columbia, S.C.; Cumberland, Md.; and Edison, N.J.\nNorth Carolina also activated 200 National Guard members and placed 200 more on standby, a FEMA official said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina coast","Hatteras Island"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["residents","residents","residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Katrina","Katrina","Ophelia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2005 Hurricane Rita is forecast to become a major storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week. Mayor Ray Nagin has ordered an evacuation of New Orleans. (KHON.com), (BBC), (CTV)","document":"He said that, with a new tropical storm menacing the southern US coast, the \"conditions have changed\". The city's Algiers section has already opened and Mayor Nagin had plans to open three more district shortly.\nBut President Bush and top officials have voiced concern at the stricken city's ability to cope with the influx.\nMayor Nagin told a press conference that \"all re-entry\" to the city was being suspended immediately.\nWhatever population goes into New Orleans... there has to be an evacuation plan to get them out Vice-Admiral Thad Allen\nOil prices rises\n\"The conditions have changed. We have another hurricane approaching us,\" he said.\nTropical Storm Rita is building in strength as it heads towards the Florida Keys and could become a hurricane.\nIts predicted path would take it to Texas - where many of Hurricane Katrina's victims have sought refuge - at the weekend, and some maps suggest it may hit parts of Louisiana.\nOn Monday, the number of confirmed deaths in Louisiana as a result of the storm climbed by 90 to 736, taking the death toll across the region to 973.\n'Matter of timing'\nEarlier, Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Thad Allen, head of the recovery effort, warned that the threat of more storms complicated plans to re-open the city.\n\"Whatever population goes into New Orleans right now, there has to be an evacuation plan on how to get them out in the event of another hurricane,\" he said, speaking on US television station CBS.\n \n Gulf opportunity zone Immediate incentives for job-creating investment\nRecovery accounts Up to $5,000 help for job-seekers, for training, childcare etc\nUrban homesteading act Federal-owned land handed out in a lottery for new homebuilding\nBush fights back\nClinton: Katrina troubles US\nSpeaking after a meeting with his Homeland Security Council, President George W Bush said his administration was \"cautious about encouraging people to return at this moment of history\".\nHe stressed that the city needed to re-emerge, but it was \"a matter of timing\".\n\"The mayor has got this dream about having his city up and running,\" said Mr Bush. \"We share that dream, but we also want to be realistic about some of the hurdles and obstacles.\"\nMayor Nagin had said he wanted to allow residents to return to New Orleans one postcode at a time.\nHe had announced plans for the Uptown neighbourhood, the Garden District and the historic French Quarter to be re-settled over the next week - bringing a third of New Orleans' evacuated inhabitants back to the city.\nResidents of Algiers, a district of 57,000 people which escaped the worst of the damage, became the first to be able to return on Monday. The BBC's Oliver Conway described how they were returning to homes with running water and electricity - although food and water was being supplied by a relief station run by the army and volunteers.\nMayor Nagin has now urged those who returned to Algiers to be ready to evacuate as early as Wednesday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["hit parts of Louisiana","Louisiana","the southern US coast","Florida Keys","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["736"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Rita"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2005 Up to 60 police cadets have been swept away by powerful Typhoon Longwang in Fujian, south–east China. (BBC)","document":"Cadets were washed away on Sunday when the academy's barracks in the city of Fuzhou collapsed under the pressure of mud crashing down a hill.\nAnother 36 people remain missing in the Fujian province as some 7,000 rescuers continue their search for survivors. The confirmed death toll is now 65, and there are fears the figure will rise.\nPresident Hu Jintao ordered that no effort be spared to search for survivors.\nTyphoon Longwang, or Dragon King, made landfall near Jinjiang on Sunday, with winds of up to 120km/h (73 mph). It destroyed 5,400 homes and 12,500 ha (31,000 acres) of crops in the province, Xinhua said.\nEconomic damage has been estimated by the China Daily newspaper as about $150m (£85m), with the tourism sector the worst affected.\nThis would normally have been one of the busiest times of the year for Fujian's tourist industry, because of the National Day holiday.\nBy Tuesday, the winds had mostly died down, although rain was continuing to fall in some parts of Fujian, reports said.\nBut the bad weather is not over yet. The authorities in the central province of Hubei have evacuated about 24,000 people along the banks of a tributary of the Yangtze River, ahead of expected heavy rain, Xinhua news agency said.\n\"The flood is still under control though it seems still severe,\" Cai Qihua, deputy director of the Yangtze flood control headquarters, is quoted as saying.\nThe typhoon season has brought three powerful storms to the region in recent weeks, killing more than 150 people.\nTyphoons regularly plague Taiwan and eastern China during the summer months. Twelve people were killed by Typhoon Haitang in July.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near Jinjiang"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Cadets","Another 36 people","65"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Longwang","Dragon King"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 120km/h (73 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2004 The Cuban government evacuates between 800,000 and 1.3 million people from coastal cities and developed areas. Cubans have begun calling the hurricane \"Ivan the Terrible\". (Reuters) (New York Times) (NOAA/NHC)","document":"HAVANA, Sept. 12 - Hurricane Ivan hammered the Cayman Islands on Sunday with winds that moved like bulldozers at 155 miles per hour, as thousands of people in Cuba and Florida braced for one of the most powerful storms to boil up out of the Atlantic.\nAhead of the storm, Cuba, the most populated island in the Caribbean, evacuated nearly one million people to shelters and moved truckloads of food into fortified warehouses.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Cayman Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of people in Cuba and Florida","Cuba","people","nearly one million people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Ivan"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["155 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2004 2004 Atlantic hurricane season: Massive flooding in Haiti resulting from this weekend's passage of Hurricane Jeanne over the island of Hispaniola leaves large areas submerged and at least 556 people dead, with that number expected to increase. (Reuters) (BBC)","document":"PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - More than 300 people have died in Haiti from flooding and mudslides triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne, according to aid workers who said half of the northern city of Gonaives was still underwater.\n\"We have counted 250 bodies at the hospital morgue in Gonaives,\" U.N. spokesman Toussaint Congo-Doudou said after heavy rains sent a wall of muddy water crashing through northern towns over the weekend.\nU.N. peacekeepers had unconfirmed reports of another 150 dead in Gonaives, said U.N. coordinator Adama Guindo.\nThe northern city was the birthplace of Haiti's independence from France 200 years ago and it was where an armed revolt began this year that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.\nForty-seven people were also confirmed killed in the northwest province, around the town of Port-de-Paix, said Henry Max Thelus, a government official. Eight deaths were recorded elsewhere, bringing the total confirmed toll to 305.\nInterim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue declared three days of national mourning.\nHalf of Gonaives remained under water, and 80 percent of its inner urban population of over 100,000 had been affected by the floods, which at one point forced hundreds of people to take cover on the roofs of their homes, said Anne Poulsen, spokeswoman for the U.N.'s World Food Programme in Haiti.\nTwelve trucks carrying 40 metric tons of food would leave the capital Port-au-Prince Monday and head to Gonaives, said Poulsen.\nThe World Health Organisation planned to deliver medicine, and 15 trucks from the Brazilian-led U.N. force had gone to reinforce a detachment of Argentine peacekeepers stationed in the city.\n\"It's not just people's houses, it's also crops and livestock that have been washed away. So it will take quite some months before people will be able to cope by themselves again,\" Poulsen said. \"Nature is tough on Haiti.\"\nHaiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is frequently lashed by flash floods and mudslides because of extensive deforestation. Around 2,000 Haitians died when extensive floods washed away villages near the Dominican-Haitian border in May.\nCongo-Doudou said that at the height of the flooding, the water was 9 feet (3 metres) deep in Gonaives and the current was so strong it swept away heavy military trucks. U.N. helicopters were used to pluck people from their rooftops.\nA woman who was about to give birth in the street as muddy waters swirled around her legs was rescued by U.N. police.\nThe fresh blow from nature came on top of bloody political conflict that saw Aristide flee into exile on February 29. A Brazilian-led U.N. force is trying to keep the peace.\nJeanne, which last Thursday briefly became a hurricane with winds in excess of 75 mph (122 kph), also killed 11 people in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and two in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.\nThe latest cyclone in an unusually busy Atlantic hurricane season, the storm was moving slowly northward to the east of the Bahamas on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph).\nIt presented no immediate threat to land, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre said, and was expected to swing to the northeast. That would spare Florida, hit by three big hurricanes in the past five weeks.\nLikewise, powerful Hurricane Karl presented no immediate threat to land as it swirled in the open Atlantic, 1,010 miles (1,620 km) east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles, with winds of 120 mph (195 kph).\nMeanwhile, a new tropical storm formed in the Atlantic on Monday. Tropical Storm Lisa was 810 miles (1,305 km) west of the Cape Verde islands by 11 a.m., with 60 mph (95 kph) as it began to take a westerly track that would move it through the Caribbean toward the Gulf of Mexico.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","Haiti","the northwest province, around the town of Port-de-Paix","Port","Around","around","Dominican Republic"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["More than 300 people","250 bodies","another 150","Forty-seven people","11 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jeanne","Jeanne"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 mph (122 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2004 2004 Atlantic hurricane season: Hurricane Jeanne strengthens slightly as it passes over the northern Bahamas and makes landfall at 11:50 p.m. local time at Hutchison Island, just east of Stuart, Florida, as a Category Three storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). About 3 million people are ordered to evacuate vulnerable areas in Florida. (Reuters)","document":"MIAMI (Reuters) - Deadly Hurricane Jeanne has strengthened rapidly as it strafes the northern Bahamas on its way to deliver a record fourth hurricane strike in one season to densely populated Florida.\nIntermittent squalls from the hurricane's outer fringes pelted the south and central Florida east coast on Saturday with wind gusts and blinding rain.\nThe hurricane's eye was expected to come ashore in the Fort Pierce area late on Saturday or early on Sunday -- a one-two punch for a region slammed by Hurricane Frances three weeks ago.\nThe storm's 115 mph (185 kph) winds, up from 105 mph overnight, and 8-foot (2.4-metre) storm surge lashed Great Abaco island in the Bahamas, a 700-island chain of 300,000 people stretching from Haiti to off the Florida coast.\nUp to 3 million storm-weary Floridians were told to evacuate coastal islands, mobile homes and flood-prone areas. Others battened down the hatches one more time -- stocking up on batteries, water and gasoline and shuttering homes -- or streamed into public shelters.\nMany on the storm-scarred Atlantic coast, emboldened by having survived Frances, vowed to remain at home, an act of defiance that alarmed authorities -- particularly as Jeanne was likely to arrive as a stronger storm.\n\"This is dangerous, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a game,\" Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas said. \"We're all fatigued, we're all exhausted. We don't want to have to go through this drill again but none of us can control Mother Nature.\"\nBy 3 p.m. (8 p.m. British time), the storm, which has already killed up to 2,000 people in Haiti and 31 in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, was about 40 miles north-northeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, or 125 miles east-southeast of Vero Beach, Florida, at latitude 27 north and longitude 78.4 west.\nJeanne picked up speed overnight and was travelling west at 14 mph.\nThe U.S. National Hurricane Centre said the storm, now a strong Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, could strengthen further over warm water between the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.\nAlong Florida's Atlantic coast, including the densely populated counties of Broward and Miami-Dade, 3 million residents were told to evacuate.\nOfficials urged residents not to be complacent.\n\"People on the barrier islands who think they can ride this storm out should think again,\" Governor Jeb Bush, brother of President George W. Bush, told reporters. \"It is getting bigger and stronger.\"\nState officials said computer models showed 4.7 million of the state's 17 million people were in harm's way, and estimated that 1.2 million buildings could be damaged, leaving around 142,000 families without homes.\nWhen Jeanne comes ashore late Saturday or early Sunday, it will mark the first time since records began in 1851 that Florida has been walloped by four hurricanes in a single season. The season lasts from June to the end of November.\nIn the Bahamas, residents of Grand Bahama and Great Abaco islands, both still recovering from the ravages of Frances, packed into shelters.\nJeanne destroyed one house and tore the roofs off several others in the Fox Town settlement on northern Abaco. Rising water made roads impassable and a dock at the local oil depot was badly damaged, Fox Town resident Wellesley Carey said.\nMeteorologist Donna Duncombe said rainfall had been \"very intense\" and was likely to continue until the storm passed north of Freeport, where most of Grand Bahama's 50,000 residents live.\nIn Florida, Hurricane Charley kicked off a season likely to dent the state's reputation as a tourist destination when it slammed ashore on the southwest Gulf Coast on August 13. It had winds of 145 mph, killed 33 people and caused $7.4 billion (4.1 billion) in insured damages.\nFrances hit the Atlantic coast on September 5, killing 30 and causing $4.4 billion in damages.\nIvan ripped into the Gulf Coast between Florida and Alabama with 130 mph winds on September 16, killing at least 45 people across the United States and causing up to $6 billion in damages.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","Florida","the south and central Florida east coast","the northern Bahamas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Up to 3 million storm-weary Floridians"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday or early on Sunday","Saturday","early Sunday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":["come ashore in the Fort Pierce area"]},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jeanne","Jeanne","Jeanne","Jeanne","Jeanne"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["115 mph (185 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 Cyclone Zena, now a category 3 storm, heads for Fiji, where a tropical depression already dumped up to 12 inches of rain on the western and northern parts of Fiji's largest and most populous island, Viti Levu, triggering major flash flooding that's killed at least two people. The archipelago is still recovering from category 5 Cyclone Winston that killed 44 people in February. (Weather.com) (Television New Zealand)","document":"\nTropical Cyclone Zena passed southeast of Fiji, just days after torrential rain triggered major flooding, and just six weeks after parts of the archipelago were slammed by Tropical Cyclone Winston, their strongest tropical cyclone on record.\nOfficials placed the entire country under a curfew Thursday so crews could survey the damage and ensure the safety of all residents, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Damage was not believed to be extensive from this storm, but there were still some reports of structures affected and flooding.\nThe storm then moved on to Tonga, but damage is believed to be minimal, the Australian Broadcasting Company said.\n\nZena peaked in intensity as a Category 2 cyclone Wednesday afternoon with maximum sustained winds estimated by the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center of 105 mph.\nThanks to increasing westerly wind shear by Wednesday, Zena's central core of convection lost organization with an eye no longer discernible in infrared imagery and its core convection was becoming more disorganized. As a result, Zena began to weaken as it pulled away from Fiji.\n\nFiji's National Disaster Management Office urged residents living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground in advance of Zena.\nAn unnamed tropical disturbance dumped up to 12 inches of rain on the western and northern parts of Fiji's largest and most populous island, Viti Levu, Monday and Tuesday, sending feet of flood water into Nadi, Fiji's third largest city. \nFBC News reported a 70-year old man was found dead in the swollen Sabeto River, and another 19-year-old woman was missing after being swept away. \nFlood water up to shoulder deep prompted evacuations of residents from the Korociri settlement, according to the Fijian Government. Flooding also shut down the town of Rakakiri, in far northern Viti Levu, with reports of flooding in the town's market, according to stuff.co.nz. Almost 11.40 inches of rain had fallen in Rakakiri from Sunday through late Wednesday night.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["11.40 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southeast of Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Tonga"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 2 cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Zena","Zena","Zena","Zena","Zena","Winston"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["105 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 A tornado hits the Uruguayan town of Dolores resulting in at least four deaths and seven injuries. (AP via Star Tribune)","document":"MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — A powerful tornado swept over a small city in Uruguay on Friday, ripping up houses, hurling cars into the air and killing at least four people, authorities said. Seven others were seriously injured.\nResidents of Dolores, a city of 20,000 people about 165 miles (265 kilometers) west of Montevideo, shot images of their homes and cars being swept up by the tornado and posted them on social media.\n\"The president has ordered the deployment of all the resources in the state to attend to the situation in Dolores,\" said Juan Andres Roballo, an official with the Uruguayan president's office. The city was declared an emergency zone.\nRoballo said a good part of the population had lost their homes and at least two children were seriously hurt and had been transferred to the capital for treatment.\nFire department spokeswoman Mariela Vivone told Channel 12 television that two of the dead were killed by flying cars carried by the winds.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["a small city in Uruguay","Uruguay"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents of Dolores","Dolores","at least four people","Seven others","at least two children"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 The Samoan Islands and Wallis and Futuna brace for the impact of Cyclone Amos as the Fiji Meteorological Service upgrades the cyclone to a category three storm, with sustained winds as high as 140 km/h at its centre. (Radio New Zealand)","document":"Tropical Cyclone Amos was upgraded to a category three on Friday night, and was forecast to pass close to Samoa's southern coast this weekend.\nThe current forecast for Cyclone Amos, passing close to Samoa's southern coast as a category three. \nThe cyclone is still more than 600km west of the capital, Apia, slowly moving east at 16km/h.\nOn Friday night, Samoa's Meteorological Service upgraded the system to a category three storm, with sustained winds as high as 140 km/h at its centre.\nIt said the system was intensifying, and was expected to pass close to the country's southern coast late on Saturday and early on Sunday morning.\nIt had already issued heavy rain, strong wind, and flood warnings for the country, and small boats were advised not to go out into very rough seas.\nThe system was already bringing heavy rain and strong winds as it passed close to Wallis Island. The public there were advised to prepare, with schools closed on Friday and a 'yellow alert' declared by authorities in the French territory.\nTo the east, authorities in American Samoa placed the territory under 'hurricane watch', with Amos expected to enter its waters on Sunday.\nOur correspondent in Pago Pago said people had gone home early on Thursday (Friday Samoa, New Zealand time) and stores had reported increased sales of plywood, torches, batteries, water and canned food.\nA meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pago Pago, Mase Akapo Akapo, said Amos was expected to pass to the territory's south, and there was the potential for severe damage.\nMase said residents should not take chances and prepare for strong winds, heavy rain and flooding.\n\"The system is coming from the west side, and if it passes to the south of us the strongest winds of the system will be right over us,\" he said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Samoa's Meteorological Service","Samoa","Samoa","Samoa","Samoa"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["east","east"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category three","category three","category three"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["16km/h"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Amos","Amos","Amos","Amos"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["140 km/h"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 Tropical Storm Fay makes landfall in New Jersey, US, causing tropical storm force winds over Delaware, New Jersey, and Coastal New York. Flooding closed several roads. (Weather Channel)","document":"\nTropical Storm Fay flooded streets, closed roads and knocked down trees Friday in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.\nThe storm made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, at around 4:45 p.m. EST Friday and was downgraded overnight as it moved over land.\nA New York City police officer was injured while helping clear a tree that fell on a cab, WLNY-TV reported. The police officer was taken to the hospital after she was hit by a limb and briefly lost consciousness.\nFirefighters helped people out from stranded cars in some areas where streets were covered with water.\n\nSeveral roads were closed or lanes blocked late Friday afternoon across the region, including a portion of Interstate 295 on the Throgs Neck Bridge in New York City and an eastbound ramp onto Interstate 80 near Ridgefield Park.\nA flash flood warning that was in effect for the city expired at 5:30 p.m. EST.\nNew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier urged residents to stay vigilant.\n“We expect some pretty heavy winds, and we need people to be ready for that, and some flash flooding in certain parts of the city,” de Blasio said during a briefing Friday morning.\nMajor impacts weren't expected for the city, but officials urged residents to stay home if possible.\n\nWinds up to 49 mph were reported along the Delaware coast.\nThe storm also caused President Donald Trump to cancel a rally he had planned for Saturday in New Hampshire.\nThe police department in Ocean City, Maryland, reported street flooding in the southern end of town.\nMaryland Highway 90 was closed between Old Ocean City Boulevard and U.S. Highway 113 for about half an hour because of flooding, the state Highway Administration said. High water also closed all lanes of Maryland Highway 528 at Somerset Street.\nA fallen tree briefly blocked U.S. Highway 50 East at state Highway 346.\nThe Delaware State Police reported a number of road closures, and portions of Route 1 along Delaware's coast were flooded.\nSubstantial street flooding also was reported in Bethany Beach, Delaware.\nThe National Weather Service said there was a high risk of rip currents Delaware and New Jersey beaches through Friday evening. Lifeguards in Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach temporarily closed the beaches to swimming, according to delaware online. In New Jersey, flash flood warnings were issued for Villas and Cape May to Atlantic City.\nThe George Redding Bridge closed in both directions for more than an hour because of flooding, the Wildwood Police Department reported.\nWPVI reported flooded streets in Wildwood, North Wildwood and Sea Isle City. Social media posts showed flooding in Stone Harbor and Avalon\nMonmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden warned people to stay inside and prepare for high winds.\n“That high tide is hitting Sandy Hook in Monmouth County around 12:44, about the same time we are going to see the height of the storm here. So, I want everyone to be careful,” Golden told WPVI.\nPresident Trump was scheduled to appear outdoors on the tarmac at Portsmouth International Airport on Saturday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Friday the rally will be delayed by a week or two, Fox News reported.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near Atlantic City, New Jersey","New Jersey","York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware","New Jersey","York","York","Delaware","Maryland","Maryland","Maryland","Delaware","Delaware","Delaware","Delaware","New Jersey","delaware","New Jersey"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A New York City police officer"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Friday","at around 4:45 p.m. EST Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fay"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["49 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 Two tropical storms, one in the Atlantic Ocean (Gonzalo) and the other in the Pacific (Douglas), are expected to become hurricanes Thursday. Gonzalo, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, is east of Barbados in the Windward Islands, moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h), leading Barbados to issue a Hurricane watch. Douglas's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h), and landfall on Hawaii is expected Sunday. (USA Today) (The Washington Post)","document":"Douglas became a hurricane Wednesday morning, the eastern Pacific’s first hurricane of the 2020 season. The cyclone was located midway between Mexico and Hawaii, whirling over the open ocean about 1,500 miles east of the Hawaiian archipelago. But recent data indicates that Douglas’s track could take it ominously near or directly over Hawaii, bringing wind, rain and high surf over the weekend.\nAlready, meteorologists are concerned that Douglas is in an environment ripe for “rapid intensification,” which occurs when a cyclone’s maximum sustained winds increase by 35 mph or more in 24 hours. With plenty of warm water in its course and calm upper-level winds, Douglas can take advantage of the elements without interruption.\nTropical Storm Gonzalo forms as second tropical disturbance swirls in the Gulf of Mexico\nModels suggest a greater than 50 percent chance that Douglas does undergo rapid intensification sometime late Wednesday or Thursday, with the National Hurricane Center writing that there’s “a significant chance of rapid intensification during that period.”\nBy Thursday night into early Friday, the National Hurricane Center is calling for Douglas to peak at Category 2 strength, with winds in the eyewall sustained at 110 mph. If rapid intensification ensues before then, it’s not out of the question for Douglas to briefly become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher).\nGradual weakening is forecast beyond Friday as Douglas moves over slightly cooler waters. However, a lack of disruptive “wind shear,” or a change of wind speed and/or direction with height, will allow Douglas to charge on toward Hawaii while maintaining tropical-storm strength.\nThe weather in Hawaii should deteriorate Sunday as Douglas approaches. Sunday into Monday, the storm may cross the island chain or pass close by. At that point, the National Hurricane Center’s forecast is for winds to be in the range of 60 mph.\nIt’s likely that heavy rainfall and localized flooding could accompany Douglas’s passage, as well. Significant rainfall totals are possible where the tropical cyclone’s rain bands interact with topography, the hilly terrain helping to concentrate and focus downpours.\nTropical cyclones routinely produce serious rain totals when they hit Hawaii. In August 2018, Hurricane Lane collapsed upon arriving in the Aloha State, dumping upward of 52 inches on Mountain View, a community 15 miles northwest of Hilo.\nThe staggering rainfall ranked as the second-most to fall from a tropical storm on record for the United States, trailing only Harvey, which dropped 60.58 inches on Nederland, Tex., in 2017.\nDirect landfalls of hurricanes are uncommon in Hawaii, though the island chain is sideswiped by one or two tropical cyclones most years. Warming waters and shifting atmospheric circulation patterns in large part due to human-caused climate change could encourage more tropical cyclones to pass near Hawaii in the future.\nIn barely a month, Lane, Norman and Olivia all affected parts of Hawaii from late August into September 2018. The storms contributed to the eastern Pacific’s most active hurricane season on record.\nThe worst storm to make landfall at hurricane strength in Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, which tore through Kauai on Sept. 11, 1992. It was a Category 4 storm with winds up to 145 mph.\nThe most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Category 2"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas","Douglas’s","Gonzalo"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["110 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 Two tropical storms, one in the Atlantic Ocean (Gonzalo) and the other in the Pacific (Douglas), are expected to become hurricanes Thursday. Gonzalo, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, is east of Barbados in the Windward Islands, moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h), leading Barbados to issue a Hurricane watch. Douglas's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h), and landfall on Hawaii is expected Sunday. (USA Today) (The Washington Post)","document":"Tropical Storm Gonzalo formed Wednesday morning in the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said. It's the earliest \"G\" storm in any Atlantic hurricane season on record.\nThe storm is expected to become a hurricane Thursday, with winds of at least 75 mph.\nThe hurricane center said Gonzalo was far from land: As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, it was about 1,110 miles east of the Southern Windward Islands of the Caribbean. The system had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving to the west at 14 mph.\n\"Gonzalo is expected to move near or over the southern Windward Islands this weekend and could bring direct impacts from winds and heavy rainfall,\" the hurricane center said.\nIt is forecast to weaken back to tropical storm strength as it nears the islands. \nWhen Gonzalo became a named storm Wednesday morning, it broke a record set by Tropical Storm Gert, which formed July 24, 2005, during a notorious season. \nAccording to AccuWeather, many storms this year have beat out storms from the 2005 season, known as the most active on record, for the title of earliest to form in the basin. The 2020 season pales in comparison with 2005 in terms of overall intensity. \nBy this point in 2005, the Atlantic basin had spawned three hurricanes and two major hurricanes – Category 3 or higher – according to Phil Klotzbach, a tropical meteorologist at Colorado State University.\nHurricane season 2020:From Arthur to Wilfred, here's the list of hurricane names this season\nIn addition to Gonzalo, forecasters monitored a system in the Gulf of Mexico, which could spin up into a tropical depression or storm in the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. \n\"Regardless of development, increasing winds and seas across the upper Texas coastal waters should begin on Thursday, and the threat of heavy rainfall spreads into Southeast Texas Friday through Saturday,\" the National Weather Service in Houston said.\nIn the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Douglas strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday morning. As of 5 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Douglas had winds of 80 mph and was 1,690 miles from Hilo, Hawaii.\nIt could impact Hawaii on Sunday, probably after weakening back to a tropical storm, the hurricane center said. \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The hurricane center","Hurricane Center","hurricane center","hurricane center","hurricane center","the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Hawaii","Hawaii"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":["Wednesday morning","Wednesday morning","Wednesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["14 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Gonzalo","Douglas","Douglas"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["at least 75 mph","50 mph","80 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 Hurricane warnings are issued for the state of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi as it is expected that Tropical Storm Marco will become a hurricane later today. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura is also advancing toward the United States after leaving torrential rain in parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards requests a federal emergency declaration; Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declares a state of emergency. (The Guardian) (ABC News)","document":"Residents in low-lying coastal areas of Louisiana and Cuba were evacuating on Sunday, while roads turned to rivers in Haiti’s capital city, as twin hurricanes threatened the Caribbean and US Gulf Coast.\nMarco, which strengthened to a hurricane and is forecast to hit Louisiana on Monday, will be followed by Tropical Storm Laura, which was over the Dominican Republic on Sunday and is expected to travel across Hispaniola and Cuba and strengthen to a hurricane before striking the US on Thursday.\nAt least three people died, including a mother and her seven-year-old son, in the Dominican Republic due to collapsing walls. Laura left more than a million in the country without electricity, forced more than a thousand to evacuate and caused several homes along the Isabela river to collapse, authorities said.\nLouisiana governor John Bel Edwards warned residents tropical storm-force winds would arrive by Monday morning and they should be ready to ride out both Marco and Laura.\n“Wherever you are at dark tonight is where you need to be prepared to ride out these storms,” he said.\nIn Port-au-Prince, Haiti, videos on social media showed people wading waist-deep in muddy water in some of the worst flooding seen in years. Haiti is especially vulnerable to intense rains due to poor infrastructure and deforestation which increases the likelihood of landslides.\nAuthorities called on residents along the Artibonite river to evacuate, as the Peligre Hydroelectric Dam might fail.\nHaiti was the first to report a death from Laura: a 10-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her home in the southern town of Anse-a-Pitres.\nWith hopes dashed that the mountains of Hispaniola would weaken the storm, Cuba scrambled to prepare. Evacuations were under way in eastern parts of the island, where the storm was expected to strike on Sunday evening, bringing flooding.\nBack-to-back hurricanes arriving at the US coast within days “could result in a prolonged period of hazardous weather”, National Hurricane Center forecaster Stacy Stewart warned.\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency sent teams to emergency operations centers in state capitals in Louisiana and Texas, said spokesman Earl Armstrong. Fema is prepared to handle back-to-back storms, he said, pointing to 2004 when four hurricanes hit Florida in six weeks.\nOfficials in Louisiana’s coastal Lafourche Parish ordered a mandatory evacuation for low-lying areas at noon on Sunday. The US coast guard also raised its warning for the Port of New Orleans, calling for ships to make plans to evacuate some areas.\nThe potential for flooding and evacuations added to worries about the spread of Covid-19. Tulane University, the largest private employer in New Orleans, said it would close its testing center on Monday due to potential flooding and power outages and called on students to maintain social distancing guidelines.\nIn Grand Isle, at the state’s southern tip, authorities were placing sandbags to bolster its protective levy while energy companies continued to pull workers from offshore platforms and shut production in Gulf of Mexico wells.\nLaura could strengthen and become a category 2 or 3 hurricane and move west, closer to the Houston-Galveston area, bringing flooding rains late on Wednesday or Thursday, said Chris Kerr, a meteorologist and director of offshore forecasting for DTN, an energy, agriculture and weather data provider.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","across Hispaniola and Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","over the Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents in low-lying coastal areas of Louisiana and Cuba","Louisiana","Cuba","Louisiana","residents","residents","Cuba","Louisiana","Louisiana","low","At least three people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Sunday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category 2 or 3 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Marco","Marco"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 Hurricane warnings are issued for the state of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi as it is expected that Tropical Storm Marco will become a hurricane later today. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura is also advancing toward the United States after leaving torrential rain in parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards requests a federal emergency declaration; Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declares a state of emergency. (The Guardian) (ABC News)","document":"Hurricane Marco is expected to move near the Louisiana coast on Monday, followed by Tropical Storm Laura later this week, as warnings have been issued for parts of the Gulf Coast.\nMarco is currently 180 miles Louisiana coast and the storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph -- making it a Category 1 hurricane -- while moving north-northwest at 13 mph.\nTropical storm watches and warnings are in effect from southeastern Louisiana to the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines. Hurricane watches and warnings are also in effect along the southeast coast of Louisiana.\nCities such as New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi, are under a tropical storm warning and locations right along the coast are also included in the hurricane alerts.\nMarco is expected to gain some strength today and then quickly move into the Gulf Coast -- southeastern Louisiana remains the location where a landfall could occur and depending on the exact track that could be sometime Monday afternoon or evening.\nAs Marco nears the coast, atmospheric conditions will become unfavorable and begin to impact the storm. As of now, Marco could make landfall as a strong tropical storm.\nAs the storm nears the north central Gulf Coast on Monday, areas of rain and gusty winds will begin to impact some areas by Monday morning.\nThe larger impact is likely to be later Monday afternoon and evening across southeastern Louisiana and the Mississippi coast, with heavy rains, strong winds and storm surge. Some areas could see 2 to 4 inches of rain and several feet of storm surge during high tide.\nTropical Storm Laura strengthened Sunday and now has winds of 60 mph and is moving west to northwest at 21 mph. The center of the storm is over eastern Cuba.\nThe storm brought life-threatening flash flooding over portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At least five deaths have been registered in Haiti as a result of Tropical Storm Laura, the Haitian Civil Protection Agency said on Twitter.\nThere are tropical storm watches and warnings for parts of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.\nThere is also a tropical storm watch for the Florida Keys and the waters off southern mainland Florida.\nThe National Hurricane Center is still forecasting that Laura will come ashore along the Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane by later Wednesday and into Thursday.\nAs with all tropical systems, the area to the right of the center is where the greatest impacts will occur. Right now, the center of Marco looks to be coming ashore somewhere on the Gulf Coast from southern Louisiana to southern Mississippi, with the likely region being very close to New Orleans.\nMarco is expected to make landfall on Monday. When the storm comes ashore it could bring a storm surge of 2 to 6 feet, rainfall of up to 6 inches, possible tornadoes and strong winds.\nLaura will move across Cuba overnight into Monday. Locally, over 8 inches of rain, strong winds and dangerous surf is expected from Hispaniola to Cuba over the next 24-30 hours. This will likely cause flash flooding and mudslides.\nThe official forecast track shows Laura possibly reaching the southern Gulf of Mexico as Marco is making landfall on Monday.\nThe forecast after this point remains somewhat uncertain. However, in forecast models, there is increasing agreement in a strengthening storm moving towards the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.\nIt remains to be seen what the intensity of both storms will be and whether this situation will break any tropical records.\nThe last time there were two tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico was in 2002, where Tropical Storm Fay was off the Texas coast and Tropical Depression Edouard was off the Florida West Coast.\nThe shortest time between two named storms making landfall in Louisiana was five days and that was back in 1885.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2 to 4 inches","8 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southeast coast of Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","near the Louisiana coast","Louisiana coast","southeastern Louisiana","southeastern Louisiana","New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi","Mississippi","New Orleans","southeastern Louisiana to the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines","Mississippi","southeastern Louisiana","Mississippi","Mississippi","parts of the Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","parts","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba","Cuba"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north-northwest","north","northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 1 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["13 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 More than 385,000 residents are told to flee the cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur, in Texas saying as much as 13 feet (3.96 meters) of storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire communities. (AP)","document":"GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — In the largest U.S. evacuation of the pandemic, more than half a million people were ordered to flee the Gulf Coast on Tuesday as Laura strengthened into a hurricane that forecasters said could slam Texas and Louisiana with ferocious winds, heavy flooding and the power to push seawater miles inland.\nMore than 385,000 residents were told to flee the Texas cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur, and another 200,000 were ordered to leave low-lying Calcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana, where forecasters said as much as 13 feet (4 meters) of storm surge topped by waves could submerge whole communities.\nForecasters Tuesday night expected the storm to increase in strength by 33%, from 90 mph (144 kmh) to 120 mph (193 kmh) in just 24 hours. They project Laura to strike the coast as a major Category 3 hurricane. The strengthening may slow or stop just before landfall, forecasters said.\n“The waters are warm enough everywhere there to support a major hurricane, Category 3 or even higher. The waters are very warm where the storm is now and will be for the entire path up until the Gulf Coast,” National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Ed Rappaport said.\nLouisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Laura is shaping up to look a lot like Hurricane Rita did 15 years ago when it ravaged southwest Louisiana. “We’re going to have significant flooding in places that don’t normally see it,” he said.\nOcean water was expected to push onto land along more than 450 miles (724 kilometers) of coast from Texas to Mississippi. Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and storm surge warnings from the Port Arthur, Texas, flood protection system to the mouth of the Mississippi River.\nThe evacuations could get even bigger if the storm’s track veers to the east or west, said Craig Fugate, the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.\nFearing that people would not evacuate in time, Edwards said those in southwest Louisiana need to be where they intend to ride out Laura by noon Wednesday, when the state will start feeling the storm’s effects.\nOfficials urged people to stay with relatives or in hotel rooms to avoid spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Buses were stocked with protective equipment and disinfectant, and they would carry fewer passengers to keep people apart, Texas officials said.\nWhitney Frazier, 29, of Beaumont spent Tuesday morning trying to get transportation to a high school where she could board a bus to leave the area.\n“Especially with everything with COVID going on already on top of a mandatory evacuation, it’s very stressful,” Frazier said.\nThe storm also imperiled a center of the U.S. energy industry. The government said 84% of Gulf oil production and an estimated 61% of natural gas production were shut down. Nearly 300 platforms have been evacuated.\nWhile oil prices often spike before a major storm as production slows, consumers are unlikely to see big price changes because the pandemic decimated demand for fuel.\nAs of Tuesday evening, Laura was 435 miles (700 kilometers) southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, traveling west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kmh). Its peak winds were 85 mph (140 kph).\nLaura passed Cuba after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding. The deaths reportedly included a 10-year-old girl whose home was hit by a tree and a mother and young son crushed by a collapsing wall.\nAs much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain could fall in some parts of Louisiana, said Donald Jones, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana.\nAt Grand Isle, Louisiana, Nicole Fantiny said she planned to ride out the hurricane on the barrier island along with a few dozen other people.\n“It could still change, but we keep on hoping and praying that it keeps on going further west like it’s doing,” said Fantiny, who manages a restaurant.\nIn Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, mandatory evacuation orders went into effect shortly before daybreak Tuesday. “If you decide to stay, you’re staying on your own,” Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie said.\nShelters opened with cots set farther apart to curb coronavirus infections. People planning to enter shelters were told to bring just one bag of personal belongings each, and a mask to reduce the spread of coronavirus.\n“Hopefully it’s not that threatening to people, to lives, because people are hesitant to go anywhere due to COVID,” Robert Duffy said as he placed sandbags around his home in Morgan City, Louisiana. “Nobody wants to sleep on a gym floor with 200 other people. It’s kind of hard to do social distancing.”\nOfficials in Houston asked residents to prepare supplies in case they lose power for a few days or need to evacuate homes along the coast. Some in the area are still recovering from Hurricane Harvey three years ago.\nLaura’s arrival comes just days before the Aug. 29 anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which breached the levees in New Orleans, flattened much of the Mississippi coast and killed as many as 1,800 people in 2005. Less than a month later, Hurricane Rita struck southwest Louisiana as a Category 3 storm.\nLaura wasn’t much of a concern for Kerry Joe Richard of Stephensville, Louisiana. As the storm approached, he was angling for catfish from a small dock overlooking the bayou that’s behind his elevated wood-frame home.\n“The only thing I’m worried about is if the fish quit biting,” he said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Forecasters","forecasters","forecasters","forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["As much as 15 inches","much","much","much"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas and Louisiana","Texas","Texas","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Texas","Texas","Louisiana","Texas","Louisiana","Texas","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Texas","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","the coast","Coast","Coast","coast","coast","coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west-northwest","west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a hurricane","hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","Hurricane","a major Category 3 hurricane","Category 3","Category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["17 mph (28 kmh)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 mph (193 kmh)","85 mph (140 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 Hurricane Laura is upgraded to a Category 4 as it nears the Gulf Coast of the United States. (CNBC)","document":"Hurricane Laura, a major Category 4 storm, is set to hit near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday morning as local officials scramble to evacuate thousands of residents. \nThe storm’s rapid intensification shocked scientists and prompted forecasters to issue warnings of “unsurvivable storm surge” in Texas and Louisiana.\n“Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” \n\nLaura could bring storm surge of nearly 13 feet to the coastline as well as flash flooding and tornadoes on land. The surge will arrive ahead of Laura’s center late on Wednesday, so if people delay evacuating, the roads could already be flooded. \nThe storm battered the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti over the weekend, knocking out power for more than 1 million people, collapsing some homes and killing at least 23 people. \n“I’m running out of words. Hurricane Laura is now one of the fastest-intensifying storms in recorded history in the Gulf of Mexico,” climate scientist Eric Holthaus wrote in a tweet. “Laura now poses a catastrophic, potentially historic threat to coastal Louisiana.” \n\nRising ocean temperatures driven by climate change are leading to more intense and destructive hurricanes. As hurricanes such as Laura strengthen more rapidly in warmer waters, states have less time to prepare storm mitigation and evacuate people from dangerous areas. \n“One thing we’ve seen in particular — with Harvey in 2017, and Florence and Michael in 2018 and now with Laura — is very rapid intensification, wherein the storm strengthens from a tropical storm to major hurricane status in less than a day,” said climate scientist Michael Mann. \n“Such rapid intensification happens over very warm waters like we’ve seen in the tropical Atlantic and Gulf in recent years, and right now large parts of the Gulf are bathtub-level hot,” Mann said. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas and Louisiana","Texas-Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","near the Texas-Louisiana border","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["thousands of residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a major Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 Hurricane Laura downgrades from a Category 4 to Category 2 hurricane but remains \"extremely dangerous\" after lashing the coasts of Texas and Louisiana early Thursday. It has killed 30 people thus far. (AP)","document":"LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the U.S., Laura barreled across Louisiana on Thursday, shearing off roofs and killing at least six people while carving a destructive path hundreds of miles inland.\nA full assessment of the damage wrought by the Category 4 system was likely to take days, and the threat of additional damage loomed as new tornado warnings were issued after dark in Arkansas and Mississippi even as the storm weakened into a depression.\nBut despite a trail of demolished buildings, entire neighborhoods left in ruins and almost 900,000 homes and businesses without power, a sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not the annihilating menace forecasters had feared.\n“It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage.”\nHe called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. The storm toppled trees and damaged structures as far north as central Arkansas.\nLaura’s top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph) put it among the strongest systems on record in the U.S. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status as it plowed north and thrashed Arkansas, and even by Thursday evening, it remained a tropical storm with winds of 40 mph (65 kph).\nThe storm crashed ashore in low-lying Louisiana and clobbered Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. On Broad Street, many buildings had partially collapsed. Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split in eerily misshapen ways. Police spotted a floating casino that came unmoored and hit a bridge. At the local airport, planes were overturned, some on top of each other. Part of a transmission tower toppled into the emptied-out studios of KPLC-TV, whose staff evacuated hours before landfall to broadcast from other locations. In front of the courthouse was a Confederate statue that local officials had voted to keep in place just days earlier. After Laura, it was toppled.\n“It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here. It’s just destruction everywhere,” said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three family members in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles. He described Laura passing over his house with the roar of a jet engine around 2 a.m.\n“There are houses that are totally gone. They were there yesterday, but now gone,” he said.\nFollowing Laura’s passage, a massive plume of smoke visible for miles began rising from a chemical plant. Police said the leak was at a facility run by Biolab, which manufactures chemicals used in household cleaners such as Comet bleach scrub and chlorine powder for pools.\nNearby residents were told to close their doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, and the fire smoldered into the night. State and federal aircraft headed into the skies over the coast to look for signs of any other industrial damage.\nThe fatalities included a 14-year-old girl and a 68-year-old man who died when trees fell on their homes in Louisiana, as well as a 24-year-old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said.\nNo deaths had been confirmed in Texas, which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said would amount to “a miracle.”\n Chevellce Dunn considered herself among the fortunate after a night spent huddling on a sofa with her son, daughter and four nieces and nephews as winds rocked their home in Orange, Texas. Left without power in sweltering heat, she didn’t know when electricity might be restored.\n“It ain’t going to be easy. As long as my kids are fine, I’m fine,” Dunn said.\nPresident Donald Trump planned to visit the Gulf Coast this weekend to tour the damage.\nMore than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic and calls for masks and social distancing to combat its spread. It was the largest evacuation order since the pandemic began and many people followed it, filling hotels and sleeping in cars. Although not everyone fled from the coast, officials credited those who did leave for minimizing the loss of life. Forecasters had warned that the storm surge of 15 to 20 feet would be “unsurvivable” and could push 40 miles inland. Edwards said the storm surge wound up in the range of 9 feet to 12 feet — still bad, but far from the worst forecast. He was hopeful damaged homes could quickly be made habitable. The priority, Edwards said, was search and rescue, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those unable to stay in their homes. Officials in Texas and Louisiana have both sought to avoid traditional mass shelters for evacuees over fears of spreading COVID-19, and Edwards was concerned that the storm would inhibit coronavirus testing as schools and universities are reopening.\nBucky Millet, 78, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, considered evacuating but decided to ride out the storm with family due to concerns about the coronavirus. He said a small tornado blew the cover off the bed of his pickup and made him think the roof on his house was next.\n“You’d hear a crack and a boom and everything shaking,” he said.\nThe force of Laura’s winds blew out every window of the living room in the Lake Charles house where Bethany Agosto survived the storm with her sister and two others. They fled to a closet when the hurricane was at its worst.\n“It was like a jigsaw puzzle in this closet. We were on top of each other, just holding each other and crying,” Agosto said.\nThe storm was so powerful that it could regain strength after turning east and reaching the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the densely populated Northeast.\nLaura hit the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding.\nIt was the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year, setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August. The old record was six in 1886 and 1916, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.\nLaura was tied with five other storms for fifth most powerful U.S. hurricane, behind the 1935’s Labor Day storm, 1969’s Camille, 1992’s Andrew and 2004’s Charley, Klotzbach said.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["killing at least six people","killing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["150 mph (241 kph)","40 mph (65 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2020 Hurricane warnings are issued on Belize's coast in case hurricane-force winds are present. (The Weather Channel)","document":"Nana made landfall in Belize as a Category 1 hurricane early Thursday morning and weakened as it moved inland. However, heavy rainfall brought the threat of flash flooding and mudslides inland.\n\nNana was upgraded to a tropical storm Tuesday morning, based on observations from a U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter mission, finding a tight, stronger than expected low-level center of circulation.\nAccording to Colorado State University tropical scientist Phil Klotzbach, Nana became the record earliest-in-season 14th storm, four days earlier than the previous record, Nate on September 5, 2005. Nana made landfall at 1 a.m. CDT Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane on the Belize coast between Dangriga and Placencia.\nAs Nana tracked farther inland, the rugged terrain of Guatemala caused the system to weaken.\nFlash flooding and mudslides from Nana's heavy rainfall were the main threats, particularly over any mountainous terrain. This heavy rainfall threat included parts of northern Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. September is the peak month of hurricane season, and the most active day of the year is around Sept. 10, on average. Colorado State University tropical scientist Phil Klotzbach said that roughly three-quarters of Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1966 have had at least one active named storm on Sept. 10. Also, half of all seasons have had at least one active hurricane on this date.\nThis doesn't guarantee every Sept. 10 will have a rash of Atlantic named storms. There's an overlap of favorable factors in early-mid September, including ocean water reaching its highest temperature, the atmosphere's ability to generate thunderstorms hitting its peak, hostile shearing winds declining to a minimum and a parade of disturbances known as tropical waves acting as seeds for development that, while peaking in July, are numerous in September.\nTropical storms and hurricanes can form just about anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean this time of year. The most common source of tropical storms begins to shift from tropical waves in the first half of the month toward cold fronts and other low pressure systems late in the month. With 15 tropical storms on the books already, most forecasting agencies, including IBM, are forecasting 4 to 10 more tropical storms, which may include 3-7 more hurricanes. Now is the time to make sure you have a hurricane plan in case another storm threatens this season.\nHurricane season continues until the end of November.\nThe Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Belize","Belize","Belize","Belize coast between Dangriga and Placencia"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["1 a.m. CDT Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 1 hurricane","Category 1 hurricane","Category 1 hurricane","a tropical storm","Tropical storm","tropical storm","tropical storm","tropical storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nana","Nana","Nana","Nana","Nana","Nana","early Thursday morning"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2020 Typhoon Maysak, the strongest typhoon of the season, makes landfall along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, southwest of Busan, South Korea. (UPI)","document":"After already causing destruction in Japan's Ryukyu Islands, powerful Typhoon Maysak made landfall along the south coast of the Korean Peninsula on Thursday.\nPortions of western Japan also continue to feel gusty winds and heavy bands of rain spinning around the periphery of Maysak.\nThe storm roared ashore early Thursday just west-southwest of the metropolis of Busan.\nAs of Wednesday evening, local news in Jeju reported over 20,000 homes were without power on the Korean island as the center of Maysak passed just to the east. Local news also reported a wind gust of 110 mph on Jeju Island around 6 p.m. Wednesday.\nThousands were evacuated along the coast of Gyeongnam. According to Yonhap News in Seoul, 40 scheduled trains on the nation's seven rail lines have been canceled or partly suspended.\nThe Korean Meteorological Administration said that Maysak was expected to follow a similar route as Typhoon Maemi in 2003. Maemi left 131 people dead or missing, and caused $3.5 billion in damage.\nThis region has been no stranger to tropical activity this year. Just a week ago some of the same locations were dealing with Bavi, which strengthened to a typhoon on Aug. 24 just north of the Ryukyu Islands before it navigated into the Yellow Sea and made landfall in North Korea on Aug. 27.\n\"Maysak has surpassed Bavi and is now the strongest typhoon of the season with sustained winds reported up to 110 mph,\" said AccuWeather lead international forecaster Jason Nicholls.\nBavi's maximum sustained winds were 100 mph.\nAccording to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a storm of this strength is a very strong typhoon, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic or East Pacific oceans.\nAfter Maysak became a typhoon Saturday evening, the powerful storm steered toward the island of Okinawa early this week. Maysak's wrath first brought rough seas and wind-swept rain, but it quickly evolved into destructive winds, storm surge and flooding rainfall that lasted into early Wednesday, local time.\nThe city of Nago on Okinawa reported more than 9 inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday alone. On the southern side of the island, the city of Naha reported winds of 82 mph Tuesday.\nOn Tuesday morning, local news outlets reported that more than 33,000 homes in Okinawa were without electricity due to Maysak. This ferocious storm is also referred to as Julian in the Philippines.\nThe typhoon also caused the cancellation of more than 100 flights, which according to FlightAware is more than 40% of the island's air traffic. Maysak further disrupted travel in Okinawa by suspending bus operations throughout the day Tuesday.\nAs Maysak passes western Kyushu of Japan and approaches the southern shores of South Korea, similar, or worse, impacts were expected.\nWidespread wind gusts of 40 mph to 60 mph were expected from Kyushu through the Korean Peninsula and into the Liaoning and Jilin provinces of China.\n\"A concentrated area from western Kyushu through the southern half of South Korea can expect wind gusts over 80 mph on Wednesday and Thursday,\" said Nicholls.\nAn AccuWeather Local StormMax of 140 mph for wind gusts is also possible near landfall along the southern coast of South Korea.\nThe strongest winds will be near the typhoon's center or just to east of the center at the time of landfall.\nCoastal flooding and dangerous storm surge will also be a concern for cities like Busan, which are expected to remain east of the typhoon's eye.\nTremendous amounts of rain are also anticipated across the already flood-weary countries of North Korea and South Korea, and while the storm center has still not made landfall, heavy tropical rain has already spread across much of the Korean Peninsula.\nWidespread rainfall 4 inches to 8 inches is forecast for much of the Korean Peninsula, including in Seoul.\nSouthern and central parts of South Korea are the most likely areas for the AccuWeather Local StormMax for rainfall of 12 inches.\nBeacuse of these anticipated impacts, Maysak is expected to be a 3 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Tropical Cyclones for South Korea. The RealImpact Scale is a 6-point scale with ratings of less-than-1 and 1 to 5. Maysak is forecast to be a 2 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Tropical Cyclones in southern Japan.\nThe current forecasts for Maysak could make the typhoon one for the record books.\nMaysak is not alone in the Western Pacific Ocean, as a new tropical system emerged in the basin on Monday. This new system could bring yet another tropical strike to the Korean Peninsula.\nWhat started out as depression late on Monday strengthened into Tropical Storm Haishen on Tuesday evening.\nAs of Wednesday evening Haishen was located about 300 miles south of Iwo, Japan, and was classified as a Strong Tropical Storm by the Japanese Meteorological Agency, with sustained winds of 58 mph.\nAccuWeather meteorologists are also forecasting Haishen to strengthen in the coming days as it continues on a westward to northwestward trajectory throughout the week.\n\"Just as soon as Maysak takes the title of strongest typhoon in the West Pacific so far this year, it looks like Haishen will come right on it's heels and unseat it, becoming even stronger than Maysak,\" said AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda.\n\"Haishen could follow right behind Maysak and aim for southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula as early as this weekend, bringing a second dose of tropical impacts,\" Nicholls explained.\n\"This has the potential to be particularly devastating for some parts of the Ryukyu Islands and South Korea as two strong typhoons, both the equivalent of major hurricanes in the Atlantic, could strike in almost the same spot in less than a week,\" Sojda warned.\n\"Any building or infrastructure that is weakened or only sustains minor damage from Maysak could then be taken out by Haishen. There simply will not be enough time to repair and reinforce things.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["more than 9 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan's Ryukyu Islands","Japan","Ryukyu Islands","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Japan","Ryukyu Islands","the south coast of the Korean Peninsula","Korean Peninsula","Korean Peninsula","Korean Peninsula","Korean Peninsula","Korean Peninsula"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Thousands","131 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","early Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a typhoon","Typhoon","Typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon","typhoon"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak","Maysak"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["110 mph","110 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2020 Two people in Vernon Parish, Louisiana and five in Texas die during Hurricane Laura, bringing the national death toll to 27. The two people in Louisiana died due to heat-related illness while removing debris. (KLFY) (NBC News)","document":"\t\t\tby: KLFY Staff This aerial view shows damage to a neighborhood by Hurricane Laura outside of Lake Charles, Louisiana, on August 27. – Hurricane Laura slammed into the southern US state of Louisiana Thursday and the monster category 4 storm prompted warnings of “unsurvivable” ocean surges and evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said “extremely dangerous” Laura would bring winds of 150 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour) and “destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage” to Louisiana and Texas.\nBATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — The Louisiana Department of Health on Friday verifies two additional deaths tied to Hurricane Laura, bringing the state’s current death toll to 22.A 41-year-old man and a 47-year-old man died due to heat-related illnesses while removing debris following the storm. Both deaths were in Vernon Parish. \nA 59-year-old male in Calcasieu Parish died after being struck on the head by a falling tree limb.Below are details on the 22 deaths LDH has verified to date:\nIn an effort to ensure the most accurate reporting of deaths that are attributable to Hurricane Laura, the Louisiana Department of Health will only report a death after it has been confirmed as storm-related by the parish coroner.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the southern US state of Louisiana","Louisiana","outside of Lake Charles, Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["August","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["150 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2020 Two people in Vernon Parish, Louisiana and five in Texas die during Hurricane Laura, bringing the national death toll to 27. The two people in Louisiana died due to heat-related illness while removing debris. (KLFY) (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News Two men in their 40s died in Louisiana from what health officials said was heat-related illness while clearing debris from Hurricane Laura, bringing the number of deaths blamed on the storm in the state to at 22.\nThe Louisiana Department of Health said Friday that the men, 41 and 47, died in Vernon Parish, which is in the western part of the state north of Lake Charles. The area suffered major damage in the storm that made landfall near Cameron early Aug. 27.\nFive deaths blamed on the storm have also been reported in Texas, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the hurricane or its aftermath to 27.\nSix of Louisiana's 22 deaths have been classified by the health department as heat-related.\nThe storm knocked out power to more than 600,000 customers, and as of Friday, more than 183,000 remained without, according to the Louisiana Public Service Commission's website.\nOther deaths in Louisiana and Texas were blamed on carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.\nOn Thursday, a man in Louisiana who had been in the hospital for several days suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning died. He was the fifth person in a single home to die from that, Gov. John Bel Edwards said.\n\"It's important to remember that just because the storm passed, that doesn't mean that the threat has passed,\" Edwards said.\nHeat indexes in Louisiana have averaged more than 100 degrees all week, the governor said. Heat advisories covered the western and southwestern parts of the state Friday, according to the National Weather Service.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Two men","22","Five deaths","27"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2020 Typhoon Haishen approaches Japan, threatening the coasts of Okinawa and the island of Kyushu. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the government is setting up a crisis response team and urges people to take precautions. Officials compare the typhoon to Typhoon Vera, which in 1959 killed more than 5,000 people. (ABC News)","document":"Japan is bracing for a dangerously powerful typhoon approaching its southern regions this weekend on the heels of an earlier storm that injured dozens of people in the country and on the Korean Peninsula\nTOKYO -- Japan is bracing for a dangerously powerful typhoon approaching its southern regions this weekend on the heels of an earlier storm that injured dozens of people in the country and on the Korean Peninsula.\nTyphoon Haishen, or Sea God in Chinese, could bring nearly unprecedentedly severe rain, rough waves and high tides to Okinawa and Kyushu by early Sunday, Japan Meteorological Agency officials said.\nAgency weather forecaster Yoshihisa Nakamoto, in a televised news conference, urged people in the typhoon's path to take precautions and secure extra stocks of water, food and other necessities.\nThe typhoon was moving north in the Pacific Ocean at a speed of 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour. By Sunday it is projected to have winds of up to 198 kph (122 mph).\nOfficials said Haishen is comparable to a September 1959 typhoon that killed more than 5,000 people in central Japan.\nChief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government is setting up a crisis response team and urged people to take precautions “to protect your own lives.”\nHe said water was being released from nine dams in Nagasaki, Kagoshima and other southwestern prefectures to lower the risk of flooding. More than 22,000 military troops, coast guard personnel, police and firefighters have been placed on standby.\nHundreds of residents of a cluster of southern islands were airlifted by military helicopters to Kagoshima city on the nearby main island as a precaution.\nTyphoon Maysak hit the region earlier this week, injuring dozens of people, cutting power to thousands of homes and causing other damage. A search continued Friday for a livestock cargo ship carrying 43 crew members and 5,800 cows from New Zealand that capsized during the typhoon. Rescuers have found only two survivors.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["Japan Meteorological Agency officials"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Japan","Japan","Japan","southern regions","southern regions","Okinawa and Kyushu"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["injured dozens of people","injured dozens","people","people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["north"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Haishen","Haishen"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 198 kph (122 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Winter Storm Jacob makes landfall over the Pacific Northwest, bringing high winds and up to 22 inches (56 cm) of snow to the Olympic Peninsula and forcing widespread road closures and transport cancellations. (The Weather Channel)","document":"A winter storm brought snow and ice to the West, Midwest and Northeast in mid-January 2020.\nThe Weather Channel named this system Winter Storm Jacob. Below is a recap of Jacob's impacts.\nWednesday, Jan. 15\nThe low-pressure system underwent bombogenesis while it was off the Pacific Northwest coast. This is a term for a low-pressure center that intensifies rapidly. In this case, it went from a weak low Tuesday, Jan. 14 to a 979-millibar powerhouse less than 24 hours later.\nJoyce, Washington, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Olympic Peninsula, reported up 22 inches of snow.\nBlowing snow from strong winds ahead of this storm prompted a shutdown of a stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon on Jan. 15.\nThursday, Jan. 16\nSnow fell from western Montana to Idaho, Utah and California's Sierra Nevada as the jet-stream energy associated with Winter Storm Jacob dropped southward into California. The heaviest snow pounded the Sierra Nevada, where as much as 26 inches of snow fell. Two feet of snow was reported along Interstate 80. Chain controls were put in place across many roads in the Tahoe Valley, and icy roads were reported in downtown Reno. Wind gusts over 80 mph along with 1 to 2 feet of snow were reported in the central Sierra in a 24-hour period from early Jan. 16 to early Jan. 17.\nThe snow and strong winds likely contributed to a deadly avalanche at Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows in California's Sierra Nevada.\nFriday, Jan. 17\nJacob's jet stream energy pushed across the central Rockies and into the central Plains where a low-pressure system developed and strengthened.\nOvernight freezing rain lead to widespread reports of icy roads in the Texas Panhandle, including in parts of the Amarillo metro area. Snow accumulated on roads in Omaha, Nebraska, making for a tricky morning commute. Ice accumulations of at least 0.1 inch on vehicles was reported in Wichita, Russell and Great Bend, Kansas.\nIce also accumulated on vehicles as far east as Harrison and Mountain Home, Arkansas, early in the day. After a brief period of light snow, precipitation changed quickly to freezing rain in the Kansas City metro area. A plane slid off a slick taxiway at Kansas City International Airport shortly after the precipitation arrived, prompting a closing of the airport. More than a quarter inch of ice accreted from eastern Kansas to western Missouri, including in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas. Up to 0.5 inch ice accumulation was measured near Ridgely, Missouri. Pittsburgh picked up a quick inch of snow overnight, before precipitation changed over to freezing rain.\nSaturday, Jan. 18\nJacob's low pressure system pivoted into the Great Lakes while its snow shield expanded from the Dakotas into the Northeast. Parts of the mid-Atlantic picked up ice before warm air surged northward turning the freezing rain into plain rain in spots like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Strong winds lofted snow and created hours of ground blizzard conditions from the Dakotas to Minnesota and Iowa. Blowing snow continued in the Great Lakes. Wind gusts above 40 mph were clocked in several locations in the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. Huron and Yankton, South Dakota, as well as Imperial, Nebraska, gusted to near 60 mph. Wind chills were as low as the 40s below zero in parts of the Dakotas.\nWhiteout conditions forced closures of over 500 miles of interstate highways in the eastern Dakotas, including Interstates 29, 90 and 94. According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, rescues of stranded motorists had been undertaken near Jamestown, North Dakota. To the east, Chicagoland picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow before precipitation changed to light freezing rain, then ended. The Detroit metro area picked up 5 to 7 inches of snow before precipitation changed to rain Saturday morning. Cleveland also picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow prior to the rain changeover, including a burst of 2 inches of snow in just one hour at the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.\nA few tenths of an inch of snow were measured at both Dulles and Reagan National Airports in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Numerous accidents were reported in Erie, Pennsylvania, from ice accumulation on roads. Light icing on vehicles was reported in parts of West Virginia. Snow arrives in New York City, Hartford and Boston during the afternoon hours, mainly bringing light snow to the major East Coast cities. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up 2 to 5 inches","5 inches","22 inches","26 inches","up 5 to 7 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Pacific Northwest coast","eastern Oregon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Jan. 15","Jan","15"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jacob","Jacob","Jacob","Jacob","Jacob"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["40 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Winter Storm Jacob makes landfall over the Pacific Northwest, bringing high winds and up to 22 inches (56 cm) of snow to the Olympic Peninsula and forcing widespread road closures and transport cancellations. (The Weather Channel)","document":"A winter storm brought snow and ice to the West, Midwest and Northeast in mid-January 2020.\nThe Weather Channel named this system Winter Storm Jacob. Below is a recap of Jacob's impacts.\nWednesday, Jan. 15\nThe low-pressure system underwent bombogenesis while it was off the Pacific Northwest coast. This is a term for a low-pressure center that intensifies rapidly. In this case, it went from a weak low Tuesday, Jan. 14 to a 979-millibar powerhouse less than 24 hours later.\nJoyce, Washington, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Olympic Peninsula, reported up 22 inches of snow.\nBlowing snow from strong winds ahead of this storm prompted a shutdown of a stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon on Jan. 15.\nThursday, Jan. 16\nSnow fell from western Montana to Idaho, Utah and California's Sierra Nevada as the jet-stream energy associated with Winter Storm Jacob dropped southward into California. The heaviest snow pounded the Sierra Nevada, where as much as 26 inches of snow fell. Two feet of snow was reported along Interstate 80. Chain controls were put in place across many roads in the Tahoe Valley, and icy roads were reported in downtown Reno. Wind gusts over 80 mph along with 1 to 2 feet of snow were reported in the central Sierra in a 24-hour period from early Jan. 16 to early Jan. 17.\nThe snow and strong winds likely contributed to a deadly avalanche at Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows in California's Sierra Nevada.\nFriday, Jan. 17\nJacob's jet stream energy pushed across the central Rockies and into the central Plains where a low-pressure system developed and strengthened.\nOvernight freezing rain lead to widespread reports of icy roads in the Texas Panhandle, including in parts of the Amarillo metro area. Snow accumulated on roads in Omaha, Nebraska, making for a tricky morning commute. Ice accumulations of at least 0.1 inch on vehicles was reported in Wichita, Russell and Great Bend, Kansas.\nIce also accumulated on vehicles as far east as Harrison and Mountain Home, Arkansas, early in the day. After a brief period of light snow, precipitation changed quickly to freezing rain in the Kansas City metro area. A plane slid off a slick taxiway at Kansas City International Airport shortly after the precipitation arrived, prompting a closing of the airport. More than a quarter inch of ice accreted from eastern Kansas to western Missouri, including in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas. Up to 0.5 inch ice accumulation was measured near Ridgely, Missouri. Pittsburgh picked up a quick inch of snow overnight, before precipitation changed over to freezing rain.\nSaturday, Jan. 18\nJacob's low pressure system pivoted into the Great Lakes while its snow shield expanded from the Dakotas into the Northeast. Parts of the mid-Atlantic picked up ice before warm air surged northward turning the freezing rain into plain rain in spots like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Strong winds lofted snow and created hours of ground blizzard conditions from the Dakotas to Minnesota and Iowa. Blowing snow continued in the Great Lakes. Wind gusts above 40 mph were clocked in several locations in the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. Huron and Yankton, South Dakota, as well as Imperial, Nebraska, gusted to near 60 mph. Wind chills were as low as the 40s below zero in parts of the Dakotas.\nWhiteout conditions forced closures of over 500 miles of interstate highways in the eastern Dakotas, including Interstates 29, 90 and 94. According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, rescues of stranded motorists had been undertaken near Jamestown, North Dakota. To the east, Chicagoland picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow before precipitation changed to light freezing rain, then ended. The Detroit metro area picked up 5 to 7 inches of snow before precipitation changed to rain Saturday morning. Cleveland also picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow prior to the rain changeover, including a burst of 2 inches of snow in just one hour at the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.\nA few tenths of an inch of snow were measured at both Dulles and Reagan National Airports in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Numerous accidents were reported in Erie, Pennsylvania, from ice accumulation on roads. Light icing on vehicles was reported in parts of West Virginia. Snow arrives in New York City, Hartford and Boston during the afternoon hours, mainly bringing light snow to the major East Coast cities. The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["1 to 2 feet of snow","snow","snow","Snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","Snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","snow","Snow","2 inches","2 inches","up 22 inches","26 inches","up 2 to 5 inches","up 5 to 7 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Sierra Nevada","Sierra Nevada","Sierra Nevada","West, Midwest and Northeast","Northeast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["mid-January 2020","mid"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jacob"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["over 80 mph","above 40 mph","near 60 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 A historic blizzard strikes Atlantic Canada, with St. John's in Newfoundland worst affected – over 30 inches (76 cm) of snow fell during the day, breaking the city's all-time daily snowfall record. 21,000 homes are without power and one person is missing. (The Weather Channel)","document":"Parts of Newfoundland were buried in feet of snow from a crippling blizzard Friday and Saturday, smashing an all-time calendar-day snowfall record in a storm-prone part of Atlantic Canada. St. John's Airport measured 76.2 centimeters - 30 inches - of snowfall Friday, their record snowiest single day dating to 1942, topping the previous record of 68.4 centimeters on April 5, 1999, according to Environment Canada. The epic snow and wind gusts up to 97 mph whipped snow into massive drifts, burying vehicles, blocking roads, garages and doors of homes and filling backyards. A 26-year-old man was reported missing in the blizzard conditions after he failed to return from a walk near his home in Conception Bay Friday afternoon.\nA state of emergency was declared Friday in St. John's, which banned all but emergency travel and ordered businesses to close in the capital and largest city of Newfoundland and Labrador. Some 21,000 people were without power overnight, according to the Associated Press.\nDuring the height of the storm, snowplow escorts were required for fire crews to reach emergency calls.\n\"We're getting roofs blowing off houses, people trapped in their cars - an assortment of everything, I'll say,\" Dean Foley, platoon chief of the St. John's Regional Fire Department told the CBC. Roads were so clogged with snow at least one resident was transported by snowmobile to the hospital. Some drifts were reported as high as 15 feet on Pitts Memorial Drive Saturday morning, according to the province's Department of Transportation and Works. A small avalanche in The Battery, a neighborhood on the rocky slopes of Signal Hill northeast of downtown St. John's, punched through the kitchen and living room of one home, prompting the brief evacuation of a few dozen homes Friday evening, the CBC reported. St. John's International Airport was shut down, with flight operations expected to be suspended until at least Sunday morning while crews worked to remove snow. Photos Saturday morning showed giant drifts in the airport's parking lots. NTV chief meteorologist and southeast Newfoundland resident Eddie Sheerr tweeted, \"This is the worst winter storm I have ever seen. Period.\"\nThe system responsible for this historic Newfoundland blizzard moved off the coast of New England Thursday after dumping modest snow in upstate New York and northern New England.\nThe system then underwent a process known as bombogenesis where winds rapidly spreading apart at jet-stream level lead to a rapid intensification of the surface low. According to analyses from NOAA's Ocean Prediction Center, the central pressure of the storm bottomed out at 954 millibars before sunrise Saturday morning, a 54 millibar pressure plunge in 42 hours from when it was a relatively pedestrian low over southern Vermont Thursday morning. Atlantic Canada is no stranger to intense storms, which often plaster New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, then Newfoundland and Labrador after impacting the eastern U.S. The extremity of the snowfall in such a short period of time, coupled with the ferocity of winds, made this is a storm residents in southeast Newfoundland won't soon forget. The one-day snow total in St. John's was just shy of their average snowfall for an entire January - 88.7 centimeters.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["30 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Parts of Newfoundland","Newfoundland","Newfoundland","Newfoundland","Newfoundland","Newfoundland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["A 26-year-old man","Some 21,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday and Saturday","Friday","Friday","Friday","Saturday","Friday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 97 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Winter Storm Jacob makes landfall over the Pacific Northwest, bringing high winds and up to 22 inches (56 cm) of snow to the Olympic Peninsula and forcing widespread road closures and transport cancellations. (The Weather Channel)","document":"\nA winter storm brought snow and ice to the West, Midwest and Northeast in mid-January 2020.\nThe Weather Channel named this system Winter Storm Jacob. Below is a recap of Jacob's impacts.\nWednesday, Jan. 15\nThe low-pressure system underwent bombogenesis while it was off the Pacific Northwest coast. This is a term for a low-pressure center that intensifies rapidly. In this case, it went from a weak low Tuesday, Jan. 14 to a 979-millibar powerhouse less than 24 hours later.\nJoyce, Washington, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Olympic Peninsula, reported up 22 inches of snow.\nBlowing snow from strong winds ahead of this storm prompted a shutdown of a stretch of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon on Jan. 15.\nThursday, Jan. 16\nSnow fell from western Montana to Idaho, Utah and California's Sierra Nevada as the jet-stream energy associated with Winter Storm Jacob dropped southward into California. The heaviest snow pounded the Sierra Nevada, where as much as 26 inches of snow fell. Two feet of snow was reported along Interstate 80. Chain controls were put in place across many roads in the Tahoe Valley, and icy roads were reported in downtown Reno. Wind gusts over 80 mph along with 1 to 2 feet of snow were reported in the central Sierra in a 24-hour period from early Jan. 16 to early Jan. 17.\nThe snow and strong winds likely contributed to a deadly avalanche at Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows in California's Sierra Nevada.\nFriday, Jan. 17\nJacob's jet stream energy pushed across the central Rockies and into the central Plains where a low-pressure system developed and strengthened.\nOvernight freezing rain lead to widespread reports of icy roads in the Texas Panhandle, including in parts of the Amarillo metro area. Snow accumulated on roads in Omaha, Nebraska, making for a tricky morning commute. Ice accumulations of at least 0.1 inch on vehicles was reported in Wichita, Russell and Great Bend, Kansas.\nIce also accumulated on vehicles as far east as Harrison and Mountain Home, Arkansas, early in the day. After a brief period of light snow, precipitation changed quickly to freezing rain in the Kansas City metro area. A plane slid off a slick taxiway at Kansas City International Airport shortly after the precipitation arrived, prompting a closing of the airport. More than a quarter inch of ice accreted from eastern Kansas to western Missouri, including in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas. Up to 0.5 inch ice accumulation was measured near Ridgely, Missouri. Pittsburgh picked up a quick inch of snow overnight, before precipitation changed over to freezing rain.\nSaturday, Jan. 18\nJacob's low pressure system pivoted into the Great Lakes while its snow shield expanded from the Dakotas into the Northeast. Parts of the mid-Atlantic picked up ice before warm air surged northward turning the freezing rain into plain rain in spots like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Strong winds lofted snow and created hours of ground blizzard conditions from the Dakotas to Minnesota and Iowa. Blowing snow continued in the Great Lakes. Wind gusts above 40 mph were clocked in several locations in the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. Huron and Yankton, South Dakota, as well as Imperial, Nebraska, gusted to near 60 mph. Wind chills were as low as the 40s below zero in parts of the Dakotas.\nWhiteout conditions forced closures of over 500 miles of interstate highways in the eastern Dakotas, including Interstates 29, 90 and 94. According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, rescues of stranded motorists had been undertaken near Jamestown, North Dakota. To the east, Chicagoland picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow before precipitation changed to light freezing rain, then ended. The Detroit metro area picked up 5 to 7 inches of snow before precipitation changed to rain Saturday morning. Cleveland also picked up 2 to 5 inches of snow prior to the rain changeover, including a burst of 2 inches of snow in just one hour at the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.\nA few tenths of an inch of snow were measured at both Dulles and Reagan National Airports in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Numerous accidents were reported in Erie, Pennsylvania, from ice accumulation on roads. Light icing on vehicles was reported in parts of West Virginia. Snow arrives in New York City, Hartford and Boston during the afternoon hours, mainly bringing light snow to the major East Coast cities. The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2 inches","2 inches","up 22 inches","up 2 to 5 inches","5 inches","26 inches","1 to 2 feet","up 5 to 7 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["southward into California","California","California","the West, Midwest and Northeast","Northeast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["mid-January 2020"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Jacob","Jacob","Jacob","Jacob","Jacob"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["near 60 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Several people have died from hypothermia after heavy snowfall and high winds combined to bring historic blizzards over higher ground of mainland Spain. Local meteorologists have described Gloria as the worst storm to impact the region in 38 years. (BBC News)","document":"A storm surge on the east coast of Spain has swept 3km (two miles) inland, devastating rice paddies in the Ebro river delta south of Barcelona.\nStorm Gloria began wreaking havoc on Monday and five people have died. The storm has wrecked beach facilities, blocked roads and caused power cuts. Seawater has caused major damage to beaches around Barcelona, Valencia and on the Balearic Islands. The Ebro, lying between Barcelona and Valencia, is Spain's longest river. The mayor of the delta region, Lluís Soler, said \"we've never had anything like this before\". Seawater has flooded about 30sq km (12sq miles) of rice plants. The beach resorts of Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar, just north of Barcelona, are also witnessing extraordinary scenes. A carpet of foam engulfed streets in Tossa de Mar.\nThe Barcelona port authorities say it is too dangerous for boats to venture out to sea. The waves there have reached as high as 7m (23ft), crashing over a dyke protecting boats moored in the Port Olímpic marina. One anchored boat there has sunk.\nResidents have been told to avoid the beachfront areas in Catalonia.\nMeanwhile, there has been heavy snow in Ávila, northwest of Madrid, and Alicante, just south of Valencia. The snow forced the closure of Alicante airport on Monday.\nA 63-year-old man in Ávila province was killed by flying roof tiles in the storm. The freezing cold was also blamed for the death of a 54-year-old homeless woman near Valencia. The storm is now moving across the Pyrenees, bringing heavy snow to the mountains.\nStorm Gloria has arrived in Pyrénées-Orientales, France's southernmost Mediterranean department, which has been placed on high alert.\nDozens of extra police and firefighters have been deployed in the region.\nThe A9 motorway on the French side of the border was closed as a precautionary measure.\nGloria was the worst storm to have hit the region in the winter period since January 1982, Météo France forecaster Olivier Proust told Franceinfo.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Ávila, northwest of Madrid, and Alicante, just south of Valencia","south","Valencia","Valencia","Alicante","Ávila","Valencia","east coast of Spain","Spain"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["five people","A 63-year-old man"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Gloria","Gloria","Gloria"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 Heavy rainfall causes severe flooding in southern states, particularly western South Carolina and western Virginia, where several flash flood emergencies have been declared. (Weather.com)","document":"Winter Storm Kade swept from the Pacific Northwest through the southern Plains and into the Northeast with bands of heavy snow and heavy, flooding rainfall. The storm packed a quick punch as it entered the Northeast. Several tornadoes touched down in the mid-Atlantic, then gusts as high as 90 mph battered southern New England as a stripe of heavy snow was laid down in northern New England. Winter Storm Kade dumped heavy snow in the West, then took aim on parts of the Southern Plains.\nThe snow began on Feb. 2 in the Northwest as a band of snow dropped through the region. The snow pushed southeastward along the western side of the Rockies and the Great Basin through Feb. 4. A low pressure system developed in the southern Rockies and southern Plains, which intensified snow from New Mexico to Iowa on Feb. 4. Up to 5 inches of snow has been reported in the Oklahoma City metro area, causing several dozen accidents during the city's first significant snowfall of the season. Wednesday was the heaviest calendar-day snow in Oklahoma City in almost nine years, according to the National Weather Service. In Texas, 14 inches of snow fell in Jayton, Texas, some 80 miles southeast of Lubbock. Thundersnow was observed in Big Spring, Texas, early Wednesday morning.\nMidland, Texas, had their heaviest snowstorm in over eight years, picking up 7.9 inches of snow. Snow dusted grass and vehicle tops late Wednesday night in Austin, Texas. Snow and sleet mixed for a time in San Antonio. Sleet mixed with rain in Houston, and a combination of sleet and graupel was reported as far south as Victoria and the north side of Corpus Christi Bay. Just an inch or two of snow in central Missouri caused roads and bridges to become slick. Several crashes occurred on snow-covered Interstate 70 west of Columbia, Missouri, Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5. Meanwhile heavy rain flooded much of the South, especially from eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia into the Carolinas, from Feb. 5-6. Rivers surged out of their banks and caused several flash flood emergencies in western South Carolina and in western Virginia. Several tornadoes touched down in Mississippi, Alabama and North Carolina each, and severe wind and hail was reported from Louisiana to Florida and up into the Carolinas.\nWinter Storm Kade quickly intensified on the morning of Feb. 7, bringing a surge of cold air over the Great Lakes and warm air into the mid-Atlantic. A squall line was produced through the morning hours from northern Virginia to southern New York, producing more than 200 reports of damaging winds and even a few rare February tornadoes. \nHeavy snow came in two waves across the Northeast, one quick burst for many on Feb. 5-6, then another burst of snow on Feb. 7 as Kade intensified near the Northeast coast. In some spots, this led to more than a foot of snow, especially from northern New York to northern New England. One location in Vermont got close to two feet of snow. Ice accumulations up to about one-third of an inch have been reported in parts of Upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Two trees were downed from a combination of ice accumulation and wind in Stillwater, New York. Here are select snowfall reports from this storm:\nCalifornia: 2 inches near Homewood (Sierra Nevada)\nColorado: 21.3 inches in Eldorado Springs; 13.1 inches at the National Weather Service in Boulder; 2.8 inches at Denver International Airport\nIdaho: 16 inches at Pebble Creek Ski Area; 8 inches near Pocatello\nIllinois: 5.6 inches at Homewood; 2.4 inches at Chicago O'Hare\nIndiana: 4.9 inches near Goshen; 2 inches near Ft. Wayne\nKansas: 2.5 inches in Caney and Parsons\nKentucky: 4.5 inches near RIbolt; 1 to 2 inches in Louisville\nMaine: 17.8 inches in Madawaska; 16.2 inches in Caribou; 4.8 inches near Portland\nMichigan: 6 inches in Hastings; 2.4 inches in Detroit\nMissouri: 6 inches near Morrison; 5 inches in Jefferson City\nMontana: 18 inches in Pony; 8 inches near Bozeman\nNebraska: 8 inches south of Gering\nNew Mexico: 18 inches in Angel Fire; 6 inches in Taos; 2 inches in Santa Fe\nNevada: 13 inches near McGill; 2.4 inches in Ely\nNew Hampshire: 12 inches in Pittsburg; 3.2 inches in Concord\nNew York: 19.8 inches in Duane Center; 13 inches in East Ithaca\nOhio: 6.3 inches near Monroe Center; about 0.2 inch ice in Dayton\nOklahoma: 7.5 inches in Frederick; 5 inches in Chickasha and Lawton; 2.4 inches in Tulsa\nPennsylvania: 9 inches near Litchfield; 4.8 inches near Pittsburgh Int'l Airport\nSouth Dakota: 7 inches near Deerfield; 3.6 inches near Rapid City\nTexas: 14 inches in Jayton; 3.3 inches in Wichita Falls\nUtah: 21.5 inches near Sandy; 9 inches at Salt Lake City International Airport (up to 19 inches in the metro area)\nVermont: 23.5 inches in Warren; 13.2 inches in Milton\nWest Virginia: 4.2 inches in Williamstown; 1 inch in Charleston\nWyoming: 22.5 inches near Story; 15.7 inches in Casper\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["2.5 inches","5 inches","4.5 inches","5 inches","7.5 inches","21.5 inches","23.5 inches","22.5 inches","2.4 inches","4 inches","1 to 2 inches","2 inches","16.2 inches","12 inches","3.2 inches","13.2 inches","4.2 inches","2.8 inches","8 inches","8 inches","8 inches","17.8 inches","4.8 inches","19.8 inches","2 inches","2 inches","2 inches","2 inches","2 inches","5.6 inches","6 inches","6 inches","6 inches","16 inches","3.6 inches","Up to 5 inches","5 inches","18 inches","18 inches","13 inches","13 inches","21.3 inches","up 7.9 inches","9 inches","9 inches","4.9 inches","up to 19 inches","15.7 inches","7 inches","14 inches","14 inches","13.1 inches","1 inch","6.3 inches","about 0.2 inch","3.3 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Northwest","Northwest","the Northeast","Northeast","the Pacific Northwest through the southern Plains and into the Northeast","Northeast","Southern Plains","southern Plains","Northeast","Northeast","northern New England","northern New England","southern New England"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Kade","Kade","Kade","Kade"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["as 90 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 Three tornadoes, two at least EF 3 in strength, rip through downtown Nashville and surrounding towns, killing 25 people. (WKRN) (USA Today)","document":"NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tornadoes killed at least 24 people, including several children, and shredded at least 140 buildings as violent storms roared through the state early Tuesday, part of a sprawling system that threatened more severe weather this week all the way from Texas to North Carolina.\nTuesday was the USA's deadliest day for tornadoes since March 2, 2012, when 40 people died in twisters that hit portions of the Midwest and South. Twenty-three people died in Alabama exactly one year ago, on March 3, 2019, according to the Storm Prediction Center.\nA powerful and deadly storm moving through the middle of Tennessee spawned a tornado that touched down in Nashville early Tuesday morning, cutting a swath of destruction that stretched through the city for miles.\nGov. Bill Lee said \"a number of people\" were missing and many were injured. The governor, who declared a state of emergency, said 30 rescue workers suffered injuries. The number of dead has been difficult for officials to keep up with, and on Tuesday night, they revised the death toll from 25 to 24 after authorities said they miscounted one fatality that was later determined to be not storm-related.\n\"It is heartbreaking,\" Lee said at a news conference. “We have had loss of life all across the state. Four different counties, as of this morning, had confirmed fatalities.”\n\n\nLee said he was in touch with the White House \"to ask for assistance.\" A number of missing people remained unaccounted for by early evening.\nSchools, courts, transit lines and an airport were closed.\nPresident Donald Trump tweeted his support Tuesday morning: \"Prayers for all of those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee. We will continue to monitor the developments. The Federal Government is with you all of the way during this difficult time.\"\nThe president said he will travel to Tennessee on Friday to tour the damage. \nIsolated tornadoes, damaging winds and flash flooding are possible across the southern USA through Thursday, Accuweather said.\nThe disaster affected voting in Tennessee, one of 14 Super Tuesday states. Some polling sites in Nashville were moved, and sites across Davidson and Wilson counties opened an hour late but closed at the scheduled time, Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. \nThe Nashville tornado \"appeared to be quite large, although storm surveys will be conducted on Tuesday to determine the official intensity of the storm,\" AccuWeather said. \nA preliminary survey indicated the tornado just east of Nashville was an EF-3 on the Fujita Scale, meaning it had winds of about 160 mph.\nThe tornado was the third to tear through downtown Nashville. Twisters ripped through the city in 1933 and 1998, the National Weather Service said.\nIn Putnam County, the number of deaths rose to 16. Three deaths were confirmed in Wilson County, two in Davidson County (where Nashville is) and one in Benton County.\nSeveral children were reported among the dead in Putnam County, which includes the town of Cookeville. “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for our city and county,” Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said. \n\nThe extent of the storm's physical damage was jarring.\nAt least 48 structures collapsed around Nashville, according to the Fire Department. Windows were blown out, and power lines were torn down in an area that stretched from the Germantown neighborhood, north of downtown, into the Five Points area of east Nashville and more than 20 miles to the east in Mount Juliet.\nDrinking a Smirnoff Ice around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nashville resident Domonique Hodge said he heard the roof come off his duplex that morning.\n“That’s the roof right there,\" Hodge said, pointing to a massive pile of shingles and roofing material in the front yard.\nHe got in the closet, caught off guard by what was going on outside.\nA tornado warning was in effect when the storm hit, according to Weather Channel meteorologist Greg Diamond, who tweeted that \"the heart of Nashville had approximately a 5-10 minute lead time from when warning was issued to when tornado hit.\"\nOfficials scrambled to open emergency shelters around the metro area as sirens wailed and the smell of natural gas lingered. \nNashville Electric tweeted that four of its substations were damaged in the tornado. Power outages affected more than 47,000 customers Tuesday morning, the utility company said.\nIn east Nashville, Main Street was closed after the storm and covered in half-fallen trees and other debris. \nResidents of Stacks On Main, near Nissan Stadium, reported their windows burst during the heavy winds, sending glass shards throughout their apartment, as well as minor flooding. \nApartment complexes off Main Street had siding, slabs of concrete and other material ripped away. \nThe storm also caused damage in Wilson County. \nEmergency personnel assessed the damage, said Tyler Chandler, spokesman for the Mount Juliet Police Department. \nGas lines leaked and power lines were down, Chandler said.\n\"We have people missing, there are several homes flattened, so right now we are trying to establish a command post,\" Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said.\nThe sheriff said all of his deputies were going house to house to check on residents as county and state crews worked to clear roads of debris and fallen power lines.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Putnam County","Putnam County","Putnam County","portions of the Midwest and South"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 24 people","40 people","30 rescue workers","16"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","early Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 The National Weather Service confirms 13 tornadoes occurred. (USA Today)","document":"Recovery efforts continue Wednesday in Tennessee after a powerful and fast-moving storm cut across Middle Tennessee in the early hours of Tuesday morning, dropping tornadoes that roared up to 165 mph. At least two dozen are confirmed dead, including five children under the age of 13.\nOn Wednesday night, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said 24 storm-related deaths were confirmed. Earlier in the day, police in Wilson County confirmed an adult male was found dead in an area reeling from storm damage, which would increase the death toll to 25.\nThe overnight disaster injured scores of people and damaged or destroyed homes, businesses, schools and churches across four counties. Tens of thousands of people and businesses remained without power Wednesday.\nAmong the dead are at least five children in Putnam County, which suffered the greatest human toll. At least 18 people died in the county and 88 were injured – two of whom were flown out – in a 2-mile stretch west of Cookeville. Another 3 are still missing. \n\"We're thankful for the sun shining today and we're anxious to move this along and for our community to bounce back,\" said Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton in a Wednesday press conference.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee","across Middle Tennessee","Putnam County"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["88 were injured","injured","At least two dozen","25","Tens of thousands of people","at least five children","At least 18 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early hours of Tuesday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 165 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 The tornado in Putnam County, Tennessee, is upgraded to an EF4, becoming the strongest tornado of the outbreak. (NBC News)","document":" Follow NBC News The deadly tornado that hit a Tennessee county early Tuesday was an EF-4 storm with 175 mph winds, the National Weather Service said Wednesday, and officials lowered the number of missing from 20 to three.\nTwo tornadoes hit the region: One took aim at parts of Nashville and Wilson and Smith counties, and the second EF-4 was in Putnam county, the weather service said Thursday.\nEighteen of the 24 deaths from the tornado outbreak happened in Putnam County, which is about 60 miles east of Nashville, officials said.\nThree people remain unaccounted for, Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said Wednesday evening.\n\"The good news is, our death count has not risen, we still remain at 18,\" Porter said at a news conference late Wednesday afternoon.\nA second search of damaged areas was expected to be completed by noon Thursday.\nDuring the search Wednesday, skeletal remains were found but they are not believed to be related to the severe weather, Porter said. The remains appear to have been there for around a year.\nAll of the 18 dead in Putnam County have been identified, Porter said.\nAround 150 to 200 structures in Putnam County suffered damage in Tuesday’s tornado, officials said.\nSix other tornado deaths were reported: three in Wilson County, two in Davidson County where Nashville is located, and one in Benton County, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.\nThe tornado that hit Davidson, Wilson and Smith counties was an EF-3 with 165 mph winds and had had a path of around 53 miles.\n\nIt began in western Davidson County and intensified into an EF-2 as it went across North Nashville and the Germantown area as it moved east, and then strengthened to an EF-3 as it went into East Nashville, the weather service said.\nIt weakened and then intensified again before dissipating near Gordonsville in Smith County.\nThe tornado was the first violent twister to hit the Nashville area since April 10, 2009, the weather service’s Nashville office tweeted.\nThe \"Good Friday Tornado Outbreak,\" on April 10, 2009, involved 10 tornadoes that swept across parts of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, according to the weather service.\nThe most violent of those storms was also an EF-4 tornado that hit in and near Murfreesboro, a city southeast of Nashville, which killed two people and injured 58. The deaths were a mother and her infant daughter.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near Murfreesboro, a city southeast of Nashville","Nashville","Putnam county","Putnam County","Putnam County","Putnam County","Putnam County","parts of Nashville and Wilson and Smith counties","Nashville","Wilson","Nashville","Wilson","Smith counties","Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","parts","Nashville","Tennessee county"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Eighteen of the 24 deaths","All of the 18 dead","two people","injured 58"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["EF-4 was","EF-4","an EF-4 storm","EF-4","EF-3","EF-4","an EF-3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["175 mph winds","165 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 The EF3 tornado that went through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties was confirmed on the ground for 53.4 miles (85.9 km), becoming the second longest path a tornado has taken in Tennessee. (Washington Post)","document":"Two days after violent tornadoes laid siege to a large swath of Middle Tennessee, National Weather Service storm surveys are offering new details on their path and intensity. The staggering twisters achieved rare feats of strength and longevity during their devastating overnight assault Tuesday.\nThe death toll from the tornadoes stands at 24, with no new fatalities reported since Wednesday. CNN reports that at least five children were killed, and the victims ranged in age from 2 to 67.\nGov. Bill Lee announced early Thursday that the missing had been accounted for.\nEighteen people were killed when an EF-4 tornado struck Cookeville in Putnam County, 80 miles east of Nashville. It was the first “violent” tornado (rated EF-4 or higher on the enhanced Fujita scale) in the National Weather Service Nashville’s forecast area since April 10, 2009.\nIt was also the strongest-rated tornado nationwide in nearly three years.\nThe tornadoes all occurred within the same family, originating in a lone supercell thunderstorm that tracked more than 275 miles across the state. Reports of tornadoes and damage emerged at 11:07 p.m. to the west in Benton County on Monday, when the storm was at least 90 minutes away from Nashville. That storm produced an EF-2 tornado that killed one person in Camden.\nThe same storm, which was unusually compact but fierce, approached the state capital shortly after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, where it spawned a larger tornado.\nThe tornado that hit Nashville was rated a strong EF-3 with maximum winds estimated at 165 mph. It’s worth noting that is 1 mph shy of the threshold for EF-4, highlighting the storm’s formidable strength.\nBased on preliminary estimates, the twister’s 53.4-mile path would rank among the top six among tornadoes observed in Tennessee. According to records from the Tornado History Project, only one tornado has covered more ground in Tennessee — which occurred April 16, 1998, and was nearly 70 miles long.\nThe Nashville tornado touched down sometime between 12:30 and 12:33 a.m. west of the city and quickly began carving a path of damage as it plowed east. John C. Tune Airport suffered incredible damage, estimated at more than $90 million, not including aircraft.\nOver the next hour, the tornado ravaged sections of Davidson, Wilson and Smith counties. Weaving its way through the heart of Nashville, the tornado “rapidly intensified” to EF-3 strength as it ripped up eastern sections of the city. Two fatalities occurred in the Five Points neighborhood.\nThe tornado caused EF-1 and EF-2 damage before intensifying again to EF-3 force as it leveled structures near the Stanford Estates subdivision in Donelson. The National Weather Service found that the tornado caused primarily EF-2 damage over much of the community of Hermitage and the remainder of Davidson County.\nRemarkably, EF-3 damage again was found near Mt. Juliet, where three deaths occurred.\nThe tornado largely paralleled Interstate 40 to the north, crossing it occasionally south and southwest of Lebanon before disappearing west of Gordonsville.\nBased on radar data, the tornado looks to have lifted between 1:30 and 1:35 a.m., meaning the funnel was in contact with the ground for about an hour. In addition, its forward speed approached 50 mph as it raced east.\nA more calamitous tornado emerged from the same supercell thunderstorm as it drifted into Putnam County. After a brief pause in the fury, the rotating thunderstorm produced another tornado that resulted in devastating damage in Cookeville.\nThe tornado appears to have touched down around 1:52 or 1:53 a.m., rapidly intensifying as it roughly moved down Route 70N into Cookeville. It engulfed the city at 1:57 a.m.\nMeanwhile, a second tornado may have developed to the southwest, causing additional damage southeast of Baxter several miles south of Interstate 40. Doppler radar revealed an additional plume of debris lofted by an apparent vortex. There has been no word on this likelihood as of yet from the National Weather Service.\nThe Weather Service rated the main Cookeville tornado as an EF-4 with 175 mph winds. That appears to be the strongest tornado nationwide since the Canton, Tex., twin EF-4 tornadoes of April 29, 2017. Those tornadoes killed five people and featured winds up to 180 mph.\nMeteorologists will continue to survey the damage from Tuesday’s storms and release more information in the coming days. In the meantime, recovery and cleanup efforts may be hampered by isolated showers late Thursday before temperatures plummet into the upper 20s on Friday night.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","Nashville","Cookeville in Putnam County","Putnam County","Cookeville","Cookeville","Cookeville","Middle Tennessee"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["24","at least five children","Eighteen people","one person"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["an EF-2 tornado","EF","a strong EF-3","an EF-4 tornado","EF-4","EF","EF","EF-4","EF-3","EF","EF-2","EF-3","EF-2","EF-3","EF-4","EF-4 tornado"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["165 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 Cyclone Harold hits Fiji. (UPI)","document":"April 8 -- Despite being spared a direct hit from Tropical Cyclone Harold, the island of Fiji has suffered extensive damage from high winds, rain and a battering storm surge, officials said.\nThe monster storm lashed the Vanuatu Islands on Tuesday as it charged eastward, battering the small islands, which are situated about 1,500 miles east of Australia's northeast coast, with fierce winds and heavy rains as it made landfall.\nHarold, which AccuWeather meteorologists have been monitoring for over a week, formed a week ago in the Coral Sea before heading east toward the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The Solomon Islands were the first to be blasted by the strengthening cyclone over the weekend.\nThe Solomon Island Herald reported Monday that at least six people were killed, and their bodies recovered, after a ferry with 27 people on board encountered dangerous seas stirred by the cyclone.\nThe Royal Solomon Island Police Force was urging that all small craft remain out of the water as the dangerous seas persisted on Monday.\nOn Monday, Harold reached its peak intensity with wind speeds of 165 mph as it crossed the northern islands of Vanuatu. Winds of this speed made Harold a Category 5 cyclone on the Fiji scale and equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific oceans.\nHarold was downgraded to a Category 4 cyclone on Tuesday, but remained a dangerous storm.\n\"Communications to Santo and Malekula [Vanuatu's two largest islands] are cut now, so we don't know what's happening,\" said Eric Durpaire, the chief of Vanuatu's field office for UNICEF Pacific, over the phone from the country's capital of Port Vila. He added that the roof of the municipality building on Santo collapsed, and there was also flooding damage.\nNo deaths have been reported so far from Harold in Vanuatu. However, with communication down in some of the hardest hit areas, it may be days before the public is made aware of the extent of the damage.\nFarther away from the eye of the cyclone, outer rain bands pounded the southern islands of Vanuatu. Rainfall on the island of Aneityum reached 6.5 inches on Monday night.\nThe International Federation of the Red Cross shared \"devastating images\" from parts of Vanuatu that were walloped by Harold.\nThe Guardian reported that Vanuatu is one of the few countries in the world that still had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 early this week. The country, however, is closed to international travelers and has also enacted curfews and banned gatherings of more than five people. In order for residents to evacuate and receive help following Harold, some of these restrictions have been temporarily lifted.\nOn Tuesday, Vanuatu revoked their domestic travel ban, and Air Vanuatu announced that domestic passenger flights would resume on Friday.\nAfter battering Vanuatu, Harold passed just south of Fiji at midweek. Ahead of the cyclone, Fiji Airways moved several aircraft overseas to avoid damage, according to the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation.\nFiji's National Disaster Management Office announced evacuation orders on Tuesday afternoon, asking those in low-lying areas to move to higher ground ahead of Harold.\nPopular tourist destinations on the island have suffered heavy damage from the cyclone's storm surge and high winds and power outages and road closures have also been reported.\nThe Fiji National Disaster Management Office is urging residents to stay indoors for their own safety. The Fiji Times reported that around nine homes were damaged by a possible tornado within the cyclone's rain bands.\nThe National Disaster Management Office in Fiji activated more than 250 evacuation centers in preparation of the cyclone, Radio New Zealand reported.\nConditions will rapidly improve across Fiji into late week as Harold tracks to the southeast toward Tonga, where the government declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm's arrival.\nThese islands in the South Pacific are no stranger to influences from tropical cyclones, with a cyclone season that runs from November to April each year. The 2015-2016 season was the deadliest on record, with 50 deaths attributed to cyclones that impacted islands of the region, including Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.\nTropical Cyclone Pam was the last Severe Tropical Cyclone to hit Vanuatu, in 2015, according to Steven Bowen, a meteorologist who works for risk management firm Aon. The storm caused more than $380 million in damage.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":["the Coral Sea"]},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["AccuWeather meteorologists"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["6.5 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["The Solomon Islands","Solomon Islands","Solomon Islands","the island of Fiji","Island","Island","Fiji","island","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","island","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Fiji","Vanuatu Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least six people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["eastward"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 cyclone","4","Category 4 hurricane","4","a Category 5 cyclone"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold","Harold"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["165 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 A tornado outbreak occurs in the Southeastern United States. Mississippi declares a tornado emergency. (Weather)","document":"\nAn Easter tornado outbreak spawned a swarm of tornadoes and widespread damaging thunderstorm winds from Texas to the Carolinas and Maryland on April 12-13, 2020.\nNational Weather Service damage surveys confirmed at least 140 tornadoes touched down from early morning on Easter Sunday, April 12, through early afternoon on April 13, one of the nation's most prolific April two-day outbreaks in the modern era, according to Steve Bowen, meteorologist and head of catastrophe insight at Aon. It was the fifth highest Alabama tornado count from a single outbreak - at least 27 tornadoes confirmed - dating to 1950, according to the National Weather Service. The outbreak also produced over 600 reports of damaging thunderstorm winds in just 24 hours from Easter Sunday morning through the following Monday morning, more than any other 24-hour period since the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic derecho of June 2012, according to The Weather Channel senior meteorologist, Stu Ostro. The storms claimed at least 37 lives. \nThe National Weather Service issued 141 separate tornado warnings from 7 a.m. CDT Sunday, April 12, to 7 a.m. CDT Monday, April 13, according to Greg Diamond, a weather producer at The Weather Channel. This was the most within the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 24-hour period since the March 2-3, 2012 tornado outbreak, according to Daryl Herzmann of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.\nA pair of EF4 tornadoes carved through parts of southern Mississippi on Easter Sunday. The first of these touched down in Walthall County, Mississippi, leveling two homes near the Lawrence County line, leaving only the slab foundation remaining of one of the homes, according to the NWS damage survey. The NWS found nearly every tree in its path in this part of northeast Walthall County was either snapped or uprooted. A second EF4 tornado grew to over 2-miles in width, the largest documented tornado on record in Mississippi as it tore a 68-mile long path from Jefferson Davis County to Clarke County, devastating areas near the towns of Bassfield, Soso and Moss.\nThe scar from this tornado could be seen from satellite images taken on April 14. Soso, Mississippi, was simultaneously under a National Weather Service tornado emergency for both tornadoes. The first tornado was striking the town when the National Weather Service issued the second tornado emergency for the tornado following behind it. Between the two, tornado emergencies spanned 75 miles across southern Mississippi at 5:30 p.m. CDT Sunday, April 12. Just 24 minutes after this second EF4 tornado first touched down, the longest-track tornado of the outbreak, rated EF3, began an 84-mile long siege in about 90 minutes from Lawrence to Jasper Counties, Mississippi. This tornado was also just over a mile-wide at one time. An EF3 tornado tore through parts of Monroe, Louisiana, just before noon on Easter Sunday, missing the city's downtown by about a mile, but damaging the roof of the Masur Museum of Art. A pair of tornadoes, rated EF1 and EF2, touched down just north of the city near Sterlington. Ouachita Parish authorities estimated 23 homes were destroyed and another 108 suffered major damage. In east Tennessee, an EF3 tornado tore a 15-mile long path through parts of the Chattanooga metro area, including East Ridge and Ooltewah, leveling an auto parts store. In Georgia, one severe thunderstorm spawned a pair of EF3 tornadoes which carved through Upson, Lamar and Monroe Counties, just northwest of Macon. The Southern Crescent Technical College and Raintree Golf and Country Club near Thomaston each took a direct hit, and one unoccupied home was shifted onto a road. National Weather Service radar detected debris from the Upson County tornado was lofted as high as 25,000 feet. At least 25 tornadoes tore through South Carolina, a number of them on the stronger end of the scale.\nParticularly hard hit was Barnwell County, where the NWS confirmed four separate tornadoes - three rated EF3, the other an EF2 - tore distinct path through parts of the county. One home anchored to the ground was tossed and destroyed, according to the NWS damage survey. As the squall line roared into neighboring Orangeburg County, a weird interaction of two tornadoes appears to have taken place, as documented in detail by The Washington Post's Matthew Cappucci. Another large tornado, at least a half mile wide, carved a 16-mile path through Oconee and Pickens counties just north of Clemson around 3:20 a.m. EDT, causing at least one fatality. Top winds were estimated at 160 mph in this tornado, which was rated EF3.\nAt around 6 a.m. EDT Monday, a long-track tornado produced EF4 damage in Hampton County, South Carolina, the first F/EF4 rated tornado on record in South Carolina's Lowcountry and first anywhere in the state in over 24 years. This tornado caused least five fatalities and 60 injuries, according to the NWS.\nSixteen tornadoes, most of them weaker tornadoes, were spawned in North Carolina on April 13. Early in the afternoon, a couple of weak tornadoes - one rated EF0, the other EF1 - touched down briefly in Maryland near Baltimore Corner and Frizzzellburg, respectively. The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The National Weather Service","National Weather Service","National Weather Service","National Weather Service","National Weather Service","National Weather Service"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of southern Mississippi","southern Mississippi","parts","parts","parts","parts","Texas to the Carolinas and Maryland","Maryland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 37 lives"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["early morning on Easter Sunday, April 12","April 12","Easter Sunday","Easter Sunday","Easter Sunday","Easter Sunday","April 12-13, 2020","April 12","April 12","April 12"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["A pair of EF4 tornadoes","4","4","pair","pair","4","4"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 Fiji declares a 30–day state of natural disaster in areas affected by Cyclone Harold. (RNZ)","document":"Fiji's government has declared a State of Natural Disaster in areas affected by last week's Cyclone Harold.\nThe Disaster Management Minister, Jone Usamate, made the announcement this afternoon, saying it would enable the government to exercise certain powers to deal with the aftermath of the category four storm which killed at least one person and damaged homes and crops across the country.\nDisaster Management Minister, Jone Usamate Photo: Fiji Govt\nMr Usamate said the declaration was for certain parts of the Eastern, Central and Western Divisions of the country.\nIn the Eastern Division it was for Kadavu and the Southern Lau group, which were particularly hard hit.\nIn the Central Division the areas included Tailevu North, Korovou, Nausori, Nakasi, Beqa and Yanuca.\nFor the Western division, the declaration has been made for the districts of Nadarivatu, Vatulele, Mamanuca Group, the Yasawa Group, coastal communities in the Coral Coast and along the Sigatoka River in the Nadroga/Navosa province.\nFour government boats were being sent out with assessment teams, aid and food.\nMr Usamate confirmed the distribution of food supplies had begun in the Central Division, and would begin in the Western Division on Tuesday, while personnel were being deployed to the Eastern Division.\nHe also thanked the governments of New Zealand and Australia for their assistance at this time.\nThe minister said assessments were still being completed but the Northern Division had been cleared and the priority for that region was now on minimising the spread of Covid-19, of which the country had 16 cases.\nMr Usamate said it was a challenge to deal simultaneously with the cyclone aftermath and the coronavirus.\nBut he insisted Covid-19 protocols were being adhered to in evacuation centres across the country, of which 66 were still open.\nAs of this morning 1800 people were still in the centres.\nThe government said although final assessments were still pending, the cost of the damage to property and crops from the cyclone would run into the millions of dollars.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Kadavu and the Southern Lau group","included Tailevu North, Korovou, Nausori, Nakasi, Beqa and Yanuca","Nadarivatu, Vatulele, Mamanuca Group, the Yasawa Group, coastal communities in the Coral Coast and along the Sigatoka River in the Nadroga/Navosa province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least one person"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["category four storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harold"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 The death toll in a tornado outbreak that devastated the Southeastern United States on April 12–13 rises to 35. (WHSV-TV)","document":"Tornado warnings, 150 issued between Easter Sunday and Monday, this across 11 states. The death toll has now risen to 35. The National Weather Service in Jackson Mississippi released new details on the strongest rated tornado from storms over Easter weekend. The tornado that left a scar visible on satellite imagery, rated an EF-4 with winds at 170 mph. NWS says the patch was \"at least 2 miles wide.\"\nThat incredibly wide tornado traveled about 68 miles. Almost unbelievable, another tornado, rated an EF-3 traveled 82 miles almost parallel to the EF-4 tornado. The distance between paths was less than 10 miles. For perspective, the widest tornado on record happened in El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31, 2013. That tornado was 2.6 miles wide at it's widest point. A side note about tornado ratings: Tornadoes are rated based on the worst damage found. So if along a path of destruction, NWS finds damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado, and a small area consistent with EF-3 tornado damage- the storm is rated an EF-3. The width of the tornado path is given at the widest point. Tornadoes do not keep consistent paths that are the same through the whole length of the tornado. So far, NWS has confirmed 77 tornadoes","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["35"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Easter Sunday and Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["an EF-3","EF","an EF-4","EF","EF-4","EF","EF-3","EF-3"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["170 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 Marco becomes a hurricane and is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Monday or early Tuesday. Laura is expected to become a hurricane as well by Wednesday. (USA Today)","document":"MONROE, La. — Tropical Storm Marco briefly grew to hurricane strength Sunday before weakening again, but is still one of two powerful storms marching toward the Gulf Coast.\nMarco is likely to make landfall late Monday in Louisiana, where a hurricane warning is still in effect. And, then, Tropical Storm Laura is expected to reach hurricane status before it roars into the state Wednesday, threatening a historic double slam of landfalls within miles of each other.\nNational Weather Service Meteorologist Benjamin Schott said such a confluence of storms hasn't happened in the Gulf of Mexico in recorded history. Isolated areas could see 15 inches of rain from the two storms, he said.\nCould hurricanes collide? Here's what may happen if Laura and Marco meet up in the Gulf\n\"We have a very unique situation with two storms that unfortunately are headed to Louisiana,\" Gov. John Bel Edwards said Sunday. \"They pose a challenge we have quite frankly not seen before.\"\nEdwards said the \"one-two punch\" of hurricanes will blanket the state's coastline with storm surge as high as 10 feet in some areas and prompt flash flooding in others. He said residents should be ready to shelter in place for at least 72 hours, warning that it may not be possible to deploy rescue helicopters and high-water vehicles after Marco's storm surge if Laura comes in right behind.\nBecause of the COVID-19 threat, Edwards said, the state plans to activate large shelters with congregate settings only \"as a last resort.\" Instead, the governor said, he's working with the federal government to use hotels and motels if large evacuations become necessary.\nOfficials in LaPlace, 30 miles upriver from New Orleans, distributed sandbags in low-lying areas and urged residents to seek cover and prepare. \nSt. John the Baptist Parish, which includes LaPlace, has had one of the highest COVID-19 death rates in the nation. \n“People are still in shock with so many people lost to this virus,” said Larry Soraparu, a former parish councilman. “Now, we have two hurricanes in the Gulf and no one’s sure what’s going to happen.” \nHe added: “Tensions are rising.” \nOn Grand Isle, south of New Orleans, Starfish Restaurant manager Nicole Fantiny watched a long line of people driving off the barrier island.\n“They are all packing up and leaving,” she said. “My house was built in 1938, so I think we’re good.”\nLouisiana State University canceled all classes, activities and COVID-19 testing centers on campus Monday due to Hurricane Marco, the university announced Sunday.\nAs of 11 p.m. EDT, Marco was about 185 miles south-southeast of the Mississippi River, powering maximum sustained winds of 70 mph as it slid to the north-northwest at 12 mph. Marco continued on a track for landfall on Monday, when it will blast parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with storm surge, heavy rainfall and strong winds.\nThe storm is expected to hook westward and possibly reach Texas as a tropical depression Tuesday.\nMeanwhile, Laura strengthened near eastern Cuba on Sunday night after killing at least seven people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm was traveling west-northwest at 21 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center's 11 p.m. EDT advisory.\nPuerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Pete Gaynor said his teams were \"on the ground and ready to support.\" Downpours and gusty winds drenched the island, and nearly six inches of rain fell in some areas, prompting flood warnings.\nLaura was forecast to sweep over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday into Tuesday.\n\"Environmental conditions will be more favorable for strengthening, and Laura is expected to become a hurricane prior to reaching the Gulf Coast,\" Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller warned. Landfall could come Wednesday.\nMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency.\n\"We are in unprecedented times,\" Reeves said. \"We are dealing with not only two potential storms in the next few hours, we are also dealing with COVID-19.\"\nCay Wiser of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, lost her home to a Category 4 hurricane in 2005. She said she's not overly concerned about Hurricane Marco, which is expected to make landfall as a Category 1, but she's preparing.\n\"I've got food, I've got cases of water, my generator is working, I think I've got everything,\" she said. \"I don't get nervous until it's a high (Category) 2. If they were talking about a high 2 or a 3, I'd think about leaving my house.\"\nThe storms could keep coming as tropical waves emerge off the coast of Africa, according to Accuweather Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. The heart of the 2020 hurricane season, which is just getting underway, is expected to be extremely active, he said.\nThe Atlantic hurricane season already has been a record-breaker. Laura is the earliest L-named storm in the Atlantic Basin, breaking a record held by Luis, which formed Aug. 29, 1995. This season has had 13 named storms, well above normal activity.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["15 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","Louisiana","the Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["late Monday","late Monday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Marco","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 The South's Defenders Monument, a Confederate monument located in Lake Charles, is damaged by Laura. (The Hill)","document":"A Louisiana city voted this month to keep the controversial statue standing. Hurricane Laura had other plans. Story at a glance\nJust two weeks after the city of Lake Charles, La., voted to keep a Confederate monument standing, Hurricane Laura brought it down on Thursday with 150 mph winds as it made landfall along the state’s coast.\nThe Daily Advertiser reports that the statue, The South’s Defenders Monument, was the subject of a contentious debate, which ended in a vote on Aug. 13. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury ultimately voted 10-4 to keep the statue in place, even as a national reckoning — sparked by police killings of Black Americans, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor — pushed other states and municipalities to take down their Confederate monuments and statues. \nWhile The South’s Defenders Monument was expected to stay in front of a Lake Charles courthouse, Hurricane Laura toppled the statue after making landfall as one of the strongest storms to hit Louisiana on record. The hurricane barreled into the state as a Category 4 hurricane, eventually dwindling to a Category 2 storm. \n\nAfter Laura tore through the parish and further inland, images of the destruction were captured online. Pictures show a Confederate soldier holding a flag lying at the base of the monument. \n \nLake Charles and Calcasieu Parish has been filled with controversy and tension after our parish government by a vote of 10-5 refused to take down the Confederate South’s Defenders Monument. Hurricane Laura had other plans and brought it down herself. \n \nThe statue was erected in 1915 to honor fallen Confederate soldiers that hailed from Lake Charles and other parts of the South. Calcasieu Parish officials noted that they had received 945 responses from the community in regards to the decision to remove it.\n“Of the total responses, 878 were against relocating the monument and 67 were for relocating the monument,” Calcasieu Parish Administrator Bryan Beam told reporters.\nThe base of The South’s Defenders Monument remains, with no word of what will happen to the broken top portion of the statue.\nMultiple states across the South have decided to remove Confederate monuments, as renewed Black Lives Matter protests call for an end to systemic and institutional racism in the U.S. \nHurricane Laura has been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, but the National Hurricane Center issued a weather advisory on Thursday for coastal parts of Texas and Louisiana. The center warned that dangerous winds and flooding rainfall are also spreading inland.\n\n\"She knew what happened. She was sad, and she was hurt.\" \n\"We looked for women who had a track record of accomplishment but also a multidimensional aspect to who they are and how they show up in the world.\"","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the state’s coast"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 2 storm","a Category 2 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura","Laura"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["150 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 At least 57 people are killed and others are missing after avalanches in Pakistan–controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours, senior government officials say. In Indian–administered Kashmir, at least 10 are killed. (Reuters)","document":"ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - At least 59 people were killed and many more were missing after avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours, senior government officials said on Tuesday.\nAvalanches in Kashmir kill dozens\n\nIn neighbouring India, at least 10 people were killed after several avalanches hit the northern-part of Indian-administered Kashmir.\nTwo Pakistani officials said many villagers were still stranded by the avalanches in the Neelum Valley area following heavy rain that also triggered landslides. Many people were reported missing and feared dead as rescue efforts got under way, one of the officials said.\nRescuers had managed to extract more than 50 people from the snow and airlifted them out of the area for treatment. Authorities also scrambled to provide relief to local people with another spell of heavy snow expected on Friday.\nAt least 53 houses had been completely destroyed by avalanches in the Pakistani administered region known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), officials said.\n“I have asked the National Disaster Management Authority, the military and all our federal ministers to immediately provide all humanitarian assistance on an emergency footing to the affected people in AJK,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted.\nA senior Indian police official said five soldiers were among the 10 killed near the border between India and Pakistan.\nThe area is one of the world’s most militarily tense frontiers, where the neighbouring armies have confronted each other over disputed territory for decades. Kashmir has been divided between Indian and Pakistan since their independence in 1947.\nIn 2012, an avalanche engulfed a Pakistani army battalion headquarters near the Indian border, killing at least 124 soldiers and 11 civilians.\nMeanwhile in western Pakistan, heavy snowfall in southwestern Balochistan destroyed several houses in the mountainous region, killing 17 people.\nThe disaster management authority declared an emergency in seven districts of the mineral-rich province and sought the army’s help for relief and rescue operations.\nKey highways connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan were blocked due to heavy snow, forcing officials to suspend transportation of essential goods into Afghanistan.\nSevere cold and heavy snow led to the death of 39 people in six provinces of Afghanistan in the past two weeks said Tamim Azimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Natural Disaster Management Authority in Kabul.\n“We are distributing emergency assistance, including cash to families of the victims,” said Azimi, adding that heavy rain and snow have hampered for rescuers.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Pakistan-controlled Kashmir","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","northern-part of Indian-administered Kashmir","Indian","Indian","Indian"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 59 people","dozens","at least 10 people","more than 50 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 Avalanches in Van Province, eastern Turkey, kill at least 38 people, leaving more trapped. (BBC)","document":"Rescue efforts have been put on hold after two avalanches killed at least 39 people in eastern Turkey.\nMost of the dead were hit by an avalanche on Wednesday while trying to recover the victims of another downslide which happened a day earlier.\nFurther rescue work continued but was paused because of concerns about a possible third avalanche.\nThe operation, involving more than 700 personnel, is expected to continue on Thursday after inspections.\nImages from Wednesday showed dozens of people using shovels and sticks to dig people out from under the snow.\nThe recovery is being led by Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (Afad). But conditions hampered the recovery, with one rescue vehicle having to be pulled out from under 5m (16ft) of snow.\nVan province governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said police officers, firefighters and volunteer rescuers were among the dead. There are fears the death toll may rise further.\nA further 75 people have also been injured, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Kocaaso. The head of Afad's Van office, Osman Ucar, was one of those hospitalised after the second avalanche.\n\"I was halfway buried,\" he told Ihlas News Agency. \"I got out by my own means.\"\nOfficials were alerted to the first avalanche by a man who escaped after his snow-clearing vehicle was buried under snow.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["eastern Turkey"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 39","A further 75 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 Twenty-seven people died in Solomon Islands after their boat capsized during the Cyclone Harold. (BBC)","document":"Cyclone Harold is a category five storm - the most severe - and has already killed 27 people in the neighbouring Solomon Islands.\nThe victims were swept off a ferry that defied cyclone warnings.\nVanuatu, home to around 300,000 people, is already in a state of emergency because of the coronavirus - and is awaiting general election results. The storm is particularly affecting Sanma province, home to the country's second biggest city, Luganville.\nAlthough there have been no injuries reported, photos showed roofs blown off buildings and power lines brought down. Some people took shelter in caves.\n\"There is lots of damage in Sanma, they lost lots of buildings,\" Jacqueline de Gaillande, chief executive of Vanuatu Red Cross, told Reuters.\nThe Vanuatu meteorology department recorded winds of 135mph in Sanma but said gusts - which are less sustained - were reaching 145mph (235km/h).\nA major international effort was needed after the last category five storm - Cyclone Pam - hit Vanuatu in 2015.\nAlthough Vanuatu has no confirmed Covid-19 cases, it declared a state of emergency last month, soon after the country voted in a general election.\nThe counting of the votes was live-streamed, as social distancing rules made it difficult to have enough observers in one room.\nUnofficial results have been published, with official results due soon.\nOn Sunday, police in the Solomon Islands said five of the 27 bodies lost in the ferry disaster had been recovered.\nThe MV Taimareho set sail in strong winds with more than 700 people on board, reportedly as part of a virus evacuation programme.\nThe ship was initially thought to have just 60 people on board.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Sanma","Sanma","Sanma","the neighbouring Solomon Islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["27 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category five storm","category five storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harold"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["135mph","145mph (235km/h)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Hurricane and storm surge watches are issued for Texas and Louisiana as the tropical system Harvey strengthens into a tropical depression and is predicted to bring both heavy rainfall and storm surge. (The Weather Channel)","document":"Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before bringing a extremely dangerous combination of rainfall and storm-surge flooding to areas near the Texas and Louisiana coasts into the weekend or early next week.\n\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near the Texas and Louisiana coasts"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["weekend or early next week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 At least 12 people die in the southern Chinese city of Macau as a result of flooding caused by Typhoon Hato. Four more people die in neighbouring Guangdong province. (AP)","document":"HONG KONG (AP) — The most powerful typhoon to hit the southern Chinese region in more than half a century left dead as a sudden deluge swamped the gambling hub of Macau, submerging streets and stranding residents.\nMacau said Thursday that eight people were killed in the former Portuguese colony, including two men found overnight in a submerged parking garage. Another 153 were injured amid extensive flooding, power outages, and the smashing of doors and windows by high winds and driving rain.\n“It’s a calamity, the losses are high and a lot of buildings need repair,” said Macau lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinho, adding that he heard from many people who still had no water or electricity a day after Typhoon Hato tore across the 30-square kilometer (19-square mile) territory.\nCoutinho said the flooding was at its worst in the older parts of the city’s downtown, where narrow lanes date back from Macau’s time as a Portuguese colony for more than four centuries.\n“People were just swimming, they cried for help. There were no boats. The water came so suddenly,” said Coutinho, who slammed the city government for having “reacted so slowly and so badly.”\nCasinos downtown “were either closed or barely operating,” while some resorts in the newer Cotai district were in better shape but operating without air conditioning, Union Gaming Research analyst Grant Govertsen said in a report.\nThe chief executive of Macau’s local government, Chui Sai On, ordered measures to “further the relief efforts,” the Government Information Bureau said in a statement Thursday.\nResidents waded in waist-high murky water and rows of city buses sat half-submerged on city streets, according to photos circulating among residents. Fallen trees blocked roads, causing traffic snarls, and residents lined up with buckets to collect water from public standpipes, television video showed.\nMacau, which is surrounded by water, is vulnerable to high tides and has few options for draining storm runoff. The territory took almost a direct hit from the storm as it churned toward mainland China.\nIts reliance on the mainland for electricity compounded problems. Power cuts in neighboring Guangdong province, which supplies nearly 90 percent of Macau’s electricity, cascaded into outages across the city, forcing casino operators, a hospital, and the city’s mobile phone company, CTM, to switch to backup generators.\nCTM also said two equipment rooms were seriously damaged by flooding, affecting telecommunications service in the area. Power utility CEM said Thursday it was restoring service but about 40,000 customers remained in the dark because of damaged power supply facilities.\nChina’s official Xinhua News Agency said eight more people were killed in Guangdong and one person remained missing. Typhoon Hato roared into the area Wednesday with winds of up to 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour. It weakened into a tropical storm Thursday as it moved farther west inland.\nXinhua said almost 27,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters, while extensive damage to farmland due to the heavy rain and high tides was also reported. Almost 2 million households lost power temporarily, while fishing boats were called back to port and train services and flights suspended, Xinhua said.\n“Compared to other typhoons, Hato moved fast, quickly grew more powerful and caused massive amounts of rainfall,” Wu Zhifang, chief weather forecaster at the Guangdong meteorological bureau, was quoted as saying by Xinhua.\nBy Thursday, a weaker Hato was moving into China’s Guangxi region.\nFlooding and injuries were also reported in Hong Kong, which lies across the water 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Macau, but there were no reports of deaths. Hato’s fierce gales blew out windows on skyscrapers in the Asian financial capital, raining shattered glass onto the eerily quiet streets below. Hong Kong’s weather authorities had raised the hurricane signal to the highest level for the first time in five years.\nThree of the earlier deaths in Macau were men, aged 30, 45 and 62. One fell from the 11th floor of a building, one was hit by a truck and another was killed when the wind blew down a wall. Two others, a man aged 48 and a woman, 44, died from drowning, according to a press statement. No information was given for the remaining victim.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the southern Chinese region"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["eight people","Another 153 were injured","almost 27,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hato","Hato","Hato","Hato","Hato"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Oil prices rise in anticipation of Harvey's impact on production in the Gulf of Mexico. (Reuters)","document":"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose nearly 1 percent on Friday as the dollar fell and the U.S. Gulf Coast braced for Hurricane Harvey, on track to become the biggest storm to hit the United States mainland in more than a decade.\nThe dollar .DXY, in which oil is priced, fell after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen made no reference to U.S. monetary policy in her speech at the annual central bank research conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.\nHarvey strengthened into a powerful Category 3 storm, last located about 75 miles (120 km) east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico and packing top sustained winds of 120 miles per hour (195 kph), the National Hurricane Center said.\nRefineries, terminals, onshore and offshore production operations and other infrastructure have shut or begun storm preparations with Harvey set to make landfall on the Texas coast on Friday night or early on Saturday.\nThe NHC, which has warned that catastrophic flooding was expected across portions of southern and southeastern Texas, expects Harvey to move slowly and linger over Texas for days.\nSome tracking models show the storm could circle back out over Gulf waters after making landfall, and then take aim at Houston midweek, giving the nation’s four most populous city a double dose of rain and wind.\nU.S. crude futures CLc1 settled up 44 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $47.87 a barrel but down 1.3 percent on the week.\nBrent crude LCOc1 ended 37 cents, or 0.7 percent, higher at $52.41 and down 0.6 percent on the week.\nU.S. gasoline futures RBc1 pared gains and ended a shade firmer after hitting their strongest levels in four months and the highest in three years for this time of year as traders booked profits and worries over supply shortages have already been priced in, market participants said.\nGasoline crack spreads RBc1-CLc1, an indicator of refining profits, plunged 6 percent after it had surged about 12 percent on Thursday and hit the highest level seasonally in five years earlier on Friday. Gulf Coast conventional cash gasoline prices RU-DIFF-USG for shipment on the Colonial Pipeline were seen hitting a near three-year high. “The initial loss of refining capacity would tighten the availability of petroleum products, consistent with the rally in product prices, cracks, timespreads and differentials observed this week and historically,” Goldman Sachs said in a note.\n“On the demand side, gasoline typically suffers most during and after a hurricane with distillate demand supported instead by rebuilding activity.”\nThe U.S. Department of Energy said it was ready to release crude oil from the nation’s emergency stockpile if needed due to the impacts of Harvey.\nEnergy companies have pulled workers from offshore oil platforms and halted onshore drilling in south Texas.\nA little less than 10 percent of offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico crude output capacity and nearly 15 percent of natural gas production had been halted by midday on Thursday, government data showed.\nThree refineries in Corpus Christi and one farther inland at Three Rivers were shutting down ahead of the storm. Two others reduced output as ports were closed.\nTexas is home to 5.6 million barrels per day of refining capacity, and Louisiana has 3.3 million barrels.\nBeyond the storm’s potential impact on the oil industry, crude remains in ample supply globally despite efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to hold back production to prop up prices.\nA joint OPEC and non-OPEC monitoring committee said an extension to the supply pact beyond March was possible, though not yet decided.\nPart of the reason for the crude glut has been a 13 percent jump in U.S. output since mid-2016 to 9.53 million bpd, close to the record 9.61 million bpd hit in June 2015.C-OUT-T-EIA\nU.S. energy firms cut oil rigs for a second week in a row according to Friday data from Baker Hughes. Drillers cut four oil rigs in the week to Aug. 25, bringing the total count down to 759.\nHedge funds and money managers, meanwhile, trimmed their bullish bets on U.S. crude futures and options positions for the third straight week in the week to Aug. 22, data showed. [CFTC/]\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","across portions of southern and southeastern Texas","the U.S. Gulf Coast","Gulf Coast","the United States mainland"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a powerful Category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harvey","Harvey","Harvey","Harvey","Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["120 miles per hour (195 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Harvey is now a tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kmh). It made landfall on Texas's eastern coast, the eye striking the town of Rockport, as a Category 4 hurricane. It's the strongest storm to hit the state since 1961. Harvey is expected to maintain tropical storm strength, with heavy rains and flooding, for at least four days. (National Hurricane Center) (The New York Times) (BBC) (Houston Chronicle)","document":"• Hurricane Harvey, powered by the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters, made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane at about 9:45 p.m. Friday, earlier than expected. It came ashore just northeast of Corpus Christi, Tex., packing 130 m.p.h. winds.\n• By midnight, the authorities had reported two deaths that appeared to be related to the storm, one in Houston and one in Rockport, Tex. But search and rescue operations were just getting underway.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northeast of Corpus Christi, Tex","Tex"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["two deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["about 9:45 p.m. Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["130 m.p.h"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Harvey is now a tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kmh). It made landfall on Texas's eastern coast, the eye striking the town of Rockport, as a Category 4 hurricane. It's the strongest storm to hit the state since 1961. Harvey is expected to maintain tropical storm strength, with heavy rains and flooding, for at least four days. (National Hurricane Center) (The New York Times) (BBC) (Houston Chronicle)","document":"Texas will be hit by \"catastrophic and life-threatening flooding\", the US National Hurricane Center has warned, as Tropical Storm Harvey moves inland.\nHarvey battered the coast as a category four hurricane - the biggest to strike the US mainland in 13 years. It has now been downgraded.\nSome residents are feared to be trapped in collapsed buildings and there have been widespread power outages.\nTorrential rains are expected for days. One person has died in a house fire.\nThe victim, in the city of Rockport, was found after the storm moved inland, officials said.\nUp to 40in (101cm) of rain could fall in some areas of the middle and upper Texas coast, the hurricane center (NHC) warned.\nSeveral places are already reported to have received well over 10in.\nCoastal areas will also be flooded by storm surges during high tide, the NHC said.\n\nEarlier, Harvey made a double landfall: north-east of the city of Corpus Christi initially late on Friday local time, then just north of Rockport a few hours later.\nWhen the storm struck close to Corpus Christi it had winds of up to 130mph (215km/h), but by 18:00 GMT its sustained winds had dropped to 70mph - therefore becoming a tropical storm.\nIt was moving at an extremely low speed - 2mph.\nTexas Governor Greg Abbott told a news conference that there had been 20in of rain in Corpus Christi and 16in in Houston - but another 20-30in was expected on top of that. Utility companies say nearly 300,000 customers are without electricity.\nThe BBC's James Cook was in Corpus Christi when the hurricane hit. Although the wind was screeching all night, he says, in the morning there was no sign of any serious structural damage there.\nPresident Donald Trump has freed up federal aid for the worst-affected areas and Governor Abbott praised the administration for \"stepping up\".\nIn a teleconference with cabinet members Mr Trump \"emphasised his expectations that all departments and agencies stay fully engaged and positioned to support his number one priority of saving lives\", the White House said.\nAt least 18 people have been rescued from vessels in distress by Coast Guard helicopters, the Associated Press reports. ABC News has tweeted a video of four people being rescued off the coast of Port Aransas.\nRockport, normally home to about 10,000 people, appears to have been the hardest hit town.\nThe roof of a housing centre for elderly people there collapsed, trapping people, 10 of whom were later taken to a county jail for treatment, according to local TV station KIII.\nEmergency services said a school, a hotel and other buildings had also suffered structural damage.\nBefore the storm arrived, Mayor Patrick Rios had a stark warning for anyone who refused to leave town: \"We're suggesting if people are going to stay here, mark their arm with a Sharpie pen with their name and Social Security number.\"\nWhen the storm struck near Rockport, wind speeds were 125mph.\nAuthorities have not been able to inspect the full extent of the damage.\nTravis Pettis, a reporter with the Caller Times newspaper in Corpus Christi, told the BBC that strong winds when the storm arrived made the rain feel like \"needles\".\n\"It was pretty crazy out there. The winds, I don't know what [speed] they topped at but you could barely even walk,\" he said.\nTrees came down in the city and power supplies were cut, but thousands of residents had heeded warnings and boarded up their homes before fleeing.\nPort Aransas, a city on Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi, is also reported to have extensive damage. Local media reports say a search and rescue operation is under way at a trailer park.\nMr Abbott said it was obvious Texas was confronting a \"very major disaster\" and more than 1,800 military personnel will help with the clean-up.\nHarvey is the first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is forecast to meander across south-east Texas until Wednesday.\nOil-rich Houston, the fourth biggest city in the US, could face up to 20in of rain over the coming days.\nResidents there should \"not be complacent\" and should stay at home and \"ride out the storm\", Francisco Sanchez, a spokesman for Harris County's emergency management office, told the BBC.\n\"The most severe weather is yet to come\" in the Houston area, he said.\nThe little town of Rockport has suffered severe damage from #HurricaneHarvey. pic.twitter.com/fBZFMABaKZ\nAbout 4,500 inmates from prisons south of Houston are being evacuated to other prisons in east Texas because the Brazos River nearby is rising significantly, officials say.\nMr Trump is likely to visit Texas early next week, the White House said.\nThe storm is the strongest to hit the US since Charley in August 2004 and the most powerful to hit Texas since Hurricane Carla in 1961, which killed 34 people, according to the Houston Chronicle.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the US National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Up to 40in (101cm)","10in"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["north-east of the city of Corpus Christi","city","north","Corpus Christi","Corpus Christi","Corpus Christi","Corpus Christi","city","city","Corpus Christi","east Texas","city","east Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a category four hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Harvey","Harvey","Harvey","Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 130mph (215km/h)","70mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2017 Hurricane Irma, now a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour), is expected to resume strengthening this weekend increasing the danger when it nears the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean next Thursday. (Weather Channel) (CNN) (National Hurricane Center)","document":" September 2, 2017 (CNN)While much attention remains on Texas and the destruction left by Hurricane Harvey and its historic rainfall, powerful Hurricane Irma is rapidly intensifying in the open Atlantic and poses a major threat to the Caribbean and potentially to the United States next week.\nGood bet at a casino is an intense Hurricane Irma at Cat 4 or 5. But it's still red or black on U.S. impacts. Hope it's a \"fish storm\" ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Texas","the Caribbean","the United States"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["at Cat 4 or 5"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Irma","Irma","Harvey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2017 At least eight people are killed and 137 injured after a strong storm hits western and central Romania. (Washington Post) (Reuters)","document":"BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A strong storm killed eight people and injured at least 67 in western Romania on Sunday as winds of up to 100 kph (over 60 mph) also brought destruction to parts of Serbia and Croatia, officials said.\nRoad and rail traffic in parts of Romania was halted by fallen trees. Several hospitals, schools and apartment buildings had roofs damaged and dozens of towns and villages were left without electricity.\nSome of the casualties were people strolling outside or coming out of supermarkets, the emergency services said. A group of tourists was stranded for an hour in a chairlift in the northern county of Maramures.\nIn Serbia, a man went missing on his boat on the Danube river near Belgrade and six people, including a five-year-old child, were injured by falling trees. Arcing from power lines, caused by the high winds, triggered several wildfires.\nIn Croatia, flooding brought traffic to a standstill in several coastal towns.\n“We can’t fight the weather,” Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose told Antena3 TV. “The entire medical sector is focused on the injured.”\nHe said the government would help support the communities hit by the storm.\nNicolae Robu, mayor of the Romanian city of Timisoara spoke to local TV station Digi24 as he was surveying the scene outside.\n“There are dozens of trees on the ground, roads blocked, we are out of electricity and water. There are roofs torn off houses, apartment buildings. There are overturned trucks. I’ve never seen anything like this.”\nRomania’s national weather agency has issued warnings of strong winds and rainstorms for western areas.\nEmergency responders have urged people to take shelter indoors, unplug household appliances and park in areas not close to trees or power lines.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Serbia and Croatia","Serbia","Croatia","western Romania"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["eight people","at least 67"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 100 kph (over 60 mph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2017 Tens of thousands of people in northern Puerto Rico are ordered to evacuate after floodwaters from Hurricane Maria damage the Guajataca Dam. (The Washington Post)","document":"SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Tens of thousands of residents in northwestern Puerto Rico were ordered to evacuate Friday amid fears that a dam holding back a large inland lake was in imminent danger of failing because of damage from Hurricane Maria’s floodwaters.\nOfficials worried that as many as 70,000 people could be in the path of a massive amount of rushing water in the event the Guajataca Dam releases into the Guajataca River, which flows north through low-lying coastal communities and empties into the ocean.\nThe dam suffered a “fissure,” Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said in a news conference Friday afternoon. Residents in the municipalities of Quebradillas, Isabela and part of San Sebastian could be affected if the dam collapses, he said, and it could be a catastrophic event.\n“To those citizens … who are listening: Please evacuate,” Rosselló said. Buses were sent to ferry residents out of harm’s way. “We want your life to be protected … Please, if you’re listening, the time to evacuate is now.”\nAbner Gomez, executive director of Puerto Rico’s emergency management agency, said in an interview late Friday night that the dam’s gates suffered mechanical damage during the storm, making it impossible for them to open and let out normal water currents. Officials worry that could cause the dam to spill over.\nGomez said that under current conditions, with water rising after the hurricane, “there is no way to fix it” right now. Additional water flowing into the lake could create sudden dangers, so emergency evacuation was the only option, he said. If the dam tops over or fails structurally, he said, “thousands of people could die.”\nThe urgent situation Friday came more than 48 hours after Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico’s southeastern coast as the most powerful storm to strike the island in more than 80 years. It was a reminder that Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico is far from over; officials still have little sense of the scope of the damage the island sustained as a communications and power blackout continued to affect nearly everyone in the U.S. territory.\nGomez characterized Maria as “one of the greatest natural disasters” in recent U.S. history, comparing it to Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. The destruction in some parts of the island “looked more like a tornado than a hurricane,” he said. Rescue and recovery could take months, he said, and a “return to normalcy” could take at least a year.\nAuthorities on Friday reported six deaths across the island. Three of the fatalities occurred in the municipality of Utuado as a result of mud slides, Puerto Rico’s public safety department said in a statement. Two others died in flooding in Toa Baja, and one other person died in Bayamón when a panel struck him in the head. More deaths are likely to be reported in coming days as search and rescue crews reach previously inaccessible areas, officials said.\n“We are aware of other reports of fatalities that have transpired by unofficial means but we cannot confirm them,” said Héctor M. Pesquera, secretary of the public safety department.\nThough damage assessments have been nearly impossible, early reports reveal an island ravaged by Maria’s high winds and torrential rains, with roofs peeled open like tin cans, neighborhoods waterlogged, and trees that were lush just days ago now completely stripped bare of leaves. The hurricane plowed through the entire 100-mile island, with the eye tracking diagonally from the southeast to the northwest.\n“Every vulnerable house here made out of wood was completely or partially destroyed during the path of the eye of the hurricane,” Rossello said of an island where many homes are constructed of wood foundations and zinc roofs. “Puerto Rico has endured an horrific ordeal.”\nThe lack of communications has isolated rural areas of the island. Just 15 percent of the island’s communication towers are working, and some of the island’s transmission towers have collapsed. Up to 85 percent of its fiber cables are damaged.\nPower remains completely out on the island, and just 25 percent of it has water service.\nShock has given way to frayed nerves as officials warned that it could be months before power is restored to some areas, and there is no indication of when communications infrastructure will be fixed. In the capital, streets were choked with traffic as people tried to find loved ones and spent hours waiting in line for gas.\nThe De La Cruz family could not find fuel on Thursday. On Friday morning they waited in line for six hours at one of the open stations here, and there were still 20 cars in front of them. Gabriel De La Cruz and his wife, Luisa, took turns fanning their 1-year-old son, Ismael, who sat sweating in the hot car, wearing only a diaper.\n“This is all we have,” De La Cruz, a 30-year-old restaurant cook, said of the car. They lost their home and all their belongings in the storm.\nResidents searching for loved ones in remote areas met downed trees, power lines and other debris. News was particularly scarce from the southern and central parts of the island, as well the tiny island of Vieques to the east.\n“Even worse than not having power or water, which we’ve unfortunately become accustomed to, a communications blackout was the real anxiety-inducing feature … we haven’t really dealt with it before,” said Miguel A. Soto-Class, president of the Center for a New Economy, a San Juan-based think tank. “Are people dead and suffering or are people like we are, bruised but fine? The not knowing part is just terrible.”\nSoto-Class stood on the roof of his home, the only place where he could get a cellphone signal, as Coast Guard helicopters buzzed overhead. He has not been able to get in touch with family on the island’s west coast and considered driving to find them. He abandoned the plan after realizing he does not know the condition of the roads.\nPuerto Rico, with 3.5 million U.S. citizens, also is facing a crisis because of its geography: It is an island dependent on air and sea for supplies and volunteers. The immediate response that occurred after Hurricane Harvey in Houston, where volunteers from Louisiana headed in during the storm, or during Hurricane Irma in Florida, where utility trucks were pre-positioned to turn on power, is impossible here.\n“It’s not like you can just drive a tractor-trailer,” said Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Puerto Rican-born president of the New York City Council. “That adds a whole other layer of logistical challenge to it.”\nNew York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) flew here Friday, bringing 34,000 bottles of water and nearly 10,000 Meals Ready to Eat.\nHurricane Maria passed, but for two women in Puerto Rico, the terror was only just beginning\nPhotos taken from a helicopter surveying the damage in the southeast part of the island, encompassing an area that on a good day would be a two-hour drive from the capital of San Juan, show entire neighborhoods blanketed in murky water. Tops of buildings were sliced open, their rooms visible like dollhouses.\nA building on a coastal luxury resort, once with enviable ocean views, is now partially floating over open air as rocks and mud crumbled under one corner and fell into the sea. Windmills broke and shattered, and solar panels shone like mirrors.\nThe enormity of what they had just been through — and what was yet to come — appeared to be sinking in for many people, including those who considered themselves hurricane-hardened.\n“This storm was something,” said Geraldo Ramirez, 36, a resident of San Juan’s La Perla neighborhood. “I was here for Hurricane Georges back in ’98, and that was hard to believe, how badly it affected the island. But this, Maria, was something altogether different.”\nRamirez lives in a small three-story purple house near the waterfront on Calle San Miguel with his sister, her husband and their two children. His house, a sturdy cinder-block structure, was built 17 years ago and did not suffer much structural damage. But rain and ocean water managed to find its way into every room.\nAsked when the power would likely return to his small neighborhood, he answered, without hesitating, “Three or four months, at least. Maybe six.”\n“But it’s okay, we will make do,” he said. “We are used to it and it’s always the same. Georges, Hugo, we lose power and we lose water. But we know how to survive.”\n‘I just need my mother’: The frantic quest to contact loved ones in Puerto Rico\nLeaning against the wall of his carport in his light blue one-story home in coastal Loiza, Jorge Diaz, 72, had only one thing on his mind: his brothers and his sister, and how one day soon he would be with them in Orlando.\n“There’s only one thing I’m waiting for,” he said. “The airport to open.”\n“I just heard on the radio, eight months without electricity and water?” Diaz said. “That’s unreasonable. You can’t live like this … It’s a dark time now. A dark time for Puerto Rico.”\nOne block down and across the street, Lizmarie Bultron, 39, trudged through calf-high water to exit her home, about a block away from the beach.\n“Everything I had is gone. I lost my whole house, the only thing left is the floor,” Bultron said. She looked at her feet, still ankle-deep in water. “And this, this water won’t be gone for at least a month. All we can do is wait. Wait for help to come. That’s the only choice. But no one has come yet. Not FEMA, not anyone.”\nCassady reported from Loiza, Puerto Rico; Somashekhar and Zezima reported from Washington. Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo in San Juan and Jesse Mesner-Hage in Washington contributed to this report.\nThe most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Tens of thousands","thousands","as many as 70,000 people","six deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria","Maria’s"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2017 Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló's office reports that the number of deaths related to Hurricane Maria has risen to 34. (Reuters)","document":"(Reuters) - The death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria has more than doubled to 34, a spokesman for Governor Ricardo Rosello said on Tuesday.\nThe worst hurricane to hit the U.S. territory in more than 90 years directly killed 19 people, said Pedro Cerame, the governor’s director of communications in Washington.\nJust hours earlier when President Donald Trump visited the island to survey the damage the official death toll remained as it has for days at 16 dead.\n; ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Puerto Rico"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["34","killed 19 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Maria"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2017 Storm Brian, the third windstorm of the season, causes severe flash flooding in Ireland and coastal flooding in parts of England and Wales, although disruption is not as severe as initially expected. (BBC)","document":"Storm Brian has eased after the UK saw gale-force winds and high seas, although disruption was not as bad as had been feared. Gusts of 78mph were recorded in Capel Curig and Aberdaron, north Wales, with 84mph recorded on the Isle of Wight.\nThe Environment Agency said three properties had been flooded in the upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire.\nThere are Red and amber flood warnings in much of northern England and people are urged to \"take immediate action\".\nThere are also flood warnings in place in the South West and Wales, while the south of England and London were under yellow wind warnings.\nThe storm comes after three people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people - mostly in the Irish Republic - were left without power after the remnants of Storm Ophelia battered the British Isles after weakening from its earlier hurricane force.\nStrong winds and high seas first reached the western coast of Ireland overnight on Friday.\nGusts hit 80mph (130km/h) in the country, said Irish weather agency Met Éireann, and there was flash flooding in several Irish cities, including Limerick.\nA race meeting at Fairyhouse was cancelled and the Cliffs of Moher tourist attraction in County Clare was closed.\nIn Wales, trains and ferries were cancelled and seafront roads closed as a result of the weather. Natural Resources Wales said the coastline was likely to be \"extremely dangerous this weekend\".\nA lifeboat was sent to help a person in difficulty at Skrinkle, while Porthcawl RNLI warned people to watch the storm waves on its live feed, after people were spotted taking photographs from the harbour wall.\nCeredigion council also warned people to \"keep away\" from seafronts and \"be careful\" on low-lying land where coastal flooding was possible.\nThe Environment Agency has issued 30 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - in the north-west and south-west of England.\nFlood barriers have been put in place in areas including Fowey in Cornwall, but Frank Newell, from the Environment Agency, said the surge had been lower than forecast. \"In terms of impact, we've had spray overtopping quaysides, but we don't have at the moment any reported property flooding,\" he said. In Wales and southern England, fallen trees and other debris on railway tracks caused cancellations and disruption on some lines. The Environment Agency's national flood duty manager, Ben Lukey, warned people against posing for photos during the hazardous conditions.\nHe said: \"We urge people to stay safe along the coast and warn against putting yourself in unnecessary danger by taking 'storm selfies' or driving through flood water - just 30cm (11in) is enough to move your car.\"\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Capel Curig and Aberdaron, north Wales","Isle of Wight"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["three people","hundreds of thousands of people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Brian","Ophelia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["78mph","84mph","80mph"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2017 Tropical storm warnings are issued for western Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas, and tropical storm warnings are announced for coastal South Florida in the U.S., as a strengthening Tropical Storm Philippe treks north-northeast with maximum sustained winds at 35 mph (55 km/h). (The Weather Channel) (National Hurricane Center)","document":"\nTropical Depression Eighteen has developed in the northwestern Caribbean, and it is expected to contribute to heavy rain in South Florida this weekend and provide an injection of moisture to an East Coast storm system early next week.\nData from an Air Force Reserve Reconnaissance aircraft found that this system had formed into a tropical depression Saturday morning. \nTropical storm warnings have been issued for the Cuban provinces of Isla de la Juventud, La Habana, Ciudad de la Habana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Villa Clara and for the northwestern Bahamas. Tropical storm conditions are expected within these areas within the next on Saturday. \nA tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of southeastern Florida, the Upper Florida Keys and the central Bahamas. The strongest winds are expected to remain to the east of its center, but a slight deviation in its track or an increase in the size of the wind field could bring tropical-storm force winds to the areas in the watch. \nConditions are conducive for additional development, and there is a chance that this tropical depression may become a tropical storm later this weekend. If this system becomes a tropical storm, it will attain the name \"Philippe.\" \nOcean temperatures continue to run 1 to 3 degrees above average, or in the mid-80s, across the majority of the Caribbean Sea, which is plenty supportive for tropical growth and development.\nLand interaction and increasing wind shear, however, should hinder any quick intensification. Slow intensification is expected.\n\nTropical Depression Eighteen is expected to track northeastward and cross western and central Cuba on Saturday afternoon, and move through the northwestern Bahamas Sunday morning.\nIn the near-term, will bring the threat of heavy rain over the Cayman Islands and portions of Cuba Saturday. The downpours could eventually lead to flooding and mudslides.\nFour to eight inches of rainfall is likely in the Cayman Islands, western and central Cuba and the northern Bahamas, with isolated totals as high as 10 inches through Sunday. \nThe main impact from this system in southern Florida at this time appears to be heavy rainfall Saturday into early Sunday. Some gusty winds are also possible, particularly in the coastal waters. \nUp to four inches of rain is possible in southern Florida, with isolated totals up to six inches. Localized flash flooding is possible, especially in urban areas such as Miami and West Palm Beach.\nThis has prompted the National Weather Service to issued flood watches for much of southeastern Florida into early Sunday morning. \nThere is also the risk of a few tornadoes in far South Florida and the Florida Keys midday Saturday into the evening.\nThe moisture from Tropical Depression Eighteen will first get drawn north and then northeastward by a southward dip in the jet stream that will sweep through the central and eastern states late this week into the weekend.\nBy Sunday, the area of enhanced moisture associated with Tropical Depression Eighteen will be in the western Atlantic Ocean, just off the southeast U.S. coastline.\nThis moisture will then get pulled into a storm system advancing through the eastern states, providing additional fuel for heavy rain in parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions Sunday into Monday. The heavy rain may cause some flooding problems in the Northeast region.\nFor more on this story, click the link below.\n(MORE: Powerful Coastal Storm Could Bring Damaging Winds, Flooding Rainfall to the Northeast Starting This Weekend)\nYou'll note in the chart below that there is a strong clustering of dots in the southwestern and northwestern Caribbean Sea. This is a hotbed of tropical origins that we'll be watching through the end of October and into November.\nAs the season begins to wind down, the warmest waters – 80 degrees and above – in the Atlantic Basin will recede to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and far western Atlantic while wind shear and dry air generally increase across the basin. \nNovember sees one more tropical storm or hurricane, on average, according to the National Hurricane Center. More than 7 percent of the season's activity is yet to come in terms of average Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), a metric used to measure wind energy produced by tropical cyclones. \nThese cyclones typically move northeastward from the Caribbean or western Atlantic ahead of sweeping cold fronts from North America. These systems can threaten Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas and Bermuda, but can occasionally threaten areas closer to the U.S. East Coast, especially in October and early November. \nWe recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. Take control of your data.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["Four to eight inches","10 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the Cuban provinces of Isla de la Juventud, La Habana, Ciudad de la Habana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Villa Clara and for the northwestern Bahamas","northwestern Bahamas","portions of southeastern Florida, the Upper Florida Keys and the central Bahamas","portions","southeastern Florida"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday","Saturday","Saturday","Saturday","early next week"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Eighteen","Eighteen","Eighteen","Eighteen"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2017 Typhoon Damrey kills at least 19 people in Vietnam, a week before the country is set to host APEC Vietnam 2017. (ABC Australia)","document":"Typhoon Damrey has killed at least 27 people after pummelling central and southern Vietnam, just days before Donald Trump heads to the country for the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.\nDamrey reached land at 4am (local time) with winds gusting at up to 90 kilometres per hour that damaged more than 40,000 homes, knocked down hundreds of electricity poles and uprooted trees.\nThe communist state's search and rescue committee said 22 people are missing after the storm, while 626 houses had been collapsed entirely. More than 33,000 people had been evacuated.\nThe storm made landfall near the city of Nha Trang, which is about 500 kilometres south of the coastal city of Danang, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is taking place next week.\nDanang itself also suffered. A gateway proclaiming \"Welcome to Danang\" collapsed in the storm, state media said.\nAuthorities in the area called on citizens to volunteer to help clean up.\nThe city will host US President Donald Trump from November 10 as well as China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and counterparts from other APEC members.\nNha Trang, a coastal resort city, faced the brunt of Damrey's impact, with fierce rain and extreme winds knocking over scooters and flooding roads.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["central and southern Vietnam"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least 27 people","22 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["4am (local time)"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Damrey","Damrey","Damrey"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 90 kilometres per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"A rare Mediterranean storm has caused deadly flooding in Greece, and it’s going to continue through at least Saturday","document":"A rare Mediterranean storm has caused deadly flooding in Greece, and it’s going to continue through at least Saturday. The large area of low pressure was centered over Sicily on Wednesday, but Greece was bearing the brunt of the storm.\nAt least 37 people have been taken to the hospital, according to the BBC, and 15 people are dead.\n“The industrial towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, west of the capital Athens, were the most affected,” the BBC reported on Thursday. “Many of the dead were elderly people whose bodies were found inside their homes, reports say.”\nThe storm, named Numa in Europe, has been moving slowly, which has exacerbated the rain and flooding. Another 8 to 16 inches of rain is possible in Greece through Saturday.\nWeather Underground’s Bob Henson explains the origin of this storm, and its potential to evolve into something even more uncommon:\nThe last time a medicane formed was around this time last year, and it was named Trixie. The storm maxed out with 50 mph sustained winds.\nThe most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["8 to 16 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Greece","Greece","Greece","Sicily"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 37 people","15 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2020 Former Hurricane Eta, now a tropical depression, leaves more than 50 people dead in Guatemala after causing flooding and landslides. It is expected to regain strength and head to Cuba and the coast of Florida this weekend. (BBC) (Orlando Sentinel)","document":" Tropical Storm Iota is expected to become a major Category 3 hurricane and bring dangerous storm surge, strong winds and heavy rainfall to Central America over the weekend and early next week, the NHC said.\n Iota formed in the Caribbean on Friday afternoon, becoming the 30th storm of a record-breaking hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center. It grew from a tropical depression earlier Friday.\n As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Iota was located 340 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with 40 mph winds. It was moving west-southwestward at a slow 5 mph.\n “On the forecast track, Iota will move across the central Caribbean Sea during the next day or so, and approach the coasts of Nicaragua and northeastern Honduras on Monday,” forecasters said.\n Iota poses no threat to Florida.\n Iota is expected to produce 8 to 16 inches of rain, with isolated 20 inch totals, across portions of Honduras and northern Nicaragua, the NHC said.\n As the storm reaches Central America, it’s expected to become a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds. It would be the 13th hurricane of the season.\n “Steady to rapid strengthening is likely over the weekend, and Iota is forecast to be a major hurricane when it approaches Central America,” forecasters said.\n The earlier tropical depression tied 2005′s 31 tropical systems. The previous record for named storms was 29, also set in 2005, which was surpassed earlier this week with the formation of Tropical Storm Theta.\n Meanwhile, the NHC stopped tracking the former Tropical Storm Eta, which wreaked havoc in south and west Florida this week.\n Forecasters predict Eta to accelerate in speed and sprint northeast away from the U.S.\n Farther east, Tropical Storm Theta is continuing its eastbound journey and is 540 miles southeast of the Azores. The storm has weakened to 40 mph maximum sustained winds and is moving at 8 mph with outward tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 90 miles away from its center.\n The NHC expects Theta to slow in forward speed and turn north over the weekend. The storm is expected to begin losing strength and become a remnant low by late Saturday.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["8 to 16 inches","20 inch"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Central America","Central America","Central America"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west","west"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over the weekend and early next week","weekend","weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":["Friday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 3 hurricane","Category 3 hurricane","Category 3","a major Category 3 hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["5 mph","8 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Iota","Iota","Iota","Iota","Iota","Iota","Iota"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["40 mph","40 mph","40 mph winds","120 mph winds"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2020 Hurricane Eta makes landfall as a tropical storm near Cedar Key, Florida. (ABC News)","document":"In Charlotte, flooding led to evacuations at a charter school. Relentless rainfall is pummeling North Carolina, sparking deadly flash flooding.\nFlooding in Alexander County has four people dead and two others -- one adult and one child -- missing, officials said.\nRainfall totals have reached 8.6 inches in Rocky Mount and 7.66 inches in Wilson.\nIn Charlotte, where over 4.5 inches of rain fell in less than six hours, flooding led to evacuations at a charter school. At least 143 people have been rescued, fire crews said.\nFlash flood warnings remain in effect across a large portion of North Carolina with flash flood watches in effect along the mid-Atlantic coast, from South Carolina to Virginia.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["8.6 inches","7.66 inches","4.5 inches"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina","North Carolina"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["four people","two others","At least 143 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2020 Typhoon Vamco makes landfall in Luzon in the Philippines and causes flooding in Metro Manila killing at least seven people. In Marikina alone, around 40,000 homes were fully or partially submerged. (Reuters)","document":"MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered government agencies to hasten relief efforts after a powerful typhoon killed at least seven people and unleashed some of the worst flooding in years in the capital Manila.\nTyphoon Vamco lashes the Philippines\n\nDuterte cut short his attendance of a virtual meeting of Southeast Asian leaders to inspect the damage from Typhoon Vamco, moments after a speech during which he urged his counterparts to urgently combat the effects of climate change.\nThe typhoon, the eighth to hit the Philippines in the past two months and 21st of the year, forced residents to scramble onto rooftops to await rescue after tens of thousands of homes were submerged.\nThose killed across the main island of Luzon, home to half of the country’s 108 million population, included people who drowned, an elderly man hit by a tree and three workers crushed when a warehouse collapsed.\nIt struck areas still reeling from Goni, the most powerful typhoon in the world this year, which killed 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes earlier this month.\n“Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind,” Duterte said in a national address, pledging shelter, relief goods, financial aid and counselling.\nNearly 200,000 people were evacuated before Vamco arrived late on Wednesday packing winds of 155 kilometres (96 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph). It has since weakened and exited the mainland.\nDuterte told Southeast Asian leaders the devastation of recent weeks was “a stark reminder of the urgency of collective action to combat the effects of climate change”.\n\nNearly three million households in and around Manila were without power as people waded through waist-high floods, carrying valuables and pets.\nCoastguard swam through brown floodwater as high as electricity poles in some areas, while rescue workers used rubber boats and makeshift floats to move children and the elderly to safety.\nIn some suburbs east of Manila, residents took refuge atop flooded homes.\n“The flood reached the entire second floor of our house. For more than eight hours, we stayed at our neighbour’s house,” call center worker Albert Rano, 35, told Reuters.\n“Aside from some clothes and laptops, nothing is left.”\nThe typhoons have battered the Philippines as it faces an uphill struggle to breathe life into its withering economy while keeping coronavirus infections under control.\nRoughly 40,000 homes had either been fully or partially submerged in the Marikina area, a situation its mayor, Marcelino Teodoro, said was “overwhelming” and the worst since a typhoon flooded large swathes of the capital in 2009.\n“The local government cannot handle this,” Teodoro told DZMM radio, requesting motorised boats and airlifts.\nResidents posted images on social media of flooded homes and the disaster agency said parts of 36 cities and towns were inundated.\nFlights and mass transit in Manila were suspended and port operations stopped. Government work was halted and financial markets shut.\nVamco was headed towards Vietnam, where devastating floods and mudslides over the past month have killed at least 160 people in central areas.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the capital Manila"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least seven people","Nearly 200,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Vamco","Vamco","Vamco","Vamco"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2020 The death toll from the landfall of Typhoon Vamco in the Philippines rises to 53, according to the national police, with at least 22 still missing. The provinces of Cagayan and Isabela in northern Luzon are the most affected, mainly caused by floodwaters from the Magat Dam. (Xinhua)","document":"Residents walk in knee-deep mud as they retrieve their belongings from damaged homes after the flood brought by Typhoon Vamco in Rizal Province, the Philippines, on Nov. 14, 2020. The death toll from Typhoon Vamco that battered the Philippines this week has climbed to 53, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.Typhoon Vamco lashed a big part of Luzon, home to approximately half of the country's 110 million population and 70 percent of economic activity. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)\nMANILA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Typhoon Vamco that battered the Philippines this week has climbed to 53, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.\nThe PNP said 22 people were still missing in the flash floods and landslides triggered by the typhoon which tore through the main island of Luzon from Wednesday to Thursday.\nThe toll is likely to rise as rescuers continue to search for the missing.\nThe focus now is on rescuing the victims in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela in the northern Philippines. Using rubber boats, rescuers scramble to pluck residents stranded on rooftops of submerged houses in Cagayan and Isabela.\nPhilippine Coast Guard footage showed a big swath of the provinces submerged in brown floodwaters triggered by the spilling water from Magat Dam, a large rock-fill dam on the Magat River in the main island of Luzon.\nCagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said in an interview with radio DZBB on Saturday that one rescuer was electrocuted on Friday night.\nMamba, who described the flooding as the worst in memory, appealed for helicopters, adding that some of the flooded areas cannot be accessed by land.\nEvacuation centers are full, he said, adding some victims were moving in with neighbors amid COVID-19 concerns.\nTyphoon Vamco lashed a big part of Luzon, home to approximately half of the country's 110 million population and 70 percent of economic activity.\nNon-stop torrential rains have been dumped by Vamco and the cyclones before it forced operators of dams in Luzon to open the floodgates to release water, as the reservoir's levels breached the spilling marks. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Rizal Province, the Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","a big part of Luzon","Luzon","Luzon","big part","Luzon","Luzon"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Residents","residents","53","22 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Nov. 14, 2020","Nov","14"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Vamco","Vamco","Vamco","Vamco","Vamco","Vamco"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2020 Tropical Storm Krovanh (Vicky) makes landfall in the Philippines, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people and forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 others. (AFP via New Straits Times)","document":"MANILA: Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the northeastern Philippines as heavy rain across the country left at least eight people dead, authorities said on Sunday.\nThe storm – which has inundated villages and destroyed scores of houses in recent days – is the latest to batter the disaster-prone archipelago. Floodwaters reached waist-deep in 14 towns in the Cagayan Valley in the northeast of the main island of Luzon – which saw the worst flooding in decades last month – regional civil defence officer Francis Joseph Reyes said.\nThat forced nearly 10,000 people to seek shelter in emergency centres. The rain, which was intensified by the northeast monsoon, has filled Magat dam near to its critical level and the release of water threatens to aggravate the flooding, Reyes said.\nAuthorities said at least six people drowned in two provinces on the major southern island of Mindanao, which was also hit by torrential rain in recent days. Two elderly women were also killed in a rain-induced landslide on Saturday in the central province of Leyte.\nThe Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas.\nAt least 148 people were killed in a succession of typhoons in recent months that destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses. - AFP","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the northeastern Philippines"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["nearly 10,000 people","Nearly 10,000 people","at least eight people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2021 Storm Filomena causes the death of two people from heavy rains in the province of Málaga and another two from hypothermia after a blizzard hits central Spain. The Mayor of Madrid requests the assistance of the Army as he considers the situation in the capital to be of \"extreme gravity\". (BBC) (Europa Press)","document":"Storm Filomena has blanketed parts of Spain in heavy snow, with half of the country on red alert for more on Saturday. Road, rail and air travel has been disrupted and interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the country was facing \"the most intense storm in the last 50 years\". Madrid, one of the worst affected areas, is set to see up to 20cm (eight inches) of snow in the next 24 hours. Further south the storm caused rivers to burst their banks. Four deaths have been reported so far as a result of Filomena. Officials said two people had been found frozen to death - one in the town of Zarzalejo, north-west of Madrid, and the other in the eastern city of Calatayud. Two people travelling in a car were swept away by floods near the southern city of Malaga.\nAs snow fell on Madrid on Friday evening, a number of vehicles became stranded on a motorway near the capital.\nThe city's Barajas airport has closed, along with a number of roads, and all trains to and from Madrid have been cancelled. Firefighters were called in to assist drivers who had become stuck. In some areas the military were called in to help clear roads. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to stay at home and to follow the instructions of emergency services. King Felipe and Queen Letizia took to Twitter to urge \"extreme caution against the risks of accumulation of ice and snow\".\nThe country's AEMET weather agency said the snowfall was \"exceptional and most likely historic\". A number of people were seen making the most of the snowy scenery, walking through Madrid's Puerta del Sol square.\nLarge parks in Madrid have since been closed as a precaution, AFP news agency reports. One man was pictured skiing along the Gran Via, the capital's famous shopping street. In Cañada Real, the largest shanty town in western Europe, residents were seen creating a bonfire to keep warm. The cold weather is set to continue beyond the weekend with temperatures in Madrid predicted to hit -12C on Thursday. ","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["up to 20cm (eight inches)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["parts of Spain"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["Two people","two people","Four deaths"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Filomena","Filomena","Madrid","Madrid","Madrid","Madrid","Madrid","Madrid","Madrid"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Hurricane Danielle strengthens to Category 4, becoming the first major hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. (MSNBC) (CNN) (CBC)","document":"(CNN) -- Hurricane Danielle, a Category 4 storm, will bring large waves to Bermuda and will likely cause rip currents along the East Coast of the United States, the National Hurricane Center said on Friday.\nMaximum sustained winds were near 135 mph, with higher gusts, it said. A tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda.\nEven though the center of the storm is expected to pass well to the east of Bermuda on Saturday night, \"large waves and dangerous surf conditions will affect Bermuda over the next few days,\" the center said.\nIt also indicated swells from Danielle will arrive on the East Coast of the United States on Saturday, and will likely cause dangerous rip currents through the weekend.\n\"A turn toward the north-northwest is expected by tonight followed by a turn toward the north on Saturday,\" the latest hurricane advisory said.\nFriday evening, Danielle was about 410 miles southeast of Bermuda.\nTraveling behind Danielle, also far from land, Tropical Storm Earl's winds swirled near 45 mph Friday evening, with higher gusts. The hurricane center forecast that Earl, which was moving toward the west, could become a hurricane by Sunday.\nIf so, Earl would be the third hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season, following Danielle and Hurricane Alex.\nEarl is expected to strengthen and will be closer to the United States and probably create larger waves, said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.\nAlthough it is not currently predicted to strike the United States, a move that way can't be ruled out over the next seven days, Myers said.\nA tropical storm watch was in effect for the French islands of St. Martin and St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean.\nResidents in the northern Leeward Islands, about 1,080 miles west of Earl, were urged to monitor Earl's progress.\nEarl is expected to follow a path similar to Danielle's, although likely farther south and west, which could mean more of an impact on Bermuda.\nA third weather system also is being watched. A low-pressure system 175 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days, the Hurricane Center said. It added there is an 80 percent chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.\nAlex was a Category 2 system that caused widespread damage and some deaths in northern Mexico after it made landfall on June 30 near the border between Mexico and Texas, according to the Mexican government news agency.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["the East Coast of the United States","East Coast","United States","United States","United States"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Saturday","Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["a Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Danielle","Danielle","Danielle","Danielle","Danielle","Danielle"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["near 135 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Hurricane Earl moves away from the Leeward Islands towards the east coast of the United States with a hurricane watch issued for most of the North Carolina coast. (Reuters) (MSNBC)","document":"MIAMI (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Earl churned toward the eastern seaboard on Tuesday and looked to sideswipe the densely populated coast from North Carolina to New England, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.\nEarl slams Caribbean, eyes U.S.\n\nForecasters expected the main core of the Category 4 hurricane to stay offshore as Earl moved parallel to the coast during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend that traditionally marks the end of summer.\nA hurricane watch was issued for most of the North Carolina coastline as officials warned any westward deviation from the forecast track could prompt coastal evacuations or even bring the storm ashore.\n“A small error of 100 miles in the wrong direction could be a huge impact difference,” National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read told a conference call with journalists.\n“Even a minor shift back to the west could bring impacts to portions of the coastline from the mid-Atlantic northwards.”\nThe hurricane watch, issued by the Miami-based hurricane center, alerts residents that hurricane conditions -- sustained winds of 74 mph -- are possible within 48 hours. It covered the North Carolina coastline from Surf City to Duck, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.\nEarl, the second major hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season, was moving west-northwest in the open Atlantic on Tuesday, keeping well east of the Turks and Caicos Islands.\nAt 5 p.m. (2100 GMT), it was centered about 1,000 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.\nEarl was forecast to clip the barrier islands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Thursday night and bring drenching rain, rough seas, pounding surf and gusting wind to the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to New England and Atlantic Canada.\n\nEvacuations were ordered, or expected, for Wednesday for the most vulnerable spots on the Outer Banks, including the Cape Lookout National Seashore and Ocracoke Island, which has about 800 year-round residents and is accessible only by boat. It is one of the barrier islands where the pirate Blackbeard once roamed.\nEarl had top sustained winds of 135 miles per hour, making it a Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale. It was expected to stay just shy of a maximum Category 5.\nIt was too early to predict how close the hurricane would come to New York when it churned offshore east of the city during the weekend.\n“We’re just telling everybody to keep their eyes on the track and just keep checking back,” hurricane center meteorologist Barry Baxter said.\nThe hurricane center said Earl’s forecast track in the coming days shifted slightly to the west, which could bring its outer fringes closer to the U.S. coast.\nU.S. and Canadian East Coast oil refiners said they were monitoring Earl but that it was too early to begin to take any precautionary measures.\nHurricane Earl posed no threat to major U.S. oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico.\nHurricane Earl and Tropical Storm Fiona in a satellite image taken August 31, 2010. REUTERS/NOAA\nTropical storm warnings and watches were in effect for the Turks and Caicos, where flights were suspended, and for the sparsely populated southeast Bahamas.\nOn Monday, Earl battered the northeastern Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico, downing power lines, blowing off roofs, toppling trees and causing some flooding. There were no immediate reports of casualties.\n“We have been quite fortunate. We did not take a direct hit ... it was not as serious as it could have been,” Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno told CNN.\nTropical Storm Fiona followed in Earl’s wake on a similar path, though farther east.\nAt 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), Fiona was 270 miles east of the Caribbean Leeward Islands on a course that was expected to take it northeast of those islands on Wednesday. Most forecast models kept Fiona far away from the Gulf of Mexico.\nWith sustained winds of 40 mph, Fiona was just barely a tropical storm and the much more powerful Earl was hindering Fiona’s development. Earl churned up the seas and brought cold water to the surface, starving Fiona of the warm water needed for rapid strengthening.\nThe storms were far apart but Fiona was moving much faster. If Fiona closes the gap, high-level winds spiraling from the top of Earl could shear off and weaken Fiona, the hurricane center’s Baxter said.\n“If it gets really close, Earl could actually chew it up and just kind of kill it,” he said.\nElsewhere in the Atlantic, a broad area of low pressure about 425 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic had only a 10 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone within 48 hours, the hurricane center said.\nEarly computer models showed that system moving mostly west in the Atlantic but toward South America.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center","Forecasters"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina to New England, the U.S","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","North Carolina","New England","most of the North Carolina coastline","North Carolina coastline","the barrier islands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks","Outer Banks","barrier islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday night"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 4","Category 4","Category 4 hurricane","a Category 4 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["135 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 Severe Tropical Storm Lionrock lands in China's Fujian province with warnings of strong winds and torrential rains. (Straits Times)","document":"* In Taiwan, nervous authorities have cancelled classes, called off work and set up evacuation space for 19,000 people to avoid any repeat of an August 2009 typhoon that triggered mudslides and killed about 700 people.\n* That typhoon, the worst in 50 years, prompted a cabinet reshuffle amid accusations that officials responded too slowly.\nTaiwan's largest port, in the southern city Kaohsiung, closed on Wednesday due to high winds, the harbour master said.\n* Typhoons regularly hit China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan in the second half of the year, gathering strength from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean or South China Sea before weakening over land. -- REUTERS\n BEIJING - A TROPICAL storm hit China's east coast on Thursday, bringing heavy rains and disrupting shipping along the busy coast, while a typhoon shied away from China and ploughed into the Korean peninsula. Tropical storm Lionrock landed in Fujian, the Chinese province facing island Taiwan, the Xinhua news agency said. China's national weather forecaster warned residents to shelter from strong winds and torrential rains as Lionrock bore down on Xiamen, Quanzhou and other coastal cities, and to expect mudslides and land slips. Ships and fishing boats in the area were ordered to stay onshore or skirt around the storm, which hit Taiwan on Wednesday bringing downpours and lashing winds. Shanghai cancelled elementary school classes as Typhoon Kompasu threatened. The storm drenched the city and then turned its attention to South Korea, where domestic flights and school classes were cancelled on Thursday. Kompasu was whipping up winds of up to 139 kph, but was likely to weaken to a tropical storm by Friday, said forecaster Tropical Storm Risk (www.tropicalstormrisk.com). Lionrock was likely to weaken to a tropical depression, said the forecaster. -- REUTERS","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["China's east coast","China","China","China","China","into the Korean peninsula","Fujian"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Lionrock","Lionrock","Lionrock","Xiamen, Quanzhou and other coastal cities"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 139 kph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 A tropical storm warning is issued for the coast of Long Island in New York as Hurricane Earl approaches the east coast of the United States. (AP via Washington Post) (Reuters)","document":"HATTERAS ISLAND, North Carolina (Reuters) - Hurricane Earl began to strafe North Carolina’s barrier islands with dangerous winds and surf on Thursday as it spun parallel to the U.S. East Coast on a northward trek toward New England and Canada.\nEarl was a massive Category 3 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity and had top sustained winds of 115 mph after weakening from its expected peak on Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.\nAs oil refineries, exploration and drilling platforms, and nuclear power plants along the Atlantic seaboard monitored Earl’s path, EnCana Corp said it suspended drilling and pulled personnel from a Nova Scotia rig in Canada.\nExxon Mobil said it had pulled nonessential staff from its Sable field in offshore Nova Scotia.\nAt least 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate from North Carolina’s Outer Banks islands as Earl bore down on the Atlantic shore. It was about 185 miles south of Cape Hatteras at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).\nIt was due to pass near the Outer Banks overnight, making its closest approach near Cape Hatteras around 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) on Friday, before turning gradually northeast to sweep up the East Coast on Friday and into Canada on Saturday.\n“Even if the center of Earl remains offshore, hurricane-force winds are expected to occur in the Outer Banks by tonight,” the hurricane center forecasters said. “Tropical-storm-force winds will likely reach the coast from Virginia northward to Massachusetts on Friday.”\nThe U.S. Census Bureau estimated 26 million people in coastal counties from North Carolina to Maine could feel Earl’s effects in the next two days.\nWhile a direct U.S. landfall was not forecast, Earl was due to deliver a stinging blow to the North Carolina coastline and farther northward before the Labor Day holiday weekend marking the end of the summer vacation season.\nRelated Coverage\nForecasters warned that hurricane-force winds from Earl extended out 70 miles from its center, so it would not need a direct landfall to inflict damage from strong wind and high seas.\nThe U.S. Energy Information Administration said about 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil refining capacity lies in the likely U.S. affected area.\nBreaking waves 15 feet or higher were expected along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, picturesque barrier islands that jut out into the Atlantic and are frequently smacked by hurricanes and storms. Earl was one of the biggest storms to menace the state since Hurricane Floyd killed more than 50 people in North Carolina in 1999.\n\nOn Ocracoke Island, charter boat captain Ryan O’Neal, 31, said he was staying put with his dog despite an evacuation order. He spoke as the last ferry off the island, accessible only by boat, left on Thursday morning.\n“I’ve been here for every hurricane since I was born. This one may be bad, but I’m sure we’ve had worse. I’ve got to watch out for my house and boat,” O’Neal said.\nWatches and warnings were posted along the Atlantic coast for North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and parts of Canada’s Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces, alerting residents hurricane and tropical storm conditions were possible in the next day or so.\nDavid Rauch, check-in office manager at a 146-unit time-shared resort near Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, said the establishment was nearly full on Thursday morning when employees started notifying residents of an evacuation order.\n“We’ve never had a bad hurricane in all the years I’ve been here. But the fact is that this one is the closest I’ve seen to having that opportunity to very easily wobble over to the west and hit us real good,” said Rauch.\nForecasters said Earl’s center was expected to be very near southeastern New England on Friday night.\n“Nantucket, the (Martha’s) Vineyard and the eastern half of the Cape (Cod) will experience hurricane-force winds,” National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read said.\nFew vacationers were visible along Main Street in Hyannis, normally one of the busiest towns in the beach community of Cape Cod, which is expected to feel the storm on Friday.\n“We were tempted to leave, but I think we’ll stick it out,” said John Tracy, 58, of Newport, New York, who was in town to visit his daughter.\n\nFederal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate urged coastal residents to stay alert and heed evacuation orders.\n“People need to be rapidly completing their preparedness now,” Fugate said. “Don’t wait for the forecast every six hours and think it’s going to get better.”\nMassachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency, an administrative step that speeds storm relief.\nCars lined up to get off the island resort of Nantucket off Cape Cod and hundreds of boats were removed from its main harbor. Smaller ferry line back-ups were seem on Martha’s Vineyard, the island that recently hosted the Obama family’s summer vacation and is home to many celebrities.\nNo storm has threatened such a broad swath of the U.S. shoreline -- the densely populated coast from North Carolina to New England -- since Hurricane Bob in 1991.\nBehind Earl, Tropical Storm Gaston dissipated in the central Atlantic. There was still a chance it could regenerate as it moved west toward the Caribbean Sea, but it was too early to tell whether it would enter the energy-rich Gulf of Mexico.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["North Carolina’s barrier islands","barrier islands"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["At least 100,000 people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["Category 3 storm"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl","Earl"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 2010 Atlantic hurricane season: Tropical Storm Hermine slams into northern Mexico near the border with Texas. (Reuters via Swiss Info)","document":"\t\tBy Cyntia BarreraMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hermine slammed into northeastern Mexico near the Texas border on Monday, dumping heavy rain on a region still recovering from Hurricane Alex's visit in June.Hermine, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, was expected to weaken as it moved ashore but could trigger deadly flooding and tornadoes, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre said.Authorities in Tamaulipas state where the storm made landfall evacuated 3,000 people from high-risk areas but had no immediate reports of damage or injuries.The storm's forecast path kept it away from major oil and natural gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico, and energy companies said there had been no affect on their operations.The Miami-based hurricane centre warned the storm could dump heavy rain on the coastal region and would pack a 2-to-4-foot (0.75-to-1.25-metre) storm surge that could cause deadly flash flooding and mudslides.Hermine made landfall at about 8:30 p.m. CDT (9:30 p.m. British time) around 40 miles (65 km) south of the Texas border city of Brownsville. After moving inland, its winds diminished to 60 mph (95 kph). The storm was forecast to weaken further on Tuesday as it kept moving over land.Hurricane Alex hit northeastern Mexico in July, killing 12 people and causing heavy flooding in the business capital of Monterrey. Damage from the storm was estimated at $700 million.Hermine was expected to dump 4 to 8 inches (10 cm to 20 cm) of rain over northeastern Mexico and south Texas, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches (30 cm) possible, the hurricane centre said.In the Mexican coastal city of Matamoros, residents braced for flooding as authorities remained on high alert. The drainage system is often clogged with garbage and prone to overflow during heavy rains.\"Every time there is a hurricane or a storm, we have problems,\" said Rene Polanco, 48, who works in a supermarket in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville. \"It's because of poor drainage in the city.\"At least 30 residential areas could be in danger from floods, although no evacuations had started yet, an official for the city's civil protection said.In the Atlantic, the remnant of Tropical Storm Gaston continued to move westward and had a medium chance of reforming as a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.Storm models predicted Gaston would travel almost due west, which would take it very close to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.Energy traders keep a close eye on potentially violent storms approaching the Gulf because it is home to about 30 percent of U.S. oil production, 11 percent of natural gas production and more than 43 percent of U.S. refinery capacity.The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and is currently in its peak period.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["4 to 8 inches (10 cm to 20 cm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["northeastern Mexico near the Texas border","Texas border"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["3,000 people","residents"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Hermine","Hermine","Hermine","Hermine"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["60 mph (95 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 Hurricane Julia becomes the fifth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. (Reuters)","document":"MIAMI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Julia grew to hurricane strength over the far eastern Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.\nJulia, the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, reached hurricane status with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) located some 330 miles (535 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands, the center said.\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":["hurricane","Hurricane","hurricane","hurricane"]},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Julia","Julia"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["75 mph (120 kph)"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 Mexico and Belize issue warnings about Tropical Storm Karl which is threatening the Yucatán Peninsula. (CNN)","document":"Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Karl picked up speed Tuesday night in the northwest Caribbean Sea, prompting coastal warnings by the Mexican government, the National Hurricane Center said.\nAt 8 p.m. ET, Karl was 230 miles (370 kilometers) east of Chetumal, Mexico. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and it was traveling west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).\nThe warning was in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche. A tropical storm watch was called for northern Belize.\nKarl, a small storm, will move over the Yucatan on Wednesday, the hurricane center said, and bring a storm surge and 3-5 inches of rainfall. It should weaken after landfall, forecasters say.\nThe Atlantic Ocean, meanwhile, gained a second hurricane overnight, as Tropical Storm Julia strengthened into a Category 1 storm, the National Hurricane Center reported.\nJulia joins Hurricane Igor, which weakened early Tuesday but showed signs of getting stronger later in the day. Igor still maintained its status as a powerful Category 4 storm as it churned far from land.\nAt 5 p.m. ET, Igor had top sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving to the west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph), according to forecasters. The storm's center was about 655 miles (1,055 km) east of the northern Leeward Islands.\nIgor, which started as a tropical storm on Saturday, rapidly intensified from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm Sunday. \"Some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next couple of days, but Igor is expected to remain a dangerous hurricane through Thursday,\" the center said, and it could have some effect on Bermuda.\nHurricane-force winds extended up to 45 miles (75 km) from Igor's center, and tropical storm-force winds could be felt up to 205 miles (335 km) outward, according to the center.\nWhile the storm is expected to stay north of the Caribbean islands, the islands are expected to experience dangerous surf conditions, along with some wind and rain because of Igor's size, forecasters said.\nMeanwhile, in the far eastern Atlantic, Julia kept pace, becoming the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic season. As of 5 p.m. ET, Julia's center was about 405 miles (655 km) west-northwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. The storm's maximum sustained winds increased from 75 mph early Tuesday to 85 mph (140 kph), and it was moving west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Tracking maps show Julia have showing little change in strength into Wednesday, but it is expected to see slow weakening by Thursday. It is not expected to threaten land.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["the National Hurricane Center","National Hurricane Center"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche","Chetumal"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":null},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["west-northwest","northwest","west-northwest","west-northwest","west-northwest"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["15 mph (24 kph)"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Karl","Karl","Karl"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["45 mph (75 kph)","45 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 A storm in New York City kills one person and leaves 25,000 people without power. This includes a Tornado which touched down in Flushing and a Macroburst.(CNN)","document":"New York (CNN) -- A fast-moving storm ripped through New York City Thursday afternoon, with strong winds and torrential rain toppling trees and leaving more than 25,000 customers without power.\nOne person died reportedly when a tree fell on a car in Queens, the New York Fire Department said.\nAccording to power company Con Edison's website, 24,391 customers in Queens and 4,919 customers in Staten Island were experiencing power outages about 7 p.m. Brooklyn had 545 customers without power.\nBoth New York City's La Guardia and New Jersey's Newark airports were experiencing two-hour outbound delays, while John F. Kennedy airport was reporting three-hour outbound delays.\nAll Long Island Railroad service going east out of Manhattan was suspended after the storm, as was service on certain subway lines running from Manhattan into Queens and Brooklyn.\nThe Long Island Railroad warned commuters that they would have limited access to Penn Station due to overcrowding. Tornado warnings had been posted by the National Weather service for Brooklyn and Queens.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["New York City","New York City"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["more than 25,000 customers","One person died","24,391 customers","4,919 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday afternoon"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 Typhoon Fanapi (Inday) hits Taiwan with at least three people killed and dozens of people injured. The Peoples Republic of China steps up its emergency response in preparation for an impact on Monday. (Bloomberg), (UPI)","document":"TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Typhoon Fanapi punished Taiwan with 125 mph winds Sunday, downing trees and power lines, and killing at least three people and injuring dozens, officials said.\nThe storm cleared the island about 6 p.m. and was head toward mainland China.\nThe China Meteorological Administration raised the storm alert to the second-highest level and warned coastal areas between Guangdong and Fujian provinces that Fanapi would make landfall Monday morning.\nChina's Xinhua news agency said shipping lanes between China and Taiwan were closed by the government.\nPolice said a woman was killed when she fell into a river while doing last-minute harvesting ahead of the storm. Two students drowned in a flooded canal when a girl slipped and fell and two friends jumped in after her, CNN said.\nThe Taipei Times reported Fanapi had crippled transportation nationwide and blew down power lines as it made landfall at 8:40 a.m. Sunday. Severe flooding was reported in southern Taiwan where several inches of rain had fallen, the newspaper said.\nThe Times said TV footage from Hualien showed lines of fallen trees, several houses with their roofs ripped off, an overturned truck and several parked cars crushed by fallen trees in Taipei City.\nThe Central Emergency Operation Center had reported two people missing and 75 people slightly injured by the storm.\nElectrical power was cut off to about 314,000 households nationwide. Power had been restored to 140,000 of those households by noon, and was expected to be restored to the rest by the end of the day, Taiwan Power Co. said.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":["The China Meteorological Administration"]},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","Taiwan","China","China","China","China"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least three people","injuring dozens"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Sunday","Sunday","Monday morning"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fanapi","Fanapi","Fanapi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["125 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 The death toll in China from Typhoon Fanapi reaches 54 with dozens more people missing. (AP via SignOn SanDiego) (China Daily)","document":"GUANGZHOU - Floods, landslides and heavy downpours brought by typhoon Fanapi had claimed 54 lives in South China's Guangdong province, while another 42 were missing, local authorities said Thursday.\nMeanwhile, more than 1.16 million people were affected and 79,400 in low-lying areas were forced to be evacuated, the provincial flood control headquarters said in a statement.\n Typhoon Fanapi ravages South China Typhoon Fanapi leaves 33 dead, 42 missing in south China Typhoon Fanapi hits Fujian province Typhoon Fanapi lands on Fujian Province\nRainstorms and and geological disasters had destroyed more than 3,637 homes and inundated more than 35,900 hectares of cropland, the headquarters said.\nDirect economic losses were estimated at about 2.11 billion yuan ($315 million).\nThe Ministry of Civil Affairs said Thursday that 2,000 tents, and 1,000 folding beds had been sent to Guangdong.\nTyphoon Fanapi, the 11th and strongest typhoon that hit China this year, landed in Fujian province at 7 am Monday, but wreaked most havoc in Guangdong, which neighbors Fujian on the south.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["South China","South China","south China","South China's Guangdong province","Fujian Province","Fujian province","Fujian province"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["54 lives","another 42","more than 1.16 million people","33 dead","42 missing"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Fanapi","Fanapi","Fanapi","Fanapi","Fanapi","Fanapi"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2010 Heavy rain from former Tropical Storm Nicole causes flooding the US states of North Carolina and Virginia and delays in airline flights on the east coast. (CNN)","document":"(CNN) -- Parts of the Eastern Seaboard were battered by rain from a weakening tropical depression on Thursday, with more flood-causing precipitation expected as the storm moves north.\nRain from the tropical depression, which was downgraded from Tropical Storm Nicole on Wednesday, has left city streets under water, stranded vehicles, sent scores of people to shelters and caused major delays at airports along the East Coast.\nWilmington, North Carolina, has received 20.47 inches (520 mm) of rain this week -- a new record for rain in a three-day period for the city -- while flood watches and warnings extend northward into Maine.\nIn Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, many streets are flooded, as are stretches of Interstate 264, according to CNN Virginia affiliate WAVY 10. Some in the area are without power because of downed lines.\nBeaufort County, North Carolina, is under a curfew until 6 a.m. Friday because of the flooding, mostly to keep traffic off roads.\n\"Every major transportation route in the county suffers a nearly impassable condition at specific locations,\" said County Manager Paul Spruill, who said the rain there was expected to stop soon.\nThe county had seen about 11 inches of rain from Sunday till midday Thursday, then got hit with 4 to 6 more inches Thursday afternoon. Fifty people are in a county shelter, Spruill said.\nIn Onslow County, North Carolina, there have been four water rescues and about 40 people are in a temporary shelter, according to Deputy Director of Emergency Services Norman Bryson.\nIn Carolina Beach, North Carolina, a lake overflowed and flooded downtown, with video from CNN affiliate WRAL showing one person kayaking through the streets.\nThe American Red Cross has opened seven shelters in North Carolina for those displaced by floods, the group said Thursday.\nThe weather caused airport delays in Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states Thursday evening, with flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport delayed an average of nearly five hours, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.\nThe FAA said rain, wind, and low visibility were to blame for delays of more than an hour-and-a-half for planes bound for New York's La Guardia Airport, New Jersey's Newark International Airport and Boston, Massachusetts' Logan International Airport.\nFlood watches and warnings were in effect for Thursday night into Friday for all or major parts of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, according to the National Weather Service.\nWind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are expected in parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the National Weather Service said.\nThe rain will move out of the Mid-Atlantic Thursday night and out of the Northeast throughout Friday, but not before dropping an additional 4-6 inches (100-150 mm), according to CNN Meteorologist Taylor Ward.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":["20.47 inches (520 mm)","about 11 inches","4-6 inches (100-150 mm)"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":null},{"role":"Influence People","values":["scores of people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Nicole"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["up to 50 miles per hour"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 Tornadoes hit Bellemont, Arizona in the southwest of the United States resulting in at least seven people being injured. (CNN)","document":"(CNN) -- At least two tornadoes struck Wednesday near Flagstaff, Arizona, injuring seven people, derailing a train and damaging more than 100 homes, authorities said.\nOne tornado caused \"about a mile of destruction,\" said Sheriff Bill Pribil of Coconino County. It damaged at least 30 mobile homes, blew the windows out of about 100 homes and caused a train derailment, he said.\nAt least seven people were injured, the National Weather Service's Flagstaff office said. None of the injuries in Coconino County were believed to be serious, Pribil said.\nBoth tornadoes touched down in the town of Bellemont, the National Weather Service reported.\n\nLena Kent, spokeswoman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, said 28 train cars were derailed and that the track itself suffered minor damages. \"It was stopped (in Bellemont) because of the tornado warning, but unfortunately, the tornado came through and actually hit the train, derailing 28 cars,\" she said. No one was injured in the derailment, she said. The company hoped to get the rail lines reopened by midnight. Radar continued to show several thunderstorms in central and north-central Arizona capable of producing tornadoes with little or no advance notice, CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris said. A tornado watch continues for central and north-central Arizona until 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET).","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["near Flagstaff, Arizona","Arizona","Arizona"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["injuring seven people","At least seven people"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2011 More than 270,000 people in the US city of Chicago, Illinois, are left without power due to thunder storms with some reports of funnel clouds. (Chicago Tribune), (NBC Chicago)","document":"Though no official tornadoes developed, several funnel clouds were reported throughout northeastern Illinois, including Naperville, Grayslake and Sugar Grove. Tornado sirens sounded throughout the western suburbs.\nThe storm left 271,407 Commonwealth Edison customers without power, said company spokesman Tony Hernandez. In Chicago, 62,085 customers were in the dark.\nThe northern suburbs were hit the hardest, where 151,783 customers lost power, Hernandez said. In the south suburbs, about 47,500 customers are without power, while the western suburbs have about 10,000 customers in the dark.\nAt O'Hare International Airport, about 340 flights were canceled by 9 p.m. as heavy rains pounded the facility. Several planes stood on the tarmac. Inside the terminal, gates were evacuated and travelers headed for the underground connecting tunnel between concourses B and C.\nOn the city's south side, thousands of baseball fans were stuck outdoors as rain pummeled U.S. Cellular Field, which was hosting the BP Crosstown Cup. The game was delayed in the sixth inning at about 9 p.m., but groundskeepers weren't able to pull the tarps out onto the field because of the fierce winds. On the rails, several Metra trains were delayed. Travelers should check MetraRail.com for updated information. The Chicago Transit Authority seemed to easily weather the storm, with no significant issues or delays reported.\nDamage reports throughout the area included a countless number of trees down, including a large tree on Route 53 just north of Roosevelt Road. In Bolingbrook, the walls of aluminum structures were blown in. Several inches of standing water was reported in Marseilles. A chance for rain and storms persists through the week. A reprieve is on the way Friday, according to the National Weather Service. But don't expect summer heat just yet. Temperatures hover around 70 through the weekend. \n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["western suburbs","western suburbs","The northern suburbs","south suburbs"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["271,407 Commonwealth Edison customers","151,783 customers","about 47,500 customers","about 10,000 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2011 More than 270,000 people in the US city of Chicago, Illinois, are left without power due to thunder storms with some reports of funnel clouds. (Chicago Tribune), (NBC Chicago)","document":" Commonwealth Edison expects to restore power to most of its customers by Thursday night, two days after a violent wave of storms that spawned at least two tornadoes and packed 80 mph winds at one point left about 440,000 customers without electricity throughout the Chicago area. As of 7 p.m., 160,000 customers remained without power, down from a peak of about 430,000. The majority of the outages were in the northern suburbs hardest hit by the storms, with about 116,000 customers without power. About 27,000 customers were without electricity in the near western suburbs, 15,000 in the south suburbs and 1,300 in Chicago. Some 274,000 have had their electrical service restored, and the utility expects to have 90 percent of all customers' power restored by midnight Thursday, said ComEd spokeswoman Alicia Zatkowski. ComEd has 700 crews, including some 300 from utilities in neighboring states, working to restore power. More crews are expected to arrive from ComEd's sister utility Pico in Pennsylvania tomorrow morning, Zatkowski said. The outage is the worst since a year ago, when storms knocked out power to 310,000 ComEd customers on June 23. Tuesday night's storms spawned funnel clouds and tornado warnings. Based on damage patterns, tornadoes appears to have touched down in Downers Grove and Mount Prospect, according to the National Weather Service. Mount Prospect was hit by winds estimated at 90 to 100 mph. The Mount Prospect tornado cut a 200-yard swatch from Golf Road to Kensington Road a few miles away, the weather service said. \"The damage found consisted of large hardwood trees snapped and large soft and hardwood uprooted trees, along with roof damage to area buildings,\" the weather service said in a statement. The winds also knocked out power to most of the downtown. The storms forced the closing of some two dozen schools, most of them in west suburban Elmhurst, because of power outages (check HERE for updates). The Maywood courthouse also was closed for lack of electricity. At Northwestern University's Evanston campus, 42 buildings were without power this morning, according to an alert on the university website. School officials said they weren't sure when power would be restored, though they said ComEd crews were working to restore service. The rough weather also forced the cancellation of about 330 flights Tuesday night stalled Metra trains on their tracks and left streets littered with tree limbs and debris. There were lingering transportation problems this morning. As of mid-afternoon, airlines atO'Hare International Airport had canceled about 500 flights, and incoming and outgoing flights were experiencing 20 minute delays, according to the city's Department of Aviation. At Midway, there were about two dozen flights experiencing delays of up to 40 minutes, with minor cancellations. The CTA suspended service on its Yellow Line and briefly did the same on the Purple Line due to ComEd issues affecting crossing gates. Metra experienced delays of at least 5 to 10 minutes on inbound trains on the Union Pacific Northwest, Union Pacific West, Milwaukee District North and Milwaukee District West lines due to signal problems in the vicinity of Western Avenue. North Central Service line trains were 10-20 minutes behind. (For continual weather updates, check the Chicago Weather Center.) Two people were taken in serious to critical condition to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston after their car was crushed by a fallen tree near Farragut and Leavitt avenues in the Bomanville neighborhood on the North Side. Chainsaw crews were out in force. Large limbs were downed — and some trees uprooted — in Deerfield, Des Plaines, Elmhurst, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Norridge and Skokie, among other suburbs. A Niles apartment building lost its roof, as did a building in Elk Grove Village. Funnel clouds were spotted in Naperville, Aurora, about 5 miles west ofGrayslake in Lake County and four miles north-northwest ofSugar Grove in Kane County. Winds were recorded at 60 to 75 mph, with an 81 mph gust in Wheeling. But damage was still heavy, with roofs ripped off and tree branches and power lines left strewn across streets and yards. A truck driver on the Illinois tollway a quarter mile east of the Des Plaines plaza reported that strong winds blew the back of a billboard onto the highway. InNaperville, a City Council meeting was stopped and everyone in attendance was evacuated to the City Hall basement because of \"tornadic activity.\" People attending a book signing in downtownNaperville similarly were ushered into the basement. Joliet was deluged with nearly an inch of rainfall in only 16 minutes. Tuesday night, more than 300 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport and another 30 at Midway. Incoming and outgoing travelers also encountered delays of an hour and more. One of those delayed getting out of town was Vice President Joe Biden, who had been here for a couple of fundraisers. The severe weather also delayed numerous Metra trains and forced the cancellation of others. One outbound commuter train was stuck for about five hours when the storm knocked down a power line onto the rail, said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis. After 2 a.m., the train was headed back downtown, and passengers were being asked to find alternative transportation or wait even longer for another train. For updated schedules check the Metra website. Today's weather outlook is much tamer. The National Weather Service forecasts a 40 percent chance of showers in the late morning and afternoon, with southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph. The high will be in the mid 70s. Before last night's storm, June already had shaped up as one of the wettest on record. Through Monday, 6.94 inches of rain had been recorded at Midway Airport, making this the third wettest start to June since observations started at the airport in 1928, according to WGN-TV meteorologist Tom Skilling.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["Downers Grove and Mount Prospect","Mount Prospect","Mount Prospect","Mount Prospect","Chicago area","the northern suburbs"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["about 440,000 customers","160,000 customers","about 116,000 customers","About 27,000 customers","15,000","1,300"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["80 mph","90 to 100 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2011 More than 114,000 people in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, are without power due to storms. (Knox News)","document":"KNOXVILLE — An evening thunderstorm has left nearly 114,000 Knoxville-area addresses in the dark, along with dozens of downed trees, damaged power lines and several blocked roadways throughout Knox County tonight.\nNorth Knoxville is particularly affected, with blocked roadways include North Broadway, Washington Pike, Atlantic Avenue, Oglewood Avenue, Merchants Drive and Tillery Lane at Clinton Highway.\nKnox County emergency dispatchers also have received numerous calls of downed trees into houses, although no injuries have been confirmed.\nThe Knoxville Utilities Board reported widespread power outages, with 113,159 customers without power as of 9 p.m.\nA severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 9:45 p.m. for eastern Knox County, as well as Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown.\nThe weather service is tracking a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph moving northeast at 40 mph.\nThe southbound lane of Broadway is blocked in North Knoxville at Kenyon Street, near Rose Mortuary.\nFurther north of Broadway, at Walker Boulevard, another tree has completely blocked Broadway.\nAmong the areas hit hardest was a section of North Knoxville, east of Broadway and north of Cecil Avenue.\nBlock after block of homes and businesses sat in the dark after high winds downed trees and power lines. An emergency vehicle sat across Washington Pike at Belle Morris School to prevent drivers from hitting debris and damage in the road. Yards away stood the Washington Pike United Methodist Church, which suffered roof damage in a similar flash storm in late April.\nMost of Fountain City is without power. Trees are down along Tazewell Pike.\nMany roads are blocked in Fountain City. A tree has taken down a power pole on Tazewell Pike at Kesterwood Drive, causing downed lines to block traffic on the pike.\nA tree has reportedly fallen into a home at Kesterwood and Robin Drive.\nAt 9 p.m., power was out in scattered ares around Lenoir City, Loudon County, Farragut and West Knox County, according to Lenoir City Utilities Board General Manager Shannon Littleton.\nLCUB was in the process of restoring power to about 2,500 customers in Lenoir City and about 500 in Farragut and West Knox, he said.\n“We were lucky that we were ahead of the game,” Littleton said. “We already had our crews out.”\n","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["a section of North Knoxville, east of Broadway and north of Cecil Avenue","North Knoxville","North Broadway","Broadway","North Knoxville","north","Broadway","Broadway"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["113,159 customers"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":["northeast"]},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":["40 mph"]},{"role":"Storm Name","values":null},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":["60 mph"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2011 Tropical Storm Meari leaves at least nine people dead and three missing as it strikes the west coast of South Korea, with heavy rains and strong winds causing flooding and the suspension of sea traffic around the Korean Peninsula.(CNN)","document":"Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Meari raked the west coast of South Korea over the weekend, leaving at least nine people dead and three missing, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Monday.\nAmong the missing is a three-year-old toddler who was swept away by strong currents along the coast, the agency said.\nThe heavy rains and strong winds flooded fields and suspended dozens of sea routes around the peninsula, emergency officials said.\nMeari has since moved over North Korea where it is expected to dissipate. The powerful storm pounded the cities of Kaesong and Haeju, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.\nRegional governments in South Korea have begun to tackle the clean-up effort, according to NEMA. The agency said Monday that most public facilities had been restored across the country.","event_type":"Storm","schema":["Storm Formation Location","People/Organization who predicted the disaster","Amount of Precipitation","Storm Hit Location","Influence People","Storm Direction","Storm Hit Time","Storm Formation Time","Storm Center Location","Storm Warning Level","Storm Movement Speed","Storm Name","Maximum Wind Speed"],"arguments":[{"role":"Storm Formation Location","values":null},{"role":"People/Organization who predicted the disaster","values":null},{"role":"Amount of Precipitation","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Location","values":["west coast of South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","Kaesong and Haeju"]},{"role":"Influence People","values":["at least nine people","three"]},{"role":"Storm Direction","values":null},{"role":"Storm Hit Time","values":["over the weekend"]},{"role":"Storm Formation Time","values":null},{"role":"Storm Center Location","values":null},{"role":"Storm Warning Level","values":null},{"role":"Storm Movement Speed","values":null},{"role":"Storm Name","values":["Meari","Meari"]},{"role":"Maximum Wind Speed","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Door-to-door sales firm Kleeneze, which employs around 5,000 people, collapses into administration after 95 years. (BBC)","document":"One of Britain's oldest home shopping companies has gone into administration. Kleeneze, best known for selling household and beauty products through its network of door-to-door sellers, said it had ceased trading on Thursday and 140 jobs are at risk. But there is also a question mark over the future of 5,000 independent distributors who sell the products. Administrators FRP Advisory is seeking a buyer in a last ditch attempt to save the 95-year old firm.\nJoint administrator David Acland said: \"Kleeneze has performed well over the years and has a strong network of independent sales distributors.\n\"Unfortunately, tough trading conditions have resulted in the business entering administration.\n\"The business suffered from operational issues after its move to the Heywood distribution site earlier in 2017. \"There were logistics challenges and IT issues that took six months to resolve, which resulted in significant lost sales,\" Mr Acland said.\nKleeneze's self-employed distributors deliver catalogues throughout in the UK and Ireland, earning cash or rewards for every sale they make - either at the doorstep or through their own online shop.\nThese sellers are a mixture of self-employed sole traders and partnerships, and many work for Kleeneze alongside other jobs. The company employs 69 permanent staff at its head office in Accrington, Lancashire, and a further 71 at its warehouse in Heywood, Greater Manchester.\nUsdaw, the trade union for Kleeneze staff, said it was seeking urgent meetings with the administrators in a bid to protect jobs.\nAnnette Bott, an Usdaw area organiser, said: \"This is clearly a difficult and upsetting time for the 140 staff based in Accrington and Heywood. \"We are pressing the administrators to find a buyer for the company who will protect jobs and keep the business going. In the meantime, we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need.\"\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Kleeneze","Kleeneze","Kleeneze","Kleeneze","Kleeneze"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Britain"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["There were logistics challenges and IT issues that took six months to resolve, which resulted in significant lost sales"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Basque separatist group ETA announces its dissolution in May. (EFE)","document":"Alleged ex leader of an elite unit of the Basque separatist band ETA Eneko Gogeaskoetxea testifies during his trial at the National Court in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 26, 2017. EPA-EFE/FILE/Ballesteros /POOL\nArnaldo Otegi (C), the General Coordinator of the EH Bildu (short for 'Euskal Herria Bildu', or 'Basque Country Gather') far-left, Basque nationalist and pro-independence party, raises his voting card during a rally of the party held in Vitoria, northern Spain, Oct. 07, 2017. EPA-EFE/FILE/David Aguilar\nBasque separatist group ETA is set to announce its dissolution in the first week of May at an event in the French city of Bayonne, sources told EFE.\nDetails of the event, set to take place on May 5 and expected to be attended by representatives of the Basque government, political parties and trade unions, will be announced at a press conference on Friday.\nSources from the Basque autonomous government had refused to comment on what they called speculations and said that as and when there is a decision by the ETA, they would evaluate it.\nBasque public television station ETB had reported on Wednesday that ETA was planning to announce its dissolution on the first weekend of May.\nIn Bayonne, on April 8 - the first anniversary of the disarmament of ETA - Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the EH Bildu political party, had announced that the militant group would be taking new steps in the coming weeks and months.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Basque separatist group ETA"]},{"role":"Date","values":["May 5"]},{"role":"Location","values":["French city of Bayonne","Bayonne"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Erin Energy, a Texas company specialising in African offshore oil deposits with licences to explore off Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, and Kenya, files for bankruptcy protection. (Splash 24/7)","document":"Houston-based Erin Energy Corporation, which mainly focuses on offshore oil developments in Africa, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.\nUnder the filing, made in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Erin and some of its subsidiaries are asking the court to approve a reorganization plan as it seeks to restructure its debt.\nErin and the subsidiaries will continue to operate under the jurisdiction of the court.\nCourt documents show the company listing assets of nearly $247.54 million and total debts exceeding $628.72 million.\nErin has exploration licences for offshore Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Kenya but the oil sector in Africa has been struggling.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Houston-based Erin Energy Corporation","Houston"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Southern District of Texas, Houston"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["seeks to restructure its debt"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2018 Following the cancellation of the Williams & Glyn bank formation, the Royal Bank of Scotland announces the closure of 162 RBS and subsidiary NatWest branches across the United Kingdom. (BBC)","document":"Royal Bank of Scotland has announced it is closing 162 branches across England and Wales. The bank said that 792 jobs would go as a result and staff would be offered voluntary redundancy. RBS branches in England and Wales, and the NatWest business in Scotland, had been earmarked for a new \"challenger bank\" under the name Williams & Glyn.\nHowever, that project is now not going ahead and the bank has reviewed its branch network.\nSome 109 branches will close in late July and August 2018, while a further 53 branches will close in November 2018.\nYou can see a full list of the branches that will be closing here.\nAn RBS spokesman said: \"We are no longer launching Williams & Glyn as a challenger bank, and we now have two branch networks operating in close proximity to each other; NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland, in England and Wales. \"As a result, we have had to review our overall branch footprint in England and Wales and we've made the difficult decision to close a number of Royal Bank of Scotland branches. \"Customers of Royal Bank of Scotland in England & Wales will be able to use NatWest branches instead for their everyday banking needs.\"\nThe latest branch closures follow existing plans to close 52 bank branches in Scotland that serve rural communities, and 197 NatWest branches.\nThe Unite union has calculated that in the case of 71 of the 162 branches closing, customers will be forced to make return journeys of about 25 miles to reach another one. Rob MacGregor, Unite's national officer, said: \"The Williams & Glyn saga rolls on as Royal Bank of Scotland continues with its shambolically poor management of this business. \"How does a taxpayer-funded institution spend £1.8bn on a failed IT project and in the next breath demolish the much-needed local bank branches?\n\"Today nearly 1,000 employees have finally been told of their dark futures because the bank has been calamitously managed for too long.\" In February, following a campaign by local communities, RBS decided to keep 10 branches threatened with closure open till the end of the year. Nicky Morgan, who chairs Parliament's Treasury Committee, said there was \"a risk of increased levels of financial exclusion\" as a result of the branch closures, since bank branches were still vital for many people.\n\"It's important for the government to monitor this trend. If financial exclusion is increasing, the government may be required to intervene,\" she said.\nStaff were braced for something like this, though the scale of the closures and job losses is a shock.\nLast year the European Commission said RBS could forget about trying to hive off part of its business and, instead, set up a fund to support new rivals.\nEver since then the writing was on the wall for most of the people and branches which RBS had shoved into Williams & Glyn, a Frankenstein bank which no one seemed to want.\nThat was the trigger, but it's also a fact that big banks have been looking for excuses to close as many branches as they can.\nAnd they would have you believe it is partly your fault, if you've joined the legions who bank on computers and mobile phones.\nFor customers wondering where it will all end, it seems inevitable that we will end up with even fewer branches.\nThose that survive may be dedicated to selling complicated products like investments and pensions, and sorting out tricky complaints.\nUnite is calling on RBS \"not to abandon their responsibilities\" to the communities that depend on the affected bank branches. RBS chief executive Ross McEwan recently defended the bank's closure of its Scottish branches, saying that mobile banks are serving 440 communities.\nHowever, the bank has faced criticism from customers that the mobile banks do not stop in each location for long enough.\nRBS has also tried to persuade customers to start using online banking and its companion smartphone mobile banking app. But the bank has had to recognise that not everyone wants to handle their banking digitally.\nTo this end, today it announced that it had created a special taskforce to help customers learn digital skills so they could use online banking in future.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Royal Bank of Scotland","Scotland","Royal Bank","Scotland","Royal Bank","Scotland","Scotland","Royal Bank","Scotland"]},{"role":"Date","values":["109 branches will close in late July and August 2018, while a further 53 branches will close in November 2018","close","close","close"]},{"role":"Location","values":["England and Wales","England","Wales","England","Wales"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["no longer launching Williams & Glyn as a challenger bank, and we now have two branch networks operating in close proximity to each other; NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland, in England and Wales","Royal Bank","Scotland","England","Wales","NatWest","Scotland","England","Wales","Royal Bank","Scotland","Royal Bank","Scotland","England","Wales","NatWest","Scotland","NatWest","Glyn","Royal Bank","Scotland","Glyn"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Mexicana de Aviación, Mexico's biggest airline, files for bankruptcy. (BBC) (Los Angeles Times)","document":"Mexico's biggest airline, Mexicana de Aviacion, has filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to reach a deal with trade unions on cost cutting. The heavily-indebted airline said flights would continue while it restructured its finances.\nMexicana had proposed deep pay cuts for pilots and crew, as well as a 40% reduction in the workforce. The firm suffered heavy losses during Mexico's recession in 2009, as well an outbreak of swine flu the same year. The outbreak caused a sharp fall in tourism in the country. Mexicana said it had filed for bankruptcy in a Mexico City court \"to restructure its costs and ensure the viability of the company\".\nIt has also filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York to fend off legal action from creditors. The 89-year-old airline has debts of about $800m (£500m). Managers said on Monday that wages for pilots and crew as well as staff numbers would have to be cut by about 40% to keep the company running. Workers, who gave up a range of benefits in 2006, have refused to accept the cuts, but have also ruled out a strike. \"We don't have any other option than to continue negotiating,\" Fernando Perfecto, the head of the pilot's union, told Reuters news agency. Mexicana has flights to 65 national and international destinations, including the US, Canada, South America and Europe. The company says it carried 1.1 million passengers in 2009. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mexicana de Aviacion"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Mexico City court"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["failing to reach a deal with trade unions on cost cutting"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Mexicana de Aviación, Mexico's biggest airline, files for bankruptcy. (BBC) (Los Angeles Times)","document":"Mexicana Airlines, the busiest foreign carrier at Los Angeles International Airport, announced Tuesday that it had filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and Mexico, blaming much of its financial trouble on high labor costs.\nThe debt-ridden airline made the announcement one day after suspending a total of 31 flights in Mexico and across the U.S., including some of its departures from Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco and Oakland.\nAt LAX, the airline put a hold on four of 15 daily flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Mexico City.\nThe Mexico City-based airline promised to contact passengers with tickets on canceled flights for a refund or to rebook them on another Mexicana flight or with another carrier.\nMexicana also blames its financial woes on the global financial crisis and the H1N1 (swine flu) epidemic in Mexico that has devastated the travel and tourism industry in the country.\nMexicana flies to more than 65 national and international destinations, including the U.S., Canada, Central and South America and Europe. It operates nearly 70 planes and carried 11.1 million passengers in 2009, according to the company website.\nThe airline’s parent company, Nuevo Grupo Aeronautico, also operates two low-cost domestic airlines, Click and Link, which will continue to operate without interruption, according to the airline.\nIn a statement, the airline said the bankruptcy protection would allow it to restructure its liabilities and “bring its cost structure, particularly labor costs, into line with market conditions.”\nMexicana has put most of the blame for its financial crisis on pilot and flight attendant salaries, which the airline says are up to 185% higher than the pay of their counterparts at Mexican airlines like Volaris or Interjet.\nThe airline has been calling for new contracts that would cut wages for pilots by 41% and impose a 39% wage cut for flight attendants. Mexicana also proposed reducing its overall workforce of pilots and attendants by 40%.\nAmong other ideas, the airline’s management has suggested the unions buy Mexicana for one peso on the condition that the labor groups take responsibility for the airline’s debt, an idea the unions rejected.\nLizette Clavel Sanchez, the secretary general of Mexicana’s flight attendants union, said Tuesday that the airline’s employees were willing to keep negotiating with Mexicana, but only in “transparency and without abuse.”\nClavel said the airline’s contention that Mexicana workers are paid significantly more than those at other airlines in Mexico is like “comparing pears and apples.”\n“Those are low-cost airlines that don’t have the same service, technology and flight times we do. Airlines like Volaris or Interjet don’t make flights longer than four hours. We have flights that are as long as 16 hours,” Clavel said. “It is wrong to quantify our salaries that way.”\nhugo.martin@latimes.com\nTimes staff writer Daniel Hernandez in Mexico City contributed to this report. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Lizette Clavel Sanchez, the secretary general of Mexicana’s flight attendants union"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mexicana Airlines"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["the U.S. and Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico","Mexico"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["financial trouble on high labor costs"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 American retailer Bed Bath & Beyond announces it will close 60 stores by the end of the year due to declining profits. (USA Today)","document":"Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is increasing the number of stores it expects to shutter in the fiscal year.\nThe New Jersey-based home goods retailer, which also operates buybuy Baby, Harmon Face Values and World Market, says it will close 60 stores in the fiscal year across the company, up 20 from the April estimate of 40 stores.\nMost of the closings are expected after the holiday shopping season in early 2020, company officials said during a quarterly earnings call Wednesday. The company's fiscal year typically ends in early March.\nForty of the stores closing will be Bed Bath & Beyond stores and 20 will be stores in the company's other concepts, interim CEO Mary Winston said during the call.\n“With this action we are increasing the profitability of our remaining portfolio and believe that our remaining fleet will benefit from our renewed focus on driving traffic and operating efficiency,” Winston said, adding the \"fleet optimization\" will “create a better balance between our physical and digital presence within the markets we serve.”\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Mary Winston"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bed Bath & Beyond Inc"]},{"role":"Date","values":["early 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["With this action we are increasing the profitability of our remaining portfolio and believe that our remaining fleet will benefit from our renewed focus on driving traffic and operating efficiency"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 UK clothing retailer Bonmarché collapses into administration. The chain employs 2,900 people and operates 318 stores. (iNews)","document":"Clothing retailer Bonmarché has become the latest high street casualty after it appointed administrators, putting 2,900 jobs at risk. \nThe collapse is the culmination of a long saga over the chain’s ownership and will now see the Wakefield-based business looking for a new buyer.\nAdministrators at FRP Advisory said it will continue trading from its 318 stores for the time being while it is put up for sale. No redundancies have been made yet.\nIt comes a few months after Philip Day, the owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, took control of the company with an offer that took it off the stock market.\nMr Day’s stake, which is thought to be around 95 per cent held by his vehicle Spectre, has now been wiped out.\nHelen Connolly, chief executive of the brand, said it was with “deep regret and sadness” that administrators had been appointed.\nShe added that Bonmarché’s management team believed “that if we had had an opportunity to work with the Spectre team closely at an earlier stage, another outcome would have been possible”.\nShe blamed the prolonged uncertainty over Brexit and the “historic difficulty” facing the high street for the company’s woes.\nBonmarche previously considered refinancing or a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which would have allowed it to close stores and cut rents, but the options were considered insufficient to keep the business going.\n“Our first priority is to our colleagues and their families in the face of this difficult news,” Ms Connelly said. \n“This is not the outcome we had hoped for and we will work with the administrators to do all it possibly can to protect as many jobs as possible and work towards finding a buyer for the business that can secure its future going forward.”\nTony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, said there were likely to be buyers keen to bid on it.\n“There is every sign that we can continue trading while we market Bonmarché for sale and believe that there will be interest to take on the business,” he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Helen Connolly, chief executive of the brand"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bonmarché","Bonmarché","Bonmarché"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["prolonged uncertainty over Brexit and the “historic difficulty”"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 U.S. company Purdue Pharma files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Agreeing to contribute more than US$3 billion from the sale of a daughter company, the owners propose to settle thousands of lawsuits related to the risk of addiction to their narcotic painkiller Oxycontin. (The Guardian)","document":"US drug-maker Purdue Pharma has filed for bankruptcy and announced a $10bn (£8bn) plan to settle thousands of lawsuits that accuse the company’s prescription painkiller, OxyContin, of fuelling the deadly opioids crisis.\nThe company, owned by the billionaire Sackler family, faces more than 2,000 lawsuits, including actions from nearly all US states and many local governments, which allege Purdue falsely promoted OxyContin by downplaying the risk of addiction. The public health crisis claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 people between 1999 and 2017, according to the latest US data.\nThe chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, made on Sunday night in White Plains, New York, is designed to halt the lawsuits. Under the proposed settlement, which is backed by about half the states and thousands of local governments that are suing Purdue, the Sacklers will hand the firm’s assets over to a trust. It will operate a reformed company, whose board will be selected by the claimants and approved by the bankruptcy court. Money generated by the new firm could be used for drug treatment.\nThe settlement is worth less than the $12bn originally envisaged. The company listed assets of up to $10bn and debts of $1bn in its chapter 11 filing. The bankruptcy court will decide how the money is allocated among the states, cities and counties.\nThe Sacklers have agreed to contribute at least $3bn as part of the settlement, from funds generated by selling Purdue’s UK-based subsidiary Mundipharma. Their contribution became a sticking point during the discussions.\nSteve Miller, the chairman of Purdue’s board of directors, which met on Sunday night to approve the long-expected bankruptcy filing, said: “This unique framework for a comprehensive resolution will dedicate all of the assets and resources of Purdue for the benefit of the American public.\n“This settlement framework avoids wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and years on protracted litigation, and instead will provide billions of dollars and critical resources to communities across the country trying to cope with the opioid crisis. We will continue to work with state attorneys general and other plaintiff representatives to finalise and implement this agreement as quickly as possible.”\nPurdue said the deal was backed by 24 states and five US territories, as well as lead lawyers for more than 2,000 cities, counties and other plaintiffs.\nHowever, two dozen states remain opposed or uncommitted to the proposed settlement. Opposing states, including Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut, want the Sacklers to contribute more of their own money towards the settlement. Their opposition could complicate the bankruptcy process.\nMembers of the Sackler family also face lawsuits, seeking billions of dollars in damages, that claim the company and family aggressively marketed prescription painkillers while misleading doctors and patients about their addiction and overdose risks.\nPurdue and the Sacklers have denied the allegations.\nThe Delaware attorney general Kathy Jennings said in a statement: “Irrespective of Purdue’s actions or evasion, we will continue to pursue justice on behalf of those harmed by the Sacklers’ greed, callousness and fraud.”\nMembers of the Sackler family said they hoped those opposing the current settlement offer would change their minds. “We are hopeful that in time, those parties who are not yet supportive will ultimately shift their focus to the critical resources that the settlement provides to people and problems that need them.”\nMiller said the company had not admitted wrongdoing and does not intend to. “The alternative is to not settle but instead to resume the litigation,” he told reporters. “The resumption of litigation would rapidly diminish all the resources of the company and would be lose-lose-lose all the way around. Whatever people might wish for is not on the table now.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["the billionaire Sackler family"]},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday night"]},{"role":"Location","values":["White Plains, New York","New York"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Purdue falsely promoted OxyContin by downplaying the risk of addiction"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 German airline Condor, a subsidiary of the now insolvent Thomas Cook Group, files for bankruptcy. (BBC)","document":"Thomas Cook's German subsidiary has announced it is filing for insolvency in an attempt to save its national brands after the collapse of the UK parent company on Monday.\nAlmost 100,000 holidaymakers are travelling with the German affiliates and it is not clear what the bankruptcy proceedings will mean for them.\nThe German government has already granted a €380m (£335m; $420m) bridging loan to the holiday airline Condor.\nCondor is 49% owned by Thomas Cook.\nThe central state of Hesse, where Condor is based, also stepped in to rescue the airline, arguing that it was profitable. The company said it was \"operationally healthy\" and the six-month loan was aimed at preventing any \"bottlenecks\" resulting from its British parent company. The funding will be paid out pending an agreement with the European Commission.\nThomas Cook Germany is also based in Hesse and state premier Volker Bouffier said it was in principle willing to step in to help that company too.\nIt said that it had long been burdened by the weak Thomas Cook business in Great Britain and by Brexit.\nA total of 600,00 holidaymakers have been caught up in the collapse of the UK company. Many have travelled from the UK but Thomas Cook's empire stretches across Europe and tens of thousands have travelled with its subsidiaries.\nUnder EU package holiday rules, holidaymakers are protected financially from a company's insolvency as well as having the right to repatriation.\nThe UK's Civil Aviation Authority has had the task of bringing back more than 150,000 holidaymakers. It repatriated more than 14,000 passengers on Tuesday and was expecting to bring back another 16,500 on Wednesday.\nThousands of Dutch, Belgian and Polish tourists are still abroad, but the biggest group affected outside the UK is from Germany. A spokeswoman said on Wednesday that 97,000 people were currently travelling with the company.\nThomas Cook Germany employs some 2,000 people and has several national brands, including Neckermann, Öger Tours, Air Marin and Bucher Reisen. A thousand people are employed by the company near Frankfurt.\nIt said it was talking to the German foreign ministry as well as the travel bankruptcy insurer, Zurich, about repatriating customers. Like Condor, it has asked the Hesse state government and the federal government for a bridging loan.\nThe German subsidiary believes its brands have a future and is in negotiations with investors and hotel operators to continue in business.\nThomas Cook GmbH said it had been forced to seek insolvency to extricate itself from its (UK) parent company's \"financial tie-ups and related liabilities\".\n\"We owe this to our long-standing customers, committed employees and other partners who have supported us so much over the years and in the last difficult weeks,\" said chief executive Stefanie Berk.\nThomas Cook businesses in several other European countries are also trying to survive:\nFounded in 1841, parent company Thomas Cook filed for bankruptcy after failing to secure emergency funding of £200m from the UK government.\nIn the UK, anyone who has bought a package holiday covered by the Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme (Atol) will have the cost refunded.\nHowever, some customers whose future holidays have been cancelled have seen the price of replacement deals spiral.\nThere is also concern that local businesses will be badly affected in countries where Thomas Cook operates","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["chief executive Stefanie Berk"]},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["failing to secure emergency funding of £200m from the UK government"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus collapses into administration after buyout talks fail, with 1,200 jobs lost. Local politicians urge action from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who commissioned the so–called \"Boris Bus\" from the company when he was Mayor of London and previously promised to \"do everything we can to ensure the future of\" Wrightbus. (Sky News)","document":"Model bus fan Boris Johnson is urged to help prevent the loss of skilled manufacturing jobs amid union anger at the failure.\nWednesday 25 September 2019 14:00, UK\nWrightbus, the Northern Ireland maker of the so-called Boris bus, has fallen into administration with 1,200 jobs lost.\nHours after a story by Sky News that an announcement was imminent, employees and their union representatives were told at a meeting a buyer or new investment could not be found.\nIt followed the breakdown of talks with a number of interested parties including Chinese industrial group Weichai and Jo Bamford - a member of the JCB-founding family.\nAbout 50 workers have been kept on - for now.\nMany of those made redundant left the staff briefing to express their disbelief that a deal - believed to have been close only last week - had not been completed.\nOne, Gordon Mairs, told reporters: \"Officially we were made redundant this morning, we have no jobs. Twenty-two years I have been an employee.\"\nMichael Magnay, joint administrator at insolvency specialists Deloitte, said: \"It is bitterly disappointing for all concerned that despite extensive efforts over recent months it has not been possible to find a buyer who wanted to maintain the business as a going concern.\n\"We recognise the companies are crucially important employers in Ballymena, and this will be devastating news for those who worked there, their families and the town, which has already suffered from a number of manufacturing closures in recent years.\n\"We will continue to support employees through this difficult time. The joint administrators will explore all remaining options for the business and assets, and would encourage any parties with an interest to contact them.\"\nThe Unite union said the collapse of the 73-year old Balymena firm threatened \"devastating consequences\" for the economy in County Antrim and beyond as it built on the closures of Michelin Tyres and Gallaher's Tobacco operations.\nRegional secretary, Jackie Pollock, said: \"This is a workforce at the cutting edge of technological advancements in the design and supply of green public transport.\n\"We cannot afford to lose any more jobs or skills in this area.\n\"Just three months ago Boris Johnson gave assurances that he 'will do everything we can to ensure the future of that great UK company'.\n\"He has a chance today to do something decent.\"\nUnite said 4,700 jobs were now at risk across the company's operations and in its supply chain.\nThe company is best-known for its double-decker Routemasters - with lower-emission vehicles commissioned for use in London while PM Boris Johnson was London mayor.\nHis successor at City Hall, Sadiq Khan, has shied away from them amid a wider fall in orders in recent years that has coincided with bus services drying up.\nThe company made two rounds of redundancies in 2018.\nWrightbus owner William Wright was the first prominent businessperson in Northern Ireland to declare support for Brexit.\nThe company has stopped short of blaming the decision to leave the EU for some of its financial troubles.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Wrightbus owner William Wright"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Wrightbus","Wrightbus"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Northern Ireland","Northern Ireland"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["financial troubles"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 The American clothing retailer Forever 21 files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announces it will close up to 178 stores. (NPR)","document":"Forever 21 — the ubiquitous mall-based fashion retailer aimed at teens, tweens and young adults — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, joining a growing list of apparel outlets to fall victim to competitive online market pressures. The California-based company may close up to 178 U.S. stores, according to court records.\nIn a statement to customers Sunday night, Forever 21 said the bankruptcy move was necessary so it could take \"positive steps to reorganize the business so we can return to profitability.\"\n\"This was an important and necessary step to secure the future of our Company, which will enable us to reorganize our business and reposition Forever 21,\" Linda Chang, the company's executive vice president, said in a statement. The company stressed it's not going out of business, adding that people who come into its stores will have a shopping experience that \"will continue to feel like a normal day.\"\nIn the records filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the company detailed possible store closures but emphasized that it does not expect to fully exit any major U.S. market.\nThe company's leaders also plan to keep operations in Mexico and Latin America, while shutting down stores in Asia and Europe.\n\"Forever 21's restructuring will focus on maximizing the value of our U.S. footprint and shuttering certain international locations,\" the company said in a separate statement to the media.\n\"As such, and as part of our filing, we have requested approval to close up to 178 stores across the U.S.,\" it said. \"The decisions as to which domestic stores will be closing are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued conversations with landlords.\" The company reports it has secured $350 million in financing, which includes $275 million from JPMorgan Chase. An additional $75 million in new capital from TPG Sixth Street Partners will allow the company to continue daily business such as processing gift cards, exchanges and reimbursements. Forever 21 will continue to operate hundreds of stores, according to court records. Many of its current 549 U.S. stores are anchors in malls across the country.\nHowever, the Forever 21 website makes up just 16% of its sales.\nThe chain, founded in 1984, is a major player in fast fashion but has seen its growth stall in recent years as foot traffic in traditional malls continues to dwindle and rent for retailers continues to climb. The chain saw its biggest boom in the 2000s, when Forever 21 would offer en vogue stylings for bargain prices. Forever 21 bet big on the mall-based business model, going for bigger and better store footprints in nearly 800 locations. Forever 21 now joins other troubled stores of the mall-going teen culture of the 1990s and 2000s such as Wet Seal, Aéropostale and American Apparel. But several, like American Apparel, have found a way back.\nForever 21 received approval to continue employee benefits alongside pay and reimbursable expenses, according to the documents. The chain has around 28,500 employees, 23,500 of which are part-time and seasonal. During the upcoming holiday season, the company is expecting to hire 4,000 more employees and 700 temporary staffers. NPR's Alina Selyukh and Peter Talbot contributed to this report.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Linda Chang, the company's executive vice president","company","company","company","company","company","company","company"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Forever 21","Forever 21","Forever 21","Forever 21","Forever 21","Forever 21","Forever 21"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["competitive online market pressures"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2019 Slovenian airline Adria Airways cancels all flights and files for bankruptcy. (Reuters)","document":"LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenian airline Adria Airways has filed for bankruptcy and canceled all flights, it said in a statement on Monday, after financial problems forced it to ground most of its planes over the last week.\n“Bankruptcy proceedings were initiated by the management of the company because of the company’s insolvency,” Adria, which is owned by German investment firm 4K Invest, said.\nAdria is the latest in a long line of small European airlines to run into financial trouble amid industry overcapacity, cut-throat competition and high fuel prices.\nSince last Tuesday Adria has canceled more than 400 flights affecting more than 15,000 passengers.\nSlovenia’s Economy Minister Zdravko Pocivalsek said earlier on Monday the government was considering establishing a new airline company to improve the country’s international connections. Adria’s collapse was very damaging to Slovenia’s economy and tourism industry, the minister said.\nOfficials were talking to Germany's Lufthansa LHAG.DE and Fraport FRAG.DE, which owns Ljubljana airport, about transferring half of Adria's flights, Pocivalsek said.\nA Lufthansa spokesman said it was too early to say how Adria’s flights would be replaced in the long-term. Lufthansa is currently organizing flights to cover connections Adria was flying for the German group, either exclusively or via code share, he added.\nSlovenia’s Civil Aviation Agency last week gave Adria until Oct. 2 to present a financial plan in order to keep its operating license.\nSlovenia sold Adria to 4K Invest in 2016. The company has since sold all of its planes and has been flying to several European destinations on leased aircraft. According to TV Slovenia and other media, Adria has debt of around 90 million euros ($98.30 million).\nGovernment officials have said European Union rules on state aid prevented the government helping Adria, adding it would also not help the company under its current ownership, which they called “irresponsible”.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Adria Airways"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Slovenia","Slovenia","Slovenia","Slovenia","Slovenia","Slovenia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["financial problems forced it to ground most of its planes over the last week"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2011 The New Zealand Press Association closes down after over 130 years in operation with 42 job losses. (3 News)","document":"The New Zealand Press Association, the organisation that services newspapers with news, is to close down after more than 130 years.\nThe organisation will wind up its operations within the next four to six months and 42 staff are set to lose their jobs.\nThe NZPA called a meeting at its Wellington headquarters this afternoon to discuss the future of the media outlet.\nEPMU national secretary Andrew Little said he had been told last week that there would be some job losses at NZPA.\n“APN sources tell me it is Fairfax who want out of NZPA,” 3 News political reporter Patrick Gower tweeted this afternoon.\nFor as long as newspapers have been rolling off the presses in New Zealand, NZPA has been providing content for them.\nIt was set up in 1879 and on the companies website today it boasts of sending out a thousand pieces of information every 24 hours from stock exchange reports to news pieces to international news wires.\nKip Brook worked as the chief foreign correspondent for NZPA in London during the 1980s.\n“We did a lot and there were big teams and we covered big events and we covered the news not just for the media but for all the New Zealand public because this was before internet came in and people didn't know what was going on,” he says. At one point NZPA had journalists stationed in Singapore, Washington, London and Sydney.\nOnly the Sydney office remains now and staff numbers have been slashed.\nToday's announcement that NZPA is to disappear altogether was not unexpected but Mr Brook says it's a sad day for New Zealand media.\nWith the expansion of digital media it seems the time of the news agency is over.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The New Zealand Press Association"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the next four to six months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Four banks, with total assets of $2.7 billion, are ordered closed in the U.S.; 157 American banks failed last year.(Reuters)","document":"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities closed four banks -- one in Denver and three in the U.S. Southeast -- on Friday with total assets of $2.7 billion, bringing the number of failures in 2011 so far to seven.\nThe pace of bank failures is expected to decrease in 2011 as the economy recovers and the impact of the 2007-2009 financial crisis fades. In 2010, 157 banks failed, following 140 failures in 2009.\nFDIC Chairman Sheila Bair has said the agency expects the number of failures to drop in 2011.\n“You will still have elevated bank failures in 2011 but based on our current projections it will be significantly lower than what we had last year,” she said on January 13.\nSmaller banks, those with less than a billion dollars in assets, continue to struggle and have made up the bulk of recent closures. Many are having trouble dealing with the sluggish real estate market, particularly its effect on loans they made for commercial property.\nThe FDIC announced the following closures on Friday:\n* United Western Bank UWB.BO, of Denver. It had assets of $2.05 billion. First Citizens Bank & Trust Company FCNCA.O, of Raleigh, North Carolina, will assume the deposits. United Western Bank had eight branches, including in Boulder and Fort Collins.\nFirst Citizens already had three branches in the Denver area operated by its IronStone Bank division. First Citizens has purchased assets of four other banks, in Florida, California and Washington state, in the past 18 months.\n* CommunitySouth Bank and Trust, of Easley, South Carolina. Had $440.6 million in assets. CertusBank, National Association, of Easley, South Carolina, a newly-chartered bank subsidiary of Blue Ridge Holdings Inc, Charlotte, North Carolina, assumed the deposits.\n* Bank of Asheville, North Carolina. It had assets of $195.1 million. First Bank, Troy, North Carolina, to assume the deposits.\n* Enterprise Banking Company, of McDonough, Georgia. It had assets of $100.9 million. FDIC created Deposit Insurance National Bank of McDonough, which will remain open until January 28, to allow depositors access to insured deposits and time to open accounts elsewhere.\nOn November 23 the FDIC released its latest quarterly report on the state of the banking industry. It showed that the industry overall continues to recover from the financial crisis but that large banks are doing better than smaller institutions.\nThe net income for the banking industry was $14.5 billion for the third quarter, which compares to $21.4 billion in the second quarter and $2 billion in the third quarter of 2009, according to the FDIC.\nThe agency said that third-quarter earnings would have reached a three-year high had it not been for a $10.4 billion goodwill charge taken by Bank of America BAC.N during the quarter for its card business.\nThe banking industry has been setting aside less money to guard against losses, helping to boost earnings in recent quarters.\nBair has cautioned against banks reducing these reserves too quickly given the state of the economy.\nDespite the improving revenue numbers for the industry as a whole, community banks continue to be hit hard by the weak economy and the amount of bad loans on their books, particularly in the commercial real estate sector.\nFor instance, the number of banks on the agency’s “problem list” grew to 860 from 829, to reach the highest number since March of 1993 when there were 928 institutions on the list. Most of these institutions will not fail but the list provides an indication of how many banks are struggling.\nReporting by Charles Abbott; Editing by Tim Dobbyn, Bernard Orr\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bank of Asheville","bank","Bank","Bank","Bank","Bank","Bank","Bank","Bank","United Western Bank UWB.BO","Enterprise Banking Company","CommunitySouth Bank and Trust","Trust"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Denver","Denver","Denver","U.S. Southeast"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["bank failures","bank failures"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Clothing manufacturer and retailer American Apparel files for bankruptcy. The company says that its 200+ retail stores will continue to operate without any interruptions. (The New York Times), (Forbes)","document":"Nearly a year after the ouster of founder and CEO Dov Charney, American Apparel has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.\nThis comes as little surprise to investors of the LA-based clothing retailer, who were warned in August that the company had \"substantial doubt\" it could remain in business and investors could incur big losses. In its latest quarter, the company reported a loss of $19.4 million.\nBy declaring bankruptcy, American Apparel plans to restructure its debt in the next six months. The company said it will be business as usual for its 200+ retail stores, which will continue to operate without any interruptions.\n\"This restructuring will enable American Apparel to become a stronger, more vibrant company,\" said CEO Paula Schneider\n in a statement. \"By improving our financial footing, we will be able to refocus our business efforts on the execution of our turnaround strategy.\"\nIn an attempt to shore up its finances, American Apparel will convert over $200 million in debt into equity stakes in the reorganized company. Lenders will also provide some $90 million in debtor-in-possession financing, plus $70 million in new financing.\nThe result will be a reduction in American Apparel's debt from $300 million to no more than $135 million, the company said.\nThe iconic brand, known for its raunchy ads, has been shuttering stores and laying off employees under a turnaround plan meant to cut costs and revive a steep drop in sales. The company hasn't left its drama with controversial former CEO Dov Charney behind yet, either. In recent months, the company has amassed huge legal bills from lawsuits with Charney, who was fired amid allegations involving sexual harassment and misuse of corporate funds.\nAmerican Apparel's stock, which has devolved into penny stock status amid the company's ongoing troubles, dropped another three cents on Monday and was trading at just nine cents per share.\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["CEO Paula Schneider"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["American Apparel","American Apparel","American Apparel","American Apparel","American Apparel","American Apparel"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["bankruptcy","bankruptcy"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Clothing manufacturer and retailer American Apparel files for bankruptcy. The company says that its 200+ retail stores will continue to operate without any interruptions. (The New York Times), (Forbes)","document":"American Apparel, the onetime arbiter of made-in-America cool, filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday, its business crippled by huge debts, a precipitous fall in sales, employee strife and a drawn-out legal battle with the retailer’s ousted founder, Dov Charney.\nThe Chapter 11 petition, approved by the board, was filed in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. The filing followed a deal struck with most of American Apparel’s secured lenders to reduce the retailer’s debt through a process known as a debt-for-equity conversion, where bondholders swap their debt for shares in the company.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["American Apparel","American Apparel"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["bankruptcy","bankruptcy","crippled by huge debts, a precipitous fall in sales, employee strife and a drawn-out legal battle with the retailer’s ousted founder, Dov Charney"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2015 Tunisia announces plans to close down 80 \"propagandist\" mosques following yesterday's attacks in which 39 people died. (BBC)","document":"Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid has announced a clampdown on security after an attack on a holiday resort in which 38 people were killed.\nHe said army reservists would be deployed to archaeological sites and resorts.\nAbout 80 mosques accused of \"spreading venom\" will close within a week, he said.\nFifteen of the victims in Friday's attack near Sousse were Britons. The gunman was shot dead.\nHe was identified as Seifeddine Rezgui, a student not previously known to authorities, officials said.\nOne Belgian and one German have so far been identified among the dead, the health ministry said. One citizen of the Irish Republic is also confirmed dead.\nThere were also thought to be Tunisians and French killed in the attack, which was claimed by Islamic State (IS). At least 36 people are injured, some seriously.\nIt was the second major attack on tourists in Tunisia since March, when militants killed 22 people, mainly foreigners, at Bardo museum in Tunis.\nMany of the tourists in hotels affected by Friday's attack have left the country or are waiting for specially arranged flights, but correspondents noted a few were back by the hotel pool on Saturday, vowing they would continue their holidays as scheduled.\nSpeaking at a news conference in Tunis, Mr Essid said some mosques outside government control were spreading \"venom\" and would be shut down.\nMr Essid also vowed to act against parties and groups \"acting outside the constitution\".\n\"The country is under threat; the government is under threat,\" Mr Essid said. At the scene: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Sousse\nThe clinics of Sousse aren't used to dealing with gunshot wounds. A quiet, tourist town, it's been severely shaken by this tragedy. At the Sahloul University hospital, they're taking in the victims. More than 20 are being treated here. One is in intensive care, others are waiting for operations on limbs punctured by bullets.\nTony Callaghan, from Norfolk in eastern England, was at the Imperial Hotel with his wife - it was their third time there. The attack sent him running from the beach into the hotel, crying out for his wife to take cover. One bullet hit his knee. He ended up with a group in one room, barricading themselves in. He could hear his wife outside crying for help. Welling up with tears, he tells me he didn't know if he'd see her alive.\nBut then he holds up her bag, with her glasses case inside. Both bear bullet holes, the lens of the glasses shattered. The bag took the impact of the bullet which then hit her leg. And she too waits, being treated upstairs at the Sahloul hospital, not knowing when she and her husband will get home.\nWho were the British victims?\n\"Without the co-operation of everyone and a show of unity, we cannot win this war.\" However, many Tunisians are asking why stricter security measures had not already been put in place following March's attack, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Tunis.\nSecurity officials said the attacker, who posed as a swimmer but was carrying a rifle under a parasol, started shooting on the beach before entering the Hotel Imperial Marhaba, continuing to shoot.\nA British holidaymaker, Steve Johnson, told the BBC: \"We were just lying on the beach as usual and... we heard what we thought at first was fireworks. \"But it was soon pretty obvious... that it was firearms that were being discharged and people were screaming and starting to run.\"\nAnother holidaymaker, named only as Danny, said he and his wife had sought refuge in an office when the shooting started.\n\"We hid in there for about forty-five minutes to an hour, I think,\" he told the BBC. \"We could hear guns and grenades and explosions and all sorts of things... \"I hid under a table and kissed my wife goodbye thinking that that was going to be the end.\"\nIS said it was behind Friday's attack on what it called a \"den of vice\".\nIt identified the gunman by the nom de guerre of Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani. Social media accounts close to the group showed pictures of him.\nOne survivor told how her fiance, a Welsh tourist, was shot three times as he used his body as a shield to protect her.\n\"He took a bullet for me,\" said Saera Wilson. \"I owe him my life because he threw himself in front of me when the shooting started.\n\"It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming.\n\"I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood.\nWelsh tourist was human shield\nFifteen Britons among the dead\nLocal media reported a second suspected attacker had been arrested, but this has not been confirmed.\nIS had urged followers to step up assaults during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Friday's attack was the deadliest in Tunisia's recent history. The country has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in in 2011.\nDemocratic elections after Ben Ali's removal saw the moderate Islamist Ennahda party take power before the secularist Nidaa Tounes government won a parliamentary poll in October.\nHowever, neither party has been able effectively to combat Islamist violence - which has been made worse by conflict in neighbouring Libya and by Tunisian fighters returning home after joining Islamist campaigns in Iraq and Syria.\n6.1 million\nthe number of tourist arrivals to Tunisia in 2014\n15.2% the total contribution of travel and tourism to Tunisia's GDP 473,000 the number of jobs supported by travel and tourism (13.8% of total employment) The shooting in Tunisia came on the same day as:","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["mosques"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Tunisia","Tunisia","Tunisia","Tunisia","Tunisia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["some mosques outside government control were spreading \"venom\""]}]}
+{"title":"March_2005 In India, the state of Maharashtra closes its dance bars outside the city of Mumbai as breeding grounds for prostitution (Hindustan Times) (Rediff) (BBC)","document":"Dance bars all over Maharashtra, barring Mumbai, will be closed with immediate effect, Maharashtra government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. A committee will finalise norms for bars in the state capital, it said.\nReplying to a calling attention motion, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil said dance bars, which had flourished in various parts of the state, had adverse effect on the youth, 'damaging' the cultural texture of the state. \"Many of these bars do not have entertainment licences and are flouting the norms laid down under the eatery and liquor licence issued to them,\" Patil said. The home minister said the government will also take a decision on not issuing fresh licences for dance bars. Members Vivek Patil, Ramchandra Sale and Tukaram Birkad had tabled the motion in the lower house drawing the attention of the government to the spurt in dancing bars in Raigad district. The Peasants and Workers Party held several agitations to protest against the bar culture and even submitted a memorandum to the Thane rural police chief asking him to cancel licences of dance bars within 15 days, the members said. However, instead of controlling these bars, the authorities had allowed their numbers to increase, they said. The recent raid on 'Baywatch' dance bar in Khalapur has endorsed that such bars are centres of flesh trade, the members added.\nMeanwhile, the dance bars in Mumbai have decided to remain closed from April one to protest against the government decision's.\n\"The dance bars in the city will remain closed to show their solidarity with the bars in rest of the state, which have been ordered to close down,\" Bar Association of Mumbai President Manjit Sethi told PTI.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Dance bars","dance bars","dance bars"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Maharashtra, barring Mumbai","Maharashtra"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["do not have entertainment licences and are flouting the norms laid down under the eatery and liquor licence"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 Canada temporarily closes its embassy in Venezuela after Canadian diplomats were no longer able to get diplomatic accreditation under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government according to a statement released by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland. (Global Affairs Canada) (CBC News)","document":"“As Venezuela slides deeper into dictatorship, and as Venezuelans continue to suffer at the hands of the illegitimate Maduro regime, the regime has taken steps to limit the ability of foreign embassies to function in Venezuela, particularly those advocating for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.\n“Unfortunately, at the end of this month, Canadian diplomats in Venezuela will no longer be in a position to obtain diplomatic accreditation under the Maduro regime, and their visas will expire. Therefore, we are left with no choice but to temporarily suspend our operations at the Embassy of Canada to Venezuela, effective immediately.\n“We are also evaluating the status of Venezuelan diplomats appointed by the Maduro regime to Canada.\n“Notwithstanding this temporary suspension, Canada, together with its partners in the Lima Group and the international community, will continue to stand up for the rights of the Venezuelan people and for a full return to democracy in Venezuela.\n“Canada continues to provide consular assistance to Canadians in Venezuela through the Embassy of Canada to Colombia, in Bogotá. For several months, we have advised Canadians to avoid all travel to Venezuela. \n“Canadians in need of consular assistance in Venezuela should send an email to sos@international.gc.ca or contact the Embassy of Canada to Colombia, in Bogotá, at +57 (1) 657-9800. Canadians can also contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa by calling collect +1 613 996 8885. For Travel Advice and Advisories for Venezuela, visit travel.gc.ca.”\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Embassy of Canada to Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Canada","Canada","Venezuela","Canada","Venezuela","Embassy","Canada","Venezuela","Venezuela","Embassy","Canada","Canada","Venezuela"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Canadian diplomats in Venezuela will no longer be in a position to obtain diplomatic accreditation under the Maduro regime, and their visas will expire","Venezuela","Maduro regime","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Maduro regime","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the closure of five of its embassies, the ones in Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica. Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had opened more than 65 embassies in countries throughout the Global South in a bid to enhance political and economic ties with Brazil. (teleSUR)","document":"Brazil retreats from its South-South cooperation policy by closing five of its embassies in the Caribbean.\nBrazil confirmed the closure Wednesday of five Caribbean embassies to include those in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry is also considering more embassy closures in two African countries.\n Bolsonaro\nBrazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo made the official confirmation Wednesday through a press release to the media. His stated justification for the closures was based on “adjusting foreign policy needs to the realities of our resources, both human and financial.”\nAccording to the Itamaraty, the name for the headquarters of the foreign ministry, the closures “will not diminish bilateral relations,” assuring that Brazil’s interests “will be covered by other diplomatic missions in the region that are already prepared or can be optimized to take over new duties.”\nThese closures represent a departure from the policies backed by former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his Workers Party, which opened at least 67 embassies in countries throughout the Global South in a bid to enhance political and economic ties with Brazil and as part of a larger strategy of South-South cooperation.\nDespite the insistence that the move is related to costs and available personnel, Brazil's former Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, told a local media outlet that “the costs of those embassies is minimal. This just shows a lack of interest.”\nAraujo was appointed as head of Brazil’s Foreign Ministry by President Jair Bolsonaro in November 2018. His appointment came as a surprise since the relatively young top diplomat was low on the foreign service hierarchy.\nSome media reports have speculated that Araujo’s appointment was made in part thanks to a pro-Trump essay he wrote back in 2017 which praised U.S. President Donald Trump, lambasted the United Nations and globalism, and advocated for a Trump-Brazil alliance.\nTwo other embassies are being assessed for possible closure, both in Africa. Brazil’s Liberian embassy in the capital of Monrovia and Sierra Leone’s embassy in Freetown. Another embassy in Africa, that of Libya, is technically active, but has no staff appointed to it.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Bolsonaro\nBrazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Caribbean embassies"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["adjusting foreign policy needs to the realities of our resources, both human and financial"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2013 Southern California Edison announces it will permanently close its San Onofre nuclear power plant near San Diego. (Christian Science Monitor)","document":"Southern California Edison is shutting the remaining two reactors at San Onofre, citing high repair costs and an NRC ruling that the utility says would delay reactor restarts.\nJune 7, 2013\nThe San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), a nuclear power plant set into the seaside bluffs in northern San Diego County, is closing after the high cost of repairs and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission board ruling prompted its owner, Southern California Edison, to pull the plug on the 45-year-old facility.\nThe announcement Friday that San Onofre’s two functioning reactors were being shut down brings to four the number of reactors that nuclear utilities have slated for closure since last November. Meanwhile, nuclear utilities have three new reactors on the drawing boards.\nAt least for now, \"we're losing them faster than we're building them,\" quips David Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer by training who focuses on nuclear-energy issues at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington.\nIn February, Duke Energy announced it was shutting down the reactor at its Crystal River power station in Florida after workers discovered a crack in the containment dome. The crack was created during efforts to replace a critical component of the reactor system that transfers heat to water in order to generate steam for the plant's turbines.\nIn early May, the utility Dominion shuttered its single-reactor Kewaunee nuclear plant in Carleton, Wis., a casualty of cheaper sources of electricity and an inability to build additional reactors to take advantage of what the company called economies of scale.\n\"Nuclear economics is tenuous at best,\" Mr. Lochbaum says. \"If you do everything right, you can make money at this. But if you stumble, there's a big price to pay, and not just from a Fukushima-type tragedy.\"\nFinancial setbacks can take their toll as well, he says, whether a setback comes from lost business or from hardware failures or human error that sets the stage for costly repairs.\nIn announcing San Onofre's closure Friday, Ted Craver, Southern California Edison's chairman and chief executive officer, noted that the station has been generating electricity for more than 40 years, \"but we have concluded that the continuing uncertainty about when or if SONGS might return to service was not good for our customers, our investors, or the need to plan for our region's long-term electricity needs.\"\nThe utility first broke ground on SONGS in 1964. The plant initially hosted one nuclear reactor. Two more were added and came on line in 1983 and '84. Since then, the plant's first reactor was decomissioned, leaving units 2 and 3 to help power southern California's voracious demand for energy.\nBoth units sported relatively new sets of steam generators – components that along with the reactor sit inside a concrete containment building. The steam generator houses bundles of tubes through which high-pressure, superheated steam from the nuclear reactor flows. Pumps force water past the searingly hot tubes to produce the steam that drives the plant's generators.\nIn early January 2012, the utility took Unit 2 down for a routine refueling outage. At the end of the month, operators running Unit 3 detected a small leak in a steam generator tube that allowed radioactive steam to mix with the steam sent outside the containment building to the generators.\nThe utility shut down Unit 3 and began an exhaustive inspection of the steam generators for both reactors. The inspections revealed unexpected wear and tear on a significant proportion of the tubes.\nThe ultimate cause of the excessive damage to the tubes came from an attempt to make the tubes more resistant to cracking than were the tubes in the original designs, Lochbaum says. In the past, tubes have been subject to damage because they were too vulnerable to vibrations caused by instabilities in the superheated steam flowing through them. These instabilities cause the tightly packed tubes to vibrate and knock into one another.\nThe new tubes were stiffer. But tubes can vibrate in two directions, Lochbaum explains. The computer simulations designed to model the performance of the new design failed to take into account one of those two directions. The modelers assumed that the supports for the tubes that dampened one set of vibrations would dampen the other as well – which also happened to be the mode that inflicts the most damage.\nEngineering studies indicated that the company could restart Unit 2, but it would have to run at 70 percent of its rated output, at least for the first five months, according to the company's statement. Lochbaum adds that the assessments also indicated that the plant would have to shut down every 15 months, rather than every 18, to perform the inspections needed to ensure tubes were not being damaged.\nWhat looked to the utility to be a sensible $780 million investment in 2009 and '10 to extend the lifetime of the two reactors turned into an economic albatross, Lochbaum suggests.\nIn addition, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Reactor Safety and Licensing Board recently ruled that prior to any reactor restart, groups that have opposed restarting SONGS were entitled to present their case against restart.\nSouthern California Edison's announcement noted that the additional delays this process would impose could last more than a year.\nOpposition has been fueled by increased NRC scrutiny the plant reportedly has received in recent years over safety concerns. Meanwhile, in April, the ABC News affiliate in San Diego reported that an unnamed nuclear-safety engineer at the plant had come forward to highlight the danger from the defective steam-generator tubes.\nEnvironmental groups that had opposed restart were quick to applaud the decision.\n“Shutting down San Onofre is the right thing to do,” said Michelle Kinman, with Environment California, in a prepared statement. “Shutting down this nuclear plant will best protect public safety and the environment.”\nThe announcement also drew support from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) of California.\n\"I am greatly relieved that the San Onofre nuclear plant will be closed permanently. This nuclear plant had a defective redesign and could no longer operate as intended. Modifications to the San Onofre nuclear plant were unsafe and posed a danger to the eight million people living within 50 miles of the plant,\" she said in a statement released Friday.\nWith SONGS not only down, but now out, California still has enough generating capacity to get it through the summer, according to the California Independent System Operator, a group that runs much of the state's electrical grid.\nGet the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox.\nThe two SONGS reactors represent a combined generating capacity of about 2,200 megawatts. Over the past year, the state has added generating capacity of about 2,500 megawatts, with another 891 megawatt expected to have come on line between April and June, according to the group.\nStill, managing the loads during the summer will remain challenging, the group says, especially if high-voltage lines fail due to a fire or some other event, some localized blackouts could occur. In addition, population growth in the L.A. basin could lead to \"marginally more challenging\" conditions than last summer in ensuring that Orange and San Diego Counties receive reliable service.\nAlready a subscriber? Login\nMonitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. We believe news can and should expand a sense of identity and possibility beyond narrow conventional expectations.\nOur work isn't possible without your support.\nAlready a subscriber? Login\nDear Reader,\nAbout a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:\n“Many things that end up” being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, “have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Sometimes, we call things ‘boring’ simply because they lie outside the box we are currently in.”\nIf you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.\nBut you know what? We change lives. And I’m going to argue that we change lives precisely because we force open that too-small box that most human beings think they live in.\nThe Monitor is a peculiar little publication that’s hard for the world to figure out. We’re run by a church, but we’re not only for church members and we’re not about converting people. We’re known as being fair even as the world becomes as polarized as at any time since the newspaper’s founding in 1908.\nWe have a mission beyond circulation, we want to bridge divides. We’re about kicking down the door of thought everywhere and saying, “You are bigger and more capable than you realize. And we can prove it.”\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Ted Craver"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS)","SONGS","SONGS","SONGS","SONGS","SONGS"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["northern San Diego"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["after the high cost of repairs and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission board ruling prompted its owner","repairs"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2013 The government of Greece shuts down the public radio and television broadcaster ERT, calling it a \"haven of waste\". (The Guardian)","document":"Greek state TV and radio were gradually pulled off the air late on Tuesday, hours after the government said it would temporarily close all state-run broadcasts and lay off about 2,500 workers as part of a cost-cutting drive demanded by the bailed-out country's international creditors.\nTV and radio stations of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, or ERT, were pulled off the air in several parts of the country from about 11pm (9pm BST), about an hour before the government said all signals would go dead, although satellite broadcasts continued.\nThe conservative-led government said ERT would reopen \"as soon as possible\" with a new, smaller workforce. It wasn't immediately clear how long that would take, and whether all stations would reopen.\n\"Congratulations to the Greek government,\" newscaster Antonis Alafogiorgos said toward the end of ERT's main TV live broadcast. \"This is a blow to democracy.\" \"I was hoping up until the last minute that the reports were not true. It's unbelievable,\" news reader Stavroula Christofilea said moments after the move was announced.\nA Finance Ministry statement said ERT has been formally disbanded, and authorities would \"secure\" the corporation's facilities. Riot police deployed outside ERT buildings in several parts of Greece, but no clashes were reported.\nThousands of media workers and supporters protested against the closure outside the company's headquarters in the Athens suburb of Aghia Paraskevi. Unions representing ERT workers at three terrestrial TV stations, one satellite station and its national and regional radio network said they would keep the stations on air. Protesting employees were joined by opposition politicians and union leaders. Both minority government partners of the ruling conservative coalition condemned the suspension.\nGovernment spokesman Simos Kedikoglou – a former state TV journalist – described ERT as a \"haven of waste\". He said its employees would be compensated.\nKedikoglou said in a televised statement aired on the state broadcaster: \"At a time when the Greek people are enduring sacrifices, there is no room for delay, hesitation or tolerance for sacred cows.\n\"ERT is a typical example of unique lack of transparency and incredible waste. And that ends today,\" Kedikoglou said. \"It costs three to seven times as much as other TV stations and four to six times the personnel – for a very small viewership, about half that of an average private station.\"\nERT has long been seen as a bastion of quality programming in a media landscape dominated by commercial stations. But it was also used by successive governments to provide safe jobs for political favourites, and, while nominally independent, devoted considerable time and effort to showcasing administration policies.\nThe broadcaster is largely state-funded, with every Greek household paying a fee through its electricity bills whether they have a TV set or not.\nIt is the first case of mass public sector layoffs in Greece , which has pledged to cut 15,000 state jobs by 2015 as part of its bailout commitments.\nDebt-stifled Greece has depended on rescue loans from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund since May 2010. In exchange, it imposed deeply resented income cuts and tax hikes, which exacerbated a crippling recession and forced tens of thousands of businesses to close, sending unemployment to a record 27%.\nGreece's POESY media union accused the government of sacrificing the broadcaster to appease its creditors.\n\"Bailout creditors are demanding civil service layoffs and the government, in order to meet its obligations toward foreign monitors, is prepared to sacrifice the public broadcasting corporation,\" a union statement said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["TV and radio stations of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation","TV","TV"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Greek","Greek","Greek"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["\"ERT is a typical example of unique lack of transparency and incredible waste. And that ends today,\" Kedikoglou said.","ERT","ERT","ERT"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2009 China's Sanlu Group declares bankruptcy, due to the country's 2008 milk scandal. (BBC)","document":"A Chinese food group at the centre of a contaminated milk scandal which killed six babies has been declared bankrupt with debts of $160m (£113m).\nSanlu, which had been one of China's most trusted brands, was the first of 22 firms found to have sold the milk.\nMore than 300,000 children were made ill by the milk, to which melamine had been added to boost protein readings.\nThe chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, Tian Wenhua, has already been sentenced to life imprisonment.\nOther Sanlu executives received sentences of five to 15 years. Two other men were sentenced to death.\nBut anger among the Chinese population was not only directed at Sanlu. As the scale of the deadly scam became known, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao gave a rare public apology for failing to prevent the crisis.\nChinese product safety regulators have now announced they are investigating whether a unit of the French Danone group also used the toxic chemical.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Tian Wenhua"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Sanlu Group"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["declared bankrupt with debts of $160m (£113m)"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2009 Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Council approves the closure of the U.S. Air Force's Manas Air Base. (Reuters)","document":"BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan’s parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to close the last remaining U.S. air base in Central Asia, which serves as a transit point for U.S. troops fighting in nearby Afghanistan.\nKyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev attends a parliament session on a proposal to close a U.S. air base in Bishkek February 19, 2009. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov\nThe planned closure of the Manas air base poses a challenge to new President Barack Obama who plans to send more troops to Afghanistan to boost efforts to defeat Taliban insurgents.\nIt also comes at a time of heightened rivalry between Moscow and Washington for control of Central Asia, a vast former Soviet region still seen by Russia as part of its sphere of interest.\nThe 90-seat parliament, dominated by the ruling party, voted by 78 to one to approve a government proposal on closing the base. One lawmaker voted against and two abstained. The rest were absent.\n“Once all the procedures are over, an official eviction vote will be sent and after that the United States will be given 180 days to wrap up operations at the air base,” Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said after the vote.\nPresident Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s press service said the Kyrgyz leader was due to sign the approved decision into law some time within the next month under Kyrgyz law, but gave no details.\nU.S. forces at the base, nestling in the bare steppes outside the capital Bishkek, said its operations would continue as normal in the meantime.\n“We are saddened by the decision made today. We have enjoyed our ability to serve here in Kyrgyzstan,” Major Damien Pickart, the air base spokesman, said by telephone.\n“We will await official notification but it remains to be seen what the final decision would be.”\nRelated Coverage\nBakiyev announced the closure plans this month after accepting more than $2 billion in aid and credit from traditional ally Russia. He has accused Washington of refusing to pay a higher rent for use of the base.\nRussia has an air base of its own in Kyrgyzstan. It pays no rent as its use is part of a joint security pact.\nThe United States and its allies already fly troops and supplies to Afghanistan from bases in Europe and the Gulf and could increase this traffic to make up for the loss of Manas.\nThe United States is also looking at other land routes through Central Asia as alternatives to Pakistan, where supply convoys have been attacked by Taliban militants.\nU.S. regional military chief General David Petraeus visited Uzbekistan this week as part of these efforts.\nOne of the routes, through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, will soon be tested when a first shipment of non-military goods leaves NATO member Latvia for Afghanistan.\nKyrgyzstan’s opposition has accused Bakiyev of selling out to Russia. Moscow and Kyrgyzstan have denied any connection between the Russian financial package and Bakiyev’s decision.\nSome critics said closing the base could breed instability in Kyrgyzstan when the threat of radical Islam is on the rise in Central Asia, a vast region wedged between Russia in the north, Iran and Afghanistan in the south and China in the east.\n“At this difficult time, the weakening of the regional security system paves the way for extremism and terrorism,” said Bakyt Beshimov, an opposition politician. “Therefore, we believe the decision (to close the U.S. base) is premature.”\nAdditional reporting by Olga Dzyubenko, Dmitry Solovyov and Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Andrew Roche\nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.\nAll quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Manas air base"]},{"role":"Date","values":["February 19, 2009"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bishkek","Bishkek"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2008 General Motors announces it will close 4 pickup truck and sports utility vehicle factories in Janesville, Wisconsin, Oshawa, Ontario, Moraine, Ohio, and Toluca, State of Mexico, eliminating 10,000 jobs; it also announces plans for a small car that will achieve 45 miles per gallon in response to rising fuel prices. (AP via Google News)","document":"GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner arrives at a news conference prior to attending the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in Wilmington, Del. Wagoner said Tuesday before the automaker's annual meeting the plants to be closed are in Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wis.; and Toluca, Mexico. He also said the Hummer brand may be discontinued. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)\nBy TOM KRISHER – 6 days ago WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — General Motors Corp. officially blew up its old business model Tuesday, closing four pickup truck and sport utility vehicle factories, announcing a new small car that could get 45 miles per gallon and shedding 10,000 jobs in the process.\nBut it remains to be seen whether the world's largest automaker by sales can sell enough cars to make money in a shrinking U.S. market and stay ahead of the bill collectors.\nThe automaker said it would idle pickup and SUV factories in Janesville, Wis.; Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; and Toluca, Mexico, as it tries to deal with a shift to smaller vehicles brought on by $4 per gallon gasoline.\nGM said the truck plant cuts, which will reduce capacity to produce pickups and large SUVs by about 35 percent, will save the company $1 billion per year, and when combined with earlier measures, by 2011 will save $15 billion over 2005 costs.\nGM's moves, which come after a series of restructuring measures since 2005, are the result of a huge shift in U.S. consumer preferences for small cars and crossovers during the past two months.\n\"We at GM don't think this is a spike or temporary shift,\" Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said. \"We believe that it is, by and large, permanent.\"\nThe automaker now will have to parlay its strong overseas sales and the lower North American costs into a profit by selling cars in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, half the price of its high-profit SUVs and pickup trucks.\n\"The new cars, they tend to price those accordingly,\" said Pete Hastings, senior analyst with Memphis, Tenn.-based Morgan Keegan & Co. \"They tend to make money, just not as much money compared to the nice margins on the SUVs and large trucks.\"\nHastings is confident GM can pay bills and make money with its new North American cars, but that will be hard unless the U.S. economy recovers.\n\"I don't think they can get to profitability quickly if the economy stays where it is,\" he said.\nGM lost $3.3 billion in the first quarter and burned through $3.4 billion in cash from January through March. Its May sales were down 28 percent compared with last May.\nThe pace of the cash burn may force GM back to the capital markets for more borrowing, Hastings said, although the company has said it has sufficient cash to withstand a downturn.\n\"They've got a lot of liquidity now,\" Hastings said. \"They are burning through it faster than they thought they would earlier in the year.\"\nGM ended the quarter with $23.9 billion in cash and $7 billion in credit facilities.\nJust before the company's annual shareholders' meeting in Wilmington, Del., Wagoner also announced the automaker will build a new generation small car starting in mid-2010 at a factory in Lordstown, Ohio, that now makes the Chevrolet Cobalt.\nIn the past, costs generally were too high for Detroit automakers to turn a profit on small U.S.-built cars. But Wagoner said GM has lowered costs enough with new labor contracts and other measures to turn a profit.\n\"The direct answer is we need to,\" Wagoner told reporters. \"We believe we can build a car there profitably.\"\nIn addition to costs, GM will have to make sure it has a competitive car that consumers will buy.\n\"I can assure you that is getting a tremendous amount of attention,\" he said.\nThe new car likely would be priced higher than the Cobalt, which runs in the mid-teens depending on how it's equipped. It would hit showrooms in the second half of 2010 and be powered by a 1-liter to 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine to be built at a factory in Flint. GM said that with a manual transmission it would get nine miles per gallon more than the current Cobalt, which gets up to 36 mpg on the highway.\nWagoner also announced that the board of directors has approved production of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car, which GM plans to bring to showrooms by the end of 2010.\nFully charged, the Volt could drive about 40 miles without using any gasoline, and a small conventional engine would recharge the vehicle, extending its range and allowing it to get the equivalent of 150 miles per gallon.\nWagoner also said the iconic Hummer brand will be reviewed and potentially sold or revamped due to high fuel prices.\nNews of the job cuts was devastating to communities that house the factories, but hourly workers likely will move to other plants to replace 19,000 who will leave the company this year under early retirement and buyout offers.\nHowever, the misery isn't over. Wagoner said GM is working on consolidating engine, transmission and other parts operations to go with the assembly plant cuts.\nThe actions add to a string of plant closures by the Big Three in the last several years. GM, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC have announced the shutdown of 35 plants since 2005, according to Sean McAlinden, chief economist with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. Along with 35 additional closures at GM and Ford's chief suppliers, Delphi Corp. and Automotive Components Holdings LLC, he said the total hourly and salaried jobs eliminated comes to 149,000.\nIn that same period, foreign automakers have built or announced plans to build five U.S. assembly plants, he said. In 2007, foreign auto companies employed 113,000 people in the U.S., a number McAlinden projects will rise to 152,000 by 2011.\nThe Oshawa truck plant, which builds the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, likely will be shuttered next year. The Moraine plant near Dayton will stop making Chevy TrailBlazer and other mid-size SUVs in 2010 \"or sooner if demand dictates,\" Wagoner said.\nIn Janesville, the plant that builds medium-duty trucks and big SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, will cease production starting at the end of 2009, finishing in 2010 or sooner if demand stays weak. In Toluca, production of medium-duty trucks will end by the end of 2008, Wagoner said.\nThe announcement was an economic blow to Janesville, which has long been entwined with auto making.\n\"There were some tears and a lot of people were kind of ticked off, but it's part of the business,\" said Scott Lambert, 39, who has worked at the plant for 13 years.\nHe said he was headed to buy an atlas to figure where other GM plants were that might be hiring.\nCanadian Auto Workers President Buzz Hargrove said GM's decision to close its Oshawa truck plant betrays the labor agreement reached two weeks ago. He said the union will consider all options, including a strike.\nGM committed to keep the plant of 2,600 people open throughout the three-year agreement, Hargrove said.\nGM President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said GM is planning for gasoline prices to stay around $4 per gallon for the foreseeable future, \"with a bias upwards.\"\nWhen asked if GM should have moved more quickly to smaller vehicles, Henderson said he doesn't spend time looking in the rearview mirror.\n\"There's not much I can do about what I didn't do in the past,\" he said.\nShares of GM rose 14 cents to $17.58 in trading Tuesday.\nAP Business Writers Emily Fredrix in Janesville, Wis., and Jeff Karoub in Detroit, AP Auto Writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit and Associated Press Writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Rick Wagoner","Rick Wagoner"]},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wis.; and Toluca, Mexico","Oshawa","Ontario","Moraine","Ohio","Toluca","Mexico","Ohio","Oshawa","Moraine","Janesville","Toluca","Janesville","Oshawa","Janesville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["GM said the truck plant cuts, which will reduce capacity to produce pickups and large SUVs by about 35 percent, will save the company $1 billion per year, and when combined with earlier measures, by 2011 will save $15 billion over 2005 costs","company","GM said"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2008 Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after British bank Barclays and Bank of America pull out of emergency talks on a buyout. (AFP via Google News) (The New York Times)","document":"WASHINGTON (AFP) — A last-ditch effort to find a buyer for troubled Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers appeared near collapse in a turbulent weekend for the finance sector.\nAs emergency weekend talks on Lehman's woes were being held in New York, a London source at British bank Barclays, who requested anonymity, said it walked away from negotiations because of concerns it would have to guarantee the 158-year-old US firm's trading commitments.\nThe news came as US Treasury and Federal Reserve officials scrambled to head off a collapse of Lehman Brothers which some say could send shockwaves through the global financial system.\nSeparately, reports swirled about a possible buyout of another troubled Wall Street giant, Merrill Lynch. And American International Group, the insurance giant, was set to unveil restructuring plans in the face of a massive share price drop.\n\"Clearly things are changing quickly and are very fluid,\" said David Kotok, chief investment officer at Cumberland Investments.\n\"The Fed and the Treasury are trying to get a deal done before the markets open on Monday. It now appears that this original effort to merge Lehman with one party has failed.\"\nMeanwhile specter of liquidation loomed: the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, a group of market dealers, said it was holding a special trading session Sunday \"to reduce risk associated with a potential Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. bankruptcy filing.\"\nIt said any trades were contingent on a bankruptcy filing Sunday.\n\"I think the most likely option for Lehman is a bankruptcy filing by the end of the day today,\" said Peter Cohan of the consulting firm Peter Cohan & Associates.\nBarry Ritholtz of the research firm FusionIQ said a bankruptcy could mean further financial market turmoil.\n\"We are now on bankruptcy watch, with the midnight hour as the key line in the sand.\" he said. \"The Wall Street open Monday in the event of a Lehman failure will be wild.\"\nAccording to some analysts, the talks on Lehman Brothers were snagged over whether the Federal Reserve would guarantee a deal with Lehman's troubled mortgage securities as was done to avert a meltdown earlier this year of Bear Stearns, bought by JPMorgan Chase.\n\"We infer that the problem at Lehman is bigger or worse than at Bear Stearns or both,\" Kotok said.\nPeter Morici, economist at the University of Maryland, said finding a buyer for Lehman Brothers may be difficult because of its \"toxic\" holdings in soured real estate assets.\n\"No other large firm should buy Lehman whole -- its toxic real estate and securities are too difficult to value,\" he said. \"Only a fool would think he could fairly assess their value, unless those are assigned them a value of zero.\"\nBut Morici said Lehman's demise may hasten needed reforms on Wall Street.\n\"Sooner or later after enough dominos fall, compensation structures and business practices will return to more conservative norms of 10 and 20 years ago,\" Morici said. \"Only then will the credit crisis resolve and the economy have a decent shot at full recovery.\"\nMeanwhile Bank of America, described in recent days as a leading takeover candidate for Lehman Brothers, was now in advanced discussions to buy Merrill Lynch, another Wall Street giant ravaged by the subprime real estate crisis and credit crunch.\nThe New York Times said the talks centered around a buyout of Merrill at 25 to 30 dollars a share in stock, making the deal worth some 38 billion dollars. Merrill ended Friday at 17.05 dollars.\nThe Wall Street Journal reported that AIG, which has also been slammed by real estate losses, planned a comprehensive restructuring by early Monday morning that is likely to include the disposal of major assets including its aircraft-leasing business and other holdings.\nLehman shares have tumbled more than 90 percent this year and failed to recover on plans announced Wednesday to sell off key assets to shore up its finances.\nThe beleaguered Wall Street firm, seen as in desperate need for a capital injection, lost an estimated 3.9 billion dollars in its fiscal third quarter amid fresh writedowns on mortgage assets.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Lehman Brothers","Lehman Brothers","Lehman Brothers","Lehman Brothers","Lehman Brothers","Lehman Brothers"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["New York","New York"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Lehman shares have tumbled more than 90 percent this year and failed to recover on plans announced Wednesday to sell off key assets to shore up its finances","failed","bankruptcy","bankruptcy","bankruptcy"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2009 Eddie Bauer, the well–known retailer of outdoor apparel, filed for bankruptcy in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. (Reuters)","document":"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Outdoor apparel retailer Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six years and said it would seek court approval to sell its assets to private equity firm CCMP Capital for $202 million.\nA shopper walks into an Eddie Bauer retail store at the Glendale Galleria shopping mall in Glendale, California in this November 28, 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Fred Prouser\nThe company, which also sought relief under Canada’s bankruptcy laws, filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.\nCCMP is the “stalking horse” bidder, which submits a starting bid to set a floor under other possible offers.\nCCMP managing director Jonathan Lynch said that Eddie Bauer was in the classic “good company, bad balance sheet” situation.\nHe said CCMP was attracted to the strength of Eddie Bauer’s brand and its ability to sell its products through various channels, such as on the Internet, by mail order and in stores.\n“We view Eddie Bauer as a legendary brand,” Lynch said in an interview with Reuters. “What you need to do is fix the balance sheet in a way that allows this company to reach its full potential.”\nEddie Bauer, which started as a sport shop in 1920 in Seattle, expects that the sale would transform the business “into a financially stronger entity with substantially less debt and a better position for the future,” the company said in a statement. It also said that CCMP planned to keep most stores open.\nRetailers have struggled in the U.S. recession.\nRecent retail bankruptcies have included apparel retailer Filene’s Basement and jewelry and housewares chain Fortunoff.\n“The retail environment is a function of the overall economy and people are spending less and making smarter choices. The question is, do they need an Eddie Bauer?” said James Bromley, a partner in the restructuring group for law firm Cleary Gottlieb.\nRelated Coverage\nEddie Bauer said it had secured $100 million in “debtor-in-possession” bankruptcy financing from a group led by Bank of America Corp and CIT Group Inc as it reorganizes, and anticipates its sale will be completed within 60 days.\nIn its filing, the company blamed its debt load, saying it might not be able to comply with conditions attached to its $225 million senior term loan facility.\nBank of New York Mellon Corp, as bond indenture trustee, is the company’s largest unsecured creditor, with a $75 million claim, and Eddie Bauer listed $476 million in assets and $427 million in debts as of May 30, according to court papers.\nEddie Bauer has been posting losses on falling sales this year. The company said in January it hired investment banking firm Peter J. Solomon Co for restructuring advice and it has been working to cut costs and preserve cash.\nThe retailer emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005 after former owner Spiegel Catalog sought bankruptcy protection in 2003.\nAt the time of its emergence, the company had more than 400 stores in the United States and Canada. It now has about 370 stores in North America and 10,000 employees worldwide, according to its website.\nThe company said last month its first-quarter revenue fell 16 percent to $179.8 million. It has more than $300 million in outstanding debt, according to SEC filings.\nEddie Bauer’s shares closed down 21.7 percent, or 5 cents, at 18 cents on the Nasdaq.\nIn re Eddie Bauer Holdings, Inc., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, No. 09-12099.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["North America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["bankruptcy","bankruptcy","Bankruptcy","bankruptcy","bankruptcy","bankruptcy","Bankruptcy"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2009 Russia announces that they will shut down every legal casino in the state by Wednesday, July 1. (The New York Times)","document":"MOSCOW One of the largest mass layoffs in recent Russian history is to occur on Wednesday, and the Kremlin itself is decreeing it, economic crisis or not. The government is shutting down every last legal casino and slot-machine parlor across the land, under an antivice plan promoted by Vladimir V. Putin that just a few months ago was widely perceived as far-fetched. But the result will be hundreds of thousands of people thrown out of work. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["legal casino"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Russia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2006 International demands grow that the United States close Guantanamo Bay prison camp. The European Parliament votes overwhelmingly for a resolution urging that the prison be closed and inmates given a fair trial. (The Age) UK Prime Minister Tony Blair calls Guantanamo an \"anomaly\" (Guardian). UN General Secretary Kofi Annan calls for the camp to be closed \"as soon as possible\" (Toronto Star) (BBC). Former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson urges the US to act on the findings of the UN report (RTÉ), while Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain also calls for its closure. (Scotsman) This follows a United Nations report which calls for it to be closed.","document":"The United States owes it to itself to uphold its own standards, close its prison camp and grant alleged terrorists fair trials.\nGulag. The word has particularly ugly connotations. Having been first used to describe repressive prisons or forced-labour camps in the former Soviet Union, it brings to mind the worst breaches of human rights in Stalinist Russia - detention without trial, torture, executions. Until recently it was a term associated only with the least democratic of political regimes. Yet it is the word Amnesty International used in its annual report last year to describe the Guantanamo Bay prison camp at the US Naval Base in Cuba. That report accused the US of being responsible for an upsurge in global human rights violations and called for the camp to be closed. President Bush dismissed the report as absurd and his Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, called the label \"reprehensible\".\nNow the United Nations, in a 54-page report produced by independent experts for the UN Human Rights Commission, has repeated the call for closure and has strongly condemned the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. It points to cases of \"excessive violence\" during transportation of prisoners and force-feeding of hunger strikers, which it says \"must be assessed as amounting to torture\", and has paid particular attention to the lack of a recognised legal process. It found that the US military acted as judge, prosecutor and defence in the special trials because they regard the detainees as \"enemy combatants\" who were not entitled to the rights accorded by the Geneva Conventions to prisoners of war at the conclusion of a war. The UN report maintains that the war on terror \"does not constitute an armed conflict for the purposes of the applicability of international humanitarian law\" and so US authorities must \"expeditiously bring all Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial\" under international law \"or release them without further delay\".\nAdding to the pressure on the US, the European Parliament this week voted overwhelmingly for a resolution urging that the prison be closed and inmates given a fair trial, and a British High Court judge called for the repatriation of three British residents. He observed: \"America's idea of what is torture is not the same as ours and does not appear to coincide with that of most civilised nations.\"\nThis is in stark contrast to the line taken by the Australian Government, which has not only failed to condemn US treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay but has abrogated its responsibility to ensure that its own citizens are treated justly. Although Mamdouh Habib gained his freedom last year, 30-year-old David Hicks remains in detention, having been held since his capture with Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001. For more than two years no charges were laid, a delay that clearly showed US contempt for the rule of law. Yet the Australian Government did worse than fail to protest at this; it has almost gleefully supported the actions of the Bush Administration in denying Hicks a prompt and fair trial.\nWhile the Howard Government has been obsequious in its dealings with the Americans, Britain has managed to secure freedom for its nine citizens held at Guantanamo, without damaging its alliance with the US.\nBritain's success highlights the randomness of the American approach. Presumably little marked the nine Britons out from the other detainees, yet they have been released without a trial and with no repercussions. Nor was Guantanamo Bay considered appropriate for US citizens charged with terrorist activities - they have been accorded their rights according to the US justice system. Yet the President's spokesman continues to claim that the Guantanamo detainees are \"dangerous terrorists\" who must be held indefinitely and have no entitlement to the rights accorded by international treaties. These men seem to be considered more dangerous and less deserving of legal protection than the vanquished Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who has used his trial in Baghdad to berate the presiding judge and shout support for Iraqi insurgents.\nWinston Churchill once said: \"The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgement of his peers, is in the highest degree odious, and the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist.\" If the US is to be true to its mission as \"the land of the free\", it must act on the UN recommendations and close this sorry chapter in its history without delay.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Guantanamo Bay prison camp"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["US Naval Base in Cuba"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["global human rights violations"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2006 International demands grow that the United States close Guantanamo Bay prison camp. The European Parliament votes overwhelmingly for a resolution urging that the prison be closed and inmates given a fair trial. (The Age) UK Prime Minister Tony Blair calls Guantanamo an \"anomaly\" (Guardian). UN General Secretary Kofi Annan calls for the camp to be closed \"as soon as possible\" (Toronto Star) (BBC). Former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson urges the US to act on the findings of the UN report (RTÉ), while Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain also calls for its closure. (Scotsman) This follows a United Nations report which calls for it to be closed.","document":"Mr Annan backed a UN report calling for the closure of the camp where some 500 \"enemy combatants\" have been held without trial for up to four years. He said he did not agree with all findings, but said detainees could not be held \"in perpetuity\" without charge.\nThe White House has dismissed the report as \"a discredit to the UN\".\n HAVE YOUR SAY\n Charge them and try them or release them\n Matt Prather, San Francisco, USA Send us your comments\n The UN says the US should try the approximately 500 inmates, or free them \"without further delay\".\nMr Annan said bringing the detainees to trial would allow them to explain themselves. Only a handful of detainees have been tried so far.\nCivil liberties\nWhile he did not agree with all the findings of the report, Mr Annan said it was crucial to strike a balance.\n\"The basic premise, that we need to be careful to have a balance between effective action against terrorism and individual liberties and civil rights, I think is valid,\" Mr Annan told reporters.\n \nMr McClellan said the military treated all detainees humanely. \"These are dangerous terrorists that we're talking about,\" he added.\n\"They are people that are determined to harm innocent civilians, or harm innocent Americans. They were enemy combatants picked up on the battlefield in the war on terrorism.\"\nA senior British minister also called for the camp to be closed.\nSpeaking on the BBC television Question Time programme, Peter Hain said he would prefer to see Guantanamo Bay close.\n GUANTANAMO TIMELINE\n Jan 2002: First \"illegal combatants\" arrive at Camp X-ray. Transferred to Camp Delta in April\nFeb 2002: More than 100 out of nearly 600 detainees stage first of many hunger strikes\nOct 2002: First releases include four men returned to Afghanistan and Pakistan\nFeb 2004: US officials announce the first charges against two detainees\nMar-May 2004: Dozens of detainees released\nJuly 2004: First military tribunal\nJan 2005: US announces investigation into allegations of abuse\nMay 2005: US magazine report - later retracted - alleges copies of the Koran mishandled by guards, sparking worldwide protests. US later confirms five cases of mishandling\nGuantanamo in spotlight\nHe also indicated that the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, agreed with him.\nRejections\nThe US has dismissed most of the findings of the report which include allegations of torture. It said most of the allegations were \"largely without merit\" as the five investigators never actually visited Guantanamo Bay.\nThe investigators say they rejected an offer to go to Guantanamo, as they would not have been allowed to meet the prisoners. The report will be presented to the UN Commission of Human Rights, which authorised the report, at its next session in Geneva on 13 March.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Guantanamo Bay","Guantanamo Bay"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["US","us","US","US","US","US","US"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["allegations of torture","allegations"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2006 The President of Singapore, Sellapan Ramanathan, \"on the advice of the prime minister (Lee Hsien Loong), has dissolved parliament\" to prepare for the 2006 general election, to be held on May 6. (BBC)","document":"This will be the first electoral test for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was appointed in August 2004.\nHis People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled the country for four decades, currently controls all but two of the 84 elected seats in the parliament.\nThe tiny opposition has vowed to campaign for more than half the seats in a bid to upset PAP's dominance.\nPresident SR Nathan, \"on the advice of the prime minister, has dissolved parliament\", the government said in a statement.\nMr Lee, who is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, did not have to call an election until June 2007.\nBut speculation had been rife in recent weeks that he would call the ballot early to take advantage of the country's strong economy.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["parliament"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["on the advice of the prime minister","Prime Minister","Prime Minister"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2017 The clothing retailer Wet Seal announces the closing of all 148 of its brick–and–mortar stores after filing for bankruptcy in 2015. The news comes on the heels of recent announcements of the closings of other major clothing chains, such as The Limited. (WHIO–TV)","document":"Teen clothing retailer Wet Seal will abruptly close all of its 148 brick-and-mortar stores.\nAccording to a letter obtained by The Wall Street Journal, the retailer is permanently shutting down and will lay off all of its workers. The company is headquartered in California.\n\nBack in 2015, Wet Seal closed 338 of its 511 stores and filed for bankruptcy protection. Versa Capital then acquired the brand for $7.5 million in April 2015.\nLocal stores at the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek shut down in January 2015. The only store in Ohio that remained open was the location at Easton Town Center in Columbus.\nWet Seal isn’t the only retailer closing locations and laying off employees this month.\n\nOn Wednesday, Abercrombie & Fitch eliminated 150 positions at the corporate level. The clothing retail chain is headquartered in New Albany, just outside of Columbus. In August, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announced 60 stores in the U.S. would shut down.\n\nThere is one store location at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, and another location at Kenwood Towne Center in Cincinnati. A location at the Dayton Mall also closed several years ago.\nSeveral retailers — including The Limited, Macy’s, Sears and Kmart — have already announced layoffs or store closures in recent months, and experts predict more businesses will continue to downsize.\n\n“All retailers see a bump in sales during the holiday season. Announcements of store closings would have hurt their sales during the holiday shopping season because it would have sent the wrong message to customers,” said Serdar Durmusoglu, marketing professor at the University of Dayton. “So, even if they might have made a closing decision months in advance, they might have held of announcing after the New Year.”\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBy: \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\nTom Gnau\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t-\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStaff Writer\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Wet Seal","Wet Seal","Wet Seal"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["California"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["bankruptcy"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2017 Retail chain JC Penney announces plans to close between 130 and 140 stores, as well as 2 distribution centers, amid sagging store sales. (CNBC)","document":"J.C. Penney finally lifted the lid on its plans to downsize its fleet, telling investors on Friday that it would close between 130 and 140 of its stores over the next few months.\nThe retailer made its comments while reporting fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street’s expectations, though revenue and same-store sales fell shy of expectations.\nThe company’s shares slipped roughly 9 percent in early trading amid doubts that the store closure plan would be enough to reinvigorate sluggish sales. Fueling that concern was the company’s 2017 outlook, which came up short of its previously announced three-year plan.\nHere’s how Penney’s did during the quarter:— EPS: 64 cents a share, adjusted, versus 61 cents expected, according to Thomson Reuters’ consensus— Revenue: $3.96 billion, versus an expectation of $3.98 billion, according to Reuters— Same-store sales growth: down 0.7 percent, versus 0.3 percent drop expected, according to FactSet’s consensus\nIn last year’s fourth quarter, J.C. Penney reported earnings of 39 cents per share on $4 billion in revenue.\n“Although JCP ended its fiscal year with a shrink in sales, it can take some comfort from the fact that the decreases are modest and that it managed to outperform its main department store rivals,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, in an email.\nSaunders added that the company’s bottom line was also encouraging. “In our view, this alone serves as evidence that Marvin Ellison’s turnaround plan is delivering and that JCP is finally getting its house in order,” he said. Along with the stores Penney’s plans to close, it will shutter two distribution centers. The combined closures will help the retailer invest in its better stores, and “raise the overall brand standard of the company,” Ellison said.\nThe list of impacted stores will be released next month, once sales associates and other staff have been notified. Most of the closures will occur in the second quarter.\n“We believe closing stores will allow us to adjust our business to effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers,” Ellison said.\n“During the year, it became evident the stores that could fully execute the company’s growth initiatives of beauty, home refresh and special sizes generated significantly higher sales, and a more vibrant in-store shopping environment,” the CEO said.\nThe locations Penney’s will shutter represent 13 to 14 percent of its store portfolio but generate less than 5 percent of annual sales. They would either require “significant capital” to meet the company’s brand standard or are minimally cash flow positive, the company said. Comparable sales in these locations were “significantly below” the remaining store base and operate at a “much higher” expense rate.\nThe retailer expects to save roughly $200 million a year by closing these stores. It will take a pretax charge of roughly $225 million related to the closures in the first half of fiscal 2017.\nPenney’s will provide roughly 6,000 employees with a “voluntary early retirement program” for workers of a certain age and tenure. As a result, the company expects a net increase in hiring as the number of full-time employees expected to accept the package will “far exceed” the number of full-time positions affected by the store closures.\nEllison warned in January that the department store chain was getting ready to downsize its fleet. The news came on the heels of store closure announcements by Macy’s and Sears.\nYet even as he announced the company’s closures, Ellison reiterated the importance of bricks-and-mortar locations to its long-term strategy.\n“Maintaining a large store base gives us a competitive advantage in the evolving retail landscape since our physical stores are a destination,” Ellison said. “It is essential to retain those locations that present the best expression of the J.C. Penney brand.”\nFor the year, Penney’s achieved its well-publicized goal of reaching $1 billion in EBITDA, marking a $477 million improvement. It was the first time the retailer achieved positive net income since 2010, Ellison said.\nYet revenue fell short in the holiday quarter. Sales at Penney’s established stores declined 0.7 percent, and heavier promotions weighed on its margins. The company had previously announced that comparable sales fell 0.8 percent in November and December.\nUnder Ellison’s leadership, J.C. Penney has been making strides in its efforts to recover the sales profitability it lost during a failed turnaround strategy. Since taking the helm in August 2015, the soft-spoken executive has taken expenses out of the business and refreshed the stores’ assortment. That includes the company’s return to appliances last year and a push into plus sizes.\nFor fiscal 2017, J.C. Penney expects comparable sales to fall within a range of negative 1 percent to positive 1 percent, and to earn between 40 cents and 65 cents a share, adjusted. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were predicting earnings of 56 cents a share for the fiscal year.\nBack in August, Ellison laid out a three-year plan for Penney’s starting in fiscal 2017. He told investors that compounded annual comparable sales would grow 3 percent, and that earnings per share would hit $1.40 to $1.55 by 2019.\nThe company also dialed back Friday its conviction that EBITDA would hit $1.2 billion in fiscal 2017, as was previously outlined. While that is “not off the table,” the middle point of Penney’s outlook projects EBITDA of $1.1 billion, CFO Ed Record said. The retailer would need to generate comparable sales growth slightly north of 2 percent to reach its previously stated goal, Record said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison","Ellison"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["J.C. Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney","Penney"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the next few months","next"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["We believe closing stores will allow us to adjust our business to effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers","business"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Video game developer Telltale Games announces the closure of most of its studio via public statement. 225 employees are laid off, leaving only 25 left in order to fulfill obligations. (Game Informer)","document":"Update #4, 9/25: Telltale has posted an update on Twitter announcing it is currently investigating offers from \"multiple potential partners\" to finish episodes three and four of The Walking Dead's final season. \"While we can't make any promises today, we are actively working towards a solution that will allow episodes 3 and 4 to be completed and released in some form,\" the company's statement says. \"In the meantime, episode 2 will release tomorrow across all platforms as planned. We hope to have answers for your other questions soon.\" \nUpdate #3: Telltale employees have suggested publicly and privately that the remaining employees are not working on The Walking Dead, as originally thought, but instead the Netflix deal for Minecraft Story Mode. USGamer has heard something similar from their sources.\nIf true, then The Walking Dead story that put Telltale on the map is doomed to go unfinished, two episodes short of its stated goal. It would also likely be the most prominent example of a season pass going unfulfilled, raising the question of what happens to people who purchased the full season, especially from a company that is seemingly filing for bankruptcy.\nUpdate #2: Telltale has confirmed that they have reduced their staff from 250 employees to 25 to \"fulfill the company's obligations to its board and partners.\"\nConfirmation of the further announced projects and their status will be announced in the coming weeks. CEO Peter Hawley blamed poor sales as the primary reason for closure in the following statement.\n\nUpdate: Sources tell us that all projects planned after The Walking Dead have been cancelled.\nThe original story is as follows:\nA number of Telltale Games' employees have posted on social media today indicating that they are looking for work, with many sharing both publicly and privately that Telltale has either closed its doors or is suffering its largest layoff so far.\nWe have reached out to Telltale for clarification, but did not receive anything back by the time of writing. It appears from the sheer number of developers that are seeking employment, however, that the company will have to make a public statement sooner rather than later. \nLess than a year ago, the studio laid off over a quarter of its workforce under the auspices of a necessary restructuring plan while a drama-filled game of musical chairs for the company's leadership played out in the background. Telltale has been saying in the time since that they hope to focus on quality over quantity and released the first episode of the final season of The Walking Dead just a short while ago.\nTelltale had announced several other projects that might not see the light of day now, such as The Wolf Among Us season 2, Stranger Things, and Game of Thrones season 2. A skeleton crew of 25 employees reportedly remain to finish The Walking Dead, but new projects are unlikely to continue after. The remaining 225 employees have been let go.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Peter Hawley"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale","Telltale"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["poor sales"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Google announces that it is shutting down its Google+ network for consumers after seven years due to \"very low usage\" and a software error, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, that potentially exposed the data of 500,000 users. Google+ will fully shut down in August 2019. (Sky News)","document":"Google will \"sunset\" the social network, which saw \"very low usage\" and failed to truly challenge market leader Facebook.\nBy Ajay Nair, news reporter Monday 8 October 2018 22:27, UK\nGoogle is pulling the plug on its flagship social network Google+ after data from up to 500,000 users was left exposed by a bug.\nThe tech giant said it would shut down the consumer version of the platform after it revealed users' data may have been exposed by a bug that was present for more than two years.\nIn a blog post, the company revealed it discovered the leak and patched it in March. It said it had no evidence that the data was misused or that any developer was aware of it or had exploited the leak.\nA Google spokesperson said there were \"significant challenges in creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets consumers' expectations\".\nThey said the firm would now \"sunset\" the app, which failed to truly challenge market leader Facebook, citing \"very low usage\".\nGoogle said it would \"wind-down\" the consumer version of the website over the next 10 months, with 90% of users accessing the site for less than five seconds.\nThe case was unusual in that it was brought on behalf of four million iPhone users in a so-called representative action\nHowever, it is planning to keep the platform alive for \"enterprise users\" in the workplace.\n\"Our review showed that Google+ is better suited as an enterprise product where co-workers can engage in internal discussions on a secure corporate social network,\" Google said.\n\"Enterprise customers can set common access rules, and use central controls, for their entire organisation. We've decided to focus on our enterprise efforts and will be launching new features purpose-built for businesses. We will share more information in the coming days.\"\nFollowing the announcement, shares in Google's parent company Alphabet Inc were down 1.5% in response to the privacy issues.\nAccording to The Wall Street Journal, Google had decided not to disclose the issue with its application programming interfaces (API) due to fears of increased regulatory scrutiny.\nBut the company said it reviewed the issue and looked at the type of data involved, if it could correctly identify the users affected to inform them, if there was any evidence of misuse, and if there was any action a user or developer could take.\n\"None of these thresholds were met in this instance,\" the firm said in its blog post. \"We found no evidence that any developer was aware of this bug, or abusing the API, and we found no evidence that any profile data was misused.\"\nCompanies have to inform a supervisory authority within 72 hours of a personal data breach under the EU's general data protection regulation (GDPR) - unless the breach is not likely to risk the rights and freedom of affected users.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Google","Google","Google","Google","Google","Google","Google"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["very low usage","low usage","data from up to 500,000 users was left exposed by a bug","data","data","bug","data","data","data"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2018 Cobalt Air suddenly announces its dissolution, cancelling all future operations and leaving many passengers stranded in Cyprus. (BBC)","document":"Low-cost airline Cobalt has cancelled all flights from midnight Wednesday according to a statement on its website.\nThe carrier, which has operated flights in and out of Cyprus since 2016 - including flying UK holiday-makers to the island - has suspended operations.\nLocal media said Cobalt had failed to reach a deal with a potential new investor.\nThe Cyprus Mail said the airline's main backer is China's Avic Joy Air.\nThe airline's statement said future flights would not operate due to \"indefinite suspension of Cobalt's operations\", and advised passengers not to go to the airport.\nThey should contact their credit card provider or travel agent instead, it added.\nIt is not yet clear how many passengers have been affected, but nine flights had been scheduled to arrive and nine to depart from Larnaca airport on Thursday. It flew to 23 destinations in Europe - including Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester in the UK - as well as Russia and the Middle East. Passengers reacted with concern on Twitter.\nCypriot Transport Minister Vassiliki Anastassiadou said the government would pay for tickets to help travellers get back to where they started from, but stressed it would only cover return tickets.\nShe said telephone numbers would be announced soon to help passengers stranded either in Cyprus or overseas.\nThe fate of Cobalt's 200 staff is unclear. Last year, Cobalt said it had carried 740,000 passengers in its first 16 months of operation. By contrast, Europe's biggest airline Lufthansa carried about 130 million people last year. Before 2016, short-haul flights out of Cyprus were dominated by state-controlled Cyprus Airways. But it collapsed, which left room for the new operator.\nDanish budget carrier Primera Air ceased trading earlier this month after 14 years of operation.\nPassengers stranded as airline collapses\n\nBut the drug-maker faces hefty fines if it fails to supply doses of Covid-19 vaccine over the summer.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cobalt","Cobalt","Cobalt","Cobalt","Cobalt"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["failed to reach a deal with a potential new investor"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2018 The Donald J. Trump Foundation agrees to dissolve under judicial supervision while a lawsuit in the state of New York is ongoing. (CNN) (The Daily Beast)","document":"New York Attorney General announced on Tuesday that the foundation will cease to exist after an alleged pattern of using its ‘charity’ for campaign purposes.\nPolitical Reporter\nThe Donald J. Trump Foundation agreed to be dissolved on Tuesday after it was accused of acting “in a persistently illegal manner” by the New York Attorney General’s Office. The foundation is accused by the attorney general in a lawsuit—and in multiple news stories—of using charity funds to settle private business matters, coordinating between the foundation and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, and making an illegal and undisclosed contribution to a political action committee. “Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more. This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests,” Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement. “This is an important victory for the rule of law, making clear that there is one set of rules for everyone.”\nIn a stipulation signed by foundation attorney Alan Futerfas, the foundation agreed to dissolve and within 30 days submit to the court a list of not-for-profit organizations to receive its remaining assets. The stipulation follows a decision last month to allow for Underwood’s suit against the Trump Foundation to proceed. The lawsuit seeks $2.8 million in restitution plus penalties, as well as a ban on Trump from future service as a director of a New York not-for-profit for ten years. It also seeks the same ban for a year for Trump’s children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, who all are foundation board members. The lawsuit filed in June alleged that the foundation had illegally intervened “in Mr. Trump's campaign for president in 2016 by, among other things, making expenditures during the first five months of 2016 that were intended to influence his election for president.”\nThe A.G.’s office documented coordination between the campaign and the foundation, including an instance in which then-Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski requested that an official with the foundation give out grant money in Iowa in order to help the campaign win the state’s caucus. Additionally, the lawsuit discusses a widely publicized veterans fundraiser in Des Moines held by the Trump Foundation, but allegedly staffed by the campaign, which “planned, organized, financed, and directed\" it. “The Fundraiser, which solicited donations from members of the public, including New York residents, reaped approximately $5.6 million in tax free donations,” the suit reads. “Of that total, $2.823 million was contributed to the Foundation.”\nThe complaint also said that in 2013, the Trump Foundation illegally donated $25,000 to a political action committee supporting the campaign of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. In its tax filing, it left out the contribution and instead listed a fictitious contribution to a similarly named non-profit outfit in Kansas. The suit followed reporting throughout 2016 by the Washington Post and other outlets detailing how the foundation was used as Trump’s personal piggybank. Political Reporter","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump","Trump"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Donald J. Trump Foundation","Trump Foundation","Trump Foundation","Trump Foundation","Donald","Trump Foundation","Trump Foundation"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["alleged pattern of using its ‘charity’ for campaign purposes"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2018 Ten years after the collapse of Belgian financial group Fortis in the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the prosecutor in Brussels decides to drop the case against seven former directors. The prosecution argues that it found insufficient evidence that they knowingly misled shareholders with over–optimistic company information. (Reuters)","document":"BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian prosecutors have dropped their case against former directors of Fortis, 10 years after the Belgian-Dutch bank’s collapse during the global financial crisis.\nBrussels prosecutors said that they had decided not to pursue charges against seven ex-directors because it had not found sufficient proof that they had wilfully given over-optimistic information to shareholders.\n“If we want to prove fraud then we need to show they knowingly attached too low a risk to the sub-primes, in other words were too positive... It is difficult to say that they should have known better,” said prosecutor Ine Van Wymersch.\nShe noted that Belgian insurer Ageas AGES.BR, the legal successor to Fortis, was set to pay shareholders 1.3 billion euros by way of compensation.\nPart of the reason for the pursuit of the ex-directors was to secure damages for Fortis shareholders who had lost their money.\nSeven ex-directors, including former chairman Maurice Lippens and former CEO Jean-Paul Votron, were accused in 2013 of misleading investors during Fortis’s purchase of part of Dutch lender ABN AMRO and before its 2008 collapse.\nAllegations by the prosecutors revolved around whether communications to investors about Fortis’s exposure to U.S. sub-prime assets were insufficient or too late, such as at the time of a capital increase when Fortis bought part of ABN AMRO.\nThe seven would have been the first in Belgium to face trial over banking failures during the crisis, which also forced bailouts for Franco-Belgian group Dexia DEXI.BR and Belgian company KBC KBC.BR.\nFortis, once one of Europe’s largest banks, got into trouble after paying a top-of-the-market 24 billion euros ($27.4 billion) to buy the Dutch operations of ABN AMRO just before the credit crunch struck.\nShareholder groups have complained that Lippens and Votron repeatedly assured markets that Fortis’s balance sheet was strong and that it would not be changing its dividend policy.\nIn June, 2008, Fortis scrapped its interim dividend and sold new shares to prop itself up before it collapsed and was broken up in October 2008.\nReporting by Philip Blenkinsop\n.\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Maurice Lippens"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Belgian-Dutch bank","Belgian","Belgian","Belgian","Belgian"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["the global financial crisis"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2019 German airline Germania declares bankruptcy and ceases operations, cancelling all flights immediately. (Reuters)","document":"BERLIN (Reuters) - Holiday airline Germania collapsed on Tuesday and canceled all flights immediately, the latest to succumb to turbulence in the European airline industry as it failed to secure financing to navigate a short-term cash squeeze.\nThe insolvency of the German company, which carried about 4 million passengers a year, followed the failure of Germany’s second-biggest carrier, Air Berlin, in 2017.\nBritain’s Monarch Airlines and Alitalia also filed for insolvency in 2017. German charter carrier Small Planet Airlines hit financial trouble last year after an expansion drive.\nGermania cited rising fuel prices, a stronger dollar, delays in integrating new aircraft into its fleet and high maintenance costs.\n“Unfortunately, we were ultimately unable to bring our financing efforts to cover a short-term liquidity need to a positive conclusion,” Chief Executive Officer Karsten Balke said in a statement.\nThe carrier’s 37 aircraft mainly flew German sun-seekers to more than 60 destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Berlin-based company, founded in 1986, also offered flights to less conventional destinations including Iran, Iraq and Armenia.\nIt said all flights had been halted overnight after it filed for bankruptcy late on Monday.\nA spokesman for the airline’s administrators said it was unclear whether operations could resume and whether the company could continue.\nCEO Balke thanked Germania’s staff and apologized to passengers who had booked directly and would not be entitled to alternative flights. A Germania spokesman declined to comment on the number of passengers or staff affected.\n“I have no idea whether we are going to be put on another flight or whether we can book our own new flight through another carrier. No idea,” passenger Iris Fenske told Reuters TV at Duesseldorf airport.\nThe Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry said other airlines, including Condor, Tui Group’s TUIfly and those belonging to the Lufthansa Group, would offer stranded Germania passengers special rates to return to Germany.\nTour operators will organize alternative travel arrangements for holidaymakers who have booked package deals, the German Travel Association (DRV) said.\nGermany’s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, a conservative, said he had no specific plans to offer help to Germania, adding the government would watch the situation closely.\nThe Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition, vowed to push for creation of a European system to protect passengers in the event of bankruptcies, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported late Tuesday.\n“The new EU commission and the new European parliament must tackle this urgent problem,” it quoted the party’s legal spokesman, Johannes Fechner, as saying.\n“The horror for German air travelers continues,” Klaus Mueller, head of the Federation of German Consumer Organisations, said of the airline’s demise.\nOn Monday, Europe’s largest budget airline Ryanair, posted its first quarterly loss since 2014 and said it expects further consolidation over the next 12-18 months because of overcapacity.\nIt predicted a further rise in oil prices would hit smaller airlines that cannot afford to increase their oil price hedging.\nIn a video message on Twitter, Ryanair’s chief operating officer on Tuesday said the airline will offer Germania pilots, engineers and cabin crew “immediate” starts if they apply for vacancies in Germany, Austria and across Europe.\nGermania’s financial problems emerged at the start of January when it said it was examining several financing options to secure short-term liquidity.\nOn Jan. 19 it said it had a commitment for 15 million euros ($17 million) in funding that would secure its medium- and long-term future, but at the end of last week it confirmed media reports that it had delayed paying wages.\n \n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Karsten Balke"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Germania","Germania","Germania","Germania","Germania","Germania","Germania","Germania"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Berlin","Berlin"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["failed to secure financing to navigate a short-term cash squeeze","short","short"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2019 Dollar Tree announces it will close 390 Family Dollar stores, and rebrand a further 200 Family Dollar stores as Dollar Tree. (CNBC)","document":"Discount retailer Dollar Tree plans to close 390 Family Dollar stores this year while renovating 1,000 other locations, the company said in releasing its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday.\n“We are confident we are taking the appropriate steps to reposition our Family Dollar brand for increasing profitability as business initiatives gain traction in the back half of fiscal 2019,” CEO Gary Philbin said in announcing the results.\nIts renovated Family Dollar locations will sell alcohol and include a $1 Dollar Tree merchandise section. About 400 stores will get expanded freezer and cooler sections, and it will also rebrand about 200 Family Dollar stores to the Dollar Tree brand. It had 7,001 Dollar Tree locations and 8,236 Family Dollar stores as of Feb. 2.\nThe company’s earnings beat Wall Street estimates, which were heavily adjusted to exclude a $2.73 billion write-down against its Family Dollar business, among other charges.\nOn an adjusted basis, the Dollar Tree reported a profit of $1.93 per share during the 13 weeks ended Feb. 2 compared with average estimates of $1.92 a share compiled by Refinitiv. Sales at stores open for at least a year rose 2.4 percent versus an estimate of 1.5 percent. It generated $6.21 billion in revenue, better than the $6.19 billion expected by Wall Street but down slightly from $6.36 billion a year earlier.\nOn an unadjusted basis, the company had a loss of $2.31 billion, or a loss of $9.66 a share, compared with a profit of $1.04 billion, or $4.37 a share, during the same quarter last year, which included an extra week.\nShares of the company rose more than 4 percent in intraday trading Wednesday.\nThe report comes after activist investor Starboard Value, which has a 1.7 percent stake in the company, pressured Dollar Tree this January to change its pricing and sell the store.\nThe company opened 143 stores in the fourth quarter, closed 84 Family Dollar stores and 10 Dollar Tree stores and expanded or relocated 14 stores. It currently operates 15,237 stores across the U.S. and Canada.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Gary Philbin"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Family Dollar","Family Dollar","Family Dollar","Family Dollar","Family Dollar","Family Dollar","Family Dollar"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year","year","year","year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S. and Canada"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["reposition our Family Dollar brand for increasing profitability"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2019 Debenhams, one of the largest department stores in the United Kingdom which employs 25,000 people, collapses into administration. (The Guardian)","document":"Founder of Sports Direct had ploughed at least £150m into department store group Last modified on Mon 3 Feb 2020 17.49 GMT\nDebenhams has been taken over by its lenders after the department store group fell into administration, wiping out shareholders including Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and paving the way for store closures that will put thousands of jobs at risk.\nThe retailer’s 165 UK outlets will continue to trade under the pre-pack administration deal that affects its listed holding company only. Cost-cutting plans under consideration by the retailer’s new owners mean about 50 stores are under threat, although no sites are expected to shut until after Christmas.\nDebenhams entered administration on Tuesday morning and the group’s two principal operating companies were sold immediately to a new company owned by its lenders.\nTerry Duddy, the chairman of Debenhams, which employs 25,000 people in the UK, said it was “disappointing” shareholders in the business had been wiped out. The investors included Sports Direct group, of which Ashley is chief executive and founder. The group has taken a hit of at least £150m on its near 30% stake in Debenhams.\n“This transaction will allow Debenhams to continue trading as normal, access the funding we need and proceed with executing our turnaround plans,” Duddy said.\n“We remain focused on protecting as many stores and jobs as possible, consistent with establishing a sustainable store portfolio ...\n“In the meantime, our customers, colleagues, pension holders, suppliers and landlords can be reassured that Debenhams will now be able to move forward on a stable footing. I would like to thank them all for their recent and continuing support.”\nThe pre-pack administration – under which a sale is lined up in advance – paves the way for the lenders to pump another £100m of urgently needed funds into the business.\nBut the banks and hedge funds that now own the group also want to close about 50 stores via an insolvency process known as a company voluntary arrangement. Details of the plan, which landlords must approve, are expected to be announced within weeks. Debenhams has struggled to adapt to the switch to online shopping and has spent millions of pounds on servicing its heavy debts. The company’s large stores are also on long leases, making it difficult to cut rents or move to better locations.\nHMV, Maplin, Poundworld and LK Bennett are among the high street names that have called in administrators since 2018.\nTens of thousands of retail jobs have been lost since last year and even retail stalwarts such as Marks & Spencer have announced wide-ranging store closure plans.\nRichard Lim, the chief executive of industry analysts Retail Economics, said Debenhams was the latest victim of a rapidly changing industry. “We should not understate the significance of this collapse, given the vast property portfolio, number of jobs impacted and the reverberations felt across many high streets,” he said.\n“Debenhams has fallen victim to crippling levels of debt, which has paralysed its ability to pivot towards a more digital and experience-led retail model.\n“Put simply, the business has been outmanoeuvred by more nimble competitors, failed to embrace change and was left with a tiring proposition. The industry is evolving fast and it paid the ultimate price.”\nSports Direct lost out on Debenhams after the company and its lenders rejected a last-ditch offer of a £200m cash injection, mainly because it was conditional on Ashley becoming chief executive of the department store chain.\nThe proposal made in the early hours of Tuesday morning came after an offer of £150m on Monday was rejected for the same reason. Sports Direct said on Tuesday it had ditched plans for a potential £61m takeover bid for Debenhams.\nIn a stock market statement issued on Tuesday, Sports Direct called for the administration of Debenhams to be reversed, claiming it had been stalled and misled during rescue talks.\n“This is nothing short of a national scandal and one that could so easily have been avoided if Debenhams had chosen to engage with its largest shareholders constructively,” the company said.\nThe note flagged up the threat of potential legal action, saying it would “not stop in its quest to get to the bottom of this appallingly managed process”.\nAshley said: “As normal, politicians and regulators fiddled while Rome burned. These politicians and regulators have proven to be as effective as a chocolate teapot.\n“I will go to the ends of the earth to save as many Debenhams stores and jobs as I can, similar to the promise I made with regards to House of Fraser.”\nThe Sports Direct chief executive was keen to put Debenhams together with House of Fraser, the struggling department store group he bought out of administration for £90m last year.\nAshley had wanted to protect his investment in Debenhams, which had a market value of more than £300m less than a year ago but was valued at less than £23m on Tuesday morning. There is virtually no chance of shareholders getting anything back.\nDocuments published on Tuesday showed Debenhams’ lenders paid £101.8m for the group and also took on £520m of debts and its pension obligations, taking the total cost of the deal to £621.81m. But that sum is in line with the total value of Debenhams’ debts at the time it fell into administration, leaving no spare cash for shareholders.\nThe letter said the business had been “sold for a price which in our opinion is the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale”.\n… as you’re joining us today from Korea, we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian’s high-impact journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million readers, from 180 countries, have recently taken the step to support us financially – keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent.\nWith no shareholders or billionaire owner, we can set our own agenda and provide trustworthy journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence, offering a counterweight to the spread of misinformation. When it’s never mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour.\nUnlike many others, Guardian journalism is available for everyone to read, regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of global events, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action.\nWe aim to offer readers a comprehensive, international perspective on critical events shaping our world – from the Black Lives Matter movement, to the new American administration, Brexit, and the world's slow emergence from a global pandemic. We are committed to upholding our reputation for urgent, powerful reporting on the climate emergency, and made the decision to reject advertising from fossil fuel companies, divest from the oil and gas industries, and set a course to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.\nIf there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Guardian from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Terry Duddy"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams","Debenhams"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["shareholders in the business had been wiped out","business","shareholders","shareholders","business","shareholders"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2019 The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, owned by British restaurateur Jamie Oliver, collapses into administration, resulting in 1,000 job losses. (BBC)","document":"Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has said he is \"devastated\" after his restaurant group went into administration, with 1,000 jobs being lost.\nThe group, which includes the Jamie's Italian chain, Barbecoa and Fifteen, has appointed KPMG as administrators.\nTwenty two of the 25 restaurants in Jamie Oliver's restaurant group have now closed.\nMr Oliver, who put in £4m cash this year, said: \"I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.\"\nTwo Jamie's Italian restaurants and Jamie Oliver's Diner at Gatwick Airport will continue to trade in the short term while the administrators explore options for the outlets.\n\"The group had recently undertaken a process to secure additional investment into the business and, since the beginning of this year, Jamie Oliver has made available additional funds of £4m to support the fundraising,\" said the administrators in a statement.\n\"However, with no suitable investment forthcoming and in light of the very difficult current trading environment, the directors resolved to appoint administrators.\"\nJamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall at Watergate Bay, which operates under a franchise, is unaffected. The international restaurants trading as Jamie's Italian, Jamie's Pizzeria and Jamie's Deli will also continue to trade as normal.\nMr Oliver tweeted that: \"I'm devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration.\"\nAnd in a statement he added: \"I would also like to thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us over the last decade, it's been a real pleasure serving you.\n\"We launched Jamie's Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK High Street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best-in-class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that.\"\nNotices have appeared in the windows of the 22 branches which have already closed.\nThe Unite union said the development was a \"devastating blow for the chain's hardworking and loyal workforce\".\n\"Restaurants are not being helped by the current economic uncertainty, although those businesses like Jamie Oliver's that dashed for expansion in recent years seem particularly precarious. As ever, it is the workers at the restaurant and in the supply chain who bear the heavy cost of boardroom decisions.\"\nThe union also asked for assurances that staff will be \"protected and paid all the money they're owed, including wages, holiday and redundancy\". One Jamie's Italian worker in Birmingham, Valentine Balbinot, said: \"It was just so devastating, we were not expecting this... it is really brutal.\"\nMr Oliver is known for his Naked Chef books and TV shows, broadcast in dozens of countries, after first being shown in the UK 20 years ago.\nHe has also campaigned for healthier eating, including in school meals.\nHis chain is the latest victim of a tough trading environment on the UK High Street.\nEarlier this year, cafe chain Patisserie Valerie fell into administration, and 70 outlets closed, with the loss of 920 jobs, although 96 shops were saved.\nOther mid-market chains that have struggled in recent years have included Byron Burger, Prezzo and Carluccio's.\nMr Oliver's business has faced difficulties over the past two years, with a number of Jamie's Italian and Barbecoa restaurants shutting.\nIn 2017, he closed the last of his Union Jacks restaurants and also shut his magazine Jamie, which had been running for almost 10 years.\nIn December of that year the chef also put £3m of his own money into his restaurant businesses.\nSimon Mydlowski, a partner at law firm Gordons and an expert in the hospitality industry, said Jamie's had failed to keep up with changing trends.\n\"To be successful in this sector you have to be constantly evolving - from the menus and the drinks choice, to the way you engage with customers.\"\n\"Faced with higher rent, rising food prices and increased competition, restaurants need a point of difference - it's no coincidence that smaller brands with the freedom and flexibility to keep things fresh are currently the ones performing well.\"\nJamie's Italian worker 'devastated'\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Jamie Oliver's restaurant group","Jamie Oliver","restaurant group","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver","Jamie Oliver"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK","UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["with no suitable investment forthcoming and in light of the very difficult current trading environment, the directors resolved to appoint administrators"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2017 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that he is developing a plan to close the Rikers Island prison within 10 years. (BBC)","document":"Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced his support to close New York City's notorious prison on Rikers Island. Mr de Blasio said closing Rikers would be \"long and arduous\", but that local officials and stakeholders had a \"moral obligation\" to do so. The mayor said on Friday he was developing a plan to close the prison within 10 years.\nHe had previously said that replacing the massive jail complex would be too expensive. \"It will take many years. It will take many tough decisions along the way, but it will happen,\" he said at a press conference on Friday. Mr de Blasio said that closing the prison, which houses about 10,000 inmates, would require cutting the jail population roughly in half. \"The length of this process will also require continued investment in the facilities and conditions on Rikers Island that remain key to rehabilitation efforts for thousands of New Yorkers in the years ahead,\" he added in a statement. Details of the plan to close the prison have yet to be released. An independent commission, led by the state's former chief judge, has been reviewing options to close Rikers as part of a larger probe into the city's criminal justice system.\nThe commission was created following a series of brutality cases revealing questionable practices and corruption at the prison complex. One of the recommendations included moving inmates into a system of smaller jails across the New York City boroughs at a cost of $10.6bn (£8.4bn), according to US media reports. The mayor, who is up for re-election this year, has previously said that shutting the prison was a \"noble idea\" but would cost the city billions of dollars and take years to close.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Rikers","Rikers","Rikers","Rikers"]},{"role":"Date","values":["within 10 years"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York","New York","New York"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2017 Ciudad Juárez–based newspaper Norte closes its print edition, citing a lack of security in Mexico. (AP via ABC) (Guardian)","document":"Norte editor tells readers the paper is closing because the safety of reporters cannot be guaranteed\nLast modified on Thu 5 Oct 2017 16.52 BST\nA newspaper in the Mexican border city of Juárez has announced that it is shutting down because the unpunished killings of journalists in the country have made it too dangerous to go on.\nOscar Cantu Murguia, the editor of Norte, informed readers of his decision in a farewell letter titled “Adios!” that was published on the paper’s front page and online.\nHe cited the recent murder of journalist Miroslava Breach in the city of Chihuahua, which like Juárez is in Chihuahua state. Breach was a reporter for the national newspaper La Jornada and had also collaborated with Norte.\nBreach was shot eight times in her car. One of her children was in the vehicle at the time but was not hurt. The gunmen left a note saying: “For being a loud-mouth.”\nAnnouncing the decision to close the paper, Cantu wrote: “On this day, esteemed reader, I address you to report that I have made the decision to close this newspaper due to the fact that, among other things, there are neither the guarantees nor the security to exercise critical, counterbalanced journalism.\n“In these 27 years ... we fought against the tide, receiving attacks and punishments from individuals and governments for having exposed their bad practices and corrupt acts that only played to the detriment of our city and the people who live in it.\n“Everything in life has a beginning and an end, a price to pay,” he went on. “And if this is life, I am not prepared for any more of my collaborators to pay it, nor with my own person.”\nCantu also mentioned ambiguous financial concerns that he blamed on authorities – “the arrogant refusal to pay debts contracted for the provision of services”.\nHe vowed to continue “fighting from other trenches, always contributing and being loyal to my ideals and my city”. A spokesman for Norte told the Guardian that the organisation’s news website would continue to operate. Juárez, which has a population of 1.3 million people, currently has five local newspapers: El Diario, El Norte, El Mexicano, El PM and Hoy. Norte’s print run was 30,000 copies from Monday to Thursday and 35,000 from Friday to Sunday.\nIn Mexico, government advertising is a major source of revenue for many news outlets, and media critics say reliance on that often leads to tame coverage and self-censorship.\nAt least 38 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992 for motives confirmed as related to their work, according the Committee to Protect Journalists. The New York-based media advocacy group says 50 more were slain during the same period for reasons that remain unclear.\n“Mexico is clearly going through a deep, full-blown freedom of expression crisis,” said Carlos Lauria, senior program coordinator for the Americas at CPJ. “It’s affecting Mexicans, not only journalists, because the fact that a newspaper closes is depriving people of information that they need in order to take informed decisions.”\nThe country saw a spate of attacks on journalists in March.\nIn addition to Breach, who was gunned down as she left home 23 March, two other journalists were killed in Guerrero and Veracruz, both states that are hotspots of drug cartel violence.\nAnother journalist was shot in Poza Rica, Veracruz on 29 March, leaving him in a critical condition. And an armed attack on a journalist in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, left his bodyguard dead.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Norte","Norte","Norte","Norte","Norte","Norte"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Juárez","Juárez","Juárez"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the safety of reporters cannot be guaranteed"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2017 Ciudad Juárez–based newspaper Norte closes its print edition, citing a lack of security in Mexico. (AP via ABC) (Guardian)","document":"A newspaper in the Mexican border city of Juarez announced Sunday that it is shutting down because the rampant, unpunished killings of journalists in the country have made it too dangerous to go on.\nNorte executive Oscar Cantu Murguia informed readers of his decision in a farewell letter titled \"Adios!\" that was published on the paper's front page and online.\nHe cited the recent murder of journalist Miroslava Breach in the city of Chihuahua, which like Juarez is in Chihuahua state. Breach was a reporter for the national newspaper La Jornada and had also collaborated with Norte.\n\"On this day, esteemed reader, I address you to report that I have made the decision to close this newspaper due to the fact that, among other things, there are neither the guarantees nor the security to exercise critical, counterbalance journalism,\" Cantu wrote.\n\"Everything in life has a beginning and an end, a price to pay,\" he continued. \"And if this is life, I am not prepared for any more of my collaborators to pay it, nor with my own person.\"\nCantu also mentioned ambiguous financial concerns that he blamed on authorities: \"the arrogant refusal to pay debts contracted for the provision of services.\"\nIn Mexico, government advertising is a major source of revenue for many news outlets, and media critics say reliance on that often leads to tame coverage and self-censorship.\nAt least 38 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992 for motives confirmed as related to their work, according the Committee to Protect Journalists. The New York-based media advocacy group says 50 more were slain during the same period for reasons that remain unclear.\n\"Mexico is clearly going through a deep, full-blown freedom of expression crisis,\" said Carlos Lauria, senior program coordinator for the Americas at CPJ. \"It's affecting Mexicans, not only journalists, because the fact that a newspaper closes is depriving people of information that they need in order to take informed decisions.\"\nThe country saw a spate of attacks on journalists in March.\nIn addition to Breach, who was gunned down as she left home March 23, two other journalists were killed in Guerrero and Veracruz, both states that are hotspots of drug cartel violence.\nAnother journalist was shot in Poza Rica, Veracruz, March 29, leaving him in critical condition. And an armed attack on a journalist in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, left his bodyguard dead.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Oscar Cantu Murguia"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Norte","Norte"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Juarez","Juarez"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the rampant, unpunished killings of journalists in the country have made it too dangerous to go on","journalists","Journalists","journalists","journalists","journalists"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2017 The militant Basque separatist group ETA begins handing over its remaining weapons during a ceremony in Bayonne, France, in which the group turned over to authorities an inventory of weapons and their locations. (BBC)","document":"Basque militant group Eta has begun handing over its remaining weapons, ending the last insurgency in Western Europe. At a ceremony in the southern French city of Bayonne, an inventory of weapons, and their locations, was passed to the judicial authorities. French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl hailed the move as a \"major step\".\nEta killed more than 800 people in some 40 years of violence as it sought to carve out an independent country straddling Spain and France. It declared a ceasefire in 2011 but did not disarm.\nMr Fekl said the inventory included eight sites, and a police operation was under way to secure them. The caches contain 120 firearms, three tonnes of explosives and several thousand rounds of ammunition, according to a spokesman for the group which mediated between Eta and the French authorities. The group was set up more than 50 years ago in the era of Spanish dictator General Franco. Its goal was to create an independent Basque state out of territory in south-west France and northern Spain.\nIts first known killing was in 1968, when a secret police chief was shot dead in the Basque city of San Sebastian.\nFrance and Spain refuse to negotiate with Eta, which is on the EU blacklist of terrorist organisations. It has taken years to convince Eta members to disarm without getting anything in return, says the BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Bayonne. She says she has been told about 100 hardline fighters still oppose the move. French police have begun checking the list of sites handed over on Saturday. There is also the International Verification Commission (IVC), set up in 2011 to monitor Eta's progress towards disarmament. It is not recognised by the French and Spanish governments, but it does have the backing of the regional Basque government in Spain. In 2014, the IVC reported that Eta had taken some of its weapons out of action, but the Spanish government dismissed the move as \"theatrical\".\nThe Spanish government does not believe Eta will hand over all its weapons, Reuters quoted a government source as saying.\nSlowly, and with many false starts. Eta's first ceasefire was in 1998, but collapsed the following year. In 2006, it made another pledge to lay down arms that, too, proved to be illusory. In December of that year, it bombed an airport car park in Madrid, killing two people. Four years later, in 2010, Eta announced it would not carry out further attacks and in January 2011, it declared a permanent and \"internationally verifiable\" ceasefire but refused to disarm.\nIn recent years, police in France and Spain have put Eta under severe pressure, arresting hundreds of militants, including leadership figures, and seizing many of its weapons.\nEta's political wing, Herri Batasuna, was banned by the Spanish government, which argued that the two groups were inextricably linked. A simple ceremony in a city hall ended Eta's bloody campaign for independence. In an elegant high-ceilinged room, five people sat around a plain square table as early-morning light filtered through heavy drapes. Bayonne Mayor Jean-Rene Etchegaray welcomed them to a \"moment we have all been waiting for\". After a few short speeches, French Basque environmentalist Txetx Etcheverry approached the table with a bulky black file, with a dozen blue folders. From where I sat, I could see it included photographs as well as text. The dossier was handed to international witnesses including Italian Archbishop Matteo Zuppi and the Reverend Harold Good, who played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process. French security forces discreetly secured the area and the Spanish government raised no objections to the ceremony going ahead. Ram Manikkalingam of the IVC called it a \"new model of disarmament and verification which emerged from Basque society\".","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Basque militant group Eta"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["French","French","French","French","French","French","French"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ending the last insurgency in Western Europe"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2017 After 146 years, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to a close. (The New York Times)","document":"UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The lights went up on the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus on Sunday evening to reveal 14 lions and tigers sitting in a circle, surrounding a man in a sparkling suit. It was a sight too implausible to seem real yet such an iconic piece of Americana that it was impossible to believe the show would not go on.\nAfter 146 years, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey is closing for good, responding to a prolonged slump in ticket sales that has rendered the business unsustainable, according to its operator, Feld Entertainment. On Sunday, the circus glittered, thundered and awed beneath the booms and klieg lights of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. That there was no tent over the final show, no striped eaves from which the daring young man on the flying trapeze could hang, felt fitting. The big top was packed up, this time forever.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus","Ringling Brothers","Barnum"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday evening"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["a prolonged slump in ticket sales that has rendered the business unsustainable"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2017 Ansar al-Sharia announces it is formally dissolving amid heavy losses that have wiped out its leadership and decimated its fighters. The group was responsible for the 2012 Benghazi attack. (Reuters)","document":"CAIRO (Reuters) - Libyan Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, a group linked to Al-Qaeda, is formally dissolving itself, it said in a statement on Saturday.\nThe group, which Washington says was behind the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed the U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens, had been at war with Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army.\nThe group said its decision came on the back of heavy losses that have wiped out its leadership and decimated its fighters, according to the statement.\nForces aligned with the Libyan National Army have skirmished since late last year with opponents aligned with a U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.\nGroups such as Ansar al-Sharia, which had tried to maintain a stronghold in the country’s east, have inserted themselves into the larger war, creating a fractious battleground overlaid by a multitude of militias.\nThe group’s statement called on revolutionary forces and shoura councils in Benghazi to unite in order to form a united front.\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Libyan Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia","Sharia"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["heavy losses that have wiped out its leadership and decimated its fighters"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2017 Bahrain bans the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on grounds that it \"sows division\" in the Shia-majority kingdom. (AFP via Yahoo!)","document":"Dubai (AFP) - The government in Sunni-ruled Bahrain announced Sunday an indefinite ban on the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on accusations that it publishes \"what sows division\" in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.\nThe ministry of information affairs said it had decided to bar the publication and stop its circulation \"until further notice\", according BNA state news agency, without specifying if the ban affects the electronic edition.\nThe order was due to Al-Wasat's \"violation of the law and repeatedly publishing what sows division in the society and affects Bahrain's relations with other states,\" BNA said.\nThe decision came after the paper published an article on Sunday that was \"offensive to a sisterly Arab state,\" BNA said, in an apparent reference to an article that praised protests in Morocco.\nThe London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy criticised the decision, saying it was \"the latest in an escalated crackdown on independent civil society\".\n\"They are trying to silence the only independent paper,\" BIRD's advocacy chief Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei said in a statement.\n\"Bahrain feels it can get away with any action because its key international allies the US and UK have shown they don't prioritise human rights. This attack on the press must be condemned by London and Washington,\" he added.\nBIRD said an unnamed source at the newspaper said Al-Wasat was suspended due to the publication of an \"opinion article\" about widespread protests in Morocco.\nDemonstrations and a strike have rocked the northern port of Al-Hoceima, in Morocco's neglected Rif region, where authorities arrested the leader of a popular protest movement and others on May 26.\nThe protesters have been demanding more development and railing against corruption, repression and unemployment.\nAl-Hoceima has been shaken by social unrest since the death in October of a fishmonger who was crushed in a rubbish truck as he protested against the seizure of swordfish caught out of season.\n- Authorities intensify crackdown -\nAuthorities in Bahrain had suspended the electronic edition of Al-Wasat for few days in January over accusations of sowing sedition and harming national unity.\nThe newspaper was also suspended for two days in August 2015 on similar charges.\nBahrain has been rocked by sporadic unrest since March 2011 when security forces brutally crushed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.\nAt the height of the 2011 uprising, Al-Wasat was suspended and its chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri tried and fined for publishing false information.\nThe latest ban comes as authorities intensify a crackdown on the opposition, with police shooting dead five demonstrators last month as security forces dismantled a months-long sit-in.\nAnd last week a Bahrain court dissolved the secular opposition party Waed, months after the main party representing the kingdom's Shiite majority, Al-Wefaq, was also banned.\nTiny but strategic Bahrain, which lies just across the Gulf from Iran, is a key regional ally of the United States and home to its Fifth Fleet.\nIt has come under frequent criticism from international human rights groups and the administration of Barack Obama often criticised the Manama authorities for not doing more to reconcile with the opposition.\nHowever President Donald Trump made a clear break from that policy during a visit to the region earlier this month, telling Bahrain's King Hamad in neighbouring Saudi Arabia \"there won't be strain with this administration\".\nAbout 84 million years ago, Earth's crust and the mantle below it rotated around the planet's inner core - causing the Earth to tip over.\nHart said in an interview with Romper that his children are aware of the \"gift and a curse\" that celebrity brings.\nIn an interview with McClatchy, Anthony Fauci discusses the Delta variant and his plans to eventually return to research.\nThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may possibly relocate or euthanize a female grizzly bear and her cubs if 10-14 days of hazing does not work.\nRumours abounded on Friday night that China's top spycatcher had defected to the US, amid a growing focus in Washington on the theory that Covid-19 escaped from a Wuhan laboratory. Dong Jingwei, vice minister of state security, was reported to have flown from Hong Kong to the US in February with his daughter. There was no confirmation of the rumoured development from either the US or China. Dr Han Lianchao, a former Chinese foreign ministry official who is now a pro-democracy activist in the US,\nThe urine test could help detect brain cancer earlier than traditional scans, improving patient survival.\nThe group of tubers passed over the approximately eight-foot-high Duke Energy dam along the Dan river while on a floating trip in North Carolina.\nA Tory MP is facing trial accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008, it can now be revealed. Imran Ahmad Khan, 47, the Conservative MP for Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is alleged to have groped the teenager in Staffordshire. Mr Ahmad Khan, who was elected at the 2019 general election, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday by video-link from his lawyers' office. He was named on Friday after reporting restrictions were lifted. Mr Ahmad Khan has had the Tory whip suspe\nTeachers should drop the terms boys and girls in favour of “learners”, and mix up the sexes in PE classes, Stonewall has told schools. The controversial LGBT charity is urging teachers to ditch all gendered language and gendered uniforms and suggests that children should compete against the opposite sex in sport. A series of guidance documents state that uniform policies should \"give the option to wear a skirt as well as the option to wear trousers\". One of Stonewall’s guides said that its work\nDaredevil Alex Harvill, 28, crashed his motorcycle while practicing to perform a 351-foot jump at an airshow in Washington state on June 17.\nFormer White House doctor Rep. Ronny Jackson and 13 other Republicans want President Joe Biden to take a mental cognition test and share the results.\nThe \"Daily Show\" correspondent Jordan Klepper confronted Mike Lindell about his conspiracy theories during the Frank Free Speech Rally in Wisconsin.\nWhile working her job at Starbucks, the daughter of Miami Gardens’ police chief was allegedly threatened with a gun over an order mix-up — the gunman was given his bagel without cream cheese, police say.\nIt wasn’t the Emancipation Proclamation, but rather “General Order No. 3”\nTrump's former Vice President Mike Pence was booed at what should've been a friendly crowd at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Orlando.\nDisneyland and Disney California Adventure have lifted rules about crowds and distancing. Fireworks are coming back. But some changes will stick.\nStepp and his wife spent 19 days in the hospital with Alli.\nMuch to the surprise of a puzzled pundit corps, history may well conclude that, while President Joe Biden and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin produced no big-deal breaking news headline, their summit may prove to be one of the 21st century’s pivotal events.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["the independent Al-Wasat newspaper"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain","Bahrain"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["it publishes \"what sows division\" in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom","Shiite"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2017 Sears, Roebuck & Co. announces it will be closing eight more of its namesake department stores, as well as thirty five Kmart locations in addition to the hundred and fifty stores that they had announced in January would be shuttered. (Reuters)","document":"CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp SHLD.O is closing eight of its namesake department stores and 35 Kmart locations to cut costs and square footage in an effort to return to profitability, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Lampert said on Friday.\nThe store closings are in addition to 150 the company announced in January. Once the largest U.S. retailer, Sears has struggled with years of losses and declining sales as shoppers have shifted from the mall to the web. The company said in February it would cut costs this year by at least $1 billion.\nShares of Sears fell as much as 4.8 percent in afternoon trading.\n\"This is part of a strategy both to address losses from unprofitable stores and to reduce the square footage of other stores because many of them are simply too big for our current needs,\" Lampert wrote in a blog post. (bit.ly/2u03gDc)\nA Sears spokesman declined to say how many jobs would be lost from these store closures. He said employees who are eligible would receive severance and be able to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores.\nLampert added that Sears expects to open more smaller-format stores while shrinking its large, less-competitive ones. He said Sears was on track to meet its cost-cutting targets.\n“We reached the point in the past 12 months where some of our vendors have reduced their support, thereby placing additional pressure on our business,” Lampert said.\nSears suppliers told Reuters in March they were doubling down on defensive measures, such as reducing shipments and seeking better payment terms, to protect against the risk of nonpayment.\nLampert, in a version of the blog post updated on Friday afternoon, added that Sears had amended its second lien credit facility to provide up to $500 million in additional borrowing capacity and had sold over $200 million in real estate, helping Sears pay down part of its real estate loan.\nSears said in a separate statement that Lampert’s hedge fund, ESL Investments Inc, controls one of the entities that has loaned money under the facility, and that ESL is considering participating in the facility as a lender.\nAs well as owning over 48 percent of Sears, Lampert and ESL - through its affiliates - have provided debt funding to the company several times since he was appointed CEO in 2013.\nReporting by Richa Naidu; Editing by David Gregorio and Cynthia Osterman\nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.\nMore From Reuters\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Eddie Lampert"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Sears Holdings Corp SHLD.O"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["cut costs and square footage in an effort to return to profitability"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2006 Côte d'Ivoire Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny dissolves his Cabinet after toxic waste was dumped in the city of Abidjan, making over 1,500 people ill and killing three. (BBC)","document":"Three people have died and more than 1,500 have been treated after inhaling fumes from waste apparently dumped at sites in the city two weeks ago. Mr Banny, who will remain in office, was asked by Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo to form a new cabinet at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.\nIt is unclear who dumped the waste but local papers are alleging corruption.\nThe BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the government's resignation is unprecedented and follows mounting anger at its failure to act more decisively.\nSpecial fund\nThe government is a power-sharing administration, including rebels who control the north of the country.\nOur correspondent says some feel that the decision to resign could be intended to deflect from the failure of Tuesday's summit of political leaders to break a deadlock in the peace process.\nI'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly\n Abidjan resident\nWaste adds to Ivorian woes\n\nThe out-going administration's last act was to set up a special fund to pay for the medical treatment for the victims of the toxic waste.\nForeign experts have been asked to help clear up the waste from seven locations around Ivory Coast's biggest city.\nHundreds of youths have set up roadblocks around the city to draw attention to the problem.\nIvorian television on Wednesday interrupted its regular programmes to urge hundreds of protesters to give doctors access to sites where toxic waste was dumped.\n\nIt said people faced serious health threats because of the toxic material.\nThe waste was dumped by a ship several weeks ago in unclear circumstances. Trafigura Beheer BV, the company that chartered the ship Probo Koala, said it was very concerned by reports that \"residue from the petrol cargo\" had been disposed of inappropriately.\nThose affected are being treated for stomach problems, nosebleeds and respiratory illnesses.\nA senior aide to the prime minister told the BBC that Mr Konan Banny felt that people at the highest level should face the consequences. Breathing problems\n\"I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly,\" Eric, a patient seeking treatment at Abidjan's university teaching hospital city, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.\nThe hospital has set up a specialist unit to deal with those suffering from similar symptoms.\n\"We don't know what we're treating. When they have stinging eyes or noses we give them drops. We want to know what it is so we know how to treat it,\" the manager of a local hospital told Reuters news agency.\nHe added the hospital was running low on some medicines and X-ray film.\nIn a statement, Trafigura Beheer BV said it told Ivorian authorities of the nature of the waste including \"a written request that it should be safely disposed of, according to country laws\".\n\"Trafigura can confirm that the residue (slops) were a mixture of gasoline, water and caustic washings,\" the statement continued.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Laurent Gbagbo"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["the government"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Ivory Coast","Ivory Coast"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["its failure to act more decisively"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2018 Wonga, the largest payday lender in the United Kingdom, collapses into administration. (BBC)","document":"Payday lender Wonga has announced its intention to go into administration after losing its battle to stay afloat.\nThe company said in a statement that it had assessed all options and had decided that administration was the appropriate route.\nIt had already stopped accepting new loan applications as it fought to stave off collapse.\nIts demise in the UK follows a surge in compensation claims amid a government clampdown on payday lenders.\nGrant Thornton will be acting as administrators.\nIn a statement Wonga said: \"Customers can continue to use Wonga services to manage their existing loans but the UK business will not be accepting any new loan applications. Customers can find further information on the website.\nUnfortunately for you, the repayments will still have to be made. Although this will be overseen by the administrators - in the short-term at least - there is no practical difference in the way that these payments are made.\nA service will continue for anyone who needs help, and anyone struggling to repay can still get in touch, and can also contact debt charities such as Citizens Advice or StepChange for free advice.\nRead more answers to your questions here\n\"Wonga's overseas businesses continue to trade and are not part of this announcement.\"\nThe City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said: \"The FCA will continue to supervise Wonga once it is in administration and is in close contact with the proposed administrators with regard to the fair treatment of customers.\n\"Customers should continue to make any outstanding payments in the normal way. All existing agreements remain in place and will not be affected by the proposed administration. However, the firm is no longer able to issue new loans.\"\nWonga, which was the UK's biggest payday lender, had faced criticism for its high-cost, short-term loans, seen as targeting the vulnerable.\nAmong those who used its services at its height was journalist James Ball, now aged 32. He said Wonga made it easy to get a loan when he was young and prone to overspending.\nBut he said that it was also convenient for him to borrow when he was struggling with student debts and commuting costs among other bills.\n\"I am absolutely not looking for sympathy,\" he said.\nIn 2014, the Financial Conduct Authority found that Wonga's debt collection practices were unfair and ordered it to pay £2.6m to compensate 45,000 customers. Since then, payday loan companies have faced tougher rules and have their charges capped.\nThis hit Wonga's profits hard. In 2016, it posted pre-tax losses of nearly £65m, despite claiming its business had been \"transformed\".\nIt continued to face legacy complaints and was forced to seek a bailout from its backers in August amid a surge in claims. It was a huge fall from grace for Wonga, which in 2012 was touted to be exploring a US stock market flotation that would have valued it at more than $1bn (£770m).\nWonga never considered itself to be a payday lender, preferring instead to describe itself as a maverick technology company that happened to sell loans. Its technology was groundbreaking, allowing the smartphone generation to choose how much they wanted to borrow with the slide of a thumb.\nThat convenience, matched with a huge advertising campaign featuring amusing puppets and upbeat voiceovers, proved a hit. At the height of its success in 2013, Wonga had a million customers. But Mick McAteer, founder of the not-for-profit Financial Inclusion Centre, said this demand was a bubble: \"They were flogging [credit] and they created demand for it.\"\nIn other words, some borrowers simply did not need to borrow from a payday lender, but were attracted towards these high-cost, short-term loans anyway.\nThe collapse spells the end of a rags to riches to rags story of a company that was vilified for its conduct when lending to people who could not afford to repay.\nThe market has changed as a result of the FCA's crackdown, and thousands of former customers have sought compensation.\nAnyone awaiting compensation payments from Wonga is now likely to be in the queue for a payout from the sale of any assets.\nMany have said they will not mourn the loss of Wonga.\nGuy Anker, deputy editor of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: \"Payday loans are hideously expensive and morally questionable products - and many have been mis-sold to vulnerable customers. They should only be seen as a loan of absolute last resort. \"So to have one fewer payday loan lender - and Wonga was a biggie - is positive for consumers, but of course is very sad for the staff who will have lost their jobs.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga","Wonga"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["losing its battle to stay afloat"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2016 The Hungarian newspaper Népszabadság shuts down after 60 years amid significant financial losses. (Reuters)","document":"BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Around 2,000 Hungarians protested in Budapest on Saturday against the closure of the country’s leading leftist newspaper Nepszabadsag, saying press freedom was under threat.\nOwner Mediaworks said on Saturday it had suspended the newspaper and its employees after the publication piled up significant losses despite cost cuts. It said it would revamp the organization.\nBut civil rights groups said the newspaper had been shut down because it had published stories critical of right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government and called for the demonstration in front of the parliament building.\n“Today one of the last opposition newspapers was simply silenced,” the civil rights groups said on Facebook.\nThe radical nationalist Jobbik opposition party blamed Orban for the closure, saying his Fidesz party wanted to control the entire Hungarian media.\n“Sudden closure of Nepszabadsag sets a worrying precedent. I stand in solidarity with Hungarians protesting today,” European Parliament President Martin Schulz tweeted.\nFidesz said it regarded the closure as a “reasonable business decision” by the publisher.\nMediaworks, owned by Austrian firm Vienna Capital Partners, said it was working on a new business model for Nepszabadsag (People’s Freedom), which has been in publication since November 1956.\n“In order to achieve and concentrate fully on this priority task, all operations of Nepszabadsag (including print and online) will as of today be suspended until the new form is decided and can be implemented,” it said on the paper’s website nol.hu.\nEmployees, who received letters on Saturday informing them of Mediawork’s decision, said the closure had come as a shock, and editor Andras Muranyi told ATV that talks with the company were under way.\n“Our first thought is that this is a coup. We will soon come back with more,” Nepszabadsag said in an editorial on its Facebook page.\nIn its final edition on Saturday, the newspaper reported the latest in its articles on a minister in Orban’s government using a helicopter to fly to a wedding.\n“I don’t usually attend demonstrations because my blood pressure goes up but now I felt I had to come.. It is a shameful thing that has been done here,” Erzsebet Kovacs, one of the demonstrators, said.\n“The free media is being suffocated,” another demonstrator Tamas Waldmann said.\nSome protesters burned copies of the pro-government daily Magyar Idok at the rally, website Index.hu reported.\nGovernment spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said the government did not deal with developments in the media industry. “In Hungary press freedom is doing well,” he added.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Nepszabadsag","Nepszabadsag","Nepszabadsag","Nepszabadsag","Nepszabadsag"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Hungary"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["publication piled up significant losses despite cost cuts"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 Protesters in Malaysia attempt to shut down the Malaysiakini newspaper which has been at the center of opposition towards Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak. (The Guardian)","document":"Najib Razak supporters say news site an ‘agent for foreign powers’ after grant from George Soros-backed fund emerges\nLast modified on Mon 7 Nov 2016 00.38 GMT\nHundreds of pro-government protesters in Malaysia have demanded the closure of independent news portal Malaysiakini, rallying against what they said was a foreign-backed attempt to usurp the prime minister, Najib Razak.\nDressed in red shirts, the demonstrators chanted “close down Malaysiakini” outside the company’s offices in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday in a largely peaceful gathering that lasted several hours.\nPolice prevented the group of about 500 people from entering Malaysiakini, an organisation that has reported extensively on a corruption scandal that has engulfed Najib.\nAmnesty International said the calls to close Malaysiakini were “the latest instance of the right to freedom of expression coming under attack in the country”.\nJamal Yunos, a member of the prime minister’s ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, led the rally and vowed to “tear down” the offices. But after several hours in the street, the protesters left.\nThe demonstration was organised after documents leaked last month by whistleblower site DC leaks suggested Malaysiakini had received funds from the Open Society Foundations (OSF), set up by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.\nSoros is regarded with deep suspicion in Malaysia following accusations he deepened the devastating 1997-98 Asian financial crisis by selling the Malaysian ringgit short.\nAnd Jamal said the OSF money was directed at influencing the next general election.\n“Our demonstration today is very important for Malaysians so that we don’t allow Malaysiakini to be an agent for foreign powers,” he added.\nOSF said it was non-partisan and proud to have supported civil society in Malaysia during the past decade. While it denied accusations it was supporting attempts to overthrow Najib, it said in a statement its grants were to “support justice, accountability and democratic practice around the world”.\nMalaysiakini’s editor-in-chief, Steven Gan, said his portal had received a grant from OSF but it was very small. The bulk of Malaysiakini’s shares are owned by Gan and his co-founder, Premesh Chandran, he said. Twelve percent are owned by Malaysiakini staff, he added.\n“When it comes to outsiders or even Malaysiakini shareholders influencing our editorial policy, that is completely impossible,” Gan said at a media conference. “Even I would it find it very hard to control the editorial policy of Malaysiakini.”\nThe leak said Malaysia’s biggest civil society group, Bersih, which seeks to reform the electoral system in Malaysia, had also received money from the foundation. OSF said over 2011/2012 it provided small grants to Bersih, a coalition of about 80 non-governmental organisations tackling corruption.\nBersih, whose members wear yellow, have planned a rally for 19 November that will again call for Najib to step down over the graft allegations. The pro-Najib red shirt movement also has plans to rally that day, leading to concerns about potential clashes.\nThe Najib scandal emerged in July 2015 when media reports said investigators had found that nearly US$700m (£450m) from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund was transferred into the prime minister’s bank accounts.\nThe administration and its supporters have cracked down on the media and civil society groups, attempting to silence criticism of Najib’s alleged involvement\nNajib, who founded 1MDB, has strongly denied any wrongdoing. In July, US prosecutors filed civil lawsuits alleging that 1MDB had been defrauded of more than $3.5bn. Najib was not mentioned as involved.\nAlthough protest leader Jamal is a prominent member of UMNO, there was no indication the government organised the attempt to close Malaysiakini.\nMalaysiakini editor Gan said Jamal had a right to hold a peaceful assembly. But he added: “Let them have their say. But they should also respect the right of others to speak their minds, too.”\nLast month, the New-York based advocacy group Human Rights Watch released a report saying the government actions have signalled an ever-broadening crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly in the country.\nThe 40-page report, titled “Deepening the Culture of Fear: the Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Malaysia”, documented the government’s recent use of vaguely worded laws to criminalise peaceful speech and assembly. “As Prime Minister Najib’s political fortunes fall, Malaysia’s intolerance of critical speech seems to rise,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Malaysia’s future as a rights-respecting nation shouldn’t become hostage to defending the Najib government’s reputation.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini","Malaysiakini"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["corruption scandal that has engulfed Najib"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 As many as 412 people have died in the last 23 days due to smog in Tehran, according to Iran's Health Ministry. All schools in the city have also been ordered to close as part of emergency measures. (AFP via Daily Mail)","document":"By Julian Robinson for MailOnline and Afp Published: 09:00 BST, 16 November 2016 | Updated: 19:57 BST, 16 November 2016 33\nView comments\nMore than 400 people have been killed by smog in under a month after a lethal blanket of pollution smothered the capital of Iran, it has emerged.\nSchools have been shut while millions have been forced to wear face masks or retreat indoors after choking levels of pollution descended on Tehran.\nAs many as 412 citizens have died in the past 23 days and authorities have rolled out a series of unprecedented emergency measures.\nMore than 400 people have been killed by smog in under a month after a lethal blanket of pollution smothered the capital of Iran, it has emerged\nExhaust fumes from millions of cars and motorcycles that ply Tehran's roads account for 80 percent of its pollution, which increases in winter as emissions fail to rise above cold air\nAll of the city's schools were due to have been shut today while tourism bosses have even apologised to foreign visitors for the pollution. \nA blanket of brown-white smog descended on the capital on Sunday, blocking views of the mountains that line its northern edge and forcing many of its 14 million residents to stay indoors.\nThe pollution in Tehran hit 156 on the Air Quality Index of deadly airborne particles, over the 150 considered 'unhealthy' for the general public. In tourist hotspot Isfahan the level hit 167.\nOfficials apologised to foreign visitors for the bleak conditions.\n'We hope our people's hospitality wipes the grey image of Tehran's beautiful attractions from their minds,' the capital's tourism boss Rajab Ali Khosroabadi told the ISNA news agency.\nKindergartens and primary schools in Tehran were ordered to stay closed Monday and Tuesday, and traffic restrictions were tightened.\nA blanket of brown-white smog descended on the capital on Sunday, blocking views of the mountains that line its northern edge and forcing many of its 14 million residents to stay indoors\nSchools have been shut while millions have been forced to wear face masks or retreat indoors after choking levels of pollution descended on Tehran \nAmbulances were deployed to wait in the busiest and dirtiest areas amid warnings that children, the elderly and those with existing health conditions were at particular risk.\n'Since no one does anything, every year the problem gets worse. The government should block old cars. We must improve public transport,' Zeynab Nazari, a first-year sociology student, told AFP.\nEvery year, Tehran suffers some of the worst pollution in the world when cool autumn temperatures cause an effect known as 'temperature inversion'.\nThe phenomenon creates a layer of warm air above the city that traps pollution from some 10 million cars and motorbikes.\nThe latest smog cloud is expected to hang over the city until today when forecasters hope winds will move the stagnant air, an official told state television.\nTehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rode the metro to work Sunday in a bid to encourage people to use public transport.\nThe pollution in Tehran hit 156 on the Air Quality Index of deadly airborne particles, over the 150 considered 'unhealthy' for the general public. In tourist hotspot Isfahan the level hit 167\nThe phenomenon creates a layer of warm air above the city that traps pollution from some 10 million cars and motorbikes\nDespite having around 100 stations, Ghalibaf says the metro is not sufficiently funded by central government, forcing millions to rely on cars.\nPollution has become a political football in recent years, with conservatives and reformists blaming each other for the problem.\nHardliners accuse reformist vice-president Massoumeh Ebtekar, who heads the environmental protection agency, of not doing enough.\nUltra-conservative daily Vatane Emrooz said Monday that 70 percent of deaths in Tehran were linked to pollution.\nEbtekar, in an Instagram post, said various measures to reduce factory pollution and provide cleaner petrol had led to 'significant' improvement.\nStill, weather conditions and heavy congestion remain a blight.\nTwo traffic restriction zones -- introduced in 1979 and 2005 -- have done little to solve the problem.\nLocal carmakers have been reluctant to introduce cleaner engines, while foreign firms have been kept out by international sanctions.\nIn 2014, almost 400 people were hospitalised with heart and respiratory problems caused by pollution in Tehran. Nearly 1,500 others required treatment.\nThe health ministry estimated that pollution in 2012 contributed to the premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran and about 80,000 across the country.\n \n\t \n \n ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday and Tuesday","Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran","Tehran"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["choking levels of pollution","pollution","pollution","choking levels","pollution","pollution","pollution","pollution","pollution","Pollution","pollution","pollution","pollution","pollution"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2016 The board of TransAsia Airways decides to dissolve the company after halting flights on Tuesday. (Bloomberg) (The Wall Street Journal) (The New York Times)","document":"HONG KONG — TransAsia Airways, the Taiwan-based airline that had two fatal crashes within seven months of each other, said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday that it was shutting down.\nIts shares and flights had been suspended since Monday.\nThe company has continuously lost money, and its shares have been sliding since the crashes in 2014 and 2015 raised questions about the safety of its planes.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["TransAsia Airways"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Taiwan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["had two fatal crashes within seven months of each other"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2016 British publisher Trinity Mirror announces that its daily newspaper, The New Day, will close after just two months since its launch, after sales fell to around 30,000 copies per day. The last edition will be printed on May 6. (The Guardian)","document":"Publisher Trinity Mirror to announce closure of experimental national newspaper after sales fall to around 30,000 copies\n\nTrinity Mirror is to shut its experimental new national newspaper the New Day on Friday just two months after launch.\nThe publisher of the Daily Mirror launched the title, which aimed to target those who had “fallen out of love with newspapers”, at the end of February with a promotional print run of about 2m. The title was launched with a £5m TV ad campaign that ran with the strapline “Seize the New Day”.\nTrinity Mirror, which saw its share price slump to a three-year low on Wednesday, is expected to announce the closure of the title in a stock market trading update on Thursday morning.\nTwo sources said staff were informed of the closure on Wednesday. The last issue will hit stands on Friday. Editor Alison Phillips, who was previously responsible for stablemates the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, was said by those who attended the internal meeting to be distraught.\nThe publisher had aimed to hit paid sales of 200,000, and made promises to advertisers to sell ads at that rate of sales or offer money back, but instead saw its popularity immediately sink to about 30,000 copies per day.\nTrinity Mirror positioned the launch of the title as a low-cost operation running on extra capacity at its printing presses – which also had contracts to print the Independent print titles and still handle the i, which Evgeny Lebedev sold to Johnston Press earlier this year.\nSources say the New Day was probably running at a loss of about £1m annually. A spokeswoman for Trinity Mirror refused to comment.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["new national newspaper the New Day","New Day","New Day"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["sales fall to around 30,000 copies"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2016 Coca-Cola FEMSA suspends all production in Venezuela due to a sugar shortage. (Fortune) (Sputnik)","document":"Coca-Cola is suspending its production in Venezuela over lack of sugar.\n\"Right now we are not anticipating the closure of our central office. We are not leaving the country,\" the company said in a statement Thursday as quoted by the La Patilla tabloid.\nAccording to the company, 90 percent of the products it produces requite sugar.\nIn April, Polar group, Venezuela's biggest food and beverage company, announced it was stopping its production of beer citing lack of barley.\nVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared an economic emergency in Venezuela in January. The announcement came two days after Venezuela’s oil price dropped to $24 a barrel, the lowest mark in 12 years. Up to 96 percent of Venezuela’s budget depends on oil revenues. The measure has seen been extended.\nLast week, Maduro threatened to seize the country’s factories which are currently not working and put their owners in prison.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Coca-Cola"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["lack of sugar"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2016 Coca-Cola FEMSA suspends all production in Venezuela due to a sugar shortage. (Fortune) (Sputnik)","document":"Coca-Cola FEMSA has suspended all production in Venezuela because of a sugar shortage, the Mexican beverage multinational said in a statement.\nThe company, the largest Coke (KO) bottler in the world, told workers sugar supplies were too low and that the problem could persist for months, according to several media reports. Coca-Cola FEMSA, which operates across Latin American, said 90% of its products require sugar. At the same time, the company said that while it was closing its central office in Venezuela, it was not exiting the country.\nLast month, Polar Group, Venezuela’s largest food and beverage company and biggest private company overall, said it would suspend production of beer and other malt beverages because of a lack of barley.\nThe suspension comes as Venezuela’s economy appears to be teetering on the brink of collapse. Earlier this week, President Nicolas Maduro repeated his threat to seize closed factories and nationalize them. And Reuters reported water levels have dropped close to a critical low in Venezuela’s main dam and hydroelectric plant, which provides the majority of the country’s electricity, leading the government to ration water. The oil-producing country’s economy is struggling to contend with low energy prices.\nBut currency controls and often erratic behavior by the Venezuelan government have long been an impediment to many Western consumer and packaged goods companies operating in the nation, which was once one of the richest countries in Latin America. Two years ago, Clorox (CLX) exited the market, while Avon Products (AV) scaled back operations.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Coca-Cola FEMSA","Coca-Cola FEMSA"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a sugar shortage"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2016 The bankruptcy auction for the company gets underway when Gawker accepts tech publisher Ziff Davis's bid for all seven of its brands and other assets, reportedly for $90 million to $100 million. (CNN)","document":" On Friday, the embattled media company said it had agreed to sell all seven of its brands and other assets to the tech publisher Ziff Davis. The Ziff Davis bid -- worth $90 million to $100 million, according to sources -- sets the floor for the bankruptcy auction process. \"The bidding begins now -- so we will find out how much others will bid,\" a source with direct knowledge of the process said. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in Manhattan was motivated by the company's agonizing and all-consuming legal fight with Hulk Hogan -- a court battle that was secretly funded by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel. A spokesman for Thiel declined to comment on Friday. Gawker Media founder and CEO Nick Denton said in a tweet, \"Even with his billions, Thiel will not silence our writers. Our sites will thrive --under new ownership -- and we'll win in court.\" Even with his billions, Thiel will not silence our writers. Our sites will thrive — under new ownership — and we'll win in court.\n Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, also took to Twitter to respond to the news. It was the former professional wrestler's protracted legal battle against Gawker that motivated Friday's decision. \"What a beautiful day, and the good doesn't prevent the better! In the present I AM always grateful, only good happens to me,\" he tweeted to his more than 1.5 million followers. What a beautiful day,and the good doesn't prevent the better! In the present I AM always grateful,only good happens to me. HH\n The asset purchase agreement to Ziff Davis, the owner of PC Magazine, marks the start of the bankruptcy auction process. Bidding is expected to continue next week. Denton said he was \"encouraged\" by the agreement with Ziff Davis, which he called \"one of the most rigorously managed and profitable companies in digital media.\" Ziff Davis signaled that it is interested in Gawker Media titles like Jezebel and Gizmodo, but the company's statement noticeably lacked any mention of the flagship Gawker.com, where the offending Hogan story was published in 2012. The sale agreement to Ziff Davis will need to be approved by the bankruptcy court, which will conduct an auction to see if there is a higher offer available. Ziff Davis will be what is known as a \"stalking horse bidder,\" whose offer for the company can be topped by other bidders. Proceeds of the sale will go to pay off creditors, including Hogan. But that doesn't mean he will be able to collect all the money the jury awarded him. Under bankruptcy, people owed money generally receive only a fraction of what they were owed by the bankrupt company. In March, a Florida jury awarded Hogan a staggering $140.1 million judgment in his invasion of privacy trial against the company over its 2012 publication of excerpts from his sex tape. David Houston, Hogan's longtime personal attorney, said in a statement that his client has \"every intention\" to pursue that judgment, \"whether it be in the bankruptcy court or any other court.\" Gawker is still pushing ahead with its appeal of the judgment and has maintained confidence that it will ultimately be vindicated, but the company has been openly entertaining a sale. Still, the news brought a sense of shock inside Gawker's Manhattan headquarters on Friday. Staffers learned of the bankruptcy filing at an all-hands meeting around noon, shortly before the news went public. \"People were surprised and saddened I would say,\" one Gawker Media staffer told CNNMoney. \"Our independence is very central to what we do and also a big reason why a lot of us work here.\" John Cook, executive editor of Gawker Media, told CNNMoney the staff was holding steady. \"The decade-long legal assault from a vindictive billionaire has had the effect of making our staff pretty resilient at hearing difficult news,\" he said. \"We're keeping our heads down and blogging.\" Denton and Gawker Media President Heather Dietrick tried to reassure employees, telling them that nothing would change in the day-to-day operations until the sale is complete and that the sites would continue to function normally. They said they were committed to finding a buyer that cares about what Gawker does. Reaction outside the Gawker newsroom was mixed. Adversaries of the company, long known for its ruthless and snarky brand of journalism, cheered the news. \"Peter Thiel is a great American hero,\" tweeted conservative pundit Erick Erickson. But Gawker had plenty of defenders, both within the journalism community and the world of politics. \"Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our nation,\" tweeted New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. \"Like them or not, sad to see NYC media giant @Gawker forced to the brink.\" Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our nation. Like them or not, sad to see NYC media giant @Gawker forced to the brink.\n In truth, the ripples of Hogan's lawsuit were felt at the company before the trial even began. Earlier this year, Gawker sold a minority stake to the investment company Columbus Nova Technology Partners to gird itself against the lawsuit. That was a first for the once-fiercely-independent media company, and a signal that the legal battle had forced Denton's hand. Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal, confirmed last month that he has funded Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker along with others as a measure of \"deterrence.\" For years, Gawker's sites have pilloried Thiel, ridiculing his business failures and stridently conservative views. In 2007 one of its sites published a story titled \"Peter Thiel is totally gay, people.\" \"Gawker, the defendant, built its business on humiliating people for sport,\" Thiel said in a statement last month. \"They routinely relied on an assumption that victims would be too intimidated or disgusted to even attempt redress for clear wrongs. Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to publish sex tapes without consent. I don't think anybody but Gawker would argue otherwise.\" ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Nick Denton"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Gawker Media","Gawker Media","Gawker Media","Gawker Media","Gawker Media"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["NYC","NYC"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in Manhattan was motivated by the company's agonizing and all-consuming legal fight with Hulk Hogan -- a court battle that was secretly funded by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel","motivated","company","Manhattan"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2016 Standard Life Investments suspends trading in its UK property fund, in response to increased withdrawal calls since the vote, to protect the interests of all investors in the fund. (BBC)","document":"Standard Life Investments has suspended trading in its UK property fund blaming \"exceptional market circumstances\" following the EU referendum result.\nThe fund manager said the number of investors asking to withdraw their money had increased following the vote.\n\"The suspension was requested to protect the interests of all investors in the fund,\" it said in a statement.\nThe last time Standard Life stopped investors taking their money out of the fund was during the financial crisis.\nThe £2.9bn fund invests in a mixture of commercial real estate in the UK, including office blocks, shopping centres and warehouses. The move comes after Standard Life Investments, the insurer's fund management arm, wrote down the value of the fund by 5% last week, saying the Brexit vote had \"negatively impacted\" valuations for UK commercial property.\nIt said the suspension would end \"as soon as practicable\" and it would review the decision every 28 days.\nMost investment funds always leave a bit of ready cash in the kitty in case the odd investor decides he or she wants their money back. When a lot of people want their money back at the same time, you have to start selling stuff to raise enough cash and that is a major problem if what you own is office blocks. They are not easy to sell at short notice. Other investors, who hadn't really wanted their money back, now think they might not be able to - and so they suddenly do want it back. In the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum vote, a number of big property funds cut the estimated value of their holdings.\nHenderson Global Investors and Aberdeen Asset Management reduced the value of their UK property funds by 4% and 5% respectively. Several fund managers have also decided to price their property funds weekly, rather than monthly, to try to safeguard themselves against market volatility.\nData published earlier showed that investors sold off UK and property funds in favour of bonds in the run up to the EU referendum.\nPrivate investors withdrew a net £342m from UK funds in May, compared to a £1.1bn investment in the same month last year, according to figures from fund manager trade body the Investment Association.\nHargreaves Lansdown senior analyst Laith Khalaf said property funds were clearly under pressure due to the Brexit vote.\n\"We could now see a new wave of investors being unable to liquidate their property funds quickly, which we last witnessed during the financial crisis,\" he said.\nInvestors pulling out their money could put \"downward pressure\" on commercial property prices, Mr Khalaf said. \"The risk is this creates a vicious circle, and prompts more investors to dump property, until such time as sentiment stabilises,\" he added.\nLast week, one of Singapore's largest lenders, UOB, suspended its loan programme for London properties.\nThe bank said the decision was in response to the uncertainty caused by the UK's decision to leave the EU.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Standard Life Investments","Standard Life Investments"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the number of investors asking to withdraw their money had increased following the vote"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2018 Conviviality PLC, owner of Wine Rack and Bargain Booze, announces it has been refused investment to stave off bankruptcy and will likely enter administration. (The Guardian)","document":"Conviviality, the company behind high street off-licence chains Wine Rack and Bargain Booze, is on the brink of collapse, putting 2,600 jobs at risk and prompting warnings that pubs could run dry.\nIn a statement to the stock market, Conviviality said investors had refused its request for £125m of new money, which it needs to stave off bankruptcy after a string of shock profit warnings.\nDirectors are still seeking a buyer for all or part of the business, but Conviviality is facing the prospect of going into administration, which is likely to be managed by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.\nThe trade body for the UK’s pubs, more than 20,000 of which are supplied by the company’s Matthew Clark distribution division, warned many could now face “short-term supply issues”.\n“Despite a significant number of meetings with potential investors resulting in good levels of demand, and constructive discussions with a number of key customers and suppliers regarding the provision of support, there was ultimately insufficient demand to raise the full £125m,” the company said.\n“The board wish to thank its customers, suppliers and employees for their continued support during this difficult period for the company.\n“The company is in discussions with its lending banks and advisers regarding other possible options and is in receipt of a number of inbound enquiries regarding a potential sale of all or parts [of] the business.”\nThe company, which has annual sales of £1.6bn, said its shareholder were likely to receive “little-to-nil” value for their shares, which have been suspended on the junior AIM stock market since 14 March.\nDespite reporting strong sales and profits in recent trading updates, Conviviality was plunged into turmoil after a string of profit warnings issued earlier this month that saw its shares suspended.\nThe company blamed the first profit warning on a erroneous calculation made by a member of its finance team and weakening profit margins. It later admitted it had not budgeted for a £30m tax bill.\nConviviality’s chief executive, Diana Hunter, stepped down after City analysts criticised the company’s financial controls and processes.\nThe firm is a major player in the UK drinks industry, supplying more than 700 off-licences and serving more than 23,000 pubs and restaurants including the JD Wetherspoon chain, via its Matthew Clark and Bibendum subsidiaries.\nThe British Beer & Pub Association said: “We are working with our members to assess the impact of the ongoing issues with Conviviality who, through Matthew Clark, are significant suppliers to the pub trade. “Alternative suppliers will be sought in order to minimise the impact on the trade as far as possible, but inevitably a situation like this will likely cause short term supply issues for pubs.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Diana Hunter"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Conviviality","Conviviality","Conviviality","Conviviality","Conviviality","Conviviality"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["investors had refused its request for £125m of new money"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2019 The Arena Football League announces that it has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and will immediately cease operations. This marks the effective end of the 32–year–old league, and the second liquidation bankruptcy in its history. (USA Today)","document":"A month after shutting down operations for all six of its teams, the Arena Football League filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Wednesday — officially ceasing all operations after more than three decades in existence. \n\"We simply weren't able to raise the capital necessary to grow the League, resolve the substantial legacy liabilities and make it financially viable,\" league commissioner Randall Boe said in a statement. \"We're all disappointed that we couldn't find a way to move forward, and we wanted to thank our fans, our players, coaches, everyone who loved Arena League Football.\" \nThe Arena Football League was one of the longest-running indoor football leagues in the country, beginning in 1987. The six remaining teams were Albany, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Columbus, Philadelphia and Washington. The league was well known for launching the career of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, among other figures.\nThe league suspended local business operations in October and had been evaluating potential strategic operations before Wednesday's decision. The league was mostly hurt by a lawsuit filed by one of its insurance carriers.\nThe league, re-branded as Arena Football One in 2009, was the second well-known league to close down this year after the Alliance of American Football, which began its first season in February, ended midway through the season in April as a result of financial concerns. The XFL, another league, begins its season in February 2020. \n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Randall Boe"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Arena Football League"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["We simply weren't able to raise the capital necessary to grow the League, resolve the substantial legacy liabilities and make it financially viable","League","League","league","league"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 The Saudi–owned news channel Al Arabiya shuts its offices in Beirut, Lebanon and dismisses 27 employees in a sudden move reflecting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon–based Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. Saudi Arabia interpreted Lebanon's lack of public solidarity as a sign that it had become beholden to Hezbollah. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)","document":"The Saudi-owned news channel Al-Arabiya shut its offices in Beirut and dismissed 27 employees in a sudden move reflecting tensions between Riyadh and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.\nThe channel on April 1 cited employee safety as the reason for closing its office and that of its sister channel Al-Hadath. Some other Saudi news outlets in Beirut have been hit with protests recently.\nAl-Arabiya, one of the main Arabic language broadcasters in the Middle East, said it will \"continue to closely cover Lebanese affairs\" and will help laid-off employees find jobs elsewhere.\nThe move reflects ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran's allies. Last month, Riyadh cut $3 billion in military aid to Lebanon after the Lebanese government failed to condemn an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January.\nThe Sunni Gulf monarchy interpreted Lebanon's lack of public solidarity as a sign that it had become beholden to Hezbollah.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Al-Arabiya","Al-Hadath","Al-Arabiya"]},{"role":"Date","values":["April 1"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Beirut","Beirut"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["employee safety"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 Hong Kong's June 4th Museum, the first museum dedicated to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, is to close down. Organizers say they believe they are being targeted for political reasons. It comes at a time when concerns are growing in Hong Kong that Beijing is tightening its grip on the city. (The Guardian)","document":"Organisers believe they are being targeted for political reasons as China seeks to cast more influence on the city\nLast modified on Wed 5 Jul 2017 13.09 BST\nThe world’s first museum dedicated to China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown is to close its doors in Hong Kong, with organisers saying they believe they are being targeted for political reasons.\nIt comes at a time when concerns are growing in the semi-autonomous Chinese city that Beijing is tightening its grip.\nThere has been keen interest in the museum from mainland tourists. Half of the more than 20,000 total visitors since it launched in 2014 have come from mainland China, where all reference to the 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters is banned.\nThe June 4 Memorial Hall is run by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which also organises the city’s huge Tiananmen anniversary vigil each year.\nTenants in the commercial building housing the museum say it breaches regulations because the premises should only be used for offices, according to legal documents seen by AFP.\n“I tend to believe they are politically motivated... the other side seem to have unlimited resources,” said lawmaker Albert Ho, chairman of the Alliance. Museum organisers say they cannot afford to continue the protracted legal battle – the tenants have been pursuing the issue since it first opened.\nThe current venue will close by year-end and organisers are seeking bigger premises. If they fail to find somewhere in time, the exhibits will be put in storage.\nMultiple requests for an interview with tenants’ committee officials went unanswered.\nOne tenant complained to AFP that visitors to the museum “jammed” elevators during peak hours, but others said they were not aware of a public museum in their building.\nThe crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, is branded a “counter-revolutionary rebellion” by Chinese authorities and many on the mainland remain unaware of it.\nPro-Beijing groups protested when the museum first opened, saying it presented a skewed version of events.\nVenue organisers claim visitors have felt “harassed” by security guards who ask them to present their personal information. The 74 sq m (800-square-foot) museum is in the commercial district of East Tsim Sha Tsui and features video clips and photographs.\nThere is also a two-metre tall statue of the Goddess of Democracy, similar to one erected at Tiananmen Square during the protests.\nBeijing has never given an official death toll for the Tiananmen crackdown, which was condemned worldwide, but independent observers tallied more than 1,000 dead.\nHong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, enshrined in a deal made before Britain handed it back to China in 1997. But there are growing fears those freedoms are being eroded.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Albert Ho"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["The June 4 Memorial Hall"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["political reasons"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 Saturday's earthquake forces Sony to close its plant in the Kumamoto Prefecture. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan also stop work at several plants in the region. (UPI)","document":"TOKYO, April 16 (UPI) -- A 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Japan on Saturday has forced Sony and several Japanese automakers to close manufacturing sites in the region, disrupting supply chains.\nA Sony plant in Kumamoto, near the epicenter of the quake, manufactures sensors used in smartphone cameras, particularly in iPhones. The plant is still being inspected for structural damage but analysts said the strength and frequency of aftershocks makes it unlikely the plant will return to being operational in the immediate future.\nThe closure will disrupt global production of smartphones, though analysts predicted Sony would be able to shift production of the smartphone camera sensors to other facilities, minimizing the problem.\nA Sony spokesman tells Bloomberg there \"hasn't been major damage to the building.\"\nToyota and Nissan have also suspended work at several plants in Kumamoto after an initial earthquake on Thursday caused damage.\nToyota closed a Lexus assembly plant in Fukuoka and an adjacent engine and transaxle factory after Thursday's magnitude-6.2 tremor.\nHonda also closed a motorcycle assembly factory in the region, as well.\nIt was not immediately clear what additional impact the stronger Saturday quake had at the facilities, which had not reopened when the second tremor struck.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Sony","Sony","Sony","Sony"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Kumamoto","Kumamoto"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["A 7.3-magnitude earthquake"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 British department store chain British Home Stores (BHS) collapses into administration after a last–minute rescue deal fails. The collapse of the retailer, which employs 11,000 people, is the biggest failure on the UK's high street since the collapse of Woolworths Group in 2008. (The Guardian)","document":"Administrators Duff & Phelps will keep stores open as they try to find a buyer for the department store chain\nFirst published on Mon 25 Apr 2016 08.26 BST\nBHS has officially collapsed into administration after failing to agree a last-minute deal to rescue the department store chain.\nThe demise of the retailer, which employs 11,000 people, is the biggest failure on the high street since that of Woolworths in 2008. Duff & Phelps has been appointed as administrators and will keep stores open as it tries to find a buyer for BHS.\nThe government is expected to make a statement on the failure of the 88-year-old retail group in parliament this afternoon, either through Sajid Javid, the business secretary, or Anna Soubry, the business minister.\nThe Pensions Regulator has confirmed that it is investigating BHS, suggesting that the regulator is considering whether to force Sir Philip Green, the former owner of the retailer, to contribute towards the company’s £571m pension deficit.\nIn a statement, Duff & Phelps said: “The group has been undergoing restructuring and, as has been widely reported, the shareholders have been in negotiations to find a buyer for the business. These negotiations have been unsuccessful. In addition, property sales have not materialised as expected in both number and value.\n“Consequently, as a result of a lower than expected cash balance, the group is very unlikely to meet all contractual payments. The directors therefore have no alternative but to put the group into administration to protect it for all creditors. The group will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators seek to sell it as a going concern. Further announcements will be made as appropriate in due course.”\nDuff & Phelps was understood to have had more than 30 expressions of interest in buying BHS by midday on Monday.\nThe collapse of BHS presents another problem for the government as it attempts to save thousands of jobs in the steel industry. The retailer had failed to secure the emergency funding that it needed to pay wages and rent.\nJavid said the government was in talks with BHS management about the retailer’s collapse.\nDominic Chappell, the owner of BHS, said in a letter to employees on Sunday night: “It is with a deep heart that I have to report, despite a massive effort from the team, we have been unable to secure a funder or a trade sale.”\nHe indicated in the letter that staff wages for this month would be paid by the administrators. Chappell led the Retail Acquisitions consortium that bought BHS from Green for £1 last year. However, the retailer has struggled with falling sales, a hefty rent bill and a pensions deficit.\nIn a rare public statement, the Pensions Regulator said it is investigating BHS’s pension deficit amid calls for Green to contribute towards to the scheme.\n“We can confirm that we are undertaking an investigation into the BHS pensions scheme to determine whether it would be appropriate to use our anti-avoidance powers,” a spokesperson said. “Such cases are complex. There is a clear process that must be followed and this can sometimes take a considerable amount of time. We are unable to provide a running commentary on case investigations or confirm the targets of our investigation.” Green has already held talks with the Pensions Regulator about injecting cash into the company’s pension scheme. He is thought to have offered £40m in cash and a £40m loan secured against BHS’s assets.\nTrade unions described the collapse of BHS as devastating. John Hannett, the Usdaw general secretary, said: “This is devastating news for the employees of BHS and we urge the company to change their attitude to trade unions and begin a dialogue with us at this difficult and worrying time.\n“We also urge the administrators and the company to comply with the law, consult with staff and Usdaw as the union for BHS workers. We don’t want to see BHS staff locked out of discussions, sent to the back of the queue of creditors and treated like fixtures and fittings, as happened at Woolworth’s.\n“The government needs to intervene now to protect taxpayers from picking up the bill for redundancy payments and safeguard the Pension Protection Fund.\n“We are in touch with our members working in BHS to reassure them that we will provide the support, advice and representation they require.”\nAt the retailer’s store in Oxford Street, central London, customers were waiting outside before it opened as usual. Nicolette Kadzeya, 39, who was there with her three children, was looking to exchange an unwanted item. “I think the problem with BHS is that this branch is very up to date, but if you go to the branch in Surrey Quays, it’s as if you have gone back in time. It’s like you’ve gone back to the mid-90s,” she said.\n“Some of the branches which are outside London are not that well maintained. It’s a bit old fashioned as well. They are good for school shoes but it’s not really up to date.”\nThe demise of BHS comes a month after the retailer appeared to have secured its short-term survival by persuading landlords to cut its rent by up to 75% at 87 shops. However, even as landlords, suppliers and creditors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the survival plan, known as a company voluntary arrangement, BHS warned that it needed to find £100m to continue trading.\nIt attempted to raise the money with £30m of property sales, a new £60m loan from private equity firm Gordon Brothers and £10m from changing the terms of its agreement with suppliers. On top of this, it needed to bring in another £70m from selling property to pay off a separate loan from Grovepoint.\nBut it failed to raise enough cash from property sales and the deal with Gordon Brothers fell apart. Talks with the private equity firm were already complex, because Green needed to release security that he held over BHS’s assets for the loan to go through.\nGreen, who bought BHS for £200m in 2000, is understood to have been ready to agree to the loan, but the funds from Gordon Brothers were not enough without the property deals, and the strict terms led to the talks collapsing.\nTalks over the weekend with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct also appear to have come to nothing.\nBHS’s chief executive, Darren Topp, said on Sunday that £60m needed to be found urgently to keep the company afloat. “What was on the table wasn’t sufficient and we have been working in the last few days to fill the gap,” he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Darren Topp"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS","BHS"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["failing to agree a last-minute deal to rescue the department store chain","department store chain","last","agree","last"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2016 Iraqi authorities ban Qatar–based satellite television network Al Jazeera from broadcasting in the country and closes its offices in Baghdad, accusing it of violating government guidelines issued in 2014 to regulate media “during the war on terror\". (Reuters)","document":"DOHA (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities have revoked the operating licence of the pan-Arab satellite network Al Jazeera and closed its offices in Baghdad, accusing it of violating government guidelines issued in 2014 to regulate media “during the war on terror.”\nAl Jazeera, based in Qatar, said it was dismayed by the action.\n“We remain committed to broadcasting news on Iraq to Iraqi people, our viewers in the Arab world and across the world,” the channel said in an emailed statement.\nRights groups have criticized Iraq’s media guidelines, which restrict journalists from covering insurgent movements and require them to report in favorable terms on government forces.\nIn 2013, Iraq’s government accused Al Jazeera and nine other satellite television channels of fostering sectarian sentiment that was fuelling violence.\nFounded by Qatar’s ruling family in 1996, Al Jazeera aggressively covered the Arab spring uprisings and has broadcast extensively on the civil war in Syria.\nQatar itself is a harsh critic of the Syrian regime and a leading backer of the rebels, and has been accused by many supporters of Iraq’s government of backing dissent in Iraq.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Arab satellite network Al Jazeera"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Baghdad"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["violating government guidelines issued in 2014 to regulate media “during the war on terror."]}]}
+{"title":"June_2020 The political party Demosistō of social activist Joshua Wong is disbanded following the passing of the law. Wong urges the international community to keep \"speaking up for Hong Kong people\". (Reuters)","document":"HONG KONG (Reuters) - A pro-democracy group led by Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong disbanded on Tuesday, hours after China’s parliament passed national security legislation for the Chinese-ruled city that has stoked fears for its freedoms.\nBeijing’s swift imposition of the law and a lack of transparency over its details have alarmed some diplomats, business leaders and activists who say it is the latest example of China’s tightening grip over the former British colony.\nChinese and Hong Kong authorities have said the law is necessary to tackle separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces following anti-government protests that escalated in June last year.\nWong, who rose to prominence during a series of protests in 2014, has rallied support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement overseas, in particular in the United States, drawing the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a “black hand” of foreign forces.\nHe has said he expects to be targeted under the law.\n“If my voice will not be heard soon, I hope that the international community will continue to speak up for Hong Kong and step up concrete efforts to defend our last bit of freedom,” Wong said on his Twitter feed, announcing he was stepping down from his group, Demosisto.\nA short while later, Demosisto members Nathan Law and Agnes Chow also said they were also stepping down.\n“The struggle of Hong Kong people will not stop, it will only continue with a more determined attitude,” Law said in a Facebook post.\nDemosisto then said on its Facebook page it was disbanding.\nWhile details of the security legislation have not been made public, many in Hong Kong fear it will be used to silence dissent.\nIt has also alarmed foreign governments concerned that Beijing is eroding the high degree of autonomy granted to the city when it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, which underpins its role as a financial centre.\nChina says the national security law will target only a small group of troublemakers and people who abide by the legislation have no reason to worry.\nIndependence advocacy group the Hong Kong National Front said on its Facebook page it had shut its Hong Kong office and that its units in Taiwan and Britain would continue to promote independence for the Chinese-ruled city.\nChina considers Hong Kong to be an “inalienable” part of the country so any suggestion of independence is anathema to its Communist Party leaders. Independence activists fear they too will be targeted by Beijing under the legislation.\nHong Kong pro-independence activist Wayne Chan said in a Facebook post on Sunday he had skipped bail and fled the city amid fears he would be detained.\nIn a sign of concern among businesses over the implications of the law, a restaurant that has become famous for its support of the pro-democracy movement, the Lung Mun Cafe, said it was quitting a group of like-minded businesses known as the Yellow Economic Circle, or yellow economy.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Joshua Wong"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Demosisto","Demosisto","Demosisto"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Hong Kong","HONG KONG","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong","Hong Kong"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["China’s parliament passed national security legislation for the Chinese-ruled city that has stoked fears for its freedoms","Chinese","Chinese","Chinese-ruled city"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 Casual Dining Group, which owns the Bella Italia and Café Rouge United Kingdom restaurant chains, collapses into administration with 1,900 immediate job losses. (BBC)","document":"The owner of High Street restaurant chains Café Rouge and Bella Italia has gone into administration.\nNinety-one Casual Dining Group outlets will close immediately, and 1,900 of the firm's 6,000 staff will lose their jobs.\nAdministrators Alix Partners are seeking offers for all, or parts, of the remaining business.\nUK firms have announced thousands of job cuts this week as the impact of the pandemic on the economy continues.\nCasual Dining Group, which also owns the Las Iguanas chain, applied in May to appoint administrators at the High Court as it found it increasingly hard to pay its rents.\nOn Thursday, the firm said it had already received \"multiple offers\" for the business and hoped to pursue these. \"We are acutely aware of our duty to all employees and recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for them,\" chief executive James Spragg said.\n\"Working alongside the administrators, we will do everything we can to support them through this process, with a view to preserving as much employment as we are able to.\"\nThe restaurants that are closing are mainly located in England, with some in Scotland and Wales. 159 of the group's 250 outlets will remain open.\nRestaurants in the UK were struggling even before the pandemic, but their revenues collapsed when the UK went into lockdown in March.\nRestrictions will be eased from Saturday, but demand is likely to remain depressed for some time and some chains have already acknowledged the severity of the impact.\nThis week Byron Burger said it planned to bring in administrators, putting 1,200 jobs at risk. Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza owner SSP Group said it would cut up to 5,000 roles.\nThe government's furlough scheme - which is paying 80% of the wages of nine million workers - will start to be pared back from August, and so many firms are cutting jobs now to reduce costs. Thousands of job losses were announced in other sectors too this week, including: WH Smith, Bensons for Beds, Wrights Pies, tableware-maker Steelite International, the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool and Norwich Theatre Royal have also announced plans to reduce staff. UK businesses cut more than 12,000 jobs in two days\nByron Burger lines up administrators as seeks buyer\n\n.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["James Spragg"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Ninety-one Casual Dining Group"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["England, with some in Scotland and Wales"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Restaurants in the UK were struggling even before the pandemic, but their revenues collapsed when the UK went into lockdown in March","UK","UK"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 Popular music magazine Q announces it is ceasing operations after 34 years in print amid an accelerated downturn in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)","document":"(Reuters) - British music magazine Q is folding after 34 years in business as the coronavirus epidemic accelerated a downturn in the media sector, forcing the publication to cease operations.\nThe monthly magazine’s editor, Ted Kessler, announced its closure in a tweet on Monday, saying that the coronavirus pandemic hurt the magazine’s business.\nQ was the latest outlet in the media and publishing industry to be hit by the pandemic. British newspaper publisher Reach Plc RCH.L and broadcaster BBC recently announced a series of job cuts.\n“I must apologise profusely for my failure to keep Q afloat,” Kessler said in an editor’s letter for the final issue. “We’ve been a lean operation for all of my tenure, employing a variety of ways to help keep our head above water in an extremely challenging print market. Covid-19 wiped all that out.”\nThe final issue will be published on July 28.\nGermany-based Bauer Media Group, which is the parent company for Q, listed the music magazine for sale in May following a sharp decline in sales and advertising revenue during the pandemic.\nBauer Media said Modern Classics would also cease to operate as the company was unable to find new buyers for the two publications.\nFounded in 1986 by music journalists Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, Q gained popularity with its long-form pieces on the British rock and alternative scenes.\nEnglish Indie band The Vaccines and musician Tim Burgess joined the chorus of the magazine’s music-loving readers on social media expressing disappointment about its closure.\nThe upcoming final issue, titled “Adventures with legends 1986 to 2020,” compiles some of the magazine’s best interviews, including with David Bowie, Joni Mitchell and Prince.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["magazine"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["the coronavirus epidemic accelerated a downturn in the media sector, forcing the publication to cease operations"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2020 The bankrupt NPC International announces it will close 300 Pizza Hut locations. (Fox Business)","document":"\nAs many as 300 Pizza Hut restaurants will be permanently closing after the largest franchisee for Yum! Brands, the parent company for the fast food chain, filed for bankruptcy.\n \nPizza Hut also wrote that it would be reallocating its employees from the closed stores to “thriving locations across the business where possible.” (iStock)\nNPC International Inc., which owns 1,227 Pizza Hut locations and nearly 400 Wendy’s locations, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 1, Louisville Business First reported.\nAccording to the report, Yum! Brands and NPC International Inc. have agreed to close 300 underperforming restaurants.\n\"We have continued to work with NPC and its lenders to optimize NPC’s Pizza Hut restaurant footprint and strengthen the portfolio for the future, and today’s joint agreement to close up to 300 NPC Pizza Hut restaurants is an important step toward a healthier business,\" Pizza Hut said in a statement to Fox Business.\nCLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS\nPizza Hut also wrote that it would be reallocating its employees from the closed stores to “thriving locations across the business where possible.”\n\"Consistent with Pizza Hut’s previously announced transition to a more modern delivery, curbside and carryout-focused asset base, a substantial majority of the NPC Pizza Hut locations to be closed are dine-in locations,\" the statement read.\nThe specific locations closing have not yet been made public.\nAccording to a second-quarter earnings report released by Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut off-premise channel generated “21% same-store sales growth when excluding closed Express units, or 16% same-store sales growth when including closed Express units.”\n\nWorldwide system sales, excluding foreign currency translation, declined 10% for Pizza Hut.\n ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut","Pizza Hut"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 1"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["close up to 300 NPC Pizza Hut restaurants is an important step toward a healthier business","close 300"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei cuts ties with the government of disputed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and closes Guatemala's embassy in Caracas. (Reuters)","document":"GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Giammattei cut diplomatic ties with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday and ordered the closure of its embassy in Caracas.\n“We have instructed the foreign minister that the only person left in the embassy in Venezuela should return, and that we definitively end relations with the government of Venezuela,” Giammattei said. “We are going to close the embassy.”\nThe conservative Giammattei, who took office on Tuesday, had already indicated he would cut ties upon assuming power.\nVenezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Rodriguez, in a response on Twitter, accused Giammattei of bowing down to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.\n“His government will surely become another bad joke,” Rodriguez wrote. “Our respect and affection for the people of Guatemala.”\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["embassy"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday","Caracas"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Giammattei cut diplomatic ties with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2020 Icelandic fishing company Samherji announces it will cease operations in Namibia. The company was embroiled in a bribery scandal there that resulted in the resignation of Namibian Fisheries Minister Bernhardt Esau and Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, as well as the arrest of two employees of South African banking corporation Investec. (Reuters)","document":"WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Samherji, the Icelandic fishing company at the center of Namibia’s biggest corruption scandal, announced on Friday that it is withdrawing from the southwest African nation.\nThe move comes as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala and fisheries minister Bernardt Esau, along with two former employees of South Africa’s Investec, remain in custody.\nThe men have been in custody since November after allegations they conspired with Samherji to receive payments worth 100 million Namibian dollars ($6.92 million) in exchange for horse mackerel fishing quotas.\nInterim Chief Executive, Björgólfur Jóhannsson, said in a statement that Samherji is currently de-investing its operation in Namibia, but did not give a time frame, only saying that the process “will take some time”.\n“The process will be conducted in close dialogue with relevant authorities and in line with international standards and law,” he said.\nIn the meantime, Samherji, which has denied wrongdoing, as have Esau and Shanghala, said it has taken steps to implement a corporate governance and compliance system.\n“Samherji will develop and implement a holistic compliance system based on the company’s risk structure with focus on, among others, anti-corruption, economic sanctions and anti-money laundering,” Jóhannsson said.\nThe system is expected to be implemented and be up and running later this year.\nJóhannsson added that the company had managed to protect relationships with customers and partners both domestically and abroad and continued to service all customers as normal even though Samherji has faced serious accusations from the media in recent months.\n“Our employees have, as always, done a fantastic job focusing on making sure we deliver product of top quality to the local and international market,” he said.\nSamherji’s former CEO Thorsteinn Már Baldvinsson stepped down in November after the bribery scandal became public.\nThe scheme, exposed by Wikileaks, began in 2014 and included relatives of the ministers and officials, according to documents it posted online. It used a bilateral deal between Angola and Namibia to win Samherji quotas of tens of thousands of tonnes a year of horse mackerel, according to the documents.\nAccording to media reports, Esau, the then fisheries minister, stripped some private companies of fishing quotas and handed them to state-owned fishing company Fishcor, whose officials passed on to Samherji in exchange for payments.\nInvestec said in November that its former employees had not used their Investec positions to facilitate the scheme.\nSamherji had tried to sell its assets in Namibia, including a N$400 million vessel, before the bribery scandal became international headline news.\nReporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; editing by Christina Fincher\nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Björgólfur Jóhannsson"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji","Samherji"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Namibia","Namibia","Namibia","Namibia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["corruption scandal"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 American newspaper publisher McClatchy, whose assets include the Miami Herald and The Sacramento Bee, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. (The Hill)","document":"McClatchy Co., the second-largest newspaper company in the U.S., announced on Thursday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.\nThe 163-year-old company, which owns prominent local newspapers including the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee and 24 other publications in 14 states, said its Chapter 11 plan eliminates 60 percent of its debt while helping the company pivot to \"a digital future.\"\n\"The Chapter 11 filing will allow McClatchy to restructure its debts and, it hopes, shed much of its pension obligations. Under a plan outlined in its filing to a federal bankruptcy court, about 60 percent of its debt would be eliminated as the news organization tries to reposition for a digital future,\" the bankruptcy announcement reads.\nMcClatchy had begun suspending some pension payments to former executives in January, opting to apply to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to assume control of its pension plan.\nIf a bankruptcy court accepts the Chapter 11 plan, the company would likely be led by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management LLC. McClatchy, a publicly traded company, would become a private company as a result.\n“McClatchy’s plan provides a resolution to legacy debt and pension obligations while maximizing outcomes for customers and other stakeholders,” said Craig Forman, president and CEO. “When local media suffers in the face of industry challenges, communities suffer, polarization grows, civic connections fray and borrowing costs rise for local governments. We are moving forward with speed and focus to benefit all our stakeholders and our communities.”\nLast year, New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet made the ominous prediction that \"most local newspapers are going to die in the next five years.\"\n\"The greatest crisis in American journalism is the death of local news,\" Baquet said at the International News Media Association World Congress in New York City. \"I don't know what the answer is.\"\n\"Their economic model is gone. I think most local newspapers in America are going to die in the next five years, except for the ones that have been bought by a local billionaire,\" Baquet continued.\n\"I think that everybody who cares about news — myself included, and all of you — should take this on as an issue,\" he added. \"Because we’re going to wake up one day and there are going to be entire states with no journalism or with little tiny pockets of journalism.\"\nThe local newspaper industry has been plagued by layoffs in the digital era, with several struggling publications sold to hedge fund-led entities in recent years.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Craig Forman"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["McClatchy Co"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["The Chapter 11 filing will allow McClatchy to restructure its debts and, it hopes, shed much of its pension obligations. Under a plan outlined in its filing to a federal bankruptcy court, about 60 percent of its debt would be eliminated as the news organization tries to reposition for a digital future","digital future","pension obligations"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 The Boy Scouts of America file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the result of multiple sex abuse lawsuits. (The Wall Street Journal) (Scouting Newsroom)","document":"The Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy protection, as one of the country’s largest youth organizations tries to endure intensifying legal pressure over accusations of childhood sexual abuse going back decades.\nThe chapter 11 filing covers the national Boy Scouts organization and automatically halts the hundreds of lawsuits it faces alleging sexual misconduct by employees or volunteers. The Boy Scouts are seeking to compensate claimants through bankruptcy proceedings while protecting 261 local scouting councils across the country and the billions of dollars in assets they hold.\nThe bankruptcy filing marks a watershed moment in the 110-year history of the Boy Scouts, which for years have been embroiled in lawsuits blaming the organization for failing to screen out sexual predators. It said in court papers that its “ability to deliver its mission to future generations of scouts may be in peril” unless it can reach a broad settlement of hundreds of current and future sex-abuse claims.\nLaws passed in California, New York and other states have created temporary windows allowing for sex-abuse lawsuits to be filed regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred, exposing the Boys Scouts to an unprecedented level of potential liability.\nThese laws took effect in more than a dozen states last year, opening the courthouse doors to more potential claimants. States including Florida, Ohio and Virginia are also considering passing similar legislation.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Boy Scouts of America","Boy Scouts","Boy Scouts","Boy Scouts"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["tries to endure intensifying legal pressure over accusations of childhood sexual abuse going back decades"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 The Boy Scouts of America file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the result of multiple sex abuse lawsuits. (The Wall Street Journal) (Scouting Newsroom)","document":"IRVING, TX – February 18, 2020 – The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) today announced that the national organization has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue carrying out its mission for years to come. The BSA intends to use the Chapter 11 process to create a Victims Compensation Trust that would provide equitable compensation to victims.\nScouting programs, including unit meetings and activities, council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects, will continue throughout this process and for many years to come. The BSA fully intends to maintain its commitments to its members, families, volunteer leaders, employees, retirees, donors and alumni to the fullest extent permitted by bankruptcy laws. The organization also will pay its vendors and partners for all goods and services delivered from today forward.\nLocal councils, which provide programming, financial, facility and administrative support to Scouting units in their communities, have not filed for bankruptcy. They are legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.\n“The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” said Roger Mosby, President and Chief Executive Officer. “While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process – with the proposed Trust structure – will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA’s important mission.”\nEstablishment of the Victims Compensation Trust and Support for Victims of Abuse\nThe BSA has an important duty to keep children safe, supported and protected while preparing them for their futures, and the organization has every intention of continuing to fulfill these important responsibilities.\nTragically, there have been times when individuals took advantage of the BSA’s programs to harm children. The BSA firmly believes that a proposed Victims Compensation Trust structure is the best means of compensating victims in a way that is equitable and protects their identities. The BSA encourages victims to come forward to file a claim as the bankruptcy process moves forward and will provide clear and comprehensive notices about how to do so.\nThe BSA has, for years, funded in-person counseling for any current or former Scout who was a victim of abuse as well as victims’ family members, by a provider of their choice. As an extension of this commitment to supporting victims, the BSA recently announced a partnership with 1in6, a trusted national resource for male survivors, to expand their services so that victims of abuse are able to anonymously access vital support from trained advocates when and how they need it. Victims can access 1in6 services at www.1in6.org/BSA. This is a multiyear commitment, which the BSA feels is an important component of its ongoing efforts to support victims.\nMaintaining Programming and Upholding Commitments to All Stakeholders\nScouting will continue to provide unparalleled programs to young people – keeping them safe, supported and protected as it prepares them for their futures. The BSA today has some of the strongest, expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization, including mandatory youth protection training and background checks for all volunteers and staff, as well as policies that prohibit one-on-one interaction between youth and adults and require all volunteers and staff to report any suspected abuse to law enforcement.\n\n\n.\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Roger Mosby"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Boy Scouts of America (BSA)","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA","BSA"]},{"role":"Date","values":["today","today"]},{"role":"Location","values":["America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["intends to use the Chapter 11 process to create a Victims Compensation Trust that would provide equitable compensation to victims","victims","Chapter 11 process","victims","Victims Compensation Trust","Victims","victims","victims","victims","Victims"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2020 France shuts down its first nuclear power reactor, at the Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant. (Deutsche Welle)","document":"French energy company EDF has confirmed that it has turned off one reactor of its oldest nuclear power plant. The plant, located directly on the border to Germany, has drawn frequent protests in recent years.\nEDF SA, a French energy company, said that it had completed the shut down of one reactor at its oldest nuclear power plant in Fessenheim near the border of Germany. The nuclear power plant's second and last reactor will be shut down on June 30.\nThe company told media outlets that the 900-megawatt reactor's shutdown began at 8:30 pm on Friday and ended in the small hours of Saturday. The shut down was completed normally, but it was an emotional moment for those in the control room, according to EDF. Around 100 people, including employees, reportedly protested against the shutdown.\nGerman and Swiss officials have long demanded that French energy officials close the aging Fessenheim nuclear power plant, which is located on the border of France near Germany and Switzerland, near Freiburg in southwestern Germany.\n\n\"The time has finally come,\" said German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze on Friday in Berlin, adding that shutting down Fessenheim would make Germany \"safer.\"\nSchulze also said that Germany would keep lobbying its neighbors to commit to phasing out nuclear power.\n\"Nuclear power is not a climate savior. It is risky, expensive and leaves behind radioactive waste for thousands of generations.\"\nA 'historic step'\nFrench Energy Minister Elisabeth Borne has called the shutdown a \"historic step,\" as it is the first time one of France's 58 nuclear reactors has been permanently taken off the country's power grid.\nFrance gets about 75% of its electricity from nuclear plants, but many are aging. The country has set a target of reducing its nuclear energy dependence to 50% by 2035 by bringing in more renewable power.\n\nFollowing the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, German environment officials concluded that although German facilities were better prepared for disaster than the Japanese, Germany would revert to a previous policy — briefly overturned by Angela Merkel prior to Fukushima — of shutting down all nuclear power plants within around 10 years.\nThere are currently six nuclear power plants operating in Germany: Grohnde and Emsland in Lower Saxony, Brokdorf in Schleswig-Holstein, Isar 2 und Grundremmingen in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg.\nThe remaining reactors in Germany are all scheduled to be shut down by the end of 2022.\n ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["French energy company EDF"]},{"role":"Date","values":["June 30"]},{"role":"Location","values":["located directly on the border to Germany","Germany","Germany"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["shutting down Fessenheim would make Germany \"safer."]}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 British airline Flybe collapses into administration with the loss of 2,000 jobs after failing to secure financial support. The airline says the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is partly to blame for its collapse. Flybe provided more than half of UK domestic flights outside London. (BBC)","document":"UK airline Flybe has gone into administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk, after a bid for fresh financial support failed. The Exeter-based carrier said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on demand for air travel was partly to blame for its collapse.\nIts website now advises customers to \"not travel to the airport\" unless they have arranged an alternative flight.\nFlybe boss Mark Anderson said he was \"very sorry\" for the firm's collapse.\nIn a letter to the airline's staff, chief executive Mark Anderson said: \"Despite every effort, we now have no alternative - having failed to find a feasible solution to allow us to keep trading.\"\nIn response to the collapse, the UK government said it was ready to help Flybe's workers find new jobs and would work with other airlines to replace services: \"We are working closely with industry to minimise any disruption to routes operated by Flybe, including by looking urgently at how routes not already covered by other airlines can be re-established by the industry. \"\nTransport Secretary Grant Shapps said everyone was \"gutted\" about the news but added: \"We really tried to do everything we could back at the turn of the year.\n\"Unfortunately, with the situation that has developed with [coronavirus], an already weak company, I'm afraid, just hasn't been able to survive.\"\nDavid Manners arrived at Exeter Airport this morning to find his Flybe flight to Paris had been cancelled. The trip had been planned as a surprise Christmas present for his wife and he said they were \"absolutely gutted\".\nMr Manners, who lives in Lyme Regis, said Flybe's collapse would also be bad for the area. \"We use this airport quite a lot because it's so convenient,\" he said. \"We know some of the staff very well… I feel for them.\"\nJessica, Abby and Robyn work for a recruitment agency and were due to return to Jersey via Exeter Airport after a business trip.\nThey described the airport as a \"ghost town\" on arrival. Abby said: \"I use Flybe maybe once a month, and not having it now will be such a nightmare.\" The group said that other airlines such as EasyJet or British Airways did operate flights from Jersey, but they typically only flew into larger airports such as London Gatwick.\nRyanair has launched \"rescue\" fares for March and April on five routes following Flybe's collapse. They include flights between Bournemouth and Dublin, Belfast and Stansted and Belfast and Manchester.\nTrain operators across Britain are also providing free travel to customers and Flybe staff who are unable to travel over the next week, according to the Rail Delivery Group.\nFlybe customers who bought tickets directly from the company will not be protected by Atol, the travel industry insurance fund\nHowever, if you bought through a travel agent or other third party you might be covered. Some people might be able to get their money back if they paid by credit card or with some debit cards.\nThousands of jobs are at risk following the regional airline's collapse.\nKatherine Densham, a Flybe cabin crew member, had been due to fly to London City Airport from Exeter on Thursday. She has worked for the airline for 13 years after joining the firm straight from college.\nShe told the BBC that staff were feeling \"really sad\" and that she was not sure what to do next.\nBalpa, the pilots' union, said that pilots, cabin crew and ground staff \"have done their jobs brilliantly\" throughout its struggle.\nThe union questioned how staff \"are going to find new jobs in the current climate\", although companies such as South Western Railway have already been calling out for job applications from Flybe staff on social media.\nFlybe ran into difficulties last year and was bought by a consortium that includes Virgin Atlantic. But its troubles persisted, and it narrowly avoided going bust in January this year. The new owners said they would pump £30m into the business to keep it afloat, but appealed to the government for additional support.\nFlybe, which served destinations from the Channel Islands to Aberdeen, had also been hoping for a £100m lifeline from the government and changes to Air Passenger Duty taxes.\nBut the news that it may benefit from government help sparked a backlash from its rivals. British Airways-owner IAG filed a complaint to the EU arguing Flybe's rescue breached state aid rules.\nVirgin Atlantic said it was \"deeply disappointed\" that Flybe had gone bust, adding that the consortium had invested more than £135m in keeping the airline flying for an extra year. While its financial problems were already apparent, a Flybe insider told the BBC the impact of the coronavirus on the travel industry had \"made a bad situation much worse\".\nAir transport expert John Strickland added that the regional market was extremely challenging for any airline, but that Flybe had made matters worse some years ago through over-ambitious expansion.\n\"It's really too big for what it's trying to do,\" he said.\nAlthough Flybe is small compared to the likes of British Airways, Ryanair or EasyJet, the loss of the operator has been described as \"disastrous\" for UK regions.\nMr Strickland said Flybe is \"small in the scale of the UK market as a whole, but if you're flying out of Exeter, Newquay or specifically Southampton it really is one of the only airline choices... so a number of regional groups will risk not being served\". Following last December's general election, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to \"level up\" the UK's regions, after the Conservatives won seats in previous Labour strongholds. He appeared ready to intervene to prop up the airline, considered a key transport link to many parts of the country.\nShadow transport secretary Andy Macdonald said the airline had provided \"critical connectivity for many locations\" and its collapse would be \"disastrous news for passengers and employees alike.\"\n\"The government has to answer how those vital links will be maintained following Flybe's collapse. Communities will be concerned about what this will mean for their local economies and the Secretary of State has to come up with answers to these questions as a matter of urgency,\" he said. Tim Jeans, chairman of Cornwall Airport, said that he \"very much hoped\" that other airlines would take up the routes. He said discussions with other airlines would \"begin in earnest\" soon and he hoped to reinstate services \"on those routes hopefully within weeks rather than months\".\nFor the past 15 years Flybe has been trying to join the big boys of aviation, and failing. The serious push came 10 years ago when it raised money with a stock market float, and set out a plan to become Europe's biggest regional airline, flying mid-sized planes between secondary cities. The model works brilliantly in America, where regional airlines, often flying as franchises of the larger network carriers, are a large and thriving business. It did not work - or at least Flybe did not make it work - in Europe. It retrenched, and was left in the farcical situation of paying for a fleet of Embraer aircraft that it could not fly. The remaining network was still too big, and cash resources dwindled. The airline came close to going under at the start of last year, but was bought by consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart, and a financial investor Cyrus Capital. They had conflicting objectives. Virgin was eager to preserve feed to its long-haul flights at Heathrow, and perhaps snaffle along the way some of Flybe's valuable Heathrow slots. Stobart was eager to keep flights at its main asset, Southend Airport. And Cyrus thought it might make money if the business was resuscitated. The trio were slow to act - a rebranding to Virgin Connect never happened, and losses continued to rise. A cold shoulder from the government and a rapid drop in bookings thanks to the coronavirus sealed the airline's fate.\nFor the airports most affected - Southampton, Exeter and Belfast City - this will be a worrying moment. There is not a queue of airlines wanting to pick up UK regional routes - and particularly not when the coronavirus has plunged the entire industry into uncertainty.\n.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Mark Anderson","Mark Anderson"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe","Flybe"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Exeter","Exeter","Exeter","Exeter"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on demand for air travel was partly to blame for its collapse","collapse","collapse","impact","collapse"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2020 British multinational electrical and telecommunications retailer Dixons Carphone says it is closing all standalone Carphone Warehouse stores in the UK, with the loss of 2,900 jobs, as part of a company restructuring. The closures are not believed to be related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)","document":"LONDON (Reuters) - British electricals retailer Dixons Carphone DC.L will close all 531 UK standalone Carphone Warehouse stores and shed 2,900 jobs as part of a plan to turn around its loss-making mobile phones business, it said on Tuesday.\nShares in the group, which also trades as Currys and PC World in Britain, were up 3.7% at 0858 GMT after it also said it had not yet seen a material impact from the coronavirus outbreak and was maintaining its full year profit forecast.\nThough it is preparing for a future impact from the outbreak it noted that recent trading had been solid.\n“As customers prepare for time at home, fridges and freezers, small domestic appliances and laptops have seen notable increases in sales,” it said.\nThe Carphone Warehouse stores, representing 8% of Dixons Carphone’s total UK selling space, will shut on April 3. A further 1,800 workers are expected to take new roles internally.\nDixons Carphone will continue to sell mobile phones through Carphone Warehouse shop-in-shops in 305 large Currys PCWorld stores and online.\nThe group has had to revamp its mobile business because customers are changing the way they buy devices and connectivity, replacing their handsets less often and buying them separately or as part of more flexible bundles.\n“Our customers have been changing for some time how they shop with us and we have to respond,” chief executive Alex Baldock told reporters.\nCoronavirus was not an immediate driver for the closures, he maintained.\n“It’s always been the plan to announce it today,” he said. “All the current health crisis does is underline the importance of getting the business in shape for future success.”\nThe mobile phones business is forecast to make a 90 million pound ($110 million) loss in the 2019-20 year but breakeven by 2021-22.\nThe group said it remained on track to meet its guidance for overall adjusted pretax profit in 2019-20 of 210 million pounds despite a hit to profit at its Dixons Travel airport stores and the negative impact of currency exchange, as well as for net debt to be lower year-on-year.\n“We are aware that our stores could experience a significant reduction in sales in the months ahead and we are modelling a range of downside scenarios and planning accordingly,” it said.\nPlans include switching more fulfilment to the group’s online channels and managing costs and cash closely.\nThe group’s Greek stores will be closed, probably for at least two weeks, from March 18.\n($1 = 0.8193 pounds)\n\n\n\n ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Alex Baldock"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Dixons Carphone DC.L"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["as part of a plan to turn around its loss-making mobile phones business","part","plan","loss"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2020 Whiting Petroleum Corporation declares bankruptcy. Whiting was once the largest oil producer in the Bakken shale region. (Reuters)","document":"(Reuters) - Whiting Petroleum Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the U.S. shale producer said on Wednesday, the first publicly traded casualty of crashing crude oil prices that are expected to bite into record U.S. output.\nWhiting was once the largest oil producer in North Dakota, now the second-biggest oil-producing state in the country. It has agreed with creditors to cut its debt by about $2.2 billion through an exchange of some of its notes for 97% of new equity. Existing shareholders will own 3% of the reorganized company.\nNotably, Whiting said in a regulatory filing that on March 26, in response to the circumstances affecting the oil industry, it revised its compensation program to pay out more than $13 million bonuses to several executives, including $6.4 million to CEO Brad Holly.\nNumerous shale oil and gas producers, faced with burdensome debt loads, have cut spending aggressively as oil prices have plunged by about two-thirds this year with the coronavirus pandemic slamming fuel demand and Russia and Saudi Arabia flooding markets with extra crude.\nA U.S. drilling boom over the last three years lifted national oil production to a record of roughly 13 million barrels per day, but investors have grown frustrated with poor returns. Callon Petroleum and other companies have hired advisors to restructure debt.\nShares of Whiting fell 32 cents, or 47%, to 36 cents each on Tuesday.\nThe company’s market valuation has shrunk to $32 million from as much as $15 billion at its peak in 2011, when investors were discovering the burgeoning shale sector. As of Dec. 31, Whiting had $2.8 billion in debt and more than $585 million in cash on its balance sheet.\nWhiting is among the most shorted oil and gas stocks, with more than 60% of its outstanding shares borrowed for short selling, according to FIS Astec Analytics data.\nAnalysts believe the energy sector is primed for more defaults in coming months. Whiting’s bankruptcy brings the trailing 12-month high-yield energy default rate to more than 11%, and the year-end figure could ultimately surpass the 19.7% level set in January 2017, according to Fitch Ratings.\nEnergy producers Chesapeake Energy Corp and Chaparral Energy Inc as well as natural gas producer Gulfport Energy Corp are working with debt restructuring advisers or investment banks to shore up cash reserves.\nSunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Neal Dingmann said filing for bankruptcy “was more of a temporary solution than a long-term sustainable plan.”\n“We believe this financial demise was due to a combination of difficult macro conditions combined with sub-par operations for several quarters,” Dingmann said.\nThe company was also hampered by debt after purchasing rival Kodiak Oil & gas in mid-2014, just before shale’s 2015-2016 crash, for $6 billion, which included $2.2 billion in debt.\nWhiting was expected to produce about 42 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2020. It said it would continue to operate without material disruption to vendors, partners or employees.\nMoelis & Co is Whiting’s financial adviser, while Alvarez & Marsal is its restructuring adviser. PJT Partners is acting as financial adviser for creditors.\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Whiting Petroleum Corp"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Numerous shale oil and gas producers, faced with burdensome debt loads, have cut spending aggressively as oil prices have plunged by about two-thirds this year with the coronavirus pandemic slamming fuel demand and Russia and Saudi Arabia flooding markets with extra crude"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2005 Salva Kiir, the new vice–president of Sudan, is opposed to independence for the country's south. (BBC) The Ugandan government shuts down a radio station for broadcasting a debate on the cause of death of former Sudanese vice–president John Garang. (BBC)","document":"Politician James Otieno told the BBC the move was \"unacceptable\", while the Uganda Journalist Association said the government had exceeded its powers.\nKFM was closed after it aired a heated debate on the possible causes of the helicopter crash which killed Sudanese Vice-President John Garang. Uganda's president had warned the media not to report speculation on the crash.\nMr Garang was travelling in the Ugandan helicopter when it crashed taking him back to Sudan after meeting Mr Museveni.\nThe Ugandan crew were also killed.\n'Right to question'\nInformation Minister Nsaba Buturo said KFM's licence had been suspended because of a programme that did not meet Uganda's broadcasting standards.\nAny newspaper which plays around with regional security, I will not tolerate it. I will just simply close it, finish, the end\n President Yoweri Museveni\nMwenda rejects debt relief\nHe denied the closure was an attack on press freedom.\n\"Freedom without responsibility is dangerous to a young democracy such as ours,\" he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.\nBut the Uganda Journalist Association (UJA) said the Broadcasting Council did not have the powers to close KFM. \"The action is not part of the functions of the council under the law as its mandate is to arbitrate and resolve disputes anybody has with the electronic media,\" said UJA Secretary General Haruna Kanaabi.\nMr Otieno told the BBC the decision showed that Mr Museveni was intimidating the media at a time when Ugandans wanted more political freedom.\n\"People have a right to question,\" said Mr Otieno - who is based in London and a member of the former ruling Uganda People's Congress.\n'Vultures'\nThe head of the media group which runs KFM said he would \"pursue all available avenues\" to return to the airwaves.\nThe closure was \"unreasonable and illegal\", Monitor group head Conrad Nkutu told the AFP news agency.\nPresident Museveni has described some journalists as \"vultures\"\nThe programme was hosted by prominent journalist Andrew Mwenda - who was singled out for criticism by Mr Museveni over his articles in the Monitor newspaper, part of the same media group.\nMr Museveni had said publishing conspiracy theories about the crash constituted a threat to national security and would not be tolerated. \"They are vultures,\" he said of the papers in question. \"For them the misery of the many is the joy of the vultures. \"Now, any newspaper which plays around with regional security, I will not tolerate it. I will just simply close it, finish, the end.\"\nHowever, he has been one of the few public officials to say he does not know the cause of the crash - others have said it was definitely an accident.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["KFM","KFM","KFM","KFM"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Uganda","Uganda","Uganda","Uganda","Uganda"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["it aired a heated debate on the possible causes of the helicopter crash which killed Sudanese Vice-President John Garang"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2004 A major British influenza vaccine company, Chiron, has its manufacturing license revoked due to an outbreak of bacteria. Chiron had been expected to supply half of this season's flu vaccines in the United States. (BBC)","document":"The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the three month suspension would take place with immediate effect.\nThe suspension means the Oxford-based company, which makes Fluvirin, will not be able to supply flu vaccines to anyone, including the major US market.\nThere are concerns about the way the vaccine is manufactured.\n\tThose practices affected by the shortage will have to cancel flu immunisation clinics until doses come through.\n \tDr Hamish Meldrum\n \tThe MHRA decision could have a particularly severe impact in the US, as Chiron is responsible for half of the flu vaccines distributed in the country.\nIn the UK doctors have been advised to prioritise the most vulnerable patients until supplies return to normal.\nDespite government assurances that the suspension will have a minimal impact in the UK, the British Medical Association insists it could cause serious problems.\nDr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: \"This will have a significant impact on the flu immunisation programme in this country and the impact will be patchy.\n\"This is because practices tend to get their whole flu vaccine supply from one supplier.\n\"Those practices affected by the shortage will have to cancel flu immunisation clinics until doses come through.\"\nContaminated supplies\nIn August, Chiron announced that millions of flu vaccines made in Liverpool were contaminated, and delayed shipment to the US until October.\nA company spokesman said extensive tests and safety checks had subsequently been carried out, and the company was confident that its products now met the highest standards. He said the MHRA decision was unexpected, but he also said Chiron would immediately begin discussions to determine what further action was required to meet UK safety standards.\nIn a statement, the company said the MHRA suspension would mean that it would be unable to release any of its products during the 2004-05 flu season.\nChiron is one of six suppliers of the flu vaccine in the UK.\nThe Department of Health said of the 14 million doses of flu vaccine they had ordered, Chiron had only been due to supply 2.4 million.\nContingency measures\nContingency plans had been made to ensure adequate stocks would be available to meet any potential shortfall.\n\tI am confident that we will have enough vaccine for the winter.\n \tDr Douglas Fleming\n \tHowever, it admitted some people might experience a delay in getting their regular innoculation. It is recommended that flu vaccines should be administered in the UK by early November, before cases start to mount.\nA spokesperson said: \"We are confident that we have sufficient vaccines for this winters campaign and contingency supplies will be available as soon as possible.\n\"We have arranged for an extra 1.2 million doses to be available to doctors' surgeries by the end of October and a further 1 million by mid-November.\"\nDr Douglas Fleming, director of the Royal College of GPs' Birmingham Research Unit, said: \"I am confident that we will have enough vaccine for the winter.\n\"In the case of delays I would advise all Healthcare Professionals administering flu vaccines to concentrate on the most at-risk until supplies have returned to normal.\"\nSignificant impact\n\tThe fact that the US will potentially only have 50m doses is a public health nightmare.\n \tGeoffrey Porges\n \tThe World Health Organization said the suspension could have a major impact elsewhere - particularly as the flu season is just beginning in the northern hemisphere.\nDr Klaus Stohr, the WHO's flu chief, said: \"The implications may be significant. There could be a shortage.\n\"It may be resolvable but that would require a lot of adjustment on the part of the other\ncompanies.\"\nChiron makes a total of four flu vaccines: Agrippal, Begrivac, Fluad and Fluvirin.\nThe last of these is the number two flu vaccine in the US, which accounts for the majority of supplies, although 20% go to the UK and Europe.\nGeoffrey Porges, a market analyst with US firm Bernstein & Co said: \"The fact that the US will potentially only have 50m doses is a public health nightmare.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Chiron","Chiron","Chiron","Chiron","Chiron","Chiron"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Oxford"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["millions of flu vaccines made in Liverpool were contaminated","Contaminated"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2016 Lebanese daily newspaper As–Safir (\"The Ambassador\" in Arabic) is to cease print and online operations after over 40 years, citing falling revenues and Lebanon's political environment and sectarian problems as reasons for its closure. The newspaper has close ties to Hezbollah. (Reuters)","document":"BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese daily As-Safir is to cease its print and online operations after over 40 years, editor-in-chief and publisher Talal Salman said on Thursday, blaming falling revenues and Lebanon’s political and sectarian problems.\nAs-Safir, founded by Salman in 1974 with the slogan “a voice for those who have no voice”, will end publication on March 31. It is close to the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah.\nIn a situation faced by print media around the world, Lebanese dailies al-Nahar and al-Liwa’ have also indicated they are facing financial difficulties because of falling circulation and advertising income.\nBut Salman has said the country’s political environment also contributed to the problems of the Lebanese press.\nLebanon has a paralyzed political system and sectarian tensions left over from a civil war that ended around 15 years ago. These have increased with Syria’s civil war next door.\nThe government has not passed a budget since 2005 and has been without a president for almost two years.\nLebanon’s economy grew 8 percent a year between 2007 and 2010, but growth has been relatively sluggish since the collapse of a unity government and the start of Syria’s uprising in 2011. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew at only 2 percent in 2014.\n“We tried and tried and tried and in the end the great sectarian divide took its first victim - the media, which is supposed to be the one guiding a unified national public,” Salman told Reuters.\n“The press is connected with political life. In Lebanon there is no politics and no political life whatsoever,” he said. “This is a country without a state, with no institutions and no president.”\nIn an editorial in his paper this week, Salman said the demise of his and other papers in Lebanon - a country famed across the Arab world for its press freedom - threatens the nation’s claim to be the “country of freedom”.\nThe decision to close As-Safir (“The Ambassador” in Arabic)will be formally announced on March 30 at a press conference. “We have announced the death, but we await the funeral,” said Salman.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Lebanese daily As-Safir"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Lebanon","Lebanon","Lebanon","Lebanon","Lebanon"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["falling revenues and Lebanon’s political and sectarian problems"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2020 China orders the closure of the United States Consulate in Chengdu, in retaliation for the United States closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas. (BBC)","document":"China has ordered the closure of the US consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu, in a tit-for-tat escalation between the two countries. China said the move was in response to the US closing its consulate in Houston, and accused staff in Chengdu of meddling in its internal affairs.\nSecretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US decision was taken because China was \"stealing\" intellectual property.\nTensions have been rising between the US and China over several key issues.\nPresident Donald Trump's administration has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade and the coronavirus pandemic, as well as China's imposition of a controversial new security law in Hong Kong.\nOn Friday, Washington urged China to \"cease these malign actions rather than engage in tit-for-tat retaliation\". China's move came hours after Mr Pompeo hardened his tone further in a speech on Thursday at the library of former President Richard Nixon, whose 1972 China visit heralded a period of improved relations. \"Today, China is increasingly authoritarian at home, and more aggressive in its hostility to freedom everywhere else,\" Mr Pompeo said. \"The free world must triumph over this new tyranny.\"\nOn Friday, China's foreign ministry said it was closing the US consulate in Chengdu after staff there \"interfered in China's internal affairs, and endangered China's security and interests\".\nDuring a news conference, ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also said the US decision to close the consulate in Houston was based on \"a hodgepodge of anti-Chinese lies\".\nHe said Mr Pompeo's announcement on Thursday was \"filled with ideological bias and a Cold War mentality.\"\n\"Pompeo made a speech in which he made a malicious attack on the Chinese Communist Party,\" Mr Wang said, adding: \"To this, China expresses strong indignation and resolute opposition.\"\nThe ministry earlier said that the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu was a \"legitimate and necessary response\" to the actions taken by the US.\n\"The current situation between China and the United States is something China does not want to see, and the US bears all responsibility for that.\"\nChina has given the US until Monday to close the consulate in Chengdu, according to the editor of China's Global Times.\nThe mission, established in 1985 and currently having more than 200 staff - 150 hired locally - is seen as strategically important because it allows the US to gather information on the autonomous region of Tibet, where there has been long-running pressure for independence. With its industry and growing services sector, Chengdu also is seen by the US as providing opportunities for exports of agricultural products, cars and machinery. On Tuesday, the US government ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, by Friday. The move came after unidentified individuals were filmed burning paper in bins in the building's courtyard.\nMr Pompeo accused China of stealing \"not just American intellectual property... but European intellectual property too... costing hundreds of thousands of jobs\".\n\"We are setting out clear expectations for how the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave. And when they don't, we're going to take actions,\" he said. The Chinese consulate in Houston was one of five in the US, along with the embassy in Washington DC. It was not clear why it was singled out.\nChina's foreign ministry spokeswoman said the reasons given by the US for closing the consulate were \"unbelievably ridiculous\". Hua Chunying urged the US to reverse its \"erroneous decision\", or China would \"react with firm countermeasures\".\nIn a further US move, four Chinese nationals have been charged with visa fraud for allegedly lying about their membership of China's armed forces. On Friday, US officials told reporters a Chinese student who fled to China's consulate in San Francisco was now in US custody. Three others were arrested earlier.\nSeparately, a Singaporean man has pleaded guilty at a federal court in Washington to a charge of operating as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, said on Friday.\nJun Wei Yeo, also known as Dickson Yeo, was charged with using his political consultancy in the US as a front to collect information for Chinese intelligence.\nThere are a number of things at play. US officials have blamed China for the global spread of Covid-19. More specifically, President Trump has alleged, without evidence, that the virus originated from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. And, in unsubstantiated remarks, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said in March that the US military might have brought the virus to Wuhan.\nThe US and China have also been locked in a tariff war since 2018. Mr Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft, but in Beijing there is a perception that the US is trying to curb its rise as a global economic power.\nThe US has also imposed sanctions on Chinese politicians who it says are responsible for human rights violations against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. China is accused of mass detentions, religious persecution and forced sterilisation of Uighurs and others. Beijing denies the allegations and has accused the US of \"gross interference\" in its domestic affairs.\nChina's imposition of a sweeping security law there is also a source of tension with the US and the UK, which ruled the territory until 1997. In response, the US last week revoked Hong Kong's special trading status, which allowed it to avoid tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by the US. The US and UK see the security law as a threat to the freedoms Hong Kong has enjoyed under a 1984 agreement between China and the UK - before sovereignty reverted to Beijing.\nThe UK has angered China by outlining a route to UK citizenship for nearly three million Hong Kong residents. China responded by threatening to stop recognising a type of British passport - BNO - held by many of those living in Hong Kong. US orders China to close Houston consulate\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["US consulate","US consulate","US consulate"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Chengdu","Chengdu","Chengdu","Chengdu","Chengdu","Chengdu"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["in response to the US closing its consulate in Houston, and accused staff in Chengdu of meddling in its internal affairs","Chengdu","consulate","Chengdu","internal affairs","Houston","consulate","Chengdu","consulate","Chengdu","Chengdu","consulate","Houston","consulate","Houston","consulate","consulate","response","Houston consulate"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Viacom International Media Networks has announced it will no longer pursue a Nickelodeon underwater theme park and resort in Palawan, Philippines. The project, announced last January, attracted controversy due to criticisms from environmentalist groups who fear the resort might destroy the area's marine ecosystem, home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites. (ABS-CBN News)","document":"Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) will no longer pursue the controversial Nickelodeon theme park in Palawan.\nIn a statement released Tuesday, Viacom said it has reached an agreement with Coral World Park to discontinue the licensing agreement for the theme park.\n\"Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has mutually agreed with Coral World Park to discontinue the IP licensing agreement for the Nickelodeon-branded attraction and resort that was intended to be part of Coral World Park’s planned development in the western Philippine province of Palawan.\"\n\"Therefore, VIMN and Nickelodeon will no longer be involved with this proposed development. We wish Coral World Park well,\" VIMN also said.\nThe project, which was announced earlier this year, was met by criticisms from environmentalists and other groups, noting that the project could destroy the area's marine ecosystem.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Nickelodeon theme park"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Palawan","Palawan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["The project, which was announced earlier this year, was met by criticisms from environmentalists and other groups, noting that the project could destroy the area's marine ecosystem"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 Toronto's Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras closes and its management resigns following public backlash to a fat-shaming email that said only \"physically fit and slim\" singers would be featured in shows. (Fox News) (BBC) (Global News)","document":"The Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras asked women who were not \"fit & slim\" to use loose dresses that hide their \"dietary indulgences\".\nMany singers who had performed with the symphony expressed disgust at the email.\nThe management has since apologised and resigned, telling singers the orchestra would no longer be funded.\nThe controversy began on Monday when singer Victoria Leone, 23, received an email from Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras that left her astonished.\n\"Although almost all of our vocalists are fit and slim - the way our boutique orchestra would like our front line performing artists to be… two of our featured singers were not,\" the email read. \"We hope that they would, as such, refrain from using tight-fitting dresses and use loose (less physically-revealing, less physically-accentuating) dresses instead.\"\nThe email went on at length to detail that they were only concerned with vocalists, not instrumentalists, because instrumentalists were \"background\".\nMs Leone had performed with the orchestra once two weeks beforehand as a volunteer at a local street festival. She told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that as someone who was bullied as a child for being a bit \"curvy\", she felt personally attacked.\nThe email, which was signed by \"the management\", also said that in the future, only \"fit and slim\" women would be hired.\n\"As per our highly selective casting requirements for vocal artists taking on a prominent leading role on stage, only singers who are physically fit and slim (or at the very least, those who know how to dress strategically/suitably in order to not bring attention to their temporary physical/dietary indulgences) would be showcased with our boutique orchestras.\"\nMs Leone says she sent an email back to the orchestra, expressing her frustration and quitting the organisation. Instead of apologising, she said they simply thanked her for her time and asked her to reread certain parts about dressing less revealingly, which it highlighted in red.\nAfter news of this message went public, and many other singers complained, the management sent her a follow-up email notifying her that the orchestra would be shutting down.\n\"We sincerely apologize for any embarrassment/harassment that you may experience from media representatives or other individuals/parties as a result of misconstrued/malicious allegations and extremely negative/destructive/evil intent,\" the email read.\nSpeaking to the CBC, Ms Leone said she did not feel like that was the apology she was looking for. \"It does suck for all the young women, all the young girls who are trying to aspire to anything,\" she said. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras","Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["asked women who were not \"fit & slim\" to use loose dresses that hide their \"dietary indulgences\"","fit","slim","fit","slim","dietary indulgences"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 The United States State Department orders Russia to close the Consulate-General in San Francisco and two other buildings by September 2, 2017, invoking \"parity\" over a Russian measure in July. (BBC)","document":"Russia has been ordered to close its San Francisco consulate and two trade missions in response to \"unwarranted\" Russian action, the US has said.\nThe consulate, and annexes in New York and Washington, must close by Saturday.\nThe US state department's move follows Moscow's reduction of US diplomatic staff in Russia last month.\nThat in turn followed new US sanctions on Russia over Crimea and alleged election interference, which led to the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats.\nPresident Barack Obama had ordered those expulsions, along with the closure of two compounds, last December.\nAlthough Russian President Vladimir Putin did not respond initially to that move, with Mr Trump set to assume office, he then announced on 31 July a reduction of 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, in retaliation for the US sanctions.\nThe US diplomats expelled have until this Friday to leave Russia - a day before the US closures of the Russian consulate and two annexes, which are trade missions, must be completed.\nA senior administration official said on Thursday that the consulate and the residence attached to it as well as the two trade missions would close but no Russian staff would be required to leave the country.\nRussia will be allowed to maintain the properties, but not use them, the official added. The state department said the US actions were \"in the spirit of parity\". It blamed Moscow for what it called a downward spiral in bilateral ties, but suggested it wanted an end to the current spat.\n\"The United States hopes that, having moved toward the Russian Federation's desire for parity, we can avoid further retaliatory actions by both sides and move forward to achieve the stated goal of both our presidents: improved relations between our two countries and increased co-operation on areas of mutual concern,\" state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. The move leaves each country with three consulates in place, Ms Nauert added. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Thursday, expressing \"regret at the escalation of tensions in bilateral relations\".\nHe said Moscow would study the order and respond accordingly, according to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry. Mr Lavrov and Mr Tillerson are due to meet in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.\nEarlier this month, Mr Trump said US relations with Russia were at a \"dangerous low\" amid a row with Congress over the fresh sanctions against Moscow. The president, who wanted warmer ties with Russia, had opposed the bill, which included a provision that limits his ability to lift sanctions and forces him to consult Congress first. Mr Trump has been dogged by claims that Russia tried to sway the election in his favour and several investigations are under way to determine whether anyone from his campaign colluded with Moscow.\nBut the Kremlin has repeatedly denied interfering and Mr Trump has insisted that there was no collusion, calling the investigations a \"witch hunt\".\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["San Francisco consulate and two trade missions","two trade missions"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York and Washington","New York"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["in response to \"unwarranted\" Russian action"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2020 British retail tycoon Philip Green's Arcadia Group collapses into administration, putting over 13,000 jobs at risk and becoming the United Kingdom's biggest corporate casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. Arcadia CEO Ian Grabiner blames the pandemic for the company's demise, saying \"the obstacles we encountered were far too severe\". (Reuters)","document":"LONDON (Reuters) - British tycoon Philip Green’s Arcadia fashion group has collapsed into administration, putting over 13,000 jobs at risk and becoming the country’s biggest corporate casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic so far.\nArcadia retail group collapses into administration\n01:21\nDeloitte said late on Monday it had been appointed Arcadia’s administrator and would seek buyers for the group’s brands: Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Miss Selfridge, Evans, Burton and Outfit.\nThe group trades from 444 leased sites in the United Kingdom and 22 overseas.\nDeloitte said Arcadia’s stores would continue to trade, its online platforms would remain operational and supplies to concession partners would continue.\nIt said no redundancies were being immediately announced.\n“We will be rapidly seeking expressions of interest and expect to identify one or more buyers to ensure the future success of the businesses,” said Matt Smith, Deloitte’s joint administrator.\nGreen, who was pictured over the weekend in Monaco where his 100 million pound ($133.26 million) super yacht Lionheart is docked, acquired Arcadia for 850 million pounds in 2002.\nHe had no immediate comment but his CEO laid the blame for Arcadia’s demise firmly on the pandemic.\n“In the face of the most difficult trading conditions we have ever experienced, the obstacles we encountered were far too severe,” said Ian Grabiner.\nBritain’s Business minister, Alok Sharma, said the administration was “incredibly sad news” and the UK government would support those affected.\nWhile COVID-19 lockdowns pushed Arcadia over the edge, it has struggled in recent years, underinvesting and failing to keep pace with competitors in an increasingly online retail sector.\n\n\nIts brands were squeezed between the likes of Inditex’s Zara, H&M, and Primark and online-only players ASOS and Boohoo.\nA restructuring deal was approved by creditors last year, cutting rents and closing stores, but proved only a temporary respite.\nMike Ashley’s Frasers Group said on Monday it was interested in participating in any Arcadia sale process.\nTopshop, once the go-to destination for teenagers and fashion lovers, is regarded by analysts as Arcadia’s most attractive asset.\nMedia reports have also identified Marks & Spencer, Next and Boohoo, as well as private equity players, as potential bidders for individual brands. All three companies declined to comment.\nArcadia’s collapse could have a knock-on impact on the future of department store chain Debenhams, which is already in administration and employs 12,000.\nArcadia is one of Debenhams’ biggest concession holders.\nShares in JD Sports Fashion, which has been linked with a takeover of Debenhams, closed up 5.9%, indicating it was losing interest. Shares in Frasers closed down 5.7%.\nArcadia’s workforce also faces uncertainty over a deficit in the company’s pension fund, estimated by analysts at about 350 million pounds.\nAs part of last year’s restructuring Arcadia agreed to provide 210 million pounds of security over property assets to the pension schemes, while Tina Green, Philip’s wife and the ultimate owner of Arcadia, agreed to contribute 100 million pounds to the schemes over three years.\n“Philip Green should do the right thing and fill the Arcadia pension deficit,” said opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.\nIf he does not pay up, Arcadia’s 10,000 pension scheme members should still receive the bulk of their entitlement through the government’s lifeboat scheme, the Pension Protection Fund.\nSharma said the administrators had three months to file a report on the conduct of Arcadia’s directors with The Insolvency Service which will determine whether a full investigation is required.\n“I will be keeping a very close eye on this process,” he said.\nEven before the pandemic, bricks-and-mortar clothing retailers in Britain were facing a major structural challenge with the economics of operating stores on traditional leases proving increasingly difficult as more trade migrates online.\nAlready this year Oasis, Warehouse, Laura Ashley, Peacocks and Jaeger have fallen into administration.\n\n\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Philip Green’s Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia","Arcadia"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["United Kingdom"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2020 President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolve the incumbent House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament. (The New York Times)","document":"The prime minister dissolved the lower house of Parliament, throwing into doubt the political fortunes of the Himalayan country, which has long swung between Beijing and New Delhi.\nBy Bhadra Sharma\nKATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s top leader dissolved Parliament on Sunday amid infighting among members of the governing party, throwing into doubt the political future of a strategically important Himalayan country where China and India have long jockeyed for influence.\nThe prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, called for the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament despite protests from his own Nepal Communist Party and opposition groups, including the largest, Nepali Congress. Nepal is now set to hold elections starting in late April, more than a year earlier than the expected vote in November 2022.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Bhadra Sharma\nKATHMANDU"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Parliament","Parliament","Parliament"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Nepal","Nepal","Nepal","Nepal"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament despite protests from his own Nepal Communist Party and opposition groups, including the largest, Nepali Congress","lower house"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2020 Parliament is dissolved as the deadline to approve the 2020 state budget expires without an agreement, requiring elections within 90 days, for the fourth time in less than two years. (The Times of Israel)","document":"The 23rd Knesset officially dispersed as the clock struck midnight on Tuesday night and the deadline to approve a 2020 budget expired, sending Israelis to the polls for the fourth time in less than two years. Elections were automatically called for 90 days from now, namely March 23, 2021, though that date could yet be changed by vote.\nThe failure to pass a budget came just seven months after the swearing-in of the “unity government” between Likud and Blue and White. The two parties, which had fought each other bitterly in three indecisive elections, agreed to form a power-sharing government with a rotating premiership between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in May.\nBut despite pledges to put aside their differences in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the political turmoil followed them into government, with both leaders soon claiming the other was breaking their coalition agreements.\nUnlike the previous three elections, when Netanyahu’s chief rival was Gantz and his centrist Blue and White alliance, the prime minister’s main challengers this time are set to come from his own right wing of the political spectrum. A former Likud minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has set up a new party, New Hope, dedicated to ousting Netanyahu, and the right-wing/Orthodox Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett is also aiming to try to supplant him. Both Sa’ar and Bennett are seen as more hawkish than Netanyahu on issues relating to the Palestinians and the settlements.\nNetanyahu, 71, has held power uninterrupted since 2009, and also served a term as prime minister from 1996-1999, making him Israel’s longest-serving leader. He remains in office as head of the transitional government until the elections are held and a new coalition is formed.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The 23rd Knesset"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Israel"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["The failure to pass a budget"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2012 The Irish Daily Star becomes the second tabloid newspaper to publish topless photographs of Kate Middleton, prompting media boss Richard Desmond to close down the joint venture between Independent News and Media and his Northern and Shell group that published the paper. (RTÉ News)","document":"Media boss Richard Desmond tonight began \"immediate steps\" to close down his joint venture with the Irish Daily Star after the newspaper published topless photographs of Kate Middleton.\nThe Irish Daily Star is a joint venture between Independent News and Media and Northern and Shell, of which Mr Desmond is chairman.\nHowever, following publication of the photos, Northern and Shell said it had no editorial control over the newspaper.\nTonight, Mr Desmond said: \"I am very angry at the decision to publish these photographs and am taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture.\n“The decision to publish these pictures has no justification whatever and Northern & Shell condemns it in the strongest possible terms.\"\nA spokesperson for Independent News and Media, the co-owner of the Irish Daily Star, has said \"it was regrettable and in poor taste\" that the newspaper published the pictures.\nHe said that \"Independent News and Media had no prior knowledge of the decision to publish\" the pictures.\nThe photos of the duchess were taken while she was on holiday at a private villa in the south of France last week with her husband, Britain's Prince William.\nIrish Daily Star editor Michael O'Kane defended the publication.\n\"I did this as a service to our readers, I'm a little taken aback by the reaction in the UK,\" Mr O'Kane told the BBC earlier today.\n\"It only seems to be an issue in the UK because she is your future queen. But from our point of view in Ireland, Kate Middleton is just another of the fantastic line of celebrities.\"\nThe National Union of Journalists has called on Northern and Shell to reconsider the threat to close the newspaper.\nNUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet described the decision as \"an over the top reaction which should be reconsidered calmly and with consideration for the full implications for Irish journalism and for editorial diversity\".\nIrish Secretary Séamus Dooley branded the decision \"a callous and crude attempt by Northern and Star to protect their UK commercial interests with no regard for the livelihood of 80 Irish workers\".","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Richard Desmond"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Irish Daily Star","Irish Daily Star","Irish Daily Star","Irish Daily Star"]},{"role":"Date","values":["tonight"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ireland"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the newspaper published topless photographs of Kate Middleton","Kate Middleton"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2012 Manufacturer Foxconn closes a factory in Taiyuan in China's Shanxi province after a fight breaks out between thousands of workers. (The Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"Foxconn Technology Group has closed a factory at Taiyuan in China’s Shanxi province after a personal dispute spiraled into a brawl involving 2000 workers in a dormitory, injuring 40.\nThe Taiyuan plant, which employs about 79,000 workers, makes automobile electronic components, consumer electronic components and precision moldings. An employee told Reuters the plant also makes parts and assembles Apple's iPhone 5.\n\n.\n\n\n\n\nA Foxconn factory in China, which assembles iPhones, has suspended production after a brawl between employees.\nIn a statement, Foxconn cited police as saying about 40 people were taken to hospital for medical attention and a number were arrested.\nThe company said the incident escalated from what it called a personal dispute between several employees at around 11pm on Sunday in a privately managed dormitory, and was brought under control by local police at around 3am.\nImages circulated on Chinese social network Weibo that purport to show the Foxconn riot.\n\"The cause of this dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process, but it appears not to have been work-related,\" Foxconn said.\nChina's Xinhua News Agency, citing Taiyuan City's public security bureau, reported that about 10 people were hurt in the fighting and around 5000 police were sent to the scene, bringing it under control as of 9am.\n\"The plant is closed today for investigation,\" said Foxconn spokesman Louis Woo.\nFoxconn, the trading name of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co and the world's largest contract maker of electronic goods, has seen a few violent disputes at its sprawling plants in China, where it employs a total of about 1 million workers.\nImages circulated on Chinese social network Weibo that purport to show the Foxconn riot.\nIn June, about 100 workers went on a rampage at a Chengdu plant in southwestern China. The company has faced allegations of poor conditions and mistreatment of workers at its China operations, and has been spending heavily in recent months to improve the work environment and to raise wages.\nA staff member at the Taiyuan plant said he was told the plant could be closed up to two to three days for police investigations.\n\"There are a lot of police at the site now,\" the staff member, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to media, told Reuters by telephone.\nCalls to the Taiyuan police were not immediately answered, while an official at the plant declined to comment when reached by telephone.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Foxconn Technology Group"]},{"role":"Date","values":["today"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Taiyuan in China’s Shanxi province","Taiyuan","Taiyuan","Taiyuan","Taiyuan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a personal dispute spiraled into a brawl involving 2000 workers in a dormitory, injuring 40","dormitory"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2015 Canadian BlackBerry Limited announces plans to shut down operations in Pakistan at year's end because it cannot comply with the Pakistani government's monitoring orders which would result in a massive invasion of user privacy. (CNET)","document":"The Canadian company has taken a stand against demands for \"backdoor\" access to its services, including encrypted email and messages.\nBlackBerry says Pakistan is demanding complete access to customer information. BlackBerry will shut down operations in Pakistan at year's end because demands from the country's Telecommunications Authority would result in a massive invasion of user privacy, the company said Monday.\n BlackBerry refuses to agree to the Pakistani government's order to monitor BlackBerry Enterprise Services (BES), including encrypted emails and BBM messages sent and received in the country. It is therefore withdrawing on December 30, Chief Operating Officer Marty Beard said in a blog post Monday. The Canadian company said it enforces a blanket ban on allowing so-called \"backdoor\" access to customer information anywhere in the world.\n \"Pakistan's demand was not a question of public safety; we are more than happy to assist law enforcement agencies in investigations of criminal activity,\" Beard said. \"Rather, Pakistan was essentially demanding unfettered access to all of our BES customers' information.\"\n Governments, accustomed to tapping phone lines and opening mail in decades past, want access to people's digital data to help stop crime and security threats. However, especially in the wake of revelations from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about massive surveillance by the US and UK, tech companies have been wrestling with government data requests that they believe can go too far.\n BlackBerry has long emphasized security in its sales pitch to government, military and business customers. On learning that the Pakistani government would require \"wholesale\" access to BlackBerry Enterprise Services, the company decided its customers' communications would be compromised to the extent that it has no choice but to leave Pakistan altogether.\n BlackBerry is setting a precedent for how it will react to being told it must comply or leave, but it is far from the only company facing serious questions. The debate over encrypted communications is raging in many countries, including big markets like the US and UK that are tougher to ignore. If governments come down hard against encryption in the name of national security, tech giants like Google, Apple and Facebook will need to decide on the importance of customer privacy in countries a lot closer to home than Pakistan.\n.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Marty Beard"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry"]},{"role":"Date","values":["December 30"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["demands from the country's Telecommunications Authority would result in a massive invasion of user privacy","demands"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2016 Al Jazeera America announces that it will close in April due to poor ratings. (The New York Times)","document":"The cable news channel Al Jazeera America, which debuted in 2013 to great fanfare when it promised to cover American news soberly and seriously, will be shutting down by the end of April. The move was announced at a companywide meeting on Wednesday.\nIn a memo to the staff, Al Jazeera America’s chief executive, Al Anstey, said the “decision by Al Jazeera America’s board is driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace.”\n“I know the closure of AJAM will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future,” he continued, using the company acronym. “The decision that has been made is in no way because AJAM has done anything but a great job. Our commitment to great journalism is unrivaled.”\nAt the companywide meeting, Al Jazeera America staff members, some in tears, were told that the decision to shutter the network had not been unanimous. Some of the channel’s leadership argued that the network provided an important service, and continued to win awards for its coverage. But in the end, the decision was an economic one. The channel, it was felt, had fallen victim to the lack of a business model beyond continuous support from Qatar, the energy-rich country that owns Al Jazeera.\nAdvertisement\nSome staffers saw that as a tacit admission that falling oil prices were behind the closure, though a spokeswoman for the company denied that on Wednesday. Beyond its oil wealth, Qatar is one of the world’s top exporters of liquefied natural gas, whose price has also tumbled. Mr. Anstey said that once the cable news network shuts down by April 30, Al Jazeera would expand its digital presence in the United States. The expansion “would bring new global content into America.”\nAl Jazeera America went on the air in August 2013 after Al Jazeera bought Al Gore’s Current TV for $500 million. It promised to be thoughtful and smart, free of the shouting arguments that have defined cable news in the United States over the last decade. But meaningful viewership never came, with prime-time ratings sometimes struggling to exceed 30,000 viewers.\nAdvertisement\nTo make matters worse, turmoil hit the newsroom last year when staff members complained bitterly of a culture of fear. There was an exodus of top executives, along with a pair of lawsuits from former employees that included complaints about sexism and anti-Semitism at the news channel.\nIn May, Ehab Al Shihabi, the chief executive of Al Jazeera America, was replaced by Mr. Anstey. Morale improved, but ratings remained low.\nThe closure, which will cost hundreds of employees their jobs, highlights the difficulties of establishing a robust cable news presence in an increasingly crowded media marketplace, and one that faces ever more competition from the web — the ultimate 24-hour news medium.\nCurrent TV, before being bought by Al Jazeera, had struggled for years to find an audience, and to define its place in the news landscape. Fusion, a cable news network and digital publication aimed at younger audiences, lost the backing of one of its corporate parent companies, Disney, in recent weeks, following reports that it, too, had struggled to find its footing with audiences. Even established players like MSNBC have been forced to revamp in recent years.\nAndrew Heyward, a former president of CBS News who is now an adviser to media companies, said in an interview that Al Jazeera America had faced an uphill battle from the beginning.\nCable news “is a very well-served market, not to say saturated, and you have three powerful, well-established players,” he said, referring to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. “Endemically, it’s not quite clear that the world was waiting for a new 24-hour cable channel in the U.S., and cable operators certainly weren’t waiting for it,” he said, describing the limited distribution the channel received.\n“They came kind of swaggering into the arena, saying we’re going to do higher-end stories and represent people who are under-represented,” Mr. Heyward said, a proposition that played better on paper than in practice. And the network brought something of a British sensibility and judgment, he said, which did not translate as well to cable news as it might in other arenas.\nAdvertisement\n“This is not ‘Downton Abbey,’ ” he said.\nAll these problems were exacerbated, he said, by the fact that a brand associated with the Arab world was a tougher sell in the United States than it was in Europe.\nAnd Al Jazeera America has not been free of controversy in recent months. In November, the news station’s general counsel, David W. Harleston, was suspended following a report in The New York Times that he did not appear to be licensed to practice law. Among the varied legal work Mr. Harleston had done for Al Jazeera America was his involvement in wrongful termination lawsuits brought by former employees. Legal experts have cautioned that Mr. Harleston’s lack of a law license could potentially leave the network vulnerable in those lawsuits, primarily over issues of confidentiality.\nOn Dec. 27, Al Jazeera America aired an hourlong documentary that linked some of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball and the National Football League to performance-enhancing drugs. The most prominent athlete mentioned was the Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who angrily denied the report, calling it “complete garbage” and “totally made up.” The baseball players Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman have filed defamation suits against the network.\nWhen told Wednesday of Al Jazeera America’s plans to shut down, Mr. Manning deadpanned, “I’m sure it’s going to be just devastating to all their viewers.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Al Anstey"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America","Al Jazeera America"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the end of April"]},{"role":"Location","values":["America","America","America","America","America","America","America","America","America","America","America","America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace","business model"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2016 Cameroon closes most of its northern markets on the Nigerian border. (The News) (Voice of America)","document":"Wearied by incessant suicide bombing against its citizens by Boko Haram militants, Cameroon has announced a closure of most of its northern markets on the border with Nigeria.\nThe latest attack in a market in Bodo sparked the measure. Thirty five people died in the attack, while at least 70 people were injured. Just two days after, Boko Haram suicide bomber also hit Chibok market, in Borno state, North east Nigeria.\nThe country’s government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said it was the 30th attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on Cameroon since the start of the new year, VOA reported.\nMidjiyawa Bakari, the governor of the far north region of Cameroon, says the decision to close markets on Cameroon’s northern border with Nigeria until further notice was taken for security reasons because the four female suicide bombers who attacked Bodo were disguised as traders and hid explosives in bags of vegetables they pretended to sell.\n“The decision has been taken to close some markets in the border but people have been persisting to sell and to buy things. They should know that Boko Haram is looking for where people are gathering to do these attacks,” he said.\nBusinessman Inoussa Yegie says shock and consternation has gripped the town of Bodo, where Monday’s attack took place. He says it will take time for them to recover, in spite of the heavy deployment of troops. The 33-year-old says the decision by the government to close all border markets in their locality may backfire, especially now that Boko Haram fighters are recruiting young people to steal and seize money and goods from farmers and traders.\nYegie says traders are becoming poorer because all their shops have been sealed. He says youths who use commercial motorcycles to transport goods and people from the market to supply towns in Nigeria no longer have jobs, and they may now be tempted to join Boko Haram fighters who promise them better lives.\n \nAfter Monday’s attack, Cameroon soldiers launched raids on the Nigerian town of Achigashia, from where they believe the suicide bombers came. Cameroon’s spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary says 17 insurgents were killed in the operation. He says Cameroon has counted at least 30 attacks on its territory this year.\n“Faced with such harassment both un-grounded and unjustified, our defense and security forces have always retaliated leading the enemy to incur several setbacks that has considerably weakened the group and reduced it to mere acts of cowardice, especially suicide bombings, which have become its modus operandi,” he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Midjiyawa Bakari"]},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["on the border with Nigeria","Nigeria","Nigeria","Nigeria"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Wearied by incessant suicide bombing against its citizens by Boko Haram militants"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2016 Cameroon closes most of its northern markets on the Nigerian border. (The News) (Voice of America)","document":" Cameroon has closed most of its northern markets on the border with Nigeria after a series of bomb attacks Monday left at least 35 people dead and 70 wounded in the town of Bodo. The country's government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said it was the 30th attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on Cameroon since the start of the new year.\nBusinessman Inoussa Yegie says shock and consternation has gripped the town of Bodo, where Monday's attack took place. He says it will take time for them to recover, in spite of the heavy deployment of troops. The 33-year-old says the decision by the government to close all border markets in their locality may backfire, especially now that Boko Haram fighters are recruiting young people to steal and seize money and goods from farmers and traders.\nYegie says traders are becoming poorer because all their shops have been sealed. He says youths who use commercial motorcycles to transport goods and people from the market to supply towns in Nigeria no longer have jobs, and they may now be tempted to join Boko Haram fighters who promise them better lives.\nBombers disguised as traders\nMidjiyawa Bakari, the governor of the far north region of Cameroon, says the decision to close markets on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria until further notice was taken for security reasons because the four female suicide bombers who attacked Bodo were disguised as traders and hid explosives in bags of vegetables they pretended to sell.\n\"The decision has been taken to close some markets in the border but people have been persisting to sell and to buy things. They should know that Boko Haram is looking for where people are gathering to do these attacks,\" he said.\nAfter Monday's attack, Cameroon soldiers launched raids on the Nigerian town of Achigashia, from where they believe the suicide bombers came. Cameroon's spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary says 17 insurgents were killed in the operation. He says Cameroon has counted at least 30 attacks on its territory this year.\n\"Faced with such harassment both un-grounded and unjustified, our defense and security forces have always retaliated leading the enemy to incur several setbacks that has considerably weakened the group and reduced it to mere acts of cowardice, especially suicide bombings, which have become its modus operandi,\" he said.\nSolidarity in fight against Boko Haram\nIn Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, groups of people have been visiting and sympathizing with Bodo's elite. Ngufor Jacob, leader of Cameroon's university students association, says that by visiting with people from Bodo, his group shows solidarity with Cameroon and Nigerian forces fighting Boko Haram terrorism.\n\"I came out to show solidarity with my brothers and sisters in the north who are suffering from the onslaughts of Boko Haram insurgents. I came out to show to the military that we are one, we are together. We may not have guns to join them in the north but they should know that we have them at heart. We are praying for them, we are supporting them,\" he said.\nCameroon believes the militants have resorted to attacking mosques, markets, churches and palaces of traditional rulers because the terrorist group's firepower has been drastically reduced following attacks on their strongholds within the past two months by Cameroon and Nigerian troops.\nBoko Haram's six-year insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced close to 2.3 million, according to Amnesty International and the United Nations.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Midjiyawa Bakari"]},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["the border with Nigeria","Nigeria","Nigeria","border"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a series of bomb attacks Monday left at least 35 people dead and 70 wounded in the town of Bodo","Bodo","Bodo","Bodo","Bodo"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2002 Ford announces plans to cut 15,000 additional jobs and close several automotive plants, including a truck plant in Edison, New Jersey. (NYT)","document":"The Ford Motor Company's board agreed on a plan tonight to cut its work force by up to 15,000 hourly workers, in addition to the 5,000 salaried workers it said it would cut last year, and also close several of its plants, including a truck plant in Edison, N.J., according to a person close to the deliberations.\nThe company will also reduce its worldwide capacity by one million vehicles, that person said.\nFord's stock fell sharply earlier in the day as analysts feared the company's restructuring plan, to be announced Friday, would fall short of expectations. The company's share price slid 6.3 percent, to $15.29. In Dearborn, Mich., at Ford's headquarters, the board and the company's new management team have spent the last few days debating over how many thousands of job cuts should be part of the turnaround plan.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Ford Motor Company"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Edison, N.J"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Ford's stock fell sharply","Ford","Ford"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2004 The Russian polar station will be evacuated. Russia launches rescue operation to evacuate 12 of its scientists stranded on a research station (which partially sank) near the North Pole. (Pravda) (BBC)","document":"North Pole-32 (SP-32) drifting station may start being evacuated on March 5, Vladimir Sokolov, the supervisor of the SP-32 scientific expedition, said. He said that the weather conditions may cause the evacuation plans to be changed, however the current weather forecast is quite favorable. A Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter and two Antonov An-74 airplanes are expected to be used to evacuate the expedition team. The helicopter and the planes will fly to Norway's Spitzbergen archipelago in the Barents Sea or a populated locality on Franz-Josef Land on March 5. Then they will leave for SP-32 on March 6. The plan calls for the evacuation of the expedition team on March 6 because a night evacuation is impossible, Mr. Sokolov said. Mr. Sokolov noted that all of the members of the expedition are in good health and that nothing was threatening their lives. The station was crushed by ice in the evening of March 3, and ice blocks subsequently engulfed part of its living quarters and auxiliary premises. Previously, the station was to have completed its work on March 20. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Vladimir Sokolov"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["North Pole-32 (SP-32) drifting station"]},{"role":"Date","values":["March 5"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["The station was crushed by ice in the evening of March 3, and ice blocks subsequently engulfed part of its living quarters and auxiliary premises"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2004 In the United States, EchoStar's Dish Network stops carrying channels owned by Viacom (CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, and others) in a dispute over the pricing of those channels. Both companies have used text crawls and other information to influence viewers to call the opposing company to negotiate price. (NYT) (Dow Jones) (Reuters) (Financial Times) (Motley Fool)","document":"On days when the markets are down and consumer confidence is, too, it pays to step back a bit for perspective. In the cosmic scheme of things, a 1% sell-off in the Nasdaq, while painful, isn't that big a deal. What is? How about a photo taken by the Hubble telescope looking back more than 13 billion years? That's within a few hundred million years of the Big Bang.\nAnd the work's just beginning. According to astronomers, finding the faintest (farthest) objects in this view of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field will be like \"trying to collect the light from a firefly hovering over the moon (really, these guys are poets). They also compared the image to \"looking at the sky through an eight-foot soda straw.\" Finally, something we can relate to -- now what did we do with that eight-foot soda straw.... In today's Motley Fool Take:\nBy Alyce Lomax (TMF Lomax)\nThat old tag line \"I want my MTV\" may be the battle call for customers caught in the middle of a roiling showdown between satellite television provider EchoStar Communications (Nasdaq: DISH) and network owner Viacom (NYSE: VIA). EchoStar yanked off the air all Viacom stations after the two companies couldn't agree on payment hikes, and neither company looks ready to back down.\nChannels that EchoStar customers won't get include such well-known TV real estate as BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and VH-1, as well as the top-rated CBS network. The markets involved are major ones, including New York, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; the move affects 1.6 million EchoStar customers who receive CBS local programming, and all 9.5 million customers who receive the national stations.\nEchoStar's public statement today contained fightin' words, accusing Viacom of \"holding the public airwaves hostage\" by asking for 40% rate increases for its channels; it urged its customers to call Viacom and protest. It's offering a reimbursement of $1 for CBS, and $1 for the rest of the national Viacom stations, for impacted customers -- hardly the kind of discount anyone would really feel at all on their monthly statement. (Heck, it's possible many of us are already pretty disgusted with what we're paying regardless -- Rex Moore recently pointed out rate hikes across the industry.) \nViacom, on the other hand, dismisses EchoStar's move to shut down its channels with an \"easy\" fix for customers. The network provider is suggesting to customers just make the switch to other means of receiving its channels, which include cable providers Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) or Cox Communications (NYSE: COX), satellite archrival DirecTV, owned by Hughes Electronics (NYSE: HS). (Coincidentally, Fool contributor W.D. Crotty wrote about satellite wars yesterday in regard to satellite provider Pegasus Communications (NYSE: PGTV), but who knew this gang was so ready to rumble?)\nAt last check, EchoStar shares were up about 2%, though they've been sagging over recent weeks as this issue -- and the deadline for negotiations -- loomed. The idea that EchoStar's customers will miss out on major channels that are pretty much ubiquitous on rival cable and satellite providers' basic packages is risky. Regardless of which company's wearing the black hat, I have a funny feeling EchoStar customers aren't feeling too sorry for either party right about now.\nAlyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.\nEnough about the housing boom, what about the one you're already paying for? Refinancing can potentially save you hundreds of dollars per month on your mortgage. And who can't handle more cash each month? Our Home Center has all the answers -- except for the one about how they get the peanut butter in a Reese's peanut butter cup. So quit asking!\nBy Jeff Hwang\nWhether it's LeBron or something else entirely, a strong third-quarter profit forecast has Nike (NYSE: NKE) shares hopping.\nNike, which reports results next Thursday, said this morning that third-quarter earnings would jump more than 50% year over year from between $0.71 to $0.74 per share, well ahead of the $0.64 per share analysts estimated. Meanwhile, revenues will gain more than 20%, putting that figure near $2.9 billion.\nThe company attributes the better-than-expected performance to strength in both the U.S. and Asia Pacific regions, as well as a continued benefit from currency exchange rates in Europe. While year-over-year comparisons were helped by the fact that \"prior year revenues were unusually low\" due to the timing of shipments, one thing is clear: Nike is in pretty good shape.\nOne issue awaiting resolution is Nike's soured relationship with Foot Locker (NYSE: FL). However, indications point to warming relations, which investors anticipate could have Nike's high-end shoes back on Foot Locker's shelves in the coming quarters. When that happens, Nike's business in the U.S. could see a further boost.\nGreat as it sounds, the improving business and smoother relationship with Foot Locker are likely priced into the stock's more than 60%, 52-week run-up. After another 3% pop to $76.59 in early afternoon trading today, Nike, like LeBron, has some big expectations to live up to.\nFool contributor Jeff Hwang owns neither of the companies mentioned above. \"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.\" -- Antoine de Saint Exupery\nBy Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMF Edible)\nIt may seem odd to find consistency in an amusement park operator. Between the ups and downs of the cyclical travel industry and disposable income levels, one might expect a wild ride.\nWe've all heard Disney (NYSE: DIS) cry \"Uncle\" and Six Flags (NYSE: PKS) whine about its heavy debt burden when the economy isn't smiling just right. Why then, has fellow operator Cedar Fair (NYSE: FUN) seemed to move forward in good times and bad?\nWhen Cedar Fair sees a wall of worry, it simply builds a thrill ride to scale it. It follows that the company raised its quarterly distribution yesterday, to $0.45 a unit. At yesterday's close, that gives the tax-advantaged limited partnership a yield of 5.2%.\nAt this rate, Cedar Fair will have raised its distribution for 17 consecutive years. Readers of our Income Investor newsletter know all about the beauty of buying into a company that perpetually hikes its payout. In fact, Cedar Fair has raised its quarterly payout 13 times over the past 10 years. Sure, the hikes appear petty at first glance; however, over that decade, the distributions have grown by 80%. Compare that to fixed income investments with flat payouts or money market funds with their paltry interest in recent years, and stomaching some more risk with income-producing equities seems like an appealing alternative.\nConsider paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW), which has hiked its dividend every year since 1979. Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) has done so for 22 straight years. While investors shouldn't turn their backs on high-growth companies that reinvest their earnings to grow their businesses, there are clearly some notables that have managed to excel on both fronts. \nSome can even pack a little octane in the tank. Cedar Fair was one of the earliest recommendations in our newsletter that became Motley Fool Hidden Gems and it has certainly performed well. The units have risen by 40% over the past year, and that's before you tack on the meaty quarterly distributions. Now, that's some ride!\nLongtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz loves his amusement parks. He went to Cedar Fair's Cedar Point last year and will be off to the company's Knott's Berry Farm in California come June. He owns shares of Disney as well as units in Cedar Fair.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["EchoStar Communications (Nasdaq: DISH) and network","Nasdaq","network","Nasdaq"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["New York, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and San Francisco"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the two companies couldn't agree on payment hikes, and neither company looks ready to back down"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2012 Chinese authorities close down the firm handling dissident artist Ai Weiwei's affairs, possibly saving him from paying the remainder of a 15 million yuan tax fine. (The Guardian)","document":"Chinese authorities are closing down the firm handling Ai Weiwei's affairs, the outspoken artist said on Monday, possibly saving him from paying the remainder of a 15m yuan (£1.5m) tax fine.\nThe 55-year-old said he believed he and his team had lost the battle but won the war, after a court rejected his appeal against the charges last week.\nOfficials said this weekend they were removing Fake Cultural Development's business licence because it had not met annual registration requirements. The company has been unable to do so because police confiscated all its materials and its stamp when they detained Ai last year.\n\"I think it could be an excuse not to give us a fine,\" the artist added. Ai's lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan, said it was not clear how Fake could pay the 6.6m yuan outstanding if it had no licence. But he added that he had filed a request for a hearing into its closure.\nAi's supporters have always said the fine and his 81-day detention were in retaliation for his social and political activism, while Chinese authorities insist the case was unrelated to human rights and was solely about tax evasion. He was held amid a broader crackdown on dozens of activists, lawyers and dissidents.\nThousands of supporters sent Ai money to help pay an 8.45m yuan bond, allowing him to challenge the charges. After his appeal was rejected he said he would refuse to pay the rest because he did not recognise the fine, adding that he suspected authorities would be too embarrassed to collect it.\n\"I think they want to back down to try and conclude this case. From the beginning they should not have had it; they were using very old tactics to punish someone and make up a crime to make people think 'He's a bad guy' … That didn't work and it backfired. I think it completely failed,\" he said on Monday.\n\"Of course they didn't like the fact it had gone on so long and could last longer.\"\nAi added that he had mixed feelings about the long-running case.\n\"Of course we have lost the battle – they kept our [tax deposit]. But I think we have won the war. We gave people a clear understanding of what the Fake case was about and how they handled it,\" he said.\nHe said he hoped it would mean that they could not do the same to anyone else.\n\"No great nation should play dirty tricks on its citizens,\" he said.\nChinese authorities could not be contacted as Monday is a public holiday in China. They have made little public comment on his case in the past.\nNicholas Bequelin, senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: \"The tax case against Ai Weiwei was politically motivated from the outset – an 11th-hour pretext pulled out of a hat by the government to justify Ai's unlawful arrest and secret detention for 81 days.\n\"The authorities are dealing with Ai in the time-honoured tradition of making critics 'wear small shoes' as the Chinese expression has it: a never-ending series of petty bureaucratic harassment and administrative vexations designed to wear down its victim.\n\"While Ai may have scored a moral victory in the tax case, the government has yet to restore his freedom to travel, return his passport, lift the tight police monitoring he is the target of, and allow him to resume the civic initiatives that first landed him in trouble, from filming interviews of social activists to pressing for accountability in the collapse of schools during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["firm"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["not met annual registration requirements"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2012 The analogue television service in the Republic of Ireland is switched off at 10.00am. (RTÉ) (Irish Independent)","document":"Ireland's analogue television network has been replaced by a digital signal in line with the rest of Europe.\nThe free-to-air television service, known as Saorview, will provide consumers with a greater choice of channels, better quality pictures and sound and digital Aertel.\nMinister for Communications Pat Rabbitte said the switchover \"heralds the dawn of the digital broadcasting era\" in Ireland.\nHe said the closure of the analogue TV network frees up \"space for mobile broadband services\".\nTo receive Saorview, viewers will need to have purchased a set-top box or a Saorview-approved television.\nRetailers around the country have reported a significant late surge in business.\nFor those who have not made the switch, their screens went blank at 10am.\nAnalogue Aertel will continue to be broadcast on UPC, and for Sky customers who are currently able to receive the signal.\nFollowing today's switchover, Aertel will be available on Saorview and online in a new digital format on www.rte.ie/aertel.\nFor mobile users it is available as usual on m.rte.ie/aertel.\nSaorview queries – 1890-222-012 or www.saorview.ie\nAertel has over 1.2m users on a weekly basis and around 5m page impressions online a month on www.rte.ie/aertel and m.rte.ie/aertel.\nDirector of Production and Operations at RTÉ Digital Tom Grealis said Aertel has an emotive appeal to teletext users who have grown up with the service.\n\"We've taken the best of the service and modernised it on www.rte.ie, while keeping a familiar look and feel that appeals to our traditional users,\" he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Analogue Aertel"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Ireland"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["replaced by a digital signal"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2012 The analogue television service in the Republic of Ireland is switched off at 10.00am. (RTÉ) (Irish Independent)","document":"RTE presenter Miriam O'Callaghan will switch off the analogue broadcasting signal at RTE headquarters in Dublin live on air at 10am today.\n1/1\nRTE presenter Miriam O'Callaghan will switch off the analogue broadcasting signal at RTE headquarters in Dublin live on air at 10am today.\nAideen Sheehan Consumer Correspondent October 24 2012 04:45 AM\nRTE and electrical stores have been hit by a last-minute surge in consumers trying to get ready for today's switch to digital broadcasts.\nBut despite the rush, tens of thousands of households faced blank TV screens when analogue broadcasts were switched off at 10am this morning.\nRTE said it had received a surge of callers this week seeking advice, many of whom had already purchased Saorview-approved set top boxes, but still hadn't tuned them in to pick up digital signals.\nThe station's Saorview helpline will be open until midnight every day this week.\nRTE presenter Miriam O'Callaghan switched off the analogue broadcasting signal at RTE headquarters in Dublin live on air.\nCommunications Minister Pat Rabbitte then welcomed viewers to the new service.\nThe Labour Party minister famously warned those who didn't switch over they would see \"slurry\" on their TV screens.\nMeanwhile, installers and retailers of digital equipment also reported a sudden influx of customers. \"We had one hotel today that has suddenly realised they need to get a set-top box for every room,\" said Tony Moore of satellite.ie.\nElectrical retailer Peats of Parnell Street reported a particular surge in customers purchasing Saorview equipment for second TVs.\n\"While many people already have a satellite or cable TV service for their main TV, a lot have a TV in the kid's bedroom or the kitchen that depends on an aerial, so they need to get a box for that,\" a spokesman said.\n\n\n\n\n\nElectrical chain Harvey Norman said the digital switchover was the biggest advance in home entertainment since the arrival of colour TV, with Saorview boxes costing from €69 in their store and Saorview-ready TVs from €139.\nThe store's Cathal McGee said some consumers were cutting down on costs by installing an all-in-one digital-ready service for around €550 that would give them free Irish and British stations with no ongoing monthly subscription costs.\nRTE said fears about loss of picture during heavy rainfall were unfounded, as viewers would see three or four minutes of disruption a year at most.\nSome 32,000 Irish homes that cannot receive the Saorview signal via aerial will be forced to rely on the satellite alternative Saorsat, which is more prone to disruption from heavy rain, but RTE again said there would be no problem if the right equipment was installed correctly.\n\"The downpours experienced in tropical storms is the type of rain that affects the frequencies used for Saorsat. Other than very occasionally, we do not experience (such) rainfall in Ireland,\" RTE said.\nSome viewers who have switched to Saorsat have reported occasionally losing their picture in bad weather, and the Department of Communications has confirmed that there had been concerns about this in Co Kerry.\nBut RTE insisted: \"We are not aware of any home that has had their Saorsat dish installed by a competent installer having rain-fade related issues.\"\nThe Saorview helpline is available on 1890 222012\nIrish News\nHOUSEHOLDERS in a small village are going to have to install \"unsightly\" satellite dishes to receive any TV signal.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE","RTE"]},{"role":"Date","values":["at 10am today","10"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Dublin","Dublin","Dublin"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2012 Costa Coffee—the world's second–largest coffeehouse chain—pulls out of Totnes, the Devon town that prides itself on having independent shops. (BBC) (ITV) (The Huffington Post)","document":"A national coffee chain has pulled out of a Devon town that prides itself on having independent shops.\nSouth Hams District Council had approved plans by Costa Coffee to open in Fore Street, Totnes.\nBut in a letter, Chris Rogers, managing director of Costa, said the company had \"recognised the strength of feeling\" against national brands in the town.\nThe move, detailed in a letter to \"the people of Totnes\", has been welcomed by campaign group No to Costa.\nThe town boasts 41 independent coffee outlets and is well-known in the South West for its \"alternative\" image, with a resident community of artists, writers, therapists, musicians, and herbalists.\nIn the letter, Mr Rogers said the decision had been made following a discussion with different groups in the town. \"Costa has recognised the strength of feeling in Totnes against national brands and taken into account the specific circumstances of Totnes,\" it said.\nPublic relations analyst Phil Morgan said the decision to pull out of Totnes could benefit Costa in the long-run.\nMr Morgan, of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, said: \"The option would have been to open the branch and face hostility - for an initial period at least - as well as possibly gaining a reputation for ignoring the wishes of people in the towns and cities where they set up shop.\n\"On the face of it, this is a sensible decision for a growing business. Responsiveness is key to building trust and reputation, and as important as the quality of their coffee.\"\nCosta's letter was also signed by Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, and Pruw Boswell, Mayor of Totnes.\nIn the letter, Dr Wollaston and Ms Boswell said: \"As your MP and Mayor, and speaking on behalf of the people of Totnes, we would like to thank Costa for being prepared to listen to our concerns and showing that they care.\"\nPreviously, Ms Boswell said: \"It's so alien to what the town's about.\"\nNo To Costa spent three months petitioning against the planned coffee shop, which was due to take one of the larger retail spaces in the town. It collected more than 5,000 signatures.\nTony Kershaw, from the organisation, said: \"We're happy with the decision Costa has made.\n\"Totnes, as most people know, is pretty independent and different as a town, and we're seeking to protect that.\"\nVarious businesses in the town have said they are at the news.\nRetail guru Mary Portas also congratulated the company on its decision.\nOn Twitter, she said: \"Applaud CostaCoffee for listening to Totnes before opening. Shame South Hams Council didn't b4 granting permission.\"\nBut taxi driver Steve Davey said he and other many other drivers were disappointed.\n\"We are coffee experts,\" he said.\n\"There may be 41 coffee shops in Totnes, but there are only a few that are any good.\n\"We have got Morrisons and a lot of other big retailers in the town.\n\"I can't see the problem with having a Costa Coffee.\"\nTim Jones, of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said the campaign had sent out the wrong signals for the town.\n\"They need to have a reality check on what this is telling the market place,\" he said.\n\"If Totnes is going to grow and thrive it needs to embrace commercial development.\n\"It can't throw these barriers up and isolate itself from the realities of the market place, however well-meaning that might be.\"\nBut Holly Tiffin, from eco-group Transition Town Totnes, said: \"It perhaps sends out a clear message to other chains that this isn't the place to come but it really opens it up for entrepreneurs and local businesses by saying that here you can really set root and flourish.\"\nCosta currently has 19 stores in Devon and employs nearly 200 people as well as sourcing local products.\nIt has more than 1,390 shops across the UK, employing more than 10,000 staff, and another 800 internationally.\nEarlier this month, the coffee shop chain, which is owned by the Whitbread group, reported its 42nd consecutive quarter of growth, with profits of £36.1m.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Chris Rogers"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Costa Coffee","Costa Coffee"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["\"recognised the strength of feeling\" against national brands in the town"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2011 The United Nations withdraws all of its international staff from the capital Tripoli. (BBC) (Al Jazeera)","document":"The UN has withdrawn all its international staff from the Libyan capital Tripoli following a mob attack on its offices.\nUN buildings and some foreign missions were targeted by angry crowds following a Nato air strike that reportedly killed a son of Col Gaddafi.\nThe UN says all its international staff have now left for Tunisia and the decision will be reviewed next week.\nAfter its Tripoli embassy was sacked, the UK expelled the Libyan ambassador.\nA BBC team in Tripoli said the British embassy was completely burnt out with fires still smouldering and paperwork and other debris scattered outside.\nIn other developments, witnesses reported heavy shelling by pro-Gaddafi forces on the port of Misrata on Sunday. The city has been besieged for two months. Libyan state TV said the port was shelled to stop Nato delivering weapons to insurgents but rebels said an aid ship had been trying to unload.\nUK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Libyan ambassador Omar Jelban had been given 24 hours to leave the country.\nBy not protecting diplomatic missions, the Gaddafi regime had \"once again breached its international responsibilities and obligations\", said Mr Hague.\nHe added: \"The attacks against diplomatic missions will not weaken our resolve to protect the civilian population in Libya.\"\nThe Italian foreign ministry condemned the \"acts of vandalism\" on its embassy, describing them as \"grave and vile\". Italy - which closed its embassy in March and is represented by Turkey - recently joined the Nato mission in Libya.\nThere were also protests outside the US mission in Tripoli.\nA UN official said the Libyan government had apologised for the attack on its offices, blaming an angry mob for the damage.\nMost Western governments evacuated staff from Tripoli when an international coalition began air strikes on Libya several weeks ago.\nLate on Saturday, the Libyan government said Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and three of Col Gaddafi's grandchildren had died in a Nato attack on a villa in Tripoli.\nForeign reporters were shown widespread damage to the building in Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.\nNato has insisted its raid targeted a \"command-and-control\" building, and that all Nato targets were \"military in nature\".\nLibyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Col Gaddafi and his wife had been in the building at the time of the attack but they were both unharmed.\nHe said the air strike was against international law and \"a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country\".\nNato is operating in Libya under a strict UN mandate to protect civilians.\nLater on Sunday, Libyan state TV said funerals for Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and the other victims would be held on Monday after noon prayers.\nThe BBC's Christian Fraser witnessed the damage and said that if Col Gaddafi had been there, it is hard to imagine he could have walked away unscathed.\nRussia expressed \"serious doubts\" that the West was not targeting Col Gaddafi and his family.\n\"The claims of the coalition members that strikes over Libya do not have the physical destruction of Muammar Gaddafi and members of his family as their goal cause serious doubts,\" a statement from the foreign ministry said.\nIn the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, shots were fired in celebration following reports that Saif al-Arab Gaddafi had been killed.\nHowever, the claims were also treated with scepticism.\nMahmoud Shammam, spokesman for the anti-Gaddafi Transitional National Council (TNC) based in Benghazi, told al-Jazeera he believed it was \"a ploy to fish for people's sympathy\".\nKhaled al-Urfi, a resident of the rebel-held western city of Misrata, told AP news agency: \"We don't know if it is true or not because Gaddafi is a liar. I will only believe it if you put the body in front of me.\"\nOn Saturday, Nato officials said the alliance would not consider talks until government forces stopped attacks on civilians.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The UN","UN","UN","UN","UN"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Libyan capital Tripoli"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a mob attack on its offices","offices"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2011 Vietnam closes off an ethnic Hmong area that was the scene of rare protests demanding autonomy and religious freedom. (BBC) (AFP via Google News)","document":"Vietnam has sealed off the scene of a rare protest by thousands of ethnic minority Hmong in a remote north-eastern mountainous area, reports say.\nIt comes after army units were sent in to quash the demonstration for greater autonomy, which started on 30 April.\nSoldiers are stopping people leaving or entering the Dien Bien region, and electricity and telecommunications have reportedly been cut. It is the most serious ethnic unrest in Vietnam for seven years, analysts say.\nVietnam's communist rulers keep a tight control on dissent and protests of any kind are extremely rare.\nSome 5,000-7,000 people have been involved in the unrest, according to a diplomatic source cited by the Reuters news agency. The demands of the protesting Hmong - who are mostly Christians - include more religious freedom, better land rights and more autonomy. The Dien Bien region, which borders Laos, is one of Vietnam's most remote, making it difficult to verify reports.\nA local official told the BBC's Vietnamese service on Wednesday that the authorities had tried to negotiate with the demonstrators.\nBut several officials had been taken hostage by the protesters, he said. It is unclear whether they have been released.\nA military source quoted by the AFP news agency said the army had sent reinforcements and \"had to disperse the crowd by force\".\nHe said there had been \"minor clashes\", but did not say whether there had been any casualties. \"The situation is still being resolved by all levels of party and government so that the lives of the compatriots there can return to stability at an early time,\" foreign affairs spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga told Reuters.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["ethnic minority Hmong"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Dien Bien region","Dien Bien region"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Vietnam's communist rulers keep a tight control on dissent and protests of any kind are extremely rare","Vietnam","Vietnam"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2021 British chocolate maker Thorntons announces it will be permanently closing down all of its stores, with the loss of about 600 jobs, thereby ending its 110-year presence on the high street. The company says it has been massively hit by the pandemic lockdowns and adds that high street conditions are too severe to continue. The company will continue sales online and through supermarkets. (BBC)","document":"Chocolate maker Thorntons has said none of its stores will reopen after coronavirus lockdowns are lifted.\nThe decision to close its 61 shops will put more than 600 jobs at risk.\nThe company said it had been badly hit by the pandemic, which forced its stores to shut their doors during the crucial Christmas and Easter holidays.\n\"The obstacles we have faced and will continue to face on the High Street are too severe,\" said Thorntons retail director Adam Goddard.\n\"Despite our best efforts we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail store estate.\"\nThorntons has been on the High Street for more than a century but these days history isn't enough to guarantee survival. It was losing its way in the early 2000s with newer players, like Hotel Chocolat, entering the scene. It also embarked on a strategy of selling more chocolates through supermarkets and closing unprofitable shops. Italian food giant Ferrero bought the business in 2015 and has been trying to turn it around ever since. Over the last five years, it's shrunk from 252 to 61 stores. But Ferrero has now thrown in the towel on Thorntons stores altogether, betting that the brand's future is now online and on the supermarket shelves. This pandemic has created brutal trading conditions for so many traditional retailers. And the high street shakeout is still far from over. Thorntons said it had spent £45m transforming the business with changes to the way stores operate and the introduction of new cafes but its plans had been thrown off course by the pandemic.\nThe company, which was founded in Sheffield in 1911, said it would continue to sell its chocolate online and try to sell more through supermarkets.\nSince the beginning of the crisis, sales through its website have increased by more than 70% compared to the previous year, it said. It will also try to expand the range of products made at its factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire and increase international sales.\nIn 2011, Thorntons announced plans to massively reduce the number of stores it had on the High Street and in shopping centres.\nIt said it would close up to 180 of the 364 stores it had at the time, following a strategic review.\nSince then, the number of stores has dwindled to 61.\nIn 2015, Italian food giant Ferrero bought the chocolate chain for £112m.\nIn a statement, the company said: \"We remain committed to this iconic British brand and will continue to invest further in the future potential of Thorntons to ensure we evolve with the times.\"\nThorntons is just the latest well-known name to suffer the impact that rolling lockdowns have had on the High Street as more people take to shopping online.\nMore than 17,500 chain stores and other venues closed in Great Britain last year, according to figures from the Local Data Company. That is an average rate of 48 closures a day.\nLast week, department store chain John Lewis announced plans to close more stores. Other casualties have included PSir Philip Green's retail empire, Arcadia, which included Topshop and Dorothy Perkins.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Adam Goddard"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons","Thorntons"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Sheffield"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["it had been badly hit by the pandemic, which forced its stores to shut their doors during the crucial Christmas and Easter holidays","pandemic","stores","stores"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2021 French energy company Total SE ceases operations and evacuates all of its staff from its power plant in the Cabo Delgado Province, after IS-CAP insurgents infiltrate a security perimeter surrounding the liquefied natural gas reserves where the plant is located. (TRT World)","document":"French energy giant Total has shut its operations and withdrawn all staff from a site in northern Mozambique following last week's deadly militant attack in the area, security sources said.\n\"Total has gone,\" a security source in Maputo told AFP news agency, while a military source said separately that \"all the facilities are abandoned. Total made a decision to evacuate all of its staff.\"\nThe company pulled all its staff and shut its Afungi natural gas project site amid ongoing clashes between Daesh-linked insurgents and the Mozambican military, sources with direct knowledge of the Afungi site's operations told Reuters news agency.\nTotal, which last week called off a planned resumption of construction at the $20 billion development due to the violence, declined immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.\nThe situation around Palma is still highly volatile, with insurgents staging attacks on two security posts south of the town on Thursday, a source involved in providing support for humanitarian organisations on the ground told Reuters.\nAuthorities have confirmed dozens of deaths in the assault by the insurgents that began last week in the coastal town of Palma, in a district near gas projects worth billions of dollars meant to transform Mozambique's economy.\n\nArmy's assurance to Total\nEarlier on Friday, a Mozambique army spokesman was quoted as saying in a radio report that the Total project is beyond the reach of militants.\n\"It is protected... At no time was its integrity at stake,\" Radio Mozambique quoted army spokesman Chongo Vidigal as saying about Total's project on the Afungi Peninsula near Palma.\nRadio Mozambique added in its report published late on Thursday that the area around the Total project was being patrolled day and night to repel any threat.\nMozambique's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.\nReuters has not been able to independently verify the accounts from Palma. Most means of communication were cut off after the attack began on March 24.\nTotal's project is among ones worth a combined $60 billion that would reshape the economy of the southern African country. Mozambique's gross domestic product was around $15 billion in 2019, according to World Bank data.\nInsurgents have been increasingly active in the surrounding province of Cabo Delgado since 2017, although it is unclear whether they have a unified aim or what specifically they are fighting for.\n\nHumanitarian crisis\nMore than 900,000 people in Mozambique now require food aid because of the crisis in the northern part of the country, according to the UN World Food Program.\n\"It is a fast-evolving conflict situation and large numbers of people are fleeing through the bush, with nothing, nothing by the clothes on their backs,\" Lola Castro, the regional director for WFP told The Associated Press. \n\"This humanitarian crisis is not going away, it’s increasing.\"\nAt least 9,150 people have arrived in other districts of Cabo Delgado since the attack began, with thousands more believed displaced within the Palma district, the United Nations said on Friday.\n\"The new wave of displacement has uprooted many people who had fled their places of origin due to the conflict in other parts of Cabo Delgado and had been seeking shelter in Palma,\" it said, adding the majority of those displaced were being accommodated by host families.\n\n.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Total","Total","Total"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["northern Mozambique"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["last week's deadly militant attack in the area"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2021 The United States Armed Forces announces that Camp 7 at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp will close. (The Independent)","document":"File: US Military Police guard Taliban and al Qaeda detainees in orange jumpsuits in January, 2002\nThe US military has shut down the once-secretive “Camp 7” at its notorious terror suspect detention facility Guantanamo Bay, moving some of its most high-profile prisoners to the main part of the compound.\nThe transfer took place “safely and without incident”, the US South Command said in a statement on Sunday, as part of an effort to consolidate all detainees from three to two detention units within the prison in order to “increase operational efficiency and effectiveness” and reduce operational costs.\nCamp 7 was one of Guantánamo’s most secretive sites, housing high-value suspects including those connected to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and other former CIA prisoners, according to reports. It was a maximum-security facility and one of the “black sites” maintained by the US around the world.\nThe Pentagon has long refused to disclose its details, including when it was built or even acknowledge the location of Camp 7. Reporters have never been allowed to visit it and lawyers were required to get an order from a court to visit the classified location.\nAccording to officials, Camp 7 was suffering structural issues as sewage water poured through the tiers, as well as frequent power cuts. The Pentagon abandoned plans to seek funding to repair and renovate the unit.\nRead more:\nOn Sunday, the military said all 40 suspects, including 11 who have been charged with war crimes, had been consolidated into Camps 6 and 5 – compounds ringed with razor wire and containing two prison buildings.\nThose shifted from Camp 7 included Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind 9/11 attacks, and five others who supported the planning and execution of deadly attacks on Pentagon.\nThe plan to consolidate the prisons was being pursued under former president Donald Trump’s administration. The Biden administration intends to shut down the whole Guantanamo Bay facility permanently, but the move needs approval from Congress.\nOutside view of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba\nWhite House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: “There are many players from different agencies who need to be part of this policy discussion about the steps forward.” She said a “robust“ review would be held into the matter.\nThe prison was designed to keep detainees confined in their cells, limiting movement to taking showers or being placed in other cells for recreational purposes, accompanied by guards. The prisoners in Camp 7 were limited from talking to each other and only allowed conversations with one other prisoner at a time through a tarp, during recreation periods. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Camp 7","Camp 7","Camp 7","Camp 7","Camp 7"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Guantanamo Bay","Guantanamo Bay","Guantanamo Bay"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["“increase operational efficiency and effectiveness” and reduce operational costs"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2017 President Donald Trump disbands both the Strategic and Policy Forum and American Manufacturing Council in response to the CEO resignations. (BBC) (Business Insider)","document":"President Trump has said he is scrapping two business councils after more bosses quit over his handling of violent clashes in Virginia. Business leaders left the White House manufacturing council after the backlash against how he reacted to the far-right rally last weekend.\nThe clashes culminated in a woman's death and nearly 20 wounded when a car ploughed into a crowd of anti-fascists.\nMr Trump's reaction has sparked outrage and generated global headlines.\nHis announcement on Twitter came as the heads of 3M, Campbell Soup, Johnson & Johnson and United Technologies announced their resignations on Wednesday.\nMr Trump said: \"Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both.\"\nBefore Mr Trump's announcement, the Strategy and Policy Forum announced it was a joint decision to disband the council. Businesses have been under pressure to distance themselves from Mr Trump over his handling of the clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.\nOn Monday, Mr Trump belatedly condemned the white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups that rallied in a small Virginia town on Sunday. But in a rancorous news conference on Tuesday he backtracked and again blamed left-wing counter-protesters for the violence too. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, a member of the Strategy and Policy Forum, released a separate statement on Wednesday saying he strongly disagreed with Mr Trump's recent statements, adding that \"fanning divisiveness is not the answer\". \"Constructive economic and regulatory policies are not enough and will not matter if we do not address the divisions in our country. It is a leader's role, in business or government, to bring people together, not tear them apart,\" he said. Denise Morrison of Campbell Soup Co said she could not continue to participate in the advisory panel after Mr Trump's comments. Activists had called on Campbell Soup, among other firms, to take action.\nAnthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter\nThe calculus for business leaders working with the Trump administration has changed quickly.\nAfter the Charlottesville violence, Ken Frazier of Merck abandoned the president's manufacturing council and quickly drew the president's Twitter ire. At that point there was some media speculation - through unnamed \"corporate leaders\" - that the wise move would be to wait out the storm rather than pick a fight with the president.\nCompanies like Boeing and General Motors had tangled with the president in the past, and they (and their stock prices) generally ended up the worse for it.\nThis time was different. As more corporate chiefs headed to the exit, the riskier move - from a business as well as political perspective - became staying put. The president, despite further tweets and verbal swipes, was unable to staunch the bleeding. His rhetorical gymnastics on the Charlottesville situation only made matters worse.\nIn the corporate world, there's always talk of \"leading indicators\" - tell-tale signs that help predict what's to come. Is the collapse of the Trump regime's corporate entente a sign his fortunes are in a tailspin? Or is the man who ascended to the presidency without their help perfectly capable of staying there now that they've abandoned him?\nFor every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!\nThe president was under pressure to explicitly condemn white supremacists who were behind Saturday's far-right rally, where violent clashes left a woman dead and nearly 20 people injured.\nThe rally, supported by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, was in protest of the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee, a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. But Mr Trump reversed course on Tuesday and instead appeared to defend the rally's organisers. He condemned the driver of the car who rammed into a crowd of counter protesters and killed a woman, but said those who had marched in defence of the statue had included \"many fine people\".\nMr Trump's remarks were welcomed by David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.\nAt a memorial service in Charlottesville for Heather Heyer, who was killed in the weekend clashes, her mother delivered a powerful message.\n\"They killed my child to shut her up. Well guess what, you just magnified her,\" she said before the crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has faced accusations of racism in the past, said the government may press hate crime charges against the man accused of driving his car and killing Ms Heyer.\nSpeaking in Miami about undocumented immigration, he said: \"In no way can we accept or apologise for racism, bigotry, hatred, violence, and those kind of things that too often arise in our county\". Vice-President Mike Pence, who has been on a diplomatic tour of South America, said he was cutting his trip short to return to the US after a visit to Panama. He told reporters travelling with him that he stands by Mr Trump's words.\nFormer CIA director John Brennan said in a letter to CNN that Mr Trump's words are \"despicable\", \"dangerous\" and \"a national disgrace\".\nHe added that \"we will not allow the few to divide the many\".\nTwo Republican ex-presidents also weighed in. In remarks implicitly critical of President Trump, George HW Bush and son George W Bush called on the US to \"reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms\".\nTheir joint statement adds to a growing chorus of Republicans condemning Mr Trump's opinions on race.\n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump","Mr Trump"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum","manufacturing council","Policy Forum","Strategy","Policy Forum","manufacturing council","Manufacturing Council"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["more bosses quit over his handling of violent clashes in Virginia","handling","Virginia","Virginia","violent clashes"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2007 Topps Meat Company announces that it is going out of business as a result of recalling 21.7 million pounds of beef in the United States linked to 30 cases of E. coli–related illness. (Reuters)","document":"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Topps Meat Co LLC announced on Friday it was going out of business, crushed by the recall of 21.7 million pounds of beef linked to 30 cases of E. coli-related illness.\n“In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large,” Anthony D’Urso, chief operating officer, said in a statement.\nIt was the fifth-largest meat or poultry recall in U.S. history, the Agriculture Department said. But no deaths have been reported due to the outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7, which can cause diarrhea and dehydration.\nThe government, which has been criticized for moving slowly on the recall last month, has pledged to step up its oversight of U.S. beef plants and respond more quickly in the future.\nIn its statement, Topps said a “small number” of employees would continue work at a plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in part to assist USDA in an investigation.\n“This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone,” D’Urso said.\nJim Robb, an economist at the Livestock Marketing Information Center, said he did not expect any long-term consumer reaction to the large recall or a major movement in commodity markets.\n“But, every time you lose a processor, it has some reverberations,” he said.\nReporting by Brad Dorfman and Bob Burgdorfer in Chicago and Missy Ryan in Washington\nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.\nAll quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.\nExclusive: Fed’s Neel Kashkari opposes rate hikes at least through 2023 as the central bank becomes more hawkish","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Anthony D’Urso"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Topps Meat Co LLC"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["crushed by the recall of 21.7 million pounds of beef linked to 30 cases of E. coli-related illness"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2007 The Prime Minister of Australia John Howard asks the Governor–General of Australia Michael Jeffery to dissolve the Parliament of Australia and call an election on 24 November. (ABC News Australia) (ABC News Australia)","document":"\nPrime Minister John Howard has arrived at Government House in Canberra and he is shortly expected to end the speculation about an election date.\nMr Howard will meet with Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery and ask him to dissolve Parliament.\nIt is not clear how long the campaign will run, but a six-week election with polling day on November 24 is widely tipped.\nOnce Mr Howard has spoken to the Governor-General he is expected to announce the election details at a media conference later today.\nThe election is likely to be fought in the key areas of health, education, the economy, but also climate change and national security.\nThe Labor Party need to win an extra 16 seats outright to claim a majority government.\nThe Coalition has had a string of poor opinion polls, a recent Newspoll showed Labor with an election-winning lead over the Coalition, with 56 per cent of the vote after preferences, compared with 44 per cent for the Government.\nWe acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.\nThis service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.\nAEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Michael Jeffery"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Parliament"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Canberra"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"July_2013 A 4,000–year–old pyramid at El Paraíso in Peru is destroyed by property developers. (BBC News)","document":"Authorities in Peru say an ancient pyramid at the oldest archaeological site near the capital, Lima, has been destroyed. They are pressing criminal charges against two real-estate companies blamed for tearing down the structure, which was 6m (20-ft) high.\nAn archaeologist said those responsible had committed \"irreparable damage\".\nThe building was one of 12 pyramids found at the El Paraiso complex and is thought to be at least 4,000 years old.\nThe site, which dates back to the Late Preceramic (3500-1800 BC) period, is situated several kilometres north of Lima. According to Peru's tourism ministry, it was a religious and administrative centre long before the pre-Columbian Inca civilisation.\nRafael Varon, deputy minister of cultural patrimony, said the destruction had taken place over the weekend. He said company workers using heavy machinery had attempted to destroy three further pyramids, but had been stopped by onlookers.\nMr Varon said criminal complaints had been lodged against two companies.\nMarco Guilen, director of an excavation project at El Paraiso, told Associated Press news agency the people who tore down the pyramid \"have committed irreparable damage to a page of Peruvian history\".\n\"We are not going to be able to know in what ways it was constructed, what materials were used in it and how the society in that part of the pyramid behaved.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["weekend"]},{"role":"Location","values":["near the capital, Lima","Lima"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["\"irreparable damage\"","irreparable damage"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2013 Egyptian security forces clear a Cairo mosque after a long stand-off with the Muslim Brotherhood. (Reuters), (BBC)","document":"Egypt's security forces have cleared a Cairo mosque after a long stand-off with Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded inside, state media says.\nAll the protesters have now been taken out of the mosque, and many have been arrested, security forces say.\nThe confrontation at the al-Fath mosque continued for most of Saturday - with exchanges of gunfire between security forces and protesters.\nMeanwhile the interim PM has proposed legally dissolving the Brotherhood.\nThe group supports the ousted President Mohammed Morsi, and wants him to be reinstated.\nDespite being closely allied to Mr Morsi's government, the Brotherhood has always technically been a banned organisation - it was officially dissolved by Egypt's military rulers in 1954 - but it recently registered itself as a non-governmental organisation.\nIf it was legally dissolved, its property and assets could be seized.\nThe Brotherhood has called for daily demonstrations since a crackdown on its protest camps in Cairo on Wednesday left hundreds of people dead. Further clashes on Friday killed at least another 173 people.\nDemonstrators went out onto the streets of several Egyptian cities on Saturday night, in defiance of an overnight curfew.\nTelevision pictures showed protesters in Egypt's second largest city, Alexandria, and in Helwan and Minya to the south of Cairo. Army tanks have also been seen near the coastal road in Alexandria. Egypt's interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi believes the recent protests are \"terrorist acts\", according to his spokesman, Sharif Shawqi.\nMr Shawqi told a televised news conference on Saturday that the Muslim Brotherhood's return to power was impossible.\nThe stand-off began overnight, when the al-Fath mosque - which was being used as a makeshift clinic for the injured and morgue for the dead from clashes on Friday - turned instead into what correspondents describe as a fortress.\nBrotherhood members barricaded themselves inside, using anything at their disposal.\nIt turned into a scene of chaos. Tear gas was fired into the building, and security forces exchanged fire with at least one gunman in the minaret. Mohammed al-Zawahiri was detained at a checkpoint in Giza, near Cairo, because of his links to Mr Morsi, according to security officials. Al-Jazeera television called one woman inside the mosque on her mobile phone as the shooting began.\n\"Nobody here is safe, they are shooting inside the mosque,\" she said, with loud firing heard in the background.\nEgyptian police have been bringing some Morsi supporters out of the building - leading some, dragging others - but are then having to protect them from angry mobs armed with bats and pieces of wood who are trying to attack them, correspondents say.\nMany of the protesters have now been arrested. State TV is showing lines of detained people kneeling on the floor of the mosque with security forces around them.\nThe BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo says the authorities want to secure all buildings to avoid a repeat of Muslim Brotherhood supporters forming more camps, as they did after Mr Morsi was ousted.\nBut away from the mosque, the rest of the capital remained mainly calm on Saturday, correspondents say - with shops and cafes open for business.\nSeparately, the Egyptian authorities say they have arrested the brother of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.\nMohammed al-Zawahiri was detained at a checkpoint in Giza, near Cairo, because of his links to Mr Morsi, according to security officials. Also on Saturday, the Muslim Brotherhood said on its Facebook page that Ammar Badie, the son of the movement's spiritual leader, General Guide Mohamed Badie, was one of those killed during protests on Friday.\nThe Brotherhood said that Ammar Badie, 38, had died of a bullet wound in Ramses Square on Friday.\nThe secretary-general of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, Mohammed al-Beltagi, says his 17-year-old daughter, Asmaa, died in earlier protests.\nSaturday's violence comes after days of unrest in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt.\nThe escalation in tensions began on Wednesday, when armoured bulldozers moved into the two Cairo protest camps which had been occupied by pro-Morsi activists since he was ousted on 3 July.\nThe camps were eventually cleared, but not before at least 638 people were killed. Mobs later carried out reprisal attacks on government buildings and police stations as well as churches belonging to the country's Coptic Christian minority.\nOn Friday, hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters gathered in Ramses Square for a \"march of anger\" about the bloodshed earlier in the week. Setback \n","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cairo mosque"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Egypt","Egypt","Egypt","Egypt","Egypt"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a long stand-off with Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded inside"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2010 General Motors confirms it will close an Opel factory in Antwerp, Belgium, cutting 2,300 jobs. (BBC)","document":"General Motors (GM) has confirmed it will close a Belgian plant at its European arm Opel, cutting 2,300 jobs.\nThe CSC metalworkers' union said the carmaker had told staff it would shut down its factory in Antwerp. \"It is the tough reality of the current business environment,\" Opel president Nick Reilly said. GM also said 8,300 jobs would be cut across Europe - less than it had previously estimated - with 4,000 to be lost in Germany alone. In November, GM had said that it would cut about 9,000 jobs in Europe, after cancelling its planned sale of Opel to Canadian car parts maker Magna. Reduce capacity\nThe company said it needs to cut Opel's capacity by 20%. \"We have to take a plant out and unfortunately it is Antwerp,\" Mr Reilly said. In its November announcement, GM had said that as well as the Belgian job cuts, some 5,425 jobs in Germany and 900 from its Zaragoza plant in Spain would also go. In the UK, GM has cut 354 jobs at its Vauxhall plant in Luton, but has stated that there would be no cuts at its Ellesmere Port plant, which makes the Vauxhall Astra. GM has also failed to sell its Swedish car brand Saab and is starting to wind down the operation, though some buyers have still expressed interest in it. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Nick Reilly"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Opel","Opel"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Antwerp"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the tough reality of the current business environment"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2010 A girls' boarding school dormitory in KwaZulu–Natal is shut down due to widespread lesbian activity. (BBC)","document":"South African education officials are investigating reports that a girls' boarding school dormitory was closed because of lesbian relationships.\nTwo girls who were caught kissing reportedly said that other pupils were involved in same-sex relationships, and 27 pupils were expelled. Rights activists say the high school in KwaZulu-Natal province has overreacted. South Africa is the only African country to guarantee freedom from discrimination to homosexuals. However, activists say that prejudice remains common. The school has not been named. The Star newspaper says some of the pupils who have not been able to return home have been moved to houses near the school on a temporary basis. Education Department spokesman Sihle Mlotshwa is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying that schools do not have the right to remove or expel pupils because of their sexual orientation.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["girls' boarding school"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["KwaZulu-Natal"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["lesbian relationships"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2014 Radio Shack announces the closure of up to 1,100 stores. (USA Today)","document":"RadioShack said Tuesday that it will close up to a fifth of its nearly 5,200 U.S. stores amid widening losses in an effort to remake itself for a more competitive era of electronics retailing\nUp to 1,100 poorly performing stores are slated for closure, but the company did not identify their locations, set a deadline or say how many employees would be affected. The company must negotiate with landlords and seek approval from lenders before carrying out its plan. RadioShack has been trying to revamp its stores for the past year.\nYet some analysts say the retailer faces an uphill climb as it struggles to compete against larger big-box stores such as Best Buy.\nRadioShack stock (RSH) fell 17% to close at $2.25 a share in regular trading Tuesday.\nIn the fourth quarter, the company lost $191.4 million, or $1.90 a share. Revenue fell 20% from the same period in 2012 to $935 million. Sales at stores open at least a year were down 19%, in part because of weak sales in the mobile phone business. For the year, the company lost about $400 million, vs. $139 million in 2012.\n\"We were trying to do too much too quickly\" to turn around the company, RadioShack CEO Joseph Magnacca told analysts on a conference call. Among other problems, he said the company cut some product lines \"too deeply\" and didn't have enough in-demand products in stock.\nAnalyst Scott Tilghman of B. Riley & Co. estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 employees will be affected by the store closings, though some of those workers likely would be moved to other locations.\nMagnacca said the closures will affect lower-performing stores that were expected to lose money over the next year. He said the company is \"overstored\" in some markets, with multiple outlets within miles of each other.\nTilghman agreed that the company had to shut down its worst-performing stores to stay afloat. But the closings will partly negate its chief competitive advantage — convenient locations. \"You lose some of that convenience store aspect they've relied on,\" he says. \"You have to pass a RadioShack on the way to the grocer. If all of a sudden that store is closed, I'm not going to another RadioShack.\"\nMagnacca said the company's turnaround hinges largely on a knowledgeable sales force that big-box retailers typically lack who can guide customers through a bewildering array of new electronics devices. Over the past year, the retailer has opened about two dozen \"concept stores\" that sport open, gleaming designs and let customers interact with products. It plans to roll out such outlets more widely.\nHe said RadioShack wants to parlay such assets to sell solutions in an increasingly complex environment in which mobile phones, tablets and other devices are often linked. It also wants to roll out more private-label products, such as headphones and speakers.\n\"We're really dialing up the experience in our stores and differentiating ourselves from big-box retailers,\" Magnacca said. He added that the company's strength lies \"in the power of our people.\"\n\"The RadioShack turnaround will take time, and results will vary,\" Magnacca said. \"We believe our fourth-quarter\" results do not reflect the progress the company is making.\nSeveral years ago, RadioShack drew customers who sought one-stop-shopping for mobile phones. But Tilghman says Best Buy and others increasingly offer that. And, he says, Best Buy has upped the ante, improving its customer service with \"store within a store\" displays for brands such as Samsung and Microsoft.\nMeanwhile, he says, RadioShack's average 2,400-square-foot outlets are too small to offer the wide product variety consumers seek. Its private label products, he said, will likely struggle as shoppers place a higher premium on branded offerings.\nThe chain traditionally has been able to charge higher prices for more personalized service. But Tilghman says the ability of consumers to find the lowest prices on the Internet has cast doubt on such a strategy.\n\"They need a traffic driver,\" he says, citing the need for consumers to buy converter boxes or digital TVs during the transition from analog to digital broadcasting several years ago.\nAnalyst Michael Pachter at Wedbush Securities is not bullish on the retailer. \"I think they won't be in business in a year,\" he says, adding the company doesn't have the money to finance the kind of turnaround it needs to win back customers. \"I think that they are doing everything right — they're just doing it 10 years too late.\"\nThe company made light of its stodgy image in Super Bowl ads that featured 1980s celebrities or characters including Hulk Hogan, Mary Lou Retton and Alf.\nMagnacca called the ad \"exactly the kind of disruptive marketing we need to change the conversation,\" noting it drew top ratings from USA TODAY's Ad Meter.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Joseph Magnacca"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack","RadioShack"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["widening losses in an effort to remake itself for a more competitive era of electronics retailing"]}]}
+{"title":"Large Shopping Malls in Bangkok Will Be Closed until July 25th","document":"Shopping malls under the Mall Group, including all branches of The Mall, the Emporium, Emquartier and Paragon Department Store, are also closed for 14 days, from today, except for supermarkets, food courts, pharmacy shops, eateries (take-out and delivery only), banks, mobile phone shops and vaccination sites. Published on By BANGKOK (NNT) – Large-scale shopping malls in Bangkok and in some dark-red zone provinces are now closed for two weeks, to comply with the latest COVID-19 curbs in 10 provinces. Central Department Store said a total of 16 branches, except Tops supermarkets and Central Food Halls, will be closed from today (Monday) until July 25th to help curb the soaring COVID-19 infection rate. They are Chidlom, Central World, Silom Complex, Chaeng Wattana, Lat Phrao, Bang Na, Pinklao, Mega Bang Na, Rama III, Rama II, East Ville, Future Park Rangsit, Westgate, Salaya, Ram-Intra and Festival Hat Yai. Tops supermarkets and Central Food Halls at these premises will remain open, from 8am to 8pm, while eateries (take-out and delivery only), banks, pharmacies and mobile phone shops are also open. Shopping malls under the Mall Group, including all branches of The Mall, the Emporium, Emquartier and Paragon Department Store, are also closed for 14 days, from today, except for supermarkets, food courts, pharmacy shops, eateries (take-out and delivery only), banks, mobile phone shops and vaccination sites. IKEA Bang Na and IKEA Bang Yai announced they will close from today until further notice. IKEA Phuket remains open as usual. Information and SourceReporter : Subhabhong RarueysongRewriter : Tarin AngskulNational News Bureau & Public Relations : http://thainews.prd.go.th Thailand’s H1 Investment Applications rise 158% in combined value, BOI says Downside risks loom for Thai economy due to Prolonged COVID-19 Outbreak Economic growth rates in Asia-Pacific are broadly rebounding and debt burdens stabilizing, giving rise to a stable outlook for sovereign creditworthiness in 2022. Still, the pace of recovery differs vastly, and some economies will experience deep economic scarring, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service. Published on By Economic growth rates in Asia-Pacific are broadly rebounding and debt burdens stabilizing, giving rise to a stable outlook for sovereign creditworthiness in 2022. Still, the pace of recovery differs vastly, and some economies will experience deep economic scarring, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service. Published on By BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s economy hit its slowest pace of growth in a year in the third quarter, hurt by power shortages, supply chain bottlenecks and major wobbles in the property market and raising pressure on policymakers to do more to prop up the faltering recovery. Bangkok, 16 November, 2021 – Maya Bay in Krabi’s Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park is expected to... The British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss has been on a visit to ASEAN as she tries to boost British trade... The tourism industry contributes 12 percent of GDP and the government views this industry as an indispensable path towards economic... Bangkok, 11 November, 2021 – Doi Inthanon National Park – home to Thailand’s highest peak – in Chom Thong district... Bangkok, 11 November, 2021 – According to the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, there were a total...","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["all branches of The Mall, the Emporium, Emquartier and Paragon Department Store","Mall","Mall","Emporium","Emquartier","Paragon Department Store","Chidlom, Central World, Silom Complex, Chaeng Wattana, Lat Phrao, Bang Na, Pinklao, Mega Bang Na, Rama III, Rama II, East Ville, Future Park Rangsit, Westgate, Salaya, Ram-Intra and Festival Hat Yai","Bang Na","IKEA Bang Na and IKEA Bang Yai"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for 14 days","today (Monday) until July 25th"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bangkok","BANGKOK","Bangkok","Bangkok","Bangkok"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["comply with the latest COVID-19 curbs"]}]}
+{"title":"Concert commemorating Tulsa race massacre canceled","document":"People wave and a woman stops to photograph the longest living known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre at the 2021 Black Wall Street Legacy Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S., May 28, 2021. TULSA, Okla., May 28 (Reuters) - Tulsa Massacre centennial organizers have canceled a Monday event, citing a sudden hike in financial gifts requested for three survivors of the slaughter that decimated the city's affluent African-American district of Greenwood. Kevin Matthews, chair of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, told reporters on Friday organizers had included the centenarian victims in plans for an afternoon of speeches and performances, with gifts of $100,000 per survivor and $2 million in seed money for a reparations coalition fund. But on Sunday, a lawyer for the victims increased the request to $1 million per survivor and $50 million for the fund, said Matthews, an Oklahoma state senator from Tulsa. \"We could not respond to those demands.\" A lawyer for the victims did not respond to repeated requests for comment. \"Due to unexpected circumstances with entertainers and speakers the Centennial Commission is unable to fulfill our high expectations for Monday afternoon's commemoration event,\" Phil Armstrong, project director of the commission, said in a statement on Friday. Monday's \"Remember + Rise\" event had been slated to include a performance by award-winning musician John Legend and a speech by politician and activist Stacey Abrams. Armstrong said organizers hoped to reschedule the event later in the year. A candlelight vigil is still scheduled to take place as Tulsa commemorates the massacre with events in May and June. After the arrest of an African-American man accused of assaulting a white woman, an allegation that was never proven, white rioters, some of whom were deputized by local authorities, gunned down Black residents and torched homes and businesses. An estimated 300 people were killed and thousands were made homeless by the destruction. After the massacre, insurance companies refused to pay damages to the victims, citing riot clauses. No one was ever prosecuted or punished for the mob's violent acts. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox. Fresh from signing his signature bipartisan infrastructure bill, U.S. President Joe Biden will trek to New Hampshire, a key state in the 2022 midterms, on Tuesday to tout the bill's benefits and revive the party's slumping poll numbers. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["commemoration event"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["sudden hike in financial gifts requested for three survivors of the slaughter"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 outbreaks force 3 Quebec schools to close this week, including 2 in Montreal","document":"Three schools in Quebec have had to close this week due to COVID-19 outbreaks, including two in Montreal. Saint-Émile elementary school, which is located in the city's Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie borough, will remain closed until next Tuesday. The size of the school's outbreak is unclear. In a letter sent by Montreal Public Health, and obtained by Radio-Canada, local officials told pupils' parents that there had been a rapid increase in cases recently. Students and staff have been asked to get tested and to advise the school of the results. Sainte-Odile elementary school, which is located in the city's Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough and has 530 students, also closed this week after several COVID-19 cases were detected among students. Students are expected back in class next Monday. Both Sainte-Odile and Saint-Émile are schools with the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal. The Coeur-Immaculé elementary school, which is in Sherbrooke, Que., reopened on Wednesday after being closed for two days. However, students from eight classrooms remain isolated at home. In its latest projections regarding the spread of COVID-19, Quebec's provincial health institute — known by its French acronym INESSS — said the number of cases among people who are 17 and younger are on the rise even though the overall daily case totals have been stable. \"The effects of the return to school are increasingly visible,\" read the statement from the institute, which also projected an increase in the number of new hospitalizations over the coming weeks. Last week, Health Minister Christian Dubé said rapid COVID-19 tests would be deployed to schools across Quebec. It's not clear if the three schools already have access to the testing kits. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Sainte-Odile elementary school","Sainte","Saint-Émile elementary school","Saint","Coeur-Immaculé elementary school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this week","until next Tuesday","Wednesday after being closed for two days"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Quebec","Quebec","Quebec"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 outbreaks","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Over 1 in 4 child-care providers nationwide still remain closed","document":"More than six months after a majority of stay-at-home orders lapsed in states across the U.S., the child-care industry has yet to fully recover. About 73% of day cares, child-care centers, preschools, enrichment programs, in-home day cares and before/after-school care programs that closed earlier this year have reopened as of early December, according to Procare Solutions, which provides child-care management software to approximately 30,000 clients nationwide. That means 27% of providers have remained closed. Yet child-care providers in some states are struggling more than others. Only about 1 in 3 child-care centers that previously closed this year in Nevada and Vermont, for example, have reopened. Meanwhile 90% of providers serviced by Procare in Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Nebraska, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Utah have returned to enrolling children. Procare’s findings that 27% of U.S. child-care providers have not reopened is slightly higher than other estimates. Part of that may lie in the fact that Procare does not track home-based child-care providers, which research shows did bounce back faster. The latest survey from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, for instance, finds that 93% of child-care workers and owners surveyed in November are employed by programs that are open, but the organization did specifically note that it was difficult to reach respondents in programs that closed. In August, the Bipartisan Policy Center found that 14% of parents reported their child-care programs had permanently closed. At that point, 70% of parents reported their centers were still closed or operating at limited capacity or scheduled hours. But it’s true that many child-care providers remain offline, in many cases because it can be a losing proposition, at least financially, to reopen. About 56% of child-care providers surveyed in November report losing money by staying open, NAEYC found. About 42% of respondents say they have taken on debt using personal credit cards to pay for supplies and other items this year. That’s because many centers are still operating at lower capacities, even as costs rise. The survey found that 91% are now paying extra for cleaning supplies, 73% have taken on extra expenses for personal protective equipment and 60% are paying additional staff wages. The other aspect of this, however, is that attendance remains low. Using data from the majority of its clients, Procare tracked how close child-care providers are to getting back to normal attendance. As of Dec. 7, child-care centers nationwide are only operating at 49% of their full capacity. Child-care centers serviced by Procare suffered an 87% drop in attendance when the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many states to issue stay-at-home orders and shut down facilities. And while attendance has rebounded from its lowest point in early April, it’s still far from a complete recovery. Congress recently passed the $900 billion Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, which allocated $10 billion to child care. But both proponents in Congress and industry advocates say that amount isn’t enough to fully support the needs of child-care providers. “Child care is the critical infrastructure that we have to make a significant investment in in order to have an economic recovery,” says Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass. While Clark tells CNBC Make It that she was grateful for the $10 billion in funding, “it’s just not nearly enough to make sure that we have a child-care sector that survives this pandemic.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["27% of U.S. child-care providers","child-care providers","child-care providers","child-care providers","child-care providers","child-care providers","Child","child-care providers","Child"]},{"role":"Date","values":["early December","this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["the U.S","Nevada and Vermont"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["losing money by staying open"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 | Shopping complexes, malls to open in Chennai, while cinema halls and gaming centres remains close","document":" Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday announced several relaxations even while extending the COVID-19 lockdown till 6 a.m. of July 5. Shopping complexes and malls will reopen in Chennai and surrounding districts (category 3) and intra- and inter-district bus transport will resume in 23 districts (category 2) from Monday. Additional relaxations have been offered in 11 districts in western and central Tamil Nadu, where a stricter lockdown is in force because of a higher infection rate. In Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts, private offices can function with 100% workers, and shopping complexes and malls can function between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Clothing and jewellery shops will be allowed to function without air-conditioning and with 50% of customer capacity between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eateries and shopping complexes and malls will be allowed to offer only takeaways. No permission has been granted for cinema halls and gaming centres. All places of worship in these four districts, including temples, mosques, churches and dargahs, will be allowed to open, in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure. However, special prayers (‘archanai’), functions and consecration will not be allowed. Sports academies and training centres will be allowed to function on open grounds, but without any audience, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. All shops and establishments already opened in these districts have been allowed till 7 p.m. In 23 districts under category-II, intra and inter-district bus transport with 50% of seating and without air-conditioning will be allowed in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure. All private offices will be allowed to function with 50% of their staff. Offices of construction companies will be allowed with 50% of their staff. Roadside eateries will be allowed for takeaways between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Shops offering servicing and sales of mobile phones, computer hardware and software and spare parts of electronic appliances will be allowed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. In all except 11 districts (Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Salem, Thanjavur, the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Tiruvarur identified as category-I districts), the following relaxations have been allowed. All government offices, other industries, banks and ATM services and insurance companies will be allowed to function with 100% of their staff. IT and ITES companies will be allowed only with 50% of their staff. Gymnasiums and yoga centres will be allowed to open during their regular business hours with 50% of their capacity but without air-conditioning. Entry into museums and protected monuments will be allowed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Housekeeping and security services will be allowed without e-registration. In category-I districts, tea shops will be allowed but only for takeaways between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. In the case of eateries, restaurants, bakeries and e-commerce services, the timing will be between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Beauty parlours and salons will be allowed without air-conditioning between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. but only with 50% of customers at a time. All essential government departments and sub-registrar offices will function with 100% of their workers, while other departments will function with 50% of their staff. Schools, colleges, universities and training centres will be allowed to undertake admission activities. Government parks and those under the control of the local bodies and sports grounds will be allowed for training between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Stationery, electrical, footwear, hardware and fancy shops and those offering video, photography and photocopy services will be allowed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sweet and savoury shops will be allowed between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. E-Seva centres will function as usual. Service centres for home appliances such as mixies, grinders and televisions and those servicing vehicles and selling spares, sales and service of mobile phones, computer hardware, spares of electronic alliances will be allowed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Roadside eateries and establishments selling construction materials in these 11 districts will be allowed between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. All essential government departments will be allowed with 100% workers, while other departments will be allowed with only 50% staff. All private offices and establishments, banks and ATM services and insurance companies will be allowed to function with 50% staff in these 11 districts. “Companies involved in exports and manufacture of inputs for essential commodities will be allowed to function with 100% of the staff in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure,” the order said. IT and ITES companies in these 11 districts will be allowed only with 20% staff. Offices of construction companies will be allowed only with 33% staff. “All kinds of construction activities will be allowed,” the order said. Shooting for films and television serials will be allowed after RT-PCR tests but only with a maximum of 100 artists. Post-shooting work will be allowed and maintenance work at cinema halls will be undertaken with permission from the Tahsildars. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["cinema halls and gaming centres"]},{"role":"Date","values":["till 6 a.m. of July 5"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 lockdown","higher infection rate"]}]}
+{"title":"Belarus Shuts Down More NGOs Amid Continued Crackdown","document":"Belarus has forced the closure of 15 more nongovernmental organizations as strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka's crackdown against pro-democracy activists, the independent media, and civil rights groups continues to intensify. The groups ordered to close on July 23 include the Human Constanta human rights center, the Names charity organization, the BelSetka Anti-AIDS group, an organization that assists disabled people, and an animal rights group. The latest round of closures come a day after Lukashenka threatened to \"cleanse\" the country of NGOs -- which he called \"bandits and foreign agents\" -- and a week after security forces raided the homes of dozens of journalists and rights activists. In all, 51 NGOs are facing closure, including the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the biggest and most-respected media organization in the country, and the Belarusian PEN Center, an association of writers led by Svetlana Alexievich, the winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature. \"Nobody is telling us why we are being liquidated,\" Human Constanta, an organization campaigning for refugee rights in the western city of Brest, said in a statement. \"Pressure on civil society in Belarus is intensifying,\" it added. Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka ramps up pressure on NGOs and independent media as part of a brutal crackdown against protesters and the opposition following an August 2020 election widely considered fraudulent. Belarusian authorities have arrested tens of thousands of people, forcibly expelled or jailed opposition leaders, and refused accreditation to or forced out journalists since a crackdown on massive street protests began after Lukashenka claimed to have won a sixth presidential term last year. His reelection claim has not been recognized by the opposition and the West, which has slapped multiple rounds of sanctions to pressure the strongman to ease the crackdown, talk with the opposition, and ensure a fresh, independent election. The independent Regionalnaya Gazeta newspaper said July 23 that it was forced to halt publication following the raid of its office in Maladzyechna, 80 kilometers northeast of Minsk, and the arrest of several of its journalists earlier this month. Another journalist, photographer Kseniya Halubovich, was arrested on July 23 while she was taking pictures at a children's hospital in Minsk. Rights groups have called on the international community to defend Belarus’s leading journalists’ association, while the UN's rights chief has condemned the crackdown on rights groups in Belarus as \"completely unacceptable.\" Authorities have also relentlessly pursued the country's top human rights watchdogs, Vyasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. WATCH: 'It's Safe Here': Belarusians Adjust To Exile In Latvia No media source currently available Vyasna said that more than 200 raids of offices and apartments of activists and journalists have taken place so far this month. \"This campaign is obviously aimed at the complete demolition of the country’s third sector, the total destruction of any civic activity, and the suppression of any initiative,\" Vyasna said in a joint statement with the PEN Center, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, and several other local groups. \"Such actions are a flagrant violation of the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus in the field of freedom of association and expression. We demand to put an end to the campaign aimed to destroy Belarusian civil society, to intimidate and persecute activists, and to suppress freedom of expression,\" it added. RFE/RL's Belarus Service is one of the leading providers of news and analysis to Belarusian audiences in their own language. It is a bulwark against pervasive Russian propaganda and defies the government’s virtual monopoly on domestic broadcast media.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Svetlana Alexievich"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Belarusian Association of Journalists","journalists","journalists","journalists","journalists","journalists","Human Constanta human rights center, the Names charity organization, the BelSetka Anti-AIDS group, an organization that assists disabled people, and an animal rights group","organization","organization","51 NGOs","Belarusian PEN Center"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 23","July 23","July 23"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Belarus","Belarus","Belarus","Belarus","Belarus","Belarus"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Alyaksandr Lukashenka's crackdown against pro-democracy activists, the independent media, and civil rights groups continues to intensify","Alyaksandr Lukashenka","independent media","crackdown","crackdown","crackdown","crackdown"]}]}
+{"title":"Jharkhand allows shops, malls, offices to open till 4pm; weekend lockdown to continue","document":"Strap: Govt also reimposes complete weekend lockdown from June 19 afternoon The state government on Tuesday announced to reopen all kinds of shops, malls, departmental stores, government and private offices till 4pm from Thursday across all 24 districts, officials said. With extending the health protection week , or Swasthya Suraksha Saptah, by another week June 24 morning, the government has also decided to reimpose the complete weekend lockdown from 4pm of June 19 till June 21 morning. The current weeklong lockdown ends on Thursday at 6am. During the weekend lockdown, all shops, including fruits, vegetable, grocery and sweets, will remain closed during the said hours. However, medical emergency shops, medical equipment related shops, petrol pumps, LPG outlets and milk stores will remain open. In the last such weekend lockdown, milk stores were not allowed to operate. The decisions were taken at a state disaster management authority’s(SDMA) Covid-19 review meeting chaired by chief minister Hemant Soren at state project building on Tuesday. The state recorded 151 new cases and one Covid-19 death in a day till Monday night. Last week, all kinds of shops, including salons, were permitted to reopen in all districts, excluding East Singhbhum. Garment, cloth, footwear, cosmetic and jewellery shops were not allowed to reopen in East Singhbhum in view of surge in Covid-19 cases. However, the district will now enjoy the same relaxations provided to other districts, officials said. Government and private offices have been permitted to open with 50% working strength of human resources till 4pm. However, multiplexes, cinema halls, banquet halls, bars, clubs, stadium, gymnasium, swimming pools and parks will remain closed, according to the government order. All educational institutions, including schools, colleges, IT, skill development, coaching institutions and training institutions, will also remain closed. The provision of e-pass will remain in place for interdistrict and interstate movement. The restriction on bus movement will also continue. Lockdown-like restrictions have been in place in Jharkhand since April 22. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["all shops"]},{"role":"Date","values":["weekend lockdown","weekend lockdown","from 4pm of June 19 till June 21 morning","ends on Thursday at 6am"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Jharkhand"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["surge in Covid-19 cases"]}]}
+{"title":"Update: Last Concert of Stern Grove Season Canceled After Water Main Break","document":"A water main break at Stern Grove has closed the area \"until further notice,\" and the ensuing water damage has led to the cancellation of the final Sunday concert of the Stern Grove season this weekend. Tower of Power fans, we feel you. A video posted to Twitter Monday showed an erupting geyser of water at least 30 feet tall, and this apparently flooded Stern Grove to the point of closure to the public. Reportedly, more than 700,000 gallons of water spilled into the Stern Grove park, sending rivers of mud into the stage, seating, and backstage areas of the annual festival (see photos below). Tragic. Water gushing uncontrollably for hours in San Francisco. Stern Grove is flooded. And then there’s the CA drought pic.twitter.com/vtc7HJw8VZ The Rec & Parks Department tweeted Tuesday that both Stern Grove and Pine Lake are closed until further notice due to the ruptured water main. Reminder: Stern Grove and Pine Lake remain closed until further notice due to yesterday’s ruptured water main. Stay tuned for when we are able to reopen the park. pic.twitter.com/EgXz4kz0WO As the Chronicle reports, crews from the Public Works department and Public Utilities Commission (PUC) have been working on the problem, and the PUC tweeted on Monday about an \"air valve\" that was in poor condition and needed repair — but nothing about the water main. It's not entirely clear whether the work at the site caused the geyser, or if this was just a symptom of another problem they discovered while working. When asked by an SF resident if this was responsible for low water pressure elsewhere in the city, the PUC seemed to confirm that it was, advising anyone who sees brown in their tap water to just let the tap run for a bit — drought be damned. Today our crews were performing regular maintenance work on an air valve on a large pipeline at 22nd Ave & Sloat. Our crews discovered the existing air valve was in poor condition & had to be repaired. We are currently working to resolve the issue. Update: Our crews are still working to fix the pipeline. They are emptying the pipeline of water & since the pipe is large, this is taking longer than normal. The pipe has to be free of water before they can fix it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Oakland's legendary Tower of Power was slated to perform on Sunday along with legendary Oakland rapper Too $hort, and as of Wednesday afternoon, the Stern Grove Festival announced that there will be no final Sunday concert. In a release, a rep for the festival explained that this weekend's Big Picnic fundraiser and grand finale to the 84th Stern Grove concert season had to be canceled because \"the public park has recently experienced such extensive damage that the Festival grounds are now unsafe and unusable for any events in the immediate future.\" \"We are devastated to announce the sudden cancellation of our season finale and annual fundraiser with Tower of Power and Too $hort,\" said festival Executive Director Bob Fiedler in a statement. \"This was definitely one of our most highly anticipated concerts of an incredible season, but the damage is too severe to move forward safely at this time. We are grateful that no one was hurt, and we are proud to have overcome so many challenges this year to have presented nine exceptional concerts for more than 50,000 people. We look forward to restoring the Grove and being able to welcome the community back next year.” Photos below show some of the mud and damage. Fans of the festival are being told to look out for two upcoming one-hour specials on KPIX/CBS SF with highlights from this concert season, which are set to be announced in the coming days. If you want to help by donating to the non-profit festival, you can do so here, or by texting \"sterngrove\" to 56512. The big Lizzo and Tame Impala party will also accept proof of a negative COVID-19 test, but the test has to be taken on certain, specific days leading up to the Halloween weekend event. Sonya and Dell Curry, the NBA parent power couple who raised Steph, Seth, and Sydel Curry, announced Monday that they are divorcing after 33 years. But accusations of extramarital affairs on both sides are making this all sound less than amicable. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Stern Grove and Pine Lake","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Pine Lake","Stern Grove","Stern Grove concert","concert of the Stern Grove season","concert","concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["until further notice","notice","Sunday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove","Stern Grove"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ensuing water damage"]}]}
+{"title":"'Unbearable' conditions push Biden administration to close Houston migrant center","document":"The Biden administration over the weekend shuttered a Houston warehouse that housed unaccompanied migrant children following allegations that the nonprofit organization running the site failed to provide adequate living conditions for hundreds of young girls, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened the warehouse early this month in response to the surge of migrants arriving at the southern border. Exclusive video shot by ABC News showed buses removing more than 100 girls from the emergency intake center on Saturday. Until its closure, the facility had been run by a Houston-based nonprofit with no prior experience housing unaccompanied migrant children. Sources familiar with the facility's operation said the girls housed there, aged 13-17, were at times instructed to use plastic bags for toilets because there were not enough staff members to accompany them to restrooms. A spokesperson for the nonprofit would neither confirm nor deny these allegations to ABC News. A lack of outdoor space meant girls spent most of the day on makeshift cots surrounded by boxes intended to offer some semblance of privacy, according to the sources. The facility also suffered from overcrowding and failed to comply with pandemic-related distancing measures, the sources said. Cesar Espinoza, the executive director of migrant civil rights organization FIEL, toured the facility in recent weeks as part of his work to ensure humane treatment for migrants, and said he saw \"desperation\" in the girls' faces that was \"unbearable and incredible.\" Espinoza said the warehouse space was \"filled just with cots, where the girls were not allowed to get up, unless it was to shower, or to use the restroom. Even their meals were delivered to their cots.\" \"[The girls] were more treated like merchandise rather than treated as human beings, as people who just went through a very traumatic experience,\" Espinosa said. \"I would not allow my 15-year-old sister to go and volunteer in a place like this because I don't know what she's going to see.\" Over the weekend, HHS announced it would relocate the nearly 500 girls to other facilities in the area, or to family members or sponsors. \"The children being transferred are being moved to ensure continuity of care under conditions that meet our strict standards of care,\" an HHS spokesperson told ABC News. A White House spokesperson told ABC News that the site was closed because it \"did not meet the Biden administration's very high standard for child welfare.\" Located near the George H.W. Bush International Airport, the migrant care facility was intended as an emergency stopgap measure to shelter the influx of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. The National Association of Christian Churches (NACC), a Houston-based organization with its roots in disaster relief, was awarded a $4 million contract to operate the warehouse despite having no record of caring for unaccompanied migrants. In a statement to ABC News on Sunday, Dean Hoover, a spokesperson for NACC, sought to redirect blame toward the Biden administration -- who NACC claimed had control over the site after bringing in its own subcontractors. \"NACC officials were personally requested by HHS Secretary [Xavier] Becerra and President Biden to open the doors of their large Houston facility to refugee children on an emergency basis,\" Hoover said. \"It is deeply hurtful and unfair to the folks at NACC that anyone would now think of criticizing them when all they were trying to do is be good Samaritans and help the HHS help these children.\" In recent interviews with the Houston Chronicle, Jose Ortega, NACC's founder and president, claimed that his organization had not sought out this work -- but rather that Becerra had personally \"begged\" him to accept the contract and house the children. \"I'm a humble pastor that was thrown into this mess without asking for it,\" Ortega told the newspaper. \"We were not looking for a contract, we were not applying for a contract for us to make money -- this was thrown on us.\" Ortega also pinned the deterioration of his group's facility on the government's failure to provide funds. A spokesperson for HHS, which oversees the Office of Refugee Resettlement, told the Houston Chronicle that NACC was vetted following standard procedures. But advocates like Espinoza say the administration needs to better explain why it signed a contract with NACC. \"What was the process? Why was this center chosen?\" Espinoza said to ABC News. \"There's many other spaces here in Houston that could have been chosen, that would have stepped up to the plate, who had the experience of running shelters or who have the experience of working with children in this space.\" Neither the White House nor HHS would say how NACC was selected despite having no prior experience housing migrant children or running a migrant holding center. A steadily rising flow of migrants trekking north from Central America has sparked a humanitarian crisis near the U.S.-Mexico border, posing an early challenge to the Biden administration. On Saturday, Biden acknowledged that the situation at the border does, indeed, amount to a crisis -- a characterization his administration had previously refrained from using.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Houston warehouse"]},{"role":"Date","values":["over the weekend","weekend"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Biden","Biden","Biden","Biden","Biden","Biden"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["failed to provide adequate living conditions for hundreds of young girls","failed to comply with pandemic-related distancing measures"]}]}
+{"title":"Schools still closed for nearly 77 million students 18 months into pandemic – UNICEF","document":"NEW YORK, 16 September 2021 – Eighteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic, schools for nearly 77 million students in six countries continue to be almost completely closed, according to an updated data analysis released today by UNICEF. According to the analysis, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Panama are among the countries that kept schools closed the longest. In total, an estimated 131 million students in 11 countries have missed more than three-quarters of their in-person learning. Around 27 per cent of countries worldwide continue to have schools fully or partially closed. “As classes resume in many countries around the world, millions of students are heading into a third academic year without stepping foot in a classroom,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “The losses that students are incurring from not being in school may never be recovered.” To call attention to the 18 months of lost learning, deferred potential and uncertain future, and to urge governments to reopen schools as soon as possible, UNICEF and partners will close down their digital channels today at 13.00 GMT for 18 hours. School closures have created a shadow crisis for children. Beyond falling behind on their education, many children are missing out on school-based meals and routine vaccinations, experiencing social isolation and increased anxiety, and being exposed to abuse and violence. For some, school closures have led to drop out, child labour and child marriage. Many parents have been unable to continue with their employment while balancing their children’s care and learning needs. Some have lost their jobs entirely, pushing their families into poverty and creating a deeper economic crisis. While remote learning has been a lifeline for millions of schoolchildren, access to the technology and the quality of the curriculum have been uneven even within communities and school districts. Experience shows that schools are not the main drivers of transmission and that it is possible to keep them open for in-person learning. UNICEF urges governments, local authorities and school administrations to reopen schools as soon as possible and take all possible steps to mitigate against transmission of the virus in schools, such as: To support these efforts, UNICEF contributed to a multi-agency Framework for School Reopening to provide practical and flexible advice for national and local governments and aid their efforts to return students to in-person learning. “The education crisis is still here, and with each passing day that classrooms remain dark, the devastation worsens,” said Fore. “This is a crisis we will not allow the world to ignore. Our channels are silent, but our message is loud: Every community, everywhere must reopen schools as soon as possible. Schools must be the last to close and the first to reopen. We have to start putting the best interest of every child first. In all but the most extreme cases, this means getting students back into the classroom.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["schools for nearly 77 million students","schools","Schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Eighteen months","continue"]},{"role":"Location","values":["six countries","Bangladesh, the Philippines and Panama","Around 27 per cent of countries worldwide"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"'We could not ignore the risk': Aiken Oktoberfest has been canceled","document":"The Aiken Downtown Development Association has announced that the annual Aiken Oktoberfest scheduled for Sept. 25 has been canceled due to safety concerns. The Aiken DDA declined to specify their concerns or make any further comment. Currently, nearly 22% of Aiken County Public Schools students are presently quarantined as a result of COVID-19 exposure, according to ACPS data. Two of its students recently died. More:Aiken County schools sees first COVID death as cases double; Columbia County sees decrease More:Two deaths occur in Aiken County schools, one is due to COVID \"We went back and forth on what the right decision was as an organization,\" it wrote on the event's Facebook page. \"We finally landed on protecting our volunteers and the people that support downtown. Although we know people would have shown up and we would have had a successful event, we could not ignore the risk.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["annual Aiken Oktoberfest"]},{"role":"Date","values":["scheduled for Sept. 25"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["safety concerns"]}]}
+{"title":"Maroon 5 Cancel Dates at SPAC and Madison Square Garden","document":"Maroon 5 has made the decision to cancel dates at SPAC and Madison Square Garden, but plan to continue on with the rest of their tour. The concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was scheduled for Monday, September 13, 2021. People who had purchased tickets in advance were notified by Ticketmaster this weekend with no explanation as to why it was cancelled. On SPAC’s website it states that people will receive a refund for their tickets directly through Ticketmaster or Live Nation depending on where they acquired their ticket. The concert at Madison Square Garden which was scheduled to take place on Friday, September 10, 2021 has been cancelled as well, without explanation. On their website they state that tickets purchased with a credit card online or over the phone with Ticketmaster or directly through the Madison Square Garden Box Office will automatically be refunded to the original purchaser’s credit card account. People should expect to receive their refund in as soon as 30 days. If people purchased their tickets through the Madison Square Garden Box Office with any other form of payment, please call the venue’s Guest Relations Department at 212-465-6225 for more information. Maroon 5 is still advertising tour dates at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA on September 7, PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC on September 8, PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on September 10, Fenway Park in Boston, MA on September 12, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC on September 15. So far it looks like just the New York dates have been cancelled. For more information visit Maroon 5’s website. Nora Hones has lived in Ithaca NY for over a decade and has been an active member of the local music scene. Having performed at many of the local venues herself throughout the years she has insider's experience. She is a recent graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and has a BA in English and communications with concentrations in Journalism and Public Relations with a minor in Social Justice and Cross Cultural Studies. Prev Post More Venues Across New York to Require Proof of Vaccination for Audiences Next Post TŌN (The Orchestra Now) is Back for Live Performances at The Fisher Center, Carnegie Hall, The Met and more","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday, September 10, 2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Madison Square Garden","Madison Square Garden","Madison Square Garden","Madison Square Garden","SPAC","SPAC"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["without explanation"]}]}
+{"title":"Cornwall's Stithians Community Primary School forced to close for ten days due to Covid","document":"A primary school in Cornwall has been forced to close after coronavirus caused more than a quarter of its pupils to self-isolate. Stithians Community Primary School has announced it is closing for 10 days from Wednesday 22 September. It will reopen again on Monday 4 October. The site is moving to online teaching only due to a rising number of confirmed Covid-19 cases. In an email sent to parents, staff and governors, the school said there were nine confirmed cases with a number of PCR tests yet to come back. It also said 46 children were absent, equating to more than a quarter of all pupils. Headteacher Nick Illsley wrote: \"In consultation with Public Health, the local authority and the school governors we have decided to close the school for ten days to create a fire break to transmission. \"This will mean that home learning will begin from tomorrow via [Microsoft] Teams. This has been a hard decision to make but he current rates of transmission mean it is the only way in which we can reduce the spread through the school. \"We have followed the Covid-19 outbreak management plan and based on the health and safety and safeguarding requirements needed for our school closure for a time limited period is the only option left to us.\" Mr Illsley added the number of those off sick \"would no doubt rise tomorrow so the effective teaching and learning is not possible\". He also confirmed schoolchildren would be sent home with books and logins for Teams and those needing a laptop to access online teaching could borrow one from the school. In a statement, Cornwall Council said: \"As a precaution, the school has taken the decision to close until Monday 4 October, with all students moving to a high-quality online learning platform until then.\" Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall Council, added: \"The school has taken the difficult decision to close temporarily to ensure the safety of staff, pupils and families. \"We appreciate this may cause childcare issues with children being at home unexpectedly, but this decision has not been taken lightly. “The school reacted quickly and responsibly to the confirmed cases and implemented a robust Covid action plan. Our teams will continue to work with them to provide advice and guidance and support. \"You or your child need only book a test if you develop one of the three main Covid symptoms: a new continuous cough - that is a cough that lasts for more than an hour, or three coughing sessions in 24 hours - a high temperature (this does not need to be measured but feeling hot on the chest or back) or a change to or loss of taste or smell.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Nick Illsley"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Stithians Community Primary School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for 10 days","Wednesday 22 September","until Monday 4 October"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Cornwall","Cornwall"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["rising number of confirmed Covid-19 cases"]}]}
+{"title":"The untold emotional cost of school closures","document":"Covid’s ill-effects on children go beyond a learning crisis as their sociability, psychology and health have been impacted. This calls for a far broader response than merely reopening schools A plethora of recent articles have called for reopening schools and addressing the learning crisis, particularly in developing countries. These recommendations share several common elements—most notably, the need to prioritize early-grade learning or foundational skills. Economist Karthik Muralidharan writes, “A large body of evidence highlights the importance of early years in the formation of human capital and our school opening priorities should reflect this.\" Mary Goretti Nakabugo, writing on behalf of the RISE Community of Practice, reinforces this, while also emphasizing the “urgent need to measure children’s learning levels.\" It is hard to dispute the technical correctness of these directives. Research previously found that there exists a ‘100-year gap’ in the education attainment of developed versus developing countries. School closures over the past 18 months have likely widened this gap. However, from an implementation point of view, we must put these recommendations in perspective. We are faced with more than a ‘learning’ crisis. A recent survey commissioned by the Lemann Foundation in Brazil finds that school closures have had adverse effects on children’s sociability, psychology, and health. Children have gained weight, become sadder, lonelier, more afraid, and at least a third have lost interest in school. Other research points to a web of socioeconomic and emotional turmoil generated by the pandemic: job losses, economic instability, fear of the virus, domestic violence and social isolation. Even in normal times, schools represent much more than their pedagogic function, especially in high-deprivation contexts. A teacher from a government school in Delhi once told me how she thought of herself as a “social worker\". Given her students’ socioeconomic backgrounds, her role was to “provide them five hours of positive energy.\" This aspect of her job will only become more important post the pandemic. Much of the recent commentary also seems to take teachers for granted, expecting them to seamlessly transition to new pedagogies and practices as schools reopen. It’s problematic to ignore, however, that teachers have inhabited the same universe these past 18 months while also having to acquire new skills to perform their day-to-day jobs. Even in the US, Elizabeth Steiner and Ashley Woo find that teachers reported more frequent job-related stress and symptoms of depression than the general adult population. The primary stress points included modes of instruction and health. Research from Chile similarly concludes that teachers’ perception of their quality of life has reduced since the pandemic, owing to work overload, loneliness and covid-related fears. Now, from an administrative perspective, imagine how proposals to make foundational learning a priority might play out. My recent research on project management units in education departments in Indian states offers some insight. Well-meaning foundations and consulting firms will get involved and reinforce the top-down structure of bureaucracies, create new assessment systems, impose new remediation requirements and implement management information systems and accountability mechanisms to ensure that frontline officials comply. In bureaucratic systems steeped in the language of compliance, even well-intentioned formative assessments end up taking the form of high-stakes exams among teachers, students and officials. It is critical to be mindful of the norms and cultures of existing systems before trying to superimpose new requirements on them. Top-down, control-driven systems are rarely successful in inducing performance, as economist Dan Honig’s work on mission-driven bureaucracy finds. Instead, Honig finds motivation-driven reforms to be more effective: empowering agents and sparking internal motivation through supportive practices like giving employees autonomy. While the word ‘re-imagine’ has often been used for education, the first step is to transform governance. Covid may have sparked some bright spots. The pandemic has invigorated what Hannon et al call “local learning ecosystems\", with stronger partnerships among local stakeholders (students, teachers and others). As Emiliana Vegas and Rebecca Winthrop write, “Schools at the center of a community ecosystem of learning and support is an idea whose time has come.\" Appropriately, Pratham Education Foundation’s Rukmini Banerji and the Centre for Policy Research’s Yamini Aiyar highlight the role of local innovations and call for decentralization—greater financial resources, expenditure discretion and autonomy to make decisions at the school level. Our learning crisis is undeniably real. But the language we use to implement reforms is crucial. If reopening schools is framed just in terms of a learning crisis, we are likely to ignore the massive social and emotional crises students and teachers face. Poorly designed governance structures focusing on thin metrics will only exacerbate this. As schools reopen, the immediate focus should be to ensure access, both to get students back in class and prevent drop-outs, as the pandemic’s effects continue to play out. School systems must prioritize addressing the social, emotional and health-related challenges of covid. Simultaneously, we must recalibrate structures of governance by empowering frontline agents and local stakeholders. This will foster the culture needed to facilitate a solution to the learning crisis. Rohan Sandhu is former associate director at the International Innovation Corps, and currently at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also co-editor and a lead author of ‘Accelerating Access to Quality Education’ ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["School","school","School","School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["past 18 months","past 18 months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["developing countries","developing countries"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid’s ill-effects","effects"]}]}
+{"title":"Malls listed under HIDE adhere to closure order","document":"KUALA LUMPUR: Shopping malls listed under the Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) early warning system have temporarily closed their premises starting today until Tuesday (May 11). The malls concerned issued a notice via their social media platforms to inform of the temporary closure. The closure was in line with the latest announcement by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who announced that premises flagged under HIDE would be closed for three days with immediate effect to curb the spread of Covid-19. 1 Utama Shopping Centre, in a Facebook post, said the mall would undergo sanitisation exercises during the period. \"1 Utama remains continuously compliant to strict safety standard operating procedures, and every care is taken to ensure our unwavering commitment to you. \"We shall be monitoring the situation closely and welcome you back to 1 Utama when we announce our reopening. \"Till then, keep your spirits up, and we shall see you soon in good health.\" Also temporarily closed its premises were Suria KLCC and Sunway Pyramid. Suria KLCC, in a Facebook post, has thanked its patrons for their cooperation, as the shopping mall actively focuses on the evolving health and safety procedures. Meanwhile, Sunway Pyramid said during the period; the mall will undergo deep sanitisation as part of the HIDE's requirement. \"We will continue to work closely with the authorities and provide the latest updates from time to time. Please stay tuned to Lion's FB updates for the latest developments. \"We're in this together, and together, we can get through this.\" Yesterday, the government published the first list of premises flagged as potential Covid-19 hotspots that were identified through HIDE. Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the list's publication would help the public make reasonable travel plans and decisions before heading to a location or venue to avoid risks of getting infected by Covid-19. Among the shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur that were also in the list include Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bangsar Village 2, KL Eco City Mall, Melawati Mall, Mid Valley Megamall, Sungei Wang Plaza and Sogo Complex, among others. In Selangor, among the shopping malls in the HIDE's list were Aeon Mall Rawang, Central i-City Mall, Main Place Mall, Plaza Shah Alam, Paradigm Mall and Subang Parade. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Suria KLCC and Sunway Pyramid","Suria KLCC","Sunway Pyramid","1 Utama Shopping Centre"]},{"role":"Date","values":["today until Tuesday (May 11)","for three days"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KUALA LUMPUR","Kuala Lumpur"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["curb the spread of Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Naperville North High School closed for investigation of bomb threat","document":"Classes were canceled Wednesday at Naperville North High School as police investigated a bomb threat emailed to the west suburban school earlier that morning, school officials said. Students and staff were evacuated to Naperville Central High School, where families were asked to pick up their students, School District 203 said in a statement. The threat was made before classes had begun, a Naperville police spokeswoman Kelley Munch said. “All students and staff members are now safe, and their security continues to be the district’s top priority,” the district said in its statement. After-school activities were also canceled as police continued their search of the building, the district said. A school district spokesman declined to comment further. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Naperville North High School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Naperville","Naperville","Naperville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["bomb threat"]}]}
+{"title":"Rockvale High School Closed Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021","document":"Rutherford County Schools Communications Director James Evans updated Rockvale High students and parents about the status of the high school for tomorrow. The utility company has been onsite today repairing the gas leak and expects to finish today. However, they must complete a pressure test of the entire system before we are allowed to occupy the building. This pressure test is schedule to be completed tomorrow. As such, Rockvale High School will remain closed tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 9, and we will use a stockpile day to cover the closure. This only affects the high school. We know this can be an inconvenience for parents, which is why we are notifying you now for planning purposes. Thanks for all that you do as parents and we will send you an update tomorrow.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Rockvale High School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday, Sept. 9"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Rutherford County"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["repairing the gas leak","complete a pressure test of the entire system"]}]}
+{"title":"American Dream’s Luxury Wing Opens With Five Stores, Lots Of Barricaded Storefronts, with some stores closed","document":"The new luxury wing at the American Dream mall has a Jonathan Adler designed sculpture garden and ... [+] fantastic wall murals, but so far very few stores. “You’re about to walk into the most incredible luxury retail environment there is,” Don Ghermezian, chief executive of the American Dream mega-mall in New Jersey, says in a video of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Avenue, the mall’s new luxury wing. Not exactly. Triple Five is promising The Avenue will eventually become that. The reality at the moment is the wing is just five stores, and one restaurant. While American Dream has created a visually stunning “Avenue” that they potentially could fill with exciting stores, for now shoppers only have five choices. Apart from the anchor of the wing, the 110,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue, the majority of The Avenue is construction barricades disguised with beautiful murals to hide the empty spaces behind them. The Avenue opened September 17 with four stores in addition to Saks: Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Johnny Was, and Mulberry, and a fine-dining restaurant, Carpaccio. The women's shoe department at the new Saks Fifth Avenue store at the American Dream mall in New ... [+] Jersey. The owners of American Dream decided not to wait for their luxury wing to reach a critical mass of stores before holding the grand opening. After all, shoppers, and Saks, have already been waiting a long time for the wing to open. After the first portion of American Dream, the Nickelodeon amusement park, opened in October, 2019, the mall’s owners announced the luxury wing, and other retail stores, would open in March, 2020. The pandemic caused that to be pushed back to March, 2021, and again to September, 2021. As they have with other parts of the mall, the owners, Triple Five Group, are using a strategy that seems to be working for them, although slowly. If you open it, the tenants will come, seems to be their philosophy. “Avenue really is a street of dreams that will be dreamier as we continue to add new names,” Ken Downing, creative director of Triple Five, told WWD during an advance tour of the wing. The rest, and the best, is yet to come has been Triple Five’s mantra since American Dream’s first grand opening in the fall of 2019. When they opened the Nickelodeon amusement park, ice rink, and the Big Snow indoor ski slope in late 2019, Triple Five was under pressure to answer skeptics who doubted whether the mall would ever open. The project was already years behind schedule. Triple Five, when it took over the site in 2011, after two previous developers crashed and burned, said the first phase, with 300 stores and 50 restaurants, would open in late 2013. That estimate was replaced with projected opening dates in 2016, 2017, and finally 2019. Since then Triple Five, which owns two other huge entertainment and retail complexes, Mall of America in Minnesota, and West Edmonton Mall in Canada, has run into difficulty carrying the massive loans for the project as the pandemic slowed revenues at American Dream and its other mall properties, and has had to give lenders large stakes in its other mega-malls. Shoppers waiting to enter the Hermes store in the new luxury wing at American Dream mall in New ... [+] Jersey. As recently as July, American Dream officials were saying they expected to have more than 20 stores ready for shoppers when the wing opened September 17. But when construction delays prevented most of those stores from being ready in time for the opening, the mall decided to stick with the September 17 date anyway. “One could certainly find reasons not to open,” Downing told Allison Pries of NJ.com. “But our guests deserve to have this.” “At some point you have to stop waiting,” Downing told WWD. Downing said he and American Dream CEO Don Ghermezian, who is a member of the family behind Triple Five, felt it was important to get The Avenue open this fall, even if much of the space would remain covered with barricades. The barricades in front of the empty and under-construction storefronts, however, are stunning, covered with murals of fashion-related images in pinks and pastels. But shoppers have to walk past long stretches of the barricades to find the few stores that are open. Stunning murals cover the barricades in front of the empty or still-under-construction barricades in ... [+] the new luxury wing at American Dream mall in New Jersey. “Where are the stores?” an opening-day visitor asked while looking at a mall directory in the wing, which showed the Avenue without any stores identified. American Dream hired decorator Jonathan Adler to create an environment at The Avenue similar to an upscale boutique hotel. He has created a visually stunning space with numerous seating areas and large sculptures decorated with faces that serve as the containers for topiary plantings. The wing is a photographer’s and Instagram paradise. On opening day, parents with strollers and toddlers could be seen posing their children with some of the high-fashion mannequins on display as part of a grand-opening-related art and fashion exhibit. Empty spaces in the luxury wing are covered with barricades decorated with striking murals. Saks, and its parent company, Hudson Bay Company, bet big on American Dream and Triple Five in the early stages of the project, when Triple Five was having trouble getting high-profile retailers to take a chance on the still-under-construction mall. Hudson Bay, which like Triple Five, is based in Canada, pledged in 2014 to open flagship Saks and Lord & Taylor stores at American Dream that would anchor a luxury collection of hundreds of stores. Since then Lord & Taylor has gone bankrupt and closed its stores, as have a number of other retailers originally announced as Dream tenants. Saks closed its two New Jersey stores - at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack, NJ in 2014, and at The Mall at Short Hills in 2016 - in anticipation that the American Dream location would soon be open. The new store gives Saks a fresh, modern presentation, and reflects Saks’ embrace of online shopping. Visitors to American Dream can virtually shop the latest collections at the New York City Saks flagship while at the New Jersey store. The store also offers online appointments for services, and same-day delivery of purchases. The Johnny Was store in the new luxury wing at the American Dream mall in New Jersey. Saks and the 8,000 square-foot Hermes store and the new retail location for boho-chic luxury brand Johnny Was are impressive tenants. The Hermes store, which was limiting the number of shoppers inside on opening day, had a line of half a dozen customers at midday. Other stores, including Tiffany, Saint Laurent, Jonathan Adler, Anne Fontaine, and Zadig & Voltaire, and a champagne bar, are expected to open over the coming month, a Dream spokesperson said. Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster is scheduled to open next year.. Currently, the barricades in the two-level wing are covering enough retail space for at least 50 large stores and perhaps twice as many if retailers opt for smaller spaces. American Dream needs those barricades to come down, and the spaces behind them to be filled with open stores, before The Avenue can be called an “incredible luxury retail environment.” But for now, those barricades, and the fabulous murals on them, are the most incredible thing about The Avenue. I have 20 years experience covering the retail industry, from mega-malls to Main Street shops, and everything in between. I have reported on retail bankruptcies, including Toys R... Read More I have 20 years experience covering the retail industry, from mega-malls to Main Street shops, and everything in between. I have reported on retail bankruptcies, including Toys R ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Tiffany, Saint Laurent, Jonathan Adler, Anne Fontaine, and Zadig & Voltaire","Jonathan Adler","Jonathan Adler","the Nickelodeon amusement park","Nickelodeon amusement park","Lord & Taylor","Lord","Taylor","Gentle Monster"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["New Jersey","New Jersey","New Jersey","New Jersey","New Jersey"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic","pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Austin Arts & Music festival latest event canceled due to COVID-19 while others resume","document":" by: Chelsea Moreno AUSTIN (KXAN) — Organizers of the Austin Arts and Music Festival announced Sunday that the event has been canceled due to COVID-19, though they promised ticketholders access to future events. The event’s planners, expecting to bring concerts, artists and a car show to Typhoon Texas Sept. 25-26, sent a press release saying they “are grieved and saddened” to cancel the weekend plans due to “heightened COVID restrictions.” It’s the latest of event cancelations in the Austin area due to the coronavirus. Most recently, Austin’s annual Pecan Street Festival, Bat Fest and Austin Pride were all canceled due to COVID-19 concerns in the community. The City of Austin also updated their permitting for special events on Aug. 30 with enhanced strategies to mitigate the spread of the virus. The event application process was going to require an enhanced version of the health and safety form to be completed. But while some have been canceled, other large events have been allowed to go on. The Austin Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival is happening Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Far Out Lounge and Stage in south Austin. The event is an annual fundraiser, benefitting the Central Texas Food Bank. Live performances, hot sauce makers and other vendors were expected to spread out across the venue. Guests were asked to wear a mask and to social distance. Capacity is also being limited. Also this weekend, thousands were expected to attend a two-day wine, food and music festival at the Long Center. The Long Center is not a city-run facility.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Austin Arts and Music Festival","music festival","Pecan Street Festival, Bat Fest and Austin Pride"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 25-26"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Austin area"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 concerns in the community","COVID-19","COVID","heightened COVID restrictions"]}]}
+{"title":"Back to basicsSchool closures have caused damage that extra lessons cannot fix","document":"A DECADE AGO Bowling Park Primary was one of England’s least successful schools. Its neighbourhood in south Bradford is one of England’s poorest. A fifth of pupils are Roma, who tend to do worse at school than any other group. But a turnaround that began in 2008 dragged test scores up to the national average. The progress pupils make from seven to 11 is greater than almost anywhere else. Covid-19 has hit hard, says Matthew Langley, the head teacher. Large families and small homes helped the virus spread. Some pupils spent a quarter of the past academic year isolating, on top of two months of remote learning early in the pandemic, when all classrooms in England were shut. “It’s like we’ve hit a brick wall,” says Mr Langley, “and now we have to reverse.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Matthew Langley"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["all classrooms"]},{"role":"Date","values":["quarter of the past academic year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["England","England","England"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"RZIM will stop doing apologetics work this year","document":"Update (March 10): Once the largest apologetics ministry in the world, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) will stop doing apologetics work this year. CEO Sarah Davis announced to staff Wednesday morning that over the next six months, the downsized ministry will remake itself as a grant-making charity. It plans to give money to organizations fulfilling its original purpose of defending the truth of the gospel as well as organizations that care for victims of sexual abuse. “RZIM cannot and should not continue to operate as an organization in its present form. Nor do we believe we can only rename the organization and move forward with ‘business as usual,’” said Davis, who is Zacharias’s daughter and has led the ministry since his death in May 2020. RZIM’s speakers have had invitations rescinded since allegations against Zacharias were reported in September. Over the past several months, donations slowed to the $35 million–$40 million ministry as it investigated and ultimately confirmed abuse by its late founder. The investigation found “guilt beyond anything that we could have imagined,” Davis acknowledged on Wednesday. “The ministry of RZIM has been on a journey almost unlike anything we can think of in modern evangelical history,” Davis said. “We, as a ministry, have been processing a wide range of emotions, including intense grief for victims of abuse, abhorrence at Ravi’s actions, disillusionment, dismay, anger, and uncertainty about the future of the ministry we love and serve.” The ministry is currently undergoing a broad review of culture and structure by the consulting firm Guidepost Solutions. Davis told staff that they can expect layoffs of about 60 percent of staff, starting immediately, as well as leadership changes when the review is finished in four to six months. In the meantime, staff in each department are being instructed to “focus their gifts, skills, and resources” on “repentance, restitution, learning, and serving.” ----- Original post (March 8): Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, in the midst of an outside review of its corporate culture and past handling of abuse allegations, has announced it will change its name. It also is calling for additional victims to come forward and report sexual abuse and harassment by its late world-famous founder. Last month’s investigative report confirmed allegations against the apologist dating back to 2004 and uncovered additional evidence of abuse continuing up until a few months before his death in May 2020. But while the investigation was conclusive, it was not comprehensive. In a statement released over the weekend, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) acknowledged there may be many more victims. This is the first time RZIM has directly asked victims to come forward. The consulting firm Guidepost Solutions will field reports by phone and email as part of its comprehensive review of RZIM, while victims’ advocate Rachael Denhollander will serve as a confidential liaison with survivors. Phone lines have been set up in English, Spanish, and French. “We continue to grieve deeply for the victims who have been treated in ways that are completely antithetical to the gospel,” wrote CEO Sarah Davis, who is also Zacharias’s daughter, in the official statement. “We also painfully and increasingly recognize organizational failures that have occurred and the repentance that needs to take place in both heart and action.” Davis said the review is comprehensive and is expected to take months. Layoffs are expected soon. The ministry also announced it is removing Zacharias’s teaching from its website and social media. The 12 international branches of RZIM are independently evaluating their own ministry cultures and future plans. Top RZIM leaders in the US and Asia have known about allegations against Zacharias since at least 2008, when an Indian team member reported to the head of the Singapore board that Zacharias had been seen with a woman he wasn’t related to in a Singapore hotel. Zacharias was holding her hand and appeared to be intimate with her. Zacharias dismissed it as a misunderstanding, and the ministry did not investigate, according to internal documents obtained by CT. The team member raised the issue again in 2012, along with questions about Zacharias’s solo trips to Thailand, where Zacharias owned two apartments—one for himself and one for a massage therapist. The ministry didn’t investigate then either. The Singapore board instead launched a full inquiry into whether the team member was spreading rumors about Zacharias. “Directors agreed that derogative remarks of any kind by any of the parties must cease immediately as they do not glorify the Lord,” the Singapore board chair wrote in a 2012 email obtained by CT. “We are of the same conviction that brothers should reconcile where there have been misunderstandings. … The work of RZIM is making great impact on unbelievers and any public dispute will bring irreparable damage to parties concerned and the organization.” Similar arguments were made at RZIM’s other international offices. Team members in India, the US, the UK, and Canada told CT that when they raised concerns, they were dismissed. Leadership pointed to Zacharias’s reputation. He was considered above reproach and beyond question. RZIM spokeswoman Ruth Malhotra, in a 26-page letter to the US board about corporate complicity in Zacharias’s abuse, wrote that the leadership’s strategic response to allegations was to “delay, deny, defy, defame.” According to Malhotra, she raised questions in 2017, when Zacharias denied soliciting explicit sexual images from a woman in Canada. Instead of trying to answer her questions, a senior leader demanded to know, “Whose side are you on?” After the investigation in 2021, the US board acknowledged mistakes and promised a review of the culture and leadership of the ministry. “Our trust in Ravi’s denial of moral wrongdoing and in his deceptive explanations of emails and other records that became public was severely misplaced,” the statement said. “We also recognize that in situations of prolonged abuse, there often exist significant structural, policy, and cultural problems. It is imperative that where these things exist in our organization, we take focused steps to ensure they are properly diagnosed and addressed.” The US board is anonymous, and the statement was not signed by individual members. It is not clear who wrote the statement or whether board members agreed with it unanimously. RZIM’s 12 international offices are also evaluating their own culture and making decisions about the future. Leadership in the respective countries have to decide whether to shut down or continue, whether to remain affiliated with the US ministry or separate, and whether to keep the Zacharias name or abandon it. The UK ministry and the Latin American ministry have each announced their intentions to separate and establish independent apologetics organizations. The Latin American board shut down its website after making its statement. RZIM Spain is evaluating “next steps” but said it has received “many expressions of encouragement” to continue doing apologetics and evangelism in Spain. The German-language branch of RZIM, operating in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has announced team training on abuse and a review of its own organizational structure and culture. “Looking back, we realize that we as the institute were positively biased towards Ravi Zacharias and that we also trusted the control mechanisms within RZIM too much,” the ministry said in an official statement. “We are extremely sorry for these failures.” RZIM Canada is closing down. “We recognize the ongoing need for an apologetics-based approach to evangelism,” the Canadian board said. “Regrettably, we are of the conviction that it is not possible for RZIM Canada to fulfill this mandate within the current environment.” RZIM Hong Kong, which serves Southeast Asia and Oceania, stated it is considering “all possible paths that would honour our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” and also said, “We apologise unreservedly for the hurt we have caused others through our misplaced trust in Ravi.” The RZIM officers in India and Turkey have translated the US board’s apology and publicized the information about the investigation, but have not made individual public statements about the future of those ministries. RZIM Middle East does not appear to have made any public statements. RZIM Romania and RZIM Singapore announced times of prayer and re-evaluation. The Romanian ministry said it is praying “that God will heal any wound caused by the actions of Ravi Zacharias and any disappointment caused by this news. We put all our hope in His grace and continue to remain committed to searching and presenting #Truth.” RZIM Africa said its top priority is to “Pray for, listen to and learn from victims and victim advocates, seek their forgiveness where appropriate, and take steps that emerge.” Two African leaders personally reached out to one victim to apologize. The ministry is also encouraging others to come forward. “Given the extent of Ravi’s deception and abuse,” the statement said, “we recognize that there may be many others who have suffered, and whose stories have not yet been told.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM)","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","Ravi Zacharias International Ministries","Ravi Zacharias International Ministries","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM","RZIM"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["India, the US, the UK, and Canada","US","US","Canada","US","US","US","UK","Canada","Canada","India","US"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["sexual abuse and harassment by its late world-famous founder"]}]}
+{"title":"PGA Tour still planning for Japan event, but sources say China event will be canceled","document":"Players were notified last week the Zozo Championship outside Tokyo was still on the schedule, and they faced a deadline for visa applications in case they decide to go. But that will be the only stop, assuming it happens. Two people aware of the decision say the HSBC Champions in Shanghai has been canceled. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the Tour hasn’t announced the decision. The PGA Tour lost its Asia Swing to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The HSBC Champions, a World Golf Championships event since 2009, was canceled. The CJ Cup in South Korea moved to Shadow Creek north of Las Vegas, while the Zozo Championship moved to Sherwood Country Club in Thousands Oaks, California. The LPGA Tour said in a statement Wednesday that the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament scheduled for October has been canceled. The CJ Cup already has announced it is returning to Las Vegas, this time at the prestigious Summit Club. Japan-based Zozo does not have a U.S. presence, and it was a big step for the company to hold its tournament in California. Patrick Cantlay, who already is particular with his travel time and schedule, won last year at Sherwood. It was not clear if he planned to return to defend. Spectators were not allowed at Kasumigaseki for the Olympics. The Zozo Championship is scheduled for Narashino Country Club in the Chiba prefecture. Oddly enough, it is not listed on the Japan Golf Tour website, even though the tournament is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour. If anyone was looking to spend two weeks in Japan, the following week is the ISPS Handa, which has one of the smallest prize funds on the Japan Golf Tour. The Tour schedule for the fall goes from Las Vegas to Japan to Bermuda. The Bermuda Championship typically is held opposite the HSBC Champions and last year received full status, meaning Brian Gay earned a spot in the Masters by winning. BY Associated Press ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["HSBC Champions","HSBC Champions","HSBC Champions","PGA Tour","PGA Tour","PGA Tour","Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament"]},{"role":"Date","values":["last year","scheduled for October"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Shanghai","Shanghai"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Motorcyclists Rev Up For “Canceled” Event","document":" NHPD Facebook; East Coastin' FacebookThe city’s version of this Saturday’s event; the organizers’ response.Breen, Bass PhotosTop cop Dominguez: Event’s off. Daredevil Canestri: Sure about that?Sam Gurwitt Photo“Controlled chaos” at 2020 (above) and 2017 (below) versions of event. David Sepulveda Photo New Haven declared a motorcycle event planned for this coming Saturday “canceled.” NHPD Facebook; East Coastin' Facebook The city’s version of this Saturday’s event; the organizers’ response. Breen, Bass Photos Top cop Dominguez: Event’s off. Daredevil Canestri: Sure about that? Sam Gurwitt Photo “Controlled chaos” at 2020 (above) and 2017 (below) versions of event. David Sepulveda Photo Someone forgot to tell the thousands of hog riders and fans still expected to converge on the city, or the hotels that have run out of available rooms. The event is called EastCoastin’. It draws stunt riders and cycling enthusiasts to city streets from early afternoon until dusk. They tear up the road, have some fun. The event has taken place around this time every year since 2016. It grew from 300 to 600 to 1,500 participants, with 3,000 expected this year, according to organizer Gabe Canestri Jr., a High School in the Community grad who works with the EastCoastin’ group. In some years, the organizers developed an understanding, sometimes tacit, sometimes spelled out, with the police: They’d contain their activity to little-traveled industrial streets in the Annex. They’d keep it safe and nonviolent; police would show up to coordinate checkpoints, keep traffic flowing, enforce laws. Officers ended up posing for photos with the bikers, who in turn praised the police. Click here for a story about how that deal was first struck. Click here and here to read about two previous gatherings. This year the Elicker administration and police brass made it clear that there will be confrontation, not cooperation, if the motorcyclists proceed with their plans. At a recent press conference with the mayor, Police Chief Renee Dominguez reiterated the message. “That event is canceled. There is not a permit for that. It is canceled. We will have a detail that day to make sure of the safety of the residents in case individuals do gather. We will be enforcing” laws at the event, she vowed. (Her comments on the subject begin at the 17:15 point in this video.) Canestri said the event is very much on, with or without the city’s cooperation. Participants have already booked pretty much all the hotel and Air BnB rooms available in the area, he noted. The group plans to gather, as it has in past years, by the Hole in the Wall motorcycle club on Forbes Avenue and rev up their engines on the industrial streets nearby. So the city is planning a large police presence ready to make mass arrests. The event was originally scheduled for the first weekend in September. Canestri said that at the city’s unofficial request he moved it to this coming weekend, so as not to conflict with the Labor Day Road Race. “I moved other events around to do this one, because they didn’t want me to have it on Labor Day weekend. But I guess Mayor Elicker wasn’t pumped on the new date,” said Canestri, one of the second-generation members of the Hole in the Wall club. “There are other issues going on in New Haven. Violence, killing. This is one event where people get together. You don’t hear about people getting hurt. It’s controlled chaos. “We’re going to have some kind of party. We’re off the grid. People are still coming,” Canestri said. He predicted the activities would run through the afternoon until sundown. Another person close to the planning process conveyed a message to the Independent that the Hell’s Angels and the affiliated Red Devils have committed to have members “from several states” provide “tight security” at the event in the absence of police cooperation: “They will hold people off of Forbes Avenue. They’re asking for the back roads where the [New Haven] Terminal is,” and tanker trucks “can use the road where the bridge goes in and out.” Companies along the harbor have been complaining for years about both the annual event as well as cyclists tearing up and down the streets at other times to practice stunts. Sam Gurwitt PhotoThe crowd in the Annex in 2020. Mayor Elicker said in a conversation Monday that at last year’s event, thousands of participants, who “were not allowed to be there,” caused havoc throughout the city, shutting streets and endangering lives through dangerous driving. Sam Gurwitt Photo The crowd in the Annex in 2020. “We’re clear that this group does not collaborate with the police and does not follow the law,” Elicker maintained. He characterized the city’s approach to this year’s planned gathering as part of an ongoing safe-streets campaign. In “every neighborhood, I hear from people who are concerned about this activity,” Elicker said. “We have worked hard to confront drag racing that was a major problem last year, dirt bike and ATV riding. These are very difficult challenges to address. We have made progress on them. We often have to use creative solutions to respond.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Gabe Canestri Jr"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["motorcycle event"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year","year","year","year","Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Elicker","Elicker","Elicker","Elicker","Elicker"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["There is not a permit","in case individuals do gather"]}]}
+{"title":"Alanis Morissette concert at PNC Bank Arts Center canceled as Ida approaches","document":"Alanis Morissette and the band Garbage performed at the BB&T Pavilion Camden NJ on 8-26-2021.Phil McAuliffe For The Times Of Trenton For those who had plans to attend Alanis Morissette’s Wednesday night concert at PNC Bank Arts Center, you oughta know that it’s been canceled. The singer’s concert scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Holdmel concert center was cancelled around 4:30 p.m. as the the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida threatened to dump heavy rain and whip up tornadoes across New Jersey. “Due to severe weather and flash flood + tornado warnings in the area, tonight’s show at PNC Bank Arts Center has been cancelled,” a Facebook post from the center said. “Refunds will automatically be processed at point of purchase. Everyone stay safe and thank you for understanding.” The center had announced about three hours earlier that the show would still be on, in a since-deleted post. The National Weather Service has said the northern region of New Jersey faces the biggest threat of torrential rain — possibly as much as 4 to 6 inches — that could trigger flash flooding on roads as well as widespread flooding from rivers and streams that overflow their banks. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert at PNC Bank Arts Center","PNC Bank Arts Center","Holdmel concert center"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday night","7 p.m"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New Jersey","New Jersey"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["severe weather and flash flood + tornado warnings","flash flood"]}]}
+{"title":"Bangladeshi schools reopen after 18-month's closure","document":"More than 164,000 Rohingya children in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh returned to learning centres today after one of the longest disruptions to schooling globally due to COVID-19. Learning centres run by humanitarian agencies, which provide primary-level education for Rohingya refugee children, were closed 18 months ago, leaving children vulnerable to child marriage and child labour as a means for families to survive. The government announced that learning centres could reopen for children in grades two to four after a drop in positive testing rates for COVID-19 nationally and in Cox’s Bazar to around 5% this week from over 30% in early August. Bangladeshi schools reopened on September 12 but Rohingya children were still waiting to resume their education. Save the Children welcomed the re-opening of learning centres but called on the government to allow other age groups to also return to their classrooms and for a pilot programme using the curriculum from Myanmar. About 456,000 children are living among almost 900,000 refugees in the camps at Cox’s Bazar. Taslim,* 9, said it would help for teachers to use the Myanmar curriculum and to have teachers from Myanmar. “This would help me to be a doctor or teacher and be able to fulfil my dreams,” she told Save the Children. Save the Children’s Bangladesh Country Director, Onno Van Manen, said Rohingya children and families were keen to return to learning and quality education. “Efforts need to be re-doubled to provide quality education to Rohingya children. This can be achieved through community outreach to convince families to send their children back to school and by urgently resuming the rollout and expansion of the pilot program to allow Rohingya children to study in their mother-tongue using the curriculum,” he said. Save the Children, with the help of Rohingya and Bangladeshi teachers, have provided education to Rohingya refugees and the host community at 100 learning centres in Cox’s Bazar camps since 2017 when almost one million Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar into Bangladesh. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bangladeshi schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["18 months ago"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bangladesh","Bangladesh","Bangladesh"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-led schools closure for about 18 months caused students lost trillion hours","document":"Schoolchildren around the world have lost an estimated 1.8 trillion hours – and counting – of in-person learning since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. As a result, young learners have been cut off from their education and the other vital benefits schools provide. Every hour in school is precious, and every child should be given the opportunity to go back to school. As countries return from academic break, no effort should be spared to reopen schools, as schools are critical for children’s learning, safety, health and well-being. Number of students affected by prolonged school closures Globally, around 131 million schoolchildren in 11 countries have missed three quarters of their in-person learning from March 2020 to September 2021. Among them, 59 per cent – or nearly 77 million – have missed almost all in-person instruction time. These 77 million students come from six countries. Among these countries, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Venezuela have the largest number of students impacted by full school closures in the past year and a half. Around 27 per cent of countries continue to have schools fully or partially closed. Additionally, according to UNESCO’s latest data, more than 870 million students at all levels are currently facing disruptions to their education. School closures: Where do we stand today? As of September 2021, the data indicates school closures due to COVID-19 continue to be in place in many countries. Almost a year and a half since the pandemic was declared, 27 per cent of the countries continued to be fully or partially closed. Moreover, regional differences persist with full school closures being observed in 4 of the 9 regions. In two regions, a higher share of countries are keeping their schools fully closed in September 2021 than in February 2021: South Asia (increased from 18 per cent to 25 per cent); and East Asia and the Pacific (increased from 6 per cent to 21 per cent). In Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern and Southern Africa, however, the share of countries where schools are fully closed declined between February 2021 and September 2021. Overall, there is no region where all countries have fully reopened schools.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["from March 2020 to September 2021","September 2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["around the world","around","Around"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"The massive, yet invisible cost of keeping schools closed","document":"The impact of school closures on children and young people across the world is gigantic. The prolonged closures of schools since March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the most serious education crisis in the last 100 years. As Chile's Minister of Education Raul Figueroa said when he explained his government's efforts to restore learning, \"we have had an earthquake in education.\" My World Bank colleague, Indermit Gill, accurately likens the school closures impact on education to a bomb which destroys only one capital - the human capital. I wonder if societies and governments have internalized the magnitude of the shock. In countries with extensive school closures in South Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, the number of school days lost reaches 200. Such immense learning shocks are akin to a raging forest fire that must be put out. The World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF conceived the Mission: Recovery of Education 2021, as an urgent task for this year. If governments and societies want to “walk the talk” and demonstrate that the well-being of children and young people is indeed a political priority, urgent and decisive action is needed to open schools safely where they remain closed and to prioritize policies to ensure recovery of lost learning. Do school closures help combat the pandemic? Since the beginning of the pandemic, school closures were almost universally viewed as a mechanism to prevent contagion. The idea was based on presumptions rather than evidence. In the early stages of the pandemic, governments were navigating fearfully in a sea of ignorance. Even if children were not susceptible to getting seriously ill, they were presumed to be efficient transmitters of the virus. For some countries, including Sweden, such presumptions were not enough, and schools remained open. But those were exceptions. Now we have evidence suggesting that those presumptions were misplaced. A synthesis of epidemiological surveys and household-level analysis indicates that children transmit the virus less efficiently than adults. Evidence from school reopening initiatives suggest that with precautions and strategies to minimize transmission in place, schools are not a major source of transmission, nor high-risk environments for staff. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has concluded that for adults, the risk of infection in a school setting is no greater than at home or in the community, and also that despite new variants of the virus the negative impacts of proactive schools closures outweigh the benefits, so they should be used only as the last resort. Studies in Germany and the United States and the experiences of countries where schools have reopened between the first and second waves suggest that with appropriate mitigation strategies, reopening has not led to an increase in infections among students, teachers or in the community, even prior to the start of the vaccination processes. The bottom line is that there is no scientific evidence to presume that schools are at greater risk than other occupational or recreational environments of similar density. Nothing can justify keeping schools closed when at the same time restaurants, bars or shopping malls reopen. The protracted closure of schools was meant to protect adults who are at greater risk of falling severely ill - perhaps to no avail. And given the experiences of safe reopening in countries prior to vaccine development, education systems don't need to wait for widespread community vaccination before reopening. What has been the cost of school closures? There are no estimates of the benefits of school closures. In contrast, the cost of keeping schools closed in terms of children's learning, mental health, and socio-emotional development is extortionate. Despite countries’ laudable and indispensable efforts to provide remote education, which involved rapid adjustments, many countries are aware that remote learning has been a weak, unequal, and very partial compensation for face-to-face education. The evidence of that is mounting. The World Bank's simulations at the end of 2020 showed that the Learning Poverty indicator – the percentage of ten-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple text – would likely increase from 53 percent before the pandemic to 63 percent. That figure may be an underestimate as the calculations were based on a length of school closures that have been now vastly exceeded in many countries. We now have data on the actual huge learning losses emerging in both developed and developing countries. Evidence from the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom, countries that were able to measure learning when students returned to the classroom after the first wave of the pandemic, shows that despite short school closures and high internet penetration, there were significant learning losses. More recently, a study in Sao Paulo, where data was collected at the beginning and the end of 2020, shows that students learned 27.5 percent of what they would have learned if face-to-face classes had continued. In South Africa, where early grade students missed on average 60 percent of school days in 2020, Grade 2 students incurred learning losses equivalent to 57-70 percent of a year of learning. In Chile, initial assessments show that in 2020, in grades 6 through 12, despite a partial reopening, students mastered only 60 percent of curriculum content in reading and between 47 and 27 percent in math. Losing the most important tool to equalize opportunities Moreover, with schools closed the main space to equalize opportunities was lost. In all available studies, there is evidence of much larger losses the lower the socio-economic status. The school, despite its limitations in poor and in middle-income countries, is the main mechanism to equalize opportunity. For countless children and young people, school is the only safe space for stimulation, socialization, and meaningful learning. That space has disappeared for too many and for too long. While schools were closed, children’s opportunities for educational stimulation were defined by conditions at home. For the fortunate ones, those conditions included an internet connection, access to books, a space to work and parents to provide guidance. Under such conditions, some learning is possible. Others lacked those prerequisites for learning, and consequently lost their entire learning experience. The stark differences between children’s home learning environments during the pandemic epitomizes inequality of opportunity. What are education systems most concerned with recovering learning doing? First, we see concern about students’ learning losses. It is critical to have information about the magnitude of learning losses at the national and local levels. If education systems do not measure learning, they are flying blind. Choosing to measure current learning levels is not an easy decision, because in many cases the measurement of learning will bring bad news. However, grasping the reality at hand and understanding the extent of the loss of learning is vital to design apt remedial education and acceleration policies throughout the country. Secondly, we observe judicious efforts to reopen schools safely. The re-opening process must be an evidence-based decision. Hence, the main recommendation is ensuring schools have several prevention strategies in place to minimize the spread of COVID-19. These include physical distancing, wearing facemasks, testing, frequent handwashing and improving ventilation. Another key element is the early warning system and communication campaigns to bring back the students who have disengaged from the education system. Safety will be even greater if teachers’ vaccinations are prioritized; according to the Global Education Recovery Tracker, of Johns Hopkins, UNICEF and the World Bank, just over half of countries have prioritized teachers in national vaccination strategies. Finally, is advisable to start with primary schools as evidence shows that the risk of transmission is lower among younger children. It is also more challenging to compensate for face-to-face education through remote instruction with young children. Thirdly, we note a flexibility to adapt and meet the current needs of each child in order to recover learning losses. School calendars need to be adjusted to make up for lost time and the curriculum must be adapted to prioritize foundational learning, with flexibility at the local level in accordance with the needs of students. Flexibility may imply a staggered return to school, staggered arrival times, with students on alternating attendance schedule to reduce the number of students per classroom. To facilitate the return, teachers should be provided with tools to assess the level of learning of each student, both from an academic and socio-emotional point of view. Every child is different, and their experience during the pandemic may have been different; even within the same classroom, a child may have been in a home with books, access to the internet, a space to work and parents who stimulated him, while his classmate may have been completely disconnected from the learning process. This makes for a complex recovery process which will require remedial strategies on foundational learning, socioemotional support to students, as well as intense support and training programs for teachers. School openings must be safe, flexible, and voluntary. But I would add an additional feature: they must also be urgent. The return to face-to-face learning is urgent. Decisions about school openings as well as policy actions for accelerated learning need to be underpinned by the available evidence, not be influenced by political considerations. We must all acknowledge that the pedagogical, administrative, and logistical tasks involved in the reopening process are extremely challenging. But we must also remember that even if we make every effort to recover learning, we cannot turn back time, and that lost learning, lost play and lost stimulation in childhood and adolescence are difficult to recover. No one is 6 or 7 years old again. Protecting and recovering learning for this generation of children and youth is a moral imperative, like defusing a ticking bomb that threatens to evaporate the human capital that countries and their economies need to ensure more equitable and prosperous societies in the future. Every single day matters, which is why we must act now to protect our children’s future. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","school","school","school","school","school","school","school","School","school","School","school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["since March 2020","reaches 200"]},{"role":"Location","values":["across the world","World","World","World","World","South Asia, the Middle East and Latin America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"An Emergency Backup Plan for Canceled In-Person Events","document":" Rob Carey | Sep 02, 2021 When the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses canceled its 5,000-attendee annual meeting just 10 days out due to a resurgence of Covid in their host destination, its leadership made the risky decision to keep the same August dates to execute the event online. Working almost around the clock, the association built out and executed its meeting on Convey Services’ Cloud Conventions virtual platform with the help of MCI Group and Freeman, the latter of which provided the “simulive” broadcasting of sessions. That trial-by-fire experience prodded Convey Services to design a formal contingency product for business events. Called SafetyNet, the product is a standby virtual-event template that can be activated if the in-person event cannot be held or if attendance for the in-person event drops to an unsatisfactory level. In short, associations can create a virtual-event setup without committing to all the costs of a virtual event. There’s a basic set-up fee, and if the host organization chooses to go live with a hybrid or all-virtual event, that fee is credited to the cost of the total event package. SafetyNet maintains a virtual platform on standby behind a private login, allowing an event to be developed for a online audience in a matter of days without needing technical or programming support. For that set-up fee, Convey Services helps the client create a foundation for what can become a fully configured, custom-branded virtual program. The foundation is hosted on a secure custom URL and can be built out to deliver live and on-demand sessions, exhibitor booths, sponsor activations, and a resource center for all content. For video interaction between presenters, attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors, SafetyNet can integrate with Zoom and Bluejeans, while Apple’s iFrame is built into the platform. Gamification and language-translation options are also available. Attendee data can be imported from the in-person event’s registration system, including demographics and event-access permissions. Exhibitors are assigned a virtual-booth template and can place their content and activate their attendee-communication channels without technical assistance.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["annual meeting"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sep 02, 2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["host destination"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["resurgence of Covid"]}]}
+{"title":"Here’s what WHO found about the origins of the coronavirus, we also visited closed market.","document":" Director of Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, University of Sydney Dominic Dwyer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. University of Sydney provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. View all partners As I write, I am in hotel quarantine in Sydney, after returning from Wuhan, China. There, I was the Australian representative on the international World Health Organization’s (WHO) investigation into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Much has been said of the politics surrounding the mission to investigate the viral origins of COVID-19. So it’s easy to forget that behind these investigations are real people. As part of the mission, we met the man who, on December 8, 2019, was the first confirmed COVID-19 case; he’s since recovered. We met the husband of a doctor who died of COVID-19 and left behind a young child. We met the doctors who worked in the Wuhan hospitals treating those early COVID-19 cases, and learned what happened to them and their colleagues. We witnessed the impact of COVID-19 on many individuals and communities, affected so early in the pandemic, when we didn’t know much about the virus, how it spreads, how to treat COVID-19, or its impacts. We talked to our Chinese counterparts — scientists, epidemiologists, doctors — over the four weeks the WHO mission was in China. We were in meetings with them for up to 15 hours a day, so we became colleagues, even friends. This allowed us to build respect and trust in a way you couldn’t necessarily do via Zoom or email. This is what we learned about the origins of SARS-CoV-2. It was in Wuhan, in central China, that the virus, now called SARS-CoV-2, emerged in December 2019, unleashing the greatest infectious disease outbreak since the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. Our investigations concluded the virus was most likely of animal origin. It probably crossed over to humans from bats, via an as-yet-unknown intermediary animal, at an unknown location. Such “zoonotic” diseases have triggered pandemics before. But we are still working to confirm the exact chain of events that led to the current pandemic. Sampling of bats in Hubei province and wildlife across China has revealed no SARS-CoV-2 to date. We visited the now-closed Wuhan wet market which, in the early days of the pandemic, was blamed as the source of the virus. Some stalls at the market sold “domesticated” wildlife products. These are animals raised for food, such as bamboo rats, civets and ferret badgers. There is also evidence some domesticated wildlife may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. However, none of the animal products sampled after the market’s closure tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We also know not all of those first 174 early COVID-19 cases visited the market, including the man who was diagnosed in December 2019 with the earliest onset date. However, when we visited the closed market, it’s easy to see how an infection might have spread there. When it was open, there would have been around 10,000 people visiting a day, in close proximity, with poor ventilation and drainage. There’s also genetic evidence generated during the mission for a transmission cluster there. Viral sequences from several of the market cases were identical, suggesting a transmission cluster. However, there was some diversity in other viral sequences, implying other unknown or unsampled chains of transmission. A summary of modelling studies of the time to the most recent common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 sequences estimated the start of the pandemic between mid-November and early December. There are also publications suggesting SARS-CoV-2 circulation in various countries earlier than the first case in Wuhan, although these require confirmation. The market in Wuhan, in the end, was more of an amplifying event rather than necessarily a true ground zero. So we need to look elsewhere for the viral origins. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Wuhan wet market"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Wuhan, China","Wuhan","China","Wuhan","China","China","Wuhan","Wuhan","Wuhan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"NYS Fair changes several concerts after 2 more performers cancel","document":"Lorraine Lewis (L) and Britt Lightning of Vixen perform in concert at HEB Center on September 28, 2019 in Cedar Park, Texas. UPDATE: Another NYS Fair concert has been canceled. The Oak Ridge Boys backed out of performing Tuesday, Aug. 31, after members of their touring crew tested positive for Covid-19; local country group Whiskey Hollow Rush will take over their 2 p.m. time slot at Chevy Court. * * * * * If you’re planning on seeing a concert at the Great New York State Fair, double-check the schedule before you go. NYS Fair officials announced late Wednesday that two more performers have canceled, forcing more lineup changes: — Syracuse-based rock band Dangerous Type will no longer perform today (Thursday, Aug. 26) at Chevy Park at 2 p.m.; the timeslot is being filled with Seattle Sons, a local group which celebrates the grunge music that came out of Seattle in the 90′s (and features two members of Dangerous Type). — Also, Great White has dropped out of its Aug. 28 performance at Chevy Court with Vixen. Vixen, an all-female glam metal band best known for “Edge of a Broken Heart” and “Cryin’,” will now perform the 7 p.m. show Saturday entirely themselves. Other recent changes to NYS Fair concerts include: — Noah Cyrus canceled her performance Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m. at Chevy Park after a member of her crew tested positive for Covid-19; Upstate New York-based modern jazz group The Pickle Mafia will replace her. — Syracuse rapper Scorey, who took Sister Sledge’s timeslot after the disco group canceled, is no longer on the Fair’s schedule. The local Born to Run Band will instead perform the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, on the Chevy Park stage. The NYS Fair is seeing more last-minute changes than usual this year, but it’s far from the first time that concerts have quickly shuffled. Justin Bieber rescheduled a 2010 concert at the Grandstand due to illness, playing to 17,000 fans three days later. Nas replaced Snoop Dogg within hours at Chevy Court in 2015, the same year Jason Derulo took Meghan Trainor’s timeslot when she canceled her entire tour due to a vocal cord injury. And the Dropkick Murphys filled in for Dickey Betts in 2018 after the Allman Brothers Band co-founder suffered a stroke. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Noah Cyrus canceled her performance","performance","NYS Fair concert","NYS Fair concert","disco group","entire tour"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday, Aug. 31","Aug","Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m","2 p.m","2015"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Chevy Park","Chevy Park","Chevy Park"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a member of her crew tested positive for Covid-19","crew tested positive","Covid-19","members of their touring crew tested positive for Covid-19","Covid-19","vocal cord injury"]}]}
+{"title":"Trump’s company puts D.C. hotel lease up for sale, again, with many hotels closed by COVID-19","document":"Former president Donald Trump’s company has again hired a broker to sell the lease to its D.C. hotel, according to two people familiar with the discussions, a second attempt to unload the property after the pandemic thwarted a previous effort. The Trump Organization previously listed the Pennsylvania Avenue hotel, in the federally owned Old Post Office Pavilion, in the fall of 2019. When covid-19 struck, many hotels closed either completely or partially due to government shutdowns, and the company pulled the property off the market. Now, with Trump under investigation by prosecutors in New York and the economy beginning to take off, his company is trying again, hiring the brokerage firm Newmark Group to market the lease, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share private business discussions. Representatives for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative of Newmark Group declined to comment. The hotel, which Trump’s company leases from the General Services Administration, has suffered financially from both the toll covid has taken on luxury travel and the damage Trump’s brand has endured due to his politics, with many liberal, corporate and international clients unwilling to book rooms or events at the hotel. Rooms were running nearly half empty at the hotel the last time the company put it up for sale, according to marketing documents acquired by The Washington Post. Last year revenue at the property fell by 62 percent, according to Trump’s government disclosure forms. The newly proposed sale comes on the heels of Manhattan’s district attorney convening a grand jury expected to decide whether to indict the former president, other executives at his company or the business itself. The move indicates that District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s investigation of the former president and his business has reached an advanced stage after more than two years. Prosecutor in Trump criminal probe convenes grand jury to hear evidence, weigh potential charges It’s unclear whether the D.C. hotel will be a factor in Vance’s investigation into Trump’s business or in a related inquiry by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). The property has not been named as a target in any public filings related to either Vance’s case or the investigation by James, but the Wall Street Journal reported last week that Vance’s office is investigating the hotel in addition to other properties. Trump called the seating of the grand jury “a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American history.” “This is purely political, and an affront to the almost 75 million voters who supported me in the Presidential Election, and it’s being driven by highly partisan Democrat prosecutors,” the former president said in a statement last week. Vance’s office declined to comment. Should the hotel sell, it would likely mean the name “Trump” would come down from the building, as industry experts say a new operator would probably want to capitalize on a different hotel brand to grow revenue among a broader swath of clients. In addition to the difficulty of reaching a wide array of guests, hotel management has not reopened the hotel’s outdoor bar seating out of concerns for the comfort and safety of guests. Whether it sells will depend on what price Trump and his family are willing to consider. The Trump Organization put an estimated $200 million into renovating the property, far more than other bidders were willing to offer, and took out a $170 million loan from Deutsche Bank to finance the project. Last time it was up for sale, Eric Trump, the president’s son, said the company was looking for a sales price of around $500 million. Another factor in the sale may be the pool of potential buyers willing to do business with Trump and his company. For months Trump has spread election falsehoods and before leaving office, he urged crowds to march to the U.S. Capitol just before the Jan. 6 attack, prompting some banks, law firms, real estate brokers and other companies to swear off working with him or his company in the future. Trump won the deal to renovate the Old Post Office before he was elected but the hotel became a center of controversy once he entered office. Trump continued to own his business while it served corporations, foreign governments and other clients with business before the U.S. government, leading to allegations of conflicts of interest. David A. Fahrenthold contributed to this report. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["many hotels"]},{"role":"Date","values":["When covid-19 struck"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Ride United bike fundraiser canceled due to COVID-19","document":"Ride United participants take off from Rotary Park at Heritage Landing to Ravenna on the 35-mile course. (Dave Alexander | MLive.com file)Dave Alexander MUSKEGON, MI - The 2021 Ride United fundraiser has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10th annual event was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25 to take place in tandem with the Taste of Muskegon festival. “Due to COVID-19, our staffing and volunteer capacity prevented us from feeling confident that we could deliver a safe and successful event,” organizers said in a Facebook post on Friday, Sept. 17. Organized by the United Way of the Lakeshore, Ride United raises money for the non-profit to help working families in Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties. Hundreds of people usually participate by collecting donations and completing 6-mile, 25-mile, 50-mile, or 100-mile courses on the lakeshore. In 2020, the fundraiser was held virtually because of the ongoing pandemic. Organizers canceled this year’s event as COVID-19 cases continue to climb statewide because of the delta variant. Michigan reported an average of 2,395 daily cases of COVID-19 Monday, Sept. 20--the highest daily average since May. Anyone who registered for Ride United 2021 can receive a refund or participate in next year’s event. “We are making plans to come back stronger in 2022,” said United Way of the Lakeshore. Taste of Muskegon, an outdoor food festival, is still scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25 at Hackley Park. More on MLive: Lab planning $1.5M expansion to meet demand, and that doesn’t even include marijuana or PFAS Work on new restaurant at Muskegon’s arena finally begins Wider sidewalks, less parking coming to Muskegon’s downtown Western Avenue ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The 2021 Ride United fundraiser"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday, Sept. 25"]},{"role":"Location","values":["lakeshore","Lakeshore","Lakeshore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Mall shops, places of worship linked to TTSH cluster to close for 2 days","document":"SINGAPORE — Multi-ministry taskforce co-chair Lawrence Wong on Friday (30 April) announced a tightening of local COVID-19 measures amid a rise in community cases. COVID-19: Social interactions should be limited to two per day – MTF [UPDATE at 2.40pm on Saturday, 1 May 2021: 313 Somerset and AMK Hub, previously listed as having been visited by a case from the TTSH cluster on 26 and 27 April have been removed from the list of places visited by the community during the infectious period.] SINGAPORE — All public places visited by COVID-19 cases in the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) cluster, including places of worship and those in at least nine malls, will be closed for two days for cleaning and to facilitate the testing of staff there for COVID-19. These places, which were visited by 13 infectious community cases linked to the cluster as of Friday (30 April), include: 3 mosques: Masjid Hajjah Fatimah, Masjid Al-Falah, Masjid Abdul Hamid Kg Pasiran One church: City Harvest Church at Jurong West Places within nine shopping malls: AMK Hub, Orchard Central, Junction 8, VivoCity, Esplanade Xchange, Bugis +, Bugis Junction, 100AM, 313 Somerset Places visited within the shopping malls include an arcade – Paco Funworld Bugis + – as well as three NTUC FairPrice/FairPrice Xtra outlets at Toa Payoh Hub, Kitchener Complex, and VivoCity, respectively. The full list, which has not been finalised, is as follows: The MOH said it will also carry out surveillance testing for patients who had been discharged from, and visitors to, the TTSH on or after 18 April; as well as individuals who had been to or who work at the public places that the TTSH cluster cases had visited during their infectious period. \"Our testing is ongoing and we expect to detect more cases in the coming days,\" said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, who spoke at a virtual media conference on Friday. \"The next few days will be critical: if we find many more cases that suggest widespread transmission, we will have to introduce more measures to break the chain of transmission.\" Healthcare institutions have also been reminded to closely monitor patients who were previously admitted at the TTSH from 18 April. And while close contacts of the confirmed cases who are at higher risk of infection have already been identified through contact-tracing, MOH is offering tests to these individuals to pre-emptively mitigate any potential risk of wider, undetected community transmission. The ministry also advised all visitors and patients who were at the TTSH since 18 April to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit. They are \"strongly encouraged\" to visit a regional screening centre (RSC) or public health preparedness clinic (PHPC) for a government-funded swab test, it added. Starting from 3 May through 16 May, these individuals may book an appointment for a free COVID-19 PCR test at any of the “Swab and Send Home” (SASH) PHPCs islandwide or walk in to one of the following four RSCs: Former Da Qiao Primary School, 8 Ang Mo Kio Street 54, S(569185); Former Shuqun Secondary School, 450 Jurong East Street 21, S(609604); Former Coral Primary School, 20 Pasir Ris Street 51, S(518902); Former Bishan Park Secondary School, 2 Sin Ming Walk S(575565). \"We strongly encourage all individuals in the identified groups to come forward for testing. Individuals will only need to bring along their photo identification, and inform the PHPC or RSC staff of the date and time they were at the TTSH or the specified public places. The cost of these tests will be fully borne by the government,\" said the MOH. These announcements come on the same day the MOH confirmed an additional four cases linked to a fully vaccinated nurse at the TTSH, bringing the total linked cases in the cluster to 13. The new \"case 62541\" cluster, named after the 46-year-old Filipina's case number, includes at least one fully-vaccinated doctor and six patients, with the oldest aged 94. Four general wards – 7D, 10B, 9C and 9D – where both infected staff and patients had been, have since been locked down. This means that there is no movement in or out of the wards, except for essential tests. \"Even then, when we do move them, we take full precautions moving them,\" said TTSH chief executive Dr Eugene Soh, who was addressing reporters at a virtual media conference. \"We will not admit any further patients into that ward and we will have a dedicated group of staff, taking care of those patients in the ward. That is essential for us to put a barrier here, to make sure that we keep the patients in the ward safe, as well as keep those outside the ward safe as well.\" All close contacts of the identified cases, including patients, visitors and staff who have been in the affected wards, have also been placed on quarantine. A total of 76 staff members have been placed on a leave of absence (LOA) , awaiting their quarantine orders based on further contact tracing. Dr Soh added that he anticipates more staff will be placed on LOA or quarantine. In addition, 61 patients, including confirmed COVID-19 patients, have been transferred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). In lieu of the growing cluster, the hospital has been testing all TTSH staff and patients who were in the TTSH Main Block Levels 3 to 13 from 18 to 28 April. According to Dr Soh, all 1,100 inpatients and 4,500 staff working in the main TTSH wards will be swabbed, with the former to complete swabbing by Friday evening. Staff members will complete their swab tests by the weekend. It has also stepped up clinical surveillance of all inpatients who may develop fever and ARI symptoms, as well as restrict movement of healthcare workers in the hospital, including the suspension of all healthcare student postings at the TTSH and non-essential trainings. Visitors to the hospital have also been barred, except on a compassionate basis to patients who are critically ill. Tan Tock Seng Hospital has banned all visits to its wards after a Filipino nurse there tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a cluster. READ MORE: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-some-places-in-9-malls-3-mosques-and-1-church-closed-two-days-mtf-105126955.html Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: 16 new COVID community cases in Singapore, highest in over 9 months Fully vaccinated nurse at TTSH has COVID-19, 4 others preliminarily positive: MOH Woman behind racist videos had YouTube channel removed, property firm terminated 'associate' Former French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon returns to court on Monday to try to clear his name in a corruption scandal that caused his downfall and sealed the rise of Emmanuel Macron. The wave of inflation that's swept the United States this year has spared no part of the country, not even Wilmington, the city that has provided the backdrop for much of US President Joe Biden's political career. The nomad was thirsty, and the journey into the Somali desert would be long and taxing. Gaming giant Epic's CEO on Tuesday launched another broadside at Apple and Google, saying the tech giants must be stopped from abusing their control over the marketplaces for apps. Sri Lanka shut its only oil refinery Monday after running out of dollars to import crude, in an escalating economic crisis that has triggered shortages of food and other staples. Fenster's release was secured following 'face-to-face negotiations' between former US diplomat Bill Richardson and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing An orange farmer in southeastern China saw his online orders jump 150 times after he donated a few boxes of the fruit to a Zhejiang University student for experiments, because he wished to “make contributions for the country”. Chen Kai, a farmer in Linhai of Zhejiang, eastern China, has had to deal with more than 15,000 online orders per day, previously the number of daily orders at his shop on Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo was fewer than 100, the Zhejiang Daily reported. It happened aft From Taiwan to Covid and the South China Sea, here are some of the flashpoint issues that US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping may discuss during their virtual summit. It will have escaped no one's notice that we are spending more and more time with headphones in or on our ears. While this listening time was previously associated with music, the rise of podcasts and audiobooks is shaking up our audio consumption habits. So much so that Americans are starting to abandon music streaming, according to a new study. Images from the Podlaska regional police show water cannons being sprayed at stone-throwing migrants who have gathered on the Polish-Belarusian border. Polish border guards estimate up to 4,000 migrants are currently camped out along the border between Poland and Belarus in increasingly dire conditions and freezing temperatures. A standoff near the Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing on the EU's eastern frontier began last week when hundreds of migrants gathered there. \"Migrants attacked our soldiers and officers with rocks and are trying to destroy the fence and cross into Poland,\" Poland's defence ministry has said in justification of the use of water cannon. MATUMBAMAN's departure from Secret follows that of offlaner Ludwig \"zai\" Wåhlberg, who parted ways with the team earlier this month to join Team Liquid. British singer Sting is back at the age of 70 with a hopeful new album, though he admits he sees a lot to worry him in the world right now. Dubbed as the “King in the North,” Rekkles is considered one of the best LoL players in Europe, winning four League of Legends European Championship titles and participating in four World Championships. Lionel Messi trains alongside Argentina's national football team in Ezeiza ahead of the World Cup qualifier match against arch rivals Brazil. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has said Messi, who only played 15 minutes off the bench in Thursday's 1-0 win over Uruguay, will be fit to play in Tuesday's match. Meanwhile, Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the match with a thigh problem, the Brazilian football confederation (CBF) announced Monday. Earlier on Monday, The US and Russia have maintained strong space ties since the end of the Cold War, cooperating closely on the ISS, which they built together US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping opened a virtual summit Monday with an appeal for better communication between the superpowers and what Biden called \"guardrails\" to avoid conflict. Pollution levels in Delhi have remained ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ for most of November Reigning Singapore Premier League champions have signed South Korea international striker Kim Shin-wook, and have made the league's highest-paid player. Police in northwest England say they are treating a deadly blast outside a hospital in Liverpool on Sunday as a \"terrorist incident\" JP Morgan Chase has sued Tesla for $162 million over a stock warrants contract, accusing the company of \"flagrantly\" ignoring its obligation to pay the investment bank after the electric carmaker's shares soared.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["places of worship and those in at least nine malls","Places","Places","places"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday (30 April)","for two days"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["tightening of local COVID-19 measures"]}]}
+{"title":"Russia shuts down opposition leader Alexey Navalny's anti-corruption foundation","document":" Russia's government has ordered opposition leader Alexey Navalny's political organization to shut down, at least for now. The fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin just ended a three-week hunger strike in a Russian prison. CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports that Navalny's supporters used his strike action as a springboard for new anti- government protests. Particularly among younger Russians, the movement spearheaded by Navalny has galvanized into a powerful groundswell of domestic opposition to Putin, and that's exactly what prosecutors hope to shut down with their latest move. Navalny himself was the victim of an assassination attempt last summer — poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. He accuses the Kremlin, and Putin himself, of ordering the attack. The U.S. and other Western nations agree. The Kremlin has steadfastly denied any role in the poisoning, but as soon as Navalny recovered from treatment in Germany and returned to Russia, he was sent to jail. Now a court wants to silence his anti-corruption foundation, too, by labeling it an extremist organization, on par with ISIS and al Qaeda. The court's ruling is pending, but the government has ordered the foundation to be shut down while the extremist designation is considered. Palmer asked Vladimir Ashurkov, the foundation's director, why he believes the Kremlin would take such a dramatic step to silence Navalny's organization. \"I guess because over the years, Navalny and our organization emerged as the most important opponent to Vladimir Putin,\" he told CBS News. The foundation has consistently highlighted alleged corruption in Putin's close circles. Most recently, it released a video showing a vast country estate allegedly built for the Russian leader. The video showed, among other luxuries at the estate, gold-plated toilet brushes. It was viewed more than 115 million times. The toilet brushes went viral on social media. Since the video, anti-Putin protesters on the streets have carried gold-painted toilet brushes to mock the president. The Kremlin tries to ignore Navalny. President Putin won't even say his name. But the ruthless measures being taken to repress him and his movement may backfire, serving only to add to his fame, and his support. \"Whatever comes next, Alexey has already won,\" Navalny's wife Yulia wrote in a letter to CBS' \"60 Minutes.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Alexey Navalny's political organization"]},{"role":"Date","values":["at least for now"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Russia","Russia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Navalny's supporters used his strike action as a springboard for new anti- government protests","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny","Navalny"]}]}
+{"title":"When Dance Shut Down, These Directors Banded Together","document":"Since last summer, leaders of New York’s pre-eminent dance companies have been meeting weekly to share ideas and problems. By Roslyn Sulcas Last summer, Jonathan Stafford, the artistic director of New York City Ballet, was feeling isolated and anxious. It was a few months into the pandemic, and the strangeness of lockdown and the turmoil and urgency of the Black Lives Matter protests were on his mind. City Ballet’s performances, programs and plans had come to an abrupt halt — as they had for performing arts organizations across the country. No one knew when or how theaters would open again. Many dancers had fled to family or friends outside the city; most didn’t have adequate space to keep up the intense physical training needed to keep in shape for performance. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["City Ballet’s performances, programs"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Last summer","a few months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Taliban entered led the most universities and public offices in Kabul remain close","document":" Afghans who hope to be evacuated head through flooded streets towards Kabul’s airport.Credit: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock On Sunday 15 August, geologist Hamidullah Waizy was interviewing job candidates at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in Kabul when he was told the Taliban had entered the city, and he must evacuate. The next morning, he saw armed militants on the streets. Waizy, a researcher at Kabul Polytechnic University who was recently also appointed director-general of prospecting and exploration of mines at the ministry, was shocked by the city’s rapid fall. Since then, he’s lived in limbo, mostly shuttered up in the relative safety of his home. Across Kabul, most universities and public offices remain closed. The Taliban says it wants officials to continue working, but it is not clear what this will look like. “The future is very uncertain,” Waizy told Nature. How US sanctions are crippling science in Iran When the fundamentalist group last held the country, in 1996–2001, it brutally enforced a conservative version of Islamic Sharia law, characterized by women’s-rights violations and suppression of freedom of expression. But after it was overthrown in 2001, international funding poured into Afghanistan and universities thrived. Now, academics fear for their own safety. They also worry that research will languish without money and personal freedoms, and because educated people will flee. Some fear that they could be persecuted for being involved in international collaborations, or because of their fields of study or their ethnicity. “The achievements we had over the past 20 years are all at great risk,” says Attaullah Ahmadi, a public-health scientist at Kateb University in Kabul. According to news reports, billions of dollars in overseas finance for Afghanistan’s government — such as assets held by the US Federal Reserve and credit from the International Monetary Fund — have been frozen. It’s not clear whether or when the funding will be released, and how that will affect universities and researchers, but many report salaries not being paid. In 2001, after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, a US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. In 2004, a new government was elected. Kenneth Holland, a dean at O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat, India, was president of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) in Kabul in 2017–19. He says that when he arrived in the country in 2006, he found “almost no research being done at universities; no culture of research”. Since 2004, the World Bank, the US Agency for International Development and other international organizations have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into universities to support teaching, faculty training and some research, he says. Some three dozen public universities have been established or re-established since 2010, and tens more private universities have been set up. Public universities are funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, which is financed by international donors, says Holland. Private universities survive on tuition fees, although the AUAF is mostly funded by the US government. Students graduate at the American University of Afghanistan in 2019.Credit: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times/Redux/eyevine The student population at public universities grew from 8,000 in 20011 to 170,000 in 2018, one-quarter of whom by that time were women2. And although Afghanistan’s contribution to international journals remained small, the number of papers recorded annually in the Scopus database increased from 71 in 2011 to 285 in 2019.2 Shakardokht Jafari, a medical physicist at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK, who is originally from Afghanistan, has seen much progress since 2001, from burgeoning enrolment of female students to growing output on topics from cancer to geology. But now she fears “there will be a stagnation of science and research progress”. For a long time “scientists considered Afghanistan a black hole”, says Najibullah Kakar, a geohazards scientist at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam. He is one of many Afghans who went abroad for their education, intending to return with new skills to help build the nation. In 2014, he helped to install Afghanistan’s first seismic network to study plate tectonics. He continued that work until 2019, when conflicts made it difficult to travel to remote areas. He and his team planned to establish a seismic monitoring and research centre in Afghanistan to warn of natural hazards. But since the fall of Kabul, they have been in a state of panic, and Kakar, who says he has not slept for days, is desperately trying to help get his colleagues out. Taliban fighters patrol the streets in Kabul.Credit: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/Getty Kakar’s colleagues are among a tide of researchers seeking asylum overseas. Rose Anderson, a director at humanitarian organization Scholars at Risk (SAR) in New York City, which finds threatened scholars safe havens at universities, says that in August alone, SAR received more than 500 applications from people in Afghanistan. Some are law scholars who fear reprisals if their field is at odds with the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law. Many women fear being targeted for their gender and women’s-rights activism; some men fear being punished for teaching or supervising women. Others worry that they could be added to hit lists because they studied abroad or have international connections. Almost all “reported a fear of being targeted just because they are in favour of free and critical inquiry and held ideals around respect for human rights and women’s rights”, says Anderson. Many have gone into hiding, or plan to cross into neighbouring countries. So far, Anderson says, 164 institutions globally have agreed to host scholars, and SAR has appealed to US and European governments to fast-track visas and continue evacuation flights. But getting people out is difficult: embassies are closed, Kabul airport is overrun and dangerous to get to, and escape over land is hard. Many at risk remain in Afghanistan. Holland says researchers at the AUAF are particularly vulnerable. The institution has been attacked by militants before: in 2016, 13 people were killed, including faculty members, staff and students. All 60 or so non-Afghan staff members have been evacuated, but only about 20 of some 400 local employees have been flown out, he says. Another 800 students and more than 1,000 alumni could become targets, Holland says. The largest share of Afghanistan’s population of 39 million, including many members of the Taliban, is ethnically Pashtun. Researchers from other ethnic groups risk persecution. Musa Joya is a medical physicist at Tehran University of Medical Science in Iran, who also works as a lecturer in Kabul. He belongs to the Farsi-speaking Hazara community, which he says makes him a target. He had planned to return to Kabul next year to work at a radiotherapy centre supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but those plans could be suspended. Remaining in Iran might not be a solution either, because it is difficult for non-nationals to gain employment at research institutes, Joya says. India–Pakistan nuclear escalation: where could it lead? His wife and children are still in Afghanistan. “I really see a dark future,” he says. “I don’t know how to feed my family; how to rescue them; how to protect them.” He hasn’t heard reports of the Taliban persecuting people in Kabul, but news of killings in other provinces alarms him. People are “getting ready for a storm”, he says. There are a few hints that things might not be as restrictive as they were under the previous Taliban administration. Several researchers report that the Taliban is in discussion with university heads about restarting classes. There are suggestions that women might be allowed to continue their studies, although the Taliban has ordered that women and men be taught separately, and some universities have proposed introducing partitions in classrooms. But in the city of Bamyan, west of Kabul, women have been told not to work and to stay at home, says a female lecturer and education researcher there, who graduated from AUAF and is Hazara. “I am under threat from the Taliban now,” she says. Scientists also worry about the future of research. Joya fears that the Taliban won’t prioritize research, or recognize its value. And he does not know how universities will cope without international financial support. One Kabul-based scholar and member of the Afghanistan Science Academy, who does not want to be named, says this is the third time that he and his family, like many in Afghanistan, have lost everything. He fled during the unrest in the late 1970s ahead of the invasion of the Soviet Union; again in the late 1990s during the Taliban’s previous tenure; and is now considering fleeing once more. “It is a very difficult situation for a human being: you are born in war, you grow up in war and now you will die in war.” US civil-rights group offers support to researchers facing China scrutiny Many people with postgraduate degrees have already fled. “This is a big catastrophe for the future of Afghanistan,” he says. “There will be no educated people left.” The academy, for example, employed some 200 scholars and 160 other staff, with an annual budget of some 300 million afghani (US$3.5 million), he adds. But they, and many government employees, have not been paid for two months, as the Taliban tightened its grip on the nation. “The system is almost paralysed,” says Ahmadi. It is not clear whether the international community will recognize the new government and continue to provide funding. Researchers hope they will not be abandoned. “We spent all our money, energy and time in Afghanistan to build a brighter future for ourselves and our children. But with this kind of withdrawal, they destroyed all our lives, all our hopes and ambitions,” says Joya. 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+{"title":"Operating hours of shopping malls, supermarkets and convenience stores will be shortened to reduce the spread of Covid-19","document":"updated: 24 Apr 2021 at 16:29 writer: Online Reporters Operating hours of shopping malls, supermarkets and convenience stores will be shortened further in 18 high-risk provinces in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the Thai Retailers Association (TRA) said on Saturday. In addition, 42 provinces have now made mask-wearing in public mandatory, while officials in Nonthaburi are asking — but not yet ordering — residents to stay home from 9pm to 4am. Starting on Sunday, the TRA said, shopping malls and community malls in 18 provinces will be open from 11am to 8pm; supermarkets and food courts must close at 9pm, and convenience stores must close from 10pm to 5am. The new hours will be in effect until May 2. ADVERTISEMENT The changes apply in the following “red zone” provinces: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Rayong, Sa Kaew, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Suphan Buri, Tak and Udon Thani. Yon Pokesap, president of the Thai Shopping Centres Association (TSCA), said that promotional activities at malls, which draw people together, would continue to be banned. As well, he said, more staff of member businesses will be asked to work from home if possible. ADVERTISEMENT The TSCA membership includes MBK, The Mall Group, Central Pattana, Siam Retail Development, The Platinum Group, Seacon Development, Siam Future Development, Siam Piwat Group and KE Land. In Nonthaburi, the provincial administration said it was asking residents for “cooperation” to not leave their homes from 9pm to 4am unless they have a good reason. As well, people are being asked not to eat together in groups. Provincial authorities have also expanded the list of establishments required to stay closed in order to reduce virus transmission risk. It includes entertainment places such as pubs, bars, karaokes, bathing houses, massage parlours and others; gaming shops; water and amusement parks, including those at malls; amulet centres; swimming pools; cock- or fish-fighting rings or any animal training or competition sites. Also in Nonthaburi, Bangkruai Hospital announced it would be closed from Monday to tend to existing Covid patients with moderate to severe symptoms. The 60-bed community facility said that under no circumstances would it accept accident or general patients. People can seek medical services from tambon health promotion hospitals for Bang Kruai and Bang Khun Kong from 8am to 6pm. Meanwhile, mask-wearing in both indoor and outdoor public spaces is now compulsory in 42 provinces, according to the Ministry of Interior. Violators can be fined up to 20,000 baht. The provinces are: CENTRAL Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Kanchanaburi (only at markets, flea markets and floating markets), Nonthaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Saraburi, Suphan Buri EAST Chon Buri, Trat NORTH Lamphun, Phetchabun, Sukhothai, Tak, Uttaradit NORTHEAST Amnat Charoen, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Loei, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yasothon SOUTH Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phangnga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Trang, Yala. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["supermarkets and food courts","supermarkets","convenience stores","convenience stores","entertainment places such as pubs, bars, karaokes, bathing houses, massage parlours and others; gaming shops; water and amusement parks, including those at malls; amulet centres; swimming pools; cock- or fish-fighting rings or any animal training or competition sites","malls","malls","Bangkruai Hospital"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Starting on Sunday","9pm","from 10pm to 5am","until May 2","from Monday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Nonthaburi","Nonthaburi","Nonthaburi","Nonthaburi","Nonthaburi","Thai","Thai"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["reduce the spread of Covid-19","Covid"]}]}
+{"title":"Reggae entertainer Chronixx's upcoming concert at the Brooklyn Mirage will cancle","document":"Reggae entertainer Chronixx has revealed that his upcoming concert at the Brooklyn Mirage scheduled for September 6, has been cancelled. On Monday (Aug 30, 2021), the “Skankin sweet” singjay shared a post on Instagram with his over 893 thousand followers. The post reads, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, our September 6th concert at the Brooklyn Mirage has been cancelled. We appreciate everyone who brought tickets and made plans to attend. Thank you for always showing us love. #delasplash.” Chronixx in the caption further stated, “Massive love to my family all over the world and especially the family in NYC. The almighty is carrying us.” Fellow reggae entertainers Kaba Pyramid and Jesse Royal are among the many social media users reacting to the post. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 have forced some entertainers, and promoters to pull the plug on their events.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["September 6"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Brooklyn Mirage","Brooklyn Mirage"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ongoing effects of COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19: School closures in the Philippines threaten education 'catastrophe'","document":"| Schoolchildren in the Philippines are facing another year of distance learning. Photo: Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS As schools around the world gradually welcome back students, the Philippines has decided to keep schools shuttered for another year as the country struggles to control spiking COVID cases. The Philippines is one of the only countries in the world where schools have continuously remained closed since the coronavirus pandemic began last year. President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed a proposal to try out in-person classes in low-risk areas, over fears that children who are not eligible for vaccination could infect parents and older family members. The government's decision was met with protest from teachers and children's rights groups, who said that the prolonged school closures will have long-term consequences on children's education and development. \"We cannot keep using new virus variants as a reason for keeping schools closed. Malls and cockfighting stadiums have opened, why can't schools?\" Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), told DW. Internet access hampers distance learning When the pandemic hit the Philippines last year, the government rolled out a distance learning program allowing students to attend classes either online or by using printed self-study learning modules. ACT said the year of distance learning has increased an education gap for children in poor and rural areas. According to government statistics, only about 18 per cent of households in the Philippines have an internet connection at home. Internet penetration is even lower in rural areas. \"Many teachers have resorted to setting up kiosks outside their homes so they could still guide and teach their students. What else is there to do when your students live in areas where there is no internet or even electricity?\" Basilio said. \"If we don't do this, we will have a generation of children who do not know how to read and write,\" he added. Long-term impacts of school closures In a statement, the Child Rights Network, a coalition of children's rights advocates, said the quality of education in the Philippines brought about by school closures is a \"learning and child development catastrophe\" waiting to happen. The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) estimated that prolonged school closures could result in an estimated productivity loss in the Philippines equivalent to €187 billion ($219 billion) over the next 40 years, corresponding to an individual's life span in the labor force. \"Long-term consequences are severe when schools are closed for long periods. There is a higher risk for child labor and teen pregnancy. The benefits of keeping schools open far outweigh the anticipated negative impact,\" UNICEF education specialist Teresita Felipe told DW. According to a UNICEF study, more than 80 per cent of parents said their children show slower learning improvement when studying from home. Case study shows big learning gaps In the southern Philippine province of Siargao, some 762 kilometers (470 miles) from Manila, the local government assessed the proficiency levels of elementary students in 20 public schools in the municipality of Del Carmen. The results showed proficiency levels in math and English of as low as 22 per cent. The results were alarming but not surprising said Alfredo \"Jr\" Matugas Coro II, vice mayor of Del Carmen. \"Only face to face teaching works. This data shows that there is more harm in not opening schools in low risk areas,\" he told DW. Abelardo David, founder and executive director of a school for children with disabilities, told DW that children with learning disabilities have especially fallen through the cracks. The year of school closures has put such children at higher risk for dropping out of school entirely and social isolation, he said. \"For many kids with disabilities, schools and their teachers are their only form of social interaction with others,\" said David, who is also a member of Philippines Department of Education advisory forum. Education officials defend closures However, some parents have supported the government's move to keep schools closed, as delta variant-driven COVID cases continue to rise. \"I would really love for my kids to go back to school but the situation is so bad. I think keeping the schools closed for now is one of the few right things government did,\" Megi Garcia, a mother of two, told DW. The Department of Education recorded 26.3 million students enrolled for the current school year, surpassing numbers from the previous year. The department has rejected \"sweeping statements\" about a generation of illiterate children caused by distance learning. \"We acknowledge the learning losses, but we should not turn a blind eye to the learning gains such as the recovery of household involvement in learning and the actions of local government in augmenting digital platforms,\" Nepomuceno Malaluan, undersecretary with the Education Department, told DW. Malaluan added that it was misleading to compare countries that have not resumed face-to-face classes with those that have. \"It gives the perception that schools are open full scale, uninterrupted, without problems, and have fully addressed learning gaps. There are numerous incidents in various countries where face-to-face classes become a contributing factor to outbreaks. These too have consequences for education,\" he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["schools","schools","schools","schools","schools","schools","schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["another year","have continuously remained closed","last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"What NYC’s First School COVID Closure Can Tell Us About the Year To Come","document":" New York City shuttered its first public school this week due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Public data surrounding the episode—at the Horan School in East Harlem—offers the first hints to when other schools might follow suit. This year, the city’s Department of Education declined to set a specific threshold for school closure, opting instead to switch to remote instruction on a case-by-case basis if the health department finds evidence of “widespread transmission.” But what exactly qualifies has not been shared by education nor health officials, leaving parents unaware of how much COVID in a school this year is considered too much. Previously, New York City schools shut their doors after racking up four school-linked cases across different classrooms within a week. At a press conference on Tuesday, health commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi defined \"widespread transmission” in schools as “multiple sources of infection in multiple spaces or cohorts within a school.” He added that the transmission would have to be happening within the school itself, rather than in the community, to prompt a full closure. “There’s not a perfect algorithm or chart,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said of the criteria for school closures. “It really depends on individual circumstances.” For clarity, WNYC/Gothamist obtained data on the Horan School outbreak from the New York State Department of Health. It shows that 22 staff members at the school, also known as P.S. 79, had tested positive for COVID-19 by the time its doors were closed. That would mean the school closed after about 13% of staff had a confirmed infection. That would mean the school closed after about 13% of staff had a confirmed infection, given the school budgeted for about 165 employees this year. Less mystery surrounds the origins of the outbreak at P.S. 79, a special education high school that served 277 students in the 2019-2020 school year. Schools chancellor Meisha Porter said at Tuesday’s press conference that it began with an unvaccinated adult. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and a Department of Education spokesperson attributed the outbreak to a staff orientation that happened before classes began on September 13th. “What happened at P.S. 79 is unfortunate, particularly as it affects our most vulnerable: special needs public school students,” Brewer said in a statement. “Right now I’m focused on ensuring that these students are getting the best possible remote education under these difficult and challenging circumstances.” It’s unclear where the staff orientation was held, but the building’s ventilation report shows that three employee offices lack the windows and supply fans needed to provide fresh air, a key part of preventing coronavirus transmission. Data from the DOE’s Daily COVID Case Map speaks to the speed of the virus’s spread: By the end of the second day of school on September 14th, five of the building’s 38 classrooms had been closed due to a positive test result. Two days later on September 16th, the school was marked as having “multiple cases under investigation,” with 10 of its classrooms shuttered. The school closed completely on Saturday and is slated to reopen early next week. That’s also when the education department will implement its new quarantine protocol, which officials told WNYC/Gothamist they hope will minimize classroom closures. The updated rules allow unvaccinated children to stay in school after someone in their class tests positive, provided that the exposed students were wearing masks and sitting at least three feet away from the infected child. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Meisha Porter"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Horan School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this week","week","Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City","New York City","New York City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 outbreak","COVID","COVID-19","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"Kiss postpones metro Detroit concert, others as Gene Simmons tests positive for COVID-19","document":"COVID-19 continues to shake up the concert world — this time with another batch of postponed dates for Kiss. Less than a week after guitarist Paul Stanley's diagnosis forced the band to call off several shows, Gene Simmons has tested positive and “is experiencing mild symptoms,” Kiss announced Tuesday afternoon. That’s prompting the group to postpone four more dates, starting with Wednesday's scheduled show at DTE Energy Music Theatre. Concerts in Dayton, Ohio; Tinley Park, Illinois; and Milwaukee are also affected. Kiss said the band and its crew will isolate for the next 10 days, with hopes of restarting Sept. 9. A new DTE date will be announced in coming days, the tour’s promoter said. Existing tickets will be honored for rescheduled shows, and refund information will be available when those dates are announced. More:Guns N' Roses brings bone-rattling concert to Comerica Park More:38 years after death, iconic Motown bass player gets a proper headstone Stanley tweeted Monday that he is clear of COVID-19, and while his symptoms were “mild,” it nevertheless “kicked my ass.” Kiss’s DTE show, part of the band’s End of the Road World Tour, was originally scheduled for September 2020 but rescheduled for this week because of last year’s pandemic shutdown. The band had announced earlier Tuesday that the tour’s Australian leg, set for late this year, has been rebooked for next spring because of ongoing restrictions Down Under. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Concerts in Dayton, Ohio; Tinley Park, Illinois; and Milwaukee","tour’s Australian leg"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday afternoon","September 2020","late this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Smoke headed for Metro Vancouver, Stanley Park closed overnight as 241 wildfires burn across B.C.","document":"Wildfire smoke is in the forecast for B.C.'s south coast this weekend, in addition to a heat wave, which in the wake of last month's fatal heat dome prompted warnings Friday from health officials. Metro Vancouver is expected to see smoke roll in this weekend, joining communities across the province that have been blanketed by wildfire smoke for weeks, at levels far above World Health Organization maximum levels. As air quality across B.C. continues to pose a health risk, B.C.'s wildfire service says 241 wildfires are currently burning, down from about 300 last week. A new fire is sparking partial closures in Manning Park, about 200 kilometres east of Vancouver. Heat warnings or special weather statements now cover much of B.C., packing temperatures from the low 30s in the northeast to 40 C in the Fraser Canyon and Boundary regions. Rob Schweitzer, director of fire centre operations with the wildfire service, warns that the heat, along with limited cooling at night, could contribute to severe burning conditions over the next few days. Lightning is also in the forecast for regions already ranked at high to extreme risk of wildfires. FireSmoke Canada says smoky skies could arrive in Metro Vancouver and on the South Coast Saturday morning, but winds from the west will likely push it eastward by Sunday. On Friday evening, Vancouver Coastal Health issued its first wildfire smoke warning of the year. The smoky haze contains fine particulate matter, which can be especially difficult for people with respiratory issues, as well as older adults, infants, young children and pregnant women. Health officials said everyone should \"reduce time spent outdoors and reduce strenuous activities\" until the smoke clears, but also said the forecasted heat wave puts many people at an even greater risk. \"For most people, heat stress is a bigger health risk than smoky air,\" Vancouver Coastal Health said. \"During hot and smoky conditions, it is recommended to prioritize cooling indoor spaces when possible.\" Environment Canada issued an air quality advisory at 2 p.m. PT for eastern Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley because of high concentrations of ground-level ozone that are expected to persist into the weekend. Much of the province is already accustomed to dangerously smoky air. On Friday, conditions worsened in some areas, particularly in and around Kelowna, which had an air quality rating 42 times the maximum levels recommended by the World Health Organization, with reports of street lights turning on during daytime and low visibility. The wildfire in Manning Park, although just 18 hectares in size, prompted B.C. Parks to briefly close a local lake to boaters on Friday, and to evacuate a backcountry cabin in the area used by hikers. Roads in the park to the north of Highway 3 are also closed until further notice, B.C. Parks said, but the highway remains open. The fire is visible from the highway, but campgrounds in the park are also still open to visitors. \"Right now, we're being advised that there is no imminent danger,\" Vern Schram, general manager of the privately run Manning Park resort, told CBC News on Friday. \"That said, we're weighing through the scenarios and looking at what we might need to do should the situation worsen.\" The fire is labelled a \"Rank 4 aggressive fire,\" and \"rapid attack\" firefighters have been deployed to start tackling it, as well as aerial crews. July 30, 2021 - 3:20pm: BC Parks has asked us to close the Blackwall and Lookout Road until further notice as a precautionary measure. Access to the lake has resumed for boats and boat rentals. The resort and campgrounds remain open. The Vancouver Park Board announced Friday afternoon it will be temporarily closing all non-essential access to Stanley Park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The closure is aimed at reducing fire risk to the park, according to a statement on the city's website. Park rangers will set up temporary overnight access control points at five locations across the park to reduce the number of individuals in the park overnight. Vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and anyone who does not require access to the park will be turned back at access control points. The Stanley Park Causeway will remain open but access to the seawall will be closed. The temporary closure will be in effect seven days a week beginning July 30 and will extend indefinitely until the fire risk has been significantly reduced. WATCH | Lytton residents still coping with loss a month after devastating wildfire: Emergency Management B.C. says 60 evacuation orders covering just over 3,000 properties remain in effect, while residents of nearly 19,000 other properties must be ready to leave on short notice. Evacuation orders were downgraded to alerts late Thursday for several properties near a 654-square-kilometre wildfire burning northwest of Kamloops. But the wildfire service says that blaze and most of the nearly three dozen listed as fires of note remain out of control and continue to challenge firefighters on at least one flank. \"It continues to be a challenge, especially with having aerial resources limited due to the visibility,\" Forrest Tower, with B.C.'s wildfire service, told CBC News. \"That really does put a heavier focus on our ground crews.\" Around 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued a new evacuation order for 43 properties near Tunkwa Lake, west of Kamloops, which is threatened by the Tremont Creek Wildfire. Evacuation orders were also issued in the last day for 125 properties on the Bonaparte Plateau, east of 70 Mile House, due to the Flat Lake wildfire. The TNRD EOC has issued an Evacuation Order for 125 properties in Electoral Area \"E\" (Bonaparte Plateau) due to the Flat Lake Wildfire. #BCWildfirehttps://t.co/B57wgxBM4e pic.twitter.com/dX6Y5AEohk The B.C. Wildfire Service says more than 241 wildfires are burning across the province, the largest number of them in the Kamloops region — an increase of 54 fires from last week. The largest blaze remains the nearly 590-square-kilometre Sparks Lake fire, discovered June 28 north of Kamloops Lake; it remains out of control, according to authorities. A total of 4,710 square kilometres have burned so far this year in B.C. — a 36 per cent increase over the past decade's wildfire season average. Experts say climate change is contributing to longer and worse wildfire seasons. Anyone placed under an evacuation order should leave the area immediately. Evacuation centres have been set up throughout the province to assist anyone evacuating from a community under threat from a wildfire. To find the centre closest to you, visit the Emergency Management B.C. website. Evacuees are encouraged to register with Emergency Support Services online, whether or not they access services at an evacuation centre. With files from Rachel Adams, Émilie Warren, David P. Ball, Yvette Brend, and The Canadian Press ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Manning Park","Manning Park","Manning Park","Roads in the park to the north of Highway 3","Park","Park","Park","north"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this weekend","weekend","until further notice","notice"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Metro Vancouver","Metro Vancouver","Metro Vancouver"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["A new fire"]}]}
+{"title":"Covid changed shopping forever. Here’s what it means for your favorite stores","document":"Academy Sports & Outdoors’ more than 250 stores shuttered for weeks in the early days of the Covid pandemic. But as lockdown orders eased and these stores reopened, many customers still didn’t feel comfortable coming inside to buy camping gear or a new basketball, according to CEO Ken Hicks. Items like bikes and treadmills, which Academy sells, have been in high demand, as Americans look to entertain themselves outside or keep fit without a gym. But Academy needed to find a better way to get its products into customers’ hands. The answer was curbside pickup. In under five days, the retailer pulled together a plan to offer the service nationwide, Hicks said. It designated parking spaces as pickup locations, reassigned staff and handed out paging devices to alert employees when shoppers drive in. The result: 30% of Academy’s buy online, pick up in store sales are now retrieved curbside by customers, often on the day of purchase, the CEO said. Academy has started to think about its stores as “delivery points,” Hicks said in a recent interview. Back rooms are stocked with extra merchandise to fulfill web orders. More items are being shipped from its stores, not warehouses, directly to shoppers’ homes, he said. Even with a nearly 96% surge in e-commerce orders during the third quarter ended Oct. 31, more than 95% of Academy’s $1.35 billion in sales were fulfilled using its stores. “We’ve had to change how we look at the use of labor and adjust similar to what grocery stores have done,” Hicks added. “We have people now whose job it is to go around and pick orders for us.” Academy is far from alone in making these adjustments. Retailers from Target to Nike to Macy’s have been reckoning for years with what the purpose of their stores will be as consumption shifts online. This year, that evolution leapt forward. For years, the rise of e-commerce was a harbinger that retailers’ stores were going to become obsolete. But the demand for speedy, same-day delivery and curbside pickup has given brick-and-mortar a new purpose. Being closer to customers is a key advantage. Stores are being transformed into mini warehouses, helping to fulfill online orders in a fraction of the time — and at a lower cost. And while stores at enclosed shopping malls are closing due to slowing foot traffic and falling sales, retailers such as Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch are investing in opening smaller locations and away from malls. “The ecosystem of a store is going nowhere,” said Joel Bines, a managing director at the consulting firm AlixPartners. “At a macro level, the store is still critically important and will still be the epicenter of consumer activity for the foreseeable future.” More than three-quarters of U.S. retail sales still occur in stores. Even with this year’s gains, just about 14.4% of all spending in 2020 happened online, and that should grow to 19.2% by 2024, according to eMarketer estimates. The pandemic did speed the shift. It advanced what would have happened in five years in just nine short months, said Cowen & Co. analyst John Blackledge. EMarketer estimates e-commerce sales will total $794.50 billion this year, up 32.4% from 2019. Pre-pandemic, the market research firm was forecasting an increase of 18%. With consumer demand surging online this year, companies pivoting to satisfying e-commerce orders from their stores, rather than warehouses, resulted in less merchandise sitting on shelves going stale and unsold. Urban Outfitters said it delivered almost 1 million items from its stores to customers’ homes in the three-month period ended Oct. 31. During the same quarter, Nordstrom said nearly 25% of its online orders, which amounted to $1.6 billion, were fulfilled using merchandise from stores. “We think there’s a lot of runway — of not only just connecting the digital and physical parts of our business, but in leveraging the physical assets we already have,” CEO Erik Nordstrom said during an earnings call in November. “To leverage those existing assets ... there’s a lot of taking care of customers without much additional investment for us.” Increasingly, shoppers are expected to demand these convenient options. Cowen anticipates the percentage of online retail orders picked up using a curbside option could grow from 26%, where it was in the second quarter, to 30% by the end of this year, and 35% by the end of 2021. Some companies are testing even bigger transformations. Two Macy’s department stores — in Dover, Delaware, and Littleton, Colorado — are being converted into centers for pickup services and online order fulfillment, not in-store shopping. Walmart is using four locations as e-commerce laboratories, such as for trying out contact-free checkout. “This year has ushered in a new era of retail, and customers are asking for retailers to show up differently,” said John Crecelius, senior vice president of associate product and next generation stores for Walmart’s U.S. operations. Location, location, location. It has always mattered in retail. But the most desirable spot to be isn’t the mall anymore. “Our strategy is rooted in moving away from traditional malls,” Gap CEO Sonia Syngal said on an earnings call last month. “We have sharpened our real estate strategy so that our stores will be where our customers want to shop today.” The apparel retailer continues to open Old Navy and Athleta stores, largely in open-air shopping centers, but plans to close 30% of its Gap and Banana Republic locations in North America by the end of fiscal 2023. By then, it expects to drive about 80% of sales from its off-mall stores and online business. Perhaps no one retailer has touted its presence off-mall more than Kohl’s, which says about 95% of its more than 1,100 stores are located away from enclosed shopping malls, setting it apart from retailers like Macy’s, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney and Dillard’s. “They’re very convenient, and they’re very spacious,” CEO Michelle Gass said during a recent media call. “For customers who maybe want to order digitally but want that product that day, there’s our buy online, pick up in store [option], or now our curbside option. ... So I think we have a lot of flexibility and agility to continue to navigate this successfully.” Kohl’s off-mall positioning was a key factor in wooing the makeup retailer Sephora, which is on track to open Sephora shops within 850 Kohl’s stores by 2023. For more than a decade, Sephora had a partnership with J.C. Penney in hundreds of malls. “In my view, the future of retail in America is the ability for shoppers to park right next door, to jump in and out for a [buy online, pick up in store] order,” Sephora Americas CEO Jean-Andre Rougeot said in an interview. “That is what retail is about moving forward.” Macy’s, meanwhile, is hunting away from malls for smaller stores, including new Bloomingdale’s locations. “We continue to believe that the best malls in the country will thrive,” CEO Jeff Gennette said in September, discussing the move. “However, we also know that Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s have high potential [off]-mall and in smaller formats.” Target pioneered the path to success with smaller-format locations, which are about a third of the size of its big-box stores. It opened its 100th such location in August 2019, and continues to add more in metro areas, including New York City. Following the trend, Nordstrom and Nike continue to open smaller, hyperlocal shops, with Nordstrom’s serving as hubs for services like alterations and curbside pickup. “We used to talk about retailers needing to close 50% of their stores. But it’s more of a fact now that retailers need to reduce their square footage by 50%,” said Michael Brown, a partner in the consumer practice at Kearney, a management consulting firm. “They can have the same number of locations, but many of them will be much smaller, ... with a high degree of customer service, where that selling experience is really valued.” The privately held bookseller Barnes & Noble is also plotting opening additional smaller stores in 2021, each tailored more to its local community, according to CEO James Daunt. “Next year, we will start opening up a much greater variety of stores,” Daunt said in a recent interview. “You can open a really strong and successful, 700-square-foot store. ... And we’re not going to be telling the stores what to do. We’re asking them what they want us to do.” Even though brick-and-mortar stores have an important role to play, they’re less profitable when fewer people visit them. So retailers will continue to shutter locations, likely at an accelerated pace, until real estate footprints can match the trajectory in online sales. Through Dec. 1, more than 11,000 store closures have been announced this year, according to real estate firm CoStar Group. Within this count, GameStop plans to close more than 1,000 of its stores by the end of its fiscal year. But more closures are on the way. “Given the strength of our e-commerce sales, we now see the opportunity to close additional stores going forward, in 2021 and 2022,” CEO George Sherman said during an earnings conference call earlier this month. He didn’t offer an exact number, but said the goal for the gaming retailer is to shift investments online. In its latest quarter ended Oct. 31, GameStop’s e-commerce sales surged 257% from a year earlier, as more people visited its website for video games and consoles to keep busy during the pandemic. “There was conversation for several years about how to pare back real estate,” said Matthew Katz, a managing partner at consulting firm SSA & Company. “But no one was prepared or was thinking about, the magnitude at which they would be paring back so quickly. No one was prepared for e-commerce to go from an adolescent to an adult overnight.” For the retailers that still see an opportunity to open new locations, they’ll have an upper hand, likely for some time, to negotiate favorable leases and rents — as vacancies continue to crop up across malls and popular shopping districts. More than 3,400 store openings have been announced by retailers in 2020, according to a tracking by Coresight Research, including from Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, Five Below, Ross Stores, Burlington and Ulta Beauty. Retailers that sell goods in categories like off-price, beauty, home decor and sporting goods, which haven’t been hit as hard as department stores and apparel chains, are some of the most optimistic about growth prospects. The furniture business At Home, for example, is still planning to go from 219 to more than 600 locations, with its business growing exponentially during the pandemic. “A lot is going to change as you go into the post-Covid vaccine world,” said Stephen Sadove, the former chief executive of Saks Fifth Avenue. “You have companies that can survive, and are going to restructure, but you’re going to have a lot of companies that are going to say, ‘This is beyond us.’” “The real estate market is going to have to reset,” he said. “I’ve never seen these kinds of changes.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["GameStop","GameStop","Academy Sports & Outdoors’ more than 250 stores"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for weeks","early days","by the end of its fiscal year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["America","America"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Delhi: Malls, markets can now open as per normal timings from Monday, says CM. Details here","document":" Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said restrictions on timings to open market, shopping malls and others amid Covid-19 have been lifted from Monday and they will be allowed to function as per normal timings. Earlier, the Delhi government had allowed markets to remain open only till 8 pm in view of Covid-19 cases. However, with cases and positivity rate under control, the new relaxations will be effective from next week. A senior officer of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said along with the markets, restaurants and bars will also be allowed to open without any closing time restrictions. The liquor stores in the city that were allowed to open till 8 pm will also be allowed to open till their normal closing timing of 10 pm, officials said. Markets, restaurants and bars were closed with a surging second Covid wave in Delhi, from April 19. With improvement in the pandemic situation, markets, shopping complexes and malls were allowed to reopen between 10 am to 8 pm from June 14, by the DDMA. The closing time of markets in different parts of the city are decided by the market associations concerned. The restaurants and bars were allowed to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity from June 21. However, a cap of 8 pm was imposed on their closing timings. Under the phased reopening of the economy, restaurants were later allowed to open from 8 am to 10 pm, while bars were permitted to serve customers from 12 noon to 10 pm. The restaurants and bars will now be allowed to remain open till their normal closing timing at 12 in the night. However, the restriction on 50 per cent seating capacity will continue, according to a DDMA order issued in Saturday. The status of COVID-19 in NCT of Delhi has again been reviewed and it has been observed that though the overall number of COVID-19 patients and positivity rate has declined considerably and the overall situation has improved, due caution and care has to be continued, said the order. \"....adequate standards of Covid-appropriate behaviour continues to be followed and any such activity, that can lead to surge in cases, is allowed only after rigorous and due diligence,\" stated the order. The mention of closing time restriction on markets and shops, restaurants and bars has been omitted in the DDMA order, meaning they are allowed to open till their usual closing times, said the DDMA officer. The prohibited and restricted activities according to the DDMA order will remain in force from August 24 to 31, it said. The decision to keep markets open longer as per normal timings comes in the backdrop of Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on demanding that the closing time of malls and markets in the national capital should be extended from the present 8 pm to 10 pm. In its letter to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the CTI said the permission to operate shops till 8 pm is proving to be insufficient for most of the retail markets, especially during the festive season. According to the CTI, the markets get \"crowded\" and \"chaotic\" as soon the clock hits 8 pm, something that can be taken care of by extending the duration of its closing time. \"If the shops will open till late in the evening, then there will be no crowd in the market. Everyone will be able to do their work comfortably, Corona rules will also be followed well,\" it added. Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the Covid pandemic. Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan by the city government. Meanwhile, no death due to COVID-19 was recorded in Delhi on Saturday, the second consecutive day the daily fatality count stood nil, while 19 fresh cases were reported, the lowest since April 15 last year, according to data shared by the city health department. This is the twelfth time since the starting of the second wave of the pandemic in the national capital that zero fatality has been logged in a day. On Saturday, 19 fresh cases were recorded as the positivity rate dropped to 0.03 per cent, according to the latest bulletin. According to covid19India.org, a crowdsourced initiative that collects data on COVID-19 and vaccination in India, Delhi had recorded 17 cases on April 15, 2020. On Friday, 57 fresh cases were reported with a positivity rate of 0.08 per cent. Twenty-five cases of COVID-19 and two deaths due to the disease were recorded on Thursday, while the positivity rate had stood at 0.04 per cent, according to the official figures. On Wednesday, the city had registered 36 cases and four fatalities, while the positivity rate had stood at 0.05 per cent. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Markets, restaurants and bars","markets","restaurants","markets","restaurants","bars","restaurants","restaurants","bars","markets","restaurants","bars","markets","markets","markets","markets","Markets","shopping complexes and malls","malls"]},{"role":"Date","values":["till their normal closing timing of 10 pm","till","10 pm","till","till","from April 19","April 19","19","19","19","19","19","19"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","Covid","COVID-19","covid19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Remotely learningIndia’s pupils have been hard hit by extended school closures","document":"AS COVID-19 MEASURES relax across the world, nothing brings quite so much relief as the reopening of schools. For India’s 320m schoolchildren, its 8.5m teachers and for parents, too, the relief is particularly acute. Not only have Indian schools suffered some of the world’s longest closures—an average of 69 weeks. For reasons peculiar to India, its shutdowns have also been especially disruptive. And they have exacerbated the awful learning outcomes from the vast lower tier of schools. For some, the switch from in-class to online learning started well enough. A teacher in one private school in Delhi, the capital, recalls how she stopped worrying about tele-teaching on the very first day, after finding that every student on her screen had respectfully donned the school uniform for the occasion. But for others the switch never happened. A survey in Kolkata last year found that two-fifths of pupils enrolled in state primary schools had no way to follow online materials. Another in Chennai, India’s sixth-biggest city, found that one in five children were in schools that offered no online instruction, and a fifth of the rest did not attend remote classes anyway. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["average of 69 weeks"]},{"role":"Location","values":["India","India","India"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 MEASURES"]}]}
+{"title":"Nailsea school closed by flooding to reopen by end of month","document":"Pupils at Ravenswood in Nailsea, Somerset, were sent home a day after the term started when the deluge poured into classrooms and damaged the electrics. Another downpour days later causing further damage. The council said pupils, who have unique and complex needs, should be able to return on September 29. Councillor Catherine Gibbons, executive member for children’s services at North Somerset Council, promised a review and said the authority would learn lessons from the incident, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. She told a full council meeting on Wednesday: “I can’t thank the school enough for the way that they responded, the way they managed to get the children out and set up remote learning again for those who could do it. “These are children with anxieties, for whom change is difficult to deal with, and therefore having prepared your child to go back to school, having talked them through what’s going to happen and then suddenly find that the school is closed and they’re going to be doing other things was very challenging.” The flooding was caused by damage to a temporary roof covering in place as part of work, which started in the summer and was due to end in October, to upgrade the main school structure. Powered by Contextual Related Posts Headteacher Mark Senior described the damage as “catastrophic”. It affected the primary classrooms, post-16 buildings, sensory room, discovery room and creative arts department. Councillor Gibbons told the council meeting: “Parents have asked how the children will be supported to catch up lost learning. “The team has advised to focus for now on their wellbeing and make sure that when they go back to school they feel safe and comfortable, and look at the academic side of catching up once they feel that that’s okay.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Mark Senior"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","school","school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["a day after the term started"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Somerset","Somerset"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["damage to a temporary roof covering","damage","deluge poured into classrooms and damaged the electrics"]}]}
+{"title":"Nailsea school closed by flooding to reopen by Sept. 29th","document":"A special school which shut after being flooded by heavy rain is set to reopen next week. Pupils at Ravenswood in Nailsea, Somerset, were sent home a day after the term started when the deluge poured into classrooms and damaged the electrics. Another downpour days later causing further damage. The council said pupils, who have unique and complex needs, should be able to return on September 29. Councillor Catherine Gibbons, executive member for children's services at North Somerset Council, promised a review and said the authority would learn lessons from the incident, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. She told a full council meeting on Wednesday: \"I can't thank the school enough for the way that they responded, the way they managed to get the children out and set up remote learning again for those who could do it. \"These are children with anxieties, for whom change is difficult to deal with, and therefore having prepared your child to go back to school, having talked them through what's going to happen and then suddenly find that the school is closed and they're going to be doing other things was very challenging.\" The flooding was caused by damage to a temporary roof covering in place as part of work, which started in the summer and was due to end in October, to upgrade the main school structure. Headteacher Mark Senior described the damage as \"catastrophic\". It affected the primary classrooms, post-16 buildings, sensory room, discovery room and creative arts department. Councillor Gibbons told the council meeting: \"Parents have asked how the children will be supported to catch up lost learning. \"The team has advised to focus for now on their wellbeing and make sure that when they go back to school they feel safe and comfortable, and look at the academic side of catching up once they feel that that's okay.\" ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Mark Senior"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["special school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["next week","a day after the term started"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ravenswood in Nailsea, Somerset","Somerset"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["being flooded by heavy rain","damage to a temporary roof covering"]}]}
+{"title":"With Department Stores Disappearing, Malls Could Be Next","document":"Brick-and-mortar retail was in the midst of seismic changes even before the pandemic. Analysts say as much as a quarter of America’s malls may close in the next five years. By Sapna Maheshwari The directory map for the Northfield Square Mall in Bourbonnais, Ill., has three glaring spaces where large department stores once stood. Soon there will be a fourth vacancy, now that J.C. Penney is liquidating stores after filing for bankruptcy. With so much empty space and brick-and-mortar retail in the midst of seismic changes even before the pandemic hit, the mall’s owners have been talking with local officials about identifying a “higher and better use for the site,” though they have declined to elaborate on what that could be. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["quarter of America’s malls","Northfield Square Mall","J.C. Penney"]},{"role":"Date","values":["next five years"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bourbonnais, Ill"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"School closure: The mountain of myths standing between our kids and education","document":"Saili and Mayank [names changed] live in a Mumbai slum, with their parents in a meagre dwelling, hardly 10ft x 10ft, divided into a bedroom and kitchen. They study in class 3 and class 7 respectively, in nearby schools. Scratch that. They are enrolled in schools would be more accurate, as any meaningful study or education has come to a stand-still since the school closure which began in March 2020. Their parents manage to earn about Rs 30,000 a month for the family, and luckily do not have the burden of school fee expenses, as they have been enrolled under the Right to Education quota. Both parents have to go to work, although the mother manages to work from home at times. The children’s grandmother can look after them during the day, but there is no separate smartphone for the children to attend online classes: they get to attend whenever either parent is at home. On being asked if she is able to follow what is taught during online classes, Saili hesitates, almost embarrassed, and then says “no”. When asked questions from his textbook, it is clear that Mayank too has difficulty in following online classes. Parents are unable to help due to lack of time, and it is almost impossible to ask questions or get feedback in online sessions. Their parents, too, are very concerned about the widening gap in understanding, as bridging this gap to catch up will appears to be a mammoth challenge given the continuing school closure. They are understandably anxious about their children’s future. Read more: Virtual classes for younger kids: An uphill journey for both teachers and parents A few houses away, Parul [name changed] lives with her sister and extended family; the joint family has seven children and five adults, including Parul’s grandmother. They all live in a two-room house. The family has only two smart-phones, and there are times when only one of them is available for children to use for their online classes: one or at most two devices to be shared across seven children in two rooms. Only two of the seven children have school admission under RTE, the rest have to pay the full fees. The fees itself amounts to about Rs 5000 per month for all the children, which is a heavy burden on the family’s monthly income of about Rs 30,000. Aside from this, the data plan for the phones costs about Rs 600 per month. The children have managed with hand-me-down books so far. Despite these Herculean efforts to just stay the course, online school is not very useful. Children have to time-share the available devices, and even while in session, the problem of lack of interaction means that understanding remains poor. Parul’s sister in class 4 is able to read her English book, and her cousin in class 3 is able to read with some difficulty. But neither understand what they read, even simple English sentences. The children go for private tuition at an additional expense of about Rs 350 per month per child, since there is no one to help at home, but that appears inadequate. The comprehension gap is widening with every additional day of school closure. That online schooling is a farce, especially for children in these families, is painfully obvious. Adding to the irony of the situation is the fact that the above locality has hardly had 1-2 COVID cases among hundreds of families in the whole of 2021. Official statistics show that urban slums were hardly hit in the 2nd wave, likely because most of them were exposed in the first wave and developed robust immunity. Read more: When the screen is your child’s classroom and playground Today, what stands between our children and their education and future is not the pandemic, but a mountain of myths: Myth-1: Online is education — Online is not education, as evidenced by the above anecdotes. Even pre-pandemic, online learning was at best a supplement, and that too for older children and college students. Younger children absolutely cannot learn online, and in fact they even forget skills. A study by Azim Premji University among children of classes 2-6 across 5 states of India, undertaken in January 2021, found that as much as 82% lost at least one mathematical skill and 92% lost at least one language skill, compared to the previous year. Even in affluent Netherlands with only a short lockdown and high speed broadband access, a research study concluded “students made little or no progress while learning from home”. Doctors in Bengaluru have reported that among children under the age of 5, there has been over a 10-fold increase in those with speech disorders, due to lack of social stimulation and increased screen time. Thus a loss of 1.5 years for a child can cause long-term harm. Myth-2: Children are susceptible to COVID — While the first myth underestimates the costs of school closure, the second myth is overestimation of COVID risk for children. Statistics clearly show that the risk of severe COVID in children is smaller than other (already small) risks they face in life: such as other diseases, and even traffic accidents. For children and young adults, the mental health issues arising from lockdown and loss of social contact is much more concerning than COVID. Scotland reports rising numbers of children reporting to hospital for self-harm. In the 14-19 age-group, US statistics reveal a 14% increase in non-COVID deaths in 2020, i.e. caused by lockdown-related mental health issues, while COVID deaths in this age-group is much rarer. Myth-3: COVID-19 vaccines for children are necessary — The second myth leads to the third: that COVID-19 vaccines for children are necessary before we can open schools. Not only is there no medical need for such vaccines, since children are already at low risk, but also, we will not know the rare and long-term effects of current vaccines on children for a few years. Universal vaccination of children without long-term testing would thus be tantamount to medical negligence. Myth-4: Schools are super-spreaders — It is a myth that schools are super-spreaders. Study after study done in various countries has concluded that schools do not contribute significantly to COVID spread. The inconsistency in India is even starker: even as we have had everything else open, including malls and theatres, schools remain suspended. In UNESCO’s website tracking school closures across the world, India has the dubious distinction of closing its schools for the maximum period of time. While the US CDC recommends opening of schools with masking and 3-foot distancing (revised from earlier 6-foot), Sweden has always kept its primary schools open, with no distancing or masking requirements for children. And a comparison between schools in Sweden and neighbouring Finland showed that school teachers were not at additional risk of COVID-19 due to in-person classes. Myth-5: The impending third wave will affect a lot of children — There have been a lot of claims, without any scientific basis, of an impending third wave which will affect children. Seroprevalence studies have shown that a vast majority of Indians have already been exposed to COVID-19. Despite schools being closed, children have also been exposed: we just did not know about it since severe COVID is very rare in children and young adults. School closure based on this mountain of myths is gross injustice being done to an entire generation of children. We as a nation must be extremely concerned about this. Those making decisions must be concerned that at least some of these children will grow up to write the history about the mindless injustice that was done to their generation. Will these decision makers redeem themselves at least now? ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["nearby schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["March 2020","continuing"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Mumbai"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID","COVID","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"Broadlands: Fears over ticket refunds for postponed concert","document":"The organiser of a star-studded concert on a Hampshire estate has not paid refunds nearly two months after the event was postponed, some ticket-holders have said. Park Proms at Broadlands, Romsey, was due to feature Pixie Lott, James Morrison and other well-known artists. Ticket-holders say they had a five-day window to claim money back and the organiser has been hard to contact. The event's directors have not responded to BBC requests for comment. Singers Aled Jones and Laura Wright, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and pop group Scouting For Girls, were also due to perform at the shows on 27 and 28 August. Organiser Podium Event Group advertised displays from the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. However, the shows were cancelled on 25 June \"owing to the continued uncertainty around Covid-19\". In July, the firm announced a five-day window for ticket-holders to apply for refunds if they were unable to attend new dates in 2022. Helen Campbell, who paid £470 for two upgraded \"hospitality\" tickets, said she was still waiting for a refund after applying on 21 July and receiving an acknowledgement eight days later. She said: \"My emails have bounced back, the phone lines are not working and the messaging is off on Facebook. \"It's an absolute disgrace. I'm very disappointed.\" Molly Bevan, who paid £240 for four tickets, said: \"Originally they had said once processed my refund would take 3-5 days. \"They have turned off... their phone lines and are no longer responding to emails.\" Ms Bevan said she had received an acknowledgement on Instagram but no money. Moira Lynch said she only received her tickets after she had applied for a refund. She said: \"I paid £120 for two tickets for my friend's birthday. I can't afford to lose that sort of money.\" Thirty people said they were awaiting refunds on 17 August, while one person had been reimbursed, according to a community Facebook page. Adam French, a rights expert at the Consumers' Association, said the five-day refund application window was \"pretty terrible\" and \"unnecessarily restrictive\", although not illegal. He said there was no legal time limit on processing refunds, although he would have expected payments within two weeks. Podium Event Group's sole director is Michael Hlavaty, 29, who created the firm in September 2020. A BBC reporter was denied access to Mr Hlavaty's Facebook page shortly after messaging him. A recorded message on his firm's phone line says: \"Our team are processing refund applications as quickly as possible. We thank you for your patience.\" Broadlands Estates declined to comment. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Michael Hlavaty"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Park Proms"]},{"role":"Date","values":["nearly two months","25 June"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Hampshire estate"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["continued uncertainty around Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Organizers of Newport Oktoberfest cancel event due to staffing concerns","document":"0 NEWPORT, Ky. — People getting ready to head to Northern Kentucky for some beer and bratwursts might be feeling a little disappointed. The city of Newport's annual Oktoberfest celebration has been canceled over staffing concerns. After a year off due to the pandemic, people like Kayla Stoker were starting to get excited, until they saw news of the cancellation. “I was hoping to get to go this year,” Stoker said. “I was a little upset. I was kind of ready for food. And definitely to see everyone just be happy. And maybe win some prizes, maybe some people dancing.” The yearly German celebration, attended by thousands of people in years past, was scheduled for Sept. 24 through Sept. 26. But Cold iron Enterprises, the company that organizes the event, announced the event was canceled. “Cold iron really strives to put on the best events in the area. We want them to be the best. There’s no other option. They have to be the best. And we found out that Newport Oktoberfest wasn’t going to be the best. We had a lot of food vendors that had a lot of trouble staffing, some bands that dropped out, and we figured it wasn’t going to be the best it could be, so we’re going to cancel it,” said event manager David Wertheim. “You could walk up and down the street right now and see plenty of businesses that have had to close or change their hours, just because they don’t have enough staff, and that definitely carried over here to the festival side of things. All year we’ve had trouble finding food vendors that have been able to staff their booths. And this was no exception. And it kind of just caught up to us for this event.” The festival’s food booths are typically staffed by local restaurant employees, while the alcohol booths are staffed by volunteers. It’s an event that’s rich in tradition in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Cincinnati was able to hold its Oktoberfest last week. The Newport festival normally generates thousands of dollars in revenue. “It's a big deal for Newport, but really the bigger deal isn’t the money, it’s the tradition. People know what that event is. They know what Oktoberfest means to this area, and that’s really what’s bummed us out, is not being able to put it on, and continue the tradition this year,” Wertheim said. Wertheim said he hopes the event will be back bigger and better than ever next year. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Newport's annual Oktoberfest celebration","NEWPORT","Newport","Newport","Newport"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 24 through Sept. 26"]},{"role":"Location","values":["NEWPORT, Ky","Newport","Newport","Newport","Newport"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["staffing concerns","the pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"'Paddle' portion of Louisville mayor's 'Hike, Bike and Paddle' event canceled","document":" Updated: November 16, 2021 @ 3:25 pm Participants in Mayor Greg Fischer's annual Hike, Bike and Paddle event paddle down the Ohio River. The Mayor's Hike, Bike and Paddle event. (WDRB File) Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said his upcoming budget proposal… LMPD is treating the case as a death investigation. Participants in Mayor Greg Fischer's annual Hike, Bike and Paddle event paddle down the Ohio River. The Mayor's Hike, Bike and Paddle event. (WDRB File) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Now it's just the \"Hike and Bike.\" Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced Wednesday that the \"Paddle\" component of his annual Labor Day \"Hike, Bike and Paddle\" event has been canceled this year, due to dangerous conditions on the Ohio River caused by Hurricane Ida. According to a news release, federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) all weighed in on the decision. They say \"an anticipated increased flow from the McAlpine Locks, combined with high water concerns, have the potential to create problems for paddlers,\" the news release states. Aftereffects of Hurricane Ida are expected to cause the river level to rise. The hiking and biking portions of the event are still scheduled to take place as planned, but at a new location at the Community Boat House at 1325 River Road. Biking will start at 9 a.m., and yoga and Zumba will begin at 8 a.m., adhering to social distancing guidelines. \"One of the great things about Hike, Bike and Paddle is that it's outdoors and allows for social distancing, mask-wearing and other COVID precautions, so having to cancel this portion is disappointing,\" Fischer said, in a statement. \"However, it's clearly necessary to keep our paddlers safe.\" Additionally, the Tai Chi component of Hike, Bike and Paddle has been canceled due to the inability of participants to practice social distancing. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Greg Fischer","Greg Fischer","Greg Fischer"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["\"Paddle\" component of his annual Labor Day \"Hike, Bike and Paddle\" event","event paddle","Hike","Bike","Paddle event","event paddle","Hike","Bike","Paddle event","Hike","Bike","Bike","Hike","Bike","Paddle"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Louisville","LOUISVILLE"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Hurricane Ida","Hurricane Ida"]}]}
+{"title":"A record 12,200 U.S. stores closed in 2020 as e-commerce, pandemic changed retail forever","document":"Ravaged by a pandemic that shuttered stores for weeks in the spring—driving more spending online—retailers big and small closed 12,200 stores in the U.S. last year, according to a compilation released on Wednesday by commercial real estate firm CoStar Group. In all, that amounted to 159 million square feet of retail space. In 2019, the tally was 10,000 stores. Some of the boldface retail names to have closed stores in big numbers last year include J.C. Penney, which filed for bankruptcy in the spring and emerged with a fraction of its store count of just a few years ago, GameStop, Gap, and Macy’s. Many of the closings came from retailers that shut down altogether last year, such as Pier 1 Imports and its 950 stores. The pain was concentrated among mall-based retailers, which had been struggling long before COVID-19 made its appearance. CoStar estimated that one-third of the store closings were by department stores, clothing chains, or other mall-oriented companies, which represent only about 8% of total retail revenue. Early in the pandemic, some big retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Target, as well as drugstore chains CVS and Walgreens were deemed essential by authorities and allowed to stay open, giving them an edge over the likes of Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, and Abercrombie & Fitch. While those companies have so far weathered the storm, the pressure pushed many wobbly retailers over the edge, and led to a record number of bankruptcies in 2020. On Tuesday, S&P Global Market Intelligence said U.S. corporate bankruptcies reached a high last year of 603 companies, including 125 consumer goods and retail firms. That included J.C. Penney, J.Crew, and the parent companies of Ann Taylor and Men’s Wearhouse, among others, adding to the carnage. But even successful companies have put the breaks on store fleet expansion plans. Old Navy and Ulta Beauty, for example, are both recovering well from the shutdowns and still plan to open hundreds more stores in the coming year but are now giving themselves more time to do so.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["J.C. Penney, J.Crew","Penney","12,200 stores","GameStop, Gap, and Macy’s","Pier 1 Imports","Ann Taylor and Men’s Wearhouse"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for weeks in the spring","last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID School Closures Could Loom Large in Newsom Recall","document":"As summer vacation came to a close earlier this month, Megan Bacigalupi was ecstatic about sending her kids back to their public schools in Oakland. “Myself, my husband, and, I think, my kids especially are just thrilled to be back with all of their friends in a full classroom and as close to normal as I think they have probably felt in a long time,” she said. Bacigalupi says she was extremely frustrated that her kids had to stay home for almost all of the last school year, even as some private schools and a handful of nearby public school districts began offering some form of in-person learning. So she started OpenSchoolsCA, an organization focused on getting more kids back in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says Gov. Gavin Newsom wasn’t decisive enough in trying to restart in-person education. “I think he decisively, essentially, with the stroke of a pen, closed schools last spring when it was likely the right thing to do in the immediacy,” Bacigalupi said. \"But he took no decisive action to get them back up.” In fact, Newsom never ordered California schools to close, though his March 2020 statewide stay-at-home order essentially had that effect. Bacigalupi says she heard from scores of frustrated parents — many of them progressive Democrats like herself — who signed the petition for a gubernatorial recall election. Bacigalupi says she never had the opportunity to sign the petition, and never sought it out, but understands why other parents did. “I voted for Gov. Newsom when he ran [in 2018]. I have supported Democrats my whole life,” she said. “But I understand parents who are in the same boat as me, who are supporting this purely because of what happened with their kids this year.” Newsom’s handling of education has helped fuel the recall effort, and been a key talking point for recall candidates like Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, a Republican from Rocklin. “He’s just saying whatever is necessary to cater to the agenda of the teachers unions who want the outcome of schools being closed,” Kiley said. “And he’ll give whatever rationale it takes to get there.” But, at a recent press conference, Newsom maintained he’s been following the science while also balancing the demands of a massive public education system. “We have been working with our partners in our education system, 1,050-plus school districts. We’re trying to support the needs of 6.1 million public school kids,” Newsom said. “And we’ve been engaged to address the concerns and anxiety around reopening our schools.” Kevin Gordon, president of Capitol Advisors Group, which lobbies for school districts across the state, says many districts wanted Newsom to act unilaterally. “Schools that normally don't like the state infringing on their local control were actually hoping the governor would just do a statewide edict that we’re closing schools physically so they didn't have to wrestle with the local politics,” he said. Gordon believes that overall, Newsom handled an unprecedented and complicated situation really well, but that he also found himself trapped in the very tricky position of trying to balance his support for public education with his loyalty to the labor unions that have long backed him. “And where they became this conflict was wanting kids to be back in school, but his own constituencies across labor not wanting to come back,” he said. But Becky Zoglman, associate executive director of the California Teachers Association, points out that teachers and school employees weren’t the only ones concerned about returning to in-person learning — many parents were also very hesitant. “When schools started to reopen, for example, 70% of parents in Los Angeles chose to keep their kids home and that played out in districts across the state,” she said. Newsom continues to face staunch criticism for how he handled — and continues to handle — the return-to-school situation. He was particularly lambasted for issuing strict school COVID guidelines in advance of the 2020-21 school year, but then not being more forceful about reopening schools in the spring when vaccines became widely available. Bacigalupi, with OpenSchoolsCA, says it seems like education was never a priority for Newsom. “Instead of saying, ‘Schools are essential, they must be open, how do we do it?,’ it was, ‘Can we open schools?’” she said. Newsom has also taken heat for sending his own children back to in-person learning at their private school last fall, even as most California public school students were at that point still participating remotely. And even now that most schools are reopening, Newsom is still facing challenges, amid a surge in cases of the highly contagious delta variant. Just this month, he was sued by the Orange County Board of Education over the state’s requirement that all adults and students wear masks indoors in K-12 schools, even if they’ve been fully vaccinated. The California Supreme Court last week declined to hear the case.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["schools","schools","Schools","schools","schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["As summer vacation came to a close earlier this month","month","last spring"]},{"role":"Location","values":["California","California","California","California"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"As most students return to classrooms, schools in some countries have been shuttered for 18 months straight","document":"Students across much of the world are trading in Zoom windows for chalkboards, in a global moment of hope and apprehension. In some places, including parts of the United States, many school doors shut for a year and a half have swung open, even amid resurgent coronavirus outbreaks. In five countries — Bangladesh, Kuwait, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela — in-person schooling was paused nationally for 18 months. In the Philippines and Venezuela, there’s no end in sight. Many of the countries that have seen the longest pauses in classroom education were among those least equipped to transition to remote learning. Students are facing dire consequences, teachers say. On Monday, students across the Philippines began class, once again remote, in their third school year marred by the pandemic. For many teachers, the situation seems desperate, said Raymond Basilio, the secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, a large organization of education workers in the Philippines. Of the nation’s approximately 27 million students, only around 14 percent participated in online schooling last fall, according to a survey conducted in November 2020. More than three-fourths — including nearly all rural students — enrolled in a modular system: Every two weeks students or guardians must pick up their “modules,” stapled packets of worksheets, and return filled-out copies to their teachers. Each module is usually 10 to 16 pages. Families with resources, Basilio said, are more likely to have the means and wherewithal to buy sufficient Internet access and enroll their children in online school. They can also hire tutors to help their children keep up with unsupervised lessons. “That story is not the story for students who are the children of farmworkers, children of fisherfolk or urban poor workers,” he said. In the Philippines, more than 17 million people live below the poverty line, according to the Asian Development Bank. By some accounts, the modules are haphazard and difficult to understand, and schools came under criticism early in the pandemic for glaring mathematical and grammatical errors, and bizarre questions and prompts. “We’re very worried about our future,” Basilio said. “High school teachers will be in a very problematic scenario. How will they teach higher order thinking skills if their students are not able to read, to write?” Hopes and fears as schools open their doors for new year In Venezuela, which along with the Philippines closed schools nationally early in the pandemic and is set to keep them that way, remote learning resumes this week. Wuisneidys Delgado, a biology teacher in the small town of Aragua de Barcelona, has been teaching on video calls and WhatsApp. Not only do some students lack Internet or computer access — but some teachers don’t have smartphones either, she said. Some Venezuelan teachers have been setting up informal, in-person classrooms in their homes as a last resort, news agency EFE reported. But experts are concerned that students have lost much of their opportunity to learn. Globally, in-person learning has made a comeback since last year, said Borhene Chakroun, the director for policies and lifelong learning systems at the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 119 countries, students are attending school in person, up from 95 in September 2020. Some 8 percent of the world’s students are facing full school closures — down from 41 percent at this time last year. The UNESCO closure data does not include “partial reopening,” which could mean a few schools in a country are open. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe, have closed schools for certain age groups and grade levels, Chakroun said. Some are open with reduced in-person class time, such as in the Bahamas and Ecuador. In some countries, such as Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, school status varies across state and regional lines. UNICEF found that the first-ever day of school for 140 million of the world’s youngest students has been delayed because of the pandemic. The World Bank, the United Nations Children’s Fund and UNESCO launched Mission Recovering Education 2021 to urge governments to bring all students back to school for complete or partial in-person instruction before the end of 2021, arguing that the cost to students of remote learning outweighs the covid-19 risks. Covid infection rates remain high globally, but the coalition says that schools can reopen with precautions “even when community transmission hasn’t been completely contained and vaccination coverage is low,” citing lower transmission rates and levels of covid severity for children, and the adoption of safety measures. Robert Jenkins, global director of education for UNICEF, told The Washington Post that the sheer magnitude and duration of the disruption is unparalleled, with 1.6 billion schoolchildren affected at the pandemic’s peak and some students facing school closures for more than 76 weeks. Even amid the cyclones, floods and conflicts to which the agency has had to respond, “it would be almost unheard of for children to be out of school for such a long period,” he said, and the poor and marginalized have paid the steepest price. As schools reopen, more than 10,000 students and teachers across 14 states are quarantined for coronavirus exposure For Rumena Afroza — a high school English teacher at a small, rural school in central Bangladesh, one of the countries to close schools nationally for 18 months — the pause has been devastating. In March 2020, she made a Facebook messenger group to coordinate remote learning for her students. Of the 188 in her two classes, she was unable to reach more than 20 on Zoom. When she asked students make an appearance, distanced, in person, to hear a lesson plan, only 80 could make it. Some students were sent to work in the fields or in garment factories. Others just dropped out. Many female students were married. “I told my students, ‘Don’t marry before 18,’ ” she said, but the pandemic has made waiting difficult for many families with daughters aged 14 to 17. The pandemic has increased the number of girls at risk of becoming child brides by 10 million, according to UNICEF. Afroza was overjoyed when Bangladesh’s education minister announced last week that schools would reopen on Sept. 12. “Again we will be able to see the school garden full of flowers,” she said. “The parents who have become frustrated will dream again for their children in a new way. They will find the light of hope.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","school","school","school","school","school","school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["18 months","18 months","18","a year and a half"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Indonesia, Mexico and the United States","United States","Bangladesh, Kuwait, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela","Philippines","Venezuela","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines","Venezuela","Philippines","Bangladesh","Zimbabwe"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus outbreaks"]}]}
+{"title":"Queensland state school closed after girl, 4, tests positive to COVID-19 as close contact of truck driver","document":"A state school in Windaroo, south of Brisbane, has been closed for a fortnight following the discovery of a COVID-19 case at a nearby education facility. The move came after a four-year-old girl who attended the Boulevard Early Learning Centre at Mount Warren Park tested positive as a close contact of a 46-year-old truck driver from Logan, confirmed with the Delta variant earlier this week. In the past 24 hours: Queensland's vaccine rollout (percentage of those aged 16+): The early learning centre is used as after-school care for Windaroo State School. Windaroo principal Alisha LeBrese said in an email to parents the school would need to be shut for 14 days from Saturday. \"I am writing to let you know that several members of our school community have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19,\" Ms LeBrese wrote. \"All school, school events and activities are closed and postponed. \"The health, safety and welfare of your children, our students, continues to be my number one focus.\" Children, staff and visitors who were at the early learning centre on Tuesday and Wednesday are being urged to immediately come forward for testing then quarantine at home for 14 days, even if they test negative to COVID-19. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said about 960 families at Windaroo school had been placed in quarantine for 14 days, along with staff and visitors who were at the school from Tuesday to Friday. About 100 families of children who attend the early learning centre are also in quarantine. Dr Young said the next few days were critical. “This is a really high risk period for us,” she said. Dr Young said the child's viral load was low, and her main concern was the truck driver's visit to shops in Beenleigh. \"I am actually not as worried about this child because it's in hand. We have got it under control,\" she said. \"[Lockdown] depends if we find cases who went to the Beenleigh Marketplace, and have since then been out infectious in the community in an uncontrolled situation. \"That would lead me to think that we need to consider a lockdown.\" The Stylish Nails salon in the marketplace was of particular concern. \"I just hope that we get everyone, so we have been working very, very closely with the owner of the nail salon and we have been looking at CCTV footage, we have been trying every way we can to find those people who attended,\" Dr Young said. \"That's critical. So anyone who was there on that Monday morning, I need them to come forward.\" There was just one other new COVID case recorded yesterday, in hotel quarantine. The truck driver is thought to have been infectious from August 27, prompting several contact tracing alerts on Brisbane's southside. Visitor restrictions are in place for aged care facilities, disability services and hospitals in the Logan local government area. Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said compliance with the Queensland Check-In app at Beenleigh Marketplace had been low. \"Sadly what we have seen is that people were not checking in. There was one person during that time checked in with the check in app at the nail salon,\" she said. \"But we know there was at least eight customers there in addition to this gentleman and the child and of course four staff. \"Similarly, 600 people checked into the Beenleigh marketplace. They have 900 car spots there, and they have over 30 shops.\" The Queensland Health exposure sites list names Stylish Nails at Beenleigh Marketplace as a close contact point between 10:30am and 11:35am on Monday, along with Total Tools Beenleigh between 9:20am and 10:00am on Sunday. Anyone who was at those sites at the exposure times needs to come forward for testing and go into 14 days' quarantine – even after a negative result. Household contacts are also required to quarantine for 14 days. Close contacts also need to complete an online tracing form on the Queensland Health website. There's also a casual contact alert for Beenleigh Marketplace on Monday between 9:00am and 11:45am, and anyone who attended should come forward for testing and then isolate at home until they receive a result. Anyone in Queensland, but particularly in the Beenleigh and Gold Coast areas, is urged to come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms. Ms D'Ath said she was pleased to see that one in three eligible Queenslanders was now fully vaccinated. \"We had 20,635 vaccinations [yesterday],\" she said. \"So well done everyone again for coming out and continuing to be vaccinated which puts us at 52.17 per cent first dose, and excitedly, 33.55 per cent second. \"So let's keep that great work going and coming out and getting vaccinated.\" See our full coverage of coronavirus ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Windaroo State School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for a fortnight","for 14 days from Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Windaroo, south of Brisbane","Windaroo","Windaroo","Windaroo","Brisbane"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["discovery of a COVID-19 case","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID","COVID-19","Alisha LeBrese"]}]}
+{"title":"America’s biggest companies are flourishing during the pandemic and putting thousands of people out of work","document":"As the coronavirus pandemic devastated small businesses and plunged millions of Americans into poverty this summer and fall, executives at some of the country’s largest corporations sounded surprisingly upbeat. “I don’t think we’ve ever been more excited or energized about our prospects,” PayPal finance chief John Rainey said on a November conference call. “These are times when the strong can get stronger,” Nike chief John Donahoe told analysts in September. “With all that’s happening around the world, it’s really unfortunate,” said Jensen Huang, chief executive of graphics chip maker Nvidia, during an August earnings call. “But it’s made gaming the largest entertainment medium in the world.” With few exceptions, big businesses are having a very different year from most of the country. Between April and September, one of the most tumultuous economic stretches in modern history, 45 of the 50 most valuable publicly traded U.S. companies turned a profit, a Washington Post analysis found. [Stimulus nears finalization, days before government shutdown] Despite their success, at least 27 of the 50 largest firms held layoffs this year, collectively cutting more than 100,000 workers, The Post found. The data reveals a split screen inside many big companies this year. On one side, corporate leaders are touting their success and casting themselves as leaders on the road to economic recovery. On the other, many of their firms have put Americans out of work and used their profits to increase the wealth of shareholders. When the coronavirus struck, big companies promised to help battle the crisis. Dozens of prominent chief executives, who last year signed a public pledge to focus less on shareholders and more on the well-being of their employees and broader communities, appeared eager to make good on that promise. Many suspended payments to investors and vowed not to hold layoffs. Then, 21 big firms that were profitable during the pandemic laid off workers anyway. Berkshire Hathaway raked in profits of $56 billion during the first six months of the pandemic while one of its subsidiary companies laid off more than 13,000 workers. Salesforce, Cisco Systems and PayPal cut staff even after their chief executives vowed not to do so. Companies sent thousands of employees packing while sending billions of dollars to shareholders. Walmart, whose CEO spent the past year championing the idea that businesses “should not just serve shareholders,” nonetheless distributed more than $10 billion to its investors during the pandemic while laying off 1,200 corporate office employees. Kirk Hanson, an author and longtime professor of business ethics, says it’s incumbent upon the United States’ top corporations to help pull the country through the worst recession in decades, particularly given the outsized profits they’re enjoying. “There is an obligation on the part of the largest and most successful businesses to help buffer the human impact of the crisis,” said Hanson, who now is a senior fellow at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Instead, Hanson said, they have contributed to the country’s growing economic divide. The Post contacted all 27 large firms that held layoffs this year. Many said the cuts were not related to the pandemic, but instead a necessary part of broader “restructuring” plans, where companies shift spending from declining lines of business to growing ones. In some cases, these plans were decided before the pandemic. Several emphasized that they hired more people this year than they let go. Anne Hatfield, a spokeswoman for Walmart, said everyone the retailer laid off during the pandemic was offered another job in the company, though she declined to say whether the new roles held the same level of pay and responsibilities as the jobs that were eliminated. Others pointed to the work they have done to help ease the pain in their communities, such as expanding health and family benefits to employees and distributing personal protective equipment to front-line workers. Cisco gave $53 million in cash and PPE to vulnerable populations and PayPal pledged $530 million in investments in minority-owned small businesses. In an email, Berkshire Hathaway chief executive Warren Buffett said he leaves all decisions at his subsidiary companies to the management of those companies. Airplane parts maker Precision Castparts, which Berkshire Hathaway acquired in 2015, was forced to cut staff due to a severe drop in demand for new planes, he said. Buffett added that he has given $2.9 billion of his personal wealth to charitable causes this year. The majority of the largest American corporations have prospered in the coronavirus economy. Millions of consumers spent more time and money online during government-mandated lockdowns, watching Netflix, viewing ads on Google and Facebook pages, filling Amazon shopping carts and turning the video game business into a bonanza for Nvidia, Microsoft and others. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Shoppers began splurging on cleaning supplies, hobbies, home cooking and home improvements, driving record growth at big-box stores including Home Depot and Walmart. Even in the hardest-hit sectors, such as restaurants, travel and hospitality, the biggest companies were largely insulated from the worst of the virus’s reckoning. While independent restaurants struggled to survive, McDonald’s ramped up its takeout and drive-through operations, rolling out new apps and technology catering to on-the-go orders. In many industries, the giants devoured market share ceded by small businesses, who lacked the resources to keep stores open during unpredictable swings in customer demand. While the 50 largest companies averaged 2 percent revenue growth over the first nine months of 2020, small business revenue shrank 12 percent over the same period, according to data collected by software provider Womply from thousands of small firms. Economists estimate at least 100,000 small businesses permanently closed in the first two months of the pandemic alone. “Once you kill competition, it’s always hard to restore it,” said Matt Stoller, director of research at the left-leaning American Economic Liberties Project. “This is an extinction-level event for small businesses.” As the pandemic wore on, many companies kept their promises not to lay off staff. Others saw the recession as a good excuse for trimming labor costs. In April, cigarette maker Philip Morris International made a public commitment to forgo layoffs during the pandemic to help support the “job security and peace of mind” of its 73,000 workers. “The company will not terminate the employment of any [Philip Morris] employee during this crisis period, unless for cause, and the company has also put on hold any restructuring plan,” Philip Morris said in a news release. But in June, as infection rates continued to rise, Philip Morris said in a regulatory filing it would eliminate up to 440 workers in New York and Switzerland as part of a restructuring. In a statement, Philip Morris spokesman Sam Dashiell said the company resumed the restructuring at its Swiss operations center because it determined “prolonging it further would be unfair to everyone.” He declined to explain why the New York layoffs resumed. Current and former employees at some of these companies say they weren’t surprised to see their leaders renege on promises to retain staff through the pandemic. They didn’t put too much faith in those promises in the first place. “The choices that they make are governed by, essentially, maximizing shareholder value,” said Gary Walker, a systems engineer who was one of 1,000 employees Salesforce cut in late August. At the onset of the pandemic, Chuck Robbins described the need to keep workers employed as a moral imperative. The chief executive of Cisco, a $180 billion software and networking giant, said large companies like his shouldn’t lay off workers during a global crisis because, even in a bad year, they had the resources to maintain payrolls. “Why would we contribute to the problem?” Robbins asked in an interview with Bloomberg News published in April. “To me, it’s just silly for those of us who have the financial wherewithal to absorb this, for us to add to the problem.” Four months later, Cisco began implementing a plan to lay off thousands of employees. The majority of Americans who lost jobs this year were laid off from small businesses, many of which had no option but to cut workers to stave off financial collapse. But larger companies actually laid off a greater portion of their workforces over that period — 9 percent for large firms vs. 7 percent for smaller firms — despite having more resources to survive the downturn. Their layoffs were quietly acknowledged in regulatory filings and shrouded in corporate jargon, like an “involuntary reduction of associates” at Coca-Cola; and “operating model changes to streamline and speed up strategic execution” at Nike. The Salesforce layoffs punctuated one of the software giant’s fastest periods of growth and followed frequent pledges by its chief executive to assist with coronavirus relief. Marc Benioff, a self-styled leader of the corporate philanthropy movement, said in a series of tweets in late March that Salesforce pledged “not to conduct any significant lay offs over the next 90 days.” He suggested all CEOs should take a similar “90 day pledge” and encouraged all Salesforce employees to keep supporting hourly workers, such as housekeepers and dog walkers, who do work for them. Making good on that pledge was not hard for Salesforce, a company sitting on more than $9 billion in cash and short-term investments. It generated $2.7 billion in profit during the first six months of the pandemic, as businesses flocked to Salesforce’s tools for helping them manage operations remotely. The layoffs, about five months after Benioff’s tweet, were part of a plan to “reallocate resources” including “eliminating some positions that no longer map to our business priorities,” the company said in a statement. They were announced one day after the software giant announced its biggest quarter of profit and revenue in history, sending its stock soaring 30 percent. “Of course I’m cheesed about it. How could you not be?” said Walker, who was laid off after 12 years at the company. “It’s not great timing.” Walker, 48, who lives with his wife and two dogs in Herndon, Va., said he appreciates Salesforce giving him generous severance benefits and understands large companies sometimes have to cut labor costs to please investors. Cheryl Sanclemente, a Salesforce spokeswoman, said in a statement the company offered to help all of the people who were affected find new jobs, including in some 12,000 openings it expects to fill over the next year. She added that the company has provided protective equipment to health-care workers throughout the pandemic and gave $30 million to organizations fighting the covid-19 crisis. Salesforce pointed out that the company did make good on his promise not to hold layoffs within 90 days of his tweet. Similarly, Wells Fargo explained that it never committed to a time frame when it pledged to pause layoffs — which the company referred to in a statement as “job displacements” — back in March. “At that time, we said we would continue to evaluate and did not pledge to pause job displacements for a specific period of time,” spokeswoman Beth Richek said in an email. “Starting in early August, we resumed regular job displacement activity.” She declined to comment on the number of workers who were affected, though sources told Bloomberg News the San Francisco-based bank was cutting the first 700 workers in what is expected to be a massive restructuring impacting tens of thousands of jobs over the coming years. [LinkedIn cut nearly 1,000 jobs as pandemic pain comes to white-collar workers] Then there’s Cisco, which started the year determined not to “add to the problem” of pandemic unemployment, in the words of its CEO. Despite benefiting from a quarantine-fueled boom in videoconferencing tools including its Webex software, the company lost ground to Zoom and reported slowing growth in its cloud computing business. Robbins, who spent the first few months of the pandemic repeatedly reassuring staff that their jobs would be safe, by summer acknowledged a round of cost-cutting was needed, according to three former employees who were in meetings with Robbins this year and left the company within the past three months. The former employees — two who left voluntarily, one who was laid off — all spoke on the condition of anonymity while discussing their former employer. Cisco began a restructuring plan to eliminate $1 billion in costs, including a campaign to ask employees to take voluntary retirement packages or a 20 percent pay cut in exchange for working four days a week, the people said. In addition to the voluntary departures, Cisco began conducting involuntary layoffs in the early fall. Jennifer Yamamoto, a Cisco spokeswoman, said the company is increasing its investments in certain business areas and reducing investments in others. Before publication of this story, Yamamoto declined to specify the number of people the company laid off. After publication, she revealed Cisco had “restructured” about 3,500 workers. However, two of the former employees said they heard directly from managers at the company that Cisco planned to cut at least 8,000 employees, or more than 10 percent of its workforce. Asked about Robbins’s statements from earlier this year, Yamamoto said the CEO “did not commit to no layoffs, but rather said we would preserve what we could depending on how the pandemic played out, and he would then assess the needs of the business every 60 days before making any decisions. As the pandemic continued, things changed in the macro landscape and we had to make some tough choices.” Nowhere has the disparity between big and small businesses ballooned during the pandemic the way it has for restaurants. Just ask Dave Mainelli. For more than two decades Mainelli and his family have owned and run Julio’s Restaurant, a Tex-Mex joint in Omaha. His wife headed operations, his brother was a manager, and his son, a bartender. Customers held birthday parties and family reunions, plus wedding and funeral receptions there. When the pandemic hit and business started to falter, Mainelli said he tried to keep Julio’s open because of the difficulty of telling many of his longtime employees that it was over. He cut back on hours and eventually on staff, dropping from 40 to a dozen as he tried to survive on delivery and pickup. But with thin margins and debts beginning to mount, he closed Julio’s for good in June, after 25 years in business. “There were a lot of tears. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through and I‘ve been through a lot of hard stuff,” he said. While 1 in 6 restaurants permanently closed during the first months of the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association, big chains have ramped up their drive-through operations and rolled out new apps and menus catering to on-the-go orders. Maybe no one has done this better than McDonald’s, which was battered by the pandemic in the spring but has since been gobbling up more business by the day, using its scale to outpace hundreds of thousands of competing restaurants. Analysts say McDonald’s has leveraged its advantages by quickly simplifying its menu, allowing its locations to serve more customers in a shorter time without them having to enter its restaurants. Deliveries and mobile app use is growing. Drive-through orders grew to account for 90 percent of McDonald’s sales during the pandemic, up from two-thirds of sales before this year. “The large companies have these asset bases that the smaller companies cannot compete with, particularly now,” said Lauren Silberman, an analyst at Credit Suisse. Contrast that with the options available to Mainelli. To boost delivery sales he partnered with a local service in Nebraska, but it cut into profits dramatically. “When you rely on delivery, your margins get shrunk because you’re paying them a chunk,” he said. McDonald’s and other chains have long focused on data analysis and app development, capabilities they are now employing during the pandemic. Its digital drive-through menus allow restaurants to customize menu items for factors such as time of day, the weather and current restaurant traffic. It is also testing tools for tailoring menus more specifically to customers as they arrive. So, if you have been ordering a Big Mac meal with fries and a large Sprite since the beginning of the pandemic, McDonald’s could begin identifying you through the app running on your phone and start displaying that meal more prominently when you pull up to the drive-through. [Walmart and McDonald’s have the most workers on food stamps and Medicaid] Not every McDonald’s franchise has flourished. But for those facing a cash crunch, the company put up nearly $1 billion to allow franchise owners to defer rent and royalty payments until their business returned, a luxury few other restaurant owners enjoy. “Because of our scale and financial stability, we were able to quickly provide franchisees with financial support when they needed it most,” Kevin Ozan, McDonald’s chief financial officer, told investors in November. Company spokespeople declined to comment further. The result for McDonald’s shareholders has been a gift better than the plastic toy at the bottom of any Happy Meal. In October, shares of its stock reached an all-time high — up 27 percent since the beginning of March — and the company increased its dividend 3 percent. The gulf between McDonald’s and most independent restaurants is staggering. Restaurant employment is down 17 percent during the pandemic, according to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, with more than 2 million restaurant workers out of a job heading into winter. Many of the owners that are permitted to remain open are doing so by slashing staff and costs and focusing on takeout as much as possible. At Kayla’s Kitchen and Closet, located in tiny Park Falls, Wis., the menu offers soups, salads and a spicy blackberry bacon panini. Owner Kayla Myers also operates a clothing store next door offering Levi’s jeans, Minnetonka moccasins, children’s clothing and tuxedo rentals. She said she has been boosting sales with Facebook posts. But she closed off half of her six tables for social distancing measures and cut hours. “You don’t have any point in opening if people can’t even come in,” she said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Dave Mainelli"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Julio’s Restaurant","Restaurant","Restaurant","restaurant"]},{"role":"Date","values":["June"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Omaha"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Little-Known Statute Could be Key To Getting A Refund For Cancelled Concerts","document":"Bay Area venues are preparing to host live concerts again very soon. But some fans are frustrated. They are still out of the cash they paid for shows that were cancelled due to COVID-19. Consumer investigator Chris Chmura reports. Back in January of 2020, Benicia resident Janin Griebel bought tickets for her and a few friends to see the singer Beabadoobie in San Francisco at a show scheduled for April of 2020. She spent $319.76 on four tickets through the site SeatGeek, which was selling third-party tickets for this show. It was a big expense for Griebel, who is about to start college in the fall. \"I’ve got like three jobs going on right now and that was a lot of money,\" she said. Like so many ticketholders, she learned the show wasn’t happening as planned due to the pandemic. She even emailed the artist's management in January 2021, who told her all tickets for their tour have been refunded. The manager suggested Griebel contact the agency she purchased the tickets from. But a SeatGeek representative told her they couldn't accept her emails from the artist's management as a reliable source and needed more proof the concert was canceled. \"I was going back and forth between the management and the ticket company, I just always thought they should be the ones talking to each other, I shouldn’t have to be the one doing it,\" Griebel recalled. She’s just one of many ticketholders who contacted NBC Bay Area Responds over the past year in search of refunds for events called off due to COVID-19. We reached out to SeatGeek and a spokesperson replied that they looked into her case and were able to find confirmation that the event was canceled. \"The customer should get an email in the coming week with next steps, offering them either a credit for 110% of their order or a cash refund (their choice),\" the spokesperson said. He also noted, \"as you can imagine, over the past 18 months we have seen an incredible volume of cancellations and postponements (we are talking tens of thousands), so staying on top of each individual one has been a challenge.\" Griebel said she will certainly be choosing the refund option, she could use the money As we looked into Griebel's case and others like it, we checked the policies for major ticket sales and resale companies when it comes to canceled, postponed, or rescheduled events. We learned they’re generally more likely to offer a refund if your event was canceled, as opposed to being postponed or rescheduled. But not all companies are offering refunds. StubHub, for example, typically provides a credit of 120% of the total amount paid for tickets when an event is canceled (though the company recently announced an expansion of some pandemic-related refund options.) A StubHub spokesperson also noted in an email to NBC Bay Area: \"StubHub has always provided customers who live in California, or who purchased tickets to events in California, a cash refund upon request.\" We asked StubHub to provide the particular California law that prompted this policy, but we were told: \"state and provincial laws vary with respect to ticket refunds.\" Statute 22507 in the California Business and Professions Code does resemble the StubHub policy, it states, \"the ticket price of any event which is canceled, postponed, or rescheduled shall be fully refunded to the purchaser by the ticket seller upon request.\" This statute was added to the state's code in 1986. We asked the California Attorney General's Office if Statute 22507 requires California ticket sellers to refund purchasers the full ticket price of any event that is canceled, postponed, or rescheduled upon request? A spokesperson responded, \"Yes, that statute does require refunds under certain circumstances, but please refer to B&P Code section 22503-22504 for the definition of 'ticket seller.'\" A ticket seller in that section is defined as \"any person who for compensation, commission, or otherwise sells admission tickets to sporting, musical, theatre, or any other entertainment event.\" The AG's Office noted that whether a company is seen as a \"ticket seller\" under the eyes of California law depends on a variety of things, like the role of the company involved and the circumstances around the transaction. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed against ticket companies related to pandemic cancellations and refunds, and at least two of those suits from ticketholders cite 22507 as a reason ticket companies should be obligated to refund customers for events that didn't happen as planned. Seth Safier, an attorney representing ticketholders in one such lawsuit against the company Eventbrite, said in an email that the case is still pending. We asked Safier whether 22507 entitles Californians to a refund of their tickets to events canceled, postponed, or rescheduled due to COVID-19? \"We think so,\" he responded. NBC Bay Area Responds has been recommending that California residents in search of ticket refunds to California events try mentioning 22507 as they contact the company who sold them the tickets. We brought 22507 up in an email to ticket resale company Box Office Ticket Sales as we asked about the status of a refund for one of our viewers: Julien Solorzano. Box Office Ticket Sales has not responded to any of our emails or phone calls. Solorzano's husband bought him tickets in the fall of 2019 to see Post Malone at the Chase Center in San Francisco, spending a total of $853. The concert which was scheduled for March of 2020 was postponed when the pandemic escalated, then canceled in September of 2020. While fans who purchased tickets from the official event promoter Ticketmaster/ Live Nation were automatically refunded as the event was canceled, Solorzano did not get a refund. Box Office Ticket Sales emailed him offering a voucher, for 120% of the value of his tickets, which needs to be used by May of 2022. \"Due to COVID-19 we are currently not comfortable attending any public function at such a large venue or in the foreseeable future,\" Solorzano said, as he explained why he has continued to pursue a refund. He noted part of the reason he's so frustrated is, \"it's just the fact that they're not transparent and they have all the power.\" Another avenue if you have a concern about a refund is the California State Attorney General's Office. The AG's Office said it encourages anyone who believes a seller is violating the law to file a complaint with their office. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The concert","concert","show"]},{"role":"Date","values":["April of 2020","2020","September of 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["San Francisco","San Francisco"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"The Doobie Brothers concert has been postponed","document":"The Doobie Brothers concert at the Pavilion at Star Lake has been postponed after someone involved with the tour tested positive for COVID-19, the band announced Wednesday morning. \"Out of an abundance of caution, The Doobie Brothers will postpone their four upcoming shows as a member of the touring personnel has tested positive with COVID-19 despite health and safety precautions in place,\" the group said in a social media post. The Doobie Brothers 50th anniversary tour, featuring the return of Michael McDonald, had been scheduled for a stop at Star Lake on Saturday night. McDonald did not perform with the Doobies at their show in Minnesota on Tuesday night because he was not feeling well, according to reports. The group said the Star Lake concert will be rescheduled. Fans are encouraged to keep their tickets for the new date. It's the second postponement at the pavilion in less than a week. The Kiss concert on Aug. 26 was postponed after Paul Stanley tested positive for the virus. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Doobie Brothers concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday night","Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Pavilion at Star Lake","Star Lake","Star Lake","pavilion"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["someone involved with the tour tested positive for COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Hundreds of Tigrayans detained in Ethiopian capital in recent weeks, with certain businesses has been closed","document":"A general view shows activity past a closed Harmony Hotel and Kaleb hotel owned by a Tigrayan businessmen in Bole neighbourhood in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri ADDIS ABABA/NAIROBI, July 15 (Reuters) - Ethiopian police have detained hundreds of ethnic Tigrayans in Addis Ababa since federal government forces lost control of the Tigray region's capital on June 28, according to some of those who say they were released. The detentions in the Ethiopian capital are the third wave of what dozens of Tigrayans, rights groups and lawyers have described as a nationwide crackdown on ethnic Tigrayans since November, when fighting erupted between the military and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in Tigray, the country's northernmost region. City authorities in Addis Ababa say they have recently closed a number of Tigrayan-owned businesses over alleged links to the TPLF, which was designated by the government as a terrorist organization in May but had dominated Ethiopian politics for three decades until 2018. But Addis Ababa police spokesperson Fasika Fanta said he had no information on the arrests or business closures. Federal police spokesperson Jeylan Abdi said: \"People might be suspected of a crime and be arrested, but no one was targeted because of ethnicity.\" Ethiopia's attorney general has previously said there is no government policy to \"purge\" Tigrayan officials. He has said he cannot rule out that some innocent individuals might be swept up in arrests but that the TPLF has a big network in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia must err on the side of caution. Officials in the prime minister's office, the attorney general's office and a government task force on Tigray did not respond to requests for comment on the released detainees' reports of a wave of arrests, or on individual cases. Tesfalem Berhe, a Tigrayan lawyer from a Tigrayan opposition party, told Reuters he knew of at least 104 Tigrayans arrested in the past two weeks in Addis Ababa and five in the eastern city of Dire Dawa. The names were provided by colleagues, friends or family members, and most of those detained are hotel owners, merchants, aid workers, daily workers, shopkeepers or waiters, he said. He had not spoken to the detainees directly, and said he was not representing them although he was passing the information to organisations such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. \"They are not appearing before the court within (the legally mandated period of) 48 hours and we do not know their whereabouts – their family or lawyers cannot visit them,\" he said. The arrests intensified, he said, after the military withdrew from Tigray's capital, Mekelle, and declared a unilateral ceasefire after nearly eight months of fighting. A spokesperson for the rights commission confirmed it had received reports of detentions and was monitoring them. ARRESTS Nigusu Mahari, a Tigrayan street trader, told Reuters that city police and men in civilian clothes had arrested him and 76 other Tigrayans on July 5. \"They beat us all with sticks,\" Nigusu said. Police asked if he had been sent by the TPLF, he said. The group was taken to a military camp on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, he said, and the number of Tigrayans detained there later passed 100. He said he was held there for two days and given six pieces of bread a day. Reuters could not independently verify Nigusu's account. Police and military officials did not respond to questions about Nigusu's case and other individual accounts. Last week, Reuters visited 10 Tigrayan-owned coffee shops, bars and restaurants in Addis Ababa that had notices posted on their doors saying they had been closed by city authorities. A notice posted at a coffee shop in the Haya Hulet area said it had been closed for \"disturbing the area.\" Another's doors were papered shut by a notice stamped by the Peace and Security Office of Addis Ababa's Bole district. No reason was given. Lidia Girma, deputy head of Addis Ababa City Peace and Security department, told Reuters the government had acted against businesses connected to the TPLF. \"It wasn't random and has nothing to do with ethnicity. It was based on investigations,\" she said. RESTAURANT WORKERS HELD A Tigrayan resident of Addis Ababa told Reuters his family restaurant had been shut down last week, and his younger brother and their 80-year-old father arrested along with 25 employees. They were released after two days, he said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. A Tigrayan woman said police came to her house in Addis Ababa before dawn on July 1, searched it, and took her to a camp in the city's Kality district that is usually used for vagrants where she said hundreds of Tigrayans were being held. She said they were fed only one serving of bread per day but she was not beaten or questioned. She said she was not told why she was detained, paid 3,000 birr to a policeman and was released five days later. ($1 = 43.8932 birr) ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["a number of Tigrayan-owned businesses","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","number","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","Tigrayan","10 Tigrayan-owned coffee shops, bars and restaurants","Harmony Hotel and Kaleb hotel"]},{"role":"Date","values":["recently"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bole neighbourhood in Addis Ababa","ADDIS ABABA","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa","Addis Ababa"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["alleged links to the TPLF","TPLF","TPLF","TPLF","TPLF","disturbing the area","area"]}]}
+{"title":"Bat Fest canceled after city denies permit for Saturday concert on Congress Avenue Bridge","document":"Saturday's annual Bat Fest concert event on the Congress Avenue Bridge has been canceled after city officials denied the festival's permit, event presenter Roadway Productions announced via social media on Wednesday evening. The post read, \"It is with utter shock and great disappointment that we must announced that we were notified via email at 4:57 pm by the City of Austin (COA) Special Events Program Manager-Austin Center for Events, that our special event permit was denied for this Saturday's Bat Fest. Therefore we have been strong armed into cancelling our event.\" RELATED:Photos from Bat Fest 2019 Rapper Fetty Wap and other artists were scheduled to perform. According to city officials in a statement, the permit was denied \"out of an abundance of caution\" in regard to surging COVID-19 cases. \"In this current environment, some events cannot provide for or implement sufficient safety and health protocols necessary to prevent the spread,\" the city's statement read. \"Additionally, public health conditions continue to strain local medical services, including hospital resources with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacities. These strains can impact the City’s delivery of emergency-related services and the provision of City services required to support government functions.\" RELATED:ACL Fest to require negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination for all attendees Bat Fest's social media post claimed that their COVID-19 safety plan was previously approved by the city. Organizers also wrote that they had been in contact with the city since Aug. 11 \"to communicate and make sure that our event would go on.\" The fest claimed that its staff was emailed by the city on Monday, \"assuring us that we would have the event this Saturday.\" Bat Fest's post added that \"all indications from the City of Austin were that we had all of our ducks in a row as we have had for the other 15 previous years for this event. Now at the 11th hour we have been denied our permit and forced to cancel. We are shocked and devastated as this is a huge financial blow and harmful to our reputation as event producers. … We feel our event has been singled out arbitrarily and discriminated against.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["annual Bat Fest concert event"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday","Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["City of Austin","Austin","City","city","city","Austin","Congress Avenue Bridge"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["city officials denied the festival's permit","permit","permit","surging COVID-19 cases"]}]}
+{"title":"As only shelter in The Pas closes for repairs, homeless people 'sleeping anywhere and everywhere'","document":"Dozens of people in The Pas have been forced to sleep on the street after the only homeless shelter in the northern Manitoba town closed its doors for renovations earlier this month, leaving some wondering how Manitoba Housing allowed it to fall into such disrepair in the first place. With nowhere else for people to sleep, the sudden closure of Oscar's Place sent the local friendship centre scrambling to buy enough tents and sleeping bags so the town's homeless wouldn't freeze. \"You see these lost souls on the street with nothing,\" said Dena Johnson, executive manager of The Pas Friendship Centre. \"They're sleeping anywhere and everywhere.\" The closure came just as the Canadian Mental Health Association took over operations of the shelter, which is owned by the provincial agency Manitoba Housing. Manitoba Housing and the CMHA closed the shelter for eight weeks on Sept. 1 for badly needed repairs, necessitated by vandalism this summer and years of wear and tear. The shelter also needs time to hire more staff, after facing a severe shortage since a COVID-19 outbreak last October. Johnson said she has seen the effect of the closure on clients of her centre, which runs a daily lunch program. She was told one night, six men were forced to crowd into a three-man tent without a working zipper. \"They were struggling to keep warm there … because it's getting cold at night,\" she said. Lionel Daniels, who was a regular at Oscar's Place, now spends his nights at makeshift camps around the town. The group he sleeps with is forced to move locations frequently, for fear their stuff will be stolen if anyone discovers them. Sleeping outside in the summer isn't too bad, he said, but he relies on Oscar's Place whenever it rains or when temperatures plummet in the winter. With that colder weather on the horizon, \"I want to go to jail,\" Daniels, who has a court date in a few days, told CBC News. \"I want to hibernate.\" But in the meantime, he and others want a new shelter while Oscar's Place is being renovated. The Canadian Mental Health Association says it had no choice but to close the shelter temporarily while work is being done to bring it up to code. The decision \"was not something that we wanted to make,\" said James Wigley, the executive director of the CMHA's Swan Valley branch. Before the shelter can reopen, Manitoba Housing has a long list of repairs, including flooring, bathroom renovations, new windows, a new security system, a locking metal door and fire safety upgrades. A spokesperson for Manitoba's Families Department said the goal is to reopen by Nov. 1, after tenders were put out for the repairs with a Sept. 23 deadline. Manitoba Housing, which has owned Oscar's Place since 2018, has known the shelter was in need of repairs since 2019, after it received an inspection report from the non-profit organization that operated the shelter at the time, according to a spokesperson for the agency. The spokesperson says attempts by Manitoba Housing to address the repairs in September 2020 were unsuccessful because a contractor couldn't be secured. The shelter was previously run by Stand Up for Oscar's Place, a volunteer board. Its former chair, David Brauer, couldn't say why Manitoba Housing didn't get the repairs completed earlier, but thinks they could get the job done before Nov. 1. \"I believe Manitoba Housing has the money to hire a crew from anywhere and get this done immediately,\" he said. \"They need to step up and do it.\" Wigley said the CMHA inherited a host of issues when it took over operations of the shelter on Sept. 7. Under the new agreement, the CMHA will get an annual grant of $355,000 from the provincial government. While the shelter staff can take on the basic cleaning duties, the bigger repairs have to be done by Manitoba Housing, Wigley said. When the CMHA took over the building, the flooring was not up to code. It was so bad that a staff member's foot went through one of the floorboards, Wigley said. A lack of staff contributed to the problem by giving people the opportunity to vandalize the place. That meant it often wasn't safe to operate. Running the shelter overnight requires six staff members, but it only had three when it closed on Sept. 1. Wigley said the CMHA is now aggressively trying to hire. Officials with Manitoba Housing admit that when the decision was made to close the building, they knew there was nowhere to house residents in the interim. A interview request for Families Minister Rochelle Squires, the minister responsible for Manitoba Housing, was denied. This is not the first time the shelter has faced closure. It was once owned and operated by the local friendship centre. Facing mounting financial pressure in 2017, the centre said it couldn't afford to run the shelter anymore and would have to close it. Manitoba Housing stepped in and bought the building in 2018, with Stand Up for Oscar's Place running the shelter. A spokesperson for the Families Department said multiple repairs were done at that time. The friendship centre's Johnson said there is widespread frustration over the lack of a contingency plan to house everyone during the current closure. Some people in the community seem to feel homeless people won't live in The Pas if they aren't offered services, she said. \"So not everybody is willing to open their doors and welcome them.\" The town's mayor said the larger issue is the lack of resources his small community has to offer to people who are often coming from nearby First Nations. \"The town of The Pas just can't do it on its own,\" said Mayor Herb Jaques. There is currently nowhere in town that could be used as a shelter on an emergency basis, he said. He also says most of the shelter's residents struggle with addictions issues and need a treatment centre. \"The province of Manitoba has done a terrible job with those issues in our community,\" he said. \"You don't have to look very far to see the shortcomings.\" ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Oscar's Place","Oscar","Place","Oscar","Oscar","Place","Oscar","Place","Oscar","Place","place","Oscar","Place"]},{"role":"Date","values":["earlier this month","earlier","eight weeks","Sept. 1","2017"]},{"role":"Location","values":["northern Manitoba town"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["badly needed repairs","severe shortage since a COVID-19 outbreak","mounting financial pressure"]}]}
+{"title":"Florida Georgia Line The Latest Band To Cancel 2021 Concert Dates Due To Covid-19— See Full List","document":"Florida Georgia Line announced Friday they had canceled all shows scheduled for the remainder of the year, joining an expanding list of bands and solo artists that have canceled concerts due to concerns related to the surging number of Covid-19 cases throughout the United States. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 06: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida ... [+] Georgia Line perform on stage during day 1 of 2019 CMA Music Festival on June 06, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Florida Georgia Line said in a message on Instagram, they were “bummed” to have to cancel the rest of their fall tour, but ultimately made the decision due to the Covid surge, saying, “everyone’s continued safety has been weighing heavy on us.” BTS also cancelled its “Map of the Soul” world tour which was rescheduled due to the pandemic last year, Rolling Stone reported Thursday, with BTS’ company, Big Hit Music, saying changing conditions with Covid-19 have made it “difficult to resume performances at the same scale and timeline as previously planned.\" PROMOTED On Wednesday, Nine Inch Nails announced they had canceled all shows scheduled for the remainder of the year, saying in a statement on their website, the tour was \"intended to be a cathartic and celebratory return to live music\" when initially planned, but \"with each passing day, it's becoming more apparent we're not at that place yet.” The band, which has not performed live since being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last November, informed fans that if they bought tickets for their shows scheduled for September in Cleveland, Ohio, they would be able to receive refunds through their point of purchase. On Wednesday, country legend Garth Brooks announced the cancelation of his remaining 2021 concert dates, stating refunds would be offered for the approximately 350,000 tickets sold in advance. Brooks, whose wife, fellow performer Trisha Yearwood, had previously contracted Covid, said in a statement that when he restarted his tour in July, he \"sincerely thought the pandemic was falling behind us,\" but after \"watching this new wave, I realize we are still in the fight, and I must do my part.\" Last week, Stevie Nicks, citing the rise in Covid-19 cases, which she stated \"should be of concern to all of us,\" canceled each of the five performances she was scheduled to make over the remainder of 2021. In a Twitter post, the 73-year-old Nicks said that while she is vaccinated, she is \"still being extremely cautious.\" On Aug. 9, less than a week after performing in front of a full-capacity crowd at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Limp Bizkit announced the cancelation of their summer tour \"out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans.\" With the delta variant sweeping throughout the country, the U.S. is averaging more than 140,000 new coronavirus cases a day, the highest daily average since early February. Several popular bands, ranging from Phish and Maroon 5 to The Foo Fighters and Dead & Co., have recently declared they will require proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 or a recent negative test as a prerequisite to attend their shows. Earlier this week, Jason Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, pulled out of the 19th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion after the festival said it would not require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test for entry. In a statement, the festival's organizers explained, \"after exploring all options, we have concluded that we cannot impose a vaccine mandate or negative test policy at this time without a state mandate.\" \"I'm all for freedom, but I think if you're dead, you don't have any freedoms at all,\" Isbell told MSNBC in an interview last week. \"So it's probably important to stay alive before you start questioning your liberty.\" It's not just artists that have decided to cancel shows. Last week, the New Orleans Jazz Fest announced that due to the \"current exponential growth of new Covid cases in New Orleans and the region and the ongoing public health emergency,\" the event scheduled to take place in mid-October would be pushed back to next spring. The Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, a country music festival scheduled for Labor Day weekend in Florida, has also been called off and moved to June 3-5, 2022. Here Are The Bands Requiring Fans To Provide Proof Of Vaccination Or A Negative Covid Test To Attend Their Shows (Forbes) Musician Jason Isbell: I'll Only Perform For Audiences That Are Vaccinated Or Show A Negative Covid Test (Forbes) ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["all shows scheduled","shows scheduled","shows scheduled","“Map of the Soul” world tour","remaining 2021 concert","each of the five performances","summer tour"]},{"role":"Date","values":["remainder of the year","remainder","remainder","the remainder of 2021","last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["United States"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["concerns related to the surging number of Covid-19 cases","Covid","Covid","Covid-19 cases","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Imagine Music Festival planned for Chattahoochee Hills canceled due to rain","document":"Imagine Music Festival, metro Atlanta’s largest electronic dance music event, was canceled Wednesday due to predictions of rainy weather, just a day and a half before it was slated to begin. “We are devastated to share this news, however, mother nature leaves us no option with the remains of Hurricane Nicholas causing severe weather throughout the region,” wrote the festival organizers on its Facebook and Twitter feeds. Some 30,000 to 40,000 EDM fans were expected at the 8,000-acre Bouckaert Farm in the tiny Chattahoochee Hills community this weekend, planning to be entertained by Adventure Club, Excision, Griz, Illenium, Kaskade and dozens of other EDM acts. Three-day tickets, starting at $250, were sold out. The Midtown Music Festival is also planned for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19, on four stages at Piedmont Park. Scheduled acts include 21 Savage, Miley Cyrus and Megan Thee Stallion. This would have been the first time the Imagine festival was staged at the Bouckaert Farm, having begun life seven years ago at the Masquerade Music Park, and then at the Atlanta Motor Speedway facility. Plans for last year’s festival were scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers Maddy and Glenn Goodhand were optimistic about this year’s event. “Overwhelmingly, even the experts are saying we’re likely to be at a point (with vaccines and case numbers) where we can put a bunch of people outside in early fall,” Glenn Goodhand told former AJC music writer Melissa Ruggieri earlier this spring. “It’s tough, but for the most part, I think everyone wants to start getting out there, and we want to make sure it’s safe to do so.” Now those fans are grousing on social media about the last-minute cancellation. “Spent thousands to get here and you say rain or shine,” said one on Facebook. “Where the heck is it ok to cancel less than 24 hrs of opening. I want my money back now so I can get home instead of spend the rest of my time here doing nothing.” Old hands remember the disaster of the huge TomorrowWorld festival, held in the same location in 2015. An event that attracted 150,000 the year before was marred by rain and bad planning in 2015, stranding thousands without food, water or transportation. The result of the TomorrowWorld debacle was the bankruptcy of the organizers and the end of Atlanta’s version of the festival. “As someone who was at TomorrowWorld . . . this is a smart decision,” wrote another commenter, on the Imagine Music Festival Facebook page. This year’s Imagine Music Festival, ironically named “An Aquatic Fairytale,” would likely have been similarly muddy, and more aquatic than the planners wanted. The refund policy listed on the Imagine Music Festival’s website specifies that there will be no refunds. “If the Event is canceled in whole, or in part, due to a Force Majeure Event (as defined below), You will not be entitled to a refund,” says the policy. “Force Majeure” is defined to include severe weather, along with terrorism, tsunami, flood, strike or other labor action. The terms and conditions can be seen on the organizer’s website. The Bonaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee was canceled last month, two days before it was set to begin, due to severe weather from Hurricane Ida.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Maddy and Glenn Goodhand","Glenn Goodhand"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Imagine Music Festival","Imagine Music Festival","The Midtown Music Festival","The Bonaroo Music and Arts Festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","a day and a half before","Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19","last year","last month"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Atlanta","Atlanta","Manchester, Tennessee"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["severe weather from Hurricane Ida","severe weather","severe weather","predictions of rainy weather","COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Here Are The Houston-Area Schools Closed By Nicholas","document":"Town Square is on the air now! Join the conversation: Call 888.486.9677 | Email talk@townsquaretalk.org | Listen Live Houston ISD and other districts are set to reopen on Wednesday. Updated 7:08 a.m. CDT Wednesday All schools districts have reopened except for the following: Angleton ISD schools are closed through Wednesday. All after-school events and activities — including practices — are canceled. Brazosport ISD Brazosport ISD schools are closed through at least Wednesday. Clear Creek ISD On Tuesday, Clear Creek ISD announced schools will reopen Wednesday with the exception of Hyde Elementary and League City Elementary, which remained without power at the time. The district added that if power was restored it would notify families by 6:30 a.m., and those schools would open as normal Wednesday. High schools have late arrival on Wednesday. All absences are excused. Danbury ISD Danbury ISD will be closed through Wednesday, including after-school activities. Dickinson ISD Dickinson ISD schools will be closed through Wednesday. Fort Bend ISD Classes and activities resume at Fort Bend ISD elementary, middle and high schools Wednesday, except for the below schools impacted by power outages: Galveston ISD Galveston ISD is closed through Wednesday, and all school events and activities are canceled. Hitchcock ISD Hitchcock ISD is closed through Wednesday. Huffman ISD Falcon Ridge Elementary, Huffman Middle and Hargrave High School will be open Wednesday. A determination for classes at Huffman Elementary and DAEP was set to be announced by 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Pasadena ISD South Houston Intermediate School will be closed Wednesday. Santa Fe ISD Santa Fe ISD will be closed through Wednesday, with afternoon activities canceled. All SBISD schools return Wednesday except Memorial High School and Rummel Creek Elementary School, which were still without power as of Tuesday night. Stafford Municipal School District Schools are closed Wednesday, though some student activities may continue as planned. Sweeny ISD Sweeny ISD schools and offices are closed through at least Wednesday. Texas City ISD Texas City ISD is closed through at least Wednesday. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Hitchcock ISD","Hitchcock ISD","Texas City ISD","Texas City ISD","Angleton ISD schools","All after-school events and activities — including practices","Brazosport ISD schools","Danbury ISD","Dickinson ISD schools","Galveston ISD","Pasadena ISD South Houston Intermediate School","Santa Fe ISD","Stafford Municipal School District Schools","Sweeny ISD schools and offices"]},{"role":"Date","values":["through Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Houston","Houston"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["power outages"]}]}
+{"title":"WHO Points To Wildlife Farms In Southern China As Likely Source Of Pandemic, with evidence found in farms and markets already closed","document":" Bamboo rats are among the wild animals farmed for food in China and other parts of Asia. A member of the World Health Organization team investigating the coronavirus pandemic says its report will conclude that such animal farms are likely the place where the pandemic began. Above, a live rat is on sale at a food market in Myanmar. Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images Bamboo rats are among the wild animals farmed for food in China and other parts of Asia. A member of the World Health Organization team investigating the coronavirus pandemic says its report will conclude that such animal farms are likely the place where the pandemic began. Above, a live rat is on sale at a food market in Myanmar. A member of the World Health Organization investigative team says wildlife farms in southern China are the most likely source of the COVID-19 pandemic. China shut down those wildlife farms in February 2020, says Peter Daszak, a disease ecologist with EcoHealth Alliance and a member of the WHO delegation that traveled to China this year. During that trip, Daszak says, the WHO team found new evidence that these wildlife farms were supplying vendors at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan with animals. Daszak told NPR that the government response was a strong signal that the Chinese government thought those farms were the most probable pathway for a coronavirus in bats in southern China to reach humans in Wuhan. Those wildlife farms, including ones in the Yunnan region, are part of a unique project that the Chinese government has been promoting for 20 years now. \"They take exotic animals, like civets, porcupines, pangolins, raccoon dogs and bamboo rats, and they breed them in captivity,\" says Daszak. The agency is expected to release the team's investigative findings in the next two weeks. In the meantime, Daszak gave NPR a highlight of what the team figured out. \"China promoted the farming of wildlife as a way to alleviate rural populations out of poverty,\" Daszak says. The farms helped the government meet ambitious goals of closing the rural-urban divide, as NPR reported last year. \"It was very successful,\" Daszak says. \"In 2016, they had 14 million people employed in wildlife farms, and it was a $70 billion industry.\" Then on Feb. 24, 2020, right when the outbreak in Wuhan was winding down, the Chinese government made a complete about-face about the farms. \"What China did then was very important,\" Daszak says. \"They put out a declaration saying that they were going to stop the farming of wildlife for food.\" The government shut down the farms. \"They sent out instructions to the farmers about how to safely dispose of the animals — to bury, kill or burn them — in a way that didn't spread disease.\" Why would the government do this? Because, Daszak thinks, these farms could be the spot of spillover, where the coronavirus jumped from a bat into another animal and then into people. \"I do think that SARS-CoV-2 first got into people in South China. It's looking that way.\" First off, many farms are located in or around a southern province, Yunnan, where virologists found a bat virus that's genetically 96% similar to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Second, the farms breed animals that are known to carry coronaviruses, such as civet cats and pangolins. Finally, during the WHO's mission to China, Daszak said the team found new evidence that these farms were supplying vendors at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where an early outbreak of COVID-19 occurred. The market was shut down overnight on Dec. 31, 2019, after it was linked to cases of what was then described as a mysterious pneumonia-like illness. \"There was massive transmission going on at that market for sure,\" says Linfa Wang, a virologist who studies bat viruses at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. He's also part of the WHO investigative team. Wang says that after the outbreak at the Huanan market, Chinese scientists went there and looked for the virus. \"In the live animal section, they had many positive samples,\" Wang says. \"They even have two samples from which they could isolate live virus.\" And so Daszak and others on the WHO team believe that the wildlife farms provided a perfect conduit between a coronavirus-infected bat in Yunnan (or neighboring Myanmar) and a Wuhan animal market. \"China closes that pathway down for a reason,\" Daszak says. \"The reason was, back in February 2020, they believed this was the most likely pathway [for the coronavirus to spread to Wuhan]. And when the WHO report comes out ... we believe it's the most likely pathway too.\" The next step, says Daszak, is to figure out specifically which animal carried the virus and at which of the many wildlife farms.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["wildlife farms","wildlife farms","wildlife farms","wildlife farms","wildlife farms","wildlife farms","wildlife farms","farms","farms","farms","farms","farms","farms","farms","Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan","Wuhan","Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market","Wuhan","Wuhan","Wuhan"]},{"role":"Date","values":["February 2020","February 2020","overnight on Dec. 31, 2019"]},{"role":"Location","values":["China","China","China","China","China","China","China","China","China","China","China"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19","COVID-19","early outbreak of COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Alabama postpones Laughlin concert","document":"LAUGHLIN — The legendary country music group Alabama has postponed its concert in Laughlin for a little more than a year. The band, in the middle of its heralded 50th Anniversary Tour, was scheduled to play Sunday at the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater at Harrah's Laughlin, a night after playing at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey's in Stateline, Nevada. Alabama announced on its website that both of those dates have been pushed to consecutive nights in 2022 — Stateline on Sept. 9 and Laughlin on Sept. 10. Postponement of the Lake Tahoe appearance comes as parts of that area are under evacuation orders because of the Caldor Fire, which is threatening South Lake Tahoe and likely will jump from the California side of the border into Nevada. “We've been advised by local officials that the fires are making conditions too unsafe for us to perform this Saturday and South Lake Tahoe is currently under evacuations in the area,” the band said on its website's tour listings. “We have worked with the casino to reschedule the date of Sept. 9, 2022.” No specific reason was given for the Laughlin postponement at a venue about 400 miles away from Tahoe. “Due to circumstances beyond our control, Alabama is postponing the show... to a new rescheduled date of Sept. 10, 2022.” For both Nevada shows, tickets already purchased will be honored on the new dates and refunds will be available for 30 days. “For all guests who have purchased tickets for the original concert this Sunday, their tickets will be honored at the rescheduled show,” said Barbie Greenwood, marketing communications/public relations manager for Harrah's Laughlin. ‘If they are unable to attend the new date, they will be able to request a refund at the point of purchase until Oct. 1, 2021.” The original concert had not been sold out; tickets still were available early Monday afternoon. Later in the day, ticket links began showing the new concert date next year. Alabama is scheduled to resume its tour in the Midwest, playing Sept. 16 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the following night in Oklahoma City before moving to Dayton, Ohio, on Sept. 24 and Pittsburgh on Sept. 25. The Nevada concerts aren't the first to be canceled by the popular group. The band has twice rescheduled a concert appearance with the Beach Boys in Wichita, Kansas. The original date of July 31, 2000, was postponed because of the COVID-19 precautions — many of the band's tour stops were postponed last year for that reason — and was rescheduled for March 27 of this year. It was postponed again and rescheduled for Feb. 12, 2022. Several other earlier dates in 2021 also have been rescheduled, mostly due to COVID-19 and public health concerns. The band also rescheduled more than 20 dates in 2019 — when the 50th Anniversary Tour actually began — because of health issues surrounding lead singer Randy Owen. Greenwood said there have been no other changes in the lineup of acts coming to the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater. “The next concert in the Rio Vista ... is Los Tigres Del Norte concert on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, followed by Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening on Friday, Oct. 22, and Justin Moore on Saturday, Nov. 6,” she said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","concert","concert","concert","concert","concert","concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2022 — Stateline on Sept. 9 and Laughlin on Sept. 10","Laughlin","Laughlin","Laughlin","Laughlin","Sunday","Sunday","a little more than a year","Saturday","July 31, 2000"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Laughlin","Laughlin","Laughlin","Laughlin","Laughlin"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 precautions","COVID-19","Caldor Fire","health issues surrounding lead singer Randy Owen"]}]}
+{"title":"Redcar Council buys M&S shop to demolish as part of revamp","document":"A council has bought an empty Marks & Spencer shop which could be demolished as part of a town revamp. The former store in High Street, Redcar, previously had a guide price of £1.29m. Redcar and Cleveland Council would not disclose what it paid, describing it as \"commercially sensitive\". The local authority has received £25m as part of the government's Towns Fund which is aimed to rejuvenate the coastal town. Council leader Mary Lanigan has previously promised to \"make every penny count\" of the government cash. The store closed in 2014 and property has entrances from the High Street and The Esplanade. It will make way for a scheme linking the High Street with the seafront which will provide an events space and allow existing and pop-up businesses to trade outdoors. Redcar councillor Neil Baldwin, an independent representing the Coatham ward, said it was the council's \"intention to demolish\" the building. \"We have rundown areas all through the borough and there are places and buildings which are never going to be re-inhabited, and the council can take the first step and hammer away in terms of regeneration.\" The council is thought to be in discussions to potentially buy other buildings in the town, but these have not been made public, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. \"Officers are continuing to work with our partners on the Redcar Town Deal board to make sure this huge opportunity to transform the town is grabbed with both hands,\" a spokesman said. \"A key element of the scheme is opening up a new events and cultural space between the seafront and the town centre and it is as part of those plans that the former Marks & Spencer building freehold has been bought. Other plans include a proposed outdoor watersports centre at Coatham, a family activity centre on The Esplanade, renovating properties in Station Road, along with an improved library for the town and a clean energy education hub at Redcar & Cleveland College. Loftus, in east Cleveland, which was awarded £5.8m from the Future High Streets fund, has seen public funds being used to buy the former Grade II-listed Barclays Bank building, as well as a former church and derelict chapel. Former council leader, Labour's Sue Jeffrey, has questioned whether it was value for money. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Marks & Spencer shop","Marks"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2014"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Redcar","Redcar","Redcar","Redcar","Redcar"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["part of a town revamp"]}]}
+{"title":"U.S. says ransomware attack on meatpacker JBS likely from Russia, which lead some business' closure","document":"CHICAGO, June 1 (Reuters) - Brazil’s JBS SA (JBSS3.SA) told the U.S. government that a ransomware attack on the company that disrupted meat production in North America and Australia originated from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, the White House said on Tuesday. JBS, the world's largest meatpacker, said on Tuesday night it had made \"significant progress in resolving the cyberattack.\" The \"vast majority\" of the company's beef, pork, poultry and prepared foods plants will be operational on Wednesday, according to a statement, easing concerns over rising food prices. The cyberattack followed one last month by a group with ties to Russia on Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline in the United States, which crippled fuel delivery for several days in the U.S. Southeast. JBS halted cattle slaughter at all its U.S. plants on Tuesday, according to union officials. On Monday, the attack caused Australian operations to shut down. \"Our systems are coming back online and we are not sparing any resources to fight this threat,\" said Andre Nogueira, chief executive of JBS USA. With North American operations headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, JBS controls about 20% of the slaughtering capacity for U.S. cattle and hogs. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States contacted Russia's government and that the FBI was investigating. \"The White House is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals,\" Jean-Pierre said. JBS sells beef and pork under the Swift brand, with retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) carrying its pork loins and tenderloins. JBS also owns most of chicken processor Pilgrim's Pride Co (PPC.O), which sells organic chicken under the Just Bare brand. Ongoing shutdowns of JBS plants would threaten to raise meat prices further for American consumers during summer grilling season and to disrupt meat exports at a time of strong demand from China. \"The supply chains, logistics and transportation that keep our society moving are especially vulnerable to ransomware, where attacks on choke points can have outsized effects and encourage hasty payments,\" said threat researcher John Hultquist with security company FireEye. The disruption quickly had an impact on Tuesday, industry analysts said. U.S. meatpackers slaughtered 22% fewer cattle than a week earlier and 18% than a year earlier, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pork processing was also down. Prices for choice and select cuts of U.S. beef shipped to wholesale buyers in large boxes each jumped more than 1%, the USDA said. A general view of the JBS USA Worthington pork plant, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in Worthington, Minnesota, U.S., October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Bing Guan The USDA contacted several major meat processors to encourage them to keep supplies moving and slaughter additional livestock when possible, according to a statement. The agency also urged meatpackers to make their IT and supply-chain infrastructure more durable. Federal agencies including the USDA and Department of Homeland Security are closely monitoring meat and poultry supplies, a White House official said. The agencies are also working with agricultural processors to ensure no price manipulation occurs as a result of the cyberattack, the official said. AFFECTED SYSTEMS SUSPENDED JBS said it suspended all affected systems, notified authorities and that backup servers were not affected. A representative in Sao Paulo said there was no impact on Brazilian operations. The company said Sunday's cyberattack affected its North American and Australian IT systems and \"resolution of the incident will take time, which may delay certain transactions with customers and suppliers.\" U.S. beef and pork prices are already rising as China increases imports, animal feed costs rise and slaughterhouses face a dearth of workers. Any further impact on consumers will depend on how long JBS plants remain closed, analysts said. JBS Beef in Cactus, Texas, said on Facebook that there would be no production for fabrication, slaughtering or rendering on one shift on Wednesday. Another shift will have regular start times for employees. An early shift was also canceled on Wednesday at JBS' beef plant in Greeley after the cyberattack, but a later shift was scheduled to resume normally, representatives of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7 said in an email. A pork plant in Ottumwa, Iowa, will have no \"harvest production\" on its first or second shifts on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post that said the company was \"continuing to work through our IT issues.\" Some other aspects of the plant are operating, according to the post. JBS Canada said in a Facebook post that it operated a shift at its beef plant in Brooks, Alberta, on Tuesday, after canceling shifts earlier in the day and on Monday. The United States Cattlemen's Association, a beef industry group, said on Twitter that it had reports of JBS redirecting livestock haulers who arrived at plants with animals ready for slaughter. Last year, cattle and hogs backed up on U.S. farms and some animals were euthanized when meat plants were shut during coronavirus outbreaks among workers. Over the past few years, ransomware has evolved into a pressing national security issue. A number of gangs, many of them Russian speakers, develop the software that encrypts files and then demand payment in cryptocurrency for keys that allow the owners to decipher and use them again. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["cattle slaughter","Australian operations","meat plants"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Monday","Last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S. plants"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["crippled fuel delivery for several days","coronavirus outbreaks among workers"]}]}
+{"title":"Comings & Goings: Staffing shortages still stymie service industry","document":"New hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and noon to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It just reopened July 22 after being closed for 16 months. Owner Samir Abughannam did not give a reason for the recent temporary closure. The restaurant is at 301 B St. ———— Comstock’s Magazine had a nice feature recently on Konditorei Austrian Pastry Cafe. It said Albert Kutternig, 66, hopes to retire within two years. He owns the bakery with his wife Gloria. Konditorei started in the early 1990s in downtown Davis. It’s been at its 3,000-square-foot custom-built building at 2710 Fifth St. since 2000. The story said Albert hasn’t found someone willing to take on the long, early-morning hours of his business, and may have to close it when he retires. ———— Citing staffing shortages, Tommy J’s Grill — aka Froggy’s Bar & Grill — recently joined the list of restaurants that are closed on Mondays. That remains in effect at least through the end of October. If you’ve tried to eat out on a Monday — especially for lunch — it’s a challenge. With UC Davis students back in town, hopefully staffing and business profits will improve. Meanwhile, practice patience (and please don’t post a nasty review on Yelp). ———— One great choice for lunch on Mondays and other weekdays is Musette, which recently rebranded from Pannier. It has a ton of filling, plant-based grain bowl and salad choices, along with its already amazing sourdough bread, focaccia — and some big, brown-butter chocolate chip cookies (topped with coarse salt!) that look dangerously delicious. It’s inside University Mall at 825 Russell Blvd., Suite 27. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. ———— The long-awaited new 7-Eleven at 400 Mace Blvd. opened Sept. 15. It includes a gas station as well as a convenience store. The company never responded to my messages regarding the delayed opening, but I assume it was because of staffing. ———— The ASUCD Coffee House in Memorial Union reopened on Wednesday, the same day in-person classes resumed at UC Davis. Hours are limited to weekdays, and shorter than usual, due to staffing constraints. Swirlz Bakery is open from 7:30a.m. to 4 p.m. Mandalay Express (sushi and pho) serves from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hours for TxMx Grill and Fickle Pickle Deli are 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ciao (pizza) remains closed. These remain in effect until Dec. 10 unless they can fill job vacancies. ———— Explorit Science Center plans a grand reopening Oct. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center, at 3141 Fifth St., has been closed for 18 months, except for some limited outdoor camps. The event will include public hours and craft activities. Face masks are required. Explorit board president Sheila Allen said, “It will be nice to safely have visitors again. I hope people will come by and enjoy some family science fun.” To limit crowds, the event requires registration. Visit https://www.explorit.org/grand-reopening to secure a morning or afternoon spot. Admission is $4 for nonmembers ages 3 and up. ———— Bizarro World celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, with an event on Sept. 30. The store’s inventory includes old and new comic books; sci-fi and manga books; toys; gaming and trading cards; board, role-playing and video games. It’s at 223 E St. Check its Facebook page for updates on its anniversary. ———— Fusion Boba & Sandwiches closed on Sept. 18. The business ran as a kiosk inside Westlake Market, 1260 Lake Blvd. In an announcement on social media, Fusion said it plans to open a new store in Woodland. I have confirmed that Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee plans to fill the space. The San Francisco-based company started as a supplier to supermarkets, restaurants and natural food stores. It sells and makes socially and environmentally responsible coffee. ———— Local Jump bikes vanished in the pandemic but there’s a new bike rental company in town: Joe Bike. Its pop-up shop is at 903 Third St. Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check it out online at https://thejoebike.com/. The San Francisco-based company had a soft-launch starting in March but it’s busy now that UC Davis students are back. Its target market is college towns, including Palo Alto and Austin, Texas. Joe Bike offers monthly bike subscriptions: $24 for a single-speed and $29 for a three-speed cruiser. “The service also includes both damage and theft protection,” the company said in a news release. Each bike comes with a lock. “Should a Joe Bike need repairs or get stolen, it will be serviced or replaced within 24 hours, at no extra charge.” These green-and-white cruisers with front racks are more traditional than the heavy, electric-assisted red Jump bikes popular in Davis before the pandemic. Jump bike services were shut down in March 2020 by its then-parent company, Uber. It was later acquired by Lime, known best for its electric scooters. Jump bikes do not appear to be returning to Davis. ———— Another business adjusting its hours is Helmus Optometry. It recently eliminated Saturdays, attributing it mostly to the labor shortage. It’s open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ———— Davis Shoe Shop is back to regular hours, with high hopes of maintaining them. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at 223 C St. ———— For those wondering, I have tried to check in on the status of Uncle Vito’s and Delta of Venus, two of the last restaurants in town that remain closed since March 2020. Still, no response. ———— Green River Brewing & Taproom in Winters closed temporarily after a vehicle drove into the side of its building early on Sept. 19. It reopened Sept. 20 with a limited menu. Co-owner John Neil told The Winters Express that its self-serve beer wall will be out of service until its damaged portion is fixed. It’s at 4513 Putah Creek Road. ———— I keep track of Davis businesses on my Google spreadsheet, which includes more than 325 Davis businesses affected by COVID-19. It’s at https://bit.ly/DavisBusinesses. In it, there are sheets for Restaurants-open, Restaurants-closed, Businesses-retail, Businesses-service, and more. Email me (address below) to suggest updates. — Wendy Weitzel is a Davis writer and editor. Her column runs on Sundays. Check for frequent updates on her Comings & Goings Facebook and Instagram pages. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Tommy J’s Grill","Grill","Jump bikes","Jump bikes","Jump bikes","Konditorei Austrian Pastry Cafe","Ciao (pizza)","Explorit Science Center","Fusion Boba & Sandwiches","Uncle Vito’s and Delta of Venus","Green River Brewing & Taproom"]},{"role":"Date","values":["closed for 18 months","closed","closed","closed","closed","since March 2020","2020","March 2020","Sept. 18","Sept","early on Sept. 19","for 16 months","on Mondays","at least through the end of October","until Dec. 10"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Winters","Winters","downtown Davis","3141 Fifth St","inside Westlake Market"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["did not give a reason","job vacancies","affected by COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Largest Amsterdam Dance Event party, AMF, cancelled over Covid rules","document":"The Amsterdam Music Festival (AMF), the largest party of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), will not take place this year due to the coronavirus restrictions. The organizers announced that it cannot organize the event with only 75 percent of attendees, as per the new restrictions announced by the cabinet on Tuesday. The AMF was scheduled for October 16 with 40 thousand attendees at full capacity and performances by DJs Afrojack, Tiesto, Nicky Romero, Armin van Buuren and David Guetta. The event was already sold out. This is the second year the AMF can't happen due to the coronavirus. \"We need your love on that special night on the 16th of October in the beating heart of Amsterdam - the Johan Cruijff ArenA. We need your energy. We need your beautiful smiling faces. We need you to embrace each other again. We need you to make AMF your escape and take this journey with us once again. But the Dutch Government has other plans,\" AMF said on Facebook. \"We did all we could to reunite with you on the dancefloor again, but the world is still in a very surreal place and we will have to sadly miss you for one more year.\" Festival organizer ALDA said it hopes to be able to hold the AMF next year, on Saturday October 22.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["ALDA"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Amsterdam Music Festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year","October 16"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Dutch"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus restrictions"]}]}
+{"title":"UNESCO, UNICEF say closed Afghan girls' schools violates fundamental right to education","document":" Published: 20th September 2021 Both UNESCO and UNICEF said that Afghanistan has made significant gains in education, especially in girls' education, and they should be preserved Representative Image The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said that closing Afghan girls' schools violates the fundamental right to education. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement that if the girls' schools continue to remain closed, it would constitute a significant violation of the fundamental right to education for girls and women. \"UNESCO warns about the irreversible consequences if girls are not allowed to return to school at all levels of education swiftly. In particular, the delayed return of girls to secondary school may risk them being left behind in education and ultimately, in life. It increases the risk of dropping out from education altogether and exposes them to negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage. It may further widen the learning disparities between boys and girls, and ultimately hinder girls' access to higher education and life opportunities,\" Azoulay said. Both UNESCO and UNICEF said that Afghanistan has made significant gains in education, especially in girls' education, and they should be preserved. Azoulay said educated boys and girls will shape the future of Afghanistan and they should equally benefit from the rights to an education. \"The future of Afghanistan depends on educated girls and boys. We, therefore, call upon all relevant actors in Afghanistan to ensure that all children have unhindered access to education in the framework of the announced gradual reopening of schools. The right to education for all learners, especially girls, must be upheld at this critical time,\" she said. In the meantime, UNICEF has also voiced its concerns over the unclear fate of Afghan girls and their education. While welcoming the gradual reopening of schools, UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement that \"we are deeply worried that many girls may not be allowed back at this time.\" Fore said the girls must not be left behind and she called on relevant actors to address the problem. \"Girls cannot, and must not, be left behind,\" Fore said. The statement comes as boys' secondary schools reopened on Saturday, but the fate of girls' schools remains unclear. The Taliban education ministry of the caretaker cabinet on Friday announced that male students and teachers should appear in schools but did not mention anything about girls and female teachers. According to UNESCO, Afghanistan has made important gains in the education sector in the past two decades. Since 2001, the female literacy rate has almost doubled from 17 per cent to 30 per cent, and the number of girls in primary school has increased from almost zero in 2001 to 2.5 million in 2018. The number of girls in higher education institutions has increased from 5,000 in 2001 to around 90,000 in 2018. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Afghan girls' schools","schools","Afghan girls","schools","schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["continue to remain closed"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"KISS is latest to postpone tour dates after Gene Simmons tests positive for COVID-19","document":"If you don’t think the Delta variant is real, a few performers and concert promoters might change your mind: KISS and Florida Georgia Line are the latest musical acts to announce they’re canceling or delaying shows because of the resurgent pandemic. Stevie Nicks, Nine Inch Nails, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Garth Brooks and other artists also have recently scrapped or postponed tour dates as the coronavirus’ highly contagious Delta variant continues to sweep across the United States and abroad. Several musicians have returned to the stage as the country gradually reopens for the first time since COVID-19 vaccines became widely accessible. But some have begun to back out of performances as the recent surge in coronavirus cases takes an increasing toll — primarily on the unvaccinated community. Other performers — such as Phoebe Bridgers, the Foo Fighters, the Eagles, Phish, Dead & Company and Maroon 5 — are requiring concertgoers to produce proof of immunization or recent negative test results before entering their shows. AEG Presents, the promoter of marquee music events such as the Coachella festival, recently announced a mandatory vaccination policy for staff and fans at upcoming shows. Meanwhile, some major festivals are already canceling this year’s dates, with more likely to follow suit. Music Coachella promoter AEG sets mandatory vaccination policy for fans and staff “We are aware that there might be some pushback, but I’m confident we will be on the right side of history” the Coachella and Stagecoach promoter said Thursday. Aug. 12, 2021 As of Aug. 20, 64% of Californians had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — but hospitals are quickly becoming overwhelmed after seeing coronavirus hospitalizations multiply over the span of a few weeks. The new wave of live music cancellations is, of course, reminiscent of the beginning of the pandemic, when musician after musician — from BTS and Billie Eilish to Khalid and Mariah Carey — began scrapping their planned 2020 concert appearances slowly, and then all at once. Here’s a running list of artists who have altered their 2021 touring schedules so far. Rock band KISS delayed its next four appearances in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin after bassist and singer Gene Simmons tested positive for COVID-19. “While [guitarist and singer] Paul Stanley recently tweeted that he has recovered from COVID, Gene Simmons has now tested positive and is experiencing mild symptoms,” the group said in an Aug. 31 statement. “The band and crew will remain at home and isolate for the next 10 days. ... All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates once announced. More information will be emailed to ticket holders directly.” KISS’ End of the Road tour is expected to resume Sept. 9 at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine. On Aug. 20, country music duo Florida Georgia Line canceled the remainder of their I Love My Country tour, citing safety concerns. In California, the “Cruise” hitmakers were expected to travel to San Diego, Mountain View, Wheatland, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Bernardino in November. Other stops on the itinerary spanned Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington state and Washington, D.C. “While we’ve been able to see some of y’all at shows recently, everyone’s continued safety has been weighing heavy on us,” the group said in a statement. “We’re so bummed to have to cancel this tour, but we know in our hearts that we still have to make sure we’re keeping our fans and crew safe. We love y’all and can’t wait to be back out when the time is right.” Global pop supergroup BTS officially pulled the plug Aug. 20 on its highly anticipated Map of the Soul tour, long after postponing the North American leg of the tour in March 2020. “Our company has worked hard to resume preparations for the BTS Map of the Soul tour, knowing that all fans have been waiting eagerly and long for the tour,” the band’s record label, Bighit, said in a statement. “However, due to changing circumstances beyond our control, it has become difficult to resume performances at the same scale and timeline as previously planned. ... [Allow] us to offer our sincere apology to all fans who have waited for the BTS Map of the Soul tour to resume. We are working to prepare a viable schedule and performance format that can meet your expectations, and we will provide updated notices as soon as possible.” On Aug. 19, rock band Nine Inch Nails canceled the remainder of its 2021 concert appearances “with great regret.” “When originally planned, these shows were intended to be a cathartic and celebratory return to live music,” the group said in a statement. “However, with each passing day it’s becoming more apparent we’re not at that place yet. We are sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment and look forward to seeing you again when the time is right.” Country superstar Brooks announced Aug. 18 that his stadium tour would be going on hiatus while his team continues to “monitor the virus’ impact and watch how schools, sports, and other entertainment entities are handling this stage of the pandemic.” As a precaution, the singer has canceled five upcoming performances across Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee. “In July, I sincerely thought the pandemic was falling behind us. Now, watching this new wave, I realize we are still in the fight and I must do my part,” Brooks said in a statement. “It is with a heavy heart we announce the decision to cancel all 5 shows but with a hopeful heart, we will reschedule and start over when this wave seems to be behind us.” “The joy I have seen in everyone’s faces as live music returns has been more than worth our constant diligence to maintain safety protocols not only for the fans, but for our band, the crew and the hard working staff in these stadiums,” he added. “Their dedication to safety for the people who fill those seats has been a miracle to watch and a blessing to receive. I am truly grateful.” Opinion Op-Ed: Garth Brooks, bringing some unity through country music Having Brooks onstage was a way to reach out to the entire country, including his fans in red states. Jan. 20, 2021 California metal band Korn canceled and rescheduled a slew of concert dates Aug. 16 after frontman Jonathan Davis tested positive for COVID-19. “On Saturday, we received the unfortunate news that Jonathan tested positive for Covid, and needless to say, we had to postpone the show last minute,” the group said in a statement. “As always, our primary goal is to ensure the safety of everyone involved, so this is something that has to be done. Jonathan’s spirits are high, and he’s resting and recovering now. We’re as disappointed as you are about the circumstances, but we’ll get through it though, and we can’t wait to see you once we’re back, firing on all cylinders once again.” Some of Korn’s August shows in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire were postponed to late September and early October, while performances in New York have been canceled. After performing back-to-back, sold-out shows with frequent collaborator Lady Gaga in early August at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, famed crooner Bennett will no longer go on tour this fall as planned. “There won’t be any additional concerts,” Bennett’s son told Variety Aug. 12. ”This was a hard decision for us to make, as he is a capable performer. This is, however, doctors’ orders. ... He’ll be doing other things, but not those upcoming shows.” Earlier this year, Bennett’s family revealed that the veteran musician had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to his health complications, Bennett’s advanced age — he just turned 95 — places him firmly in the high-risk category for COVID-19. Music Tony Bennett turns 95 and celebrates with big news about final album with Lady Gaga Lady Gaga announces “Love for Sale,” her second album with Tony Bennett. She and the birthday boy, who has Alzheimer’s, perform tonight and Thursday. Aug. 3, 2021 “It’s not the singing aspect but, rather, the traveling,” his son told Variety. “Look, he gets tired. ... [D]oing concerts now is just too much for him. We don’t want him to fall onstage, for instance — something as simple as that.” Titled “One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga,” the singer’s recent appearance in the Big Apple already had hinted at Bennett’s retirement from live performing. Still on the horizon, however, is his second and final joint album with Gaga, “Love for Sale” — out Oct. 1. pic.twitter.com/mPbeGYaEdL On Aug. 10, legendary Fleetwood Mac rocker Nicks, 73, announced her reluctant decision to abort a string of upcoming tour dates in Colorado, California, Texas and Louisiana. “These are challenging times with challenging decisions that have to be made,” the “Edge of Seventeen” hitmaker explained via Twitter. “I want everyone to be safe and healthy and the rising Covid cases should be of concern to all of us. “While I’m vaccinated, at my age, I am still being extremely cautious and for that reason have decided to skip the 5 performances I had planned for 2021. Because singing and performing have been my whole life, my primary goal is to keep healthy so I can continue singing for the next decade or longer. I’m devastated and I know the fans are disappointed, but we will look towards a brighter 2022.” Music The moonlight confessions of Stevie Nicks On the eve of the release of a solo concert film, Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks opens up on Lindsey Buckingham’s exit and looking for love in her 70s. Sept. 30, 2020 Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd pulled out of its forthcoming shows in Ohio, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama on Aug. 9 after longtime guitarist Rickey Medlocke tested positive for COVID-19. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Aug. 13 appearance in Atlanta was moved to Oct. 23. “Rickey is home resting and responding well to treatment,” the group said in a statement. “We will continue to update you on his condition.” Music ‘DaBaby will no longer be performing’: Rapper’s list of canceled festival gigs grows From Lollapalooza to ACL, here’s a running list of music festivals that have scrubbed rapper DaBaby from their lineups after his homophobic rant. Aug. 4, 2021 Canadian singer-songwriter Bublé also amended his touring schedule on Aug. 6 “due to concerns over the rising number of Coronavirus infections.” The “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” artist’s August concert appearances in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have all been rescheduled to October, while new dates for the South American leg of the tour “will be announced shortly,” according to Bublé's Twitter account. On Aug. 7, rap-rock band Limp Bizkit, which performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago late last month, indefinitely postponed the remainder of its August tour dates “out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans,” according to a statement. “In short, the system is still very flawed,” frontman Fred Durst told Billboard. “Even if the performers, crews, staff, and promoters do their best to ensure safety on and behind the stage, that doesn’t ensure the safety of the audience as a whole.” Tickets purchased online for shows in New York, New Hampshire, Virginia, Nebraska and Texas will be automatically refunded. https://t.co/cXRBBhOMYY pic.twitter.com/5blU12dEsL On Aug. 11, Grateful Dead cover band Joe Russo’s Almost Dead postponed its upcoming indoor shows in Wisconsin and Missouri to late March, while canceling multiple appearances in Michigan and New Orleans. “After much consideration and discussion, we believe it’s in the best interest of our fans, band and crew to err on the side of safety and caution at this time,” the group said in a statement. “As of now, we will continue playing [select] shows with ... additional safety precautions. ... As the year progresses, we will make decisions based on the best data available with the health and safety of ourselves and our fans in mind. We apologize for the bad news and deeply appreciate your understanding.” pic.twitter.com/pFmSvfko8V On Aug. 12, Colorado jam band the String Cheese Incident canceled its weekend performances in Kentucky and Ohio after one of its members tested positive for COVID-19 — “despite all being vaccinated.” “We are super bummed we can’t play music for y’all, but this is how the world seems to run these days,” the group said in a statement. “Thanks for the continued support, and we look forward to crossing paths soon.” The band also canceled appearances in late August at the Big Top and the Backwoods Festival at Mulberry Mountain, but its website says it will play shows in October and later in the year. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["slew of concert","concert","concert","concert","concert","2020 concert","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","shows","upcoming indoor shows","remainder of its 2021 concert","remainder","remainder of its August tour","tour","tour","tour","tour","tour","tour","tour","tour","stadium tour","remainder of their I Love My Country tour","love","remainder","Love","Love","love","remainder","Map of the Soul tour","Map","Soul tour","Map","Soul tour","string of upcoming tour","String","major festivals","five upcoming performances","weekend performances","Big Top and the Backwoods Festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Aug. 19","19","19","19","19","19","Aug. 20","Aug","Aug","Aug","20","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug","Aug. 18","Aug. 16","Aug. 6","late August","this year","year","year","year","this fall","fall"]},{"role":"Location","values":["United States and abroad"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Jonathan Davis tested positive for COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID","Covid","COVID-19","Covid","COVID-19","COVID-19","one of its members tested positive for COVID-19","COVID-19","One","resurgent pandemic","coronavirus’ highly contagious Delta variant","safety concerns"]}]}
+{"title":"One in three travel destinations still fully closed to international tourists: UN agency","document":"Around a third of 217 world travel destinations surveyed remain completely closed to international tourists, as concerns grow over the impact of new coronavirus variants, and some governments reverse efforts to ease restrictions, according to a new report released by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Monday. Among the destinations now off limits, more than half of them have been inaccessible to overseas travelers since 27 April last year. UNWTO 9th travel restrictions report is out?!?32% destinations are completely closed for int'l tourism?34% destinations are partially closed?32% destinations request a PCR or antigen test✈️2% destinations lifted COVID-19 restrictions Find more: https://t.co/rIBUkAvgt1 pic.twitter.com/OM11pN0H3x Moreover, most of the former tourist draws affected, are in Asia, the Pacific and Europe, according to the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report. On the other side of the coin, more than a third of global tourism destinations are now partially open to international visitors, with Albania, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, North Macedonia and Tanzania, lifting all COVID-19 related travel restrictions. Noting that travel restrictions have been widely used to restrict the spread of the virus, Zurab Polilikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, stressed that “as we work to restart tourism, we must recognise that restrictions are just one part of the solution.” He further underscored that travel restrictions must be based on the latest data and analysis, and consistently reviewed “so as to allow for the safe and responsible restart of a sector upon which many millions of businesses and jobs depend.” The report shows a growing trend in international destinations “adopting a more nuanced, evidence and risk-based approach” to coronavirus linked travel restrictions, said the UN agency in its news release on the report. More countries are requiring tourists to present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or COVID-19 antigen test for entry, as well as providing contact details for tracing purposes. Just over 30 per cent of all worldwide destinations have made presenting negative test results their main requirement for entry, which the same proportion are making tests a secondary or tertiary measure. So far 70 world destinations have adopted such an approach, with additional quarantine requirements. Around a third of these destinations are Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Americas. According to UNWTO, many governments have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel abroad, including governments of the top ten destinations who have adopted that policy, which received 44% of all international tourists worldwide, according to figures from March 2018. How they review policies in the light of the pandemic, will play a critical role in restarting and restoring global tourist flows in the months ahead, said the report. Following an “annus horribilis” of death, disaster and despair, 2021 must be a year of transformation, Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN’s 193 Member States on Thursday. A new report from the UN’s air transportation agency confirms there was a “dramatic” fall in international air travel due to COVID-19, of around 60 per cent over the course of last year, to levels last seen in 2003.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Around a third of 217 world travel destinations","Around","third","around"]},{"role":"Date","values":["since 27 April last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["international tourists","international tourists"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["restrict the spread of the virus"]}]}
+{"title":"An all-star show was eventually stopped halfway","document":"An all-star show to celebrate the city’s emergence after the hardships of the pandemic, even as the spread of the Delta variant has driven up cases again, was stopped halfway through. By Ben Sisario It was supposed to be a glorious celebration of the re-emergence of New York City after more than a year of pandemic hardship — a concert bringing thousands of vaccinated fans on Saturday evening to the Great Lawn of Central Park to hear an all-star lineup. And for the first couple of hours, it was, with messages of New York’s resilience sandwiched between performances by the New York Philharmonic, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J and Earth, Wind and Fire, among others. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["An all-star show"]},{"role":"Date","values":["after more than a year of pandemic hardship","Saturday evening"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Pittsfield cancels 2021 Halloween Parade","document":"PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) — The city of Pittsfield has canceled the 2021 Halloween Parade. A tentative trick-or-treat event will be hed from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 30, and the city is also encouraging residents to participate in its free virtual Halloween contest. From October 1 to October 24, you can submit a photo of a decorated pumpkin, costume, or a decorated home. There will be prizes for the winners of different categories. The contest is open to all ages, and you must be a Pittsfield resident. Judging will take place the week of October 25, and the winners will be announced on October 29. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Halloween Parade"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The city of Pittsfield","Pittsfield"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Covid-19: India school closures 'catastrophic' for poor students","document":"The prolonged closure of schools in India has led to \"catastrophic consequences\" for poor children, according to a recent survey. Only 8% of the children sampled were studying online regularly and 37% were not studying at all, the survey found. Primary and upper-primary schools in India have been closed for 17 month to curb the spread of coronavirus. The survey, supervised by leading economists, spoke to 1,400 children across India in August. Researchers focused on households in relatively deprived villages and slums, where children generally attend government-run schools. \"The picture that emerges from the survey is absolutely dismal, especially in rural areas,\" says the study, conducted by nearly 100 volunteers in 15 states and federally administered territories. The survey found that nearly half of the children sampled were unable to read more than a few words. And few children were studying online: 24% in cities, and just 8% in villages. One reason was a large number of these households had no smartphones - only about half of the households in the villages owned one. Even among those who did own a smartphone, only a third of the children were studying online in cities and about 15% in the villages. Only 9% of the children surveyed had their own phones. Another major hurdle, especially in villages, was that schools were not sending online study material or the parents were not aware of it. \"Most parents feel that their child's reading and writing abilities have gone down during the lockdown,\" the survey said. More than 90% of underprivileged parents who were surveyed wanted schools to reopen as soon as possible. India is among a handful of countries where primary schools have not reopened. \"An all-out reopening might not be advisable for now, but asking children to attend schools in batches once or twice a week would be a good start,\" economist Reetika Khera, one of the lead authors of the survey, told the BBC. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["schools","schools","schools","schools","schools","schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["prolonged closure","for 17 month"]},{"role":"Location","values":["India","India","India","India"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["curb the spread of coronavirus"]}]}
+{"title":"Sears is shutting its last store in Illinois, its home state","document":"The last Sears department store located in the retailer’s home state of Illinois is getting ready to close its doors for good. The shop, located in Simon Property Group’s Woodfield Mall, is scheduled to shutter on Nov. 14, the company confirmed to CNBC. A spokesman for the department store chain’s parent company, Transformco, said it will look for ways to revive the space with another tenant because it also manages the real estate. “This is part of the company’s strategy to unlock the value of the real estate and pursue the highest and best use for the benefit of the local community,” Transformco said in a statement. Sears Holdings, which also owned Kmart, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2018. Transformco later acquired Sears out of bankruptcy and has since closed dozens of the remaining Sears and Kmart locations across the United States. Kmart’s last location in Manhattan recently shut. It will be replaced by a Wegmans grocery store. A spokesperson for Transformco declined to confirm how many Sears and Kmart stores are still open. The company’s websites list 35 Sears locations, including the one at Woodfield Mall, and 22 Kmart stores. Sears was founded in Chicago in the 1890s. Its business blossomed through much of the 20th century, as it sold everything from homes to apparel. Sears was once the largest retailer in the nation, boasting thousands of stores. The company had about 700 stores, many of them barren of goods, when it filed for bankruptcy protection. Scott Carr, president of Transformco’s real estate division, said in a statement that the company plans to maximize the value of the Woodfield Mall property through a redevelopment.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Sears department store"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Nov. 14"]},{"role":"Location","values":["state of Illinois"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["part of the company’s strategy to unlock the value of the real estate and pursue the highest and best use for the benefit of the local community"]}]}
+{"title":"Motor Bella cancels Wednesday activities due to rain","document":"Pontiac — The Detroit Auto Dealers Association canceled Motor Bella's second industry and press day scheduled for Wednesday after heavy rain hit Metro Detroit, the auto event organizers said late Tuesday. Teams will now be prepping the M1 Concourse grounds in Pontiac for public days of the show that are scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 23-26. The mostly outdoor event is taking place this year instead of the indoor North American International Auto Show, which is also organized by the DADA. “After a very successful and highly anticipated first day, we had a significant amount of rain hit the facility, resulting in flooding and water damage to exhibit areas,” said Rod Alberts, DADA executive director, said in a statement Tuesday night. “With the significant amount of rain forecasted to continue well into tomorrow, we unfortunately are forced to cancel all activities scheduled for tomorrow and focus on ensuring the facility is ready for public days.” The National Weather Service's office in White Lake had not published a rainfall total for Pontiac late Tuesday evening, but the agency said 1.86 inches of rain fell in Farmington and 1.34 inches was recorded in Bloomfield Hills. More rain is expected. Metro Detroit residents could see 4 inches to 6½ inches of rainfall by late Thursday, the weather service said. The worst of the rain is expected Wednesday and a flood watch is in effect through Thursday for Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties. Public days are scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 with more than 350 vehicles on-site from 35 brands, ride-along activities and a 120,000-square-foot off-road track. Public days continue through 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Motor Bella's second industry and press day"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Metro Detroit","Metro Detroit"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["heavy rain"]}]}
+{"title":"More Americans couldn’t get enough to eat in 2020, while places like schools, offices and restaurants were closed in initial months of the pandemic","document":" Zheng Tian's work related to this article was supported in part by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under project #2020-51150-31870 and by the Pennsylvania State University and NIFA Multistate/Regional Research Appropriations under project #NE1749. Stephan J. Goetz receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under project #2020-51150-31870 and the Pennsylvania State University and NIFA Multistate/Regional Research Appropriations under project #NE1749. Penn State provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US. The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. Americans in households with annual incomes from $50,000 to $75,000 experienced the sharpest increase in food insufficiency when the COVID-19 pandemic began – meaning that many people in the middle class didn’t have enough to eat at some point within the previous seven days, according to our peer-reviewed study that will soon be published in the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. We also found that food banks, food pantries and similar emergency services helped reduce food insufficiency, especially for middle-income Americans, by the end of 2020. When we averaged Census Bureau survey data collected after April 23, 2020, we saw that food insufficiency rates rose among Americans at all income levels. To be sure, Americans in households earning less than $50,000 annually are the most prone to food insufficiency. That remained true during the initial months of the pandemic when places like schools, offices and restaurants remained closed to restrict the spread of COVID-19. But food insufficiency grew at a high rate for all Americans in households with yearly earnings of up to $75,000 from April to December 2020. The rate rose most sharply – by a half-percentage point from 0.98% to 1.48% – among households with incomes in the $50,000-$75,000 range. This situation is rare in households with incomes above $150,000. That didn’t change during the early months of the pandemic. Separately, we studied whether the presence of more food banks and similar services made a difference in terms of food insufficiency in a given state. We found that it did, because rates fell the most quickly in states with more of those organizations per 10,000 residents. This was especially true for middle-income households earning from $50,000 to $75,000 annually. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, there was widespread concern about food-supply disruptions and the possibility that many more people than usual would have trouble getting enough to eat. After millions of workers were laid off due to lockdowns, often on short notice, widely distributed photos of long lines of cars and people awaiting food donations reinforced these fears. The share of households experiencing food insufficiency subsequently did rise. The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that it increased from 9.5% as of April 23, 2020, to 13.4% as of December 21, 2020. This growth no doubt would have been higher without several short-term policy changes and a series of economic relief and stimulus packages that supplemented U.S. incomes. Food banks and similar organizations also played a role. They helped provide emergency food aid to at least 60 million Americans in 2020, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest anti-hunger organization. The middle-income people who sought help from food banks and similar organizations may have turned to them because they were less familiar with government benefits than lower-income people. For example, they may not have known at first how to enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. People unaccustomed to needing help making ends meet needed time both to learn about food assistance options available to them, and how to apply, according to news reports. Obtaining emergency food assistance tends to be faster and easier than enrolling in SNAP. It remains unclear whether food banks and similar organizations are cost-effective compared to government-run nutrition programs. Because SNAP distributes benefits through a special kind of debit card accepted by a wide array of retailers, administering the program requires little overhead. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["places like schools, offices and restaurants"]},{"role":"Date","values":["initial months of the pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["restrict the spread of COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Singapore’s school management policy during COVID-19","document":"Singapore’s predominantly state-based school system and agile policymaking ensure minimal impact of the pandemic on its children This article is part of the series Children and the Pandemic: An Analysis Across Countries In an ideal year, students in Singapore attend school for 200 days. However, in 2020, Singapore’s primary and secondary school students physically attended 150 days (approx.) of school. The rest of the days of schooling were completed through home-based or blended-learning model. This article takes a look at the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the policies adopted by the Singapore government to alleviate them. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Singapore government took an incremental and adaptive approach to school management. It implemented staggered breaks in school and suspended large whole school assemblies as early as 4 February 2020. This was followed by suspension of inter-school activities and reduction in tutorial class sizes. The government also imposed additional precautionary measures such as cleaning of school premises and limiting the number of visitors to create a safe physical learning environment. Such measures allowed Singapore to have two months of face-to-face classes for students. In 2020, Singapore’s primary and secondary school students physically attended 150 days (approx.) of school. The rest of the days of schooling were completed through home-based or blended-learning model. However, the rapid increase in daily cases, from just four in the beginning of March to about 74 at the beginning of April, blunted the effect of the precautionary measures. By the end of March, the government announced the start of a blended learning model—that involved one day of home-based learning a week—which was then converted into full home-based learning from 8 April to 4 May 2020. This decision had varying effects on the learning and well-being of students. At school, all students have the same learning space (e.g., classroom), similar resources (e.g., computers, playgrounds, etc.) and similar learning time. These factors vary widely when students are unable to attend school. Students who live with their grandparents, younger children, or unemployed household members may have less space and time to devote to their studies at home, compared to students without such constraints. Similarly, students from families with higher income and wealth can afford better resources like electronic devices, a study table, separate rooms, and private tuition. Apart from students, home-based learning also puts additional pressure on the parents and the family. A greater amount of time must be spent on supervising and caring for the children, which can mean a reduction in work hours. This could also lead to a reduction in care for other dependent members of the family, like the elderly. Some family members, especially women, might even be forced to leave their jobs, contributing to an increase in gender inequality. The government also imposed additional precautionary measures such as cleaning of school premises and limiting the number of visitors to create a safe physical learning environment. The Singapore government understood these challenges. For instance, it announced that the schools would provide access to electronic devices to students who could not purchase one. It also kept the government childcare centres open, especially for essential healthcare workers. However, alleviating space and time constraints is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for students who are of primary and secondary school going age. Schools provide an equitable environment, as described above, which is impossible to achieve in any kind of online-based learning arrangement. Yet, the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak hindered the return of students to school, as cases in the community also started to affect school children. To tackle this problem, the government brought forward the school holidays from June to May 2020. This change in holiday schedule reduced the number of home-based learning days. When schools reopened in June 2020, the blended-learning mode was still in place, but as soon as the first wave of COVID-19 ended, the government switched to face-to-face classes. This required safe management measures and staggered resumption of activities. These included scheduled cleaning and wiping of school premises, immediate testing on discovery of COVID-19 cases, strict adherence to mask and social distancing mandates and education of children regarding the pandemic. School activities were also resumed in a staggered manner; for instance, starting with low-risk activities and then moving to other high-risk co-curricular activities (e.g., playing wind instruments). When schools reopened in June 2020, the blended-learning mode was still in place, but as soon as the first wave of COVID-19 ended, the government switched to face-to-face classes. For the rest of the year, students enjoyed face-to-face classes. Singapore’s ability to provide such a high number of school days to students is a result of its high physical, human resource, and institutional capacity. Historically, Singapore’s placement of high value on school education has meant that the country has actively developed excellent school infrastructure (i.e., school buildings, playgrounds, etc.) and adequately trained its teachers and school administrators. Such infrastructure and highly skilled personnel were important to implement many of the measures listed above. For instance, large and spacious school environments are essential for safe distancing. Availability of running water and clean toilets is essential for hand washing and general hygiene. At the same time, highly skilled personnel are important for conveying safe management measures to children and making sure that they follow them at school. Such measures also require the development of class activities that are easier to conduct safely. Along with such factors, the agile policy response of the government also helped in avoiding loss of school days. The use of a blended-learning model and adjustment of holiday schedules were important steps in helping reduce the burden placed on parents and children. Rather than thinking in binaries of school closure and reopening, the government took a more nuanced approach to school management. The agile policy response of the government also helped in avoiding loss of school days. The use of a blended-learning model and adjustment of holiday schedules were important steps in helping reduce the burden placed on parents and children. Finally, at the institutional level, Singapore’s public ownership of schools allows the implementation of coordinated and standardised policy response (Table 1). Source: Ministry of Education, Singapore Government dominance in education enables it to steer the system in the needed direction for the benefit of society. If private schools occupied the major share of Singapore’s education sector, then it would have been a mammoth task for the government to coordinate a unified policy response to the pandemic. Overall, Singapore has successfully provided a high number of school days to its students. While there is limited research in Singapore on the impact of this short-term school closure, studies conducted globally show mixed results in terms of the impact of school closure on pandemic containment and negative results on the health, well-being, and learning of students. Needless to say, these outcomes are mediated by the contextual factors, such as availability of internet, digital literacy, other non-school based nutrition programmes for children and housing condition. Singapore continued to provide cash-based meal subsidies to parents irrespective of their children’s school attendance during the circuit breaker. For Singapore, such contextual factors were supportive. The country has high internet penetration and digital literacy. At the same time, the housing policy of Singapore has ensured that more than 90 percent of the residents own their houses, which are built by the Housing Development Board (HDB), Singapore’s public housing champion. Finally, Singapore continued to provide cash-based meal subsidies to parents irrespective of their children’s school attendance during the circuit breaker. In 2021, the government has moved towards vaccinating students who are eligible, institutionalising its safe management measures and giving a more targeted response to outbreaks (e.g., shifting individual schools to home-based learning for shorter time periods). We have three learnings from Singapore. Firstly, school closure decisions must be made keeping in mind the magnitude of the benefits it provides. While there were doubts initially, but as time passed, evidence was clear that school closures had a marginal impact on controlling transmission. Secondly, the cost of school closures is high, especially in countries where non-school-based meal programmes and learning infrastructure are not in place, and therefore, operating schools with proper safety measures might be more suitable. Finally, if, and when, countries decide to close schools, they must avoid binary thinking (closure versus opening) and adopt a more nuanced approach towards managing schools. The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews. Mohnish is a PhD Candidate at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore. He holds a Master of Public Policy from LKYSPP and a Master of China Studies from the Yenching Academy (YCA) of Peking University. Mohnish has previously >> Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It helps discover and inform India’s choices, and carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. ORF provides non-partisan, independent analyses and inputs on matters of security, strategy, economy, development, energy, resources and global governance to diverse decision-makers (governments, business communities, academia, civil society). ORF’s mandate is to conduct in-depth research, provide inclusive platforms and invest in tomorrow’s thought leaders today.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["primary and secondary school","primary","secondary school","primary","secondary school","inter-school activities","School activities","large whole school assemblies","tutorial class"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2020","2020","2020","8 April to 4 May 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Schools in remote coastal B.C. First Nations community closed due to COVID-19","document":"Students in British Columbia have been back to school for almost two weeks now and yet in a small First Nations community off the west coast of Vancouver Island classrooms sit empty. Ahousaht is a rural village on Flores island about 30 minutes by boat from Tofino that has both an elementary and secondary school. According to Rebecca Atleo, Ahousaht's director of education, both schools will remain closed until at least Sept. 27 to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 cases in the close-knit community. Atleo said that of about 900 Ahousaht First Nation members living on the island, nine people currently have the virus and the risk of spreading it to more households is too great to open the schools. She said while the community is working toward a 100 per cent vaccination rate, and the majority of people are double vaccinated, the risks of breakthrough cases and infecting children who are too young to be immunized is too high. \"It's disconcerting when those people who are double vaccinated actually contracted the COVID,\" said Atleo, speaking Thursday to CBC's On The Island host Gregor Craigie. Atleo said the later start date is also out of an abundance of caution after many community members attended a fall fair on the second weekend of September in Port Alberni, about a two hour drive from Tofino. \"I'm a little concerned about the fallout after, so it's a wait and see,\" she said. British Columbia announced 661 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths on Wednesday. Two of those deaths were in the Island Health region which services 850,000 people in comparison to two deaths in the Vancouver Coastal Health region which services 1.25 million. On Thursday, there were 638 active cases in Island Health with 24 people in hospital — including 13 in critical care. The Health Ministry said in a statement that from Sept. 8 to 14, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 76.1 per cent of cases. \"What worries me were the children who were getting it,\" said Atleo, adding there have already been a couple of children under 12 who have been infected. The complete school reopening plan for the community is on the Ahousaht Education Authority's website. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["an elementary and secondary school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["until at least Sept. 27"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ahousaht","Ahousaht","Ahousaht","Ahousaht","west coast of Vancouver Island"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 cases"]}]}
+{"title":"Hoopfest 2021 faced cancellation again this year due to CORONAVIRUS","document":"UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 26, 2021 The continued prevalence of the coronavirus claimed another summertime event in Spokane on Wednesday, as organizers announced the cancellation of Hoopfest 2021. The 3-on-3 basketball tournament had been scheduled for Sept. 11-12. In a letter posted to Hoopfest���s website on Wednesday afternoon, organizers said the increase in COVID-19 cases caused by the delta variant of the coronavirus led to cancellation of the event for the second straight year. The cancellation was made in consultation with the Spokane Regional Health District and regional health care providers. “This decision has been excruciatingly difficult, especially because the circumstances have significantly worsened in just the past 48 hours,” the letter reads. Hoopfest had been planning for a tournament with about 3,200 teams, roughly half the size of a traditional competition, Executive Director Matt Santangelo said Wednesday. Those teams may now request a partial, 20% refund, or donate their entry fee to the nonprofit in charge of running the competition. Organizers had announced the 20% refund earlier this month, made necessary because some costs had already been incurred to hold the event in September. The Hoopfest nonprofit reported $1.1 million less in revenues in 2020 compared to the previous year after not holding a tournament because of the pandemic. Team captains will receive an email soon with the choice of donating their fee or requesting a refund, Santangelo said. Refunds will be processed by the end of September. MultiCare Rockwood Clinic, a Hoopfest sponsor, applauded the move in a statement. “As the Inland Northwest community continues to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 delta variant cases and the region’s hospitals experience record-breaking COVID-19 hospitalizations, MultiCare agrees with our partners at the Spokane Regional Health District and Hoopfest that it is in the best interest of our community, potential visitors and all MultiCare staff to cancel the Hoopfest basketball tournament for 2021,” said Alex Jackson, president and chief operations officer of MultiCare Rockwood Clinic, in a statement. Dr. Francisco Velazquez, the interim health officer of the Spokane Regional Health District, commended Hoopfest for trying to pull an event off even as cases continued to rise. “Matt and his team have worked diligently for months to make Hoopfest as safe as possible, and it is unfortunate that the exponential spread of the virus and its Delta variant has caused the event to be canceled,” Velázquez said in a statement. Each team member will receive a T-shirt and each team a Hoopfest branded basketball, regardless of whether they ask for a refund. Organizers had made the decision not to require participants to receive vaccination against COVID-19. The cancellation of Hoopfest follows the decision to cancel Pig Out in the Park earlier this month. Hoopfest had originally been moved to the September weekend from its usual date in June. That weekend, temperatures climbed above 100 degrees in an unusual bout of early summer heat that turned deadly. Kate Hudson, public relations manager for the nonprofit community booster group Visit Spokane, said it was fair to estimate the financial loss to the community from the event’s cancellation “in the millions.” “I think what’s kind of a gut punch is that we thought we were kind of in the clear,” Hudson said. “We had this movement in a positive direction. To have this setback, it’s tough.” She said hotels, restaurants and other businesses were looking forward to “a sense of normalcy” with the return of Pig Out and Hoopfest, after the second straight cancelation of an in-person Bloomsday in May. The Spokane County Interstate Fair is still scheduled to take place Sept. 10-19 as of Wednesday, said Jessica McLaughlin, fair coordinator. The 2022 edition of Hoopfest is scheduled to take place June 25-26. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Hoopfest 2021"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 11-12"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Spokane","Spokane","Spokane","Spokane","Spokane"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["increase in COVID-19 cases","increase","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"A hint of what’s to come for dying malls: Phoenix mall owner sells out as property is rezoned for other uses","document":"The future of the suburban shopping mall could look something like a mini community, with far fewer places to shop. The U.S. mall owner Macerich announced Thursday it’s sold a majority stake in Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix, for $100 million, to a joint venture with an affiliate of the Phoenix-based, mixed-use real estate company RED Development. The partners will convert the 92-acre site into a community with homes, offices and a grocery store. The 1970s-era Paradise Valley Mall has been rezoned to allow the sprawling plot of land to include high-end grocery options, restaurants, 3.25 million square feet of residential space, office buildings and some retail shops. “As the retail landscape continues to evolve here in Arizona and around the country, our decision to realize the market value of this non-core asset makes sense for Macerich,” Macerich President Ed Coppola said in a statement. Malls packed full of clothing, footwear and other retail shops are looking for a new life, as more consumers buy online and skip trips to dated department stores and archaic food courts. This transition was only accelerated by the Covid pandemic, which has kept many Americans stuck at home, surfing the web. Market share and shopper traffic has also increasingly shifted to off-mall retailers such as Target and Walmart. One consumer research firm, Coresight Research, has estimated that 25% of America’s roughly 1,000 malls will close by 2025. Often, as one or two department stores in a mall close, that triggers a wave of closures by other businesses within the mall, leaving the owner no choice but to look for new uses or get rid of the property entirely. “America’s malls have reached the end of their useful life,” said Mark Toro, a managing partner in Atlanta of real estate developer North American Properties. “Communities across the U.S. have turned their backs on what was once their center.” “These properties often occupy real estate that would best be repurposed to better serve the community,” he said. A few malls are becoming e-commerce warehouses to meet retailers’ rising demand for industrial space. Amazon, for example, opened a distribution facility where Randall Park Mall used to sit in North Randall, Ohio. It’s also taken over Euclid Square Mall in Euclid, Ohio. Inside a mall in Burlington, Vermont, meantime, kids are now attending high school in what used to be a Macy’s department store. The future of each struggling mall will likely be case by case, dependent upon the surrounding town’s needs, experts say. It could entail demolishing the property entirely, and undergoing rezoning, for a new community. In some instances, developers will view the land that the mall sits on as worth more than the mall itself. Macerich, which owns or has interests in 47 regional shopping centers, said the transaction with RED Development closed Monday and generated net proceeds of about $95 million. It will retain a 5% stake in the project through the venture. Macerich shares were up less than 1% on Thursday, having risen about 10% year to date. The real estate owner has a market cap of $1.94 billion.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Macerich","Macerich","Macerich","Macerich","Macerich"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix","Phoenix","Paradise Valley Mall"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["looking for a new life","more consumers buy online"]}]}
+{"title":"Survey details ‘catastrophic’ impact of school closures across India","document":"A teacher gives a lesson inside a classroom at a government school, in New Delhi. Photo used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters The prolonged closure of primary and upper primary schools during the pandemic months has led to “catastrophic consequences” for school students, particularly in rural India, says an emergency report. Based on the School Children’s Online and Offline Learning (SCHOOL) survey conducted by researchers, who worked in coordination with eminent economist Jean Dreze, the ‘Emergency Report on School Education’ says that only 8% of school students in rural India have been able to access online education, while at least 37% have stopped studying altogether. “The SCHOOL survey makes it clear that the reach of online education is very limited: the proportion of school children who were studying online “regularly” was just 24% and 8% in urban and rural areas respectively. One reason for this is that many sample households (about half in rural areas) have no smartphone,” found the survey that was conducted by around 100 volunteers across India. The report covered 1,362 sample households spread across 15 States including Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The survey also found that the Dalit and Adivasi children were at a greater disadvantage as a mere 5% of the children from these groups had access to online classes. According to the findings, access to online education among students in those houses with smartphones is also handicapped by the fact that the smartphones are mainly used by the working adults who are not always able to share the gadgets with the school going children at home. Another casualty of the prolonged closure of schools has been the relation between the teachers and students in both urban and rural sectors with 51% of the respondents in the urban areas and 58% in rural India saying that they had not met teachers during the month preceding the survey. Researchers also found that there have been many teachers who went out of their comfort zones to help students during the 17 month closure of schools. In addition to education, the closure most importantly affected the level of nutrition among the children in rural schools where the mid day meals have been stopped. “Midday meals have been discontinued in all the sample States with the closure of schools. Among parents with a child enrolled in a government school, about 80% reported receiving some food (mainly rice or wheat) during the preceding 3 months as a substitute for their child’s midday meals,” stated the report about the condition of midday meals in the surveyed States. Most parents surveyed have supported reopening of the schools at the earliest. Ten percent of the parents in urban areas had some hesitation in sending their children to school but overall 97% of parents supported reopening of schools. The report said the prolonged school lockdown, one of the longest in the world, has led to a “colossal disaster”. “It will take years of patient work to repair this damage. Reopening schools is just the first step, still being debated. In fact, even preparations for that first step (such as repairing school buildings, issuing safety guidelines, training teachers, enrolment drives) are virtually invisible in many States,” said the researchers. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["primary and upper primary schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["prolonged","prolonged","prolonged","during the 17 month closure"]},{"role":"Location","values":["India","India","India","India"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"The 20 Biggest Stores That Closed for Good In 2020","document":" It was a difficult year for everyone, and it’s no secret that many retailers — and, sadly, their employees — took a huge financial hit in 2020. The ease of online shopping (and movement away from shopping malls) has affected brick-and-mortar stores for at least a decade, and the pandemic and shutdowns caused even more major stores to shutter. While some companies downsized and closed only the worst-performing stores, others closed all stores forever. A few companies decided to reimagine themselves solely as online retailers, though not all have managed to achieve that goal just yet. Unfortunately, no matter what 2021 year brings, retail analysts say that the closure trend will likely continue as people stay home, malls continue to disappear and consumers stick to online shopping to fulfill their retail needs. In the meantime, here are some of the beloved retailers who have been forced to shut their doors forever. Founded in 1935 in Pittsburgh by David Shakarian, GNC grew through the decades as more Americans began to embrace the idea of good nutrition. After several years of financial pressure, the pandemic crushed its refinancing plans. In June 2020, GNC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, planning to close at least 800 to 1200 stores. Pier 1 Imports began as a single store in San Mateo, California in 1962. They sold the requisite 60s home decor including bean bag chairs and incense. The company expanded rapidly across the country, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012. But by April 2019, pressured by online sales of home goods retailers, Pier 1 already was in financial trouble and said it would close up to 15 percent of its almost 1000 stores. In February 2020, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It continued to close its remaining stores, transitioning to an online presence only by year's end. Founded in 1977, the company became the largest lingerie retailer in the U.S. for decades. The iconic fashion shows and \"Angels\" attracted a generation of devoted shoppers. RELATED: 11 Best Wireless Bras for Every Cup Size Perhaps more at home time meant fewer women wanted lacy underthings and push up bras? Sales declined by 37 percent in the first quarter of 2020. By May, the company announced it would close approximately 250 stores out of its more than 1000 in the U.S., and it said it expected to close more through 2021 and 2022. Owned by the same parent corporation as Victoria's Secret, Bed Bath & Beyond already had been battling the shift in consumer spending from brick-and-mortar stores to online shopping. Even their famous coupons couldn't help. The company's sales plummeted 49 percent in the first quarter, though online sales increase by 82 percent. Still, it wasn't enough to save the approximately 1,000 stores in the chain, and, in July 2020, the company announced that about 200 stores would close over the next two years. The company dates back to 1908, when the Stein family opened its first retail store in Greenville, Mississippi. The first Stein Mart opened in 1964, featuring mill closeouts and irregulars at big discounts. The company grew rapidly into the 1990s. Stein Mart already was struggling against much larger off-price competitors such as TJ Maxx. By August 2020, they announced they would be closing all 279 stores across 30 states permanently. Founded by James Cash Penney in 1902 in Kemmerer, Wyoming, this venerable old company has seen plenty of internal struggles with multiple CEOs in the past decade. Once a popular middle-class destination for families, especially in the 80s, the chain had lost money in eight of the last nine years, totaling $4.5 billion. By May 2020, the chain announced it was filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closing about 200 of its 850 stores permanently. By year's end, the company had emerged from bankruptcy as a private company. The world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, Signet Jewelry, is the parent company of Kay Jewelers, Zales and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry. The company operates more than 3,000 stores nationwide. But it had already reduced its number of stores in the last few years and continued to pull out of malls. Plans to continue closing underperforming stores were accelerated during the pandemic. About 150 stores across the company's various brands were not re-opened after the mid-March closures, and at least 150 more stores were slated to close by February 2021. But a little good news: Signet focused on building its online shopping, which helped them increase online sales during the holidays by 60 percent. Men's Wearhouse, part of the Tailored Brands, Inc. group, has been in business for 45 years, helping guys pick suits for interviews or tuxes for formal events. You're not the only one who's spent plenty of time in your athleisure this year. The company already was facing a more relaxed dress code in most business environments. But the work-from-home pandemic put additional financial pressure on the parent company, which also owns men's retailer Jos. A. Banks, which was founded in 1905. By August, Tailored Brands files bankruptcy and announced plans to close up to 500 of its almost 1500 retail stores permanently. The video game retailer GameStop has a strong following, but sales have slumped as more gamers prefer digital downloads, not trips to the store. It alsos was affected because many shoppers held off on purchases because a new generation of gaming consoles was scheduled to be introduced in late 2020. The company has closed almost 800 stores since the beginning of 2019. But the pandemic pushed closure of another 100 stores. In good news, the company experienced strong sales over the holidays and its stock skyrocketed in January 2021. But it's too early to tell the outcome. This popular off-price retailer was founded in 1974 by Lloyd Ross, who came up with the idea of selling left-over inventory from the big brands. He hosted a huge garage sale in a Dallas warehouse on a Tuesday morning, and the ideas was born. The store grew to 700 locations by 2020. With the shutdown, Tuesday Morning was hit particularly hard--mainly because they have no e-commerce business. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2020, closing approximately 230 stores. Founded in 1969, Gap and its other brand, Banana Republic, already had been shifting toward moving stores out of malls. In October 2020, Gap announced it would be closing about 220 stores by 2023 and decreasing its existing presence in malls. Its sister company, Banana Republic, said it would close around 130 stores. But it wasn't all bad news for the company: Its other brands, Old Navy and Athleta, announced plans for opening more stores. Founded in 1983 as a boutique selling folk art on Sanibel Island, Florida, the company specialized in bright, bold colors and styles. It grew to 600 stores across the country. Chico's already had started scaling back traditional retail operations in 2019, announcing the closure of 250 stores out of 1,400 during the next three years. In light of the financial strains during 2020, the company said any other underperforming stores would be re-evaluated as well. Lord & Taylor, founded in the 1820s in New York City, has long been associated with style and quality. The iconic chain became a favorite among middle-class women in the 1950s, who loved their affordable, fashionable dresses. The 21st century wasn't kind to the company, and it suffered several changes in ownership as well as a partnership with WalMart, which many analysts said was, in a word, nuts. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and planned to reopen some of its stores, then said it would close the remaining 38 stores. Supposedly, they will announce an online-only shopping experience soon, but the website wasn't yet online in early 2021. Once an icon of American retailing, Sears had a long, slow decline over the past decade. During its heyday, the company had 3,900 stores. The company filed bankruptcy in 2018, closed hundreds of stores and tried to re-invent itself. But 2020 brought even more woes as the stores were forced to close during the shutdown. Some reopened but further closures of an undisclosed number were announced. Kmart was founded in 1897 and originally called Kresge's, changing its name to Kmart in 1977. There were more than 2,000 stores nationwide at one point. But troubles began as far back as the 90s when 200 stores were closed in 1995. Declining sales pushed the company into bankruptcy in 2002, the largest retailer ever to do so. Kmart acquired Sears in 2005, which didn't help things. Another company acquired both Sears and Kmart in 2019, but it also wasn't able to turn things around. New closures were announced to begin in December 2020. Only about 30 Kmarts remain. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["David Shakarian","James Cash Penney","Lloyd Ross"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["GNC","GNC","Tailored Brands","Tailored Brands","Gap","Gap","Banana Republic","Banana Republic","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Sears","Sears","Sears","major stores","Pier 1 Imports","Angels","Bed Bath & Beyond","Stein Mart","Signet Jewelry","GameStop","Chico's","Lord & Taylor"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the last few years","years","years","years","By August","August 2020","permanently","permanently","permanently","2020","2020","2020","2020","2020","2020","2020","2020","June 2020","February 2020","July 2020","October 2020","December 2020","April 2019","2019","2019","2019","beginning of 2019","May 2020","May 2020","continue closing","2018","1995"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ease of online shopping","online shopping","online shopping","online shopping","pandemic and shutdowns","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pressured by online sales","online sales","online sales"]}]}
+{"title":"School closes after almost half of pupils and teachers test positive for Covid","document":"A whole primary school has been sent home in Powys after almost half the school tested positive for Covid.40% of pupils and half of staff have tested positive at Cradoc Primary School in Brecon over the last few weeks. The local authority said the school was left with no alternative but to close.Lynette Lovell, interim chief executive of Powys County Council, said: “We can confirm that Cradoc Primary School has closed due to rising Covid cases.“Despite the school’s best efforts to mitigate the risk of infection among pupils and staff, including limited contact groups, daytime cleaning, handwashing, ventilation and outdoor learning, the number of positive cases within the school has increased significantly over the past couple of weeks with approximately 40% of pupils and 50% of staff currently testing positive.” Year 9 at Cwmtawe Community High School near Pontardawe have also been sent home for a week due to high cases.A Neath Port Talbot council spokesman said: “Staff at the school have taken regular LFD tests. Staff have now taken every precaution to safeguard pupils and themselves. However, the impact of staff illness and self-isolation has made it impossible to operate the school safely for all year groups this week.“The health and safety of our pupils and staff is of paramount importance, so, from Monday September 20 up to Friday September 24, Year 9 pupils will move to home learning.“We will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the week. All Year 9 pupils should log on to Microsoft Teams via Hwb and follow their usual timetable. Teachers will make every effort to ensure appropriate work is available and, where possible, live lessons will take place.”Ahead of the new term a Welsh government plan said it should be \"business as usual\" in schools where possible, and that decisions would be taken with local risk factors in mind.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cradoc Primary School","Cradoc Primary School"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Powys","Powys"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["rising Covid cases"]}]}
+{"title":"Nearly 1 in 4 hospitals treating Covid in Afghanistan have shut down, the W.H.O. warns.","document":"Over the past 20 years, significant health gains have been made in Afghanistan in reducing maternal and child mortality, moving towards polio eradication, and more. Those gains are now at severe risk with the country’s health system on the brink of collapse. There has been a surge in cases of measles and diarrhea. Almost 50 percent of children are at high — at risk of malnutrition. The resurgence of polio is a major risk, and 2.1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine remain unused. Unless urgent action is taken, Afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Health workers are leaving, creating a brain drain that will have consequences for years to come. We visited a hospital where we met some nurses who have stayed. My heart broke when they told me they have not been paid in three months. The focus of our efforts now is to support and sustain the Sehatmandi Project, which is the backbone of Afghanistan’s health system, providing care for millions of people through 2,300 health facilities, including in remote areas. But a funding pause by major donors — only 17 percent of these facilities are fully functional. And two-thirds have stockouts of essential medicines. Afghanistan’s Health System Is on the ‘Brink of Collapse,’ W.H.O. Says By Lauren Katzenberg Nearly one-quarter of the hospitals treating Covid-19 in Afghanistan have closed in recent weeks, and the country’s efforts to respond to the pandemic have declined, World Health Organization officials said Wednesday. The W.H.O. issued an urgent warning on Wednesday, saying that Afghanistan is on the brink of “an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.” The notice followed a recent visit to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, where W.H.O. leaders met with the leadership of the Taliban, which is now in control of the country. The W.H.O. officials also met with United Nations partners, health care workers and patients. “Cuts in donor support to the country’s largest health project, Sehatmandi, has left thousands of health facilities without funding for medical supplies and salaries for health staff,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the W.H.O., and Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said in a joint statement on Wednesday. Roughly two-thirds of the country’s health facilities are part of Sehatmandi, a three-year, $600 million project administered by the World Bank and financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the European Union, the World Bank and other donors. Because funds for the project were funneled through the Ministry of Public Health, donors withdrew their support after the Taliban seized power. Now, only one-sixth of all Sehatmandi facilities are fully functional, according to the W.H.O. “Many of these facilities have now reduced operations or shut down, forcing health providers to make hard decisions on who to save and who to let die,” the statement said. Officials also said that nine of the 37 hospitals treating Covid-19 in Afghanistan have closed, and coronavirus surveillance, testing and vaccination efforts have contracted. Afghanistan, which emerged from a surge in virus infections at the end of June, is starting to see cases rise again, this time involving the highly contagious Delta variant. Before last month, the W.H.O. said, about 2.2 million people, or about 6 percent of Afghanistan’s population, had been vaccinated against Covid-19. But in recent weeks, the organization said, vaccination rates have slowed markedly, and some 1.8 million vaccine doses in the country remain unused. The country’s acting health minister and last remaining holdover from the pre-Taliban Cabinet, Dr. Wahid Majrooh, stepped down on Tuesday. Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s under secretary for emergency relief, said on Wednesday that he was releasing $45 million to help prevent Afghanistan’s health care system from collapsing. “Medicines, medical supplies and fuel are running out in Afghanistan,” Mr. Griffiths said in a statement. “Cold chains are compromised. Essential health care workers are not being paid.” On top of the threat of a public health crisis, new figures released by the World Food Program suggest that 95 percent of Afghans lack secure access to adequate food, a situation that could worsen in the winter, when many remote communities are likely to be cut off from outside support for several months.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Nearly one-quarter of the hospitals treating Covid-19","hospitals treating Covid-19"]},{"role":"Date","values":["recent weeks"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan","Afghanistan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["brain drain","funding pause by major donors"]}]}
+{"title":"DaBaby’s Kansas City concert at Azura Amphitheater canceled","document":" by: Juan Cisneros MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 25: DaBaby performs on stage during Rolling Loud at Hard Rock Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The upcoming DaBaby concert scheduled for Aug. 14 at Azura Amphitheater has been canceled, according to the venue’s website. Refunds are available for fans who already purchased tickets through Ticketmaster and the amphitheater’s box office. FOX4 has reached out to Azura Amphitheater for comment on the cancellation. The cancellation comes after the rapper made headlines for homophobic comments he made while performing at the popular music festival Rolling Loud on July 25. The comments brought an immediate fallout from his music industry peers and several other scheduled shows were cancelled in the days since, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The Grammy-nominated rapper, who is no stranger to controversy, apologized via Instagram, but has since deleted his apology.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["DaBaby concert","several other scheduled shows","Austin City Limits Music Festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Aug. 14"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KANSAS CITY, Kan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["homophobic comments he made"]}]}
+{"title":"Many shops in the city remain shut despite first day of reopening of 11 economic activities","document":"KUALA LUMPUR: Many shops inside shopping malls in the city remained closed to customers despite it being the first day of the reopening of 11 economic activities today. Checks around the Damansara Perdana and Mutiara Damansara areas in Petaling Jaya as well as Subang Jaya saw several shops such as hair salons and carwash premises still shut. Some premises decided to reopen only tomorrow as staff were seen sanitising the premises and making preparations before their could welcome back customers. Other premises such as supermarkets and book stores, which have been allowed to operate for some time now, were seen abiding by the standard operating procedures of tight checks at their entrances. At IPC shopping centre, many furniture shops, fashion and accessory retailers as well as hair and beauty salons were still shut. The New Straits Times learnt that some of these shops decided to only resume their operations tomorrow. A similar sight was seen at the Empire shopping mall in Subang Jaya, as many businesses remained closed. However, some operators decided to take the opportunity today to sanitise their premises so that they can reopen tomorrow. One popular retail outlet at Empire would reopen starting at 1pm tomorrow. A supervisor who works at the retail outlet, Muhammad Aniq Amiruddin, said the delay in reopening the shop was due to the fact that they needed time to prepare things before welcoming customers again. He said the outlet's management wanted to ensure the highest quality of safety can be provided to their customers. \"In the past, we would operate from 10am till 8pm. However, when we reopen tomorrow, we will begin operating at 1pm, so that we can use the morning shift to finalise our store preparations. \"We need to prepare adequate gloves for customers as well as the staff. We require everybody, including customers to wear the gloves when are at the outlet. \"We are also finalising preparations on staff rotation, such as who would guard the entry points and do the necessary things such as scanning body temperatures and making sure everyone scans their MySejahtera app. We would also need to check the customers' vaccination status upon entry.\" Aniq said the shop would only allow those who had completed their vaccination doses into the shop. He was told that staff members must have their first dose of the vaccine before they are allowed to be on duty to entertain customers. When asked about how he felt about many shops reopening, he said he was okay with it. However, he said he feared any situation where big crowds gathered in any shop. \"The fear of being in a crowd is always there, especially with the existence of the new variant of Covid-19.\" However, Aniq said such worries can be addressed if every person adheres to the SOP. \"It's important to adhere to the SOP, monitor our hygiene, sanitise, wear gloves when we're out shopping and wear double face masks while observing physical distancing. \"I believe if we strictly adhere to these regulations, we'd be okay, inshaAllah\". Meanwhile, shopper Fatin Athirah, 26, was not able to buy the clothes she intended to purchase at Empire as most of the clothes shops at the mall were closed to customers. However, she was happy about the government's decision to reopen businesses. \"It is a great opportunity, especially for those businesses that have been struggling to keep their business alive. They have been suffering as some businesses have had zero income these past few months. \"Although it is worrying to reopen these shops as the number of Covid-19 cases are still high, our vaccination rates are high as well. That really helps,\" said the engineer who lives in Shah Alam. She also said the requirement to only allow fully vaccinated people into these shops would motivate more people to go for their vaccinations. The government had, on Sunday, announced that several restrictions on businesses and recreation would be relaxed in states under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan starting today. These include car wash businesses; electrical and electronic shops; house and kitchen appliances shops; furniture shops; sports equipment outlets; car accessory outlets; car sales and distribution centres; morning and farmers' markets; fashion and accessory shops; jewellers; and, hair salons and beauty centres (only for basic haircuts).","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["One popular retail outlet at Empire","Empire","Empire","several shops such as hair salons and carwash premises","hair salons","Many shops inside shopping malls","many furniture shops, fashion and accessory retailers as well as hair and beauty salons","many businesses"]},{"role":"Date","values":["remained closed","remained closed"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KUALA LUMPUR"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the number of Covid-19 cases are still high","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"NDP calls for early warning system for potential school closures, reinstatement of contact tracing","document":"Alberta’s NDP is calling for the reinstatement of contact tracing in schools and an early warning system for potential school closures. Doing so will allow parents to know the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools and prepare ahead of time for any potential closure, according to NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman. “These are incredibly anxious times in Alberta schools, for students, staff, and families,” said Hoffman, in a press release Wednesday. “Thousands of Albertans are infected with COVID-19 every week, our hospitals are overwhelmed, and the UCP government seems more focused on their own political drama than on keeping people safe.” Based on government data, there are 4,952 active cases among school-age Albertans today, say Party officials. Adding, that is almost double the number of cases in that age group than there were when schools were closed for the second wave. It is also close to the number of cases in that age group when schools were closed in the third wave, according to Party officials. NDP officials note that the UCP government had initially planned to end testing, tracing, and isolation requirements this summer. While many of those requirements were eventually restored due to public outcry, contact tracing in schools was not. “I don’t want Alberta schools to be closed. But if we reach a point where that must happen to keep people safe, it can’t be another surprise. This throws everyone into chaos, especially working families,” added Hoffman. “We need leadership from the provincial government. And we need to give parents more information so they can plan,” stated Hoffman.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["potential","this summer"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Alberta","Alberta","Alberta"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Thousands of Albertans are infected with COVID-19 every week","COVID-19","Albertans"]}]}
+{"title":"Idaho COVID-19: New hospitalization record; Kuna school closes | Idaho Statesman","document":"Idaho’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have hit yet another high, with a record 760 people in facilities statewide as of Monday, including a record 202 patients in intensive care. The state’s seven-day moving average stayed above 1,000 new COVID-19 cases per day for the 13th consecutive day, at 1,205.6. Crisis standards of care were implemented statewide last week, at the request of the St. Luke’s Health System. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,354 cases and 25 deaths to the state’s fast-rising totals on Wednesday. Among those deaths was an individual between the ages of 18 to 29, while eight individuals were 80 or older, five were in their 70s, five were in their 60s, four were in their 50s and two were in their 40s. Idaho has lost 2,687 residents to the virus, with a case fatality rate of about 1.09%. Before the most recent surge, the previous high for COVID-19 hospitalizations in Idaho was 496 on Dec. 10, 2020. Two weeks ago, Idaho’s virus hospitalizations stood at 613, according to data from Health and Welfare. St. Luke’s hospitals were caring for 279 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday, with 87.81% of those being unvaccinated. Of the 61 St. Luke’s patients in ICU, 98.36% are unvaccinated. Saint Alphonsus is caring for 153 COVID-19 patients. As of Wednesday, there are 16 adult ICU beds that are open, staffed and available for occupancy in Idaho, according to Health and Welfare. Pi STEM Academy, a public charter school in Kuna, will be closed Thursday and Friday because of COVID-19, according to a letter sent Wednesday from the school’s executive director to parents. “We do have a positive case in our staff and it is an individual that interacts with students and teachers in every building,” the letter from Jill Hettinger reads. “Additionally, we currently have a fair number of students that are out with COVID or COVID symptoms awaiting tests. “To date, we have not linked any of our COVID cases to interactions at school, but I have concerns that this may not still be the case.” The school’s board is scheduled to meet Friday night to assess the situation and decide how instruction will be conducted moving forward. Parents are asked to notify the school of any COVID-19 symptoms or positive tests to obtain “a clearer picture of the number of cases that we currently have in our Pi STEM community.” Citing the current surge in COVID-19 cases and the harm it has done to Idaho’s health care system, the Idaho Supreme Court announced it is taking additional measures to slow the spread of the virus. Starting Monday, Sept. 27, most court hearings will be online, with the exception of all trials on a petition to terminate parental rights and all felony sentencing hearings. Courts must provide a publicly accessible livestream any time that the public cannot be physically present in a courtroom for a proceeding traditionally open to the public. No new jury trials will begin between Sept. 27 and Dec. 6, and no new grand juries may be impaneled during that time frame. Existing trials or grand juries are allowed to continue. Anyone in a publicly accessible space of a building used solely for court business must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and must maintain 6 feet of social distance from people who do not live in their household. In a mixed-use building that contains both court and non-court operations, anyone entering a courtroom, a clerk’s office or counter area, or other spaces used for court business, must comply with masking rules. The order also provides discretion for local administrative judges to take further steps to protect public health and safety. The Boise Farmers Market canceled its walk-in market on Saturday and instead is encouraging the public to use its drive-thru market. The market reversed course after it had announced that it would require vendors and customers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours to attend the market earlier this week. The market hasn’t announced its protocols for October. The deadline to order drive-thru products has been extended to noon on Thursday. “We will be working closely with the city to find a plan that honors our commitment to safety, public health and supports our farmers, and makers,” the market said in a press release Wednesday. “We will continue to assess our plans and communicate with our customers about what they can expect moving through the month of October, which will mark the end of our regular season.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a letter Wednesday asking all temple patrons and workers to wear masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19. “Our desire is to keep temples open,” the letter reads. “As cases of COVID-19 increase in many areas, we want to do everything possible to allow temples to remain open. “Therefore, effective immediately, all temple patrons and workers are asked to wear face masks at all times while in the temple. These safety protocols are temporary, based on COVID-19 conditions, and will be rescinded as soon as circumstances permit.” The letter from President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors also encouraged COVID-19 vaccination to “do all you can to protect yourself and others.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Pi STEM Academy"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday and Friday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Idaho","Idaho","Idaho","Idaho","Idaho","Idaho","Idaho"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID","COVID","COVID","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Fauci Says Children Could Get Shots by Halloween: Virus Update","document":"The U.S. death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic surpassed the number of fatalities in the 1918 influenza pandemic, a milestone many experts say was avoidable after the arrival of vaccines. The White House announced the most sweeping change to U.S. travel policies in months, widening the gap in rules between vaccinated people -- who will see curbs relaxed -- and the unvaccinated. Ther regulations will replace existing bans on foreigners’ travel to the U.S. from certain regions, including Europe. Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE said their vaccine was safe and produced strong antibody responses in younger children in a large-scale trial. The shot may be available by the end of next month, Anthony Fauci said. India said it will restart exports of vaccines for the World Health Organization’s Covax initiative starting in October. China’s Fujian outbreak has disproportionately affected children, according to a vice premier. Japan could lift its state of emergency at the end of September. A member of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s delegation to the United Nations was put in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 in New York, adding to concerns that the general assembly this week could trigger a spike in coronavirus cases in the host city. The diplomat, part of a mission that preceded Bolsonaro’s arrival, had tested negative before leaving Brazil, according to a person familiar with the situation at the Brazilian foreign ministry. The person, who requested anonymity and isn’t authorized to discuss the matter in public, said the diplomat didn’t have contact with president -- who has refused to get a Covid shot, saying he still has antibodies from a previous infection last year. Brazil’s foreign ministry is now tracking dozens of people with whom the person has been in touch in New York, the Brazilian press reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser said that a vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 will likely be available before Halloween. “There’s a really good chance it will be” available before the Oct. 31 holiday, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, said during an interview on MSNBC. He also said he would be in favor of schools mandating shots for kids once they are fully approved. Fauci’s comments came after Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE said their shot safely produced strong antibody responses in younger children. Nebraska is re-activating an online dashboard tracking Covid-19 cases amid an increase in hospitalizations, the Omaha World-Herald reported Monday. Republican Governor Pete Ricketts has been criticized by the medical community for closing the site when the state’s Covid-19 emergency declaration expired in June, saying the data is vital to stopping the pandemic, according to the newspaper. The U.S. capital will require vaccines for all adults who regularly enter schools and child-care facilities by Nov. 1, according to Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. There will be no testing opt-out. Student athletes 12 and older will also required to get the shots to participate in school-based sports. New York City will increase its frequency of student testing to once a week instead of its current two-week interval, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The city’s powerful teachers union on Sunday called for weekly testing. The union demand came after the city was forced to shut down P.S. 79, a special education school in Manhattan. All of the positive cases were among staff members, city officials said Friday, with 16 confirmed cases as of Sept. 16. Citywide, 77 classrooms were closed and 60 more are partially closed, according to the city Education Department. Since schools opened Sept. 13, 445 classrooms have been closed, according to the Department of Education. The U.S. will require that most adult foreigners be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the country as part of a plan to ease some pandemic travel restrictions, according to a person familiar with the matter. The measures, to be announced by President Joe Biden’s administration on Monday, amount to a sweeping reform of strict entry rules imposed on visitors to the U.S. to try to curb the spread of the virus. The person asked not to be identified ahead of the announcement. The U.S. will relax entry rules for travelers from the U.K. and European Union who are vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a report in the Financial Times, a measure that will spur a rebound in trans-Atlantic travel. The move is a significant easing of pandemic travel restrictions that President Joe Biden held in place as infections spread throughout the country this summer, driven by the delta variant of the virus, even as U.S. vaccination levels continued to inch higher. Pfizer and BioNTech said their Covid-19 vaccine was safe and produced strong antibody responses in children ages 5 to 11 in a large-scale trial, findings that could pave the way to begin vaccinating grade-school kids within months. Pressure to immunize kids has been on the climb in the U.S., where a new school year has started just as the delta variant is fueling a surge in cases. In a trial with 2,268 participants, two shots of a 10 microgram dose -- one-third the adult shot -- produced antibody levels comparable to those seen in a trial of 16-to-25-year-olds who got the adult dose, the companies said, with similar side effects. India will restart exports of Covid-19 vaccines for the World Health Organization’s Covax initiative from the quarter beginning October, even as it races to inoculate its own massive adult population, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Monday. The country will also resume some vaccine donations, he added, but gave no details. Home to the world’s largest vaccine-manufacturing industry, India had been expected to be a significant supplier to the equitable vaccine initiative on which most of the world’s poor countries rely. But the government halted exports in April after the delta variant began sweeping through its major cities. Indonesia said it will allow workers in non-essential business sectors back in the office as it loosens mobility curbs further. The country added 1,932 Covid-19 cases on Monday, the lowest since Aug. 24 last year, and 166 new fatalities, according to health ministry data. Italy started giving a third-dose of anti-covid vaccines to its most fragile citizens, the country’s Health minister Roberto Speranza said a statement on Monday. “It’s a step forward to protect those who have a weaker immune system,” he said. Last week, Italy’s government decided to make Covid-19 “passports” mandatory for all public and private sector workers from Oct. 15. The country is boosting its vaccination campaign, said Covid Emergency Czar Francesco Paolo Figliuolo. — With assistance by Ian Fisher, Yueqi Yang, Linus Chua, Russell Ward, Yanping Li, Thuy Ong, Andreo Calonzo, Henry Goldman, Vincent Lee, and Vincent Del Giudice","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["445 classrooms"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 13"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19 pandemic","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid"]}]}
+{"title":"Stevie Nicks cancels tour over Covid fears: ‘At my age, I am extremely cautious’","document":"Jason Isbell, Limp Bizkit and Lynyrd Skynyrd also cancel concerts as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the US Last modified on Wed 11 Aug 2021 10.47 BST Stevie Nicks has cancelled her solo concerts for 2021, citing her fear of catching Covid-19. The Fleetwood Mac star said: “While I’m vaccinated, at my age I am still being extremely cautious and for that reason have decided to skip the five performances I had planned for 2021.” She added: “These are challenging times with challenging decisions that have to be made. I want everyone to be safe and healthy and the rising Covid cases should be of concern to all of us.” Nicks had been due to perform at festivals in California, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana. The last of those events, New Orleans jazz and heritage festival, has been cancelled outright, with organisers citing the “current exponential growth of new Covid cases in New Orleans and the region and the ongoing public health emergency”. Louisiana has one of the lowest rates of vaccine uptake in the US, and experienced 16,000 new cases last weekend. Country singer Jason Isbell has cancelled a concert in Houston, Texas, after the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion venue “was not willing to comply with the band’s updated health and safety standards”. On Monday, Isbell tweeted: “We’re now requiring proof of vaccination or a current negative test to attend all our shows, indoors or out. If the venue won’t allow that, we won’t play.” Speaking on MSNBC, Isbell said of the live music industry: “The problem is they’re just getting so much pushback from some of the governors of certain states who want to kowtow to their political base, and try to make people think their freedom is being encroached upon.” Texas governor Greg Abbott has resisted the mandating of mask wearing and social distancing, despite a spike in Covid hospitalisations that has required him to allow the state’s department of health to recruit medical staff from outside Texas. Isbell added: “I’m all for freedom but I think if you’re dead, you don’t have any freedoms at all. So it’s probably important to stay alive before you start questioning your liberty.” Other artists cancelling US concerts this week due to the pandemic include Limp Bizkit, who cancelled their August tour. Speaking to Billboard, frontman Fred Durst said: “The system is still very flawed. Even if the performers, crews, staff, and promoters do their best to ensure safety on and behind the stage, that doesn’t ensure the safety of the audience as a whole. We are all in this together, and we all – individually and as a whole – have to make our best efforts to be as responsible and proactive as possible moving forward to combat and stop spreading Covid.” Counting Crows have postponed shows due to a member of their touring party contracting Covid, and Lynyrd Skynyrd have cancelled their tour after guitarist Rickey Medlocke was diagnosed with the virus. Earlier this week, Michael Bublé postponed his US tour until October, and dates in Argentina, Brazil and Chile will also be rescheduled.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["tour","tour","solo concerts","concert","New Orleans jazz and heritage festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2021","this week","August"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Houston, Texas","Texas","Texas","Texas","US","US","US"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19 cases continue to rise","Covid-19","Covid","Covid"]}]}
+{"title":"A Western Massachusetts school canceled classes due to confirmed cases of COVID-19","document":" Less than a week into the school year, a Western Massachusetts school canceled classes due to confirmed cases of COVID-19. Farmington River Elementary School, a Berkshire County school with just over 100 children enrolled, closed Friday while awaiting testing results of students and staff. The elementary school began the 2021-2022 school year on Monday. The school year began with COVID protocols set in place last month by state education officials. A mask mandate for all Massachusetts public school students and staff went into effect last Wednesday. “Effective immediately, public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades are required to wear masks indoors in schools,” the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in a statement. “Masks are not required when outdoors. All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings.” The mandate will remain in effect until at least Oct. 1, at which point “the Commissioner will revisit the requirement in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data,” the department said. “The mask requirement is an important additional measure to keep students safe in school at this time,” Following this decision, a similar measure was enacted for day care centers and after school programs. The Board of Early Education and Care voted unanimously this week to align its masking policies with the COVID regulations set in place for public K-12 schools. Starting Sept. 7, all staff and children age 5 and older enrolled in state-licensed day care, after-school and out-of-school programs are required to wear a mask indoors. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings as well. The early education decision was placed in effect without an end date while K-12 schools may see a shift in policies come Oct. 1. Staff and students in Massachusetts middle and high schools can forgo masks starting in October if they have a vaccination rate of at least 80%. The mask mandate would remain in effect for unvaccinated employees and students. The Food and Drug Administration granted authorization for the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children as young as 12 years old in May. In the months since, 65% of children ages 12 to 15 in Massachusetts have received at least one dose, as have 68% of individuals ages 16 to 19, according to data from the state Department of Public Health as of Aug. 17. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Farmington River Elementary School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Less than a week into the school year","school year","school year","2021-2022 school year on Monday","Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Western Massachusetts"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["confirmed cases of COVID-19","COVID","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"Mall department stores were struggling. The pandemic has pushed them to the edge of extinction.","document":"Adrienne Whyte used to go to the mall twice a week, where she might meet up with her personal shoppers at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue or scour Macy’s for bedding and kitchenware. But it’s been well over a year since she set foot in a department store — and she isn’t sure when, or whether, she will again. “Now if I need something, I buy it online,” said the 72-year-old retiree from Falls Church, Va. “The department store is a one-stop shop, but so is the Internet.” Department stores, once a middle-class mainstay of convenience and indulgence, had been spiraling downward long before the pandemic turbocharged online shopping and helped tip a number of big-name retailers into bankruptcy. Nearly 200 department stores have disappeared in the past year alone, and another 800 — or about half the country’s remaining mall-based locations — are expected to be shuttered by the end of 2025, according to commercial real estate firm Green Street. Those closures, analysts say, will have a cascading effect on American shopping malls, which already are battling record-high vacancy rates and precipitous drops in foot traffic, as well as on the commercial real estate market and the broader economy. “There’s nothing department stores have done to make themselves particularly relevant in the 21st century, and the pandemic has only made that more clear,” said Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School and former chief executive of Sears Canada. “They have too many stores, too many things, too many brands. The customer who used to be handcuffed to their local department store is no longer tethered because they have an online alternative that’s become even more attractive in the last year.” Baby boomers, to retailers’ surprise, are dominating online shopping The pandemic set off an economic chain reaction that rippled through the country’s department store chains, forcing several into Chapter 11 proceedings. Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores and J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy last May, followed by Lord & Taylor and, most recently, Belk in February. Even companies on relatively stable footing, like Macy’s, are shuttering dozens of stores as they try to move away from traditional shopping malls. Overall sales at department stores plunged more than 40 percent at the beginning of the pandemic and have yet to make up for lost ground, according to Commerce Department data, as Americans do more of their shopping online and gravitate to specialty brands and discount chains. Major brands like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Kohl’s have reported steep sales declines during the coronavirus crisis, which slashed demand for the clothing, shoes and formalwear that disproportionately fill their stores. However, analysts say, the pandemic’s most disconcerting legacy may be its imprint on consumer behavior, raising questions about the sector’s ability to win back customers and properly rebound even after life returns to normal. Whyte, for example, has built up a roster of specialty retailers she now buys from directly: Rothy’s for shoes, Lands’ End for clothing, Sephora for makeup. The former management consultant also has found that she can simply do with less. “It used to be ‘see it, want it,'” she said. “But during the pandemic, I’ve realized I don’t need as much as I thought I did.” *** The earliest American department store, Arnold Constable, was founded nearly 200 years ago in Manhattan. It sold an array of clothing, jewelry, handbags and stationery, earning it the nickname “the palace of trade.” The chain eventually expanded throughout New York and into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It ended its run in 1975, after filing for bankruptcy. By then, Americans had fallen in love with department stores. Shopping malls proliferated across the country, anchored by national chains including Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Marshall Field’s and Bealls that offered the ease of one-stop shopping and an air of attainable luxury. But such retailers have lost much of their allure in the past decade, analysts say, as Americans were presented with more alternatives, including discounters like TJ Maxx and Ross Dress for Less and online specialty retailers like Stitch Fix and Everlane. The erosion of the middle class has also chipped away at the fortunes of chains such as Macy’s and J.C. Penney. “In the old days, department stores offered convenience,” said Greg Portell, a partner in the consumer and retail practice of consulting firm Kearney. “But now that we can get that without leaving the couch, it’s no longer enough. Department stores have to offer more: They need smart curation, high-touch service and personalization.” Malls are dying. The thriving ones are spending millions to reinvent themselves. To that end, Saks Fifth Avenue is spinning off its website into a stand-alone company, in hopes of doubling down on e-commerce. Nordstrom is offering virtual styling appointments and recently launched an online channel, where shoppers can buy merchandise during live-streamed events. At Neiman Marcus, the first department store chain to file for bankruptcy during the pandemic, executives say they have invested heavily in e-commerce, hosting “shoppable” virtual events and making store employees available by text, email and video chat. “We’ve never had to make so many changes at once like we did in the past year,” said Lana Todorovich, president and chief merchandising officer of the Dallas-based retailer. “Everything, including our product assortments, changed in an incredibly short period of time.” The company, she said, is stocking its shelves more frequently with “buy now, wear now” products and is seeing a resurgence in bridal wear, as well as swimwear and jewelry. Overall retail spending rebounded sharply in March, rising 9.8 percent after an unexpected dip in February, the Commerce Department reported this week. Department store sales rose 13 percent from a month earlier, boosted by recent stimulus checks and burgeoning demand for clothing and shoes, though they have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. Americans are starting to buy real clothes again But analysts say retailers’ challenges extend beyond short-term sales figures. They also must grapple with questions about the viability of shopping malls, for which vacancy rates hit 11.4 percent in the first quarter, compared with 10.5 percent the preceding three months, marking the biggest spike on record, according to Moody’s Analytics’ commercial real estate division. Already struggling mid- and lower-tier malls have been disproportionately affected, adding to the widening gap between the country’s most profitable malls — which tend to be newer, well-lit properties with restaurants and in-demand chains like Apple, Lululemon and Sephora — and the rest of the industry, analysts said, though the latest round of bankruptcies and liquidations has created new challenges throughout the industry. Even the country’s newest and most expensive mall hasn’t been immune: American Dream, a $5 billion megaplex in New Jersey, opened shortly before the pandemic with an indoor ski resort, hockey rink and water park. But many of its largest retail spaces remain dark, after Barneys New York, Lord & Taylor and Century 21 pulled plans for anchor stores following bankruptcy filings. “The department store as an all-encompassing emporium is a product of the 20th century and a victim of the 21st,” said Cohen of Columbia Business School. The best will prevail, he added, because people are not going to settle as they once did, “simply because they don’t have to.” Pandemic bankruptcies: A running list of retailers that have filed for Chapter 11 *** Joe Edwards recently stopped by a department store for the first time in years. He wasn’t there to browse, though; he was there for his coronavirus vaccination. The excursion to an abandoned Gordmans store in Champaign, Ill. — where, as a child, he used to watch Nickelodeon while he waited for his mother to shop — brought back a flood of memories for the 26-year-old. It also felt “profoundly dystopian,” he said. “Here I am sitting in a foldout chair, getting my vaccine surrounded by old mannequins and clothing fixtures,” said Edwards, a graduate student at the University of Illinois who now buys most of his clothes at thrift stores. “The whole time I’m thinking: Wow, this is what this place has come to?” The store, which closed during the pandemic, is one of hundreds of department stores to fold in recent years. The country’s largest department store chains have shuttered roughly 40 percent of their locations since 2016, according to a Washington Post analysis of corporate earnings releases and annual reports. Some of those locations have found new life — most recently as coronavirus testing or vaccination centers, but also as Amazon warehouses, community colleges, medical offices and car dealerships. Commercial real estate experts say the sprawling properties left behind in U.S. shopping malls are often well-positioned, with large parking lots and easy access to highways and public transportation. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Abandoned malls are sputtering back to life with megachurches, rooftop pools and homeless shelters “Many of these malls built in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were economic development projects, so they’re surrounded by great infrastructure,” said Thomas Maddux, a principal at commercial real estate services firm KLNB. “The question now is: What’s the next chapter in this story? Malls may not have five or seven department store anchors like they once did, but they may have other uses: A grocery store or a car dealership or a hotel. We just have to live through the cycle.” In Chicago, Kimber Russell isn’t much interested in going back to the way things were. Before the pandemic, the 47-year-old attorney bought most of her clothes at Loft and Express, and occasionally stopped in at Nordstrom or Macy’s. These days she orders everything online and has set up subscriptions for items like dog food, toilet paper and disposable masks. She can’t imagine going back to shopping in person, she said. “If I were to walk into a department store right now and see all of those choices — teens, petites, misses, juniors, sportswear — I’d just be like, ‘No!,'\" she said. “There is just so much stuff to sift through, and the pandemic has made me realize I don’t need more choices. It’s too overwhelming.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores and J.C. Penney","Neiman Marcus","Penney","Penney","Neiman Marcus","Barneys New York, Lord & Taylor and Century 21","Lord","Taylor","Nearly 200 department stores","Belk","Macy’s","thrift stores","The country’s largest department store chains"]},{"role":"Date","values":["February","February","the past year alone","last May"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","Pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","nothing department stores have done to make themselves particularly relevant"]}]}
+{"title":"Another classroom at Ecole Elsie Mironuck School closed due to COVID","document":"Another classroom at Ecole Elsie Mironuck Community School has been closed due to numerous cases of COVID-19. On Wednesday, Regina Public Schools announced the school was closing a Grade 3 classroom and moving to remote learning starting Thursday. On Thursday, the division announced a Grade 5/6 English classroom was closing and students were to begin online learning on Monday, since Friday is a professional development day. In-person classes are to resume Sept. 30 if students don’t have symptoms. Parents are to hear from their child’s teacher with more details for remote learning. It’s the third time this week a public school has closed classrooms due to COVID cases. On Tuesday, Henry Janzen School moved to remote learning in a number of classes after multiple cases were reported. The division reported cases had been detected at three other schools as well. Two cases were reported at Henry Janzen School, with one each at Harbour Landing School and Thom Collegiate.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Henry Janzen School","Henry Janzen School","Another classroom at Ecole Elsie Mironuck Community School","Grade 3 classroom","Grade 5/6 English classroom"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["numerous cases of COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"What the data say about border closures and COVID spread","document":" Travel restrictions left many travellers stranded in foreign countries.Credit: Alonso Cupul/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock As countries in Europe rush to close their borders to the United Kingdom to prevent transmission of a new — and potentially more transmissible — variant of SARS-CoV-2, research has estimated the effect of international travel restrictions on COVID-19 spread earlier in the pandemic. Models have found that strict border closures could have helped limit viral transmission in the pandemic’s early days. But once the virus started spreading in other countries, border closures provided little benefit. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries had only ever imposed border restrictions on select countries where disease outbreaks were concentrated. In most instances, scientists thought that such measures were largely ineffective. Influenza infections, for example, often go undetected, and so travel restrictions aren’t worth the social and economic trade-offs, says Karen Grépin, a health economist at the University of Hong Kong. When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the highly infectious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 a public-health emergency, the agency advised nations to keep borders open. But almost every country ignored the advice, and many countries even closed their borders to all nations, contributing to an unprecedented drop-off in global travel that continues today. “We had no idea that governments around the world would be willing to impose total border closures and related measures that would cost the global economy some US$400 billion every month,” says Steven Hoffman, an international lawyer and epidemiologist at York University in Toronto, Canada. Most of the studies looking at the effect of travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic rely on theoretical models. Scientists say that these are helpful in the absence of time-consuming observational studies. In a review of 29 studies posted on medRxiv last month1, Grépin and Kelley Lee, a researcher who studies global health at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, found that most models show that travel restrictions and border closures reduced the arrival of people with COVID-19 in many countries early in the outbreak. The pandemic has shown public-health researchers that, in some situations, travel restrictions help to keep epidemics under control, says Lee. “The general feeling before was that they don’t work at all and undermine human rights,” says Lee. But only one study2 in the review accounted for the effect of the ban on people leaving the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic started, and found that it prevented nearly 80% of COVID-19 infections from spreading to countries outside China in the weeks after it was imposed. So some models probably overestimated the benefits of international border closures compared with the Wuhan lockdown, says Grépin. The gains from border closures were also short-lived when they weren’t combined with other measures such as testing, contact tracing and quarantining to prevent local transmission. Another modelling study3, published in The Lancet on 7 December, estimated the effect of sustained travel restrictions on reducing viral spread. The authors found that, with no reductions in movement, international travellers in May would have contributed to more than 10% of total COVID-19 cases in 102 countries that month. But by September, the contribution of international travellers to most countries’ COVID-19 case count had dropped significantly. This suggests that travel restrictions weren’t justified later in the pandemic except in highly connected countries, or in regions with low transmission that wanted to keep the virus out, says co-author Mark Jit, an infectious-disease modeller at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Preventing travel from high-prevalence countries would be sufficient to reduce exposure in many regions, says Jit. “Countries shouldn’t instinctively say that, just because there is a pandemic, we should have travel restrictions.” Hoffman says that observational studies are now needed to tease out the effectiveness of countries completely shutting their borders. “There is a good chance that a whole lot of what we are doing is causing more harm than good.” The WHO’s decision to advise against travel restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic was probably informed by the pushback it faced in its response to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), says Grépin. At the time, the agency advised against essential travel to regions across China, where the outbreak began, and places with sizeable outbreaks, such as Toronto, Canada. Some researchers argued that the decision placed an unfair economic burden on those regions and disincentivized member states from reporting infectious-disease outbreaks. Researchers say the latest evidence suggests that the WHO’s advice on travel restrictions during disease outbreaks needs to be more nuanced, and should move beyond a yes-or-no recommendation. In the case of COVID-19, “the WHO said one thing and the world did something else”, says Grépin. The WHO said in an e-mail that it is reviewing the evidence on travel mitigation measures and will publish scientific reports on this, which will also help countries assess the risk of lifting travel restrictions.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["border","border","border","border","Wuhan lockdown"]},{"role":"Date","values":["early in the outbreak","outbreak","sustained"]},{"role":"Location","values":["countries in Europe","countries","countries","countries","countries","countries","countries","countries","Countries","countries","countries","many countries","many countries"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["limit viral transmission"]}]}
+{"title":"Schools closed, large gatherings banned as new Covid-19 outbreak spreads in Thailand","document":"THE Thai government has decided to close all schools, while large gatherings and other high-risk activities will be suspended for two weeks from Sunday to control the spread of the new Covid-19 outbreak. However, prime minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said there will be no curfew. He has also ordered officials to seek more sources of coronavirus vaccines from Russia and the United States. According to the Bangkok Post, the vaccination programme was progressing slowly with just 0.9 per cent of the population receiving the vaccine so far. Spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided against a curfew because it would affect people's incomes, especially those at the grassroots level. Instead, it decided to close schools and educational institutions, except international schools which had to organise examinations, he said. Also banned are any activities where more than 50 people gather, except approved activities including those at quarantine venues. Entertainment and service places including pubs, bars, karaoke shops and massage parlours will be closed. The CCSA declared 18 provinces red or maximum-control zones. They are Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Tak, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phuket, Rayong, Songkhla, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Sa Kaeo, Suphan Buri and Udon Thani. The new rules were issued as the country reported a record 1,582 new coronavirus cases yesterday. That brought the five-day total since Monday to 6,400 — more than 50% higher than the number of infections seen nationwide in the first nine months of the outbreak last year. In the \"red\" provinces, dining at restaurants is allowed until 9pm and sales of takeaway food until 11pm. \"This is to keep businesses alive,\" Dr Taweesilp said. However, consumption of alcoholic beverages is banned at restaurants. Shopping centres, department stores and community malls will close at 9pm, an hour earlier than usual, and visitor numbers must be limited. They are not allowed to organise promotional events or open amusement parks and game arcades on their premises. Convenience stores, supermarkets, flea markets and walking streets must close from 11pm to 4am. Sports fields, exercise venues, gymnasiums and fitness clubs must close at 9pm. Sports competitions are permitted with limited numbers of spectators. The remaining 59 provinces have been designated orange or control zones, where restaurants can open for dining and takeaway sales until 11pm. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is banned, though. The same rules that apply to malls and department stores in red zones apply in the orange zones, but there are no restrictions at convenience stores, supermarkets, flea markets, walking streets and venues for sports and exercise. According to The Post, provincial authorities were also allowed to impose disease-control measures in their areas as they see fit. The CCSA asked people to delay holding parties. Employers are urged to let staff work outside offices, to come in on alternate working days, or to implement other measures to reduce infection risk. The Covid task force also ordered health, administrative and security authorities to find more locations suitable to set up field hospitals and quarantine facilities, possibly at schools, hotels, auditoriums and private properties, Dr Taweesilp said. The new restrictions come at a time when the country is struggling to ramp up vaccinations against the coronavirus. So far, fewer than 600,000 people, or 0.9 per cent of the population, have received at least one shot. Limited supplies of vaccines have been a problem, as large quantities of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is the cornerstone of the national programme will not be available until June. Farah Hanum, [17.04.21 10:05] However, Gen Prayut said on Friday that he had ordered officials to seek imports of more vaccines from Russia and the United States. \"I've told the Government Pharmaceuticals Organization and the Food and Drug Administration to coordinate and facilitate them,\" he said, referring to Sputnik V of Russia but declining to be specific about the American vaccines, which could be from Pfizer or Moderna.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Shopping centres, department stores and community malls","department stores","Convenience stores, supermarkets, flea markets and walking streets","convenience stores","supermarkets","flea markets","walking streets","schools and educational institutions","schools","large gatherings and other high-risk activities","Entertainment and service places including pubs, bars, karaoke shops and massage parlours","Sports fields, exercise venues, gymnasiums and fitness clubs"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for two weeks from Sunday","at 9pm","from 11pm to 4am"]},{"role":"Location","values":["THE Thai"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["control the spread of the new Covid-19 outbreak","control"]}]}
+{"title":"Bonnaroo is canceled because of flooded grounds","document":"August 31, 2021 One of Tennessee’s largest music festivals, Bonnaroo, is canceled because of flooded grounds. “We are absolutely heartbroken to announce that we must cancel Bonnaroo,” the festival wrote on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. “While this weekend’s weather looks outstanding, currently Centeroo is waterlogged in many areas, the ground is incredibly saturated on our tollbooth paths, and the campgrounds are flooded to the point that we are unable to drive in or park vehicles safely.” Rain has been washing over Middle Tennessee as remnants of Hurricane Ida sweep in from the south. The festival was already offering refunds, saying the weather would force them to limit crowds. But in the end, Bonnaroo determined the amount of rainfall made it too unsafe to host up to 80,000 people at its grounds in Manchester. Fans who purchased their tickets through Front Gate Tickets will be able to get a refund within the month. While they may be disappointed, the cancellation means a major monetary loss for vendors who already flew to Tennessee for the event. “For some of us, this was the first chance to show our art and make some money for the first time in over a year and a half,” says artist Terrance Ryan, who flew in Saturday from San Francisco. “It’s a little soul crushing at the moment but, man, Mother Nature.” Ryan makes screen-printed concert posters using the name “Lil Tuffy.” He says he hopes to set up a pop-up shop in Nashville to recoup some of his losses. “Hopefully we’ll be able to set something up,” he says, “and have a little bit of a recovery.” The cancellation is also a financial loss for the state of Tennessee. An economic impact analysis done on the 2019 Bonnaroo festival shows that it accounted for $52 million for the state. This is the second year in a row that Bonnaroo was canceled — although last year the cancellation was due to the pandemic. This year, the festival was going to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bonnaroo","Bonnaroo","Bonnaroo","Bonnaroo","Bonnaroo"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday afternoon","last year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee","Tennessee"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["flooded grounds","the pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Macy’s is closing dozens of stores this year. Here’s the full list","document":"Macy’s is closing dozens of department stores this year, in a bid to move out of underperforming malls and trim a real estate empire that isn’t as valued as it once was. The closures, first reported by CNBC on Tuesday, are part of a previously announced plan by Macy’s to shut 125 locations by 2023, which the retailer outlined last February. In turn, the company has said it plans to focus on investing in the best malls across the United States and grow off-mall. Liquidation sales have already started at some of the locations that are closing. The rest are slated to start later this month. (See a full list of the closing stores and recently closed locations below.) In 2020, Macy’s closed about 30 locations. The closures by Macy’s will add to the glut of retail real estate that has gone back on the market in recent years, pummeling landlords. In 2020, retail businesses from boutique apparel chains to department store operators announced more than 11,000 closures, according to tracking from the real estate firm CoStar Group. Mall owners like Simon Property Group and Macerich have been tasked with filling a plethora of empty spaces. The pressures have been too much for some to handle: Two mall owners — CBL and Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. Macy’s currently operates 544 of its namesake department stores, along with 34 Bloomingdale’s locations, 19 Bloomingdale’s outlets and 166 Bluemercury shops, according to its website. Here’s the full list of Macy’s stores expected to close this year: 1. Paradise Valley, AZ 2. El Cajon Parkway, CA 3. Hilltop, CA 4. Brass Mill Center, CT 5. Crystal Mall, CT 6. Port Charlotte Town Center, FL 7. Volusia Mall, FL 8. Greenbriar, GA 9. Hyatt Regency (Maui), HI 10. Grand Teton Mall, ID 11. Water Tower Place, IL 12. College Mall, IN 13. Marlow Heights, MD14. Independence Center, MO 15. Northpark Mall, MO 16. West Park Mall (MO), MO 17. Sangertown Square, NY 18. White Plains Galleria, NY 19. Great Lakes Mall, OH 20. Richland Mall, OH 21. Tri-County Mall, OH 22. The Avenue Carriage Crossing, TN 23. Old Hickory Mall, TN 24. Golden Triangle, TX 25. Post Oak Mall, TX 26. Rivercenter, TX 27. Rolling Oaks, TX 28. Vista Ridge Mall, TX 29. Commons at Federal Way, WA 30. Northtown, WA31. Monterey, CA (Furniture)32. Winter Haven, FL 33. Cambridgeside, MA 34. Lima, OH 35. Lloyd Center, OR36. Santa Monica, CA (Bloomingdale’s)37. South Towne Center, UT These stores are already closed: 1. Park Place, AZ 2. Oakbrook, IL (Furniture)3. Woodfield, IL (Furniture)4. Commack, NY 5. Eastland, OH (Furniture Clearance)6. Harrisburg, PA 7. Medinah Temple, IL (Bloomingdale’s) 8. Southwest Plaza, CO*9. Dover Mall, DE**Macy’s has closed these locations to in-store shopping and has converted them into fulfillment centers.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["retail businesses from boutique apparel chains to department store","department store","Macy’s","Park Place","Oakbrook","Woodfield","Commack","Eastland","Harrisburg","Medinah Temple","Southwest Plaza","Dover Mall"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year","start later this month","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["AZ","IL","NY","OH","PA","CO","DE"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Maryland parents dread quarantine notifications as first weeks of classes see school shut down, dances canceled","document":" With more than two weeks of school under their belts, Baltimore-area school districts are beginning to see COVID-19 cases emerge in larger numbers — forcing hundreds of students into quarantine and prompting systems to alter plans and cancel events. Parents have been forced to rearrange their schedules to care for kids at home. Those who haven’t say they are dreading a call they feel is inevitable. And what if their child needs to quarantine more than once? So far, schools here have not reached the level of cases experienced in districts across the country that began the school year earlier. Across the South, dozens of school systems have halted in-person classes, according to data gathered by online event tracking firm Burbio. And some districts, such as one north of Charlotte, North Carolina, have reported more than 10% of students quarantined at a single time. While COVID cases are starting to filter through soccer teams and history classes, cafeterias and school buses, parents and students in Maryland say they’re overjoyed to be returning to full schools for the first time in months, despite the storm cloud overhead. Stephanie Brown is among the parents who have already had to make adjustments. When she heard that her sixth and eighth graders would have to stay home from Northwest Middle School in Carroll County after a spike in cases, she was hardly surprised. ”It really wasn’t frustration and it definitely wasn’t shock,” the Westminster mom said. But she said she thought school district officials “could have handled this better” by requiring students to wear masks or offering the option of online classes. Masks were mandated in schools statewide last week; while other districts required them earlier, Carroll didn’t follow suit until the state mandate. The Taneytown middle school that Brown’s children attend closed Tuesday and Wednesday after 18 people tested positive. For each of those positive tests, another 15 to 20 close contacts typically have to quarantine, as well, said county health officer Ed Singer. In Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties, the percentage of students quarantining due to a positive test or exposure hovered between 1% and 2%, or between 900 and 1,500 students, according to the most recent data, posted online Friday. Baltimore City’s rate was lower, with 423 students quarantining, or 0.5% of the student population, as of Wednesday, the latest date for which the city provided data. The highest rates in the Baltimore area Friday were in Carroll and Harford counties, with about 5% and 3.8%, respectively. That’s about 1,200 to 1,400 students quarantined in each district. Enacting stringent quarantine protocols is a critical step, but officials in districts with increasing rates must ask themselves what they’re doing to support those students, said Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist and president and CEO of the Bethesda-based de Beaumont Foundation, a charitable organization focused on public health. Castrucci said getting students safely through the rest of the academic year will require a “Swiss cheese” approach, especially around the holidays when some families travel to areas with lower vaccination rates. ”If you have a single slice of Swiss cheese, you can see the holes. But if you stack 10 pieces on top of the other, you can’t see through the holes.” “It’s a layered approach — strong quarantine protocols, mask-wearing, requirements for teachers to be vaccinated — they work together to make sure kids stay safe.” Initially, no Baltimore-area districts offered live lessons this fall for quarantined students, although some provided tutoring for students stuck at home. But Thursday, Anne Arundel schools announced expanded plans due to the growing number of such students. Starting Oct. 4, virtual teachers will give their own lessons and directly assign students work, rather than helping students get and complete assignments from their regular teacher. The climbing caseload has also pushed officials in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County to cancel all homecoming dances — at least for the time being. That was disappointing news for Stacey Montagne, who had begun planning with her son, a freshman at Arundel High School in Gambrills, for the mid-October dance. Luckily, they hadn’t spent any money on an outfit, but some parents had. “He’s bummed out,” she said. “He does want to participate in all the school activities.” Now, Montagne says she might plan a “faux-coming” dance for her son and his friends, maybe featuring a platter of Chick-fil-A nuggets and a speaker blasting dance music in a backyard. She wonders if the school might be able to plan an outdoor dance or festival to make up for the traditional, indoor event. “I definitely think it’s a double standard,” she said. “You’ve got kids in football stadiums — yes, it’s outside — but they’re playing soccer games. They’re doing all of those things. They’re going to school, they’re in classrooms with 30 of their closest friends. They’re not socially distancing. Let’s be real.” Experts say lunchtime, when students remove masks, and dismissal times, when students may cluster in groups to chat, are among the trickiest parts of the school day — and the most difficult to track. The uncertainties surrounding such contacts have left some parents wondering just how likely they are to learn their child was exposed at school. With younger students, the difficulties multiply. Virginia Ryan, a paraeducator at Wolfe Street Academy in Baltimore, said it is sometimes difficult to keep pre-K students from roaming the classroom to play with friends or grab a toy. Educators do the best they can to keep students from getting too close to each other, and keep track of where they sit using a chart. They battle to keep students’ masks effective. “A lot of them, they bring it down and put it in their mouth. So, sometimes we replace the masks because they’re too wet,” she said. For Allison Ciborowski, a Carroll County mother of two, news that she’ll have to quarantine her first and third grader feels inevitable. “That call is going to come. Every day I’m like: ‘OK, this could be the day that I need to completely change my work schedule,’” she said. “It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.” Ciborowski, a single mom, knows she’ll have to coach her first grader through online lessons, which won’t involve a live instructor. At some unexpected moment, she’ll have to reschedule work meetings and cancel others. “There’s no dashboard where you can go to say, ‘OK, what’s the chance that my kid’s going to have to quarantine this week?’” she said. It’s frustrating that Carroll County didn’t initially require masks, Ciborowski said. Before the state requirement went into effect, she told her children to wear theirs, but they became confused when staff members told them masks were optional. Ciborowski said she’s also concerned that Carroll County isn’t conducting any randomized COVID-19 testing for students. There’s only one permanent COVID-19 testing center at a Carroll County school, at Westminster High. Baltimore City is the only district in the area conducting surveillance testing for students so far to pick up on cases without symptoms. Others have said they’re considering it. For some students, the return to the school building is something of a godsend. Baltimore City College ninth grader Serena Marie Bostic said it’s allowed her to consider a swath of new extracurricular activities. She’s interested in learning American Sign Language, joining the debate team and participating in cheerleading, volleyball and softball. She’s discovered a love of math in geometry and algebra classes, now that they aren’t conducted through a computer screen. “It’s crazy because for so many years, I was like, ‘Man, that’s like the hardest class,’” she said. “But now, suddenly, it became my favorite class.” The 14-year-old said she hasn’t been vaccinated but is warming up to the idea, and would need to be to participate in winter and spring sports under a Baltimore City Schools mandate for athletes. She said her mind is at ease about possible transmission because students are conscious about wearing their masks indoors and eating lunch in a courtyard. ‘It’s always a risk. It’s always scary, especially with the variant,” she said. “But I’m not too worried because I see my peers and we all take the mask thing pretty serious.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["dozens of school","School","school","school","school","school","school","school","school","Northwest Middle School","Taneytown middle school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday and Wednesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Baltimore-area","Baltimore","Baltimore","Baltimore area","Baltimore-area","Baltimore","Baltimore","Baltimore","area","Baltimore","Baltimore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 cases emerge in larger numbers","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Pandemic puts 1 in 3 nonprofits in financial jeopardy","document":"NEW YORK (AP) — More than one-third of U.S. nonprofits are in jeopardy of closing within two years because of the financial harm inflicted by the viral pandemic, according to a study being released Wednesday by the philanthropy research group Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. The study’s findings underscore the perils for nonprofits and charities whose financial needs have escalated over the past year, well in excess of the donations that most have received from individuals and foundations. The researchers analyzed how roughly 300,000 nonprofits would fare under 20 scenarios of varying severity. The worst-case scenario led to the closings of 38% of the nonprofits. Even the scenarios seen as more realistic resulted in closures well into double digit percentages. Officials of Candid, which includes the philanthropic information resources GuideStar and Foundation Center, and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which analyzes charitable giving during crises, said the most dire scenarios could be avoided if donations were to increase substantially — from the government as well as from private contributors. “If you are a donor who cares about an organization that is rooted in place and relies on revenue from in-person services, now is the time probably to give more,” said Jacob Harold, Candid’s executive vice president. Among the most vulnerable nonprofits, the study said, are those involved in arts and entertainment, which depend on ticket sales for most of their revenue, cannot significantly their reduce expenses and don’t typically hold much cash. Other studies have concluded that smaller arts and culture groups, in particular, are at serious risk. Californians for the Arts, for example, surveyed arts and culture nonprofits in the state and found that about 64% had shrunk their workforces. Roughly 25% of them had slashed 90% or more of their staffs. And a report last week from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found that employment in New York City’s arts, entertainment and recreation sector tumbled 66% during 2020. “It really has been devastating,” said Kristina Newman-Scott, president of BRIC, a Brooklyn arts institution best-known for its community TV channel and Celebrate Brooklyn! concert series. “We have a lot of empathy for our colleagues and friends in the arts space who, based on their model, see things that are just not going to be the same for them. They will be navigating a very different financial pathway.” Newman-Scott said BRIC has been helping sustain smaller arts nonprofits and offering artists unrestricted $10,000 grants through its Colene Brown Art Prize. “We are anxious to get back to in-person events,” she said. “But we want to do it as part of a community. We don’t want to be the only one. We want other organizations that are and have been doing extraordinary work, especially the smaller folks who have it harder because they just don’t have as many resources. We want them to be around us also.” Harold, the Candid executive, said that while arts and entertainment groups may be at particular risk, nonprofits from all sectors are in danger. According to the study, the District of Columbia was expected to lose the most nonprofits per capita, followed by Vermont and North Dakota. The most vulnerable nonprofits may try to reduce costs this year by narrowing their focus or by furloughing workers. Some may seek a merger or an acquisition to bolster their financial viability, Harold noted, although doing so would still mean that fewer nonprofits would survive. “A lot of nonprofit boards were able to say, ‘Oh, this is going to end soon’ and ‘We’re fine for a year,’” Harold said. “But they might not be fine for two years. So if they dragged their feet last year, they may find themselves really having to scramble this year to make the structural changes now.” The perils that nonprofits face are similar to the economic damage from the pandemic that forced so many restaurants to either close or operate at deep losses over the past year. An estimated 110,000 restaurants — roughly one in six — closed in 2020 and, according to the National Restaurant Association, the pandemic could force 500,000 more to shut down. President Joe Biden last week ordered the Small Business Administration to prioritize businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees in the awarding of loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, 400,000 small businesses have closed — 400,000 — and millions more are hanging by a thread,” Biden said. “It’s hurting black, Latino and Asian American communities the hardest.” Harold said that while the federal government’s focus on small businesses and small nonprofits will help some of them survive, “it’s not going to have a huge impact.” The Candid/Center for Disaster Philanthropy study found that $20.2 billion was donated to combat COVID-19 in 2020, with 44% of it coming from corporations. It was one of many notable shifts in philanthropy during the pandemic. “We were definitely seeing more grants for flexible operating expenses and general support,” said Grace Sato, Candid’s director of research. “More grants were explicitly designated for vulnerable communities, communities most impacted by the pandemic.” The pandemic also made some major foundations recognize how burdensome their grant process has been and finally took steps to simplify it, Harold said. “One of the dominant emotional dynamics is guilt,” he said. “They finally crossed the threshold. We saw that with hundreds and hundreds of foundations.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["More than one-third of U.S. nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","nonprofits","one","nonprofits","nonprofits","One","estimated 110,000 restaurants","400,000 small businesses"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Since the beginning of this pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","within two years","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["financial harm inflicted by the viral pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Popular Westerville event canceled due to city’s public health state of emergency","document":" by: Eric Halperin Posted: Sep 22, 2021 / 09:05 PM EDT Updated: Sep 22, 2021 / 11:13 PM EDT by: Eric Halperin Posted: Sep 22, 2021 / 09:05 PM EDT Updated: Sep 22, 2021 / 11:13 PM EDT WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – A popular central Ohio festival will not be happening as originally planned this Friday. 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville happen from May through October, but this week’s event is canceled after the city declared a public health state of emergency Tuesday. Earlier Wednesday, Uptown Westerville posted on social media, announcing the cancelation. In addition to the state of emergency, the group said the cancelation is also coming out of care and concern for the community. According to Westerville, the state of emergency is in place in large part due to the overwhelming situations at central Ohio hospitals. Megan Lee Designs, which participates in the event, said 4th Fridays are usually one of the business’ best days, but understand why the call was made. “It’s not ideal from a small business revenue perspective, but I do believe everybody’s heart is in the right place in essence,” said Erik Weitz, Megan Lee Designs’ vice-president. “It’s like the greater good, we’re all trying to come together to make sure we can get back to business as usual, or the new business as usual.” To be 19 months into the pandemic and still have events canceled, people are disappointed, but also understand why the decision was made. “I think it’s disappointing it has to be canceled, but I also want to do whatever is going to be the safest for the community,” said Westerville resident Dawn Puster. Weitz said he saw the message from the city about area hospitals being overwhelmed and said he understands why 4th Friday will not be happening this week. “This event is sponsored by Mount Carmel Health, so it would be probably unwise and a little contradictory, I think, if they were to have it, so I completely understand why it’s canceled,” he said. While other events in the city have been canceled for the next six weeks, there is no word on next month’s 4th Friday event. Unless the situation at central Ohio hospitals improves, the city said it will reevaluate the public health state of emergency on Nov. 2.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["A popular central Ohio festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this Friday","Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Westerville","WESTERVILLE","Westerville","Westerville","Westerville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["overwhelming situations at central Ohio hospitals","central Ohio hospitals"]}]}
+{"title":"Schoolchildren worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours due to COVID-19","document":"We are facing an education crisis. For nearly 77 million children, the pandemic has taken away their classrooms for the past 18 months. Schoolchildren worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns. The right to go to school and learn is central to every child’s development, safety and well-being. Yet in too many countries classrooms remain closed while social gatherings continue to take place in restaurants, salons and gyms. This generation of children and youth cannot afford any more disruptions to their education, which is why we’re calling on governments to #ReopenSchools as soon as possible and get education back on track. “Children should return to in-person learning as soon as possible” The cost of school closures on students’ learning, health and well-being has been devastating. The repercussions for every child, their family, their community and their economy will be felt for years to come. Many children will never catch up. School closures impact every child, but the most vulnerable children hardest. Some students have been able to access remote learning during school closures, but many of them have struggled due to a lack of support. At least a third of the world’s schoolchildren had no access to remote learning at all. “At least 1 in 3 schoolchildren had no access to remote learning during school closures” School closures have led to reduced physical activity and poorer diets, increased levels of anxiety and self-harm, and exposure to domestic violence. For many children the alternatives to school are child labour, child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Once this happens, it can be impossible for girls or boys to return to school. Keeping children at home has also resulted in parents having to leave their jobs, especially in countries with no or limited family leave policies. And this is despite the evidence showing that to date schools have not been a main driver of COVID-19 transmission in communities. The World Health Organization recommends that it is only in extreme cases that school closures should be considered. And then only as a temporary measure of last resort. It’s clear: Governments need to prioritize support for schools and take all possible measures to reopen safely. The future of the next generation depends on it. “Schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen” “I miss them [teachers and classmates] a lot.” Brithany, 11, Ecuador \"[E]very second is important to be able to study,\" Alisha, 15, Pakistan “All kids around the world should go to school in person.” Favour, 12, South Africa “It’s better to go to school because it’s the gateway to the future.” Darina, 16, Spain Schoolchildren worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns, says UNICEF Schools still closed for nearly 77 million students 18 months into pandemic – UNICEF First day of school 'indefinitely postponed' for 140 million first-time students around the world – UNICEF Repeated school closures due to COVID-19 leading to learning loss and widening inequities in South Asia, UNICEF research shows","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school","school","school","school","school","school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the past 18 months","18"]},{"role":"Location","values":["worldwide","worldwide","Ecuador","Pakistan","South Africa","Spain"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 lockdowns","COVID-19","COVID-19 lockdowns","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Two Colbert County elementary schools closed Friday","document":" by: Bobby Stilwell COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. – Due to what Superintendent Chris Hand calls a “tragic incident,” two elementary schools in Colbert County will not be in session Friday. In a note to parents, Hand said Cherokee and Leighton Elementary schools will be closed Friday. Hand asked for continued support for those affected by the incident. “Please join us in your thoughts and prayers for everyone who has been touched by this tragic incident,” Hand said. “Thank you to all of you who have already reached out with a kind word or gesture towards the family. There are many friends, family members, students, and colleagues who are grieving so let’s lift them up in prayer and be a help to those who are in need at this moment.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Hand","Hand"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cherokee and Leighton Elementary schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday","Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Colbert County","COLBERT COUNTY"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["what Superintendent Chris Hand calls a “tragic incident,"]}]}
+{"title":"Pet Helpers spay/neuter clinic temporarily closed due to understaffing","document":" by: Chase Laudenslager Puppies are shown at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Thursday, May 5, 2011. A constant flow of people searching for their lost animals following last weeks tornado visit the shelter each day. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Pet Helpers on Monday announced that their spay/neuter clinic is temporarily closed as they struggle with a staffing shortage. According to the organization, vital positions such as associate veterinarian and veterinary assistant are currently vacant. Executive Director, Melissa Susko, explained that the organization’s top priority “is to ensure the safety of the animals that come through [the] clinic doors,” and that is not possible without “experienced support staff.” Understaffing in spay/neuter clinics causes what Susko described as a domino effect that has a significant impact on the rate at which animals are adopted out: “It ripples down tot he shelter as animals’ length of stay is extended due to an overworked veterinary team trying to juggle 120 shelter animals, on top of performing low-cost spay/neuter surgeries weekly for community cats brought in through [the] Trap Neuter Release program (TNR).” According to Susko, the scarcity of qualified veterinary staff is an issue that shelters across the state have been facing amid an ongoing capacity crisis. Despite the challenges, Pet Helpers will continue operating their vaccine clinics on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Appointments can be made by emailing spay@pethelpers.org.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["spay/neuter clinic","spay/neuter clinic"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday","temporarily closed"]},{"role":"Location","values":["CHARLESTON, S.C"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["struggle with a staffing shortage"]}]}
+{"title":"Delhi govt directs all state-run liquor shops to stock up","document":"New Delhi: The Delhi government on Thursday has directed all state-run alcohol outlets to maintain sufficient stocks to deal with a possible shortage in the coming days as all private liquor shops are set to wind up their business by September 30 under its new excise policy. As per the new excise policy of the Delhi government, liquor will be sold in Delhi from November 17. But private liquor shops will be shut down on 30 September. Around 260 privately-run liquor vends in the city will close down. Of the total around 850 liquor shops in Delhi, only those operated by Delhi government agencies will continue retail sale till November 16. In these circumstances, private liquor shops are no longer asking for new stock of liquor and the remaining stocks are getting exhausted quickly too. But a problem for a lot of shopkeepers is that these shops are going to be closed down forever. The consumers have started experiencing the shortage as their favourite liquors brands are missing owing to the winding up of business by privately-run liquor shops. At one of the private liquor shops on Vikas Marg in east Delhi, several liquor lovers were seen returning empty handed. They said they were told whisky or vodka brands were not available there. \"Our owner has asked us to sell whatever stock is there and lock the shop. We have already sold all other liquors and now only beer is left,\" said a worker managing the sale counter of the vend. The liquor stores in Star City Mall in Mayur Vihar were also rapidly emptying their shelves before putting their shutters down permanently. \"We are sorry to return back our regular customers as stocks are depleting. We stopped restocking and placing fresh orders after it was decided by the government to close private shops,\" said manager of a liquor store in the mall. A senior Excise department officer said steps are being taken to ensure that there is no shortage of liquor by strengthening retail sale from government vends. \"It's a transition period of one and half month after which things will become normal. We have already asked the government agencies running liquor stores up to November 16 to maintain stock according to demand,\" said the officer. Naresh Goel, president Delhi Liquor Traders Association, said the private liquor vends in some areas like Saket have already shut their shop after selling out the remaining stocks. \"Shortage is bound to occur as private vends used to be better stocked. Closure of all the private shops in the city in one go will create shortage as government shops cannot handle the demand as they are also in the process of winding up before November 17,\" Goel said. Amit Sharma, president of Delhi Liquor Sales Association, that represents workers at the liquor stores in the city, claimed around 3,000 people will be out of jobs after private stores close down. With the closure of private vends on September 30, there will no retail liquor sale in 26 of the 272 municipal wards. Also, there are no liquor vends in 80 wards. The New Excise Policy of Delhi government seeks to ensure equitable distribution of liquor vends across the city by dividing it into 32 zones. Each zone covering 8-10 wards will have nearly 27 liquor vends that will provide customers walk in experience and a choice of their preferred brands. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Around 260 privately-run liquor vends"]},{"role":"Date","values":["by September 30","forever"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["new excise policy of the Delhi government","Delhi government","new excise policy","Delhi government","New Excise Policy","Delhi government"]}]}
+{"title":"Mentor On Tap & Uncorked Is Canceled This Year","document":"MENTOR, OH — The popular Mentor On Top & Uncorked event has been canceled this year due to staffing challenges. The event will not be rescheduled. Originally slated for Oct. 2, city officials said a combination of too few workers and logistical hurdles made putting on the event impossible this year. \"This is a fun and popular event but unfortunately, the effects of the pandemic are still with us,\" said Ante Logarusic, community relations administrator. \"It has been difficult obtaining and maintaining commitments from brewers, food vendors, and other suppliers due to staffing shortages.\" Mentor On Top & Uncorked usually attracts 600 attendees per year. The event was canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020 and was then rescheduled twice in 2021, before being canceled this year as well. \"We appreciate the continued support of our attendees, as well as our sponsors who help present events such as these to the public; and look forward to resuming our full event schedule next year,\" Logarusic said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mentor On Top & Uncorked event","Mentor","Top"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year","Oct. 2","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["MENTOR, OH","Mentor","Mentor"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["too few workers and logistical hurdles","effects of the pandemic","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Mitsotakis’ tour of Ground Zero church canceled","document":"A tour by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero in New York, due to take place on Friday, has been canceled. The prime minister, who is in New York to attend the 76th UN General Assembly, was to be guided through the structure by Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidophoros. However, it has emerged that the prime minister will meet with the management of the Wall Street Journal instead. The change in the prime minister’s itinerary comes after the government criticized Elpidophoros over his presence at an official event organized by Turkey and attended by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, in New York. “We were irritated by the actions of the archbishop. The Greek government expresses its displeasure,” said government spokesperson Υiannis Oikonomou responding to a relevant question during a press conference on Thursday. At the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the Turkish House, or Turkevi Center, which will house the Turkish representation to the United Nations as well as delegates from the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The event was also attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Evangelos Venizelos, a former deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, said the government’s criticism of Elpidophoros was “deeply ahistorical” and “myopic.” Crushed by the collapsing south tower, the original Saint Nicholas has been replaced by a glass-domed shrine designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Elpidophoros is due to unveil the building on November 2 in a ceremony that will be attended by Patriarch Vartholomaios – conditions allowing – while the church is slated to resume services as usual next year.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["A tour by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas","Saint Nicholas"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York","New York","New York"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["government criticized Elpidophoros over his presence"]}]}
+{"title":"The Looming Crisis of Kids and COVID","document":"‘The next two weeks are going to be critical,’ one stakeholder says of the rising coronavirus cases recorded among children returning to schools. The Looming Crisis of Kids and COVID School staff survey a classroom in preparation for the upcoming start of school on September 2, 2021 in New York City.(Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) The number of school closures due to COVID-19 is increasing alongside pediatric infections as the country's public school system fully reopens – in many places with low vaccination rates and mask-optional policies. Read: More than 1,400 schools across 278 districts in 35 states that began the academic year in person have closed, according to Burbio, an organization that's tracking how schools respond to the ongoing pandemic. The figures are up from 698 schools across 158 districts in 25 states. While the spike in the school closure count is startling many education officials whose well-laid back-to-school plans have been foisted by the highly contagious delta variant and is creating major challenges for parents, they make up just a fraction of the 98,000 public schools across the country. In more than half of the closures, the schools pivoted to virtual instruction, but roughly 40% of schools that closed for a period of time did so without any remote learning plan in place, according to Burbio. A little less than 5% of schools delayed school start – some due to logistical issues like hiring enough bus drivers – and about 3% moved to a hybrid format, where students receive both in-person and virtual instruction. The delays, closures and pivots back to virtual learning reflect the recent spike in COVID-19 cases among children. While symptomatic and severe cases in kids remain less common than for other age groups, states and counties with mask-optional policies and where vaccination rates remain low are experiencing a harrowing increase in pediatric infections. More than 51,000 students in Texas have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first week of school in August. The same is true for 20,000 students in Mississippi. Meanwhile, in Florida, more than 26,000 children tested positive just last week, and children under the age of 12 became the age group with the highest new COVID-19 case count. In Georgia, cases in children 11 to 17 years old quadrupled over the last month since schools reopened. According to the state's public health officials, Georgia is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 outbreaks since the pandemic began – more than half of which are connected to K-12 schools. \"I'm not surprised,\" Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told MSNBC on Tuesday. \"And the reason is the delta variant is very serious and it's very contagious. And a lot of school districts aren't doing the things that are necessary.\" he said. For all the criticism heaped upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government's top public health officials have been clear about how school leaders can return students to classrooms safely – by deploying a series of risk-mitigation strategies, one layered upon the other. The more coronavirus safety measures a school implements, the safer it is, with the gold standard being high vaccination rates among educators, staff and eligible students. And over the course of three relief packages, the federal government has directed $190 billion to K-12 schools so that, among other things, every child could return to a classroom this school year. Yet a recent analysis of 100 large and urban school districts, including the 30 biggest in the country, showed that 66% require masks for at least some and 68% have policies on contact tracing. But only 10% required vaccinations for school staff and just 18% required testing. \"Kids should be getting tested once a week,\" Jha said. \"It's a really important part of preventing outbreaks. It doesn't just identify people who are infected, but it prevents those from spreading it any further.\" \"It's very possible to get kids back safely, but you have to follow the science,\" he said. Education officials are watching the next two weeks closely and say it will likely be a bellwether for what to expect from the country's public school system this year. \"The next two weeks are going to be critical,\" says Chip Slaven, the interim executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association. \"We're going to start to see how bad COVID really is with kids.\" One of the biggest tests will come next week, when New York City schools reopen Sept. 13 for more than 1 million children. With the exception of medically fragile children, all students will learn in person. \"What I'm hearing in my discussions with health officials is that kids are being impacted more by the new variant than by the original COVID strain,\" he says. \"We're going to have to see how school openings go and how many are able to keep the buildings open, how many have to return to virtual, whether it's going to be better or worse. We don't know that yet. We are in a national crisis due to a health emergency and people need to remember that.\" Tags: education, online education, elementary school, middle school, high school, coronavirus, pandemic ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["More than 1,400 schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for a period of time"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City","New York City","the country","country","35 states"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID","COVID","highly contagious delta variant","logistical issues"]}]}
+{"title":"NYC School Closes After First Week of Classes Due to COVID Cases, Will Go to Remote Learning","document":"A school in New York City was forced to close after its first week of classes due to 19 staff members testing positive for COVID-19. P.S. 79 in East Harlem will shut down starting Monday until September 28 due to \"possible widespread exposure and transmission in the school,\" according to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer in a tweet Saturday. Learning will be conducted remotely, and the school will ensure every student has a device and meals will be able to be picked up daily, Brewer said. The cases were linked to staff orientation. \"All my efforts are focused on supporting the principal, making sure parents are notified so they don't show up on Monday & that the students and families have access to the devices they need,\" Brewer tweeted. This is an unfortunate situation & we need the city's leadership to take responsibility.\" In an earlier Twitter post on Friday, Brewer wrote of the latest case count at the school: \"This is exactly what we feared would happen—and why a remote option should have been offered to parents in the first place.\" In a statement to Newsweek, Nathaniel Styer, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education, said: \"The health and safety of our school communities is our top priority, and we do not hesitate to intervene to stop the spread. \"We follow stringent guidance from health experts to prevent any further transmission by quarantining close contacts, closing classrooms, and, if necessary, entire buildings. Learning will continue during quarantine and we will provide the school resources and support to have a successful school year.\" Since schools opened on September 13, there have been 812 total COVID-19 cases in New York City schools—487 students and 325 staff members have tested positive for the virus, according to the NYC Department of Education. The East Harlem school is the first to be closed due to COVID-19 cases. Teachers and staff members are required to have at least one dose of the vaccine by September 27. The New York City school system has over 1 million students, making it the largest school district in the nation, according to the city's Department of Education. Schools across the country have been forced to shut down due to a high number of students and staff members testing positive for the virus. A school district in Tennessee closed for one week at the end of August due to an increase in cases. In Los Angeles County, more than 8,000 students and 1,200 staff tested positive less than one month into the school year. Child COVID-19 cases have grown \"exponentially\" since schools began to open in August, although severe illness among children remains rare, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children younger than 12 years old are not eligible for vaccination.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["79 in East Harlem","East Harlem","The East Harlem school","Schools across the country"]},{"role":"Date","values":["after its first week of classes","starting Monday until September 28","for one week at the end of August"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City","New York City","New York City","New York City","Tennessee","Los Angeles County"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["19 staff members testing positive for COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Economies are at peril if the employment gender gap isn’t closed","document":"Whilst the pandemic has affected all genders and almost everyone around the world, women are still getting the shorter end of the stick as the employment gender gap increases. A widening employment gender gap is affecting women everywhere — even though they have generally tried to improve their employability and skills more than men when the pandemic hit. According to McKinsey, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to the Covid-19 crisis than men’s jobs. Women make up 39% of global employment — but account for 54% of overall job losses. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that projected jobs growth in 2021 for women will exceed that of men. However, it asserts that it will be insufficient to bring women back to pre-pandemic employment levels. Many factors come into play. One is that the pandemic has significantly increased the burden of unpaid care — that’s disproportionately carried by women, says McKinsey in the report “COVID-19 and gender equality: Countering the regressive effects”. A common sight in Malaysia, mothers often have to grapple with juggling their children while also working as most workers are forced to work from home amidst strict lockdowns. This essentially means that women’s employment is dropping too quickly, and faster than average — even after taking into account the difference in sectors. Whilst the WEF acknowledges that men have increased their contribution to unpaid work in the household since the outbreak of the pandemic, a majority of the responsibilities still fall on women. Access to childcare continues to be an important enabler of women’s ability to participate in the labor market on equal terms. The organization attributes this widening labor force gender gap to factors such as school closures and changes to care routines. These are some of the responsibilities that have disproportionately fallen on the shoulders of women due to deeply entrenched, unequal gender norms. From this, and historical data, it’s clear that women have been, and are continuing to be — more negatively affected in multiple areas. In this case, it’s in a labor market that’s exacerbated by the rise of automation; the added burden of unpaid domestic labor, and the pandemic’s gender-skewed, negative impacts on job sectors. Some of the grave effects of the pandemic include higher incidences of domestic gender-based violence against women. However, things haven’t been better for women in the workplace either. Women employees and founders in tech have faced more workplace harassment, especially sexual, despite the rise of recent movements like #MeToo. Employees of the video game company, Activision Blizzard, hold a walkout and protest rally to denounce the company’s response to a California Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit and to call for changes in conditions for women and other marginalized groups, in Irvine, California, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) There’s no two ways about it — women are more vulnerable to Covid-19–related economic effects because of existing gender inequalities, asserts McKinsey. And countries and businesses should really be putting more effort into ensuring equity, equality, and safety for the other majority gender — women. The ILO found that, during the pandemic, women fared considerably better in countries that took measures to prevent them from losing their jobs — and which allowed them to re-enter employment as early as possible. The ILO’s brief, “Building Forward Fairer: Women’s rights to work and at work at the core of the COVID-19 recovery” emphasizes the criticality of placing gender equality at the core of recovery efforts by countries. This means putting gender-responsive strategies in place, such as : Similar sentiments are echoed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), whose leaders stated that an economic recovery starts with growth, jobs, skills, and equity, in an inclusive way. While upskilling isn’t the panacea for women (or anyone, really), it still can improve an individual’s employability to an extent. More importantly, economic recovery for a Covid-19 ravaged world is predicated on job availability — especially in a volatile labor market burdened by even more depressed wages. McKinsey observed that, in a gender-regressive scenario in which no action is taken to counter the effects of reduced employment by women, the estimated global GDP growth could be US$1 trillion lower in 2030 (than it would be if women’s unemployment simply tracked that of men in each sector). The firm stressed that this impact could be more severe than the one they modeled in the report, “if factors such as increased childcare burdens, attitudinal bias, a slower recovery, or reduced public and private spending on services such as education or childcare make women leave the labor market permanently”. Echoing the ILO’s and WEF’s stances, McKinsey additionally argues that the advancement of gender equality could add US$13 trillion to the global GDP in 2030. However, they warned that a middle path where action is only taken post-crisis would reduce the potential opportunity by over US$5 trillion. To put that into perspective, the cost of that delay “amounts to three-fourths of the total global GDP we could potentially lose to COVID-19 this year”. Traditional gender roles still affect the way men and women manage work and family interactions. According to the United Nations, women around the world earn less, save less, have less access to social protections and financial resources, and are the majority caretakers at home. The ship where employers and/or governments claim to champion women’s equality and rights but do little to show for it — has long sailed. There isn’t any more time for virtue-signaling marketing, low-impact CSR initiatives aimed at padding yearly reports — action must be taken now to address unequal women labor participation. Whilst nobody expects these remnants of the artifact that is patriarchy to die out anytime soon, governments need to put in place more supportive and empowering policies for women to return to — and importantly, remain in the workforce. At the same time, employers as well as society at large need to work to understand the burdens women face and make accommodations for women staff to continue employment, especially women in the informal sectors and those working from home. Additionally, there can be more financial support and an improved startup environment for women entrepreneurs, who have always been at a disadvantage when seeking to raise investments. Unconscious bias, stereotyping, a lack of diversity in venture capital, structural barriers, and the hostility women have to deal with within traditionally male-centered spaces — these are all more than well documented. The detrimental long-term effects of reduced workforce participation by women will affect not just individual economies, but the world at large. If this pandemic isn’t a clarion call to put an end to the archaic mentality that domestic duties ought to be the domain of women, then, honestly, I don’t know what else can. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["since the outbreak of the pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic"]},{"role":"Location","values":["around the world","World","world","around","world","world","Malaysia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic","pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Mile Zero Meltdown concert cancelled","document":" DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – The Mile Zero Meltdown concert has been cancelled due to unforeseen production issues, according to the Ovintiv Events Centre. The concert was rescheduled in April to take place on October 8th and was set to feature Buckcherry, and Bif Naked. The venue announced the cancellation on Thursday and released refund information for those who already purchased tickets. Anyone who bought tickets with a credit card will have the ticket price, plus the per-ticket fee, automatically refunded back to their account starting September 30th. Credit card refunds can take between five to 10 days to show up on a bank statement. Contact the Tiger Box Office Plus at the Ovintiv Events Centre at BoxOffice@dawsoncreekeventscentre.ca if a credit card refund has not occurred by October 14th. For cash and debit purchases, customers are asked to call the box office manager at 250-795-3306 to schedule an appointment to process a refund. Only the purchaser of the tickets, with valid photo ID, may receive the refund in the form of the original payment method. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Mile Zero Meltdown concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["October 8th"]},{"role":"Location","values":["DAWSON CREEK, B.C"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["unforeseen production issues"]}]}
+{"title":"Articles at closed Mahila Mall taken away, say entrepreneurs","document":"A notice saying rooms are available for rent pasted outside the now closed down Mahila Mall in Kozhikode city on Wednesday. Ragesh As many as nine entrepreneurs at the now closed down Mahila Mall in Kozhikode on Wednesday claimed that the articles they had stored in their shops were taken away without their knowledge. The husband of one of the entrepreneurs noticed on Tuesday evening that all the gift articles at their shop had been removed. Similar incidents happened at 10 other shops as well. There were 78 shops in the building, and 30 of them had occupants. Ten of them were under the custody of the group which ran the mall. Some others settled for compensation after the venture run into losses. The nine entrepreneurs who have now come with the complaint have losses up to ₹30 lakh. They pointed out that the front portion of the building had been locked, and that they could not get inside to assess the losses. The mall was closed down in 2020 March during the first lockdown. Though the entrepreneurs managed to get a court order to reopen the building, no steps were taken in that direction. Later, they approached the district administration, talks were held, and the mall was opened. But it ran only for four days. It was closed down again after pending power bills were not cleared. The Kozhikode Corporation claimed that the issue was between the operator of the mall and the entrepreneurs, and that the civic body was not involved in the row. The entrepreneurs said they would file a complaint with the Nadakkavu police station. Meanwhile, United Democratic Front (UDF) workers staged a demonstration outside the building in support of the entrepreneurs. Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC) president K. Praveenkumar and UDF councillors were present.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mahila Mall","Mahila Mall"]},{"role":"Date","values":["now closed down","2020 March"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Kozhikode city"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["lockdown"]}]}
+{"title":"Diplo’s baseball concert cancelled amid sexual assault allegations","document":"The Baltimore Orioles baseball team has announced an upcoming Diplo postgame concert has been cancelled following sexual assault allegations made against the DJ/producer. Sharing news of the cancellation on social media, the team tweeted: “The Orioles will not hold the upcoming postgame performance on July 24 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Fans who purchased field passes with game tickets to the Diplo concert on July 24 will receive a refund.” There was no mention of exactly why the gig was cancelled, but it came hours after the Baltimore Sun published a letter sent to its editors questioning how the team could continue with the performance after Diplo was recently accused of sexual assault. “The Orioles always promote being a family-friendly entertainment option in our great city. They also have done great things for women and women’s rights, including celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s voting rights,” the letter stated. “This is very concerning in light of the news that came out on July 7 that Diplo is accused of sexual assault after he forced a fan to perform oral sex on him after a show in Vegas in 2019, which she has claimed he filmed… If the Orioles are such a family-friendly team, and truly care about women, they need to separate themselves from Diplo and stand up and cancel this post-game concert.” Last week, Diplo was accused of sexual assault by a woman who alleges he coerced her into performing oral sex and recorded it without her consent. According to documents obtained by TMZ, the alleged incident happened at an after party following one of the Major Lazer star’s Las Vegas shows at the Wynn in 2019, where he allegedly gave her and other attendees weed and alcohol. The woman alleges that Diplo (real name Thomas Wesley Pentz) invited her to his personal room during the after party, and that his security team allegedly punched a male friend of hers in the face when they started escorting people out and he refused to leave without her. It’s then alleged that Diplo told the woman she couldn’t leave until she performed oral sex on him. The woman says she agreed to do it after alleging there was no other way out of the situation. She also claims that Diplo filmed the encounter without her consent. Diplo has denied all allegations. The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Diplo postgame concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 24"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Oriole Park at Camden Yards"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["sexual assault allegations made against the DJ/producer"]}]}
+{"title":"The Rolling Stones cancel Buffalo concert, reschedule other US tour dates","document":"FILE - Ron Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones perform during a concert in Pasadena, Calif. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Western New York rock fans can’t get no satisfaction. The Rolling Stones have officially canceled their Buffalo concert. The Mick Jagger-led rock band announced its rescheduled U.S. tour dates Thursday, and left the Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium off the list. The Stones were originally scheduled to perform at the Buffalo stadium on June 6, 2020, but the show was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. New York state is left off the schedule entirely — likely due to the Bills’ NFL schedule — with the closest stops set for Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Oct. 4, 2021) and Ford Field (Nov. 15, 2021). “We want to thank you all for your patience during this very difficult and unprecedented time,” the Rolling Stones said in a statement. “All previously purchased tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates, unfortunately, there are a few dates that we were unable to reschedule - Ticketmaster will communicate directly with all purchasers of these tickets with more information. Where feasible, a priority offer for ticketholders will be available for nearby shows.” The tour also includes some new dates added in New Orleans, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Tickets for those shows will go on sale Friday, July 30. The Rolling Stones last played Buffalo in 2015. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, featuring Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, have released 30 studio albums, featuring hits like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Wild Horses,” “Paint It Black,” “Street Fighting Man,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” RELATED: Upstate NY concerts: See our huge list of shows from Buffalo to Syracuse to Albany for 2021-2022 St. Joe’s Amp concert tickets won’t get you free admission to NYS Fair this year Elton John’s Syracuse concert nears sellout: Here are the cheapest tickets you can get ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Buffalo concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["June 6, 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York state"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"The Cake Shop will close on August 9","document":"A bakery told customers yesterday it was working hard to “regroup” and open its doors again after a tough year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Cake Shop, on Curving Avenue, Pembroke, posted a message on Facebook to explain why it had yet to reopen after what was intended to be a temporary closure in August for renovations. The post read: “The past year has been strenuous on all businesses. “We have experienced something none of us ever imagined. “Smaller and larger organisations were forced to make very difficult decisions.” The post said: “While some of us were able to keep our doors open, our client base was extremely limited due to the island-wide closures and our bottom lines took a serious hit. “Nevertheless, we persevered in an all-out attempt to keep our business afloat and our employees employed.” The post said Shawn Thomas, the owner, had used his personal resources to keep the business afloat and that it was \"truly a struggle“. It added: “As we continue to push forward through an already strained economy, we ask your patience and understanding as we regroup and find the best way forward to serve you once again with excellence and provide the full range of products that you have come to know and love. “We are eager to reopen our doors.” The Cake Shop shut on August 9 for what was said to be cleaning and minor renovations and was scheduled to reopen on September 1. The store suffered a break-in the day before the Good Friday holiday on April 2 when armed robbers escaped with cash and baked goods.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Shawn Thomas"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cake Shop","Cake Shop"]},{"role":"Date","values":["August 9"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Curving Avenue, Pembroke"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Reynolds High School closed for two days before full week of “short-term” distance learning","document":"Due to COVID-19 exposures, the 2,680 students at Reynolds High School in Troutdale will revert to distance learning until Sept. 27. There will be no school Sept. 16 and 17 to give educators time to transition to distance learning. “Community spread of the COVID-19 virus continues and while the number of students or staff who have tested positive are small, these cases have required large numbers of students to quarantine due to possible exposure in the last few days,” said district officials in a message shared Wednesday. A flash alert message from the district wasn’t sent until Thursday at 5:35 a.m. According to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard, there are eight positive cases among students and staff, districtwide, with 1,112 students and staff in quarantine. Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Ore. Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB All Reynolds High students have been in school since Sept. 8. Since Sept. 6, the district reports 875 high school students and staff members have had to quarantine, with four people testing positive for COVID-19. Among the high school’s other measures, administrators are asking families to voluntarily provide vaccination status for their students, and there are no spectators allowed at sporting events “until further notice.” Only players, coaches, and support staff will be allowed. Officials also said they will be implementing “reinforced seating charts” for classrooms and buses. Schools all over the state have delayed the start to the school year, or closed individual schools due to COVID-19 associated problems, like staffing shortages. Districts are not required to have any metrics or threshold of COVID-19 cases or exposures to go back to distance learning. The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority have said its up to school districts and local public health departments to determine when to return to remote learning. School is back in session, but the pandemic isn't over. Vaccines and the delta variant have changed everything.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Reynolds High School","Reynolds High School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["until Sept. 27","Sept. 16 and 17"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Troutdale","Troutdale","all over the state"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 associated problems, like staffing shortages","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"25% of U.S. malls are expected to shut within 5 years. Giving them a new life won’t be easy","document":"What is going to happen to America’s dead malls? That’s a million-dollar question plaguing retailers and real estate developers. With a report circulating earlier this month that the biggest U.S. mall owner Simon Property Group has been in talks with Amazon to convert some shuttered Sears and J.C. Penney department stores into fulfillment centers, many industry analysts have been pontificating on the future of malls as logistics hubs. The consensus seems to be that turning old retail space into new warehouses might not be so easy, even though it might seem like a logical solution. Demand for logistics buildings is skyrocketing as e-commerce sales balloon. But the hurdles include the need to have properties rezoned, which could be met with pushback from local municipalities. “Just because retail space has gone vacant or remained fallow does not mean that it is automatically a good candidate for repurposing into industrial space,” the head of Moody’s Analytics commercial real estate economics division, Victor Calanog, said in a report released Thursday. “One cannot simply build industrial buildings in areas zoned for commercial use,” he explained. “Often, that requires rezoning areas — a long and tedious process with a low probability of success.” “State and local governments typically tax industrial properties at anywhere from half to two-thirds the rate of commercial properties, so municipalities have little incentive to rezone areas from commercial to industrial use, as they will collect less tax revenues,” Calanog said. Demand for various commercial real estate asset types is expected to shift noticeably because of the coronavirus pandemic, with more people now working from home, flocking to the suburbs for space and buying online things they used to browse for in stores. According to data pulled by Moody’s Analytics REIS, apartment development in the U.S. is expected to be down 15.6% in a post-Covid-19 world. Office development is set to drop 10%, it said, while retail falls 15.7%. Industrial development, meantime, is expected to pick up 3.6%. The firm did find five markets where it said it would make the most sense to covert vacant retail space into warehouse space, based on where retail has been underperforming and where warehouse demand is hot. Those are: Central New Jersey, Northern New Jersey, Long Island, Memphis and Detroit. But shopping malls are likely going to be shuttering in suburbs all across the country, as store closures grow in number and landlords capitulate. Another new report out this week from Coresight Research estimates 25% of America’s roughly 1,000 malls will close over the next three to five years, with the pandemic accelerating a demise that was already underway before the new virus emerged. The malls most at risk of going dark are classified as so-called B-, C- and D-rated malls, meaning they bring in fewer sales per square foot than an A mall. An A++ mall could bring in as much as $1,000 in sales per square foot, for example, while a C+ mall does about $320. There are roughly 380 C- and D-rated malls in the U.S., according to an analysis by the commercial real estate firm Green Street Advisors. It has said malls rated C and below “are not viable retail centers long term.” CBL & Associates, a Tennessee-based mall owner that has a number of B- and C-rated malls in its portfolio, has said it plans to file for bankruptcy by Oct. 1, highlighting just how much pressure these landlords are facing. Even high-end malls are under pressure, though. No one is really immune. An upscale mall owner in Miami, Bal Harbour Shops, is currently moving to evict the luxury department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue for not paying rent since mid-March. It owes Bal Harbour roughly $1.9 million, according to court documents. “Despite being given months to honor its past due rental obligations and despite Saks’ impressive post-COVID sales at Bal Harbour Shops, Saks steadfastly refused to make any effort to pay any part of its rent,” Bal Harbour Shops President and Chief Executive Matthew Whitman Lazenby said in a statement. “Bal Harbour Shops has worked tirelessly to ensure our business and our tenants can survive and thrive in this environment,” he said. “Regrettably, this injudicious behavior has left us with no other option than to terminate the Saks lease and sue to evict Saks from Bal Harbour Shops.” A representative from Hudson’s Bay-owned Saks was not immediately available to comment. About 90% of occupants in U.S. malls are either experiential tenants like movie theaters, or department store chains and apparel retailers, according to the Coresight analysis. This makes malls the most vulnerable type of shopping centers to the Covid-19 impact, it said, compared with other properties like strip centers that have grocery stores and outlet centers that offer consumers bargains. During the pandemic, movie theaters and clothing shops have faced long windows of being closed, while consumers could still flock to strip centers for food, cleaning products and other essentials. In some states, such as New York and California, movie theaters remain closed to this day. And so with minimal revenue coming in, these are the businesses that are most likely requesting rent reductions, or not paying rent at all. Mall developers had up until now been courting entertainment companies like Dave & Buster’s and iFly indoor skydiving, and restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, to lessen their dependence on shrinking retailers. But those businesses have also not fared well in an age of social distancing. So, if not warehouses and entertainment complexes, analysts have pondered other potential use cases for so-called dead malls: Churches, medical facilities, office spaces and even apartment complexes. But even office space is a risky bet now, as the working-from-home trend could become permanent for some. Workers in JPMorgan Chase’s corporate and investment bank, for example, will cycle between days spent at the office and at home, keeping the ability to work remotely on a part-time basis. The world’s biggest Wall Street bank by revenue has said it could shutter backup trading floors located outside New York and London as a result of the move. The outdoor retailer REI is also looking to sell its recently completed corporate campus in suburban Seattle, shifting instead to more satellite offices, as a result of the pandemic. “Unfortunately, this whole Covid thing has thrown the experiential pitch out the window,” Moody’s Calanog said in a phone interview. “Until we resolve this pandemic, I suspect we are going to be in a holding pattern with hollow retail space.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["movie theaters and clothing shops","movie theaters","movie theaters","Sears and J.C. Penney department stores","shopping malls"]},{"role":"Date","values":["long windows of being closed","closed","earlier this month"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S","Central New Jersey, Northern New Jersey, Long Island, Memphis and Detroit"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"WelcomeFest concert canceled for 2021","document":"Editor's Note: Due to an unanticipated security staff shortage, which is a national issue, the 2021 WelcomeFest concert has been canceled. The Division of Student Affairs is grateful to Program Council for their work planning this event and disappointed to cancel for reasons outside of their control. We are working to plan another concert soon. Don't miss Buffs on the Roam on Aug. 21, a night out with your herd. Download the CU Boulder Life app for event details. Original announcement: Freddie Gibbs will headline the 2021 WelcomeFest concert Saturday, Aug. 21, at Farrand Field. EDM artists Lucii and Covex and local openers Roses & Rubies and Don’t Tell Nora also will perform. The annual concert is part of Fall Welcome and is sponsored by Program Council. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free for all CU Boulder students who provide their Buff OneCard at wristband locations, including first-year students, transfer students, returning students, graduate students and law students. Wristbands will be distributed between Farrand Hall and Farrand Field starting at noon on Aug. 21. Additionally, a second wristband location will open up at 4 p.m. at the tents beside Imig Music. Wristbands are needed for entry to the event. Please check out the Program Council website for more information on wristband locations and permissible items to bring to the event. Freddie Gibbs is an American hip-hop artist originally from Gary, Indiana. He has released over a dozen albums or mixtapes across the last decade, including his most recent album Alfredo, which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards and became his first to land in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Lucii, also known as Lucii the Alien, is an up and coming EDM artist known for her high energy and melodic tracks that incorporate a variety of EDM subgenres. Part of Liquid Stranger’s record label WAKAAN, Lucii has a large following on Spotify and SoundCloud and her profile has grown with a series of releases and appearances at high profile festivals over the past several years. Covex was born and raised in Boulder and attended CU Denver. His debut album A Change of Perspective will be released Aug. 18. Covex has played alongside and received support from many artists such as Illenium, San Holo, Said the Sky, Slow Magic and more. Covex will be performing at Red Rocks with Big Gigantic and NGHTMRE in September 2021. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["the 2021 WelcomeFest concert","2021 WelcomeFest concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday, Aug. 21"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Farrand Field","Farrand Field"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["unanticipated security staff shortage"]}]}
+{"title":"France canceled an event celebrating US-French relations amid outrage over a scrapped submarine deal","document":" France is upset with the US and others after it was cut out of a lucrative international defense deal. Amid tensions, France decided to cancel an event celebrating ties with the US in Washington, DC, The New York Times first reported Thursday afternoon. A spokesman for the French embassy told Insider \"the celebration of the 240th anniversary of the Battle of the Capes has been made more sober,\" explaining that \"a reception on Friday Sept. 17 at the Residence of France, in Washington D.C., has been canceled.\" The move comes after a submarine deal worth tens of billions of dollars went sideways. France and Australia agreed in 2016 for a fleet of French-built conventional submarines. A production contract was signed in 2019, and the multi-billion-dollar deal was reconfirmed by French and Australian leadership only two weeks ago. But, this week, the US, UK, and Australia announced a new security partnership that upended the deal with France and put Australia on a path to acquire nuclear-powered submarines elsewhere. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday that \"the American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France\" was \"regrettable,\" adding in another discussion of the latest developments that \"this brutal, unilateral, and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr. Trump used to do.\" He also expressed frustration with Australia, which he said \"betrayed\" French trust. He called the Australian decision to scrap the original deal a \"stab in the back.\" French officials in Washington told The New York Times that France was blindsided by the Biden administration's moves and that US actions undermine bilateral trust. US officials, however, have insisted that they were in contact with their French counterparts ahead of time. Under the current circumstances, an event commemorating the Battle of the Capes, a decisive naval battle that helped the Americans secure their independence from Great Britain, and the alliance between the US and has been canceled, a French official told The Times. The French official said that having an event celebrating ties between the US and France would have been \"ridiculous\" given the state of relations between them. France's top naval officer, who came to Washington for the celebration originally scheduled for Friday, is reportedly returning to Paris early. The French embassy said that while the reception in DC has been canceled, other parts of the celebration, including a wreath laying in Annapolis and port visits by two French naval vessels, will continue as planned. Speaking to reporters Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that \"we value our relationship and our partnership with France on a variety of issues facing the global community.\" Update: This article has been updated to include details and comment from the French embassy in Washington, DC.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["event celebrating ties with the US","US","event celebrating ties","US"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday Sept. 17"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Washington, DC","Washington","Washington","Washington","DC","Washington"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["upset with the US and others","US"]}]}
+{"title":"Shopping malls to close, groceries and food outlets can remain open","document":"KUALA LUMPUR: For two weeks from Tuesday, as part of the nationwide total lockdown, shopping malls have been ordered to close. However the shops within these malls that fall under essentials, such as grocery stores and food outlets can remain open. Senior minister (security cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said dine-ins are still not allowed. He said other stores inside the shopping malls would not be allowed to operate. \"The government also allows supermarkets and hypermarkets to operate throughout the first phase of the lockdown, but limited to the food and beverage sections as well as other necessary items,\" he said. Also allowed to operate are grocery shops, convenience stores, mini marts, departmental stores with food and daily essentials sections and pharmacies. Restaurants, food outlets and stalls including those operating by the roadside, he said, were allowed to operate, but only for take-away and delivery services. Laundry shops including self-service laundry premises will also continue to operate during the lockdown period. The Senior Defence Minister added that shops selling pet food and care items would be allowed to operate. \"Optometrists and shops selling optical items are allowed to operate since it is a necessity. \"For instance, people can still get their spectacles repaired should the items break during the two-week period,\" he said, adding that hardware shops and vehicle workshops were also allowed to operate. All activities, he said, in the business sectors, were only allowed to operate from 8am to 8pm. \"We want to streamline the operating hours. And all the standard operating procedures (SOP) that I have announced just now are applicable nationwide. \"There are no states exempted from adhering to the SOPs,\" he said. He also announced the operation hours permitted for the following activities in the economic sector: * Daily markets: from 6am until 2pm * Controlled Fresh Markets: 7am until 12noon * Permanent Farmers' Market, MyFarm Outlet and Area Farmers' Association Complexes: 6am until 4pm * Wholesale markers: 12.01am until 6am and 11am until 4pm. * Petrol station: 6am until 8pm \"Petrol stations along the highway are allowed to operate 24 hours daily,\" he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["shopping malls","shopping malls"]},{"role":"Date","values":["For two weeks from Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KUALA LUMPUR"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["nationwide total lockdown"]}]}
+{"title":"Garth Brooks cancels Gillette Stadium concert over COVID concerns","document":" By Kevin Slane Garth Brooks has canceled his planned Gillette Stadium concert this fall due to COVID-19 concerns, only six weeks after the country star initially announced he would be coming to Foxborough. Brooks announced on his website that the approximately 350,000 fans who were expected to attend one of his next five shows would all receive refunds, including ticket-holders for his Saturday, Oct. 9, show at Gillette. Brooks’s Foxborough concert would have been his first-ever visit to the home of the Patriots and his first New England concert in six years. “In July, I sincerely thought the pandemic was falling behind us,” Brooks said in a statement. “Now, watching this new wave, I realize we are still in the fight and I must do my part.” According to the press release, Ticketmaster will automatically issue refunds to the original method of payment used at time of purchase for Brooks’s Gillette show, as well as scheduled dates in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Nashville. Brooks said he was “sincerely hoping” that he would be back on tour before the end of 2021, but a tour spokesperson said the team would continue to monitor the impacts of the virus before making a decision, with a rescheduled show likely to come in 2022. Brooks isn’t the only country megastar forced to delay a Gillette concert this year due to COVID-19 concerns: In March, Kenny Chesney announced that his already-delayed Chillaxification Tour, which was scheduled to culminate at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 27 and 28, 2021, would be delayed until 2022. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Gillette Stadium concert","Chillaxification Tour"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Aug. 27 and 28, 2021","2021","Saturday, Oct. 9"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Gillette","Gillette","Gillette","Gillette","Gillette"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 concerns","COVID-19 concerns"]}]}
+{"title":"Coronavirus | Shopping complexes, cinema halls closed, embargo in markets in West Bengal as COVID death touch new record","document":"A policeman asks people to wear protective face masks, as coronavirus cases surge across the country, at New Market area of Kolkata. | Photo Credit: PTI The West Bengal government on Friday announced a series of restrictions, which includes closure of all shopping complexes, malls, beauty parlours, cinema halls, restaurants, bars, sport complexes, gyms, spas and swimming pools with immediate effect. The decision comes at a time when the State registered a record number of infections and deaths on Friday. West Bengal on Friday registered 96 deaths and 17,411 new cases. On Thursday, the State had registered 89 deaths and 17,403 cases of infections. “ All social/cultural/academic/entertainment related gatherings and congregations shall remain prohibited,” the notification issued by the State’s Chief Secretary said. “Bazaars will remain open only from 7-10 a.m. in the morning and 3-5 p.m. (essential services like medical shops, medical equipment shops, grocery, etc. will remain outside the confines of the embargo),” the notification said. The State government has also added that any violation of these orders will be liable to be proceeded against as per provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and besides legal action under the Indian Penal Code and other laws of the land will be applicable. The order comes two days before counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021. The State government’s notification added, “All activities related to counting processes and victory rallies/procession will be guided by the guidelines already issued by the Election Commission of India”. The Election Commission has imposed a ban on victory processions and had made it mandatory for all counting agents to have to produce COVID negative certificates. Despite a spike in the number of infections and deaths, the number of samples tested for COVID-19 has remained the same in the State. Patients with symptoms have to wait for days to get samples tested. Meanwhile, the State Health Department has empowered the principals of medical colleges and Chief Medical Officers of Health in district to increase the number of COVID-19 beds. About 200 new beds were added with the help of a private company at a sports stadium in the city. In another important development, the State government has decided to cancel all examinations of Class XI, and for Class XII the students can write their examination in their own schools. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["all shopping complexes, malls, beauty parlours, cinema halls, restaurants, bars, sport complexes, gyms, spas and swimming pools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The West Bengal","West Bengal","West Bengal"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["registered a record number of infections and deaths","registered","deaths","deaths","infections","infections","deaths"]}]}
+{"title":"6 ways the coronavirus pandemic has forever altered the retail landscape","document":"Few in retail could have predicted that a newly discovered virus would spread widely beyond China’s borders earlier this year, morph into a pandemic, lead to a recession and change the trajectory of many businesses. When the outbreak began, some companies spoke about Covid-19 but described it as a temporary inconvenience or a supply chain challenge. Best Buy CEO Corie Barry told investors on a late February conference call that the company viewed the coronavirus “as a relatively short-term disruption that does not impact our long-term strategy and initiatives.” In recent remarks, Walmart Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs reflected on the retailer’s expectations in the early months of the year. He noted that in its script for its mid-February analyst day, the world’s largest retailer addressed the coronavirus only once. Roughly one month later, in March, the spread of Covid-19 brought the U.S. economy to a near halt. Americans stayed home for weeks during shelter-in-place orders. Grocery stores, pharmacies and home improvement stores stayed open as essential businesses. Consumers filled up their shopping carts, jockeyed for grocery delivery slots and cleared shelves of staples, from hand sanitizer and toilet paper to ground beef, rice and beans. Shopping malls with apparel stores were temporarily shuttered. Retailers saw a shift toward e-commerce, as it became a safer option — and in some cases, the only option, for shopping. As the global death toll reaches 1 million people, retailers stare down a new reality. The pandemic has altered not only their financial outlook for the year but their long-term direction. Some retailers have filed for bankruptcy, laid off thousands of employees and are in the process of liquidating stores. Others, such as Target, Home Depot, Peloton and Lululemon, have benefited as consumers fix up their homes, look for ways to entertain themselves and adapt their daily routines and wardrobes. Here’s a closer look at some ways that the pandemic has forever altered the retail landscape. Before the pandemic, a big part of shopping was the hands-on experience: Eating samples at the grocery store. Spending an afternoon in the fitting room. Trying a lipstick at the beauty counter. Swiping a credit card on a long-desired purchase. Many retailers are now trying to stand out for the opposite reason: They are making it easier for consumers to avoid shared surfaces and limit interactions with employees or other customers. That’s led to investment and expansion of contactless checkout approaches — particularly by grocery stores. Several grocers, including Price Chopper, have expanded availability of smartphone apps customers can use to scan items and tally up orders. Pittsburgh-based grocery store Giant Eagle is piloting a system that allows customers to skip the checkout line with technology that resembles that of Amazon Go. Lowe’s is installing lockers at its stores where customers can retrieve online purchases by scanning their phone. Walmart’s strategy reflects this newfound eagerness. Two years ago, the retailer expanded its Scan & Go app, which shoppers can use to ring up purchases with a smartphone, to its SuperCenters — only to quietly shut down the project. This month, however, Walmart said access to the app is one of the key perks of its new membership program, Walmart+. Customers shopped online before the pandemic, but a desire to limit trips to stores unleashed new demand and encouraged retailers to roll out new options. The result: new habits. Americans will continue to shop at stores, but they also may schedule curbside pickup or sign up for grocery delivery services. Retailers also ratcheted up their use of stores as fulfillment centers. Gap said it doubled down on turning stores into mini warehouses, particularly when people couldn’t visit malls to shop. Target said it used stores to fulfill more than 90% of its second-quarter sales. In the U.S., over the course of 2020, almost 36% of online nonfood spending will be supported by physical stores, according to research by GlobalData. This is up by 2.6 percentage points since the start of the year. GlobalData also said about 68% of U.S. shoppers say they are going to use curbside pickup at stores more in the future and nearly 60% say they will collect more of their online purchases from inside stores. The shift is redefining how stores use their employees. Both Walmart and Target said they are anticipating increased need for people to fulfill online orders and to ready items for curbside and in-store pickup this holiday season. Both are working to cross-train employees to have more flexible duties that will allow them to pivot as customers’ needs change. Many retailers that have thrived during the pandemic share a commonality: They’re big-box retailers. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowe’s have seen sales soar as many consumers skipped the mall and shopped at the big-box store or website instead. Leaders of Walmart and Target, in particular, have attributed their success to a diverse mix of merchandise. Target CEO Brian Cornell has touted the retailer’s role as a “one-stop shop.” In the early weeks of the pandemic, consumers flocked to stores to stock up on pantry staples and hand sanitizer. But as the pandemic stretched on, they shopped for bikes, puzzles, hair color and other items to help them entertain themselves or adjust to more time at home. And even sales in specific categories illuminate that contrast. Apparel revenue is expected to drop industrywide by 20% to 30% this year, according to McKinsey & Co. Mass retailers such as Target and Walmart, on the other hand, are expected to see apparel revenue grow by 10% to 20% in 2020 compared with last year. That sharp divide between retail’s haves and have-nots will make off-mall and “everything stores” more likely to thrive and specialty retailers more likely to struggle. The coronavirus pandemic has heightened a longstanding wealth disparity among American consumers. The rich are stowing away even more money into their savings accounts — money that they’re saving by not commuting to work, eating out at nice restaurants or traveling. The poor are forced to cut back even more, with some entirely reliant upon unemployment benefits that are running out. “Every year since the dawn of time, the higher-income quintiles spend more ... and that same pattern will continue,” said Craig Johnson, founder of the retail consulting group Customer Growth Partners. “But it’s not just about income right now, it’s whether or not you have a job.” As the rich splurge online, and the poor flock to budget-friendly shops, it’s players in the middle such as department stores and specialty retailers that are struggling the most. A number, including J.C. Penney and Ann Taylor parent Ascena Retail Group, have filed for bankruptcy protection this year. “We view the health of the consumer as ‘bifurcated,’” Cowen & Co. retail analyst Oliver Chen said in a note to clients earlier this month. “Positives include personal savings trending at 18[%] to 19%. ... On the other hand, negatives include a U.S. unemployment rate of ~8%, negative wage growth, and volatile consumer confidence.” The divide is likely to shape holiday spending. Deloitte estimates sales during the November-to-January time frame will rise between 1% and 1.5%, amounting to between $1.147 trillion and $1.152 trillion, compared with growth of 4.1% in 2019. It said its predictions hinge on how much splurging high-income consumers do and how much belt-tightening takes place throughout lower-income households. This will shape up to be especially true if unemployment benefits run out. Some economists are calling for a K-shaped recovery — a scenario where certain types of industries see gains while others are left out. Unlike so-called U- or W-shaped recoveries, growth in a K-shaped rebound is unevenly split between income groups. “We are going to see groups of consumers recover differently,” from the pandemic, said Rod Sides, a vice chairman at Deloitte and its retail and distribution sector leader. Malls were already facing an uphill battle before the pandemic, as shoppers shifted more spending online. But lost sales from weeks of shuttered storefronts made the slog even more challenging. Shops that were deemed nonessential were shuttered in March to help halt the spread of Covid-19. The biggest U.S. mall owner, Simon Property Group, turned its lights out on March 18. Taubman Centers, Washington Prime Group, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and others quickly followed. Simon Property CEO David Simon said it lost roughly 10,500 shopping days, across all its properties on a combined basis, during its fiscal second quarter because of the crisis. Shopping mall owners are now collecting less in rent. Some retailers argued they couldn’t pay their bills after their sales dried up. The pandemic also accelerated the rate of bankruptcy filings by mall-based retailers. Dozens, including Brooks Brothers, J.C. Penney and J.Crew, have wound up in bankruptcy court in 2020. Some of these names plan to close hundreds of stores, as they restructure their business. Others, such as Lord & Taylor, are liquidating entirely. As more and more stores go dark at the mall, some major retail executives are looking to grow outside of it — a tactic they hadn’t touted so publicly before. Macy’s, for example, said in early September it’s planning to open a smaller-format Bloomingdale’s department store away from the mall. It’s also looking to test smaller-format Macy’s stores off-mall. “We continue to believe that the best malls in the country will thrive,” CEO Jeff Gennette explained. “However, we also know that Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s have high potential [off]-mall and in smaller formats.” Even as malls reopen, they aren’t necessarily welcoming huge crowds, with the appeal of eating in a mall food court or catching a movie at a theater waning and new outbreaks reviving concerns. Coresight Research put out a forecast in August predicting 25% of America’s roughly 1,000 malls will close over the next three to five years. The malls most at risk are classified as so-called B-, C- and D-rated malls, meaning they bring in fewer sales per square foot than an A-rated mall. Another trend hitting malls is how Americans are changing their wardrobes and where they’re shopping for apparel. Take a look around, and it seems everyone is living in sweatpants and pajamas now. Walmart spotted the onset of the trend known best as “Zoom dressing” back in March, when it said sales of tops were up but not bottoms. People only cared about their appearances from the waist up — on video calls. Meanwhile, sales of pajamas online surged 143% in April compared with March, according to data from Adobe Analytics, as consumers quickly started to favor comfort over style. The trend has stuck around, prompting marketing messages such as: “Cozy is in,” “Work-from-home wardrobe” and “Zoom-ready styles.” It’s led to the success of some brands — and the peril of others. Jos. A. Bank-owner Tailored Brands, known for its professional menswear such as suits and ties, is on a list of companies that have sought Chapter 11 protection during the pandemic, alongside denim makers Lucky Brand and True Religion. Meantime, consumers have been stocking their wardrobes with new workout apparel, such as leggings and tank tops. Lululemon reported a surprise revenue increase during its latest quarter, as its online sales soared 157%. And teen retailer American Eagle recently reported a smaller-than-expected loss as its Aerie division, known for its soft bras and lounge wear, saw strong demand from tweens, teens and young adults looking for comfortable clothing. Peloton also said its apparel sales were up during the latest quarter, as people stocked up on sports bras and hoodies embellished with the bike maker’s logo. Nike has been another pandemic winner. It said its women’s apparel sales were up nearly 200% during the quarter ended Aug. 31. “Athleisure is more relevant than ever,” Mary Beth Laughton, the president of Gap Inc.’s Athleta division, told CNBC. “Customer behavior continues to evolve every day, but I think [the consumer] has gotten used to wearing comfortable clothes.” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Shops that were deemed nonessential","shops","Brooks Brothers, J.C. Penney and J.Crew","Penney","Lord & Taylor","Taylor","Shopping malls with apparel stores"]},{"role":"Date","values":["March","during shelter-in-place orders","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["spread of Covid-19","spread","Covid-19","spread","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Associations Plead Govt To Let Malls Open In July Or Else 50% Of Them Will Close For Good","document":"The retail and mall groups said that 20 to 30% of shops in malls have been closed over the past 16 months, with 300,000 staff personnel being laid off. By Daranee Balachandar — 24 Jun 2021, 10:25 AM Associations representing Malaysian shopping mall and retail industries released a statement on Tuesday, 22 June, appealing to the government to allow them to reopen for business next month Retailers that were considered non-essential businesses were ordered to close during the latest round of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that began on 1 June.The joint statement was released by the business groups that consist of the Malaysia Shopping Mall Association, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Bumiputera Retailers Organisation, and the Selangor and KL Electrical Home Appliances Dealers' Association, reported Malay Mail.Among the concerns expressed was that more businesses would be forced to close for good if the current restrictions were to continue in July.The business groups also emphasised that economic recovery may be a difficult feat once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.\"Presently, already 20-30% of shops in malls have been closed due to the adverse conditions of the past 16 months, and with 30% of staff being laid off, this amounts to 300,000 personnel,\" the statement read. Image for illustration purposes only. The business groups predict that there will be another 50% of the mall and retail industry that will close their doors for good if they are not reopened in the beginning of July Retailers who risk closing for good include street-front shops, prominent domestic, and international retail brands. Their employees are also at risk of being laid off.The business groups warned that once international brands exit Malaysia, it would be twice as hard to pull them back into the country.\"With these massive lay-offs and shop closures, the entire retail and shopping malls industries will be grievously and critically damaged and will need massive efforts and time to rebuild the malls' ecosystem or the malls themselves will permanently close, and the retail supply chain will be deeply fractured,\" the statement read. They also cited the Ministry of Health (MOH) data, saying the retail and shopping sector contributed to only 0.8% of overall COVID-19 cases recorded in May \"We should not be unduly penalised with closure from operating. Therefore, we believe the retail and shopping sector should be reopened immediately to provide essential and other services to the community without risk of infectivity,\" the business groups stressed.They argued that shopping malls only allow entry to individuals whose MySejahtera status is 'Low Risk' and display body temperature that is below 37.5ºC, reported New Straits Times.They said other than having shoppers' visits cut down to a maximum of two hours, shoppers were also diligent in practising social distancing and wearing masks.The business groups argued that shopping malls are safe places to not only stock up on necessities, but could serve as avenues of mental and physical relief. This will be especially refreshing for the public since activities involving crowds, promotional events, and congregations of any sort are banned.\"We appeal to the government to take all these positive factors into account in the upcoming review and allow the immediate reopening of all trades in the malls, except for those in the negative list,\" the groups said. Last week, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the government's four-phase recovery plan Muhyiddin said that each phase of the recovery plan will be based on factors consisting of the daily COVID-19 case average numbers, the capacity of the public health system, and the vaccination rate of the general population.\"During this Phase 3, all sectors of the economy will be allowed to operate except activities listed on the negative list, such as activities that have a high risk of spreading COVID-19 or involving large crowds,\" he said.The prime minister believes the country will be able to reach Phase 3 by the end of August. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["20 to 30% of shops in malls","shops","malls","malls","malls","malls"]},{"role":"Date","values":["over the past 16 months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Delhi unlocks further as restaurants, malls open today. Check what remain closed","document":"Delhi Unlock 3.0: Salons, beauty parlours, barber shops closed since the imposition of lockdown on April 19, will also reopen Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced further ease in Covid-related restrictions in the city. The CM announced the resumption of all economic activities except some that will continue in a restricted manner. While announcing the easing of restrictions for Delhi Unlock 3.0, Delhi CM Kejriwal said this will be done on a trial basis for a week and if cases increase, stricter restrictions will be imposed. Delhi had been reeling under a brutal second wave of the pandemic that had swept the country, claiming a massive number of lives daily, with oxygen supply shortage adding to the woes. Delhi Unlock 3.0: What's allowed from today \"All activities, except certain prohibited ones, will be allowed from 5 am on Monday. There are also certain restricted or partly allowed activities announced last week that will continue,\" Kejriwal said in an online briefing. Delhi Unlock 3.0: What will remain closed Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes, cinema halls, multiplexes, theatres, gyms, spas, Yoga institutes, swimming pools, auditoriums, banquet halls, amusement and water parks, and public parks and gardens will continue to be closed till 5 am on June 21, according to an order issued by Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural/religious, festival-related and other gatherings and congregations, stadia, sports complexes barring those used for training or any national or international event, business to business exhibitions, are also prohibited. No weekly market will be allowed on roadsides. It will have to be set up at suitable grounds where precautions against COVID-19 could be maintained. There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods, and no separate permission or e-pass will be required for such movements. Delhi Unlock 3.0: Delhi Metro Delhi Metro officials said services will continue with 50 per cent seating capacity only as per guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Delhi Metro had resumed services on June 7 after a hiatus of four weeks in view of the improved Covid situation in the national capital, albeit with 50 per cent seating capacity and no provision for standing travel for commuters. The DMRC, in a statement, said, \"Delhi Metro services will continue with 50 per cent seating capacity only as per guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.\" \"Passengers will be allowed to travel by seating only on alternate seats with no provision for standing travel till further directions,\" a senior official said. Partly allowed activities announced in Delhi Unlock 2.0 The partly allowed activities announced last week and earlier, including the opening of government and private offices with 50 per cent staff, marriages at home or in the court, operation of Delhi Metro trains and public transport buses with 50 per cent seating capacity, permission for a gathering of 20 persons during funerals, running of autos, e-rickshaws and other last-mile vehicles, will continue up to June 21 morning, it added. Delhi Covid-19 tally The national capital recorded 255 new COVID-19 cases and 23 fatalities, the lowest since April 7, on Sunday. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Salons, beauty parlours, barber shops","Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes, cinema halls, multiplexes, theatres, gyms, spas, Yoga institutes, swimming pools, auditoriums, banquet halls, amusement and water parks, and public parks and gardens"]},{"role":"Date","values":["April 19","19","19","19","June 21","June 21"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi","Delhi"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["precautions against COVID-19","Covid","COVID-19","Covid","Covid-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 outbreak prompts school closure in Chilliwack","document":"An elementary school in Chilliwack, B.C., is shifting to online classes effective immediately as a result of an outbreak of COVID-19 among staff and students. An announcement on Promontory Heights Elementary School's website Wednesday said the school will be temporarily closed and in-person learning will be paused. Fraser Health has since officially declared an outbreak at the school. A statement said 20 students and staff have tested positive for the illness. \"Promontory Heights Elementary School will be closed to in-person instruction while Fraser Health undertakes case and contact management,\" an emailed statement read. The school's medical health officer said cases have risen over the past 10 days. In-person learning is expected to return on Monday, Oct. 4. The superintendent of the Chilliwack School District, Rohan Arul-pragasam, declined an interview on Thursday. But in a statement, he said he believes Chilliwack schools are safe. \"It is key to note that COVID-19 cases in our schools directly reflect community transmissions in Chilliwack, and we must continue to be vigilant as a larger community,\" he said. He said it is important that the public follows provincial health guidelines, including getting vaccinations. \"These steps will ensure that we work together to keep our vulnerable populations, including our children, safe,\" said Arul-pragasam. Fraser Health said \"it is critically important\" for people living in the Fraser Health region to get tested as soon as they have COVID-19-like symptoms, even if they're mild ones. \"Please don't wait,\" the statement said. On Wednesday, 214 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Fraser Health region, where there are now 1,734 active cases of the virus. Stephanie Higginson, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association, told CBC's The Early Edition on Thursday that she supports the decision to close the school and switch to online learning. \"I'm really proud of the way the Chilliwack School District has responded so quickly,\" she said. The outbreak declaration comes just days after B.C. officials reversed their previous decision not to notify parents of COVID-19 exposures in schools. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday feedback from parents and teachers made it clear they wanted to be informed about transmission of the virus. A new plan is expected to be in place by the end of this week. \"We have asked our team to get together right now to make sure that we can notify schools in a timely, less intrusive and more sustainable way and that parents will have access to that information rapidly,\" she said during a Tuesday press briefing. Parents and educators are still waiting to learn what the province's new notification system will be. \"We're not sure what Dr. Bonnie Henry means when she says less intrusive and more sustainable,\" said Gord Lau, chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council. Higginson is also in the dark on the details. \"We do not know what it's going to look like yet,\" she said. \"We look forward to understanding more about it.\" With files from The Early Edition ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Promontory Heights Elementary School","Promontory Heights Elementary School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","temporarily"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Chilliwack, B.C","Chilliwack","Chilliwack","Chilliwack","Chilliwack"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["outbreak of COVID-19","outbreak","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19","outbreak","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Two rural Alberta schools close due to COVID-19 infections among students","document":"Two schools in rural Alberta are closing their classrooms over the number of students not attending because of COVID-19 infections. The Big Valley School and Donalda School, both in central Alberta's Clearview Public Schools, announced Monday that too many students are away from school to continue in-person classes. \"At the time of writing this letter, the percentage of students away continues to be over 10 per cent with reported cases of COVID-19,\" the school authority said in a release. The schools have closed their classrooms to in-person learning for students in Grades 1 through 9 starting Monday until Oct. 1. Kindergarten and playschool classes will continue to be held. \"Instruction and learning opportunities will be offered using a combination of online and paper-based materials,\" the release says. \"Classroom teachers will provide a detailed schedule so that students will have direct access to them at specified times during the day.\" The announcement came on the first day of the Alberta government's new proof-of-vaccination program that allows some businesses and public facilities to operate without capacity limits and other public health measures. The program was implemented in a bid to clamp down on Alberta's surging fourth wave of COVID-19. Businesses that don't require proof of vaccination will also be subject to capacity limits. Those limits won't apply to schools. More school closures are likely, said Opposition NDP education critic Sarah Hoffman \"We know that hundreds of cases of this deadly virus have been reported among students attending schools across Alberta,\" she said in a release. \"We're beginning to see some schools closed and students forced to learn at home yet again.\" An Alberta Education spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Alberta's devastating fourth wave of the pandemic hit 20,614 active cases on Monday — more than twice as many as any other province or territory and the first time the numbers have surpassed 20,000 in the province since mid-May. The province is leading the country by a wide margin in daily new COVID-19 cases and active cases. As of Monday, there were 954 people being treated in hospital, 216 of whom were in intensive care beds. Earlier Monday, the province released more details about which businesses and institutions come under its Restriction Exemption plan. Retail stores, libraries, hotels and post-secondary institutions will not be required to take part in the program, nor will worshippers at a church, employees on a worksite or students on a school trip. Some restrictions will still apply. Stores must limit shoppers to one-third of normal capacity, for example. Entertainment facilities from restaurants to nightclubs to art galleries are all eligible to participate in the program, allowing them to operate normally as long as they require patrons to show proof of vaccination. Eligible facilities that choose not to participate must work under public health rules that include capacity limits and mask requirements for indoor public spaces. Premier Jason Kenney announced the program last week. Retail stores and libraries were initially on the list of eligible organizations but were removed on the weekend. Kenney had previously opposed a vaccine passport over what he said were privacy concerns. He switched to support for passports as Alberta's hospitals faced the prospect of being overwhelmed in the pandemic's fourth wave. Starting Sunday, immunized Albertans could download proof-of-vaccination cards, but some pointed out they were easily altered. A health ministry spokeswoman said work continues on a more secure QR code that would be available in the coming weeks.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Big Valley School and Donalda School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["starting Monday until Oct. 1"]},{"role":"Location","values":["rural Alberta"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 infections","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"WelcomeFest 2021 Concert cancelled amid security shortages","document":"On Thursday, August 19, the University of Colorado Program Council announced that it would cancel the 2021 WelcomeFest. The announcement was made on Instagram and CU Boulder Today. They cited a nationwide shortage of security personnel. “Due to an unanticipated security staff shortage, which is a national issue, the 2021 WelcomeFest concert has been canceled,” the council said via CU Boulder Today. The WelcomeFest concert featured three artists: Freddie Gibbs, Lucii the Alien, and Boulder native Covex. Covex will perform live at Red Rocks, opening for Big Gigantic and NGHTMRE in September. The Program Council encouraged students to attend Buffs on the Roam on Saturday, as an alternative to the festival. Those who want more info should download the CU Boulder Life app for more information. Further details on Fall Welcome 2021 events can be found at the new student & family programs webpage. Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Alexander Edwards at alexander.edwards@colorado.edu. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["2021 WelcomeFest","2021 WelcomeFest"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Colorado","colorado"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["unanticipated security staff shortage"]}]}
+{"title":"MCO 3.0+: Eateries, malls to close at 8pm [NSTTV]","document":"KUALA LUMPUR: Eateries and shopping malls will only be allowed to open until 8pm under a stricter movement control order (MCO) 3.0. This new ruling will come into effect May 25 for the Peninsular and Labuan. Opening hours would be at 8am, affecting business premises that were previously allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm. This was announced by Senior Minister (security cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a press conference today. Business activities and business premises affected by the new operating hours are restaurants, food stalls and kiosks, food trucks as well as take-away and drive-through services. The same applies to grocery stores, convenience stores and pet food stores, petrol stations (except those located along highways) and launderettes. Night markets previously allowed to open from 4pm to 10pm will also be subjected to the 8pm closure order. The operation hours for pharmacies however remain unchanged and they can open until 10pm. \"The new operation hours and additional restrictions are to reduce movement of the people and subsequently help the government to reduce the spread of Covid-19,\" he said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Eateries and shopping malls","Night markets"]},{"role":"Date","values":["May 25","the 8pm closure"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KUALA LUMPUR"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["reduce the spread of Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"‘Major stones unturned’: COVID origin search must continue after WHO report, say scientists","document":" Members of the World Health Organization team investigating the origin of the virus SARS-CoV-2 visit the closed Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China.Credit: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Scientists say that the hunt for the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic must continue, after a World Health Organization (WHO) team’s visit to China produced no answers to key questions about how the coronavirus started infecting people. At a press briefing on 9 February in Wuhan, China, members of the WHO team reported conclusions from their month-long investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, which was first reported as cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan in December 2019. The researchers largely discounted the controversial theory that the virus accidentally leaked from a laboratory, and suggested that SARS-CoV-2 probably first passed to people from an animal — already a leading hypothesis among researchers. But the team also offered two hypotheses promoted by the Chinese government and media: that the virus, or its most recent ancestor, might have come from an animal outside China, and that once it was circulating in people, it could have spread on frozen wildlife and other cold packaged goods. Meet the scientists investigating the origins of the COVID pandemic Researchers have given a mixed assessment of the findings. “There are still major stones that need to be unturned, because any investigation into virus origins won’t be accomplished in two weeks,” says Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University who is based in Seattle, Washington. “But what’s important is that this lays the groundwork for a longer investigation in collaboration with the Chinese government.” Some researchers say that the group, which included 17 researchers from China and 17 international scientists, asked relevant questions and accessed large amounts of data. “It seems the WHO team and their Chinese collaborators are taking a measured approach, weighing the available data appropriately and talking to the right people,” says David Robertson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, UK. He hopes finer details will be published in the investigation report, which is expected soon. But other scientists say that it’s not clear what evidence led the team to some of its conclusions. The findings don’t change the existing, widely held view that the virus originated in animals, Nikolai Petrovsky, an immunologist at Flinders University in Adelaide, told the Australian Science Media Centre. And the assessment goes further than expected because it emphasizes the two hypotheses promoted by the Chinese government. He says there is limited evidence — “beyond relatively weak data already in the public domain” — for the idea that early transmission in China was linked to the ‘cold food chain’, the transportation of frozen goods such as meat. However, he acknowledges that the team might have access to information that is not currently public. Dominic Dwyer, a medical virologist at New South Wales Health Pathology in Sydney, Australia, and a member of the WHO team, says there is some evidence that the coronavirus could have spread on contaminated fish and meat at Chinese markets, and more details will be included in the written report. The World Health Organization investigation team discussed the conclusions of its investigation at a press conference in Wuhan, China, on 9 February.Credit: Kyodo News/Getty Another focus of the WHO’s investigation was the idea that the virus leaked from a lab — a scenario that the team found unlikely. Peter Ben Embarek, a food-safety and zoonosis scientist with the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, who headed the investigation, said at the press conference that the team had conducted extensive discussions with staff at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the centre of the speculation, and similar labs nearby. He said a leak is unlikely because the virus was not known to scientists before December 2019. Dwyer says that the team didn’t see anything during its visits to suggest a lab accident. “Now, whether we were shown everything? You can never know. The group wasn’t designed to go and do a forensic examination of lab practice.” The investigation provides context and insight into what was happening in Wuhan, says Jason Kindrachuck, a microbiologist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. But the divide between the theories of a lab leak and natural origins has grown deeper as the pandemic has progressed and become politicized, he says. “This isn’t going to put a nail in the coffin for the debate.” Much of the investigation centred on the early days of the outbreak in Wuhan and tried to pin down the timing of the city’s first infections. The team reviewed health records in the city and surrounding Hubei province from the second half of 2019, looking for unusual fluctuations in influenza-like illnesses and severe respiratory infections, pharmacy purchases for cold and cough medications, and deaths specifically related to pneumonia. It also retrospectively tested some 4,500 patient samples for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA, and analysed blood samples for antibodies against the virus. The researchers found no evidence that the virus was circulating in the city before December 2019. Where did COVID come from? WHO investigation begins but faces challenges But the lack of clear signals of transmission does not mean that the virus wasn’t already established in the community, says Dwyer. The team’s analysis was based on limited data and a surveillance system not designed to catch a virus that could spread silently. To assess properly whether the virus arrived earlier, researchers would have to track what was happening in the wider community, not just in health facilities, he says. And although the investigation team threw its weight behind the animal-origin theory, it didn’t identify the kinds of animal that could have passed the virus to people. Ben Embarek said that Chinese researchers had tested many domestic, farmed and wild animals in the country but found no evidence that the virus was present or continued to circulate in these species. Petrovsky says that the animal-transmission findings could hold an important lesson: “If this pandemic was due to a natural transmission event, then we can expect multiple further transmissions of similar, related coronaviruses from the same animal host to humans over coming years.” The WHO team said that investigations in Wuhan and nearby areas should continue, in particular to track down the earliest cases, which could help researchers to understand how the pandemic started. It recommended analysing older samples from blood banks in the province and other areas of interest, including using antibody tests that could turn up traces of infection. The researchers also said that more studies are needed to improve understanding of the possible role of frozen wildlife in viral transmission, and of whether people can be infected through this route. More extensive testing of animals that could act as viral reservoirs is also needed, the group said. Scientists call for fully open sharing of coronavirus genome data “I’d like to hear more about plans for more work,” says Rasmussen. There are supposedly virus samples stored in labs that haven’t been sequenced, she says, but sequencing them requires planning and money. The WHO team also recommended broadening the search for the virus’s origin beyond China. Scientists say this is justified, especially given fresh reports of coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 being found in bats in Japan, Cambodia and Thailand. In a study1 published in Nature Communications on 9 February, scientists report finding a new coronavirus, which they’ve named RacCS203, in acuminate horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus acuminatus) captured in a cave in Thailand in June 2020. The virus shares 91.5% of its genome with SARS-CoV-2. Although more closely related viruses have been found, the result shows that relatives of the pandemic virus are currently circulating in southeast Asia. “Without any doubt, if I had only one chance to survey now, I would survey in southeast Asia rather than inside China,” says Linfa Wang, a virologist at Duke–National University of Singapore Medical School, who led the work. Researchers have identified several other coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 in frozen bat samples stored in Cambodia and Japan. Others have extensively sampled bats in China over the past 15 years. The closest known relative to SARS-CoV-2, named RaTG13, was found in China, in intermediate horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus affinis). The two viruses share 96% of their genomes. “If we put the same effort and money and the same talent into southeast Asia, we may get more closely related viruses,” says Wang.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Huanan seafood market"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Wuhan, China","China","Wuhan","China","Wuhan","China","China","China","Wuhan","China","Wuhan","Wuhan","Wuhan","Wuhan","China","China","China","China"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"School year starts with anger, classroom closures","document":"“The disruption of a classroom closing three days after school began due to COVID exposure is annoying,” said Tamika Hall, a parent of three school-aged children. “Not only that, the DOE policy of still sending siblings of exposed children to school makes zero sense. They have no policy in place for cross-contamination and that is a HUGE misstep when trying to control the spread. “Parents have to work.” This week, critics’ and parents’ worst fears came true when classrooms were closed along with one entire school because of suspected or confirmed positive COVID tests. According to the Department of Education statistics, as of Tuesday evening, there were 1,487 confirmed cumulative positive COVID cases between Sept. 13 and Sept. 21. Of those, 985 were students. There were 170 students recorded on Sept. 21 alone. One school, P.S. 79 in East Harlem had to close completely after 19 positive COVID tests. According to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, most of the positive tests could be traced back pre-school orientation. So, what does New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio think about this? Stay the course. “There’s not a perfect algorithm or chart,” the mayor said. “It really depends on the individual circumstances. Remember those twin imperatives that I feel strongly, President Biden has enunciated, the CDC has enunciated, health and safety first and maximum school attendance. So, we’re always trying to figure out where that balance point is, and it has to be done looking at all the facts. Whether there’s a way to keep a certain number of people in school while keeping them safe or whether a fuller closure is needed.” There is some good news. New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul released numbers that showed that 82.8% of New Yorkers 18 and above have at least one dose of the vaccination and 74.3% of all adults have been fully vaccinated. In New York City, according to City Hall, 68.9% of residents, of all ages, got at least one dose of the vaccination. Sixty-two percent of NYC residents are fully vaccinated. But how much will that mean with the Delta variant, which is a more transmissible form of the coronavirus, making up 99% of all positive COVID tests (as of Sept. 4)? “The criteria that we use to determine what we call widespread transmission in a school, is what determines when that high threshold is met for school closure,” stated City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi during a news conference this week. “And that’s evidence of multiple sources of infection, in multiple spaces or cohorts within a school. When we’re finding preliminary evidence of this, an investigation occurs by our disease detectives. And based on their determination, if there is a reasonably high likelihood that ongoing transmission is occurring within the school, as opposed to you know, in a home setting or the community setting, that’s what warrants the school closure.” “We are you making individual decisions, always with the best interest of the children in mind,” added Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We look at the number of cases. We look at what the circumstances were in terms of whether or not there was mask wearing, whether or not the children were able to stay apart. And based on that, we make a decision as to what to do with the school.” As of Sept. 27, unvaccinated and masked students, who follow all social distancing guidelines, won’t have to quarantine even if they were in close contact with someone who tested positive and all COVID testing would move from bi-weekly to weekly (something that the United Federation of Teachers called for). However, only 10% of all unvaccinated students will submit to weekly testing at the behest of their parents. Tajh Sutton, president of Community Education Council District 14 and member of Black Lives Matter at School NY, said that the mayor’s desire to make things normal again is clouding his judgment. That his desire for a big score before he leaves office is superseding doing the right thing. “Our mayor refused to listen to community expertise and instead made it his mission to reopen the largest school system in the country, not because he cares about our children’s emotional health or academic wellbeing, but because he hopes to go out with a bang,” said Sutton. “A mayor who truly believed in-person education was most beneficial for all children would have put the measures in place to make it sustainable.” Because of this new step back for the mayor, the Department of Education has stepped in to be an additional voice challenging certain rumors and beliefs. A parent posted on Twitter that the city hadn’t yet tested all positive cases in some classrooms. DOE officials said that the accusations were false. They told the AmNews that most positive cases are investigated and closed out the same day with a small number reported in afterhours. Those cases would close out the next morning. Testing is provided through the City’s Test and Trace Corps. “The health and safety of our school communities is our top priority, and we do not hesitate to intervene to stop the spread,” said DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Snyder. “We follow stringent guidance from health experts to prevent any further transmission by quarantining close contacts, closing classrooms, and, if necessary, entire buildings. Learning continues during quarantine, and we ensure the school has the resources necessary to come back and have a successful school year.” Parent Amanda Reisman said, however, that she was told by an employee that there were some difficulties with the process. That it was slow and tedious because of the number of tests being performed. “You know, the contact tracer who I spoke to? He said that they’ve just been overwhelmed since the start of school,” Reisman stated. When asked if she thought the city should have seen this coming she said, “Absolutely. Absolutely.” Last fall, the city premiered the “Situation Room” looking to alert schools and the community at-large to positive COVID tests as soon as possible. Some parents believe that this could be avoided if there was a remote option for their children. According to a poll from The Education Trust-New York, 79% of all parents in New York City said they would choose a remote option if one were available. Across the state 72% of Black parents said they would use the remote option followed by 69% of Latinx parents and 55% of white parents. This despite 89% of parents in the state agreeing that, in a perfect world, in-school learning is better for their children. Eighty-three percent of parents polled in the state supported precautions, such as mask mandates, in schools. “In this unprecedented moment, we can and must do better for New York families, and that starts with listening to the people who know their children best—parents,” said Dia Bryant, executive director of The Education Trust–New York, in a statement. “Our district leaders must respect the wishes of parents and offer families the specific supports they need to ensure that their children can learn, grow, and thrive—now and in the future.” Reisman she felt ignored by the DOE and the city in general when calling for requests that she felt couldn’t be answered on the city’s website. “I am pretty angry about how my daughters’ school never responded to emails about quarantine when we got back from the UK and then said—send her in after I tested her—no one—absolutely no one—was in charge of screening students when they returned from summer,” said Reisman in a text message to the AmNews. “I really don’t understand how or why the DOE didn’t require Covid testing to return to school—and I’m not talking about the ridiculous health screening app, but each student should have been screened with a PCR before returning to school.” PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. It’s a lab technique used to detect the genetic material from specific organisms, like a virus. It’s also known as a molecular test. PCR tests, as opposed to antibody tests, use swabs and not blood samples to test for COVID-19. Because of recent developments the United Federation of Teachers sent to de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan are calling for the return of weekly testing (which the city eventually obliged to). “Given that the virus is not yet under control and that most kids still cannot get vaccinated, it was irresponsible for city hall and the DOE to not have a remote learning option in place,” said Liu, in a statement responding to the EdTrust-NY poll. “In-person instruction is best, but only when parents feel secure about the health and safety of their children.” P.S. 79’s schooling will continue starting next week with remote learning. According to Brewer, the school will provide “grab-and-go” lunches daily or direct them to a school that’s closer to home with a parent’s recommendation. New York City Council Member and Education Committee Chair Mark Treyger didn’t respond to requests for comment.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Meisha Porter"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["entire school"]},{"role":"Date","values":["This week"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New York City","New York City","New York City","New York City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["suspected or confirmed positive COVID tests"]}]}
+{"title":"Fort McMurray Welcome Centre carries on despite its own pandemic challenges","document":"Fort McMurray's Welcome Centre, which helps connect newcomers to non-profits, has been helping fewer people during the pandemic, since the organization has operated virtually without the accessibility of a physical location. The Welcome Centre was previously operating out of the Wood Buffalo Regional Library at MacDonald Island Park. Alexandra Tarasenco, volunteer coordinator for the Welcome Centre, said the physical location has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. That's affected the of the number of people using their services, because the location at MacDonald Island Park saw heavy foot traffic. Now, they're relying more on Facebook, email and phone calls. \"With the newcomers … not everyone is on Facebook, not everyone is connected through social media,\" said Tarasenco. \"It is a challenge.\" The Welcome Centre connects newcomers with organizations in the community that can help them settle in, whether that's help finding a job, training, finding housing or transportation. Tarasenco said she just wants to make sure people know the Welcome Centre is still operating. During the pandemic, Tarasenco said most of the time people are reaching out to her for employment. Edmund Obike, a refugee from Nigeria, came to Fort McMurray in 2019. He spent three months unable to find work, and living in a shelter. He was about to move away, when he was introduced to Tarasenco. \"I even bought my ticket, booked my flight to move down to Toronto, but she [Tarasenco] encouraged me to stay,\" said Obike. \"It was very difficult for me.\" He said he found it difficult to get work, because many of the oil jobs require tickets and specific training. Tarasenco helped Obike find a job and even helped with things like paying for bus tickets. \"I wouldn't have gotten the job, I wouldn't have even gotten assistance for transportation, my movement; it really helped,\" said Obike. Glenda Little-Kulai, program chair for the Language Instruction for Newcomers of Canada, which is part of the steering committee for the Welcome Centre, said it's been difficult for newcomers to connect with the centre without a physical location. \"That creates a barrier, especially for newcomers that might have low digital literacy or low language skills, because they're not able to access,\" said Little-Kulai. She said the centre was able to help out greatly during the flood in April 2020, with spreading information about health and safety in nine languages. \"Hopefully we'll be able to provide in-person services again, but for now just sharing the word that we have a welcome center for newcomers … that we are offering virtual services.\" Therese Greenwood, executive director of the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo who is also on the steering committee, said the association is trying to find \"a solution to these COVID challenges that's going to let us return to an in-person model in the near future.\" Greenwood said she expects to have an announcement about the welcome centre in the near future, but declined to give further details. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Welcome Centre","Welcome Centre","Welcome Centre","Welcome Centre","Welcome Centre","Welcome Centre","welcome centre"]},{"role":"Date","values":["since the beginning of the pandemic"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Fort McMurray","Fort McMurray"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic","pandemic","pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Twin Donut Plus closed in July 2018 is in preparation for the grand opening","document":"Coffee lovers, get ready! Workers are putting the finishing touches to the remodeling of the once popular, “Twin Donut Plus,” in preparation for the grand opening of a new Starbucks branch in Norwood. The former coffee and donut outlet, located at 3396 Jerome Avenue and East 208th Street, which was part of the Twin Donut franchise founded in Boston in 1959, closed in July 2018, as previously reported by Norwood News. The site has remained vacant ever since. According to a filed “RPTT and RETT” document with the Office of the City Register, the property appears to have been sold by Alice L. Kulick 1, LLC to Senior Poncholo Restaurant Corp in 2008. Both RPTT and RETT are taxes that apply to real property transfers when the ownership percentage being transferred, granted, assigned or surrendered is more than 50 percent. Meanwhile, according to NYC Department of Finance, RPTT applies whenever the sale or transfer is worth more than $25,000. An amount of $93,000 was listed as the “document amount,” with the City Register in relation to 3396 Jerome Avenue. However, in another section of the City Register site, the owner of the property is listed as Alice L Kulick. Norwood News has reached out to the City agency for clarification on the current property ownership and will update this story upon receipt of any feedback. Prior to its closure, the donut shop had been in operation for more than 50 years, according to Liz Camcran, an employee of the Twin Donut franchise company who spoke to Norwood News at the time of the closure in 2018. According to Camcran, the building was “under renovation” and she said at the time, “they’re selling the franchise.” Chris Cheong, a worker at that time for Wok Wok restaurant, located across from Twin Donut Plus, said at the time, “It might be because of the rent.” The business did reopen for one evening on the night of Oct. 1, 2018, but not to the public. On that occasion, it was used as a movie set for a brief scene from the film, “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix. Calls to the local Starbucks manager, as well as to the corporate office in Chicago, IL., were unsuccessful. However, one local Starbucks official told the Norwood News on Monday, Sept. 20, the new location would be open in a matter of days. Reaction to previous Starbucks branch openings in the Bronx has been mixed, as reported. When a newsstand that used to sell coffee, located inside One Fordham Plaza, was allegedly precluded from doing so following the arrival of a new, nearby Starbucks branch, the resulting backlash caused a subsequent reversal of the decision. As noted, the Norwood branch of Twin Donut Plus was part of a franchise and closed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. An economic report on the impact of the pandemic on the Bronx, published in June 2021 by the New York State comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, found that the borough is comprised of mostly small businesses, and in the ten years leading up to the pandemic, businesses in The Bronx increased by 15.3 percent, as reported. This was a faster growth rate than seen in both Manhattan and Staten Island. The report found that the sudden and dramatic closure of businesses amid the pandemic across New York City hit the leisure and hospitality sector the hardest, as an earlier report from DiNapoli detailed. In the Bronx, it meant the loss of 9,600 jobs , a 45.6 percent drop in that sector by the summer of 2020. Since most businesses in the borough are small businesses, the measures put in place to combat the health impacts of the COVID-19 virus forced many of these small businesses to close. Some, but not all, business owners were able to rely on economic relief to stay afloat. The comptroller’s report also found that programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans served as vital resources to some but were slow to reach all businesses in the borough. Meanwhile, aside from its coffee business, Starbucks also runs a foundation, the mission of which is “to strengthen humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster.” The foundation supports “thriving communities through grants to nonprofit organizations, from its hometown in Seattle and neighborhoods across the country, to coffee and tea-growing communities around the world.” According to the foundation’s website, its neighborhood grants are investments that help build sustained, local impact and inspire increased partner volunteerism with nonprofit organizations that work in local communities. Through the program, the foundation invites Starbucks partners to nominate a local organization in their community. Since 2019, Starbucks partners have nominated “thousands of organizations across the U.S. and Canada, with more than 2,500 organizations receiving grants amounting to more than $5 million.” The foundation also works “to strengthen communities affected by disaster by investing in response and preparedness programs.” In 2020, according to its website, the foundation supported local and global COVID-19 initiatives that extended emergency assistance to those in need while also helping build a path toward recovery and resilience, including more than 400 Neighborhood Grants to support COVID-19 community response. Jennifer Tausig, executive director of the Jerome Gun Hill BID, which is based in Norwood, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Starbucks to the neighborhood, and as a member of the BID. Tausig said the BID believes the new outlet is a great compliment to the existing food and coffee options on Jerome Avenue. “We are grateful that Starbucks recognized Norwood as a clean, safe, good place to do business,” she added. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Twin Donut Plus","Twin Donut Plus","Twin Donut Plus","businesses","businesses","businesses","leisure and hospitality sector"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 2018","2018"]},{"role":"Location","values":["3396 Jerome Avenue and East 208th Street","3396 Jerome Avenue","New York City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["selling the franchise","franchise","building was “under renovation","might be because of the rent","pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Reopening schools cannot wait","document":"PARIS/NEW YORK, 12 July 2021 – “It’s been 18 months since the COVID-19 outbreak started and education for millions of children is still disrupted. As of today, primary and secondary schools are shuttered in 19 countries, affecting over 156 million students. “This should not go on. Schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen. “In their efforts to limit transmission, governments have too often shut down schools and kept them closed for prolonged periods, even when the epidemiological situation didn’t warrant it. These actions were frequently taken as a first recourse rather than a last measure. In many cases, schools were closed while bars and restaurants remained open. “The losses that children and young people will incur from not being in school may never be recouped. From learning loss, mental distress, exposure to violence and abuse, to missed school-based meals and vaccinations or reduced development of social skills, the consequences for children will be felt in their academic achievement and societal engagement as well as physical and mental health. The most affected are often children in low-resource settings who do not have access to remote learning tools, and the youngest children who are at key developmental stages. “The losses for parents and caretakers are equally heavy. Keeping children at home is forcing parents around the world to leave their jobs, especially in countries with no or limited family leave policies. “That’s why reopening schools for in-person learning cannot wait. “It cannot wait for cases to go to zero. There is clear evidence that primary and secondary schools are not among the main drivers of transmission. Meanwhile, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools is manageable with appropriate mitigation strategies in most settings. The decision to open or close schools should be based on risk analysis and the epidemiological considerations in the communities where they are situated. “Reopening schools cannot wait for all teachers and students to be vaccinated. With the global vaccine shortages plaguing low and middle-income countries, vaccinating frontline workers and those most at risk of severe illness and death will remain a priority. All schools should provide in-person learning as soon as possible, without barriers to access, including not mandating vaccination prior to school entry. “Ahead of the Global Education Meeting on July 13, we urge decisionmakers and governments to prioritize the safe reopening of schools to avoid a generational catastrophe. “Closing schools mortgages our future for unclear benefits to our present. We must prioritize better. We can reopen schools safely, and we must.” ##### UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, scientific collaboration, cultural dialogue and the free flow of information. More information at www.unesco.org More than 45,000 children released from detention during COVID-19 pandemic; evidence that child-friendly justice solutions are possible – UNICEF","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["primary and secondary schools","primary","secondary schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["been 18 months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["19 countries"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 outbreak","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Westfield Sends Alert About Flood Risk; Event Postponed","document":"WESTFIELD, NJ — Now that a flash flood watch was issued for Union County through Friday morning, Downtown Westfield has postponed the nighttime portion of its Girls' Night Out event. The daytime portion is still on, and the evening portion will take place Thursday, Sept. 30. READ MORE: Downtown Westfield Event, Girls' Night Out, Returns Thursday Also, the Westfield Police sent this alert Thursday: \"Showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead and along a slow moving cold front this afternoon through early Friday. There is a flash flood watch in effect from 4 p.m. this afternoon until 8 a.m. Friday across NE NJ, NYC, Nassau County NY, Fairfield County CT and the Lower Hudson Valley. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms as well.\" The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Union, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties from 4 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday. The rain predicted for Thursday night is up to two inches, about a fifth of what spotters say fell in Union County during the dangerous Tropical Depression Ida, but a significant amount if it falls quickly. The Thursday night forecast says, \"Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 59. South wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.\" The updated forecast is here. The last severe storm in the area, Tropical Depression Ida, caused at least 30 deaths in New Jersey, news outlets reported. There were rescues and mass flooding in Westfield, Cranford, and elsewhere in Union and Essex counties. Now, forecasters are keeping an eye on the newly formed Hurricane Sam, which, if headed toward the East Coast, is at least a week away. Track Hurricane Sam here. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Girls' Night Out event","Night","night"]},{"role":"Date","values":["nighttime portion"]},{"role":"Location","values":["WESTFIELD, NJ","Westfield","Westfield","Westfield","Westfield"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["flash flood watch","flash flood watch"]}]}
+{"title":"Bluefield Elks Lodge 9/11 event canceled by COVID","document":"Sep. 6—BLUEFIELD — An event honoring local first responders during the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has been canceled as a precaution due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. The Bluefield Elks Lodge was planning to host this year's event at the Elks Lodge on Whitethorn Street on Sept. 12 this year. During previous events, local firefighters, law enforcement agencies, EMTs and veterans were recognized for their service to their communities and country. The Elks had planned to host a 2021 event, but then local numbers of COVID-19 cases started to increase, said Dr. Randy Stevens, the lodge's president. Sponsors of tables at the event, and the event's corporate sponsor, Princeton Community Hospital, discussed whether to have this year's festivities. \"We thought that with the surge in the COVID numbers of the people being diagnosed and hospitalized, it would be ill-advised to have a gathering with 150 to 200 people inside,\" Stevens said. \"We decided to cancel it, and hopefully we can do it on another date or next year for sure when the world gets back to normal.\" This year the event had 50 table sponsors, which is the most the Elks ever had, he said. \"Everyone was wanting to do something for the first responders,\" Stevens stated. \"We've returned their money. We'll be calling them again when the world gets back to normal.\" — Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["event honoring local first responders during the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 12 this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["BLUEFIELD","Bluefield Elks Lodge","the Elks Lodge on Whitethorn Street"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["rising numbers of COVID-19 cases","COVID-19 cases","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"'30 pct of shops at malls have closed; 300,000 workers lost jobs over past 16 months'","document":"KUALA LUMPUR: As the impending review of the Movement Control Order 3.0 nears, shopping mall and retail industries nationwide are appealing to the government to judiciously research the data and incidences of Covid-19 cases by economic sector and by locality. They said the current MCO 3.0, which will end on June 28, has been drastically and tragically damaging to business and the economy. They described the recently-announced National Recovery Plan, which is based on the threshold of absolute numbers of Covid-19 infections, as \"too broad-brushed\" and imprecise as it could result in unnecessary losses. In an open letter to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK), Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA), Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), Bumiputra Retailers Organisation (BRO) and the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Electrical Home Appliances Dealers' Association (SWEDA) said the Health Ministry's data showed that the retail and shopping sector contributed merely 0.8 per cent of overall cases in May. This was prior to the MCO 3.0 on June 1 and the significantly improved and extremely low figures was a testament to the retail and mall industries' strict adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures. \"We should not be unduly penalised with closure from operating. Therefore, we believe the retail and shopping sector should be reopened immediately to provide essential and other services to the community without risk of infectivity. \"Activities that are not able to comply with the social distancing requirements and crowding have already been listed in the negative list, while congregation and promotional events have been barred. \"The public have also cut down their mall visits to a maximum of two hours while diligently practising physical distancing and wearing masks at all times. \"Malls only allow entry of those whose MySejahtera status is 'Low-Risk' and whose body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius. \"Therefore, malls are safe places to be and serve as avenues for some relief, both physically and mentally, while shopping for necessities. \"We appeal to the government to take all these positive factors into account in the upcoming review and allow the immediate reopening of all trades in the malls, except for those in the negative list,\" the associations said in a statement today. They added that that currently, up to 30 per cent of shops in malls have been closed due to the adverse conditions of the past 16 months amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which also saw some 300,000 personnel losing their jobs. The associations foresee that in the event the mall and retail industry, including street front shops are not reopened by early July, another 50 per cent of the remainder will be closing their doors for good. They said these closures may include prominent domestic and international retail brands with more employees at risk of being laid off. They also cautioned that once international brands exit from Malaysia, it will be doubly difficult to attract these brands to return. \"With these massive lay-offs and shop closures, the entire retail and shopping malls industries will be grievously and critically damaged and will need massive efforts and time to rebuild its ecosystem, or it will permanently close and the retail supply chain will be deeply fractured. \"Any prolongation in reopening will cause irreparable damage to both the retail and shopping mall industry which may not recover for the next few years, leaving us far behind in the economic recovery process. \"Therefore, we seek the government's urgent consideration to mitigate the catastrophic but real scenario as predicted,\" they said.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["up to 30 per cent of shops in malls","Malls","shops","retail and shopping sector","Retail","retail","retail","shopping sector","retail","retail","retail","congregation and promotional events"]},{"role":"Date","values":["past 16 months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KUALA LUMPUR","Kuala Lumpur"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19 pandemic","Covid-19","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Foo Fighters report COVID-19 case, postpone weekend concert that would have reopened Forum","document":"The Foo Fighters have postponed their Saturday concert at the Forum in Inglewood after someone affiliated with the band tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Tickets purchased for this weekend will be valid for the new date, which “will be announced shortly,” according to the musical act’s social media pages. The highly anticipated performance was supposed to mark the Forum’s first first full-capacity show and first ticketed event in more than a year. “Despite having made every effort to follow CDC Covid protocols and local laws, there has been a confirmed Covid-19 case within the Foo Fighters organization,” the band said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans, Saturdays show at the Los Angeles Forum is being postponed to a later date.” Important information about the July 17th Forum show. The COVID-induced delay comes about a month after the “Pretender” artists played their first full-capacity performance since the beginning of the pandemic. The intimate set — held at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills for 600 lucky fans — required proof of vaccination to attend and sparked a backlash among unvaccinated community members who accused the venue and the Foo Fighters of discriminating against them. Shortly thereafter, the rock musicians kicked off their world tour with a comeback performance at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, which was also limited to fully vaccinated patrons. Saturday’s stop at the Forum has since been removed from the Foo Fighters’ website, which lists forthcoming tour dates in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Mexico City, Boston and more cities worldwide. Music After protests, Foo Fighters will reopen the Forum with first full-capacity crowd Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters announce a July concert at the Forum. With California reopened, guests will self-attest as to their vaccination status. June 22, 2021 During the first weekend of August, the Foo Fighters are set to headline Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza music festival alongside Miley Cyrus, Tyler the Creator, Post Malone, DaBaby, Marshmello and the Grammy Awards’ 2021 new artist of the year, Megan Thee Stallion. Earlier this year, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and his bandmates participated in Global Citizen’s “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World,” at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. The event, which also featured Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, Prince Harry, Selena Gomez and more, was aimed at encouraging people to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. “Dude,” Grohl mused onstage before playing to an in-person crowd. “I remember this.” The complete guide to home viewing Get Screen Gab for weekly recommendations, analysis, interviews and irreverent discussion of the TV and streaming movies everyone’s talking about. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","concert","Concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Forum in Inglewood","Forum","Forum","Forum","Inglewood"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["someone affiliated with the band tested positive for the novel coronavirus","novel coronavirus"]}]}
+{"title":"Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club partially closed after staff infected with coronavirus","document":"Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida has been partially closed after some of its employees were infected with the coronavirus, according to an email sent to club members Friday afternoon. “As some of our staff have recently tested positive for COVID-19, we will be temporarily suspending service at the Beach Club and à la carte Dining Room,” club management said, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post. “Banquet and Event services remain open,” the email said. The Trump Organization declined to say how many workers were affected. The Palm Beach club — which includes the former president’s home as well as restaurants and banquet facilities — has dozens of employees during the winter season. “Out of an abundance of caution we have quarantined some of the workers and partially closed a section of the club for a short period of time,” a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said in a statement to The Post. Lee Lipton, a member at the club, said he received a phone call Friday saying his dinner reservations were canceled for Friday and Saturday nights. “But they said the car show was going on Sunday, and the hotel rooms are fine,” he said. The partial closure of the club was first reported by the Associated Press. Palm Beach County, which includes the club, still requires that all guests wear masks, except while “actively consuming food and beverage.” Last weekend, Mar-a-Lago hosted two large fundraisers for a charity called Big Dog Ranch Rescue, including one event at which Trump appeared, praising the group. Photos from those events show that few attendees were wearing masks. Trump, who had covid-19 in the fall and was vaccinated earlier this year, also did not wear a mask. Two people familiar with the club said that Mar-a-Lago waiters wore masks during the events. A spokesperson for the charity declined to comment about the event. The club has not forced members to adhere to a mask policy, though they have suggested masks be worn and provided them to guests, according to people who have visited. In January, a Florida state representative asked the county to shut down Mar-a-Lago after photos from a New Year’s Eve event showed that many guests were not wearing masks. In response, Palm Beach County sent the club a formal warning letter, saying that Mar-a-Lago had violated county code and could faces fines up to $15,000 if there was another violation. Patrick Rutter, assistant Palm Beach County administrator, who oversees the county’s covid enforcement efforts, said he hadn’t heard of Mar-a-Lago partially closing, but that it would be up to the club’s leadership to decide whether to close in case of an outbreak. “Businesses would make their own decisions of that was the case,” Rutter said. Omari Hardy, the state representative who had asked for Mar-a-Lago to be closed down, said workers were paying the price of the club’s lax mask policy. “No one around the president wears a mask. The guests at Mar-a-Lago have photographed themselves partying and carousing not wearing masks,” said Hardy, whose district includes a town just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago that is home to many essential workers who staff the clubs and restaurants on Palm Beach. “Now the workers, who can least afford to get sick, are paying for it with their health.” Rozsa reported from West Palm Beach, Fla. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Donald Trump"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mar-a-Lago Club"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for a short period of time"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Florida"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["some of its employees were infected with the coronavirus"]}]}
+{"title":"Coronavirus pushes biggest U.S. mall developer to close all properties","document":" America's largest mall operator finally caved in to the reality that the coronavirus outbreak makes it nearly impossible for their properties to open when the public's health and safety requires social distancing. Simon Property Group, owner of major malls such as Roosevelt Field in East Garden City, N.Y. and Stanford Mall in Palo Alto, Calif., said on Wednesday it was closing all of its U.S. properties, including 106 malls and 69 outlets center, through March 29. The malls will go dark as of 7 p.m. Wednesday in the mall's local time zone. The owner of Westfield malls later said its U.S. properties would be shut too during that period. The news is hardly surprising given how many of Simon's retail tenants have announced store closings as the severity of the outbreak has become clearer. The most recent was struggling department store chain J.C. Penney which had initially shortened store hours, but on Wednesday decided to close all stores would close for two weeks. Penney's decision followed similar announcements from Macy's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple, and Urban Outfitters, all of which operate numerous stores at Simon malls. What's more, the Centers for Disease Control have urged people to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10. Earlier this week, New Jersey ordered all malls closed, while major centers like Hudson Yards in New York and Mall of America in Minnesota closed on their own. The pressure isn't just on mall stores. Many retailers with stand-alone locations or strip-mall stores, such as Best Buy, Home Depot, Target, and Walmart have announced reduced hours. Others, like Ulta Beauty, which depends on in-house beauty treatments to bring customers into the stores, have closed shop until at least March 31. All told, according to fresh estimates from GlobalData Retail, some 11.4% of all shops in the U.S. are closed or will close. The research firm now estimates retail sales will fall by nearly 6% in both March and April. And with e-commerce only providing a partial offset, it's shaping up to be a brutal spring for retailers and mall developers alike. With the federal government considering industry bailouts, the International Council of Shopping Centers, which represents U.S. operators of malls, outlet centers, and shopping centers has asked the Trump administration for aid. \"These closures are placing an insurmountable strain on our members, and we believe federal government action is urgently needed,\" ICSC chief executive officer Tom McGee said in a letter on Tuesday. He called on the federal government to \"guarantee or directly pay for business interruption coverage for retailers, restaurants and other tenants as well as landlords.\" McGee noted that states and local governments get $400 billion a year in taxes from the shopping center industry in making his case. The National Retail Federation also asked the Trump administration for help in the form of delays in tax filings and loans, as well as other initiatives, to help stores deal with liquidity until they can resume business. \"The decisions being made in Washington this week will have lasting effects on our businesses, our associates and the communities we serve,\" NRF chief executive Matt Shay wrote in his letter. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Mall of America","America","mall","106 malls and 69 outlets center","all of its U.S. properties","properties","properties","all malls","malls","malls","malls","Ulta Beauty","some 11.4% of all shops"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Earlier this week","week","two weeks","until at least March 31"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New Jersey","New York","U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["coronavirus outbreak"]}]}
+{"title":"Applefest canceled for second year in Warwick, affecting nonprofits","document":"Warwick’s Applefest, shown here at its 2018 event, was canceled in May for the second year in a row. Now, residents wonder how they can help the 40 nonprofits that usually benefit from the annual fall event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors. Every fall, Applefest typically draws massive crowds for a harvest celebration held in the Village of Warwick since 1989. By 2019, the craft and food fair had grown into a major event, with 30,000 visitors coming from neighboring states. However, the event, produced by the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, has been put on pause for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to cancel this year’s fall festival came in May, and was made jointly by officials from New York State, the Department of Health, Orange County, and the Town and Village of Warwick. Some residents called that May announcement premature for a fall event that is based outdoors. Other large outdoor events still remained on the schedule this summer and fall in the area, including the Orange County Fair and the weeks-long New York Renaissance Fair in nearby Tuxedo Park. In a press release announcing Applefest’s cancellation, organizers said the reason other large events could move forward and not this one was because there are no gates in the Village of Warwick to control the number of visitors to Applefest or require or check for masks. The one-day festival typically welcomes more than 200 craft and food vendors, in addition to several music stages that set up across three blocks. Festival proceeds benefit 40 nonprofit organizations, including Grace Community Church and a number of other churches, the Orange County Audubon Society, Warwick Fire District, Northern Academy of the Arts, Warwick Valley Humane Society, Warwick Lions Club, and more. With the loss of two years’ worth of fundraising, local nonprofits have struggled, said Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It has a tremendous impact on both nonprofits and the downtown [businesses],” said Johndrow of the event cancellation. “Nonprofits make enough money in one day that they don’t really need to fundraise for the rest of the year.” Nonprofits raise funds at the event through efforts like selling hot dogs and bottled water, and they raise awareness by handing out information on their organizations to attendees. With the absence of Applefest for the past two years, the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce is exploring other ways to support these organizations. Johndrow said one idea is to list the 40 nonprofits in their local newspaper and ask residents to consider donating. The chamber also hosted its first annual golf outing, where some of the proceeds went to nonprofits. The festival also acts as a gateway for tourists to learn more about the Warwick area, said Johndrow. “It brings a lot of tourists from three states,” said Johndrow. “They can come and see we have a historic village here.” However, not everyone believes Applefest should have grown to the scale it did. One resident, who has gone to almost every Applefest since its start, said the two-year hiatus could allow the festival to return in a different fashion. “When it first started out, it was trying to promote local businesses, along with being a way for some of the nonprofits to do fundraisers,” said Edward Mullins. “Then it became so popular that people were coming from miles and miles away.” He said that some locals weren’t able to be involved in it as much as they would have liked due to more outside vendors coming in. “It needs to scale back and get back to its roots, where the local people are upfront,” said Mullins, who also commended the Applefest committee for the planning they’ve done for over 30 years. The committee did not respond to comment by the time of press. Although Applefest is cancelled, the area doesn’t lack orchards and wineries that celebrate the region’s fall bounty. There are four apple orchards and four wineries in the town, including Doc’s Orchard at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery that offers apple picking and live music, and Apple Dave’s Orchard, whose distillery serves colonial-era, frozen Applejack. — Six NY prisons to close, including Downstate Correctional Facility — Rockefeller Christmas Tree not coming from New York — Route 17: To widen or not to widen — No bail for trooper charged with girl’s death ‘a rare decision’ Don’t miss a headline. Sign up for the Hudson Valley 5 newsletter. Cloey Callahan is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident who was born and raised in Brewster, lived in New Paltz for four years while she attended college, and now resides in Newburgh on Liberty Street. On a sunny day, she strolls through Newburgh enjoying the 19th-century architecture on her way to the Hudson River waterfront. You can reach her at cloey.callahan@hearst.com to say hi or with pitches.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Applefest","Applefest","Applefest","Applefest","Applefest","Applefest","Applefest","Applefest"]},{"role":"Date","values":["fall","fall","fall","fall","2018"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["no gates in the Village of Warwick to control the number of visitors","visitors","Village","Warwick","Warwick","Village","Warwick","number","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","Warwick","village","Warwick","COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Cincinnati concert cancellations, new announcements this week","document":"Throughout 2020, we were announcing concert cancellations left and right as COVID-19 wiped out the entire summer concert calendar. Then, in the past few months, we rejoiced at all the new show announcements as we edged closer to normal life. We are sorry to say that as we hit another wave from the delta variant, we're back to seeing more concert calendar adjustments. We're sure things will continue to change as the days and weeks go by, but here's the latest batch of new event announcements, postponements and cancellations. More:Updated, again: Cincinnati's 2021 concert calendar ?? More:Will you need a COVID-19 vaccine to go to concerts? Here's what we know so far Sept. 21: U.S. Women's National Soccer Team vs Paraguay International Friendly, TQL Stadium. Nov. 14: Nelly, Andrew J. Brady Icon Music Center. With Blanco Brown and Harper Grace. Nov. 17: David Cross, Bogart's. Dec. 10-11: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Andrew J. Brady Icon Music Center. With Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. Aug. 26: Buddy Guy, PNC Pavilion. With Robert Randolph & the Family Band. Aug. 27: Pablo Cruise, Ludlow Garage. Sept. 1: Goldpark with Liberty Deep Down, Top Cats. Sept. 8: Drowning Pool, Blue Note Harrison. Sept. 18: Garth Brooks, Paul Brown Stadium. Sept. 23: Yung Bleu, PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation. With Ann Marie. Sept. 30: Florida Georgia Line, Riverbend Music Center. With Russell Dickerson and Lauren Alaina and Redferrin. Oct. 28: Jeanne Robertson, Taft Theatre. Oct. 13: Toadies, Madison Theater. With Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pu--y. New date TBA. Oct. 9-17: Disney's Descendants: The Musical, Taft Theatre. This show postponed to the Children's Theater of Cincinnati's 22-23 season.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["entire summer concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Throughout 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Popular festivals, events that have been canceled because of COVID-19 concerns","document":"CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the Charlotte area, many popular events are being impacted. Here’s a list of festivals and shows that have been canceled or postponed because of the pandemic. Lincoln County Apple Festival The 2021 Lincoln County Apple Festival scheduled for Oct. 16 has been canceled. Taylorsville Apple Festival The 32nd annual Taylorsville Apple Festival scheduled for Oct. 16 has been canceled. Cleveland County Fair The Cleveland County Fair was set to run Sept. 30 - Oct. 10. Carolina BalloonFest The 2021 Carolina BalloonFest scheduled for Oct. 15-17 has been canceled for the second year in a row. Cabarrus County Fair The fair was scheduled to take place Sept. 10-18, but has been canceled. The dates for next year are Sept. 9-17, 2022. Cheerwine Festival In January, organizers were hopeful to host an in-person event when they pushed the date from May 15 to Sept. 18, but on Aug. 30 it was announced that the 2021 event would be canceled. [ ALSO READ: Yiasou Greek Festival shifts to ‘drive-thru’ event this year ] WNC Bigfoot Festival Organizers of the annual WNC Bigfoot Festival, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 17-18 in Marion, have postponed the event until May 27-28, 2022. Charlotte SHOUT! Festival The Charlotte SHOUT! festival originally scheduled for Sept. 17 - Oct. 3 has been postponed until 2022. Charlotte Pride Festival The Charlotte Pride festival, concert, and parade have been canceled as venues transition to smaller events due to COVID-19 concerns. The festival and concert were originally scheduled for Sept. 17-18 and then postponed until Oct. 16. The Charlotte Pride Parade was scheduled for Oct. 24 in uptown. Garth Brooks at Bank of America Stadium Garth Brooks announced that he was canceling five fall tour dates, which included his Sept. 25 stop at Bank of America Stadium. Hickory Oktoberfest The festival, which celebrates the city’s German heritage, was originally scheduled for Oct. 8-10, but has been canceled. Mallard Creek BBQ For the second straight year, organizers have decided to cancel the annual Mallard Creek BBQ, traditionally held on the fourth Thursday in October. Matthews Alive The Matthews Alive Labor Day festival was canceled for the second year in a row. The festival was originally scheduled for Sept. 3-6.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Lincoln County Apple Festival","Lincoln County Apple Festival","Taylorsville Apple Festival","Taylorsville Apple Festival","Cleveland County Fair","Cleveland County Fair","Carolina BalloonFest","Carolina BalloonFest","Cabarrus County Fair","Cheerwine Festival","five fall tour","Hickory Oktoberfest","annual Mallard Creek BBQ","The Matthews Alive Labor Day festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sept. 30 - Oct. 10","Sept","Sept","Sept","Sept. 10-18","Sept. 3-6","Oct. 16","Oct","Oct","Oct. 15-17","Oct. 8-10","fourth Thursday in October","2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["CHARLOTTE, N.C","Charlotte","Charlotte","Charlotte","Charlotte","Bank of America Stadium","Bank","America Stadium"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 cases continue to surge","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Hootie’s Homegrown concert not happening, Firefly fall series postponed due to COVID-19","document":" Updated: November 16, 2021 @ 5:07 pm An Igali king in Nigeria has just been coronated. That means… One of country music's newest stars who earlier this year fa… Darius Rucker typically performs for the Hootie and the Blowfish Homegrown Concert at the former Volvo Car Stadium, now Credit One Stadium. Here, he performs in 2011 to a full house. File/Staff Hootie’s Homegrown Roundup, a concert and school supply drive that typically benefits the Charleston County School District, will not take place this year due to the renewed COVID-19 pandemic. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Hootie’s Homegrown Roundup"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Charleston County School District"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["renewed COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Ransomware attack leads to shutdown of major U.S. pipeline system","document":"A ransomware attack led one of the nation’s biggest fuel pipeline operators to shut down its entire network on Friday, according to the company and two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. While it is not expected to have an immediate impact on fuel supply or prices, the attack on Colonial Pipeline, which carries almost half of the gasoline, diesel and other fuels used on the East Coast, underscores the potential vulnerability of industrial sectors to the expanding threat of ransomware strikes. It appears to have been carried out by an Eastern European-based criminal gang — DarkSide, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the matter. Federal officials and the private security firm Mandiant, a division of FireEye, are still investigating the matter, they said. The Cybersecurity 202: A group of industry, government and cyber experts have a big plan to disrupt the ransomware crisis “We are engaged with the company and our interagency partners regarding the situation,” said Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director of the cybersecurity division at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA. “This underscores the threat that ransomware poses to organizations regardless of size or sector. We encourage every organization to take action to strengthen their cybersecurity posture to reduce their exposure to these types of threats.” President Biden was briefed on the incident on Saturday morning, a White House statement said. It said the federal government is working to assess the incident’s implications, avoid disruption to supply and help Colonial Pipeline restore operations “as quickly as possible.” Colonial Pipeline said in a statement on Friday that it had temporarily shut down all its pipeline operations after learning it had been hit by a cyber attack on some of its “information technology” or business network systems that day. As a result, the firm said, it “proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat.” Early on Saturday afternoon, the company confirmed that the attack “involves ransomware.” It said it had notified law enforcement and other federal agencies. Colonial’s 5,500 miles of pipelines carry fuel from refineries on the Gulf Coast to customers in the southern and eastern United States. It says it transports 45 percent of the fuel consumed on the East Coast, reaching 50 million Americans. Ransomware attacks, in which hackers lock up computer systems — usually by encrypting data — and demand payment to free up the system, are a global scourge. In recent years, they have affected everyone from banks and hospitals to universities and municipalities — almost 2,400 organizations in the United States were victimized last year alone, one security firm reported. But the attackers are increasingly targeting industrial sectors because these firms are more willing to pay up to regain control of their systems, experts say. “The downtime for industrial companies can cost millions,” said Robert M. Lee, the chief executive of Dragos, a major cybersecurity firm that handles incidents in the industrial control sector. U.S. officials and experts in industrial control security said such attacks are more common than is publicly known and that most just do not get reported. “There are absolutely cases in industrial operations where ransomware impacts operations,” but often the stories don’t hit the news, Lee said. “There are lots of industrial control companies that are battling ransomware around the United States.” The Cybersecurity 202: Lawmakers scramble for legislative solutions to a growing ransomware crisis The trend exploded in the last three years after the WannaCry and NotPetya computer worms showed cyber criminals how targeting companies in critical industrial sectors is more likely to make companies pay out, Lee said. The DarkSide group has hit utility firms before, said Allan Liska, intelligence analyst at the cyber threat research firm Recorded Future. In February, ransomware attacks disrupted operations at two Brazilian state-owned electric utility companies, Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras (Eletrobras) and Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel), he said. Private firms that investigate cyber intrusions say they are handling cases involving DarkSide using ransomware to target American industrial companies. But there are many other ransomware groups that seem to be targeting such firms in greater numbers than ever before, analysts said. Carrying off a ransomware attack does not require great technical sophistication, Liska said. In the world of criminal ransomware operations, some crews specialize in gaining access and others pay for that access and then lock up the data, he said. DarkSide generally falls into the lock up crew category, he said. “The last few years have been incredibly busy” because the proliferation of vulnerabilities in firewalls and virtual private networks have allowed ransomware criminals to gain access to networks at an unprecedented scale, Lee said. “To put it simply, we are on the cusp of a global digital pandemic driven by greed,” former top DHS cyber official Christopher Krebs told Congress on Wednesday. He called the ransomware emergency a “digital dumpster fire.” Last year, CISA warned pipeline operators about the threat of ransomware. CISA responded to a ransomware attack on a natural gas compression facility in which the attacker gained access to the corporate network and then pivoted to the operational network, where it encrypted on various devices. As a result, the firm shut down operations for about two days, CISA said. The DHS warning to operators came after members of Congress in 2018 urged the agency to do more to protect pipelines from cyber attacks. Though there is as yet no known foreign government nexus to the Colonial Pipeline incident, the U.S. government has in the past asserted links between Russian spy services and ransomware rings. Last month, the Treasury Department stated that the Russian internal security service, FSB, “cultivates and co-opts criminal hackers, including” a group called Evil Corp., “enabling them to engage in disruptive ransomware attacks.” Treasury sanctioned Evil Corp. in late 2019. Cybersecurity researchers believe that DarkSide operates mostly out of Russia, which U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts have accused of harboring cyber criminals. These criminals avoid targeting victims in Russia, experts say. In January 2019, the Director of National Intelligence, Daniel Coats, warned at an annual worldwide threat briefing that China has the ability to launch cyber attacks that cause temporary disruptive effects on critical infrastructure, “such as disruption of a natural gas pipeline for days to weeks” in the United States. He did not specify what type of cyber tool or mention ransomware explicitly. A task force of more than 60 experts from industry, government, nonprofits and academia last month urged a series of coordinated actions by industry, government and civil society. Their recommendations include mandating that organizations report ransom payments and requiring them to consider alternatives before making payments. Governments, they said, could provide support to help firms hold out longer. The recommendations also call for global diplomatic and law enforcement efforts to induce countries from providing safe havens to ransomware criminals. “Proposing this framework is merely the first step,” the task force said, “and the real challenge is in implementation.” The Biden administration is expected in the coming weeks to issue an executive order aimed at shoring up the cybersecurity of federal civilian agencies. Though it will not specifically address private critical infrastructure, it is expected to drive standards for federal contractors that experts hope will ripple across the private sector. Last month, the White House and Energy Department launched a 100-day action plan focused on boosting the cybersecurity of electricity sector industrial systems. The idea is to eventually expand that effort to gas pipelines and water systems. Prices for refined oil products are slumping on the Gulf Coast because of the shutdown. Analysts say that depending on how long the pipelines are out of service, prices for gasoline and jet fuel could rise in the New York area, as they did in 2017 when a hurricane forced a shutdown. Bob McNally, founder of the Rapidan Energy Group, said although the shutdown of the Colonial system is “massive,” if the company is able to restart operations within a couple of days, he does not expect an impact on fuel prices. “The critical thing now is the duration,” he said. “Right now, everything depends this weekend on news that the market gets about the duration of the outage.” Storage in both the Gulf Coast region and the Northeast “can largely mitigate the impact of a short-term event,” said Bernadette Johnson, senior vice president of power and renewables at a company called Enverus. But if the shutdown lasts much longer than a few days, there could be a cascade of dramatic impacts, including higher prices and consumer hoarding of gasoline supplies, McNally said. Gasoline prices have been edging higher in recent weeks, in line with typical seasonal trends. The Colonial pipeline system “is an irreplaceable, vital jugular for fuel supply to the East Coast,” McNally said. “It’s the major artery and there are no real other good options to replace it.” One of Colonial’s two pipelines ruptured last summer in North Carolina, spilling 1.2 million gallons of gasoline, the largest spill in the state’s history. On March 29, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a division of the Department of Transportation, informed Colonial that its investigation of the North Carolina spill raised serious concerns about safety. “PHMSA’s ongoing investigation indicates that conditions may exist on the Colonial Pipeline System that pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property or the environment,” it said in a proposed safety order. “The conditions that led to the failure potentially exist throughout the Colonial Pipeline System. Further, Colonial’s inability to effectively detect and respond to this release, as well as other past releases, has potentially exacerbated the impacts of this and numerous other failures over the operational history of Colonial’s entire system. ... It appears that the continued operation of the Colonial Pipeline System without corrective measures would pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property, or the environment.” In 2016, a Colonial pipeline exploded and released 4,400 barrels of gasoline into a pond in Shelby County, Ala. One worker was killed. Recovery and repair procedures were hampered by dangerous clouds of gasoline and benzene vapors, PHMSA reported. Later that year, an underground leak of more than 7,000 barrels was discovered by a mine inspector in Alabama. That leak was attributed to pipe fatigue caused by improper preparation of the soil beneath it. For both incidents, the company agreed to pay the state $3.3 million to cover damages and penalties. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Colonial Pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial Pipeline","Colonial pipeline"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ransomware attack","Ransomware attack","ransomware attack","ransomware attack","ransomware attack","ransomware attack"]}]}
+{"title":"Chand raat bazaars, shopping malls, public places to remain closed from May 8-16 across Pakistan","document":"Chand raat bazaars, shopping malls, public places, and recreational spots will all remain closed from May 8-16, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) said Thursday. The NCOC, in a statement, said: \"The current spike of COVID-19 in the country merits effective measures to arrest its further spread with special emphasis on reducing mobility during forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.\" In this regard, it has announced comprehensive “Stay home, stay safe\" guidelines for Eid-uI-Fitr-2021 to curb the spread of the virus. The restrictions will be in place from May 8-16. All markets, businesses, and shops will remain closed except essential services, which include: Moreover, the ban on chand raat bazaars extends to mehndi, jewelry/ornaments and clothing stalls, the NCOC said. A complete ban on tourism would also be observed for both locals and foreigners. All tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls will remain shut. All hotels and restaurants around tourist and picnic spots will remain closed. \"Travel nodes leading to tourist/picnic spots closed; focus on Murree, Galiyat, Swat-Kalam, Sea View/beaches, and Northern Areas and other tourist destinations,\" the statement said. Locals, especially people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, would be allowed to travel back home, the statement said. A complete ban on inter-provincial, inter-city, and intra-city public transport will be observed except for private vehicles, taxis, rickshaws, with 50% occupancy. \"Additional trains to manage extra passenger load till May 7, thereafter normal train operation [will] be resumed. 70% occupancy along with stringent COVID SOPs [should] be ensured,\" it said. Moreover, Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Pakistan would be observed from May 10-15, NCOC said. Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio jumped to 9.6% today after the country reported over 5,000 new infections in the last 24 hours. According to the official data provided by the NCOC, 5,480 people tested positive for the coronavirus, after 57,013 tests were conducted across the country. The total tally of COVID-19 cases now stands at 815,711, with most cases reported in Punjab. The number of recoveries nationwide has reached 708,193 so far, while the number of active cases in the country stands at 89,838 as of today. A day earlier, Pakistan reported the highest single-day death toll recorded since the pandemic started last year with over 200 new fatalities. The \"fake news\" claims SSGC specified hours of the day during which gas will be supplied to domestic consumers Nazim Jokhio was held hostage and tortured at warehouse in Jam House, say police Immediately stop airing Noor Mukadam CCTV footage, PEMRA instructs TV channels COVID-19 killed 11 more people in last 24 hours, NCOC data shows Secretary Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Sukkur announces results of Intermediate Science and Arts groups PDM fighting for the country's survival and it will win in this struggle, PDM chief Fazl says","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["All tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls","shopping malls","raat bazaars, shopping malls, public places, and recreational spots","raat bazaars","shopping malls","All hotels and restaurants around tourist and picnic spots","picnic spots","picnic spots","Eid-uI-Fitr-2021","All markets, businesses, and shops"]},{"role":"Date","values":["from May 8-16"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Pakistan","Pakistan","Pakistan"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["spike of COVID-19","COVID","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Multiple fall festivals in Phoenix canceled due to COVID-19 concerns","document":"SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A handful of outdoor fall festivals in the Valley have been canceled due to increasing concerns surrounding the spread of the delta variant amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The AZCentral Wine & Food Experience, Arizona Taco Festival, Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival, and Tempe Oktoberfest have all been canceled, organizers announced Tuesday. Recent Stories from abc15.com The Arizona Taco Festival was scheduled for Oct. 23 & 24, 2021, Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival on Oct. 29 & 30, and AZCentral Wine & Food Experience on Nov. 6, 2021, all at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, near Scottsdale, and part of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Tempe Oktoberfest was scheduled for Oct. 8-10, 2021, at Tempe Beach Park. Producers for the Arizona Taco Festival cited \"heightened public health concerns amid the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and others\" as the reason for the cancellation of this year's event. That event has now been rescheduled for two weekends in 2022: a spring festival on April 9 & 10 and a fall festival on October 22 & 23. A spokesperson said those who purchased tickets to the taco festival would receive an email with information by Aug. 31, including refund options. However, tickets will be honored for the new spring festival dates. The Spooktacular event will be rescheduled for fall 2022, while another event is being planned for the spring, organizers said. In a statement to ABC15, Jason Taylor, president of USA Today Network Ventures, said the Wine & Food Experience was canceled \"out of an abundance of caution.\" \"Our priority is to ensure that we celebrate our communities in a safe environment. Given the current COVID-19 indicators, we will evaluate rescheduling in the near future,\" he said. A rescheduled date has not been announced. \"Given the current situation surrounding the Delta variant, potential local government restrictions, and the financial burden to produce the event, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Four Peaks Oktoberfest,\" organizers said in a statement. \"We look forward to sharing live music, brats, and beer with you next year for the 50th annual Four Peaks Oktoberfest,\" the statement read. Other events, however, are moving forward as planned. Related: 18 art, food, and music fall festivals happening around the Valley Yoga in the Outfield on Nov. 7, 2021, and AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews on Nov. 13, 2021, will both remain scheduled as planned at Salt River Fields, but with more social distancing between attendees, organizers said. David Tyda, who produces the Phoenix Pizza Festival in downtown Phoenix, said in a brief text message that his festival, set for Nov. 13 & 14 at Margaret T. Hance Park, was \"so far still a go.\" ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["AZCentral Wine & Food Experience","AZCentral Wine","Food Experience","Food Experience","The Arizona Taco Festival","Arizona Taco Festival","Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival","Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival","Tempe Oktoberfest","Tempe Oktoberfest","outdoor fall festivals"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Oct. 23 & 24, 2021","Oct. 29 & 30","Nov. 6, 2021","Oct. 8-10, 2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SCOTTSDALE, AZ","Scottsdale"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["increasing concerns surrounding the spread of the delta variant amid the COVID-19 pandemic","public health concerns"]}]}
+{"title":"West Side initiative hopes to revitalize closed school in Austin","document":"A $120 million effort, led by the Westside Health Authority, would turn the vacant Robert Emmet Elementary School into a hub for job development, housing and retail opportunities. In 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel shut down 50 schools across the city. Now, eight years later, one of those schools will be transformed into a multi-use resource facility for West Side residents. Four years after it was closed, Austin’s Westside Health Authority acquired the Robert Emmet Elementary School through a CPS auction. According to Morris Reed, the Health Authority’s CEO, they were up against one other group who wanted to turn it into a medical facility. But the community rejected the idea, Reed said, and asked for something that could be built with residents’ suggestions. The Health Authority, which uses community input to promote community wellness and development, saw an opportunity to provide what many were asking for. “The community always felt like the school was a very visible symbol of our failures to meet the needs of our young people and to put youth on a path to have careers, to be employed, to improve the quality of life for young adults in the city of Chicago, particularly in Austin and on the West Side,” said Reed. Now, Reed and his organization plan to generate economic growth through their Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, to be built in the former elementary school at 5500 W. Madison St. Plans call for work to start next spring. “We’re at a critical time in our community,” said Reed. “But now we have an opportunity for the rebirth of the West Side. So what’s really important for us is to make sure that there’s the infrastructure and structural mechanisms where ordinary people can take a part of this new economic growth.” The Health Authority will renovate the existing building, then lease space in it to other groups that provide services such as workforce development, job placement, banking, or helping residents find affordable housing. The center is the spearhead of a larger initiative, one that would use several community organizations to bring a multitude of resources to the West Side. By The Hand Club For Kids, Austin Coming Together and the Austin College and Career Academy are the Health Authority’s partners for the initiative. That effort calls for expanding to other sites in central Austin where other services could be offered, such as early childhood education, or help with buying a home. It also wants to help bring other retail businesses to the area. The Health Authority met with Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), whose ward covers most of Austin, to discuss the project on Sept. 10. Taliaferro said later that he’s looking forward to the project. “Now we’ll have a project that will help build up the West Side,” Taliaferro said. “Historically, we’ve been disinvested. This is an opportunity for the community to come together with education, jobs and other resources.” Westside Health Authority has also sent their proposal to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., whose congressional district includes Austin. “It’s not easy to redevelop communities that are old, that are distressed,” Davis said. But, he added, bringing jobs back into the community is one of the best ways to spur redevelopment. “We’ve got to track jobs back to the inner city, where the large Black population is,” Davis said. The Health Authority hopes to get some funding from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal, if it passes Congress, Reed said. Taliaferro estimated the project could cost about $25 million, but added it was impossible to be too precise on the final price tag. The overall Aspire Initiative is expected to cost $120 million over the next 10 years, Reed said. Besides potential federal funding, it will raise money from private investors and grants and seek other capital support from the city. It also could qualify for tax credits. Reed said the state already has awarded his organization a $10 million grant for the Aspire Center project, and he also hopes to secure some funding from the city. Cheyanne M. Daniels is a staff reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times via Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster the paper’s coverage of communities on the South and West sides. Kevin Tinker was shot to death while standing on a sidewalk Sunday evening in the 200 block of West 110th Place, Chicago police said. Sure it was the Lions, but a win is a win. The Bears benched starting cornerback Kindle Vildor in favor of Artie Burns, and more. After the verdicts were read, Wanda Cooper-Jones thought of her son’s supporters at the Glynn County Courthouse who shouted \"Justice for Ahmaud!\" every day. \"I finally got a chance to come out of those courtroom doors and say, we did it, we did it together.\" The city reached that goal a month early, but many neighborhoods on the South and West sides still lag behind.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Robert Emmet Elementary School","Robert Emmet Elementary School","50 schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2013","eight years later"]},{"role":"Location","values":["city of Chicago","Chicago","Chicago"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Disney Store closings: More locations are closing but here’s the list of stores staying open — for now","document":"The Walt Disney Co. previously announced plans to close nearly 60 of its full-size retail locations across the country \"on or before\" Sept. 15. As of Sept. 14, the store locator tool didn't indicate which locations may have already closed and which are ending liquidation sales Wednesday. Another two locations are set to close \"on or before\" Sept. 22. After the latest closures, about two dozen stores will remain, the store locator showed Tuesday. The closings don't affect more than 600 stores inside Disney theme parks and other locations, including small Disney shops inside Target stores. ►Happy Meal toys:McDonald's Disney toys arrive in Happy Meals to mark Disney World's 50th anniversary ►New Disney Store locations:Target to add more than 100 Disney Store locations by the end of 2021, releases top toy list The company said in March that it was reducing the number of stores to focus on its e-commerce business. It announced nearly 40 closures . \"While consumer behavior has shifted toward online shopping, the global pandemic has changed what consumers expect from a retailer,” Stephanie Young, president of consumer products, games and publishing, said in a statement at the time. The closures come as Target plans to open more than 100 new Disney shops inside its stores by the end of 2021. It's also right before Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary. California, which is losing 18 stores after the Sept. 22 closure of the Sacramento store, will have five remaining stores, which is the most of any state. Texas will have four stores, but many states will have a single location left.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["nearly 60 of its full-size retail","18 stores","Sacramento store"]},{"role":"Date","values":["\"on or before\" Sept. 15. As of Sept. 14","after the Sept. 22"]},{"role":"Location","values":["across the country","California","Texas"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["focus on its e-commerce business"]}]}
+{"title":"BHG Bugis Junction closed until Aug 30; Covid-19 cluster grows to 61","document":"SINGAPORE — The BHG Bugis Junction department store will be closed to the public for another five days until Aug 30 to break any potential chain of Covid-19 transmission linked to it. The Ministry of Health (MOH), which announced this in its nightly update of the coronavirus situation on Wednesday (Aug 25), said that there are now a total of 61 cases linked to the Bugis Junction cluster after 38 more were added for the day. Of these 61 cases, 51 are people who work at the mall — of whom 46 are workers of BHG, a department store. The remaining 10 are visitors to the mall. MOH said that staff members who have been working in the affected shops at the mall are being tested and that close contacts of the confirmed cases will be quarantined. The ministry had on Tuesday extended free Covid-19 testing for members of the public who had visited the retail shops or used the services or facilities at the mall. Separately, MOH said that there were 10 new cases linked to the Selarang Halfway House, bringing the total number of infections there to 19. The Selarang Halfway House is a facility located on Upper Changi Road North that runs programmes to help former prisoners better reintegrate into society. Among the 19 infected there, 17 are supervisees (the ex-offenders) and two are household or workplace contacts of these supervisees. By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis. “All staff of Selarang Halfway House and residents of the affected block have been tested for Covid-19, and all close contacts of cases and supervisees living in the same block will be placed on quarantine,” MOH said. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The BHG Bugis Junction department store"]},{"role":"Date","values":["another five days until Aug 30"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["break any potential chain of Covid-19 transmission"]}]}
+{"title":"School closure, opening decisions for Wednesday, Sept. 15","document":"As rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas move through Acadiana, school districts are updating on openings/closures. Below is a list of decisions from school districts for Wednesday, September 14. We have reached out to each district and will update this list with information as we receive it. ACADIA PARISH The Acadia Parish School System will be open Wednesday, September 15th. We will continue to monitor weather conditions overnight and announce any changes - if needed - as early as we possibly can in the morning. Students that have difficulty getting to school due to any reasons associated with the weather will be excused. CALCASIEU PARISH All Calcasieu Parish schools and facilities will be open Wednesday, September 15. All SOWELA campuses were closed Tuesday, September 14, in preparation for Tropical Storm Nicholas. For official updates, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to follow SOWELA.edu. If assistance is needed, contact info@SOWELA.edu. All SOWELA Technical Community College campuses will be open on Wednesday, September 15. If students, faculty, or staff need assistance, please contact the College at info@sowela.edu. EVANGELINE PARISH Evangeline Parish Schools and District offices will be closed on Wednesday, September 15. According to Superintendent Darwan Lazard, the closure is due to flooded roads and road closures in the parish from Nicholas. Schools will implement remote learning where possible, he says. Sacred Heart School in Ville Platte is also closed Wednesday due to road closures. IBERIA PARISH Iberia Parish Public Schools will have remote learning on Wednesday, September 15. JEFF DAVIS PARISH All Jeff Davis Parish Schools/Offices will be open on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. We understand that there will be low-lying areas where excessive water prevents buses from passing or parents from being able to transport students to school. Students in this situation will be excused from school tomorrow as student safety is our primary concern. All students who checked out Chromebooks from the school are expected to return Chromebooks tomorrow. Students unable to get to school tomorrow are strongly encouraged to continue to participate in virtual learning. In these cases, Chromebooks will return to school when students return. LAFAYETTE PARISH All Lafayette Parish schools and facilities will be open on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. As a precaution, buses will not travel on roadways that appear to have high water levels because drivers cannot accurately determine the depth of standing water. Based on your individual circumstances, parents and guardians may decide attendance is not best for your family at this time. If you feel conditions are not safe, you may choose to keep your student home. Carencro Catholic will be open on Wednesday, September 15. Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy will be open on Wednesday, September 15. Westminster Christian Academy will resume on-campus classes on Wednesday, September 15. Lafayette Christian Academy will reopen on Wednesday, September 15th. ST. LANDRY PARISH All St. Landry Parish schools and facilities will be open Wednesday, September 15, 2021. St. Landry Charter School will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 15 due to water damage. The school will resume classes on Thursday, Sept. 16. All JS Clark Leadership Academy - Opelousas schools and facilities will be open Wednesday, September 15. ST. MARTIN PARISH All St. Martin Parish Schools will be open Wednesday, September 15. ST. MARY PARISH All St. Mary Parish schools will open as scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 15. VERMILION PARISH Vermilion Parish schools will be open Wednesday, September 15. It will be a full day, not a 1/2 Professional Development day as previously planned. Students will report all day. Leblanc Elementary and JH Williams Middle will be closed as they were previously scheduled to be closed all day for School Wide In-Service Vermilion Catholic will return to school Wednesday, September 15th. DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE Due to weather, some Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lafayette will be closed on Wednesday, September 15: Catholic High in New IberiaSt. Edwards in New Iberia OTHER DECISIONS LSU Eunice will be open on Wednesday, September 15 for normal instruction and business hours. All South Louisiana Community College campuses will be open Wednesday, Sept. 15 and classes will be held as planned. If you are a student living in a low-lying area and can't attend class, please contact your instructors. If you are an employee who lives in a low-lying area and can't make it to work, please contact your supervisor.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["All SOWELA campuses","Evangeline Parish Schools and District offices","Sacred Heart School","IBERIA PARISH Iberia Parish Public Schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday, September 15","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","September 15","Wednesday","15","Wednesday","Tuesday, September 14"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Acadiana"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["flooded roads and road closures in the parish from Nicholas","Nicholas","Parish","PARISH","Parish","road closures","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","PARISH","Parish","rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas","Tropical Storm Nicholas"]}]}
+{"title":"The first day the two shopping malls in Jurong East reopened for business after a mandatory two-week closure","document":"SINGAPORE - Dinner-time crowds were thin at Jem and Westgate on Sunday (June 6), the first day the two shopping malls in Jurong East reopened for business after a mandatory two-week closure. The two malls were linked to a Covid-19 cluster that numbered 63 cases as at Saturday. When The Straits Times visited the malls at 7pm on Sunday for two hours, some shoppers said it was not as crowded as it was on weekends before the closures. The malls had been closed since May 23 for deep cleaning of the premises, after investigations by the Ministry of Health found likely ongoing transmission among visitors to the two malls. Both malls told ST that they have completed deep cleaning and disinfection works prior to the reopening. The air in Westgate's air-conditioned areas will be purged daily before the mall opens for business each day, said CapitaLand, which operates Westgate. Air dampers in the building are also fully opened to improve air intake in the mall's kitchens and toilets. CapitaLand said it has also ramped up cleaning protocols in the mall. After the mall closes for the day, autonomous ultraviolet (UV) disinfection robots will be deployed to disinfect the premises. This comes on top of other precautions including placing disinfection floor mats at key entrances and coating high contact areas with an anti-microbial disinfectant. Jem will continue to maintain its enhanced cleaning regime and safe distancing protocols, said its operator Lendlease Singapore. Lendlease head of asset operations Jenny Khoo said: \"Jem reopened smoothly today after completing all the required disinfection and deep cleaning works in collaboration with our tenants. We are excited to welcome shoppers back, with the roll-out of attractive perks for shoppers to enjoy.\" On Sunday evening, a number of retail stores and eateries were closed in both Westgate and Jem. Shoppers were sparse at popular haunts like Ikea and Don Don Donki, both located in Jem. Mr Ang Won Leong, 28, who works in security at Changi Airport, said he took the opportunity to visit Ikea, as he has not been there since the furniture store opened on April 29. Mr Ang, who was with his girlfriend, said: \"We just wanted to leave our house and walk around for a bit to do some shopping and buy food. I wouldn't say we're worried - it's just another day.\" A shopper who wanted to be known as Ms Mondal, 35, said her five-year-old daughter had been asking to leave the house, so she decided to visit Jem for her daughter's haircut and grocery shopping. \"There're very few people around. I was expecting more people, especially since it's dinner time,\" said Ms Mondal, who works in the oil and gas industry, adding that she typically visits both malls around twice a week prior to the closures. A shopper, who gave his name only as Ze, said he came to Jem to do grocery shopping at the FairPrice supermarket with his wife. \"There're a lot fewer people today, perhaps because some of the shops are not open and the no dining-in rule takes away a lot of crowd,\" said the 37-year-old who works in a bank. \"We always use the free hand sanitiser they put up everywhere in the mall and we do what we can to safeguard ourselves, so we think it's okay to come out.\" Mr Kaunt, who is from Myanmar and goes by one name, said he is less worried, as he had received his second Covid-19 vaccination jab a few weeks ago. He was waiting for his wife outside Jem's FairPrice supermarket with his daughter, aged four. Said the 42-year-old engineer: \"I feel the community cases situation is more under control now, compared to when we had the circuit breaker last year, so that's why more people are relieved and feel safer to come out.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Jem and Westgate","Westgate","Westgate","Jem","Jem","Westgate","Jem","Jem","Jem","Jem","Jem"]},{"role":"Date","values":["two-week","week","since May 23"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE","Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Covid-19 cluster that numbered 63 cases","Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"The BHG department store was shut on Tuesday for cleaning and disinfecting works","document":"SINGAPORE - The BHG department store in Bugis Junction was shut on Tuesday (Aug 24) for cleaning and disinfecting works, after a member of its staff tested positive for Covid-19. BHG announced on Tuesday the store closure on its Facebook page, saying its staff member had tested positive the day before. “We have since informed all staff who had been in close contact to self-quarantine and undergo swab tests,” BHG said. It added that the Bugis Junction store will reopen on Thursday. The news comes as the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday announced 20 new infections linked to the shopping mall. A spokesman for Bugis Junction said the mall has “taken the necessary environmental cleaning measures in accordance with the authority’s guidelines���. They include increasing the frequency of cleaning common touchpoints, and enhancing air circulation in the mall by conducting daily air purging and fully opening air dampers to maximise outdoor air intake. These are among the guidelines spelt out in a directive issued by the Building and Construction Authority, National Environment Agency and MOH in May. The suddenness of the news seems to have affected shoppers. Businesses in the mall saw slower sales. “Usually, by 3pm, we would have already sold 100 cups of tea. Today, we sold only 40,” said Ms Lee Su Teng, 21, a saleswoman at ShareTea, which is at an open area near BHG. Nearby, bag accessory shop Bratpack saw zero sales for most of the morning and early afternoon. “Our business has been reduced by at least 50 per cent. Usually by 3.30pm, we’ll have 15 customers. Today - not even a single one,” said Ms Kam Yok Chan, a staff member at the shop. Some shops remain hopeful that the footfall will pick up. “Bugis Junction is quite popular, so (it) having a cluster is a sooner or later thing. I think other malls will face this problem as well,” said a store owner, who would only give his name as Ken. “It’s no big deal. Nowadays, a lot of places are closing down because of the virus. Like I think West Gate was closed twice - even Jewel also got it.” Staff members working in the mall are taking things in their stride. Ms Koong Wei Heong, who works at Ya Kun Kaya Toast in the mall, said: \"We are feeling pretty calm because we get tested every two weeks. We were just tested on Aug 20.\" Ms Koong was referring to the fast and easy test (FET) workers in higher-risk settings, like dine-in eateries, have to undergo every 14 days. The FET regime can include antigen rapid tests. She added that she is waiting to find out if she needs a swab test as well, following the emergence of the cluster linked to the mall. \"Not many people visited the mall on Wednesday. They are probably afraid after hearing news of the cluster,\" said Ms Koong.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The BHG department store"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Bugis Junction","Bugis Junction","Bugis Junction","Bugis Junction","SINGAPORE"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a member of its staff tested positive for Covid-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Some shops have closed temporarily due to a cluster of Covid-19 cases emerged","document":"SINGAPORE - Businesses at Bugis Junction are reeling from the drastic drop in footfall since a cluster of Covid-19 cases emerged at the mall on Aug 24. Infections there ballooned to 246 on Thursday (Sept 2), from 20 cases initially. Some business owners and employees at units ranging from clothing stores to restaurants said footfall had plummeted by about 90 per cent in the past week, despite measures such as deep cleaning and quarantining. Some shops have closed temporarily as it was not worth operating at present, or because employees had been infected with the virus. The manager of a clothing store, who gave his name only as Mr Eric, said this had been the worst drop in customers that he has seen this year. Ms Cheng Wei Li, 35, an employee at a gadget shop, also said footfall had been low. \"Maybe it will get better after one or two weeks,\" she said in Mandarin. Mr Jaryl Foo, 22, who works at anime merchandise shop Otaku House, said he has seen close to zero sales in the past week. \"People want to avoid this place now,\" he said. \"At first I was very concerned about the cases as I am working here, but at least I am vaccinated.\" An employee who works at a food stall in the basement said many stalls had closed early because there was no business, and the queues at popular stalls had disappeared. Said the 28-year-old woman, who did not want to be named: \"Everyone is scared of this place. Normally the shops here have really long queues.\" Like other staff at the mall, she was sent for a mandatory Covid-19 swab test, one of several measures taken by the mall to weed out infections. In addition, close contacts of cases have been quarantined, and free testing was offered to members of the public who had visited shops or used the services at specific times. The mall management has carried out deep cleaning and disinfection of the mall's toilets and common areas on all floors in the past week. The air-conditioning filters were also replaced, said a Bugis Junction spokesman. The vaccination rate among Bugis Junction centre management staff is close to 100 per cent, and all tenants have completed a round of mandatory swab tests arranged by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The spokesman said in response to queries from The Straits Times: \"We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and together with our tenants, we will take the necessary measures as advised by the authorities.\" Those working at the mall said staff at department store BHG contributed to at least 70 cases, or more than a quarter of those in the Bugis Junction cluster. BHG staff said employees who were stationed at the outlet when the cluster emerged had been issued quarantine orders and all workers present since then were on rotation from other outlets of the chain. Like the rest of the mall, shoppers were sparse on the three levels of the BHG outlet when ST visited on Thursday afternoon. Brand promoters and staff were also spread thin, with many stands unmanned and fewer than five promoters left to keep tabs on a few dozen brands on the third level of BHG. It is understood that the majority of the outlet's original staff will return next week after completing their quarantine. When contacted, a BHG spokesman said the outlet was reopened to shoppers on Wednesday (Sept 1), after a week of thorough cleaning. Starting with Bugis Junction, safety ambassadors are being introduced in all their outlets to ensure shoppers and staff adhere to the rules. The store is also sanitised at least five times a day, including clothes that are returned after fitting. Staff and brand promoters will undergo regular swab tests and temperature tests as well, added the spokesman. The number of infections linked to Bugis Junction is creeping closer to the 253 cases in the KTV cluster, which emerged on July 12 and infected patrons and hostesses across many outlets. The KTV infections then sparked off Singapore's largest active Covid-19 cluster at the Jurong Fishery Port, which stands at 1,155 cases. Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, vice-dean of global health and Infectious Diseases Programme leader at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said the cases would continue to rise as Singapore has gradually relaxed restrictions on dining out and social gatherings. He added that Bugis Junction is \"a busy mall with high footfall, and therefore at potential risk of super-spreader events\" and advised staff to see a doctor if they experience any symptoms, or test positive on a self-test using an antigen rapid testing kit. Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist from the Rophi Clinic, said the surge in cases at the mall could be because it was located at a busy intersection of two MRT lines. He added that he was most concerned about unvaccinated cases in the cluster, who are more at risk. \"Consistently, individuals who have been vaccinated would have very mild disease,\" he said, pointing out that among the thousands of vaccinated individuals who had fallen ill with Covid-19, only one elderly patient had died. He advised staff at the mall to practise social distancing, wear good quality masks that are tight against the face and to get vaccinated. \"This is progressively becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,\" he said. \"If you are vaccinated, you are generally safe. (In most cases) vaccination takes the teeth out of a bite, rendering the virus a harmless bark.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Some shops"]},{"role":"Date","values":["temporarily"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE","Singapore","Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["cluster of Covid-19 cases emerged","Covid-19","cluster","cluster","cluster","Covid-19","19 cluster","cluster","Covid"]}]}
+{"title":"After 162 years, department store stalwart Robinsons is throwing in the towel","document":"SINGAPORE - After 162 years, department store stalwart Robinsons is throwing in the towel. It said on Friday (Oct 30) it is closing its last two department stores here at The Heeren and Raffles City Shopping Centre. The retailer said the decision to liquidate its stores was prompted by a range of factors, including changing consumer tastes and cost pressures such as rent. “The overarching business model of department stores is outdated,” it said in a statement. Robinsons also said decision to liquidate came after the stores' \"inability to continue operations due to weak demand at department stores\". While the retailer’s e-commerce platforms are no longer operational, shoppers can continue to visit its bricks-and-mortar stores for the time being. The last day for the two physical stores is not clear. Robinsons said the appointed liquidators are in negotiations with the landlords but “we hope that the stores will stay open for the coming weeks”. Robinsons stores in Malaysia, located at Shoppes at Four Seasons Place and The Gardens Mall, will also be liquidated. But other retailers under the Al-Futtaim Group, which include Marks & Spencer and Zara, will not be affected, a spokesman has confirmed. Mr Danny Lim, Robinsons' senior general manager, said: \"We regret this outcome today. Despite recent challenges in the industry, the Robinsons team continued to pursue the success of the brand. \"However, the changing consumer landscape makes it difficult for us to succeed over the long term and the Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated our challenges. \"We have enjoyed success over the years, and it has been an honour for Robinsons to serve the Singapore market. I am grateful for the dedication of our team, and for the support shown by our customers over the years.\" Robinsons said changing retail trends brought about by the rise of e-commerce and lower demand for department stores are to blame for slumping retail sales, a problem that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Robinsons was bought by the Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group in 2008 for $600 million. In 2016, the Al-Futtaim group, which owns Robinsons and other franchises such as John Little and Bebe, announced that it would be closing 10 or more stores in Singapore, citing the challenging retail environment. Robinsons suffered losses for at least the last six years from shrinking sales, The Business Times reported. In 2018, the chain sank $54.4 million into the red after revenue fell to $153.8 million. In comparison, turnover was $257.3 million in 2014. Its Raffles City store opened its doors in 2001 and the retailer later opened its flagship store at The Heeren in 2013, occupying six floors and 186,000 sq feet. Then in 2016, Robinsons launched its first e-commerce website and also closed the last John Little outlet in Plaza Singapura at the end of the same year. In the third quarter of this year, Robinsons closed its Jem outlet in Jurong East, which had opened in 2013. Following Robinsons’ announcement on Friday, OCBC Bank said it is cancelling its OCBC Robinsons Credit Card from April 15 next year. Mr Vincent Tan, head of cards business at OCBC, said: “We are grateful to have been able to partner Robinsons in a successful co-branded credit card platform in Singapore over the past 18 years.” Robinsons also encouraged all customers holding on to Robinsons gift cards and vouchers to redeem them as soon as possible. “The stores in Singapore will accept Robinsons...gift cards and vouchers during the liquidation process and for as long as the stores remain open,” it said. Customers at Robinsons stores here were also told on Friday that vouchers can be used only for purchases at least double the value of the vouchers. This means that a $20 voucher, for example, can be used only with a minimum spend of $40. Corporate advisory and restructuring firm KordaMentha's Mr Cameron Duncan and Mr David Kim have been appointed provisional liquidators, said Robinsons on Friday. The provisional liquidators will now take control of the company's assets and assess options to realise value in order to maximise returns to creditors. \"Subject to confirmation, the liquidators are hoping the stores will remain open for the coming weeks to facilitate final sales for customers before they are shuttered,\" Robinsons added in the statement. The retailer said that its employees were informed on Friday by management and the provisional liquidators of the liquidation, adding that they have been assured that the liquidators will now work to maximise returns to creditors, including employees. The company employs 175 staff here. Robinsons said its management has ensured that employees are supported with payments in keeping with the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act. They will be made to workers in the next payment cycle. “(This) is well in advance of the usual liquidation process timing which would usually take months,” the company added. The payments will be on top of employees’ salaries, which will be paid in full in line with the number of hours worked, said Robinsons. “All store operations staff under Robinsons Singapore and Malaysia will remain in the employment of Robinsons until further notice,” the company said. “Any staff movement will depend on the circumstances. We are doing our best to see how we can accommodate Robinsons staff in other brands.” KordaMentha will now aim to work with the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union, the National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute and the NTUC Job Security Council to ensure that employees are supported. The liquidators will also leverage existing government schemes such as SkillsFuture Singapore's SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. For the liquidation of Robinsons’ two stores in Malaysia, Datuk Robert Teo Keng Tuan of RSM Malaysia was appointed on Friday as interim liquidator. When contacted, Raffles City Singapore said it is in discussions with Robinsons on the smooth handover of the premises. “Shoppers can look forward to a refreshed Raffles City tenant mix with the introduction of exciting offerings. More details will be shared in due course,” it added. Some shoppers like housewife Suyan Hong, 48, were \"totally stunned\" when told that Robinsons was in provisional liquidation. \"I knew that they were downsizing after they announced the closure of their (Jem) outlet. But usually when downsizing happens it's a cost-cutting measure that will help the business’ margins improve. I didn't expect them to shut down,\" she said. Ms Hong said that the department store introduced her to brands such as Jigsaw, Whistle and Trucco which she frequently buys from. \"I will miss the spontaneous experience of being able to find anything from clothes, homeware and children’s items in one place at Robinsons,\" she said. \"Robinsons is where I would go for last-minute shopping during the holiday season.\"","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["10 or more stores","stores","stores","stores","stores","stores","stores","last two department stores","Robinsons stores","Robinsons stores","John Little outlet","Jem outlet"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2016","2016","the third quarter of this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","Singapore","The Heeren and Raffles City Shopping Centre","Heeren","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia","Malaysia"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["a range of factors, including changing consumer tastes and cost pressures such as rent","Covid-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Event schedule announced for 2021 Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree after twice cancellation","document":"Organizers of the annual Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree recently announced the schedule for the upcoming 2021 event, which is being held on October 29 and October 30 on Ocracoke Island. The Jamboree commemorates the last days of Blackbeard the pirate, who was killed off Ocracoke on Nov. 22, 1718. After being canceled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and canceled in 2019 due to Hurricane Dorian, the annual Jamboree is returning to Ocracoke this year, although there are several changes due to the ongoing pandemic, and the post-Dorian landscape. “Ocracoke Island, like everyone else, is climbing out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the island is also recovering from the flooding devastation from Hurricane Dorian in 2019,” stated an earlier update from event organizers. “So, Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree will go on Oct. 29 and 30, but will be scaled back this year.” “This year, too, the festival will focus more on history and colonial life and on family fun. Festival-goers will be urged to eat and drink in any of Ocracoke’s many restaurants.” Friday, Oct. 29 Artist vendors open from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Berkley Manor grounds Friday 7 p.m. inside the Berkley Barn – ‘The Incredible ‘Blackbeard’s Ghost’ Rocky Horror Picture Show!” including a discussion about Pirates and Fake News in 1718. Join us to watch the movie “Blackbeard’s Ghost” (1968) and shout our favorite lines from the movie. Popcorn & sodas for sale. Saturday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. – The Colonial Village and Brigands Bazaar vendor fair on the Berkley Manor grounds opens as a cannon blast wakes up Ocracoke! Activities for all throughout the day until 6 p.m. 10 a.m. – A Pirate Parade! With anyone who wants to join in and the walking giant Blackbeard puppet and Jimmy Bones. Parade musters at Ride the Wind Surf Shop and parade ends at the encampment. 10:30 a.m. – Motley Tones perform in Community Square. 11 a.m. – A pirate ship (ADVENTURE) invades Silver Lake and is met by the Royal Navy (MEKA II). 11:30 a.m. Inside the Berkley Barn – Kevin Duffus presents a talk: “The Pamlico Pirates—Who were they? What did they do, and why did they do it?” 12 p.m. outside the Berkley Barn – Sword Circle gives a stage fighting demonstration. 1 p.m. inside the Berkley Barn – Kevin Duffus presents: “Who was William Howard—Pirate Quartermaster or Ocracoke owner?” 1:30 p.m. – Motley Tones perform (TBD) 2 p.m. – Three-boat battle in Silver Lake between Blackbeard and Maynard. “Battle of Ocracoke.” 4 p.m. at the Berkley Barn – The Sword Circle demonstrates stage fighting. 5 p.m. inside the Berkley Barn – The 13th Annual Blackbeard Pirate and Royal Navy Memorial Service","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree","Pirate Jamboree"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2019","2019","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ocracoke Island","Ocracoke Island"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["Hurricane Dorian","Hurricane Dorian","Coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 in Florida classrooms results in school closures, concern","document":"VERO BEACH, Fla. — Just a month into the second year of \"pandemic school\" and Florida school districts are struggling to keep up. In Indian River County, positive cases and quarantine forced the district to close two of its schools this week. SPECIAL COVERAGE: Coronavirus \"It's just not sustainable when you don't have the people to run the school,\" said Scott Simpson, the principal at Treasure Coast Elementary. Recent Stories from wptv.com Indian River County is one of four Florida school districts that have already taken the drastic measure to close a school amid a widely spreading delta variant. Two small schools districts in North Florida had to shut down all of their schools this week due to the rampant spread of the virus on its campuses. \"I truly feel it is necessary in order to build a stop-gap measure that will prevent the virus from spreading more widely,\" Gulf County School Superintendent Jim Norton posted on the district's Facebook page. From school closures to dozens more classroom quarantines. We've discovered at least 50 classrooms across 11 school districts have been closed to students since the start of the new school year. In Pasco County, the virus has resulted in a half dozen full classroom quarantines impacting elementary, middle and high schools, according to district spokesperson Steve Hegarty. To date, more than 13,000 students in the district have been out due to a positive case or quarantine since the start of the year. \"All these numbers are very concerning, absolutely,\" Hegarty said. The closures are not just an inconvenience but a real challenge for districts still trying to figure out how to effectively educate students in quarantine. Since the state dropped the option for e-learning, districts are relying on virtual programs including Zoom and Google classrooms but teachers aren't a guarantee. \"You're right, we can't necessarily force teachers to do one thing or another and it depends on if the teacher is feeling up to it,” explained Hegarty. \"If the teacher is positive they may not be able to teach,\" he said. In Lee County, nearly three dozen classrooms have shut their doors to students temporarily this year. During a board meeting earlier this week, board member Chris Patricca shared her own son’s experience learning in quarantine. \"There was zero work in Google classroom,\" Patricca said. \"That was an epic failure for those two days for that one kid. He learned nothing,\" she told the district. In much larger Hillsborough County, the district is using a combination of virtual programs and will soon be offering a new 24/7 tutoring program for all students in grades 6-12 regardless of whether they are in quarantine. The district is hiring 10 teachers who will also offer tutoring to students in grades K-5.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["two of its schools","Treasure Coast Elementary","all of their schools","at least 50 classrooms across 11 school districts","nearly three dozen classrooms"]},{"role":"Date","values":["this week","since the start of the new school year","temporarily this year"]},{"role":"Location","values":["VERO BEACH, Fla","Lee County"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["positive cases and quarantine"]}]}
+{"title":"‘We Love NYC’ Concert Canceled at Halfway Point Due to Lightning Threat","document":" Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Maluma and the Killers were among those who never made it to the stage. By Chris Willman Music Writer UPDATED: “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert,” the Clive Davis-programmed concert in Central Park, was called off just past its halfway point Saturday due to lightning strikes occurring within a 10-mile radius of the Great Lawn. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Maluma, Patti Smith and the Killers had yet to appear at the point it was shut down.Those who did get in stage time before the abrupt cancellation included Jennifer Hudson, Andrea Bocelli, Earth Wind & Fire, LL Cool J, Kane Brown, Journey, Santana, Jon Batiste and the New York Philharmonic. Polo G was the last performer to complete a set, albeit his consisted of just one song, the current hit “Rapstar” — still, it could be said that he headlined the massive gathering. The abrupt halt came in the middle of a Barry Manilow medley at 7:37 p.m, as the 60,000 fans in attendance and even those in the VIP area were told to exit immediately. Confusion reigned in the aftermath of the mass exit. Although an announcer could be heard on the CNN broadcast telling attendees that the show was “canceled,” in an effort to convince stragglers to leave, some fans on social media reported that Mayor Bill de Blasio had come out and suggested they take shelter nearby in case the show could be restarted later. Ironically, Manilow had made it far enough in his medley to sing “Copacabana,” “Mandy” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” but fell just short of being able to get to the planned capper to his set, “I Made It Through the Rain.” For nearly three hours afterward, as some of the performers who yet to play waited things out in their trailers, Clive Davis and other organizers talked with city officials with the idea that the show might resume without an audience and wrap up as a pure broadcast event. But the hope of a crowd-free resumption proved to be in vain, with host network CNN announcing just before 10:30 — with rain and lightning still in the area — that there was no possibility of even an impromptu, informal finale. The concert and broadcast were planned to last for five hours. It was two hours and 37 minutes into the show when Manilow, mid-verse in “I Can’t Smile Without You,” was interrupted by an announcer saying: “Attention. Please pay close attention to the following safety measures. Due to approaching severe weather, all persons should move quickly and calmly to the nearest exits and proceed to your vehicles and protected areas.” Some fans were reluctant to leave, but the announcer soon declared over the PA that the event was canceled. Even so, CNN urged viewers to stick around by putting a chyron on screen for much of the following three hours that read, “Concert may resume soon once severe weather passes.” That belief seemed to be more than just a faint hope, as anchor Anderson Cooper interviewed artists in their trailers who said they believed some sort of denouement, even a short one, could be in order, despite fans having been told the concert was off. CNN’s weather anchor said that city officials had previously revealed that the show would have to be called off if there were any lightning strikes within 10 miles, and once those occurred in the Rockaway and Battery areas, there was no choice but to call it off. The lighting strikes represented the passing outer flank of Hurricane Henri, 270 miles away from Manhattan as of showtime. “They called the show, and then everybody said, ‘Wait a minute, we might be back on,'” Costello told Cooper in a phone interview about two hours after the show was shut down. “There is, after all, a big old storm coming…. (But) if there’s a way we can go play a few tunes to bring it to some kind of musical conclusion, that would be great. Let’s see what happens.” It was not to be, even as Cooper kept interviewing stars who were in their trailers, or, in Patti Smith’s case, already offsite. Hearing that host Gayle King was in a trailer where the Killers and others were ensconced, the CNN host cajoled King into FaceTiming the network a live feed of the Killers doing an acoustic “Mr. Brightside,” after she initially balked, apparently in jest, saying she wanted to save it for her CBS show Monday morning. As the 10:00 hour hit, what looked to be about a hundred rain-drenched fans had been allowed back into the area, raising hopes that of a very belated coda for the show. Cooper kept going with what he called “our freeform jazz odyssey of a broadcast,” which got progressively sillier as he bantered with the rained-out stars, with some viewers comparing it to one of his loopier New Year’s Eve broadcasts. When word finally came that the show was canceled-canceled, Cooper went through the final stages of denial. “I’m like the last guy at the party who’s like ‘No! With the time change, we get an extra hour!'” he joked. “I’m being told in my ear that it’s done, but I really feel like I’m not ready to give this up yet… I just felt like we were bonding with all these people and having a fun time, and concerts backstage… Apparently the concert is not happening. This is the word. Is this official? It’s official. It’s not happening, I’m being told over and over. It is sinking in finally. I am superbummed.” “It’s such a shame,” Manilow told Cooper earlier. “They cut us off and threw us off the stage because they were afraid of lightning. It was getting very dangerous out there.” The singer then cued his music director to play “I Made It Through the Rain” on a keyboard over the phone, as Cooper waved his arms back and forth. Early highlights of the show included the revelation of just what Aretha Franklin song “Respect” star Hudson was going to perform: it was “Nessun Dorma,” the operatic piece that Franklin famously sang at the Grammys on little notice when Pavarotti had to pull out. Hudson sang with the Philharmonic, as did Andrea Bocelli, who performed “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “O Sole Mio.” Julia Michaels and JP Saxe joined forces for their duet “If the World Was Ending.” Most of the other performers were afforded two songs apiece, including Santana, who did one number with Wyclef Jean and another with Rob Thomas. Earth Wind & Fire were joined by Lucky Daye on vocals for “You Want My Love” and Babyface guesting on guitar. The biggest crowd response was for a (mostly) vintage rap medley, performed by what emcee DJ Cassidy described as “the Avengers of hip-hop”: LL Cool J and Rev Run (“Mama Said Knock You Out” and “It’s Tricky”), Melle Mel and Scorpio (“The Message”), Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star (“Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”), French Montana, Fat Joe and Remy Ma (“All the Way Up” and “Lean Back”) and younger star A Boogie Wit da Hoodie (“Look Back on It”). Gayle King hosted, and figures called in for introductions included Sen. Chuck Schumer and de Blasio, who called the soon-to-be-truncated event “the greatest concert in the history of New York City.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","concert","concert","concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["past its halfway point Saturday","7:37 p.m"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Central Park","Rockaway and Battery areas"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["severe weather","severe weather","lightning strikes occurring within a 10-mile radius of the Great Lawn"]}]}
+{"title":"3 Popular Department Stores Closing in New York, Hudson Valley","document":" The final Kmart in all of the Hudson Valley will soon close its doors. The Kmart located on Tarrytown Road in White Plains is closing, according to a store closing list released by SB60 Capital Partners. The Westchester County Kmart is the final Kmart in the Hudson Valley, according to Kmart's website. In 2018, the final Kmart in Dutchess County closed. In 2017, the Kmart in Vails Gate also closed. In 2016, Kmart closed its doors on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart","Kmart"]},{"role":"Date","values":["soon","2018","2017","2016"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Hudson Valley","Hudson Valley","Dutchess County","Vails Gate","Route 9 in Poughkeepsie"]},{"role":"Cause","values":null}]}
+{"title":"StubHub giving refunds for canceled events","document":"MADISON (WKOW) -- If you missed out on a canceled event during the pandemic and bought a ticket through StubHub, you could get your money back. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Wisconsin Department of Justice announced a settlement reached with StubHub, Inc. regarding the company’s refusal to pay refunds to Wisconsin consumers for events that were canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under its “FanProtect Guarantee,” StubHub offered consumers full refunds of the purchase price and fees they paid for tickets if their events were canceled. In March 2020, following the mass-cancellation of entertainment events, StubHub stopped honoring its refund guarantee and instead told its customers that they would receive account credits equal to 120% of their purchases to be used for future events and denied their requests for refunds. Customers who purchased tickets before the March 25, 2020 policy change and had their events canceled can receive full refunds of the amounts they paid for their tickets, or they can elect to retain their account credits. More than 8,663 Wisconsin event-goers who purchased tickets on StubHub’s marketplace under terms that included the FanProtect Guarantee are impacted. Consumers who have not been contacted by StubHub and believe they are entitled to a refund should contact StubHub at (866) 788-2482 or DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128. Wisconsin is joined by nine other states and the District of Columbia in a multistate resolution with the company.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["entertainment events"]},{"role":"Date","values":["during the pandemic","March 2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Wisconsin","Wisconsin","Wisconsin","Wisconsin","Wisconsin"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 Cases Close Erie Day School For Two Weeks","document":"A cluster of COVID-19 cases at Erie Day School has closed the private school for a total of two weeks. The Head of School, Dr. Karen Tyler, confirms to Erie News Now that the building closed on Wednesday after several student cases. Remote learning is underway until the school re-opens on October 1. Tyler says there were six positive COVID-19 cases when the school closed this week. As of Thursday, there are a total of 17 positive cases. One staff member is among those testing positive for the virus. The closure comes soon after the start of the new year at Erie Day School, located along 6th Street in Erie. The new school year started on September 7. Tyler says the school has been abiding to the Pennsylvania school mask mandate, and has put other virus mitigation efforts in place. The COVID-prompted closure was made by schools leaders and through the recommendation of the Erie County Health Department.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Dr. Karen Tyler"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Erie Day School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["for a total of two weeks","Wednesday","until the school re-opens on October 1","soon after the start of the new year"]},{"role":"Location","values":null},{"role":"Cause","values":["cluster of COVID-19 cases"]}]}
+{"title":"Stop & Shop to close 19 in-store pharmacies, including Cohasset, Norwell","document":"QUINCY — The Quincy-based grocery chain Stop & Shop will close nearly two dozen of the pharmacies it runs stores in the next two months, including those in Norwell and Cohasset. Stop & Shop Spokeswoman Caroline Medeiros said in an email that the company will close 19 of the pharmacies in its grocery stories by early November. The closures come because of \"steadily declining prescription reimbursements by private and government third-party payors. That decline is impacting retail pharmacies across the country,\" she said. The store will continue top operate 200 pharmacies across the Northeast. Two of the 19 pharmacies that are closing are the Stop & Shop in Norwell and Cohasset, said United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 328 President Tim Melia. Medeiros did not respond to questions about what will happen to the pharmacists in the locations that are closing, where the closures are and what happens to those who have standing prescriptions at the soon-to-be-closed pharmacies. Melia said the only other pharmacy closing in his area, which spans from Rhode Island to the South Shore and down to the Cape and Islands, is in Seekonk. Melia's union represents pharmacy technicians. All pharmacy technicians will be transferred to other pharmacies. Those who are part time and don't want to move stores can stay and work as clerks, Melia said. A report by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission in 2019 took aim at pharmacy benefit mangers by charging consumers more than it reimbursed pharmacies for prescription dugs and pocketing the difference. It also raised concerns among pharmacists about low reimbursement rates. RX COSTS:Do drug benefit managers reduce health costs? SECOND DOSE:Baker promises 'aggressive' booster vaccine rollout One of the biggest pharmacy benefit managers is CVS Caremark. It uses its buying power to set the prices insurance will reimburse for prescription drugs. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["two dozen of the pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","pharmacies","Stop & Shop"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the next two months"]},{"role":"Location","values":["QUINCY","Quincy","Norwell and Cohasset","Norwell","Cohasset"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["steadily declining prescription reimbursements"]}]}
+{"title":"Kid Rock cancels Billy Bob’s concerts, saying band has COVID","document":" arts entertainmentPop Music By Dan Singer 7:56 PM on Aug 26, 2021 CDT Kid Rock’s weekend shows at Billy Bob’s Texas have been canceled, with the singer saying several of his band members have COVID. “I am pissed. Over half the band has [expletive] covid,” he wrote in an largely unprintable series of tweets Thursday, hours after the venue had announced his Friday and Saturday shows would not take place. The rapper, outspoken Republican, country singer and grandfather, 50, was not among those with the virus, he said, adding that he had been vaccinated. The cancellations cut short a two-weekend engagement Kid Rock had planned at the Fort Worth honky-tonk. He played two sold-out shows at the club last weekend, on Friday and Saturday, for about 4,500 people each. The venue is operating at 75% capacity. Asked about Billy Bob’s current health protocols, a spokesperson said the venue checks the temperatures of “all entertainers and their crews” and requires them to use hand sanitizer “when entering the backstage area of the club.” Guests have their temperatures checked by a thermal camera on their way into the building. Anyone over 99.5 gets a refund and a goodbye. In recent weeks, the music industry has moved toward requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests from concertgoers, with artists and promoters leading the push. But a state law banning “vaccine passports” and a number of executive orders from Gov. Greg Abbott make it risky for Texas venues to enforce such policies. After Billy Bob’s did so at a concert earlier this month with Jason Isbell, who requested the protocols, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission gave the club a warning. Marty Travis, general manager of Billy Bob’s, said Kid Rock’s management warned him Wednesday night that members of the band weren’t feeling well. Since then, things had not improved. “This morning they called me and said, ‘Man, half the band is not feeling well right now. We don’t know if it’s COVID or not but, you know, we don’t feel comfortable traveling. And if we can’t give you a hundred percent then we’d rather just cancel the show and let’s redo something next year.’” Fans can get refunds at the point of sale they used to snag tickets. “I’d rather you tell me now than tell me later,” Travis said he told Kid Rock’s rep. A representative for Kid Rock didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, on Aug. 8, Kid Rock played an outdoor concert as part of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. More than 100 coronavirus infections have been linked to the rally, the Washington Post reported Thursday, with cases spread across five states. It wrapped up Aug. 15 after drawing more than half a million bikes to the town, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Dan Singer, Entertainment & Events Editor. Dan Singer edits entertainment and events coverage for The Dallas Morning News.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["shows"]},{"role":"Date","values":["weekend"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Billy Bob’s Texas","Texas","Texas"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["several of his band members have COVID","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"Closed the boarding schools and opened up CPS","document":" Updated: November 26, 2021 @ 2:35 am Claremore, Oklahoma STILLWATER – Oklahoma private applicators still have time to… BARTLESVILLE – Free public health services will be offered t… Kim Duncan’s three adopted daughters, from left, Shalyn, Shyanne and Shelbi, sit smiling with their watermelon in the summer heat. Cetan Sa Winyan, director of the American Indian Movement’s Indian Territory Oklahoma chapter, said all tribes – not just the four already petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court – should stand together against potential changes to the Indian Child Welfare Act in a case the court has been asked to review. “They closed the boarding schools and opened up CPS (Child Protective Services), but it’s the same thing – they’re still coming in and taking our children,” Winyan said. The ICWA was enacted in 1978 to help keep Indigenous children in Indigenous homes. In ICWA cases, the first preference for placement is that the child go to an extended family member, even if the relative is non-Native. Second preference is someone within the child’s tribe; third preference is another tribe. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians of California and the Quinault Indian Nation of Washington are petitioning the Supreme Court to request that the bill remain intact. The state of Texas is challenging the constitutionality of ICWA, claiming it’s a race-based system that makes it more difficult for Native kids to be adopted or fostered into non-Native homes. Another argument is that the law commandeers states too much, giving federal law imbalanced influence in state affairs. A Supreme Court response to the tribes’ petition and the petition filed by the plaintiffs is due Oct. 8. Tribes and advocates argue that ICWA is culturally- and politically-based, not race-based, because tribal nations have political status as sovereign governments under federal law. Cherokee Nation Deputy Attorney General Chrissi Nimmo said the tribe will put all the resources it has into making sure ICWA is protected. “ICWA attempts to keep children connected to their tribe ... and an attack on that is absolutely an attack on tribal sovereignty,” Nimmo said. The bill was enacted to quell the disproportionately high rate of Indigenous children’s removal from their traditional homes, culture, language and dress. Before ICWA passed, 25% to 35% of all Indigenous children were being forcibly “assimilated” from intact Indigenous family structures to predominantly non-Indigenous homes. “There was this bias that would lead to children being placed in foster care for things that weren't abuse or neglect but things mainstream social services didn't understand,” Nimmo said. Te’Ata Loper, partnership grant coordinator for the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association, said ICWA is “vital to the continuation of our tribal nations and tribal families” and is optimistic the court will maintain tribal sovereignty given the legal precedent found “in countless Supreme Court case decisions.” The Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association is a nonprofit supporting Indigenous families and children by providing advocacy, education, training and collaboration with Oklahoma tribes and partner agencies. AIM Indian Territory also provides a support system for tribal families trying to navigate the child welfare system. Winyan said the organization has been working to educate Oklahoma tribes about what’s been happening with ICWA in the courts. She knows some don’t understand the politics of it, or the severity, but Winyan said many can understand ICWA’s impact when it’s compared to the boarding schools era. “It’s just another form of saying, ‘Kill the Indian, Save the Man,’”she said. “It hasn't changed.” One mother from the Cherokee Nation has seen the impacts Indigenous children face when raised in non-Indigenous homes. Kim Duncan adopts and fosters children through the tribe. She and her husband, also an enrolled Cherokee member, became certified to foster and adopt in December 2017 and shortly thereafter took in two girls who were also Cherokee. The girls, then ages 9 and 10, had gone through six different non-Indigenous homes between Dec. 13 and Dec. 28 of that year, by the time Duncan and her husband became their seventh and final home. “The other six homes before us completely shut down and said, ‘we don't want any more kids,’” Duncan said. “That's how traumatic it was … They were probably the hardest two we've ever taken in and we ended up adopting them, and they are totally different kids now.” Duncan said leaving the Indian Child Welfare Act as it is would mean that Indigenous children like hers would still get to grow up in homes where they are surrounded by people that not only sometimes look like them but speak their language, understand their culture. A non-Indigenous home, she said, just can’t provide those needs to Indigenous children. Duncan said when they made a home for their two girls, they were immediately drawn to Duncan’s husband because he was perhaps a familiar – darker – face. “They just related to him more,” Duncan said. “My children are darker-skinned, most of them, and they related to them.” Duncan has fostered 14 children since 2017 and adopted three of them. “People that are non-Indian are not as passionate about keeping the language strong, the culture strong,” Duncan said. “If we allow our Indian children to be adopted by non-Indian homes, we're going to lose it.” ICWA applied in the adoption of Jennifer Bailey’s now 7-year-old Cheyenne daughter. Bailey is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The birth mother, Bailey said, walked away from the adoption agency and chose she and her husband to raise her child because the child and Bailey were of the same tribe. Bailey said she’s concerned that changing ICWA would lead potentially to long-term impacts on culture and language preservation, because it will keep Indigenous children from staying connected to their history and ancestry. Nimmo said if ICWA is ruled as unconstitutional, as “race-based,” it would open the door to dismantling other Indigenous laws using that argument. “Nothing else that we deal with as tribal people – land doesn't matter, money doesn't matter, language doesn't matter, artifacts don't matter if we don't have future generations,” Nimmo said. Nancy Marie Spears, a Gaylord News reporter based in Washington, is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories from Gaylord News visit GaylordNews.net. We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. Avis \"Darlene\" Searan, age 75, formerly of California, passed away at Restwell Home Plus in Oskaloosa, KS, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. She was born the daughter of Leo Abraham and Avis Amelia (Gabbert) Searan in Claremore, OK, on June 25, 1946. Darlene loved watching baseball, especially,…","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["boarding schools","boarding schools"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma","Oklahoma"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["help keep Indigenous children in Indigenous homes","Indigenous homes","Indigenous homes","Indigenous homes"]}]}
+{"title":"COVID-19 concerns cancel some fall events, others continue with precautions","document":"RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The list of events being canceled this fall due to COVID-19 concerns is growing. “We made a difficult decision,” said James Millner with VA Pride. VA Pridefest, which averages 40,000 people in attendance, won’t happen at the end of September. The 2021 Richmond Oktoberfest has also been canceled due to coronavirus concerns. Organizers say the main reason why some of these events are being postponed is because of health and safety restrictions, which would take away from the experience. “We just felt that many people on browns Island even though that’s a fairly large space, it gets very crowded and it makes it very difficult to social distance if people wanted to and the vibe of the festival, pride fest is one in which people really want to come together,” said Millner. Other events slated to go on as planned including the Chesterfield County Fair, which kicks off Friday evening. The Richmond Folk Festival will continue as planned in early October. The 2nd Street Festival will still unfold the first weekend in October in Richmond’s Jackson Ward. “Something like a large fair or festival is much more difficult to identify exposure and then to be able to inform people who were there. And so that is something to think about for folks attending events,” said Rebekah Butterfield, COVID-19 Epidemiologist RHHD. The health department says, if you want to go to an event, here’s what you should look out for. “Outdoors is always best. We are recommending masking for those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated right now because our community transmission is so high,” said Butterfield. “Just be aware of where you are going and how crowded things are. Maybe aim for times that are a little bit less crowded.”","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["VA Pridefest","Richmond Oktoberfest"]},{"role":"Date","values":["the end of September","2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["RICHMOND, Va","Richmond","Richmond","Richmond"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 concerns","COVID-19","health and safety restrictions"]}]}
+{"title":"Mentor on Tap & Uncorked event canceled due to staffing challenges","document":"MENTOR, Ohio — The popular Mentor on Tap & Uncorked event planned for next month has been called off this year due to staffing and logistical challenges, according to the City of Mentor. Each year, Mentor on Tap & Uncorked draws in an average of 600 guests who come to taste creations from local brewers and vintners while enjoying live music and entertainment and dining at several food trucks on site. Recent Stories from news5cleveland.com But this year, the event had to be canceled with organizers citing the difficulties in staffing at local breweries and food vendors. “This is a fun and popular event but unfortunately, the effects of the pandemic are still with us,” said Ante Logarusic, Community Relations Administrator, in a press release. “It has been difficult obtaining and maintaining commitments from brewers, food vendors, and other suppliers due to staffing shortages.” Mentor on Tap & Uncorked was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns and was already rescheduled twice this year before being canceled Wednesday. The event was scheduled for Oct. 2. Tickets will be fully refunded, the City of Mentor said, and organizers hope to resume the event in full in 2022. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Tap & Uncorked event","Tap"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2020","Oct. 2"]},{"role":"Location","values":["MENTOR, Ohio","Mentor","Mentor","Mentor","Mentor","Mentor"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["staffing and logistical challenges","COVID-19 concerns"]}]}
+{"title":"Syracuse parents, school board candidates demand answers on Henninger High School closures","document":"SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Parents and school board candidates in the Syracuse City School District are demanding greater transparency on recent closures at Henninger High School, refusing to accept the superintendent’s remarks blaming construction for the disruptions. Less then 10 days into the new school year, the building was shut down to students once, closed early after a fire alarm was pulled, and the scene of many fights. Classes were canceled at Henninger on Thursday, one day after a fire alarm went off and a series of fights broke out at the school. There was also a report of a gun in the building, and a 17-year-old who is not a Henninger student was arrested for disorderly conduct. A district spokesperson confirmed that on Monday, students were escorted by a staff member if they needed to leave their classrooms. The spokesperson did not confirm how long that policy would continue. Additionally, a spokesperson said another fire alarm was pulled on Monday. MORE: Syracuse parents raise safety concerns after fights, report of a gun at Henninger Superintendent Jaime Alicea said three fights happened that day, but CNYCentral confirmed at least five fights. Alicea claimed ongoing renovations were the reason why classes were canceled, not the fights. All other Syracuse city schools were in session on Thursday. The “renovations” included new security cameras, covers for fire alarms and locks on doors. On Friday, students were dismissed early after a fire alarm went off again. Onondaga County dispatchers confirmed Syracuse firefighters responded to the school around 1:40 p.m. Monday, but school and city leaders have not responded to CNYCentral’s inquiries. Gia Palermo, who is running for a spot on the Syracuse school board and the parent of two Henninger students, said the district gave parents false information about what was happening. She said issues with the building itself allowed the fights to happen in the first place. “It was because of those errors that all hell broke loose in school on Wednesday,” Palermo said. “It was because those things weren’t finished that we ended up in the situation we are in.” Another school board candidate, Karen Cordano, said she would be “extremely upset” if she were a Henninger parent. “I'm hoping that this is a real wake-up call in terms of really assessing what is going on in these buildings that are under construction before we have students re-entering the buildings,” Cordano said. School Board President Dan Romeo sent out a statement Monday night. It reads, \"The Board of Education understands that any disruption during the school day takes away from students’ ability to learn. We also believe students and employees should feel safe while in school and parents should feel that their children are safe while at school. On Wednesday at Henninger that feeling of safety was shaken for a number of reasons. Since then, the superintendent and his team have been working to make sure they address all of the concerns raised by parents, students and staff. The Board has been updated along the way and will continue to monitor the situation. We are currently working on setting up a meeting with parents to make sure the plan going forward is clear and be sure that all of their concerns are addressed.” CNYCentral also reached out to the Syracuse Teachers Association for comment. We have not heard back.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Henninger High School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Less then 10 days into the new school year","Thursday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SYRACUSE, N.Y","Syracuse","Syracuse","Syracuse","Syracuse","Syracuse"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ongoing renovations"]}]}
+{"title":"Hogle Zoo’s ‘Boo at the Zoo’ event canceled due to COVID-19 concerns","document":" by: Craig Proffer SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo has canceled their wildly popular “Boo at the Zoo” event, citing a surge of COVID-19 cases in the state. In the announcement on their Facebook page, zoo officials noted the concern COVID-19 poses to the public, saying, “With an average of 10,00-15,000 guests in attendance at this event, we simply do not have the capacity to safely host all attendees during a pandemic.” “Thank you for your continued interest in Boo at the Zoo,” officials added in the post. While “Boo at the Zoo” may be canceled, Hogle Zoo will still host “BooLights”, a month-long Halloween lighting event hosted on the Zoo’s grounds. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["“Boo at the Zoo” event"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["Salt Lake City","SALT LAKE CITY"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["surge of COVID-19 cases in the state","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Charlotte-area events being canceled due to COVID-19","document":"CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As COVID-19 cases rise, more events around the Charlotte area are being canceled. In Charlotte, the annual Labor Day parade has been called off. What's usually a joyful event for everyone involved is instead shuttered for 2021. \"I enjoy getting out here with the bull horn and starting the parade,\" said Ben Lee, the parade's chairman. Unfortunately, a tough decision had to be made, and Lee wishes things were different this year. \"The decision came after a lot of thought, concerning whether or not we could safely put on the parade,\" he said. RELATED: Charlotte Labor Day Parade canceled due to COVID-19 concerns The parade usually features around 500 people marching the streets of Uptown, but Lee says all those people aren't COVID-19 friendly. He said canceling the event was the right and responsible thing to do. Meanwhile, the approximately 80,000 people who usually attend the Cabarrus County Fair will have to wait another year. The decision to cancel was made because of high community virus spread and low vaccination rates. Again in Mecklenburg County, some events are adapting to the rising virus cases. The Greek Food Festival in Dilworth is playing it safe with a drive-thru format. RELATED: 'Extremely disappointing': Cabarrus County Fair canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases \"We're not making specific recommendations on canceling outdoor events at this point,\" Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said. However, she did say safety is still the priority. \"We recognize that everyone wants to be back in normal situations as much as possible, outdoor events are safer but we really want people to pay attention to getting vaccinated,\" Harris said. Other events that have fallen victim to cancelation include the Matthews Alive festival and Mallard Creek BBQ.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Cabarrus County Fair","Cabarrus County Fair","annual Labor Day parade","Matthews Alive festival and Mallard Creek BBQ"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2021"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Charlotte area"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 cases rise","COVID-19","COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Dave Chappelle, Joe Rogan concert scheduled for New Orleans this weekend is postponed","document":"Even though much of New Orleans could use a laugh right about now, the Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan show scheduled for Saturday (Sept. 4) at the Smoothie King Center has been postponed. In addition to the obvious reason — the damage and power outages across south Louisiana caused by Hurricane Ida — there is another complication: Rogan announced this week that he had contracted COVID-19. In an Instagram post Wednesday, the comic and podcast host said he started feeling bad after returning home following a show last weekend. Fatigue and a headache soon gave way to fevers, chills and a positive COVID test. \"We immediately threw the kitchen sink at it, all kinds of meds,\" Rogan said in his Instagram video. \"Monoclonal antibodies, ivermectin, Z-pak, prednisone, everything. And I also got an anti-D drip and a vitamin drip.\" The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have cautioned against taking ivermectin, an anti-parasitic and de-worming drug generally used on animals, as a COVID treatment. The Rogan/Chappelle show scheduled for Friday (Sept. 3) in Nashville has been postponed to Oct. 24 because of Rogan's diagnosis. No new date for the New Orleans performance has been announced yet. A social media message from the Smoothie King Center advised ticketholders to hold onto their tickets and that more information about a new date would be coming next week. Rogan and Chappelle were originally slated to co-headline the Smoothie King Center in April 2020. That initial show was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. For now, the Smoothie King Center still has two other concerts on its September schedule: rapper Lil Baby on Sept. 14 and guitarist Eric Clapton on Sept. 18. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["The Rogan/Chappelle show","Rogan","Rogan","Rogan","Rogan","Rogan","Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan show","initial show","two other concerts"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday (Sept. 4)","Friday (Sept. 3)","April 2020","Sept. 14","Sept. 18"]},{"role":"Location","values":["New Orleans","New Orleans"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the damage and power outages across south Louisiana caused by Hurricane Ida","he had contracted COVID-19","coronavirus pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Old Dominion concert canceled","document":"The concert with the country music band scheduled by Indigo Road Productions and the Jackson Generals/Jackson Baseball Club for July 17 has been canceled, according to an e-mail sent to those who’d bought tickets and a press release sent from the promoter. “The Generals and Jackson city government situation has become too toxic and uncertain, highlighted by the city locking out the Generals from the facility, for us to continue moving forward on a show of this magnitude,\" said Indigo Road Entertainment managing partner Denny Baxter in the message to the ticket-buyers. Baxter reiterated in a phone interview on Monday the stand Indigo Road made last fall with a press release saying the Generals staff were the only people they would work with in promoting concerts in Jackson. “There has to be an administrative piece to this,” Baxter said. “These shows we put on have a shared responsibility between that administration and us as the promoters with a focus on the artist and the event’s marketability. “We rely on the venue for administrative staff to operate the facility and concessions. There’s no liability insurance, no liquor license and none of the other administrative stuff that goes into putting on an event like this without them.” And Baxter said the Generals staff are that group for Indigo Road at The Ballpark at Jackson. “We’ve had a great relationship with them with past shows,” Baxter said. “We’ve enjoyed working with them because they’re the reason we were bringing our shows back there in the first place with an artist as big as Old Dominion. “Obviously things have changed quite a bit in those discussions with the toxic situation between the City and the Generals.” The City found the Jackson Baseball Club – owning organization of the Jackson Generals baseball franchise – in breach of contract when they had no team with an A, AA or AAA affiliation related to Major League Baseball. The club signed an agreement to bring the Winnipeg Goldeyes from Canada to play their home games in Jackson, but the City put a lock and chain on all stadium entrances last week after the gameday management agreement between the Generals and Goldeyes had been canceled. “The City had reached out ot me and suggested I sign a lease agreement with them, and I voiced the issues and concerns with them that I had regarding everything going on,” Baxter said. “They sent me a sample lease agreement and said I was free tow ork with whom I wanted to, but when they locked the club out that had just signed a lease with them, that was enough for me. “I don’t want to get involved in legal issues with someone who works like that.” This is the second nationally-known artist who’s canceled a concert at the stadium in less than a month after Snoop Dogg’s concert that was originally postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic was officially canceled, but Baxter said that was all COVID. “Snoop Dogg and his people had issues with COVID and still wanted to come but bring a show that wouldn’t be as big as we wanted to bring here,” Baxter said. “So the City issues had nothing to do with that.” When asked if there’s a possibility for Old Dominion to come to Jackson in the future, Baxter said it’s hard to say. “They usually tour with Kenny Chesney, and he shut his tour down this year because of the pandemic,” Baxter said. “That’s why they were available for this show. “Next year if Kenny goes back out on the road, I assume they would be with him, but we don’t know. Tours like that are hard to predict.” Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Snoop Dogg’s concert","concert","the city locking out the Generals from the facility","Generals","Generals","Generals","Generals","Generals","Generals","Generals","concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 17"]},{"role":"Location","values":["The City","City"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19 pandemic","COVID","COVID"]}]}
+{"title":"Siskin's StarNight 2021 event canceled amid COVID concerns","document":"Another event has been canceled as the number of COVID cases continues to rise in the Tennessee Valley. Siskin Children’s Institute canceled their StarNight 2021, previously scheduled for Saturday, September 25, citing the rising number of COVID-19 cases.? “We are saddened that we are having to cancel our 60th annual StarNight celebration. Our team has worked really hard in preparation for this event, but we have decided that it is in the best interest of our families, supporters, community, and staff to cancel this year’s event due to the increased risk of contracting COVID-19” said Derek Bullard, President and CEO of Siskin Children’s Institute.? Siskin thanked their numerous sponsors, which include: Hamico Inc., First Horizon Bank, Double-Cola, W.R. Grace, Pris & Robert Siskin, Commercial Metals Company, Charles & Betty Lebovitz, Jo Ann Yates, Helen Pregulman, Siskin Steel & Supply Co., Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium, ERMC Security Solutions, SimplyBank., Gerber-Taylor, UTC College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies, Movita Steiner, Husch Blackwell, Chattanooga Christian School, Pinnacle Financial Partners, the Binder Family, ACT Business Machines, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Reagan Outdoor Advertising-Chattanooga, Sunny 92.3, and WRCB Channel 3 Eyewitness News.? You can still support Siskin's work to improve the quality of life for children with special needs by making a donation at the Siskin Children’s Institute website.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["StarNight 2021"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday, September 25"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Tennessee Valley"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["the number of COVID cases continues to rise"]}]}
+{"title":"Kannapolis National Night Out event canceled","document":"KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The city of Kannapolis was set to have its annual National Night Out on October 5 to celebrate with free food, live music, children's games, and much more. However, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, and low vaccination rates in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, the event has been canceled. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. RELATED: All North Carolina counties in the 'red' for high COVID transmission \"National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. The goal of National Night Out is to have police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safe and caring places to live.\" a statement released by the City of Kannapolis said. RELATED: NC just hits vaccination milestone, eight months after shots started \"Rowan County still has one of the highest test positivity rates in the state,\" according to the Rowan County webpage on COVID-19 data. The county has a positivity rate of 20%. \"Rowan County Public Health cannot emphasize to you enough about the importance of getting tested if you have any symptoms or if you have come in contact with someone that is COVID positive,\" the webpage explains. Rowan County has seen a total of 23,973 cases and 364 deaths. Cabarrus County has recorded 29,685 cases of COVID-19 with 292 deaths. Most recently, it saw a positivity rate of 12.6%.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["annual National Night Out"]},{"role":"Date","values":["October 5"]},{"role":"Location","values":["KANNAPOLIS, N.C","Kannapolis","Kannapolis"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["surge in COVID-19 cases","COVID","COVID-19","COVID","COVID-19","low vaccination rates"]}]}
+{"title":"Rod Wave concert rescheduled from Tuesday to Sept. 14 because of storm","document":"The Tuesday Aug. 31 Rod Wave concert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater has been rescheduled to Sept. 14. Birmingham-based booking agent Red Mountain Entertainment made the call due to rippling weather effects from Hurricane Ida. All tickets purchased for the Aug. 31 show will be honored for the Sept. 14 replacement date. The singer-rapper born Rodarius Marcell Green broke through via YouTube and TikTok with his 2019 single \"Heart on Ice,\" which rose to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut disc from the same year, \"Ghetto Gospel,\" reached No. 10, his 2020 follow-up \"Pray 4 Love\" went to No. 2, and this year's \"SoulFly\" debuted at No. 1. THURSDAY AT THE AMP: The Revivalists, Marcus King Band to play Tuscaloosa Amphitheater concert His hits, incorporating R&B and hip-hop influences, include \"Rags2Riches,\" \"Street Runner,\" \"Tombstone,\" \"Cuban Links\" with Kevin Gates, and \"Richer,\" featuring Polo G. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Rod Wave concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday Aug. 31"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Tuscaloosa","Tuscaloosa"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["rippling weather effects from Hurricane Ida"]}]}
+{"title":"Event update: Loverboy concert at Elmwood postponed","document":"Canadian 1980s hitmakers Loverboy have postponed their Elmwood Park show. The band is unable to leave its home country due to COVID-19 protocols. The concert, originally scheduled for July 24, will be reset, said Berglund Center general manager Robyn Schon, who booked the show. A new date was not yet solidified. Canada has long had strict travel restrictions during the pandemic, and while they may be relaxed soon, it wasn’t soon enough for the band to make a U.S. tour work, Schon said. A fairgrounds concert in Springfield, Missouri, was canceled, according to KY3.com, a TV station’s website from that state. An Atlantic City show was canceled earlier in July. Tickets will still be good for the new date, but refunds are available at the Berglund Center box office, 853-5483 or berglundcenter.live. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Tad Dickens likes typing things and hitting drums. He covers music and Botetourt County for The Roanoke Times. Nominations for the 2022 Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday. Here's a list of nominees in top categories. Famous fiddle tune “The Orange Blossom Special” is to many bluegrass musicians as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is to many rockers. Famous fidd… The performer and composer told his audience to contemplate the act of \"looking back.\" Live music and more in the valleys and beyond … \"Roanoke is a very gifted city, musically, so this is a dope opportunity for everyone just to come together, cultivate, and see how everyone’s mind works,\" Rayshon \"808-Ray\" Cobbs Jr. said. Our compilation of live music listings provided by SWVA venues ... A full-scale version of the Martinsville festival has not gone off since the COVID-19 pandemic. BTS, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift were among Sunday night's big winners. Here's everything you need to know about the 2021 AMAs. A past favorite and a hometown up-and-comer are atop the first artist rollout list for next year’s FloydFest. Across-the-Way Productions released its second round of artist additions on Nov. 16 for FloydFest 22~Heartbeat, which will take place July 27-… ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Elmwood Park show","Schon said. A fairgrounds concert","An Atlantic City show"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 24","earlier in July"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S","Springfield, Missouri"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["unable to leave its home country due to COVID-19 protocols"]}]}
+{"title":"Lady Gaga postpones Fenway Park concert until 2022","document":" By Kevin Slane Lady Gaga and her little monsters will have to wait another year to hang out under the Green Monster together. The Grammy-winning singer’s Aug. 7 concert at Fenway Park has been pushed back to 2022, along with the rest of her six-city Chromatica Ball Tour. “While some parts of the world are moving quickly to open up, others are not yet ready,” Gaga said in a statement. “So until we can confirm all global dates, we have to postpone The Chromatica Ball shows to the summer of 2022.” Gaga’s Fenway show was set to be one of only six shows on her worldwide stadium tour, along with dates in Paris (Stade de France), London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), Toronto (The Rogers Centre), Chicago (Wrigley Field), and East Rutherford (MetLife Stadium). The concert was originally slated to be held on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic. According to a Red Sox spokesperson, the rescheduled date for Lady Gaga’s 2022 Fenway concert will be announced later. Patrons who have already purchased tickets through RedSox.com may request refunds at any time, and will be notified once a new date is chosen. Numerous shows as part of the Fenway Concert Series have been cancelled or postponed: The Motley Crüe/Def Leppard/Poison/Joan Jett & The Blackhearts show has been moved from July 17-18, 2021 to Aug. 5-6, 2022, while Aerosmith’s 50th anniversary show has been moved from Sept. 14, 2021 to Sept. 9, 2022. Previously scheduled shows from Dead & Company (originally on Aug. 7-8, 2020) and James Taylor/Brandi Carlile/Shawn Colvin (originally on June 21, 2020) were canceled outright with no rescheduled date currently in the works. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","concert","Concert","the rest of her six-city Chromatica Ball Tour","pandemic"]},{"role":"Date","values":["moved from Sept. 14, 2021 to Sept. 9, 2022","moved","to the summer of 2022","2022","2022","moved from July 17-18, 2021 to Aug. 5-6, 2022","moved","2021","Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020","2020","2020","Aug. 7-8, 2020","June 21, 2020","Aug. 7"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Fenway Park"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["others are not yet ready"]}]}
+{"title":"BASE jumpers decide not to participate in Bridge Day; event still on for now","document":"FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Bridge Day is still on for now, but the event could be on the ropes. Committee members learned Wednesday that BASE jumpers, the daredevils who plunge more than 800 feet off the New River Gorge Bridge, will not be participating this year, citing concerns about available health care in an emergency amid the pandemic. A representative for the rappelers said he is leaning toward recommending to his group that it cancel but will wait until next week to make a final decision. Bridge Day committee members plan to vote next Wednesday, Sept. 29, on whether the annual event will take place. Representatives of the BASE jumpers said they are bailing out of concern for the possible medical impact of 100,000 people and injured jumpers on hospitals overloaded by COVID. Marcus Ellison, a representative for the BASE jumpers, said there also are some organizational problems, with concerns there could be an insufficient number of bus drivers at the event to transport the BASE jumpers back and forth. \"It's not going to be a fun and safe event for everybody to be there, and that what I want to provide,\" he said. \"I don't feel that's possible this year.\" Ellison said once all the health concerns surfaced last week, he thought the Bridge Day Committee would vote to cancel the event, but members decided then to push forward. Committee chairwoman Becky Sullivan said she doesn't believe they can hold Bridge Day without the BASE jumpers. \"As far as the chamber of commerce goes, we have voted not to have Bridge Day,\" she said. \"With an additional loss of volunteers, BASE jumpers and things that have happened over the week since we made our announcement, no I don't think it does [make sense].\" Just a week ago, Bridge Day committee members had shot down a motion to cancel the Oct. 16 event, with four opposing the motion and two supporting it. Health officials and medical personnel had expressed serious concerns at the Sept. 15 with holding the event during the pandemic. Bridge Day was canceled in 2020. A nurse who attended the Sept. 15 meeting through Zoom said the hospital in Fayette County was stretched thin before the event would even begin, so if there were injuries from Bridge Day or more COVID-19 patients, it could cause more strain on health care workers and space in hospitals. Fayette County Sheriff Mike Fridley, one of two Bridge Day Committee members who voted at the Sept. 15 meeting to cancel the event, expressed concern at that meeting about his deputies and team. He uses all of his deputies to monitor the bridge, so he was concerned if one were to test positive what that would mean for his entire staff. There also had been concerns about a shortage of volunteers for Bridge Day, including bus drivers that were needed. Gov. Jim Justice said during his Sept. 15 coronavirus news briefing before the Bridge Day committee meeting that he supported the idea of having Bridge Day, saying that State Police and DOH would help in any way they could. Justice maintained that if large-scale events such as football games could be held, then Bridge Day could also be conducted.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day","Bridge Day"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Oct. 16","2020"]},{"role":"Location","values":["FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va","Fayette County","Fayette County"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["possible medical impact"]}]}
+{"title":"Counting Crows cancel Boston concert hours before start","document":" By Mia McCarthy The American rock band Counting Crows canceled their Boston concert on Sunday – only hours before the show – after a touring party member tested positive for COVID-19. The Boston concert was originally scheduled Sunday night at the Leader Bank Pavilion at 7 p.m. and is part of the band’s “Butter Miracle Tour.” The group made the announcement on Twitter and said they are postponing the concert “out of an abundance of caution.” Their next show, which is on Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio, was also postponed. “Hang on to your tickets as they will be honored for the new dates, once announced,” the band wrote in a tweet. “The entire band and crew has been vaccinated and has taken great precautions to be as safe as possible.” Five hours before the cancelation, Counting Crows posted pictures on Twitter from their show in Atlantic City on Saturday night, the first concert of the tour. “Feels so good to be back!” the band wrote. “Thanks for helping us kick off the #ButterMiracleTour, Atlantic City. See you soon, Boston!” ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","concert","concert","concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday night","7 p.m"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Boston","Boston","Boston"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["touring party member tested positive for COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"Eco-friendly art project hold in empty storefronts shut down by pandemic","document":"CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Some new art is coming to Scottsville and one of the pieces was created by an organization at the University of Virginia. But surprisingly, it’s not from the art department. Write Climate, Right Climate is an environmental group that takes what most would consider trash and turns it into art. The coming project will be their third piece of recycled art. “Every material has some value,” said Amanda Nelsen, a lecturer and artist at Write Climate, Right Climate. “But also how problematic it is to continuing to produce material that cannot be fully recycled or is not something that can go full circle, in terms of environmental footprint?” Nelsen, her class, and others in the Charlottesville area repurposed materials for the new piece she calls Crescendo. She says the design resembles a solar eclipse, or a moment to shine. Nelsen came up with the idea but she credits much of the help to her assistant Mia Villani and interns Katie Yared and Charlie Mooz. “Each of the buns, these rolled pieces behind me, are rolled from plastic film that people have collected. UVA students, Charlottesville high school students, as well as community members,” Nelsen said. This repurposing of materials is exactly what brought this art to Scottsville. It was selected by the Scottsville Center for the Arts in the Natural Environment (SCAN) to be displayed downtown. “This piece by Amanda and Write Climate really adds to that conversation of how do we create without creating more waste,” SCAN Director Erin Root said. “So, how do we use the waste we already have and utilize that to create something beautiful?” Crescendo will be displayed in downtown Scottsville, along with other pieces, in empty storefronts closed by the pandemic. “It really impacted our economy here in Scottsville and the thought was, ‘you know, how do we, how do we reinvigorate our streetscape without, if we don’t have the businesses here?’ And we thought the way we would do that is through art,” Root said. SCAN wants that art to be accessible to everyone. The new exhibit will resemble a gallery or museum, but instead it will be completely open to the public. The goal is to bring vibrancy back to Scottsville. “The community behavior is really excited about the, you know, reclaiming the windows,’ Root said. “We’re getting rid of the cobwebs, we’re showing this work that has a lot of dimension to it, and that is contributing to the streetscape.” Write Climate, Right Climate’s project will be open Saturday 9/25 in Scottsville at the Valley Street Exhibition. There will be art, drinks, and food trucks.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["storefronts"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":["downtown Scottsville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["pandemic"]}]}
+{"title":"Township could cancel Luke Bryan concert","document":"CONWAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WILX) - This summer’s Luke Bryan concert outside Fowlerville could be canceled. Conway Township trustees are asking their lawyer to send a letter to shut it down. The Kubiak Family Farm is the sixth and final stop of Bryan’s farm tour. At least one trustee is worried about liability issues. But people who live around the field where Bryan will be performing are looking forward to the concert. “I’m excited for it. I’m looking forward to it,” said Patty Arbor. “It’s very exciting for this small rural community. It’s very exciting to have somebody so famous in the area.” But right now, the Conway Township Board of Trustees is trying to stop it. Arbor lives around the corner from where the concert is happening and doesn’t get it. “I’m not sure why they would want to stop the concert. I just found out about it yesterday. I’m all for it,” she said. The township told News 10 Luke Bryan’s promoter hasn’t turned in all its paper work, including a letter making sure the township isn’t liable if something goes wrong. Bryan’s management said in a statement it’s been working with the township since may and turned in that paperwork. But the township said it’s only gotten an applications and fees associated with it. Arbor is holding out hope things will get sorted out. “I’m just hoping that everything runs smoothly and they are still going to continue have the concert,” said Arbor. The township is giving Luke Bryan’s team until August 18 to turn in all the forms and information. Tickets for the September 18 concert are already sold out.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Luke Bryan concert"]},{"role":"Date","values":["This summer","September 18"]},{"role":"Location","values":["outside Fowlerville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["hasn’t turned in all its paper work"]}]}
+{"title":"State shuts down Blind Brook school over building violations, blasts school officials","document":"The state Education Commissioner blasted the Blind Brook school district on Friday for allowing staff and students into its elementary school without obtaining inspection permits amid a construction project. Blind Brook school district officials said Friday they are working to get the Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School in Rye Brook reopened after the state closed it Wednesday over ongoing construction issues. It's the first time the state has been forced to close a school in several years, Education Commissioner Betty Rosa wrote in a letter to the school system Friday. The school welcomed students and staff for three days without a certification of occupancy, according to the state, a move that led to the fiery letter from its education commissioner Friday. The state has prohibited students and staff from entering the building until the district obtained the required building inspections following a state investigation, according to the education department. \"Closure orders are not issued lightly,\" Rosa wrote. \"And it was issued only after SED learned that the district illegally allowed staff and students into the building without a valid certificate of occupancy.\" The commissioner called an intentional decision to have students and staff in the building without a certificate of occupancy \"brazen\" and possibly even criminal. The action could warrant the removal of school officials for neglect of duty under education law, she wrote. In the letter, Rosa called it \"unfathomable\" that it took a state directive to close the school. \"Which was the only morally and legally acceptable action,\" she added. The education commissioner listed numerous fire hazards in parts of the building that were either under construction or occupied by students, including: The school was opened from Monday to Wednesday, closed Thursday for Yom Kippur and was declared off-limits Friday. Hundreds of students go to the elementary school. It's unknown if they were in remote learning on Friday. The issues stem from construction that has been ongoing in the village of Rye Brook school. During a Zoom school board meeting Friday afternoon, Blind Brook Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Brimstein said the district was working to obtain the necessary inspections. Information from those inspections conducted on Friday would then be submitted to the state in hopes of obtaining a full or partial certificate of occupancy, Brimstein added. He stressed there were no health or safety hazards while students were in the building. In her letter sent Friday, Rosa emphasized there were multiple \"serious violations that led to the school closure.\" She wrote, \"Imagine the potential tragedy should a fire have occurred in this building this week.\" Rosa wrote in a separate letter Wednesday that ordered the closure the district needed to do the following to reopen: In response to Rosa's Friday letter, the district sent The Journal News/lohud a scanned copy of a certificate of occupancy for the elementary school. The district said that certificate of occupancy appears to show it went into effect March 2021 and expires in March 2022. During the Friday Zoom meeting, Board of Education President Scott Jaffee admitted the school should've have communicated better about the closure, calling it \"unacceptable.\" He apologized to those parents that learned Ridge Street school would be closed Friday from reading it in local media, and not directly from the school system. \"We failed to meet the level of transparency,\" he said parents expected. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":["Dr. Patrick Brimstein"]},{"role":"Organization","values":["Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Thursday","Friday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Blind Brook school district","Blind Brook school district"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["ongoing construction issues","Yom Kippur"]}]}
+{"title":"String Cheese Incident Columbus concert cancelled due to member testing positive for COVID","document":"Psychedelic jam band The String Cheese Incident has cancelled a concert scheduled for Sunday at Express Live, the band announced Thursday. Although all members of the band had been vaccinated, one member contracted the coronavirus, according to a statement posted on the band’s website, https://www.stringcheeseincident.com/news_items/august-tour-update-louisville-columbus-canceled/. The band, currently on tour, also canceled shows set for Friday and Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. The statement said that tickets to any canceled shows will be automatically refunded at the point of purchase. “We are super bummed we can’t play music for y’all, but this is how the world seems to run these days,” the statement said. ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["concert","shows"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday","Friday and Saturday"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Express Live","Louisville, Kentucky"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["one member contracted the coronavirus"]}]}
+{"title":"Covid-19 clusters at malls: Some retail workers worry about getting infected, hope to get priority for vaccine","document":"SINGAPORE — When the Covid-19 cases in the community stabilised at the end of last year, staff members at Shunji Matsuo Hair Studio had, like many others, started to let their guard down, believing that the situation here had mostly returned to normal. That was until last month, when a customer they served at their salon in Ngee Ann City tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee who served the customer on April 25 had to be quarantined, while the rest of the staff members were swabbed and placed on phone surveillance by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The hair salon’s director Tay Tat Sin, 39, said that though none of them got infected, the episode was a wake-up call for the hair salon to be more careful, especially now that there are more coronavirus cases here in the past month or so. With a few malls now having clusters of infections, some retail workers here are starting to feel worried that they may get the infectious disease as they continue to serve customers on a daily basis. As of Thursday (May 27) afternoon, the Covid-19 cluster at Jem and Westgate malls in Jurong East has the second-largest active cluster with 60 cases so far, after the Changi Airport one. The two malls have closed temporarily to curb the spread of the disease there. White Sands mall in Pasir Ris has another cluster that started with a worker at Wok Hey food stall, and Jewel, the retail and leisure complex at the airport, is also shut to the public temporarily. People who have been to all four malls have been offered free testing for Covid-19 by the Government. Because of this, some retail workers who spoke to TODAY are hoping to be prioritised for the vaccination exercise soon because the added protection would give them peace of mind as they go about their work. So far, the Covid-19 vaccine has been offered to only frontline workers such as those in healthcare or who are hawkers and teachers, as well as those above the age of 40. MOH said last week that the vaccination programmes will now be rolled out in five-year bands and progressively move to younger age groups. WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO WORK In the meantime, some workers are unnerved because of the various clusters in the community. Ms Bahirah, 22, who goes by one name and works at shoe store Clarks at Ion Orchard mall, said: “Right now, it’s not a lockdown yet so we still have to go out every day. It’s very scary and we have no choice.” This is also the case for one retail worker from another store in Ion who cannot be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media. Though the worker has already received her first of two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine, she told TODAY that she is still worried about getting infected, especially since there are new virus strains that are more infectious. Both workers said that they would prefer that the authorities impose a lockdown, similar to the circuit breaker period last year when non-essential activities and business have to stop. This would help to keep retail workers safe and save on operation costs, given that sales have fallen significantly since tighter movement restrictions were imposed earlier this month, they reasoned. If a lockdown is not possible, they hope that the authorities would consider allowing retail workers to get to the front of the queue for the Covid-19 vaccination so that they may be better protected as they continue to come in contact with customers. Retail operators who spoke to TODAY would also like their staff members to be prioritised for the vaccine. Mr R Dhinakaran, president of the Singapore Retailers Association, said that many of its members have indicated that they want their customer-facing employees to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Some salespersons are feeling vulnerable when they have to face customers daily at work. Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY Mr Tay, Shunji Matsuo’s director, said that he has appealed to the authorities twice for his employees to get vaccinated. However, he was rejected both times. Right now, an appeal to be vaccinated earlier may be made only by Singapore citizens and permanent residents with urgent needs, such as those who need to travel on compassionate grounds, or for work or study purposes where working or studying remotely is not an option. Mr Tay said that he has considered closing his salon in Ngee Ann City during this period, but the contract with the landlord states that he has to operate every day. He cannot cut his operating hours either. In response to TODAY’s queries, Mr Dhinakaran said that the association had asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry last year if retail workers can get priority for the Covid-19 vaccine, but was told that it was too early for such discussions to take place as the programme had not yet begun. The association has since submitted a second request a week ago and is waiting to hear back from the authorities. TAKING PRECAUTIONS AS BEST PROTECTION Among the 13 retail operators and workers interviewed by TODAY, many said that they have put in place robust safety measures to protect themselves and their customers. Shunji Matsuo hair salon invested in getting more air purifiers for its Ngee Ann City outlet. Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY A spokesperson for Valiram Group, which manages brands such as Bath and Body Works, said that it adheres to all the standard operating procedures put in place by the governments of the countries in which it operates. She added that the group, which has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is also “guided by the landlords of malls we operate in and retail associations we are a part of”. Nail technician Ayumi, 33, who goes by one name and works at Nailz Haus in IMM mall in Jurong East, said that she is not afraid of getting infected even though IMM is close to Jem and Westgate. That is because she and her colleagues make sure to sanitise their work stations frequently. She also goes straight home after work and tries not to interact with too many people. Ms Evangeline Seah, 41, who owns FE The Nail Lounge at Raffles City Shopping Centre on North Bridge Road, ensures that employees adhere to hygiene measures such as wearing gloves, sanitising the shop and taking their temperature regularly. “Since we re-opened after the circuit breaker last year, we have been cleaning a lot. We clean after every customer,” she said. Like some of the workers interviewed, Ms Ayumi from the nail salon at IMM said that they would rather the stores remain open because they are more concerned about losing out on their salaries than being sick. “We still have to earn money to provide for our families and pay for everyday expenses. If the shop remains open, at least we still have a salary,” she said in Mandarin. By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Jem and Westgate malls","Jem","Jewel"]},{"role":"Date","values":["temporarily","temporarily","As of Thursday (May 27) afternoon"]},{"role":"Location","values":["SINGAPORE","Singapore","Singapore"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["curb the spread of the disease there","disease"]}]}
+{"title":"Austin Music & Arts Festival latest event canceled due to heightened COVID restrictions","document":"PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Austin Music & Arts Festival organizers announced the event has been postponed due to \"heightened COVID-19 restrictions in Travis County\" on Sunday, according to a statement on their web page. The event was supposed to happen at Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville on September 25-26. The event was expecting to bring concerts, artists and a car show. RELATED: Pecan Street Festival canceled after city denies special event permit due to COVID-19 ","event_type":"Organization Closed","schema":["Head of the Institution","Organization","Date","Location","Cause"],"arguments":[{"role":"Head of the Institution","values":null},{"role":"Organization","values":["Austin Music & Arts Festival","Pecan Street Festival"]},{"role":"Date","values":["September 25-26"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville"]},{"role":"Cause","values":["COVID-19","COVID-19"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is discharged from a United States hospital after spending four weeks there. (BBC)","document":"Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has returned home after being discharged from hospital, four weeks after breaking her hip in a fall at her Los Angeles mansion.\nHer departure follows earlier reports she would remain at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles after contracting an infection.\nGabor's husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, told reporters she was \"happy\" to be home.\n\"She can go on for many more years,\" he said of his 93-year-old partner.\nGabor had been expected to spend a week in hospital after undergoing hip replacement surgery on 19 July.\nBut her condition began to deteriorate after the operation, forcing her to remain longer than originally anticipated.\nHer husband said Gabor was \"not a young chick\" and had been \"scared\" during her extended stay in hospital.\nHe knew his wife was \"in good shape\", however, when she \"started flirting with the guys who took her home\".\nGabor - who appeared in such films as Moulin Rouge and Touch of Evil - is partially paralysed and uses a wheelchair following a car accident in 2002 and a 2005 stroke.\nThe Hungarian-born actress was taken back to her Bel-Air mansion on Wednesday in an ambulance that formed part of a four-car convoy.\nGabor's hospital release delayed\nGabor critical after transfusion\nZsa Zsa Gabor to have hip surgery\nZsa Zsa Gabor taken to hospital\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["breaking her hip in a fall","hip","hip"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Actress Zsa Zsa"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["hip surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 Queen Elizabeth II returns to Buckingham Palace after spending one night in hospital. (BBC)","document":"The Queen has left hospital in central London after being assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms. She had been at London's King Edward VII's Hospital since Sunday - her first hospital stay in 10 years.\nAll official engagements for this week, including a visit to Rome, were either cancelled or postponed. She also missed St David's Day celebrations in Swansea.\nBuckingham Palace said the Queen, 86, was admitted as a precaution and was otherwise in \"good health\".\nOn Monday afternoon, a Bentley took the Queen to Buckingham Palace, where she will spend the night.\nDressed in a red coat and smiling, she shook hands with hospital staff on the steps outside.\nBBC correspondent Daniela Relph said the Queen looked \"in pretty good condition and pretty healthy\" as she left.\nBut a Palace spokeswoman confirmed the Queen's diary for this week would remain suspended.\nShe said: \"Engagements cancelled or postponed this week remain so. \"Next week, we'll have to see, as she has only just been released from hospital.\"\nOn Saturday, the Queen had missed the military ceremony in Wales due to the stomach bug. On Sunday, she was driven from Windsor Castle, where she had been resting, after carrying out a private medal presentation earlier in the day.\nA spokesman for the Queen said she was in \"good spirits\" and her admission was \"a precautionary measure\".\nGastroenteritis causes inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines.\nThe infection can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated food and drink. Symptoms can include vomiting, fever and stomach ache.\nThe Queen's treatment, which has not been disclosed, may have included rehydration and tests to establish if the illness was caused by an infection or an underlying problem.\nThe Queen last received treatment 10 years ago, again at the King Edward VII's hospital, for a minor knee operation. At the same time, surgeons removed minor, non-cancerous lesions from her face.\nNext weekend, she had been due to spend two days in Rome with the Duke of Edinburgh, at the invitation of Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano.\nIt is not clear whether the visit will be re-scheduled.\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["gastroenteritis symptoms"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["London's King Edward VII's Hospital","hospital","London","hospital","hospital","hospital","King Edward VII's hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Sunday","Sunday"]},{"role":"People","values":["The Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen","Queen"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Yulia Skripal is released from hospital. Russia says it will view any resettlement efforts by the United Kingdom as \"abduction.\" (Sky News)","document":"Yulia Skripal leaves hospital more than five weeks after she and her father Sergei were poisoned in Salisbury.\nBy Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent, and Alix Culbertson, News Reporter Tuesday 10 April 2018 15:15, UK\nRussia has said any secret resettlement of the spy poisoned in Salisbury and his daughter will be seen as \"abduction\".\nThe threat came hours after it was revealed Yulia Skripal has been discharged from hospital, five weeks after she and her father, Sergei Skripal, were found slumped on a bench in central Salisbury on 4 March after they were poisoned.\nHaving made a rapid recovery in recent days, Ms Skripal was discharged on Monday and taken to a secure location.\nThe Russian Embassy in London said that if the Skripals were resettled in the USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand and offered new identities - as reported - it would be \"another gross violation of international law\".\nA statement said: \"With a secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal all opportunities to hear their version of the events of 4 March will highly likely be lost forever.\n\"The world, while having no opportunity to interact with them, will have every reason to see this as an abduction of the two Russian nationals or at least as their isolation.\"\nChristine Blanshard, deputy chief executive and medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said both Ms Skripal, 33, and her father, 66, have been responding well to treatment in the five weeks they have been in hospital.\nShe said they have received \"round-the-clock\" care and revealed that nerve agents cause hallucinations and sickness.\nMr Skripal is making good progress and will be discharged \"in due course\" but is recovering more slowly than his daughter, she added.\nThey were contaminated by the nerve agent novichok, thought to have been smeared hours earlier on the handle of Mr Skripal's front door at his home on the edge of the city.\nHis daughter had arrived the day before on a visit from her home in Moscow.\nFor nearly a month both were in a critical condition, but they have recently made a remarkable recovery.\nReacting to the news Ms Skripal had been discharged, the Russian Embassy in London tweeted its congratulations but said it needed \"urgent proof\" that she was not being influenced.\nWe congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will.\nTheresa May said: \"Obviously I welcome the fact that Yulia Skripal has been discharged from hospital and I wish her the best for her continuing recovery.\"\nWhen contacted on Tuesday morning Viktoria Skripal, Yulia's cousin, said she had only just heard, via the story broken by Sky News, that her cousin had been discharged.\nShe has since been trying to contact her.\n\"I think Britain will insist that she claims asylum,\" she said, adding: \"I've tried lots of numbers for her but have had no response.\n\"How should I feel? I'm feeling pleased that she's well enough to be released from hospital.\n\"So far my feelings are unclear because I have not seen her and nobody has seen her, we've just had information.\"\nPlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player\nAt the end of last week Viktoria Skripal said she had been denied a UK visa to travel to Salisbury to visit her cousin and uncle.\nAt the end of March, Prime Minister Theresa May said doctors indicated the Skripals \"may never recover fully\" as she announced that more than 130 people in Salisbury could potentially have been exposed to the nerve agent.\nThe poisoning of the Skripals prompted nearly 30 countries to expel more than 150 Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK after it blamed Russia for poisoning the family.\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["poisoned","poisoned","poisoned"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Salisbury","Salisbury","Salisbury","Salisbury","Salisbury","Salisbury","Salisbury District Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Christine Blanshard"]},{"role":"Date","values":["4 March","4 March"]},{"role":"People","values":["Yulia Skripal","Yulia Skripal","Yulia Skripal","Yulia Skripal"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is permitted to leave hospital and return home, eight days after undergoing the amputation of her right leg. (BBC)","document":"Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has been allowed home from hospital, eight days after having her right leg amputated, her spokesman has said. Gabor's release from the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles has come more than a week earlier than expected and doctors are pleased with her progress, added John Blanchette.\nThe 93-year-old star of 1950s films Moulin Rouge and Lili had her leg amputated because gangrene developed after a hip replacement operation in July.\nMr Blanchette said Gabor's husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, had said his wife was now \"feisty, yelling at nurses and at him. Everything is back to normal\".\nGabor was admitted to hospital on 2 January after attempts to save her leg with antibiotics were unsuccessful.\nThe star had been admitted to hospital a number of times since breaking her hip in July.\nAfter the hip replacement surgery, she went on to develop swelling in her legs and blood clots throughout her body. She was in a critical condition and had asked for a priest during a trip to the hospital in August, but she recovered and was sent home.\nShe was readmitted to hospital in the new year because a wound in her right leg had grown and \"wasn't healing any more\", Mr Blanchette had said. Gabor had reportedly been bedridden for months. The veteran actress was partially paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffered a stroke in 2005, after which she used a wheelchair.\nGabor starred in the films Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil and Queen of Outer Space, among others.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["gangrene developed after a hip replacement operation"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center","Los Angeles"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["swelling in her legs and blood clots"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["July","July"]},{"role":"People","values":["Zsa Zsa Gabor"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["right leg amputated"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela is discharged from hospital following two days of tests. (IOL) (BBC) (Al Jazeera)","document":"South African former President Nelson Mandela has been discharged from a hospital where he spent two nights.\nSurgeon General Vejaynand Ramlakan said Mr Mandela, 92, was suffering from ailments that were common in people his age but was in good spirits.\nDeputy President Kgalema Motlanthe - using Mr Mandela's clan name - said: \"Madiba is well.\" South Africa's liberation hero flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg on Wednesday for a check-up.\nFriends and family visited him amid tight security at Milpark hospital on Thursday.\nOn Friday Mr Ramlakan said Mr Mandela had suffered a respiratory infection, but was responding well to treatment and would be receiving home-based care.\n\"To us he is stable, but will be subject to intense monitoring,\" he told reporters.\n\"Medically, at present, there is no need to panic,\" he added.\nAfter Mr Mandela's discharge, an ambulance surrounded by a police convoy drove him towards his home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton.\nThe BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says the news comes as a relief to many anxious South Africans.\n\"It's wonderful news. In a sense he is the one holding the country together,\" Johannesburg resident Brandon Quinn told the BBC.\nLerato Ledwaba, a 20-year-old university student, also expressed her joy: \"As a young person in South Africa, Madiba means the world to me - he is my inspiration to strive for a better life for myself.\" Mr Mandela's frailty has been underlined by his hospital stay, which is hard for some to accept, our reporter says.\n\"I am constantly surprised by his strength. He is old but we are not ready to lose him. I don't know if we'll ever have another leader like him,\" said another Johannesburg resident Karen van Rensburg, 50.\n\"Yes, he is a world icon but he is also a human being and he deserves his privacy. We should all just let him rest now,\" said Sizwe Mbatha, 28, a bank consultant.\nDuring South Africa's apartheid regime Mr Mandela was jailed for 27 years. While imprisoned at Robben Island he had tuberculosis.\nHe became South Africa's first black president in 1994 and stepped down after one term in 1999.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["respiratory infection"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Milpark hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Surgeon General Vejaynand Ramlakan"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Nelson Mandela"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["home-based care"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela is discharged from hospital following two days of tests. (IOL) (BBC) (Al Jazeera)","document":"Former president Nelson Mandela had a quick and highly co-ordinated homecoming on Friday after his release from hospital.\nCameramen rushed to try to get the first images as he was driven through the gate of his Houghton, Johannesburg home in a military ambulance, but the windows were covered.\nOther vehicles assumed to be ferrying family members were also allowed onto the premises.\nHe was discharged after spending two-and-a-half days being treated for a respiratory infection. The 92-year-old political icon would receive home-based care. \nHospital staff came outside to watch his departure. As he left in a military ambulance, led by nine motorbikes and six police cars, he passed a group of school children singing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and holding a poster with the words \"take a short walk to health Madiba\". \nPhotographers charged after the convoy with blue lights flashing and initially no sirens.\n Earlier Surgeon General Lieutenant-General Vejaynand Ramlakan told a press briefing at the hospital: \"He received treatment and has responded very well... .He is stable, but will be monitored closely.\" \nMandela's grandson Mandla told the briefing: \"My grandfather has been discharged and we as a family will make the necessary arrangements for him to go back to his home in Houghton.\" - Sapa","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["respiratory infection"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["General Vejaynand Ramlakan"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"People","values":["Nelson Mandela"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["home-based care"]}]}
+{"title":"A manhunt is underway for a gunman who shot and seriously wounded presiding Travis County, Texas State District Judge Julie Kocurek at the driveway of her home in West Austin, Texas.","document":"A police manhunt was underway Saturday for a suspect who shot and seriously wounded the presiding state district judge of the Texas county that includes Austin.\nTravis County State District Judge Julie Kocurek, was gunned down in the driveway of her home in West Austin on Friday night. She was listed in serious condition at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin but was expected to recover.\nPolice said the shooting occurred as Kocurek and her family arrived home, and it was unclear whether the shooter was targeting the judge or the incident was a botched robbery. A neighbor told the Austin American-Statesman about hearing four \"pops.\" \"This injury, although extremely serious, does not appear to be life-threatening,\" said Austin Police Department Commander Mark Spangler.\nSpangler told reporters that because the shooting was at night and in the dark, there was little information available to police about the gunman, and it was unclear how many suspects might be involved. Police arrived about five minutes after the shooting was reported. Police conducted a search for the gunman late Friday and handed out flyers Saturday seeking information related to the shooting. The judge lives in a wealthy area of $1 million and $2 million homes, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Kocurek is a former prosecutor who was appointed presiding judge of the 390th District Court by then-Gov. George W. Bush in 1999. She has overseen several high-profile murder cases. She became the only Republican elected to a state district judgeship in the heavily Democratic and later switched parties to become a Democrat. Contributing: KVUE-TV, Austin","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["gunned down"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Travis County","University Medical Center Brackenridge"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday night"]},{"role":"People","values":["Judge Julie Kocurek"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2005 Australian pop star Kylie Minogue is released from the hospital after surgery to treat breast cancer. (The Age)","document":"Reading from a written statement, Dr Jenny Senior said the Australian born pop diva underwent surgery at 5pm (AEST) yesterday in St Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne.\n''Her spirits are high and she's feeling fine. She has family and friends around her,'' Dr Senior said.\n''Kylie has been the perfect patient and has charmed all my staff. I just wish I could have met her under happier circumstances.\n''Kylie has asked me to pass on her thanks once again to all who have expressed their love and concern for her.\n''Your support has certainly helped her through a tough time.''\nMinogue was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon, and Dr Senior said the operation had removed ''an early breast cancer''.\nDr Senior said the medical procedure that she performed was considered ''best practice around the world for a girl with an early breast cancer''.\n''I'm very pleased to be able to confirm that the operation was successful.\n''I feel confident that we caught the cancer in time and that she is now on the road to complete recovery,'' Dr Senior said.\n''Kylie is currently resting after the operation and her spirits are high and she is feeling fine.''\nDr Senior refused to take questions after her brief statement to reporters outside the hospital, including where the pop star was recovering from the surgery.\nEarlier today, a Silver Audi was seen speeding into the family's home in the Melbourne inner-eastern suburb of Canterbury.\nDr Senior also would not comment on how long Kylie's recovery would take.\nShe thanked the medical specialists who were part of Minogue's procedure, particularly workers in the hospital's radiology and pathology departments for helping her in her pre-operative assessment of the singer's condition.\n''I'd also like to take a moment to thank the nursing staff for assisting me in caring for Kylie while she recovers,'' she said.\n''I would also like to thank Kylie, her family, and (boyfriend) Olivier (Martinez) for making my job very easy. They were so welcoming.''","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["early breast cancer","early breast cancer"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Melbourne","Melbourne","St Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr Jenny Senior"]},{"role":"Date","values":["yesterday","yesterday"]},{"role":"People","values":["Kylie","Kylie","Kylie","Kylie","Kylie"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz returns to Boston to recover from a shooting in the Dominican Republic. (CBS News)","document":" Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Baseball superstar David Ortiz has returned to the U.S. to continue treatment after he was shot in the Dominican Republic over the weekend. Ortiz, who was once the heart of the Boston Red Sox, suffered extensive internal wounds. Monday night, a wounded Ortiz left a Santo Domingo hospital for a charter flight arranged by the Red Sox.\nOrtiz will receive care at Mass General Hospital, according to CBS Boston. Ortiz's ambulance arrived at MGH late Monday escorted by Boston Police and State Police. Officials believe he'll make a full recovery.\nSurveillance video from Sunday night shows a motorcyclist approach Ortiz, seated with friends at a bar in downtown Santo Domingo, shooting him once in the back at nearly point-blank range. The 43-year-old fell from his stool while Dominican police say the driver, 25-year-old Eddy Feliz Garcia, was chased down by a group of witnesses and severely beaten before he was ultimately arrested. The alleged gunman is still on the loose.\nOrtiz was driven to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder, parts of his intestine and liver. Police are still looking for a motive, but have ruled out armed robbery.\nOrtiz, affectionately known as \"Big Papi,\" is widely beloved here. The baseball star is a source of national pride. He also remains popular in the U.S. after 20 seasons, 14 with the Red Sox that included three World Series titles.\nHis larger than life personality extends beyond baseball. In 2013, he lifted the spirits of a shocked city after the Boston marathon bombings.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["extensive internal wounds"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Mass General Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday night"]},{"role":"People","values":["David Ortiz"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2009 A new picture of Fidel Castro is published in the Juventud Rebelde state–run newspaper, apparently showing Cuba's ailing former leader in much better health. (BBC) (CNN) (IOL)[permanent dead link] (Reuters Africa)","document":"A new picture of Fidel Castro has been published in a state-run newspaper, apparently showing Cuba's ailing former leader in much better health.\nMr Castro, 83, was dressed more smartly than in other recent photos, wearing a white shirt rather than a tracksuit. Later he appeared on television for the first time in 14 months, chatting to Venezuelan students, in a meeting which reportedly took place on Saturday. He has not been seen in public since undergoing an operation in 2006. Mr Castro stepped down and his younger brother, Raul, took over his various offices. Since then he has undergone a series of major intestinal operations, although the state of his health and whereabouts remain state secrets. Neatly combed\nThe photograph in Juventud Rebelde, the Communist Youth newspaper, showed Mr Castro talking to Ecuador's left-wing President, Rafael Correa.New TV pictures emerge of Fidel Castro\nThere was speculation that Fidel Castro's health had deteriorated significantly at the end of last year in the run-up to the 50th anniversary of Cuba's revolution, says the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana. But his health does appear to have visibly improved in recent months, our correspondent adds. In the latest photograph Mr Castro appears stronger: his greying, almost white hair is neatly combed back and even his trademark beard appears to have grown a little. He remains an influential figure behind the scenes in Cuba and publishes regular editorials in the state-run media. Occasional photographs of him are published, usually showing him greeting visiting dignitaries.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Cuba","Cuba"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Saturday"]},{"role":"People","values":["Fidel Castro","Fidel Castro","Fidel Castro"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["intestinal operations"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2010 69–year–old Spanish tenor opera star Plácido Domingo returns to the stage at Milan's Teatro alla Scala weeks after colorectal cancer surgery. (BBC)","document":" Opera star Placido Domingo has returned to the stage just weeks after surgery to treat colon cancer. The 69-year-old tenor is appearing in six performances of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra at the famous Milan's Teatro alla Scala Anna Holligan reports. What are these?","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["colon cancer"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Placido Domingo"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2010 Bono is released from hospital in Munich following his spinal surgery as U2 confirm the postponement of the North America leg of the U2 360° Tour and cancel their headlining slot at the Glastonbury Festival 2010. (The Irish Times) (CNN) (The Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"U2 postponed the North America leg of its tour and cancelled its Glastonbury appearance today as the group’s singer Bono was released from hospital after emergency back surgery. He was told by doctors he would need at least eight weeks to recover. Bono, 50, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was treated in a Munich hospital after an injury sustained during tour preparation training, a statement on the band’s website said.‘‘Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we’re all devastated,’’ the Irish act’s manager Paul McGuinness said in the statement.\"Bono’s concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down, we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery. We’re working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reschedule these dates.’’U2 has sold more than 150 million records. Its current 360-Degree tour made more than $311 million from 44 shows in 2009, making it the highest-grossing of the year, according to Billboard.com. U2’s revenue exceeded the $222 million made by Madonna’s shows. Artists have been turning to live performances as revenue drops from CD sales.The European leg of the tour planned later in the year remains in place at present. Live Nation said the 16 dates from Salt Lake City on June 3 through to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium on July 19 will be rescheduled for 2011.The Glastonbury Festival website said the band had cancelled what was due to be its first appearance at the event in June, and Bono had called organiser Michael Eavis to break the news.BLOOMBERG","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Munich hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Bono","Bono","Bono","Bono","Paul Hewson"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["back surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2010 Bono is released from hospital in Munich following his spinal surgery as U2 confirm the postponement of the North America leg of the U2 360° Tour and cancel their headlining slot at the Glastonbury Festival 2010. (The Irish Times) (CNN) (The Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"(CNN) -- U2 lead singer Bono has been discharged from a German hospital where he was treated for a back injury, concert promoter Live Nation said Tuesday.\nThe band's North American shows have been postponed until next year, Live Nation said.\nAnd the group has canceled a planned headline appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in England next month, organizers said on their website.\nBono suffered a serious back injury Friday while preparing for the resumption of the band's U.S. tour, the band said, and had emergency surgery.\n\"Bono suffered severe compression of the sciatic nerve,\" Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt said in a statement provided by the concert promoter. \"On review of his MRI scan, I realized there was a serious tear in the ligament and a herniated disc, and that conservative treatment would not suffice. I recommended Bono have emergency spine surgery with Professor (Joerg Christian) Tonn at Munich's LMU University Hospital on Friday.\"\nTonn said Bono was in severe pain and had already suffered partial paralysis in his lower leg when he was referred.\n\"The ligament surrounding the disc had an 8-millimeter tear, and during surgery we discovered fragments of the disc had traveled into the spinal canal,\" Tonn said in the statement. \"This surgery was the only course of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis.\"\nTonn said Bono is now \"much better\" and has regained all movement. \"The prognosis is excellent, but to obtain a sustainable result, he must now enter a period of rehabilitation,\" Tonn said.\nEight weeks of rehabilitation is considered a minimum, Wohlfahrt said.\nU2 Manager Paul McGuinness said the band is working with Live Nation to reschedule the tour dates.\n\"Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we're all devastated,\" McGuinness said in the statement. \"For a performer who lives to be on stage, this is more than a blow. He feels robbed of the chance to do what he does best and feels like he has badly let down the band and their audience. Which is of course nonsense.\n\"His concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery.\"","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["back injury","back injury","severe compression of the sciatic nerve"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["German hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["Eight weeks of rehabilitation"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Professor (Joerg Christian) Tonn","Tonn","Tonn","Tonn","Tonn"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Bono","Bono","Bono","Bono","Bono","Bono","Bono"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["emergency spine surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"September_2018 Pussy Riot activist Pyotr Verzilov states on Twitter that he is recovering after spending two weeks at Charité in the intensive care unit from a suspected poisoning. (CBS News)","document":"Updated on: September 25, 2018 / 12:57 PM\n / CBS/AP\n MOSCOW -- A member of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot said he is recovering after spending two weeks in intensive care from a suspected poisoning. Pyotr Verzilov tweeted Tuesday that he only fully regained consciousness three days ago after being in a \"black hole\" for the previous 12 days. \nHe added he was \"spending days in the great company of wonderful poisons.\" \nVerzilov, who also has Canadian citizenship, has been at Berlin's Charite hospital since arriving from Moscow, where he was previously treated. Dr. Kai-Uwe Eckardt, who heads the hospital's intensive care department, said last week he expected Verzilov to make a full recovery and hopefully suffer no permanent damage. \nIn a statement issued last week, Pussy Riot member Nadia Tolokonnikova said Verzilov was \"dizzy and confused.\" \"He remembers his friends and relatives, but he does not understand that he's in Germany, that he's in a hospital and there are doctors around him, not prison wardens. 'Are you the director of the prison?', Peter asked yesterday to the head of the hospital,\" according to Tolokonnikova. \nGerman doctors treating Verzilov said last week that reports he was poisoned are \"highly plausible,\" but stressed they can't say how this might have occurred or who was responsible. \nTolokonnikova told The Associated Press that Verzilov could have been poisoned because of his investigation into the killing of Russian journalists in the Central African Republic. The journalists were killed in an ambush in July while investigating a Russian military contractor and Russia's interests in the African country's mining industry. Verzilov was among four Pussy Riot protesters who barged onto the field during the soccer World Cup final in Moscow in July. They ran onto the pitch at Luzhniki Stadium dressed as police officers during the second half of the match between France and Croatia. They used the protest to call for the release of political prisoners in Russia and for more open political competition. \nThe members of the punk protest collective were handed 15 day jail sentences for their stunt. A Russian court sentenced them after finding them guilty of violating the law on behavior of sports events spectators. They were also banned from attending sports events for three years.\nFirst published on September 25, 2018 / 12:16 PM\n© 2018 ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["poisoning"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Charite hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr. Kai-Uwe Eckardt"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Pyotr Verzilov"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["intensive care","intensive care"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 Salisbury District Hospital says poisoned spy Sergei Skripal is no longer critically ill, responding well to treatment, and \"improving rapidly\". His daughter was previously revealed to have regained consciousness. (BBC)","document":"Russian former spy Sergei Skripal is no longer in a critical condition after being poisoned by a nerve agent, doctors have said.\nSalisbury District Hospital said Mr Skripal is responding well to treatment and \"improving rapidly\".\nMr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, have been in hospital for more than a month after being found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury.\nThey had been poisoned with a toxic nerve agent called Novichok.\nMs Skripal is conscious and talking in hospital.\nThe UK government claims Russia is behind the attack but Moscow has denied all involvement, calling the accusations \"horrific and unsubstantiated\".\nMeanwhile, the UK has refused to grant a visa to Yulia's cousin, Viktoria Skripal, the BBC has learned.\nThe Home Office said the application did not comply with immigration rules. A government source told the BBC it appears Russia is \"trying to use Viktoria as a pawn\".\nThe Russian Embassy said Sergei and Yulia Skripal \"remain hidden from the public\" as a result of the visa decision and the \"only relative\" who could reasonably expect to see them is \"kept out of the UK\".\n\"The stubborn refusal to cooperate, to provide transparency and to answer the numerous questions means Britain has something to hide,\" an embassy spokesman said.\nViktoria later told the BBC she did not have enough money in her bank account to satisfy the visa requirements.\nIt comes after Russian TV aired a recording of an alleged phone conversation between Viktoria and Yulia on Thursday.\nDoubts were raised over its authenticity but Viktoria has told Newsnight she was 100% certain it was Yulia.\nIn a statement from the hospital, medical director Christine Blanshard urged people to respect Ms Skripal's privacy \"while she continues to get better\".\n\"As Yulia herself says, her strength is growing daily and she can look forward to the day when she is well enough to leave the hospital,\" Dr Blanshard said.\n\"Any speculation on when that date will be is just that - speculation.\"\nThe BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale said Mr Skripal's recovery meant \"we now have two individuals at the heart of this incident in Salisbury who can now speak\".\nHe said: \"They can speak to investigators about their last movements, were there any threats, were there any other circumstances?\"\nFollowing the update on Mr Skripal's condition, the Russian Embassy tweeted: \"Good news!\"\nThe embassy later issued a statement wishing the Skripals \"get well soon\" and expressed hope that their recovery will \"contribute to the investigation\".\n\"We are confident that the objective probe will ultimately establish that the claims against Russia by [the] UK government are null and void,\" it added.\nForeign Secretary Boris Johnson also called Mr Skripal's condition \"great news\" and a testament to the emergency services and NHS staff.\nThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was \"very pleased\" that the Skripals were improving.\n\"The NHS will continue to provide ongoing care for the Skripals, both of whom are likely to have ongoing medical needs,\" the FCO said.\n\"Let us be clear, this was attempted murder using an illegal chemical weapon that we know Russia possesses.\"\nBy BBC Health and Science Correspondent James Gallagher\nRecovery from a nerve agent attack is not guaranteed, but it is not always a surprise either. Nerve agents including sarin, VX and novichok all prevent nerves functioning normally. This includes those that are necessary to breathe and keep the heart beating.\nThey work by disrupting an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase at the junction between nerves. But over time, the nerve agent is metabolised and excreted by the body and new acetylcholinesterase is made. The question is whether doctors can keep patients alive long enough for that to happen.\nThis would have been the focus of Sergei and Yulia Skripal's care at Salisbury District Hospital. It could have included heart and lung support, the drug atropine to counteract the effect of nerve agents and sedation to prevent brain seizures. There is still a question about the Skripals' long term recovery and whether there will be any impact on memory and brain function.\nFormer double agent Mr Skripal, who was jailed by Russia for spying for Britain's intelligence service but released as part of a spy swap between the US and Russia in 2010, was being visited by his daughter Yulia when the attack happened on 4 March.\nThe pair became ill in the centre of Salisbury after visiting The Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant.\nThe incident sparked an escalating diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West, with more than 20 countries expelling Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK.\nOn Thursday, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, told the UN Security Council that Britain was \"playing with fire\" and had invented a \"fake story\".\nMr Nebenzia said Britain's main goal had been \"to discredit and even delegitimise\" Russia and accused the government of waging a \"propaganda war\".\nIn a statement released to police on Thursday, Ms Skripal said she was grateful for the many messages of goodwill she had received and the people of Salisbury who came to her aid.\nShe said: \"I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you'll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.\"\nBritain's UN ambassador, Karen Pierce, said Russia's request for consular access to Ms Skripal has been passed on.\n\n\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["poisoned","poisoned"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Salisbury District Hospital","Salisbury District Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr Blanshard"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Yulia","Sergei Skripal"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2012 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is discharged from hospital following treatment for a bladder infection. (BBC)","document":"The Duke of Edinburgh has been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for a bladder infection.\nPrince Philip, 91, spent five nights at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary - his third hospital stay in nine months.\nHe was taken to hospital on Wednesday during the royals' annual summer break at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.\nIt is not yet known if he will be fit to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony with the Queen on 29 August.\nIt was a low-key exit and he looked extremely relaxed, shaking hands with the doctors and nurses involved in treating him, said the BBC's Lorna Gordon, outside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.\nDenise Webster, a senior staff nurse, told reporters: \"The duke was a very good patient, and as he left the hospital he told staff to behave themselves and he said he was going back to enjoy the rest of his holiday.\"\nThe duke has now rejoined the rest of the Royal Family at Balmoral.\nBuckingham Palace had described his admission to hospital as a \"precautionary measure\" after the recurrence of an infection he suffered shortly before the Diamond Jubilee concert on 4 June.\nThe duke missed the Royal Family's visit to morning service at Crathie Kirk on Sunday, before spending a fifth night at the NHS hospital, where he was seen by private physicians. Doctors told the duke to rest and he did not receive any visitors during his latest stay in hospital, however his family are said to have been in contact by phone.\nIn June, the duke spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection following the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames.\nHe missed some of the key celebrations for the Queen's 60-year reign, including the star-studded Jubilee concert.\nThe duke, who is the longest-serving royal consort in British royalty, also spent four nights in hospital over Christmas following an operation to clear a blocked heart artery.\nIn March, Prince Harry said the operation - which was successful - had given his grandfather a \"new spurt of life\".\nThe duke went to Balmoral after attending several Olympic events, including the opening ceremony, and he also saw his granddaughter Zara Phillips' Olympic equestrian debut.\nLast week he was said to be in good spirits when he took part in events as part of Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["bladder infection","bladder infection"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Aberdeen Royal Infirmary","Aberdeen Royal Infirmary"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Denise Webster"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesda"]},{"role":"People","values":["Prince Philip"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2015 The Vatican announces Mother Teresa's eligibility for canonization after a Vatican spokesman confirmed Pope Francis' recognition of a second miracle attributed to her involving the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors. The Vatican has yet to confirm a canonization date for Teresa. (Agence France–Presse via The Guardian) (Reuters via The Hindu)","document":"Brazilian man’s recovery from multiple brain tumours attributed by panel of experts to woman nicknamed the ‘Saint of the Gutters’\nFirst published on Fri 18 Dec 2015 01.48 GMT\nPope Francis has approved a second miracle for Mother Teresa, paving the way for the late nun who was known as the “Saint of the Gutters” to be canonised next year. The Vatican said in a short statement on Friday that the Argentinean pontiff had approved the miracle, in which a Brazilian man was said to have been cured of multiple brain tumours in 2008 following the nun’s intercession.\nThe honour for the Nobel prize winner, who won acclaim for her work with impoverished and dying people living in the slums of Kolkata, India, has been widely anticipated for months in Italy, and the ceremony to make her a saint – expected to be held on September 4 2016 – will be a highlight of the church’s jubilee year of mercy.\nBut it is also controversial. Mother Teresa’s work has been questioned for decades by notable critics, who have alleged first that the Catholic missionary, who died in 1997, misused funds that were meant for charity, and second that she was a Catholic fundamentalist more concerned with evangelism than with serving the poor with adequate medical treatment. The negative assessment was underscored by researchers at the University of Montreal and the University of Ottawa, who concluded in a 2013 report that the nun did not deserve the saintly reputation she had acquired over her lifetime due to her “rather dubious way of caring for the sick, her questionable political contacts, her suspicious management of the enormous sums of money she received, and her overly dogmatic views regarding, in particular, abortion, contraception, and divorce”.\nThe researchers found that the vast majority of patients who had come to visit Mother Teresa’s missions for the dying had hoped to find doctors to treat them, but instead found unhygienic conditions, a shortage of care, inadequate food and no painkillers. Vatican journalist John Allen at the Crux website said that the final view on Mother Teresa was ultimately a matter of personal opinion, but that Catholicism did not equate sainthood with perfection. “In reality, declaring someone a saint does, indeed, reflect a judgment that he or she lived a holy life, but it’s not tantamount to a claim of moral perfection. It doesn’t mean they never made mistakes or were utterly free of blind spots,” he wrote.\nThe late journalist Christopher Hitchens, who skewered the nun’s staunch objection to birth control and abortion and was one of her most vociferous critics, ridiculed the first medical miracle that was attributed to Mother Teresa in 2003, when she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 in a “fast-track” process that, in effect, meant she did not have to undergo the standard five-year waiting period after a possible saint’s death. “Surely any respectable Catholic cringes with shame at the obviousness of the fakery,” Hitchens wrote in Slate that year. “A Bengali woman named Monica Besra claims that a beam of light emerged from a picture of Mother Teresa, which she happened to have in her home, and relieved her of a cancerous tumour. Her physician, Dr Ranjan Mustafi, says that she didn’t have a cancerous tumour in the first place and that the tubercular cyst she did have was cured by a course of prescription medicine.” The office that investigates candidates for sainthood has come under fire in two new books that raise questions about the oversight of the church’s finances. The books, allegedly based on church documents, found that every investigation conducted by special sainthood researchers costs about €500,000. When a special committee created by Pope Francis to examine church finances asked the office to produce documentation to back up its expenses, the office allegedly balked, and could not produce any receipts for costs running into the “tens of millions of euros”.\nIn India, meanwhile, the news about Mother Theresa was being celebrated as a Christmas gift from the Holy Father. “We were waiting for this moment, since many years really, and now that it has come we are very happy, overjoyed,” Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Kolkata said. “Her entire life was spent in service to the poor … She was reflecting God’s love here among the poorest of the poor, and so it comes as a very significant event in this Year of Mercy that the Holy Father has given to the church.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["tubercular cyst"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr Ranjan Mustafi"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Monica Besra"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["a course of prescription medicine"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2012 Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, successfully undergoes surgery to remove gallstones from his gallbladder. (BBC) (The Telegraph)","document":"South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, has had an operation to remove gallstones, according to a government statement.\nThe operation was successful and Mr Mandela is recovering.\nMr Mandela, who is 94, was admitted to hospital last Saturday after suffering a recurrence of a lung infection.\nTests revealed the presence of gallstones and doctors treating Mr Mandela decided to remove them once he had recovered from the infection.\nThe statement said: \"This morning, 15 December 2012, the former president underwent a procedure via endoscopy to have the gall stones removed. The procedure was successful and (Mr Mandela) is recovering.\"\nThere is no indication at this stage when he might leave hospital in Pretoria.\nA gallstone is an accumulation of crystals in the gall bladder. If left untreated, it can become life-threatening because of the risks of secondary infections. Mr Mandela is regarded by most South Africans as the father of the nation, having inspired them to fight for democracy. He led the struggle against white-minority rule before being elected the first black president in 1994.\nDespite being imprisoned for 27 years by the apartheid government, he forgave his former enemies and urged South Africans of all races to work together and seek reconciliation.\nHe was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.\nMr Mandela has been admitted to hospital on three occasions in the past two years. In January 2011, he was treated for a serious chest infection in Johannesburg . In February this year he was again admitted to a Johannesburg hospital because of abdominal pains. He was released the following day after tests revealed nothing serious.\nMr Mandela now lives in Qunu, a small rural village in Eastern Cape province, where he says he spent the happiest days of his childhood.\nHe retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen in public since, though he still receives high-profile visitors.\nFormer US president Bill Clinton visited him in July.\n\n\n\n\n\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["lung infection"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["hospital in Pretoria","hospital","hospital","hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Nelson Mandela"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["remove gallstones"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2007 Senator Tim Johnson announces that he will return to the United States Senate on September 5 after recovering from brain surgery since last December. (Reuters)","document":"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Tim Johnson, a Democrat who has been recovering from brain surgery since December, plans to return to his Senate office on September 5, his office said on Wednesday.\nJohnson will be in his home state of South Dakota for the next few days before returning to Washington and he “plans to be in his Senate office and on the Senate floor on Wednesday, September 5th,” according to his office.\nThe two-term Democrat underwent emergency surgery on December 13 to stop bleeding from a malformation of blood vessels in his brain. He remained in the hospital and then in a rehabilitation center for several months after the operation.\nJohnson’s speech and ability to walk are still impaired.\nWith Democrats controlling the Senate with a narrow 51-49 margin, Johnson’s sudden illness that left him in critical condition in December raised questions about what would happen if he could no longer serve, giving South Dakota’s Republican governor the chance to appoint a fellow Republican to fill out Johnson’s term.\nThat could have tipped Senate control to the Republicans.\nJohnson’s second six-year term ends next year and the 60-year-old senator has not formally declared whether he will seek another term.\n\n","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a malformation of blood vessels in his brain","brain"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["speech and ability to walk are still impaired"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","September 5","September 5"]},{"role":"People","values":["Sen. Tim Johnson"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["brain surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"April_2012 Fabrice Muamba is discharged from hospital after his cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match. (BBC) (East African Standard)","document":"Last updated on 16 April 201216 April 2012.From the section Football\nBolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has paid tribute to the London Chest Hospital staff after being discharged.\nThe 24-year-old was technically \"dead\" for 78 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing in a game against Tottenham on 17 March and had been in hospital since then.\n\"I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital,\" he said.\n\"I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff who played a part in my care.\"\n\"It's remarkable when you consider that his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. \"I understand that he had a relatively minor procedure to be fitted with a defibrillator, a pacemaker, because of the risk that he can suffer a cardiac arrest again in the future. \"There's a long way to go in terms of recovering fully. We don't know what the defibrillator means for his playing career.\" Muamba, pictured with Dr Andrew Deaner and Dr Sam Mohiddin of the Barts Health NHS Trust on his discharge, said: \"Their dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will forever be in their debt. I also wish to say thank you to all the many well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support.\"\nAnd in a joint press release issued by the Trust and his club, the midfielder continued: \"Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family.\"\nBolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle said: \"It is absolutely fantastic news that Fabrice has been discharged from hospital and everyone at the club is delighted.\n\"We would also like to add our thanks to the staff at The London Chest Hospital for their care and treatment of Fabrice, which has been outstanding.\n\"It is important that Fabrice and his family are now given time and space to be together, and we would ask the media to continue to respect their privacy.\"\nA spokesman for the Trust said: \"Barts Health can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has now been discharged following several weeks of treatment. All our staff wish him the very best in his ongoing recovery.\"\nMuamba collapsed after 41 minutes of the FA Cup quarter-final tie with Spurs and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and 15 defibrillator shocks before he arrived at the intensive care unit of the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital.\nThe former England Under-21 international was helped on the pitch by Deaner, consultant cardiologist at London Chest Hospital, who was at the game as a fan, and ran out of the stands to lend his expertise.\nLast month, Trotters club doctor Jonathan Tobin said: \"It was 48 minutes when he collapsed to reaching hospital and a further 30 minutes after that. He was, in effect, dead at that time.\n\"We were fearing the worst and didn't think we would get the recovery we had. It's incredible.\"","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["cardiac arrest","cardiac arrest"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["London Chest Hospital","London Chest Hospital","London Chest Hospital","London Chest Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["be fitted with a defibrillator","defibrillator","defibrillator"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr Andrew Deaner","Dr Sam Mohiddin"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Fabrice Muamba","Fabrice Muamba"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Seahawks cornerback Gavin Heslop recovering from surgery on broken leg","document":"Seattle Seahawks defensive back Gavin Heslop is recovering from surgery to repair fracturing to both bones in his left leg sustained in Sunday’s win over the Houston Texans. Heslop had surgery Sunday night and has remained in Houston as he begins his recovery. “He had a real successful surgery,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “He sounded way better, was much more upbeat about that everything worked out OK and all that. He’ll get back here in a couple days.” Heslop was injured with just over a minute left to play in the 33-13 win over the Texans. Heslop was playing the final snaps of the game in place of Quandre Diggs with the game in hand at free safety. Nico Collins caught an 18-yard pass from Davis Mills in front of Heslop. As Collins was falling to the ground, Heslop planted his left leg and Collins fell and landed on the middle of Heslop’s lower leg. The impact caused fractures to both the tibia and fibula. Heslop had just been promoted to the active roster to take the place of Jamal Adams , who is also out for the season after sustaining a torn labrum in his shoulder. Heslop had appeared in two games this season as a standard practice squad elevation. Sunday’s game was his first chance to play on defense and he saw just four snaps before the injury. “A heartbreaker. Just got started,” Carroll said. “He was doing well, too. And to get to this point where we got him active and all that, it’s just too bad.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["fracturing to both bones in his left leg","left leg"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Houston","Houston"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Gavin Heslop"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"‘Parasite’ actress Park So Dam recovering after surgery for thyroid cancer","document":"“Parasite” actress Park So Dam is recovering after undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid cancer, her agency said Monday. Park, 30, from South Korea, was diagnosed during a recent health check, her agency, ArtistCompany, said in a statement to CNN on Monday. The surgery ended the actress’ plans to promote her new movie, “Special Delivery,” the news network reported. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect the thyroid, according to the Mayo Clinic . It can occur at any age, but most often it affects people ages 30 to 50, according to the clinic. Parasite Actress Park So Dam Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and Undergoes Park has appeared in several South Korean films, including “Steel Cold Winter,” “The Priests” and “Ode to the Goose,” People reported. She had a breakout role in 2019′s “ Parasite ,” which won four Academy Awards, including best picture, best international feature film, best director and best screenplay. Park played Kim Ki Jung , a young woman from a poor family who pretends to be an art therapist so she can get a job teaching the children of a wealthy family. The film, directed by Bong Joon Ho, became the first non-English-language film and the first South Korean film to win an Oscar for best picture, according to CNN . “The company would like to once again thank all the people for showing support for ‘Special Delivery’ and actress Park So Dam, as well as the actors and crew of ‘Special Delivery’ overcoming this difficult time together,” the agency said in its statement to CNN . “Park So Dam will focus on her recovery so that she can see you all healthy in the future, and ArtistCompany will also do our best to help the actor recover her health.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Papillary thyroid cancer","papillary thyroid cancer"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Park So Dam","Park","Park So Dam","Park","Park","Park So Dam","Park So Dam"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Mahesh Babu undergoes knee surgery in Spain, actor recovering well","document":"Mahesh Babu underwent knee surgery in Spain and is currently recuperating. The actor will be back in Hyderabad soon. UPDATED: December 16, 2021 16:29 IST Mahesh Babu undergoes knee surgery in Spain. Mahesh Babu recently underwent knee surgery in Spain on December 14. He is currently recuperating. The actor is expected to take rest for two months before getting back to work. Mahesh Babu was seen leaving Hyderabad with his wife, Namrata Shirodkarar, on December 13. After the doctors give a green signal, Mahesh Babu will return to Hyderabad. MAHESH BABU UNDERGOES KNEE SURGERY IN SPAIN Mahesh Babu has been busy shooting for director Parasuram Petla's Sarkaru Vaari Paata for the past few months. According to reports, the actor has been suffering from knee pain for a while now. After consulting with doctors, Mahesh Babu decided to go ahead with his knee surgery. If reports are to be believed, Mahesh Babu is recovering well at the hospital after the surgery. The actor will wait for the doctor's advice before getting back to Hyderabad. MAHESH BABU'S UPCOMING FILM Mahesh Babu was last seen in Sarileru Neekevvaru, which released in theatres in 2020 . The actor took a break for a few months before signing his upcoming film, Sarkaaru Vaari Paata. Directed by Parasuram Petla, the film will release in theatres on April 1, 2022. After completing Sarkaru Vaari Paata, Mahesh Babu will team up with Trivikram Srinivas for a film, which will also feature Pooja Hegde. He also has a film with director SS Rajamouli in the pipeline.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["knee pain"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","MAHESH BABU","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu","MAHESH BABU","Mahesh Babu","Mahesh Babu"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["knee surgery","knee surgery","knee surgery","knee surgery","KNEE SURGERY"]}]}
+{"title":"Congressman Higgins recovering at home after surgery for old injury","document":" Congressman Clay Higgins is recovering after surgery he underwent on Tuesday. According to Higgins' office, he underwent a successful surgical procedure Tuesday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette. In a statement, Higgins says the surgery was necessary after aggravating an old internal injury. He says the procedure went well. Higgins' office says the congressman will spend the next few weeks recovering and working from his home office. Congressman Higgins issued the following statement: “A few months ago, while training, I aggravated an old internal injury. This morning, I underwent a surgical procedure. The surgery was recommended by my doctors earlier in the fall, and we planned the procedure to take place after the conclusion of this year’s votes. Everything went well, and I’m grateful to my doctors and nurses for their excellent care. I will spend the Christmas season recovering at home under the care of my wife Becca and will continue working remotely on many ongoing issues. The challenges we face together will not take a holiday, and neither will I. It is an honor to serve South Louisiana, and I look forward to a full recovery from this required surgical procedure. The new year is upon us, and together we will embrace the future.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Clay Higgins"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgical procedure","surgical procedure","surgical procedure"]}]}
+{"title":"Pink reveals she is recovering from hip surgery","document":"The Grammy-winner praised her husband, Carey Hart, in a social media post detailing the ways he has been helping during her \"brutal\" healing journey. Pink performing at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for dcp Pink is maintaining a positive mindset as she recovers from hip surgery. The superstar vocalist revealed on Instagram on Wednesday that she has had ups and downs since the recent procedure. She posted a photo of herself smiling along with a detailed description of her struggles and how her husband, Carey Hart , has been supporting her. \"Hey world! This is what 9 hours of sleep and cuddles from my kiddos looks like 7 days post hip surgery!!\" the Grammy-winner began her lengthy post. Pink and Hart, who married in 2006, share daughter Willow, 10, and son Jameson, 4. She thanked her doctor and the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, and added, \"I am never not completely grateful.\" Despite her sunny disposition, Pink admitted the recovery has been rough so far. \"It was a brutal first week full of tears and pain med depression, ulcers from meds and constant fevers, but my @hartluck brought me through.\" She mentioned that Hart, who is a former professional motocross competitor, has plenty of experience recovering from serious injuries and surgeries . Continuing to gush about her husband, Pink explained all of the kind acts he has performed for her as she heals, including bringing her coffee in the shower, drying her tears, cooking her oatmeal and talking her \"off the ledge.\" The singer assured fans that it's not all bad, writing that she has \"already figured out some tricks on these crutches I'm on for six weeks.\" She also confirmed that she will make a \"full recovery.\" \"Life always reminds you that most setbacks are actually just pauses and opportunities to recalibrate and count your blessings,\" she shared. Pink said the surgery allowed her to meet a woman with cerebral palsy who summits mountains and learn about a blind man who climbs Mount Everest. The experience so far has been \"humbling\" for her and she is using this journey as an opportunity to learn the \"gift of accepting help.\" The \"What About Us\" singer ended the message on an uplifting note and said, \"Let the healing begin,\" along with a heart, prayer hand and dancing emoji. Pink regularly opens up to fans about her personal life and struggles. In May, she spoke to TODAY's Carson Daly about her documentary, \"All I Know So Far,\" which shows her balancing motherhood and fame. \"I made the documentary because as kids we create this narrative about our parents, and how our childhood was and how hard we had it,\" she explained at the time. \"I was like, 'Well if I make this documentary, then they can see how loved they are and clothed and fed, and how I rearranged the cells of my being to be there for them.'\" ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Pink","Pink","Pink","Pink","Pink","Pink","Pink"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["hip surgery","hip surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"'It was very scary': Woman travels to Muskegon for heart surgery because hospitals are at capacity","document":"'It was very scary': Woman travels to Muskegon for heart surgery because hospitals are at capacity 46-year-old Lutricia Harmon is now recovering from a quadruple bypass at Mercy Health Heart Center in Muskegon Posted at 6:22 PM, Dec 15, 2021 and last updated 2021-12-15 19:55:37-05 MUSKEGON, Mich. — Because of hospitals in Grand Rapids being at capacity due to the recent surge in COVID cases, a Grand Rapids woman had to travel all the way out to Muskegon in order to have emergency open-heart surgery. Forty-six-year-old Lutricia Harmon has been extremely conscious of any issues with her heart after suffering a heart attack last year. On an evening about three weeks ago, she knew something was wrong, and decided to call her daughter, Ashley Durr. “She called me one night and was like, 'I'm headed to the hospital.' I said, 'Okay, I'll meet you there,'” Durr explained to FOX 17 Wednesday afternoon. “Scary... It was very scary.” Her mother went in to Mercy Health Saint Mary's in Grand Rapids to be checked out, but was initially told everything looked fine. After spending a few days back at home resting, she once again felt something off with her heart. “She knew something was wrong the whole time,\" Durr said. “She did another test with them, and they knew immediately that she needed this surgery.” Harmon needed open-heart surgery as soon as possible, a quadruple bypass. She would need to find a hospital with an open intensive care bed, but Mercy Health Saint Mary's doesn't perform such surgeries. Spectrum Grand Rapids, the hospital closest to their homes, wasn't able to accommodate at the time. A spokesperson for Spectrum Health told FOX 17 late Wednesday that \"During the most recent COVID surges and high hospital census numbers, nearly every aspect of Spectrum Health’s operations has been impacted, including emergency departments, medical surgical units, ICU units and transfers to post-acute care settings such as rehab and nursing units.\" \"During this time, and like hospitals around the country, Spectrum Health has postponed or deferred elective surgeries and turned down transfer requests from other hospitals in the region when necessary,\" the statement continued. All of Spectrum's emergency departments remain open. Durr, who works in a hospital herself, began frantically looking for another location with an open intensive care bed. “No one else around us, around the area, were taking transfers, and Muskegon was the first one to open up,” she said. They ended up receiving word that a bed was available at the Mercy Health Heart Center in Muskegon. It wasn't convenient, but it was the only option at the time. The family started a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover a nearby hotel room, and growing transportation costs. A friend ended up covering the entire cost of a room, but they are still hoping they can raise enough money to help financially support their mother during her recovery, when she isn't able to work. “I would like to thank everybody that have donated so far… we appreciate everything, and everybody,” Durr told FOX 17. Her mother had her surgery Wednesday morning, and successfully made it through. She will now spend about five days recovering in that intensive care room. They are all eager for the day they can all travel back to their homes in Grand Rapids together. The state of Michigan maintains a website HERE with the current bed capacity levels at all Michigan healthcare facilities.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["heart attack"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Mercy Health Heart Center in Muskegon","Muskegon","MUSKEGON","Muskegon","Muskegon","Muskegon","Muskegon"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Lutricia Harmon","Lutricia Harmon"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["a quadruple bypass","quadruple bypass","emergency open-heart surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Spencer, golden retriever that captured hearts at Boston Marathon, recovering from surgery to remove tumor","document":" Spencer, who makes regular appearance at the Boston Marathon clutching a \"Boston Strong\" flag between his teeth, had surgery on Monday to remove a tumor.The Henry Studio Spencer, the unflappable golden retriever who has become a revered figure along the Boston Marathon course for his proud display of a “Boston Strong” flag that he clenched in his teeth, had surgery to remove a tumor and is recovering at his home in Holliston. Doctors removed a mass along with his spleen on Monday, and his family is now anxiously awaiting the results of a pathology report that will indicate whether or not the tumor was malignant. “If you get a tumor in the spleen area of a golden retriever, it’s usually not a good thing,” said Spencer’s owner, Rich Powers, in an interview on Thursday. “So we’re kind of on pins and needles hoping the report is good. He’s doing well at the moment, but we don’t know.” Spencer with his medical team.The Henry Studio Spencer, who is 12, shot to fame in 2018 when, in pouring rain and whipping winds he sat happily wearing Powers’ bright blue rain jacket and clutching a small wooden post with dueling blue and yellow flags. In each year following, runners have sacrificed a few precious seconds to dote on the pooch after spotting him near Mile 3 in Ashland State Park. He has also captured the attention of local news stations, who without fail provide him a feature slot in their race coverage. Along with his sister, 9-year-old Penny, he is the subject of a popular social media account. “Every time you turn on the news, people are terrible. It’s awful,” said Powers, trying to explain the fervor over his dog. “And then you get this little dog who just looks up all sweet and holds a little flag. It just makes you stop, and just for a second, the world isn’t as terrible. He’s a break from the awfulness.” In keeping with his easygoing personality, Spencer was unfazed by the surgery, Powers said. Powers had noticed a change in the dog’s eating habits last week and quickly took him to the vet, where an MRI revealed the tumor. No bother for Spencer. Advertisement “He went in, tail wagging,” said Powers, 56. “When we picked him up, I thought they’d hand us this lifeless dog. But no, he just came out, like, ‘Let’s go!’ and pulling at the leash.” This isn’t Spencer’s first health scare. Last year, doctors removed a 3 1/2-pound tumor from near his liver. “It was bad,” said Powers. “You don’t expect them to live through something like that.” Powers and his wife, Dorrey, got Spencer as a puppy in 2009, and he started attending the Marathon in 2015.They’ve always had golden retrievers in pairs, Powers explained. Before Spencer and Penny, it was Misty and Mandy. Spencer was a friendly face at the annual race for a few years before he rose to fame. “I think it was him in my raincoat through the pouring rain that did it,” said Powers. On top of his annual Marathon duties, Spencer and Penny are both registered therapy dogs, making stops wherever a calming presence is requested. Last week they were at a vaccine clinic, where they stood by nervous kids as they got their shots. Spencer and Penny.The Henry Studio A Facebook account dedicated to the two pups, titled “Spencer and Penny,” has a loyal base of followers who adore regular “pupdates,” as Powers calls them. The page is flooded with pictures of the dogs standing side by side, each holding a sign.A recent post during Spencer’s stay with the vet features Penny holding a paper that reads “positive vibes needed.” Advertisement The page has grown so popular that Powers began making calendars of the pair at his followers’ request and donating most proceeds to canine cancer research. This year he’s already sold 775. A recent post during Spencer’s stay at the vet’s office features Penny holding a paper that reads “positive vibes needed.” “We’re really hoping he makes it through this,” said Powers. “A lot of people love this guy, and his sister needs him.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a tumor in the spleen area","tumor","tumor","tumor","tumor","tumor"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["The Henry Studio Spencer","Henry Studio Spencer"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery to remove a tumor","surgery","to remove a tumor","surgery","removed a 3 1/2-pound tumor"]}]}
+{"title":"SA surgeon performs new robotic surgery on testicular cancer patients, allowing faster recovery","document":"SAN ANTONIO - – Testicular cancer is most common in younger men, ages 15-30 years old. In more complicated cases where the disease has spread, the only option used to be a serious open surgery, but a robot is now changing that, getting these young patients back on their feet faster. Antonio Flores is only 21 and in his prime, so it was a shock in February when he found out he had testicular cancer. “They told me, ‘Yeah we have to remove the testicle.’ I was like, ‘Okay, go ahead.’ I’d rather lose a testicle than my life,” he said. However, that was just the beginning. He then went through weeks of chemotherapy only to find out he was one of the rare patients whose lymph nodes in the back of his abdomen were still infected. “It’s quite complex and quite rare because these lymph nodes are right next to the major vessels,” said Dr. Ahmed Mansour, associate professor of urology at UT Health San Antonio and a surgeon with Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Mansour said typically the only procedure available is a complicated open surgery, which is only available at a few centers in the nation and takes months of recovery. “The traditional surgery involves a large incision, which extends from the chest bone all the way across the abdomen,” he said. Mansour hated seeing young patients held back from their lives for so long as they recovered, so he helped utilize a massive surgical robot to more effectively remove these lymph nodes in patients like Flores. The surgeon sits in the corner of the operating room controlling instruments attached to long robot arms, inserted through small incisions in the patient’s belly. “The advantages are less blood loss, faster recovery, and less pain after the surgery,” Mansour said. The Mays Cancer Center took the robotic procedure done only a few times around the nation, and modified the technique further. “This procedure has been done in the past but only for patients who did not get chemotherapy, because chemotherapy makes these masses stuck to the vessels and it becomes quite hard for them to be taken out. In the past, it was also performed to take the lymph nodes from only one side of the belly,” Mansour said. Ad The robotic surgery allows surgeons like Mansour to operate on both sides of the abdomen on testicular cancer patients like Flores who have had chemo. In May, Flores was the first patient to undergo that procedure here in San Antonio, and became one of just a handful of patients across the country. Since Flores’ surgery, Mansour has done the procedure once more. “He got amazed at how fast I’ve been recovering. Since the surgery, I would say three weeks… not even,” Flores said. He’s back to working as an auto mechanic and is proud to be cancer-free. “The fastest I can get recovered to get back to work the better because honestly I got a lot of bills to pay,” Flores said. That’s the very reason Mansour and his colleagues are continuing their quest to perfect the robotic procedure until it’s used more regularly nationwide. UT Health San Antonio is now promoting the new technique to other centers and creating a multi-center study evaluating this approach to the traditional open surgery. Ad While Mansour works on that, he also is promoting prevention, saying the best way to keep patients safe is through self-examination. “Usually testicular cancer comes without any symptoms, but they feel a mass or a lump on their testes. Usually discovered during showering or self-examination,” he said. He urges men to do regular self exams and go to the doctor if they believe they feel something abnormal.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["testicular cancer","Testicular cancer","testicular cancer","testicular cancer"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr. Ahmed Mansour, associate professor of urology at UT Health San Antonio and a surgeon with Mays Cancer Center","UT Health San Antonio","Dr. Mansour","Mays Cancer Center","UT Health San Antonio"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Antonio Flores"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["chemotherapy","chemotherapy","chemotherapy","remove the testicle","utilize a massive surgical robot"]}]}
+{"title":"Bouchard recovering from shoulder surgery","document":"Eugenie Bouchard, the former World No 5 from Canada, continues to recover from surgery to repair the torn subscapularis in her right shoulder sustained in March, admitting recently that she was scared to undergo the procedure because she had never been under anaesthesia before. Everything is on track and is going well, but he [the doctor] wants me to strengthen my shoulder a little bit more before I get back on court. Everything is still on time, so I just need a few more weeks of intense PT and strengthening and then I can finally, five months later, get on the court. Eugenie Bouchard “Full Anaesthesia. I was so scared beforehand ‘cuz I’ve never been under,” Bouchard explained on Instagram. “But everything went perfectly. “However when I came to, after the procedure, I kinda freaked out and was super emotional lol. My mom took videos. I’ll have to show y’all one day. It’s too funny!” Bouchard, whose ranking has dropped to No 250 in the world, is looking to return to match play in Rome next year. “Hopefully Rome in May 2022!” she confirmed. “Last time I played Rome was 2016. Can you believe it?” Poised to have a good season in 2021 after reaching the final in Guadalajara Open in March, the 27-year old was forced to surrender to the shoulder injury she picked up during her first-round match there. After trying ‘every form of conservative treatment and rehab known to man’, Bouchard revealed three months later that she had elected to have arthroscopic surgery. In a separate post, Bouchard told her Instagram followers that she had received ‘good news’ regarding her recovery and all was well. “I saw the doctor last week and everything is on track and is going well, but he wants me to strengthen my shoulder a little bit more before I get back on court,” Bouchard said on Instagram in late October. “Everything is still on time, so I just need a few more weeks of intense PT and strengthening and then I can finally—five months later get on the court.” Bouchard has been using hydrotherapy sessions in her recovery programme. ”A glimpse into some of the hydrotherapy I’ve been doing for my shoulder,” she said. “Recreating movements in water activates more muscles! I’ve found it helpful, and such a good burn/workout.” Bouchard followed the US Open and said it was refreshing to see what Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez did. “We were all in this narrative, saying ‘Tennis is so hard on the players’ minds, they can’t compete with the pressure, media are going too hard on those kids,’ and then you get Fernandez and Raducanu coming, all lights out, big eyes, so happy just to be out there, enjoying the moment, not thinking about the backstage, the business,” Bouchard told Tennis Majors. “They’re just playing the match and beating those players. “It’s so refreshing, and the contrast is massive between them and Naomi feeling like she needs a break and has no joy out there.” Genie Bouchard has used hydro therapy in her recovery from shoulder surgery Instagram Meanwhile, Bouchard has debuted New Balance x Bandier’s second collection in the company’s ‘Her Advantage’ campaign. “Her Advantage. The new @newbalance x @bandier collection, inspired by my love of fashion, and anchored in the idea that if you look good, you play good and feel even better,” she posted on social media. New Balance is collaborating with the leisure brand, Bandier, producing the new neutral-toned New Balance 327 sneakers. Sponsored by New Balance, Bouchard signed a multi-year contract with the athletic brand in 2020 after Nike dropped her in 2019. The latest New Balance x Bandier collection features a fun collaborative colour-way of the New Balance 327 kicks and a full apparel collection, with sweatpants, tank tops, long-sleeves and hoodies in the neutral-tone collection. Apart from New Balance, Bouchard is also endorsing brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Yonex, Wilson, Babolat, and Head, which makes the Canadian one of the most recognisable players of the modern era. The face of New Balance's \"Her Advantage' campaign Having burst onto the global scene as a 20-year-old when she reached the 2014 Wimbledon final, Bouchard was catapulted into stardom as the endorsement deals swarmed in and public interest heightened. Her ranking rose to No 5 in the world by the end of that year when she was voted the WTA’s most improved player in 2014. A fluke concussion after slipping on a wet floor at the US Open rendered her unable to compete in the fourth round, sparking a loss of form and confidence that spiralled her into decline. By 2017, Bouchard had returned to the ITF circuit, but she failed to dominate and rediscover her spark. Despite her lack of form, Bouchard remained an attractive and marketable athlete, and is one of only five active tennis players with more than two million followers on Instagram. She looked well on her way to regaining her form this year before having to have the shoulder surgery and, at 27, she could yet make a resurgence back to the top of the game. Genie Bouchard remains highly marketable despite her decline in form ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["the torn subscapularis in her right shoulder"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Eugenie Bouchard","Eugenie Bouchard"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","surgery","surgery","arthroscopic surgery","hydrotherapy sessions"]}]}
+{"title":"Project Santa: Recovering from heart surgery, 7-month-old Tulsa girl to celebrate first Christmas with family","document":"While they wanted more than anything to take her in their arms and hold her tight, Chloe Mae Avey’s parents knew it wasn’t possible. So they expressed their love in the only way available to them. Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now “Doctors told us she couldn’t move, couldn’t open her eyes — but she could hear us,” said Andrea Avey, who together with her husband, Jesse Avey, spent many hours just talking to their newborn daughter. “I would tell her that ‘we’re here and we’re never going to leave you,’” she said. “’No matter what, we’re still here.’ That was said a lot. And that we love her.” Chloe was born on May 13 at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now Premature and with serious heart defects, she would spend her first few weeks, both before and after heart surgery, in neonatal intensive care. It was almost more than her parents could endure, seeing their tiny daughter hooked up to countless tubes and machines. “I counted 25 machines,” said Andrea, who spent every waking hour at the hospital. Looking back now, the Aveys couldn’t be more grateful, they say, for the medical staff’s efforts on behalf of Chloe. And reflecting on the experience only makes them better appreciate how far they’ve come. Today, Chloe, 7 months old and doing well, is preparing for her first Christmas. It’s something that a few months back her parents would not have dared to hope for, and they are making the most of it. At the Aveys’ home in west Tulsa, the Christmas tree is up and surrounded by presents. And three stockings are hanging on the wall. The one in the middle — with an image of a smiling Minnie Mouse — is Chloe’s. “She picked hers out herself,” Andrea said. ‘She won’t remember any of this’ Last Christmas, the Aveys had no clue that Chloe was in their future. The couple, who both have children from previous relationships, had wanted to have a child together for more than two years. But the more they tried, the less it seemed it would ever happen. “We really just gave up,” Jesse said. Then, early this year, Andrea started feeling sick. She decided to take a pregnancy test. It confirmed what they had long been hoping for. The excitement over a baby would be tempered, though, by some sobering news. During a routine ultrasound at 12 weeks, doctors discovered problems: Chloe had three holes in her heart, along with a transposition of the great arteries, a rare and serious condition in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed. The Aveys were advised that their daughter would need open-heart surgery after she was born. Even then, the outcome was uncertain. “It was either she gets the surgery and possibly makes it through or we don’t do the surgery and she won’t make it at all,” Andrea said. The procedure took 18 hours. Thankfully, everything went as planned. After spending her first 44 days in the hospital, Chloe finally got to go home. It’s possible she could need a follow-up procedure in a few months, the Aveys said, but her doctors are very happy with her progress. Balancing Chloe’s care with the demands of life has been challenging. Jesse, who has epilepsy, receives disability but hopes to find work soon that he can do with his condition. Andrea works at a nearby grocery store, where she was recently promoted to manager. It’s been hard, trying to keep up with rent and mounting bills, they said. But they are doing their best to give their daughter the best life possible. The Aveys are documenting the experiences of Chloe’s first year to share with her one day. Along with taking many photos, they’ve kept everything the hospital has given them. “I think it’s important she knows,” Andrea said. “She won’t remember any of this.” An additional reminder runs down the middle of Chloe’s chest. Andrea has traced the long surgical scar many times with her finger. It’s become a visible sign for her of their bond as mother and daughter. \"I have a scar, too, from the C-section,\" Andrea said. \"I told Jesse as she gets older she'll match me. It's like we complete each other.\" Donate to Project Santa Donations may be made by sending a check or money order to Project Santa, c/o Tulsa World, P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102. To donate online, go to tinyurl.com/ysvp9dm6 . Scroll down to the “My donation is to support” dropdown menu, click and choose “Tulsa World Project Santa.” Project Santa 2021: Salvation Army needs help supporting these families Salvation Army Christmas The Project Santa holiday fund drive, a more than century-old Tulsa-area tradition, runs through Christmas Eve. An annual partnership between the Tulsa World and the Salvation Army to support families in need of a helping hand, this year’s fundraising goal is $300,000. Capt. Dan Nelson, Salvation Army area commander, said: “People who have never had to ask for help before now need assistance. We want the Tulsa community to know we are here to help them in any way we can.” All money raised is distributed by the Salvation Army in the form of vouchers and material gifts. “Simply put, because of Project Santa, we are able to say ‘yes’ to more families, children, and individuals,” Nelson said. These are the stories about some of the Tulsans receiving help through the fund. Salvation Army volunteers are pictured in 2018. MIKE SIMONS, Tulsa World file Grandmother raising late daughter's children finds blessings in the wake of tragedy Feeling blessed was much more of a challenge last year, when Sharon Whitlock was first interviewed for the Tulsa World's Project Santa series. The year of 2020 had been a rough and tragic one for her and her family. It started with a bad case of pneumonia for Whitlock, which almost killed her after it aspirated into a staph infection. Then, while still in ICU at the hospital, she was hit with devastating news: Her daughter Abi had died. Ian Maule, Tulsa World In the face of health scare, Berryhill woman finds 'generosity,' 'spiritual awakening' She'd worked 17 years with OSU Center for Health Sciences but put off going to the doctor because she \"was afraid to hear someone say 'you're dying.'\" Then Lori Partin sought the medical attention that saved her life. Hospitalized earlier this year and diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism and Graves disease, she has been forced to miss a lot of work while medical bills continue to pile up. Michael Noble Jr., Tulsa World Former truck-driving couple try to steer their way through illness, hard times Forced to leave his trucking job because of his health, Edward Davis has been battling end-stage renal disease for the last year. And though he’s on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, there’s no immediate end in sight to his situation or to the financial hardship it’s causing for the couple. \"It's like life and everything just came to a stop,\" said Edward Davis, who shares a home with his wife, Christy, and their two rescue dogs, Juneau and Louie. Michael Noble Jr., Tulsa World Single mother raising two daughters awaits kidney transplant Stacy Bowie was originally diagnosed with kidney disease 13 years ago while pregnant. For the foreseeable future, she’ll depend on dialysis to keep her alive after late last year, the disease progressed significantly. “My little one, she would be like, ‘you got to leave again, you got to go?’” Bowie shares her home with her daughters; Siyonna, 13, and Tionna, 7, attend school online. Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World For Owasso father, family, adjusting to life after work accident 'extremely hard' Three months since the accident, in which he fell from the roof of a pole barn he was building, Chris Hopkins is slowly mending. “The collapsed lung was probably the worst thing,” Hopkins said. “It still hurts.” Hopkins and Brooke Thomas, who share a mobile home together in Owasso, are raising four young children, including their newest addition, Logan, born in October. Mike Simons, Tulsa World Amid hard times, Tulsa couple thankful for their 'miracle baby' For the first few months of his life, Jessica Hollock and Blake Sullivan had no guarantees their son would ever run and play like most Tulsa children. They weren't sure Lemmy would even survive. John Clanton, Tulsa World Tulsa woman battles heart, kidney failure Jacziri Juarez, 22, has been living with lupus and kidney failure since she was 13. Last year, she learned her heart was also failing. Juarez met her husband, Denis Hernandez, through their church youth group. Hernandez does his best to support the couple, working a full-time construction job. But keeping up with the rent, bills and medical expenses has been difficult. And he misses work frequently to care for his wife when she’s sick or to take her to dialysis and doctor appointments. Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World West Tulsa woman cherishes taking care of great-grandchildren, even through financial hardship Peggy Sade is caretaker for great-grandchildren Journey (from left), 14, Kylee, 12, Josh, 10, and Kyrah Gallagher, 8, all of Tulsa. Sade and the children live on an $800 per month disability check because of her advanced COPD and back issues, and nothing else.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["serious heart defects"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Chloe Mae Avey"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["open-heart surgery","heart surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Australian Survivor's Lee Carseldine reveals he's recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery","document":"He also shared a Boomerang video of himself on Instagram Stories, and captioned it: 'Here we go again'. The short video showed Lee giving a thumbs up as he stood in front of a mirror in a surgical gown with compression socks pulled up around his legs. Ouch: In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 46-year-old Australian Survivor star revealed he had undergone shoulder surgery Lee previously had surgery on his shoulder back in May, sharing a series of photos of himself post-surgery. In one photo, he was seen lying in bed with his right arm in a sling, a blood pressure machine hooked up to his left arm, and a nasal cannula in his nostrils. A second photo showed his bandaged shoulder after appearing to have undergone keyhole surgery. Back in hospital: Lee previously had surgery on his shoulder back in May, sharing a series of photos of himself post-surgery Battle scars: A second photo showed his bandaged shoulder after appearing to have undergone keyhole surgery 'Round dos,' he simply captioned the post. Before that, Lee had surgery on the same shoulder in May last year, sharing yet another photo from his hospital bed, this time with a red surgical cap on. 'The new 2020 winter off the shoulder gown accompanied with red hair net kit* has been released and can be found at all reputable hospitals,' he captioned the post. Repeat patient: Before that, Lee had surgery on the same shoulder in May last year, sharing yet another photo from his hospital bed, this time with a red surgical cap on 'Don't miss out. They are selling as quickly as baby tigers in the USA. Use product code STILLHIGH to get your 110% discount. *Wristbands sold separately.' He added: 'P.S. - all is OK. Just an overnight stay this time.' Lee appeared on the 2016 season of Australian Survivor, before later returning for last year's season of Survivor: All Stars. Roughing it: Lee appeared on the 2016 season of Australian Survivor, before later returning for last year's season of Survivor: All Stars. Pictured with Locky Gilbert (bottom)","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Lee","Lee","Lee","Lee","Lee","Lee","Lee"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery on the same shoulder","shoulder surgery","surgery","surgery","surgery","surgery","shoulder","surgery","undergone shoulder surgery","surgery on his shoulder","keyhole surgery 'Round dos","keyhole surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Injured Lions tackle Tyrell Crosby has back surgery","document":"Tackle Tyrell Crosby has spent the entire season on injured reserve for the Detroit Lions after being waived/injured by the team at the end of training camp. Three months after he moved to the team’s injured list, Crosby had surgery. Crosby posted a photo of himself recovering in the hospital on Tuesday. “Nothing gonna stop me from smiling! Finally on the road to recovery,” Crosby wrote on his Twitter account . Crosby missed time in the preseason with what was stated as a Grade 1 hamstring strain at the time. He didn’t play in the team’s first two preseason games before playing just nine snaps in their preseason finale. Crosby then was waived/injured during roster cuts and reverted to the injured list when he cleared waivers. Via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the surgery focused on a back injury that Crosby had been dealing with and was “ misdiagnosed ” in training camp. Crosby started 11 of 12 games he appeared in last season for the Lions and had played fairly well. He’s played in 38 career games in Detroit with 18 total starts. With Crosby in the final year of his rookie deal with the Lions, he’ll become a free agent after the season. Detroit is set at tackle with Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell in the starting lineup. Crosby has shown to be a capable performer and won the Morris Trophy during his final year at Oregon as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12. If the back surgery gets him back to his prior form, Crosby should have suitors this offseason.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Grade 1 hamstring strain"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Tyrell Crosby"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["back surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Recovered from injury, Fleetwood girls basketball’s Alexis Hess hopes to lead the Tigers to new heights in 2021-22","document":" In June, Fleetwood junior Alexis Hess sat on her couch, unable to walk. Hess, one of the top girls basketball players in the state, was recovering from surgery that placed cadaver cartilage in her knee to supplement missing cartilage caused by an osteochondral defect. The operation and ensuing recovery forced Hess to miss the entire AAU season. “It was tough for me mentally, seeing all these other girls playing, and I had to sit down on the couch and watch them play,” Hess said. “I stuck it out. I knew in my mind that if I just worked hard, that I’d be back to playing.” After being unable to walk for two months following the surgery on June 22, Hess worked hard throughout the fall on her recovery. Despite the challenges, she said she believes she would play basketball at a high level again. “I know I had a really huge and positive support system behind me,” said Hess, a third-team All-State pick in Class 5A last season. “It helped boost my confidence in playing again.” Ahead of schedule, Hess returned to game action on Friday night in Fleetwood’s season-opening 47-40 win over Conestoga Valley. The Tigers fell to 1-1 with a 32-29 loss to Lebanon on Saturday. “I honestly didn’t think I’d be ready for the season, but I worked really hard during my physical therapy,” Hess said. “I’m ready.” Hess, a guard, led the team with 21 points in Friday’s victory over the Buckskins. She scored six Saturday. “I’m so thankful for the surgery,” Hess said. “I’m grateful, because now that I’m getting better, I feel like I can do a lot more and get down the court.” Last season, Fleetwood finished 6-3 in Berks III, 10-7 overall. The Tigers were eliminated in the first round of the BCIAA and District 3 Class 5A playoffs. As a sophomore, Hess led Fleetwood in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. A two-time All-Berks selection, she wore a brace and often played through heavy swelling in her knee. This season, along with a now-healthy Hess, the Tigers also return senior Julia Kaskey, who averaged 8.8 points per game last season and is a two-time all-division selection. With experienced leaders, first-year coach Steve Zeller said he believes Fleetwood can make a bigger splash in the postseason. “I have high hopes for us this year,” Zeller said. “We look to compete for the county championship.” While Hess has led the Tigers in scoring since she was a freshman, Zeller said she isn’t hesitant to pass the ball. “She sees the court, and she’s not selfish,” Zeller said. “She loves her teammates (and) she likes when they’re involved.” Hess is being recruited by Division I schools across the country. This summer, she will be living in Ohio and playing for Ohio United AAU, her second season with the squad. “There’s no harder worker,” Zeller said. “The skills and things she has are not by accident. She has a natural gift, but she has worked.” As a high school student-athlete, an AAU basketball player and a highly sought-after recruit, Hess has a lot on her plate. However, when she steps on the court, she said she is focused solely on doing her best. “I have such a love for the game that I don’t allow things to really get to me,” Hess said. “I know there are people looking, but if I just play my game and do what I have to do, I just know that things will follow with it.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["osteochondral defect"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Alexis Hess"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery that placed cadaver cartilage in her knee","surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Packers' Randall Cobb: Recovering from core muscle surgery","document":"Cobb underwent core muscle surgery last week with the hope he'll recover in time for the postseason, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. Cobb exited the Packers ' last game Week 12 against the Rams with what was termed a groin issue. With the benefit of a bye, the Packers weren't required to disclose any details of the injury until this week, but coach Matt LaFleur touched on Cobb on Thursday, stating the veteran wide receiver \"is going to be out for awhile. He had a pretty significant injury.\" Cobb seems poised to land on injured reserve in due time, but the team may wait to make the transaction official until he's well into his rehab, considering the 21-day practice window aspect once the team designates him for return.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["groin issue"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Cobb","Cobb","Cobb","Cobb"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["core muscle surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Spokane's famous Leny the Retriever is recovering after surgery","document":"Leny gained a following after his owners shared videos of him sliding down grassy hills in Spokane. His Instagram page has over 56,000 followers. SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane's Instagram-famous Leny the Retriever has gained a following because of his love for sliding down grassy hills. A recent injury has sidelined the popular pup. But KREM 2's Dave Somers shows us... it's still all downhill from here. Leny's owner Jackie Caro said Leny got injured while he was playing with another dog, not from his love of sliding. Leny ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). Leny is now using hydrotherapy to recover. Joni Bories with Northwest Canine Aquatics said hydrotherapy helps older dogs or dogs recovering from surgery build muscle but it's still easy on their joints. \"Typically, these dogs will completely have full activity in six months,\" Bories said. The therapy is about 50 treatments spread out over about four and a half months. His first session lasted four minutes and he's working his way up. During Leny's recovery, he's only going on short walks and isn't able to play with any other dogs. Caro said she doesn't know why he started sliding down hills, but she knows he's excited to slide again soon.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Leny the Retriever","Leny","Leny","Leny","Leny"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["hydrotherapy","hydrotherapy"]}]}
+{"title":"Report: Ben Chilwell Could Still Need Knee Surgery Despite Returning to 'Light Running' for Chelsea","document":"The German revealed that he was worried about his player, who was in such fine form before the injury. \"It worries me because he was in such a fantastic moment like Reece (James) on the other side. They were in the best shape they could possibly be, so strong, full of confidence and such a lot of quality.” Tuchel said. When asked to give an update a week later, Tuchel said: \"He has a partial injury of his ACL. The decision is to treat it conservatively. The next six weeks will tell the story if he makes it and will be fully available after the six weeks hopefully or needs the surgery after that.\" Chilwell returned to running lightly by himself but the Athletic report that this does not mean he has escaped surgery. The Blues will decide in the future whether or not his knee injury requires surgery as they treat Chilwell conservatively.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["partial injury of his ACL"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Chilwell","Chilwell"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"What Tiger's latest flurry of activity means for his recovery, according to a doctor","document":"Tiger Woods seems to be sending mixed signals. On one hand, he’s imploring people to temper expectations, that he’s a long way off from competing at the PGA Tour level and, if we take him at his word, that he’s not sure he’ll ever get to that point. But then he kept on hitting balls throughout Hero World Challenge week. And, most notably, he’s committed to returning to golf (kind of) in next week’s PNC Championship , less than 10 months after his horrific car accident. There’s a camp of followers that believes Woods will factor in this year’s Masters. There’s another that’s still skeptical he’ll ever return to top-level competition. Woods’ status as a sporting icon also clouds the picture; because the golf world so desperately wants him back, any positive sign—that initial swing video, or his range sessions, or his PNC plans—can easily be mistaken for concrete evidence that the comeback train’s trundling toward glory. What, then, is actually going on? How close is Tiger to returning to the PGA Tour? And what should we make of his recent flurry of activity? “It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” says Dr. Ara Suppiah, founder of the Functional Sports Medicine Institute and a Golf Digest contributor. “But let’s start with the actual injury—or, at least, what we know about the injury. We know his weight bearing bone in his lower right leg, the tibia, was broken in multiple places and that a rod was inserted to bring those pieces together. We know he had multiple fractures to the bones in his foot and ankle, which needed pins or plates.” On the night of his accident, Woods’ initial injuries were described as “comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and fibula” by Dr. Anish Mahajan, CEO of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Woods also required surgical release of the covering around the muscles in his leg to relieve pressure due to swelling. Tiger noted during his press conference last week that amputation of the leg was on the table. Suppiah says: “Amputation would only be an option if the wound was not healing properly—say, if it was infected—or if blood flow to the leg was an issue. We also know that he is in pain every day. “Now, if you take those injuries and try to construct a golf swing, there will be a number of issues. One is that the affected limb, his right, may be shorter than the unaffected limb. That will result in wear-and-tear that is different than what he’s used to and can impact the knee, hip and lower back.” How much of an issue that might be, Suppiah said, would determine the length discrepancy. He did note, however, that shoe technology has improved drastically and that Woods could easily have a customized shoe made to ensure his pelvis is level and mitigate the impact. “He’ll need to turn on his right leg on the back swing and then push off it to use the ground force and generate speed in the through swing. How much he’s able to do that will largely depend on how much pain there is. He can clearly make 10 swings, but can he make 200? We still don’t know.” Suppiah suggested the ankle will play a crucial role in determining how much and how quickly Woods might be able to return to tour-level competition. “Will the ankle swell up when it exerts force on an uneven surface? When you have surgery, with the injuries he has suffered, invariably there will be a loss in the range of motion in the ankle and foot joint. The ankle is a bit like the wrist; it has to be able to move in multiple directions to withstand and create force. How much of that can he do?” The PNC Championship’s format won’t provide a full picture of Woods’ prospect, Suppiah says, due to its format. There are just two days of competition. Woods will drive around the course, which is flat to begin with, in a cart. He will not have to hit every tee shot and can pick up when he’s out of a hole or faced with a dicey lie. “Swinging on a level playing surface is very different from walking on hilly courses, terrain, rough. He’s not close to that yet. Now, this is very, very positive. It’s definitely a huge step in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. If he is having pain every day, that’s a huge load. It’s not just pain—it’s suffering. It’s the mental agony of dealing with chronic pain. That is exhausting.” Woods was recovering from a microdiscectomy procedure to his lower back at the time of the accident. That December 2020 operation was the fifth he’s had on his back but first since a career-saving spinal fusion surgery in April 2017. Suppiah does not foresee the back being an issue at least initially. “Any back injury, when you take pressure off the back and rest it, will be better. I don’t know what happened to the back when he had that accident. The car rolled over, and forces were strong enough to break his leg and his ankle, which means he would’ve been in a precarious position. But the back is not being spoken about right now. Even if it was, in the nine months when he was recuperating, it should’ve healed fully. “Tiger is a savant of the golf swing. If he can walk, he can find a way to swing the golf club. If you took any other average person, who’s not as fit or as driven or doesn’t have the team behind him, you’d be looking at a significantly longer recovery time. But he’s a supremely fit athlete with a drive that is unseen in most everybody. That’s why he is able to do this.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["“comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and fibula”"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Tiger Woods"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["a rod was inserted to bring those pieces together","surgical release of the covering around the muscles","microdiscectomy procedure"]}]}
+{"title":"Ifan Phillips smiles from hospital bed as 'inspirational' Welsh rugby star recovers from surgery","document":"Ifan Phillips is recovering well from surgery after suffering life-changing injuries which have ended his rugby career. The Osprey and Wales U20s international, 25, was hurt in a road traffic collision in Swansea last Sunday which involved two motorbikes. He has been receiving treatment at Morriston Hospital and almost £50,000 has been raised in a matter of days to support him and his family \"for all the adjustments and rehabilitation Ifan will need after this life changing event\" thanks to almost 1,500 donors. Updates shared on the appeal's JustGiving page say Ifan is recovering well after surgery. \"He can’t believe how much support he’s getting from everyone and is truly grateful! YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!\" A further update on Friday was accompanied by a picture of Ifan smiling from his hospital bed while holding 'get well soon' cards, with the latest message saying: \"Absolutely nothing will stop him from smiling. An inspiration to us all. Positivity through any situation\". Ifan, the son of ex-Wales and Neath hooker Kevin Phillips, played 40 games for the Ospreys, making his debut in 2017, but the region's boss Toby Booth revealed earlier this week that Phillips' career had been cut short. The Ospreys and wider rugby community were left devastated by the awful news and pledged to support their team-mate and friend every step of the way. The Ospreys play their first game since the news against Sale Sharks this Sunday in the European Champions Cup. A statement from the region issued earlier this week said: \"Ospreys can confirm hooker Ifan Phillips was involved in a serious road traffic accident in Swansea on Sunday afternoon and is now being treated at Morriston Hospital. \"Ifan is in a stable condition and he is uppermost in the thoughts of all of us at the Ospreys \"On behalf of his team-mates, coaches, staff, all Ospreys supporters and the rugby community, we want to extend all our love and support to Ifan, his family and his friends. \"Ifan's family are overwhelmed and very grateful for the support they have received in the last few days.\" In a statement, South Wales Police said: \"Officers are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision that occurred at around 1.38pm on Sunday, 5 December on the B4603, Morfa Road, Landore, Swansea, opposite Landore Social Club. \"The collision involved two motorcycles, a green Triumph Street Scrambler and a Kawasaki. One rider was taken to hospital, where he remains and is being treated for life-changing injuries. \"The road was closed for a number of hours whilst investigations continued, and we thank anyone affected during this time for their patience. \"We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or has dash-cam footage, anyone who stopped to provide assistance, or anyone who saw the motorcycles prior to the collision.\"","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":["almost £50,000","1,500 donors"]},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Morriston Hospital","Morriston Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Ifan Phillips","Ifan Phillips"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Priyanka Sarkar recovering fast after surgery","document":" Priyanka Sarkar recovering fast after surgery Priyanka Sarkar who had to undergo surgery after getting injured while shooting for a web show near EM Bypass is recovering fast. The ‘ Nirbhaya ’ actress had the surgery on Saturday. Doctors said she fractured the tibia in her right leg. Doctors are saying the actress’ condition is stable and is recovering well in time. Two plates were inserted and bone grafting was done on her right leg. She will be discharged after analyzing the latest x-ray report. Priyanka and her co-actor Arjun Chakraborty got injured while shooting for a web series near Eco Park when a motorbike lost control and hit them on Friday night. While Priyanka was seriously injured Arjun had suffered minor injuries. Both of them were rushed to a private hospital near the spot from where Priyanka was later shifted. According to the primary investigation, the biker was part of the crew and he was instructed to harass the actress as part of the screenplay but he suddenly lost control and hit her. It was part of an action sequence shooting and the incident happened just when the shoot was supposed to end. Read Also Priyanka Sarkar, Arjun Chakraborty injured as biker hits them while shooting for web series The biker, who police have suspected was intoxicated at that time, had escaped and was arrested on Saturday. Meanwhile, Priyanka had earlier released a statement on social media thanking all for praying for her and assured everyone she’s fine and the surgery was a success.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["fractured the tibia in her right leg"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["a private hospital near the spot"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["after analyzing the latest x-ray report"]},{"role":"People","values":["Priyanka","Priyanka","Priyanka","Priyanka","Priyanka","Priyanka","Priyanka","Arjun Chakraborty","Arjun Chakraborty"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","surgery","surgery","Two plates were inserted and bone grafting was done on her right leg"]}]}
+{"title":"Warriors make another roster move with Thompson, Wiseman after latest Santa Cruz practices","document":"| UPDATED: December 16, 2021 at 3:04 p.m. The Warriors still haven’t said when injured star Klay Thompson will be back on the court, but on Wednesday night the team announced that Thompson and center James Wiseman had been recalled from the team’s G-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. Thompson, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since the 2019 Finals because of two leg injuries, and Wiseman, who is recovering from knee surgery, had been practicing with the Santa Cruz team as they recover from their ailments and while the NBA team embarked on a lengthy East Coast trip. Warriors Recall Klay Thompson and James Wiseman from Santa Cruz — Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) December 16, 2021 The Warriors announced a similar procedural move for the pair earlier this month after the pair worked out with the G-League team for a few days. The announcement caused a stir on social media on Wednesday night because all signs had been pointing to Thompson’s lengthy absence from the court finally coming to an end in a matter of days. Thursday, however, the team appeared to signal the return could be on hold until closer to the end of the month. After recovering from a torn left ACL suffered during the 2019 Finals, Thompson suffered an injury to his right Achilles in a pickup game before the start of last season. By all accounts, Thompson appears nearly ready to return to game action, and the Warriors brass has said his first game back coming at home is important. The Warriors play at Boston on Friday and Toronto on Saturday. Their next home game is Monday against the Kings, and then play host to Memphis on Thursday, Dec. 23. Following a Christmas Day game at Phoenix, the Warriors return home to face the Nuggets on Dec. 28. If Thompson isn’t back on the court by then, he’d have to wait until Jan. 3 for the next home game. After that, the Warriors play at home just one more time before Jan. 18.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["two leg injuries"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Klay Thompson","Klay Thompson"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["knee surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Dr Jeffery Chew helps fit a lighter, more robust knee brace called the X-Brace onto 72-year-old Teo Lee Lee","document":"Dr Jeffery Chew helps fit a lighter, more robust knee brace called the X-Brace onto 72-year-old Teo Lee Lee. SINGAPORE - Resembling a sleek knee brace used by Batman in movie The Dark Knight Rises, a new aid called X-Brace offers a leg up to those who suffer from knee problems. The lighter and more robust knee brace, which is targeted at the elderly, was developed in a collaboration between a local engineering firm, knee surgeons and 3D printing specialists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Knee braces are typically prescribed to elderly patients to alleviate the burden on their joints, and assist patients who have undergone knee surgery - such as for torn ligaments. Dr Jeffrey Chew, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Centre for Orthopaedics, noted that a common condition among elderly patients is knee osteoarthritis - \"wear and tear\" of the knee joints - which affects 40 per cent of people above 70. \"Knee osteoarthritis can significantly affect quality of life, causing daily pain, weakness and instability,\" he said at a media preview of the knee brace on Wednesday (Dec 15). Conventional knee braces weigh around 1kg and are designed to restrict one's movement by preventing the knee from bending beyond a certain angle, Dr Chew noted. \"So we wanted to create a knee brace which is lighter - but also provides the patient with support when they move, especially for those who have difficulty standing up, walking or climbing stairs due to weak and painful knees,\" he added. In 2017, Dr Chew approached Mr Fabian Ong, executive director of local engineering firm Delsson Singapore, to come up with a design. Delsson worked with NTU on the prototyping process and product design iterations using 3D printing. The team eventually reduced the weight of the brace to around 720g - 30 per cent lighter than the traditional exoskeleton knee brace. It is made of plastic, instead of the typical metal orthopaedic braces that weigh more than 1kg. The X-Brace includes a spring which provides a 3kg to 6kg lift to the user when standing or walking, said Mr Ong. \"The support given is twofold - on the one hand, (users) are given a lift which compensates for their lack of strength, and on the other hand, they're also given the confidence to walk again, which helps them to recover faster,\" he added. The brace can be customised to each patient's needs. The brace is made from plastic, instead of the typical metal orthopaedic braces that weigh more than 1kg. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Dr Chew said: \"The idea is to gradually wean the patient off the brace, so the doctor or physiotherapist can also adjust the strength of the brace when (the patient is) recovering.\" Dr Ho Chaw Sing, co-founder and managing director of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (Namic), a platform led by NTU's innovation and enterprise company NTUitive, said 3D printing is extremely useful for the rapid creation of prototypes and lightweight intricate designs, making the technique helpful for this particular project. He added that Namic has supported more than 240 projects in the last six years, of which more than 60 are focused on healthcare . S'pore firm pivoted from making 3D printers for dental use to making swabs for Covid-19 tests NTU assistant professor Chan Wai Lee from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who is the principal investigator of this project, said 3D-modelling was heavily used to validate the various design ideas that led to the weight reduction in the brace. Mr Joel Lim, a PhD student in Prof Chan's team, led the design efforts in discussion with Delsson and 3D-printed the prototype for real-life validation tests. \"Light weight and strength are crucial to this project. We first analysed conventional knee braces and their current bill of material. \"We decided to change to a plastic material with an optimised structure... then designed new structures and joints that are strong enough to withstand the flex of the knee and still assist it to move in the correct direction,\" said Mr Lim. (From left) Madam Teo Lee Lee, Mr Fabian Ong, Dr Jeffery Chew and Dr Ho Chaw Sing. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG At least 10 people have tried the brace so far, one of whom is Madam Teo Lee Lee, 72, who has osteoarthritis and needed two knee replacements last year. After surgery, her right leg was still very weak, and she had difficulty walking. None of the conventional knee braces worked for her, until she tried X-Brace. \"I feel a lot more confident walking with the brace, and have less difficulty standing up compared with before,\" said the retiree. The X-Brace is expected to be available on the market soon for $1,000 - equivalent to the cost of conventional knee braces - though the price may differ depending on the user's needs. The team is working on its next product iteration - to lower the weight of the brace to 600g by incorporating a sleeker design that can be worn under one's clothes. The new version will likely be launched in the first quarter of next year, said Mr Ong. \"In the future, we hope to... come up with a smart knee brace - fitted with electronic sensors to measure quantitatively if the patient is improving,\" he added.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["torn ligaments"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Teo Lee Lee","Teo Lee Lee","Teo Lee Lee"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["fit a lighter, more robust knee brace called the X-Brace","Resembling a sleek knee brace","X-Brace","more robust knee brace","X-Brace","X-Brace","X-Brace"]}]}
+{"title":"Home recovery from Covid-19","document":"Although people are allowed to leave their home after the 10-day home recovery period, they are advised by MOH to minimise contact with others for another seven days. SINGAPORE - As a self-employed professional, Mr Lau cannot afford to miss work for too long. But the 40-year-old, who declined to have his full name published, has been stuck at home since Sept 19, when he tested positive for Covid-19 after undergoing a polymerase chain reaction test. Mr Lau experienced flu-like symptoms, and also lost his sense of taste and smell. But he received only a formal isolation order - in the form of a sheet of paper delivered to his doorstep - on the fourth day of his illness. Because he had tested positive, he was to be isolated at home, where he lives alone, until Sept 27. He said he never got the care pack, which includes items such as surgical masks, hand sanitiser and an oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels. The Ministry of Health (MOH) had earlier said that people on the home recovery scheme could ask for them, but then it updated its website last Friday saying that the packs are delivered to only people without oximeters at home. Mr Lau does not have an oximeter at home. He has symptoms, such as a runny nose, but tested negative using an antigen rapid test (ART) kit. Although he has completed his home recovery stint, Mr Lau is unsure of what to do next. He has been frustrated at how difficult it has been to contact MOH for clear instructions, with phone operators telling him that they would escalate his case to the relevant departments. Nobody called him back, he said. \"I need to meet people to make things happen,\" said Mr Lau, who works in project management. \"During this period, I lost a lot of customers. They could not wait for me, and I myself didn't know what my timing would be like.\" With Covid-19 cases rising sharply, it was announced that home recovery would be the default for all patients with mild symptoms. Here are some tips for getting through home recovery.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Mr Lau","Mr Lau","Mr Lau","Mr Lau","Mr Lau"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["isolated at home"]}]}
+{"title":"Dr Lai Kah Weng had been placed on home recovery from Sept 28 to Oct 8, 2021","document":"Dr Lai Kah Weng had been placed on home recovery from Sept 28 to Oct 8, 2021. SINGAPORE - A doctor has shared his Covid-19 home recovery experience on social media, hoping to destigmatise the disease as a \"life-threatening\" one. Dr Lai Kah Weng, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon from Healthway Medical's Island Orthopaedic Consultants, told The Straits Times on Sunday (Oct 10) that he wanted to do his part in highlighting social responsibility when dealing with Covid-19, without being overly fearful of the disease. He wrote in a Facebook post on Friday that he had been placed on home recovery from Sept 28 to Oct 8 after developing a runny nose and experiencing mild fever on Sept 27. Erring on the side of caution, he quickly isolated himself from his family and took an antigen rapid test (ART) that same day, which turned out to be negative. The flu-like symptoms persisted throughout the night, prompting him to cancel all his patient appointments for the next day. \"I stayed home in the morning, trying to rest and stay hydrated, and I went straight down to my neighbourhood GP later in the afternoon just before closing, so that I could be the last patient (that day) and not risk infecting any other patients waiting to see the doctor,\" wrote Dr Lai. His next ART was positive and his subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test confirmed his infection. \"I had a fever for around 3.5 days and a dry cough with runny nose, which took about two days to resolve,\" said Dr Lai. \"It just feels like (having the) flu, which lasts slightly longer than usual, and I knew it was getting better each day,\" he added. He advises those who have deteriorating symptoms to inform their telemedicine provider for further assessment. \"Admittedly, I was very stressed when I first started developing symptoms on Monday evening (Sept 27), as I had just visited my elderly parents the day before, and seen my patients at work prior to that,\" said Dr Lai. Thankfully, all of them were fine. \"Therefore, personal awareness and responsibility are extremely important,\" he said, adding that he was glad to have swiftly isolated himself without putting anyone else at risk. My COVID Home Recovery Journey (28 Sep – 8 Oct 21) Long post warning** Intro As a medical doctor, I treat sick... Dr Lai, who lives with his wife and their four kids, said that his 15-year-old daughter, who is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, took a PCR test that came back positive. She was asymptomatic and likely to have caught the infection from him, he said. This resulted in her entire class at school being placed on leave of absence. None of Dr Lai's other family members got the disease. askST: How to tell if you've been placed on the home recovery programme Moving forward, he hopes that testing be focused on those who are symptomatic. \"Testing only when symptoms are present will give the highest yield. If pre-emptive PCR testing is to be considered, maybe we should only test those who are at risk, such as front-line workers or those working in nursing homes,\" he said. \"And for those with symptoms, repeating the ART tests at daily intervals will be useful. It is not uncommon to have negative ARTs which turn positive later, and I was a case in point,\" he added. Noting that home recovery protocols have changed since his Facebook post, Dr Lai expects that the new policy will take some getting used to, but will be easier for people to follow. For instance, having an automatic time-based discharge after 10 days for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 instead of a day seven exit PCR test, makes life a lot easier for swabbers and patients alike, noted Dr Lai. \"I was probably one of the last few patients who had to go through that,\" said Dr Lai, half in jest. More On This Topic Covid-19 quarantine orders scrapped, simpler rules to be rolled out in S'pore from Oct 11 Doing away with quarantine orders and stay-home notices is also a wise move - considering that, at the rate with which the virus is spreading, Singapore could see 10 per cent of the population quarantined or isolated, which is disruptive and impractical, he said. With these changes in place, he hopes that more help can go to those who need it in the future. \"Contact tracers can then focus their efforts on tracing links to elderly people or nursing homes to curb transmission as soon as possible. \"Those who live with elderly people and need to move to self-isolation facilities, as well as those who might need help buying groceries or food while self-isolating at home, should be given the help they need. It's important to make sure that these people don't fall through the cracks,\" he added.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","home","home","home","home","home","home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Dr Lai Kah Weng","Dr Lai Kah Weng","rest and stay hydrated"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["repeating the ART tests"]}]}
+{"title":"A majority of infected Indians with mild symptoms are recovering at home or in state-run centres","document":"A patient with an oxygen mask sitting outside a hospital in New Delhi on April 22, 2021. BANGALORE - Even as critically ill patients with Covid-19 in India are desperately seeking hospital beds with oxygen support in many states, a majority of infected Indians with mild symptoms are recovering at home or in state-run centres. Dr Balram Bharghava, head of the Indian Council for Medical Research, has said that the second wave of Covid-19 is leading to a higher proportion of asymptomatic patients. Health experts urge such people and those with mild symptoms to isolate at home and consult doctors by phone. The mild symptoms are fever, sore throat, cough, nausea, muscle pain, diarrhoea and loss of smell and taste. About 47 per cent of people with Covid-19 in Delhi, 80 per cent in Chennai and 84 per cent in Pune remain in home isolation as at Thursday (April 22). Not all states report these figures. But since those who isolate at home tend to be asymptomatic, the share of asymptomatic cases in the overall population of active cases can be a rough proxy for patients in home isolation. The proportion of asymptomatic cases was as high as 79 per cent in Mumbai and 99 per cent in Bengaluru. \"As long as there is no shortness of breath, we recommend home care. Even people without pre-existing conditions that make them susceptible to severe Covid should keep watching their vitals,\" said Dr Archana Prabhakar, a Bangalore-based doctor with RxDx Healthcare, which does teleconsultations for Covid patients. As soon as home-based patients feel breathless, and their oxygen saturation drops below 94 per cent, they're asked to contact a physician. Documentary film-maker Shaunak Sen, 33, had isolated in his home in Delhi but contacted a doctor when he felt his mild fever spike on the third day. His oxygen was at 90 and he felt \"extremely wheezy\". A doctor his friend recommended told Mr Sen to walk for six minutes in his room and then check his oxygen saturation. \"My oxygen had gone up, but she advised me to look for bed availability in any case. When my wheezing grew the next day, I called an ambulance and rushed to a hospital,\" he said. But having run out of beds with oxygen support, the hospital staff admitted Mr Sen into the psychiatry ward, where they gave him steroids until his oxygen normalised. Now, on the seventh day since he tested positive, Mr Sen is recovering in a room in his parents' house. He checks his temperature twice a day, his oxygen every hour. \"My sleep has drastically increased to 10 hours. The rest of the time, I read news about the Covid-19 tsunami outside and binge on Netflix,\" he said. Film-maker Shaunak Sen in Delhi spends his home isolation watching Netflix, reading news, and regularly checking his oxygen levels and temperature. PHOTO: SHAUNAK SEN Private hospitals, clinics and digital healthcare companies now offer 14-day packages for home care, ranging from 5,000 rupees (S$90) to 20,000 rupees, including kits with a thermometer, an oximeter and a blood pressure measuring machine. Some hospitals also offer patients phone or video consultations with doctors. Nurses call them twice a day to monitor their vitals and give feedback. On Apr 22, the Indian Health Ministry advised Covid-19 patients at home to lie prone, that is, with their face down as it improves oxygen flow in critical patients and ensures that they are less likely to require ventilator support. Home treatment unburdens the healthcare system, but experts note that it could lead to excessive self-medication, oxygen stockpiling by panicking families, and late arrival to hospital. Home-based patients who suddenly become critical could also find neither space in hospitals nor essential drugs and oxygen. Home care facilities call for a separate bedroom and bathroom, which most poor Indians cannot manage. The state authorities worry about virus transmission due to inadequate home isolation but are unable to convince many to come to the state quarantine centre. Mr Siddhe Gowda's family is struggling to isolate the 60-year-old in their one-bedroom house in Bangalore, but refuses to send him to a Covid centre. \"Who will go to that jail? Instead, we will do our best at home,\" said his granddaughter, Ms Shalini.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["his home in Delhi","home","Delhi","in Delhi spends his home","home","Home","Home","Home","home","in a room in his parents' house"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Shaunak Sen","Shaunak Sen","SHAUNAK SEN"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["walk for six minutes in his room and then check his oxygen saturation","oxygen saturation","isolated","steroids"]}]}
+{"title":"Mr Sathish Kumar's recovery from Covid-19","document":"Physiotheraipst Mr Javier Luo (right) assisting Mr Sathish Kumar the prescribed exercises at the Physiotherapy clinic in Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Sept 21, 2021. SINGAPORE - About four months ago, Mr Sathish Kumar was in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, intubated and fighting for his life, having contracted Covid-19. The 52-year-old engineer survived the ordeal and was moved from the ICU after about two weeks. But he was so weak that he could not get out of bed to go to the toilet or brush his teeth without help. It took the medical team from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) to nurse him back to health. The physiotherapists first saw him on May 25 - the day he was discharged from the ICU - and taught him some simple exercises. Mr Sathish said in an interview on Thursday (Sept 23) these were critical in helping him regain the strength he lost after being confined to a hospital bed for weeks. Many Covid-19 survivors require physiotherapy as part of their recovery. The TTSH physiotherapy team has seen more than 400 recovered Covid-19 patients since the start of the pandemic last year. Healthy patients with mild forms of Covid-19 might need just a few sessions, while more severely ill patients might need a few months of rehabilitation. Exercises are tailored to what each individual needs. Following Mr Sathish's discharge from the ICU, he had to work on lifting his arms and legs, activating the muscles that allowed him to move around. His physiotherapists saw him once a day. As his oxygen levels were low at first, they had to be closely monitored, along with his heart rate. Sometimes he needed oxygen, which can be low among recovering patients, during exercise. As his health slowly improved, he was taught how to stand and do slow marching exercises on the spot. Breathing exercises, such as how to relax and breathe deeply, were also critical. Mr Sathish was diagnosed with Covid-19 early in May when he returned from a visit to India to see his mother. His condition deteriorated and he was moved to the ICU on May 12. He was discharged from hospital on June 9. Since then, Mr Sathish has been diligent about doing his exercises and has seen his health improve to close to his pre-Covid-19 state. He does his exercises twice a day - in the morning and after work. Mr Sathish does his exercises twice a day - in the morning and after work. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE The exercises are simple, such as push-ups against the wall, lifting light weights and marching on the spot. Mr Sathish has diabetes as a pre-existing condition. Dr Puah Ser Hon, a consultant in respiratory and critical care medicine at TTSH who was on Mr Sathish's care team, said that Mr Sathish's recovery is considered good given that he had developed a serious form of Covid-19 and needed invasive mechanical ventilation. \"Most patients have a recovery like Mr Sathish's. But if patients take a turn for the worst while in ICU, such as if they develop multi-organ failure or require more lung support, then they may stay longer in the ICU or die,\" Dr Puah said. Currently, Mr Sathish returns to TTSH as an outpatient for structured physiotherapy sessions once every three weeks. He has gone back to work and is able to travel around independently but some residual symptoms continue to linger. He still tires more easily and occasionally experiences breathing difficulties. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["the intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases","ICU","ICU","ICU","ICU","ICU","ICU"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["tires more easily and occasionally experiences breathing difficulties"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["team from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)","TTSH","team","TTSH","TTSH"]},{"role":"Date","values":["June 9","9"]},{"role":"People","values":["Mr Sathish Kumar","Mr Sathish Kumar"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["physiotherapy","Physiotherapy","physiotherapy","physiotherapy"]}]}
+{"title":"Dr Lai Kah Weng recovered from Covid-19","document":"Dr Lai Kah Weng had been placed on home recovery from Sept 28 to Oct 8, 2021. SINGAPORE - A doctor whose account of his home recovery journey from Covid-19 went viral had failed to comply with the rostered routine testing that is mandatory for healthcare workers. Dr Lai Kah Weng, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Island Orthopaedic Consultants at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, had recovered at home from Sept 28 to Oct 8 after developing a runny nose and mild fever on Sept 27. His post on Facebook last Friday (Oct 8) was widely shared and The Straits Times also reported on it. Island Orthopaedic Consultants is under the Healthway Medical group, and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is part of IHH Singapore's hospitals. A Healthway Medical spokesman said on Monday (Oct 11) that it takes a very serious view of the matter and has convened a board of inquiry to investigate it. After the story was published, three doctors contacted The Straits Times, saying that IHH Singapore has revoked Dr Lai's licence with the group due to his failure to comply with rostered routine testing (RRT) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for Covid-19. This means Dr Lai cannot admit his patients to any of IHH's hospitals and is not allowed access to its facilities for surgery, for example. A spokesman for IHH confirmed that the licence has been revoked at all four of its hospitals, but declined to give more details. Confirming that the allegations were true, Dr Lai told The Straits Times that he had not gone for his RRT due to an ear, nose and throat medical condition which makes the nasopharyngeal swabs needed for PCR very painful and causes his nose to bleed. He said he had gone for the first PCR swab when it was mandated for healthcare workers to do so. But he did not go for subsequent ones. RRT takes place every two weeks for healthcare workers. His failure to do so was discovered by the hospital after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Sept 28, Dr Lai added. \"This is not an excuse for not doing the PCR test,\" he said. \"What I should have done better was to inform the management about my condition so that they can put in place alternative Covid-19 test arrangements.\" He added that the fear and stigma of testing positive for Covid-19 contributed to his actions, and that this prompted him to speak about his home recovery journey on social media. More On This Topic askST: How to tell if you've been placed on the home recovery programme In the Facebook post, he had said that after developing symptoms on Sept 27, he isolated himself from his family and took an antigen rapid test (ART), which was negative. When the flu-like symptoms persisted, he stayed home, then went to a neighbourhood GP, where an ART was positive and a PCR test confirmed the infection. His asymptomatic daughter's pre-emptive PCR swab came back positive. He added in the post that he wanted to share his experience in the hope of destigmatising Covid-19 as a severe disease. Dr Lai, who is vaccinated, said that when rules changed and healthcare workers had to take a self-administered ART, which must be supervised by trained staff, he booked his ART test but had become infected with Covid-19 before he could get his done.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","home","home","home","home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Dr Lai Kah Weng","Dr Lai Kah Weng"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"After setback in comeback, David Bakhtiari now recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery; Packers hope for post-bye return","document":"After setback in comeback, David Bakhtiari now recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery; Packers hope for post-bye return Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari was a game-day inactive before the 17-0 win over the Seahawks and did not practice at all prior to being ruled out for last Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Vikings. GREEN BAY — Turns out, David Bakhtiari did have a setback in his comeback from his knee injury after all. Despite the Green Bay Packers repeatedly insisting the five-time All-Pro left tackle had not suffered a setback in his comeback from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee last Dec. 31 and the reconstructive knee surgery he had last January, a source confirmed an NFL Network report that Bakhtiari recently underwent an arthroscopic surgery to “clean up” his knee. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks to the media via Zoom after the Packers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 34-31 on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. What exactly happened with Bakhtiari’s knee to require the procedure is unclear, but coach Matt LaFleur already has ruled him out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field and said the team is hoping Bakhtiari will return after he’s evaluated following the team’s Week 13 bye. After the bye, the Packers will have five regular-season games remaining, starting Dec. 12 against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. NFL Network reported the Packers are hoping Bakhtiari will return for the stretch run, but a source told the State Journal last week the Packers realize there are three possibilities for their franchise tackle: returning sometime after the bye; returning only for the playoffs; or not playing at all this season. “There’s certainly a plan, but not everything goes as planned all the time,” LaFleur said Monday. “He won’t be out there this week. We’ll just see where he’s at after the bye. We’re hopeful that he’ll be able to come back this year at some point. “It certainly isn’t for a lack of work ethic on his part. It’s not for a lack of toughness. It’s just one of those things where you never quite know how everybody’s going to respond to the recovery process, and I think that’s just where we’re at with him.” Bakhtiari seemed to be on course to return when he began practicing on Oct. 20, when the Packers opened the three-week practice window for players who are on the physically unable to perform list. The team activated him from the PUP list on Nov. 10, but LaFleur cautioned just because Bakhtiari had been added to the active roster didn’t necessarily mean he would return to game action immediately. Bakhtiari practiced the first two days leading up to the Nov. 14 game against the Seattle Seahawks, then sat out that Friday’s practice and was listed as doubtful for the game before being a game-day inactive before the Packers’ 17-0 win over the Seahawks. “Him being out there, from what I’ve seen of him in practice so far, there’s flashes where he looks great,” offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said on Nov. 17. “It’s just going to be a matter of can he sustain that for a game? That’s going to be the hardest thing because he didn’t have camp, he didn’t have anything built up. Practices are limited right now. So, that’s going to be his biggest challenge is getting to a place where he can sustain that performance for an entire game. That’s part of what we evaluate right now and that’s probably going to be probably the biggest question.” Bakhtiari then did not practice all of last week entering last Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and was officially ruled out of that game on Friday, when the final injury report of the week came out. Presumably, the scope on Bakhtiari’s knee happened sometime after that Friday before the Seattle game. Then came Monday, when LaFleur immediately ruled Bakhtiari out — even in the aftermath of losing left guard-turned-left tackle Elgton Jenkins, who tore the ACL in his left knee against the Vikings last Sunday — even though LaFleur normally withholds such proclamations about a player’s status in an effort to force the upcoming opponent to prepare for the possibility of that player suiting up on Sunday. “We’ve been wanting Dave to come back for awhile. And he’s just not quite ready,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on his usual Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio . “(And) obviously losing Elton doesn’t make us a better football team.” Without Bakhtiari and Jenkins, the Packers went to Yosh Nijman at left tackle against the Vikings, just as they did earlier in the year when Jenkins missed three games with an ankle injury. Nijman, who’d played just 14 regular-season snaps in his NFL career before this season, will start against the Rams. “We’ve got to get healthy. We’ve got a lot of injuries,” Rodgers told McAfee. “(Jenkins) is so talented. He’s started at center for us, left guard, left tackle, played right tackle last year in the opener. I mean, he’s such a talented player. Kind of similar to Dave, (it was a) very freak injury. “I’m disappointed for him. He’s such a great kid, such a talented player. He means so much to us from an energy standpoint and just his play style. … To be so reliable at left tackle, it’s just so rare in this league to be able to do that.” Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur speaks to the media after the Packers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 34-31 on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Rodgers discussed his own toe injury during his appearance, though in the back-and-forth with McAfee and ex-Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk it wasn’t completely clear what the injury is or how it happened. Toward the end of his appearance, McAfee and Hawk kept calling the injury “COVID Toe,” which actually is a real thing — a malady associated with COVID-19, which Rodgers tested positive for on Nov. 3. “COVID Toe” is similar to chilblains — painful red or purple lesions that typically emerge on fingers or toes in the winter. While Rodgers ultimately didn’t clarify what’s happening with his toe, he reiterated it is not a case of turf toe, which is a dislocation of the big toe and very painful, as wide receiver Davante Adams, who suffered the injury in 2019, can attest. Rodgers said after last Sunday’s game that what he’s dealing with now is more painful than turf toe, which he has also dealt with during his career. “This is something that’s not going to go away. It’s something I’ll deal with, I’m not sure what the bye week is going to look like,” Rodgers said.. “There’s a lot of options on the table. One option that’s not on the table is sitting out. I’m going to push through this and keep playing. … I’m going to be dealing it for at least the next few weeks.” Photos: Packers' 2021 season in pictures Check out photo galleries from every game of 2021 from the preseason through the end of the regular season and the playoffs.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["knee injury"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["David Bakhtiari","David Bakhtiari","David Bakhtiari"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["arthroscopic knee surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Mum with swollen eye thought she had conjunctivitis – but it was actually a brain tumour","document":"Mum who saw her doctor with suspected conjunctivitis thought she needed optical drops but was told a brain tumour was growing into her skull and eye (Picture: PA Real Life) When Kirsty Drury noticed her right was bloodshot and a touch swollen, she assumed it was just conjunctivitis and that she was in need of eye drops. But when the 45-year-old programme delivery manager for Transport for London went to the doctor, she was told that very same day that she in fact had a brain tumour growing into her skull. Kirsty, who has four children and lives in Tring, Hertfordshire, with her husband, said: ‘When I was first told I had a brain tumour, I thought it meant I was going to die. ‘When you walk into the doctor’s surgery with suspected conjunctivitis and walk out with a brain tumour, you can’t be blamed for thinking the worst. ‘I feel so lucky to be here and to show that there is life after a brain tumour diagnosis.’ Kirsty’s nightmare began in November 2019. She said: ‘I thought I had an eye infection and went to get eye drops from the pharmacist, who suggested I see a doctor, so I booked a GP appointment. ‘It seemed a bit drastic as I was sure it was just conjunctivitis, but I thought it was best to follow the advice.’ The mum-of-four says running regularly helped to distract her while she waited for her surgery date (Picture: PA Real Life) Kirsty hopes to show a positive outcome from a brain tumour diagnosis (Picture: PA Real Life) Kirsty’s doctor immediately referred her to an eye hospital in Buckinghamshire. She said: ‘I was sent for a CT scan at the hospital and later that same day, I was taken into a room to discuss the results. ‘I had no idea what was coming. The reality of my condition was a total shock.’ The scan revealed she had spheno-orbital meningioma – a brain tumour that commonly grows inward, indenting and causing pressure on the brain or spinal cord. Kirsty said: ‘I didn’t want to know how big the tumour was, but it was slowly growing into my skull and into the chewing muscles of my mouth. ‘Doctors told me that 80% of meningiomas are benign, but there would be no way of knowing for sure until I had surgery. Kirsty has now returned to work and says she is recovering at her own pace (Picture: PA Real Life) Kirsty, pictured here with a swollen eye, which she first thought was an infection (Picture: PA Real Life) ‘I honestly thought I was going to die.’ Kirsty was referred to a neurosurgeon, who recommended an operation to remove the mass. She said: ‘I had a very bleak mindset about it. There were statistics about how less than 12 per cent of people with brain tumours survive for five years after diagnosis. ‘I felt so scared.’ Kirsty’s surgery consultation was booked for December 2019, with a plan to operate by March but, when the pandemic hit, her procedure was postponed. ‘I had to sit tight, which was actually a relief because I was terrified of having the surgery,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t until September that I started ringing up again, asking when my surgery would be. ‘Although I was coping pretty well and running regularly was helping to distract me, my mental health wasn’t great, because I was convinced that I was going to have a bad outcome – that I’d find out my tumour was growing faster than expected or that it was cancer. ‘It was the first thing I thought of in the morning, the last thing I thought about at night and sometimes it woke me up, too – I couldn’t get any inner peace.’","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour","brain tumour"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["an eye hospital in Buckinghamshire"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["a neurosurgeon"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Kirsty Drury"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["an operation to remove the mass"]}]}
+{"title":"Jockeys Recovering From ‘Awful Incident’ During Hong Kong International Races","document":"Zac Purton was one of three jockeys to be hospitalized after a fall in Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint Lyle Hewitson has been released from ICU and says he is “no pain at all” after being involved in a frightening fall which led to four horses coming down during the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday. South Africa's three-time champion jockey was one of three riders taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital after his mount Amazing Star broke down and fell, bringing down three other horses who were unable to avoid him. Zac Purton, who suffered four fractured ribs and a broken nose, and Yuichi Fukunaga (broken collarbone) were also hospitalized while Amazing Star and Naboo Attack had to be put down. The fourth jockey involved, Karis Teetan, was unscathed. Hewitson, 23, suffered a fractured hip, sustained cuts to his elbow and head trauma but said there were “no issues to worry about”. He said: “I'm in no pain at all just lying in my hospital bed. I only feel pain when I need to adjust or move as it refers straight to/from my pelvis area where the fracture is. “The doctors are happy with it saying it's a convenient fracture that will heal without surgery and without issues. I've got some stitches on my left elbow as well. My CT scans on my head are stable. I just need some rest and rehab now.” Hewitson's news was welcomed by Purton, Hong Kong's four-time champion jockey, who admitted he had initially feared for his colleague. “It was an awful incident,” he said, speaking to Australian broadcaster Andrew Bensley. “I was worried for Lyle Hewitson because he was the first one to go in front of me. When he hit the ground, he just lay there like a pancake. “He didn't bounce at all and that's normally a pretty bad sign when that happens, whereas I was able to roll a little bit. Even though I was in a bad spot, and a bit of pain, I was a little bit worried about how Lyle hit the ground. Because I was in so much pain I couldn't go over to see him or check on any other riders.” Purton was optimistic about his own situation and said he hoped to leave hospital on Monday. He said: “I feel pretty good. I've got four fractured ribs, three on one side, one on the other. I have a fractured nose, which probably doesn't mean anything because it was always a bit wonky anyway and I have a bit of a sore wrist so I'm waiting to get an MRI on that. I am pretty lucky really.” Purton, who was riding the favorite Lucky Patch, said there was no way of avoiding Amazing Star. “I had nowhere to go and I had no time to react, it happened that quick,” he said. “I was quite close up behind him. When he went there was only one place for me to go and that was straight over the top of him. The two horses following us as well had no option either. They were in that running line and the domino effect happened.” He added: “I have a really big haematoma on my right biceps and I have a mark on my right wrist where there is an imprint of a shoe so the horse has stepped on my bicep then my wrist and that's where I felt the pain initially. “Then I've got another mark on my left thigh muscle where I must have been hit or stepped on. Then I have the ribs where the horse has either kicked or squeezed me to the ground. I was winded quite badly and I have a bang mark on my right foot.” Fukunaga, who was riding Pixie Knight, has been released from hospital and returned to Japan. Pixie Knight was reported to have suffered a fracture to his left front knee. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["four fractured ribs and a broken nose","four fractured ribs, three on one side, one on the other. I have a fractured nose","broken collarbone","fractured hip","sustained cuts to his elbow and head trauma"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Hewitson","Hewitson","Hewitson","Hewitson","Zac Purton","Zac Purton","Yuichi Fukunaga"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["some rest and rehab"]}]}
+{"title":"Danniella Westbrook reveals new surgery horror as she’s set for another operation after hospital dash","document":" DANNIELLA Westbrook has revealed she is set to have another operation following her surgery horror for a nasty sinus infection. The former EastEnders actress was recently in hospital for the second time in just a matter of weeks after the illness left her in intensive care in hospital. 3 Danniella revealed she was due to return to hospital in the New YearCredit: INSTAGRAM/DANNIELLA WESTBROOK 3 She recently underwent surgery following a nasty sinus infectionCredit: Instagram Now, Danniella, 47, has revealed she is set to have ANOTHER operation in the New Year as she opened up to her Instagram fans. Posting a video of her enjoying a festive pottery-painting evening out to social media, the comments section was soon flooded with well-wishing messages. One fan wrote: \"Looks lovely! Hope you had a nice time and feeling better now,\" noting her recent hospital trips for the sinus infection. In response, Danniella revealed that she was preparing for a second operation in 2022 in order to treat the repeat infection in her nose for good. \"Much better ready for next op in new year,\" she wrote under the video, which saw her sipping coffee as Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You played. It comes just days after Danniella updated her fans on her second \"hugely successful\" surgery at Aintree Hospital in November. \"Thanks for all the messages of support for my operation. It was a huge success and I’m so happy thank you to Liverpool Hospital and the best staff surgical team and cleanest hospital ever,\" she wrote. She added that she would be recovering at home by curling up and watching Christmas movies to avoid the colder weather.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["nasty sinus infection","a nasty sinus infectionCredit"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Aintree Hospital","Liverpool Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["the best staff surgical team"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["DANNIELLA Westbrook","DANNIELLA WESTBROOK"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["operation","operation","operation","operation","a second operation"]}]}
+{"title":"Ramsgate boy who swallowed magnets needed surgery at Evelina London Children's Hospital","document":" A dad is warning other parents not to buy toys with magnets after his son swallowed them and ended up requiring surgery. Two-year-old Jimmy Bui, from Ramsgate, had to be taken to Evelina London Children's Hospital for the operation and spent three weeks recovering there. Two-year-old Jimmy Bui, from Ramsgate, required open surgery in June after swallowing three fridge magnets. His dad Hung Bui said: “Jimmy swallowed tiny magnets used to stick a note onto the fridge. \"He started to get tired and then stopped eating and going to the toilet, so we took him to our local A&E. “We had no idea that he had swallowed three of the magnets until we saw it on the x-ray. “The magnets had stuck together causing a hole in Jimmy’s bowel.\" Following the ordeal in June, the 33-year-old is warning other parents of the dangers of the toys. Two-year-old Jimmy's dad Hung Bui is now warning other parents “We are always very careful, but this still happened, so I want to warn other parents out there to be very vigilant,\" he said. \"I would urge them not to buy toys containing these magnets. \"We don’t have any of these magnets in our household anymore.” His warning is echoed by paediatric surgeons after cases of children swallowing magnets shot up five-fold. The Children’s Surgery Foundation issued the warning as research over the last five years has revealed a huge increase in such incidents - and they say some of these are down to TikTok viral videos. The three magnets two-year-old Jimmy Bui swallowed. Picture: SWNS Mr Hemanshoo Thakker, a consultant paediatric surgeon at Evelina, said: “This year alone Evelina London has seen 15 new cases of children swallowing magnets and have operated on seven of them, a couple of whom were very unwell.” Research carried out by four major hospitals situated in the south east of England found that like Jimmy, 251 children were admitted after swallowing ‘foreign objects’ between 2016 and 2020. Of these objects, 37 percent were coins, 21 percent were magnets, and 17 percent were small, button batteries. Although only 2% of children who swallowed button batteries required surgery to remove them, a staggering 42 percent of those who swallowed magnets, required either keyhole surgery or more invasive procedures like incisions in the abdominal wall to gain access to the gut. Mr Thakkar explained the extent of the threat: “If children swallow one magnet it will probably pass through their body harmlessly but if they swallow two or more magnets, especially at different times, the magnets, which are increasingly very powerful, are forced together in the intestines, squeezing the tissue so that the blood supply is cut off. “Significant damage can be caused within hours with holes being made in the children’s intestines which cause the children to be unwell, and sometimes seriously ill, with many requiring complex operations to remove the magnets and requiring long periods of recovery time in hospital.” Miss Caroline Pardy, a paediatric surgeon at Evelina, said that she had spoken to parents who were \"very angry\" that their child had swallowed magnets whilst at school. She said: \"Such magnets are sometimes used as ’sensory’ toys for children with additional needs. In other circumstances, the magnets have been brought into school by other children.” Miss Pardy is urging schools to “ban such magnets, regardless of the age of the children”. The surgeons said that even teenagers are at risk of suffering terrible consequences. Social media trends on TikTok are driving these accidents. Mr Thakkar added “We are seeing some children who follow influencers on TikTok who use magnets to create false piercings on their tongues and cheeks and when the children have copied them, they have accidentally swallowed the magnets.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Evelina London Children's Hospital","local A&E"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Jimmy Bui","Jimmy Bui","Jimmy Bui"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["open surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Morgan County deputy recovering after suicidal man bit part of his ear off","document":"A Morgan County deputy is recovering at home after part of his ear was bitten off Tuesday night. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a home in the Hulaco area after EMTs reported a suicidal man wasn't cooperating with them and was becoming aggressive. “We were there for our EMS partners who were trying to do their job, and they felt that they could be in harm’s way,\" said Mike Swafford, a spokesman for the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. \"So, really, our role was to protect them.” Swafford said once law enforcement got there, the man, who was threatening suicide, tried to go back into the home. \"It then turned to protecting the person that was in the home with this individual trying to run back in,\" said Swafford. \"Really, it was never about this subject for us to be there. It was about those that could be in harm's way because of the subject.” He said when deputies tried preventing the man from going into the home, he lunged at a deputy and bit the upper part of his ear. \"A struggle ensued, with the individual basically attaching himself to our deputy's ear and, through the course of the struggle, biting through it and pulling part of it off,\" said Swafford. Two other deputies eventually got the man restrained, and the injured deputy was sent to Huntsville Hospital. Because the damaged area included cartilage, doctors were unable to reattach it. The deputy was released form the hospital early Wednesday morning. He's now recovering at home with his family recovering. “When you get a call in the middle of the night that your loved one has been injured in the line of duty, you have an emotional process for\" the family to go through, Swafford said. \"They’re dealing with all of that today because once everyone woke up, that’s what they have to start processing.\" Once the injury is healed, Swafford said the deputy might go through reconstructive surgery. Charges may eventually be filed in this case against the person who bit him.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["his ear was bitten off","ear","ear"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["early Wednesday morning"]},{"role":"People","values":["A Morgan County deputy"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Socceroos striker’s message to Arnold: ‘I’ll be ready if you need me’","document":"Socceroos striker Adam Taggart has handed Australia coach Graham Arnold an early Christmas gift by declaring he’s on track to return to action early in the New Year after recovering from knee surgery. The target man has missed Australia’s last two World Cup qualifiers - the largely toothless draws against Saudi Arabia and China - his absence keenly felt at the pointy end where his presence as both finisher and creator was sorely missed. Though in the midst of a mini-goal drought himself before suffering a torn meniscus playing for his J1 club Cerezo Osaka six weeks back, Taggart’s calmness on the ball, robust physicality and ability to hold possession and bring teammates into play made him close to indispensable for Arnold. Back in his hometown of Perth to continue his rehab under the watchful eyes of Socceroos fitness staff headed by conditioning guru Andrew Clark, Taggart, 28, declared the operation a success and a January return to action a realistic target. “I’m looking to make myself available in January - it just depends what Arnie is thinking. But I’ll be as ready as I can be,” said Taggart, who sustained the injury soon after scoring his first J1 goal for Cerezo against Nagoya at the end of October. “I’d have had a couple of weeks of pre-season (before the next qualifier against Vietnam in Melbourne on January 27). “I’m starting to get going now and by then I should be fairly fit. Whatever happens I’ll be ready for it.” With Australia now relegated to third in Group A with four games left - a point behind Japan and five adrift of the Green Falcons - an automatic qualifying spot for Qatar 2022 is in grave jeopardy. “We have two massive games coming up (against Vietnam and away to Oman five days later),” Taggart told FTBL. “I want to be a part of it is this group of Socceroos are special. “Apart from this camp just gone I’ve been heavily involved and any game means a lot to me especially these big ones coming up.” Taggart, with six goals in 15 appearances for Australia, believes Australia can clamber from their current predicament and still pip Japan for the second qualifying spot, with the top two still to meet and 12 points still up for grabs. He acknowledged that in addition to his the absence, being stripped of orchestrators Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy for the last two games - plus the devastating ACL suffered by defender Harry Souttar - has dealt a hammer blow to Arnold. “These players are massive for us and you’re always going to miss them,” he said. “We had that great run of 11 successive wins, whether it was doing it ugly or nice, and we’ve lost that little bit over the past couple of matches. “But I’ve got all the confidence in the world we will bounce back. Arnie has an unbelievable mentality and he instils that in everyone. “For me, he’s an unbelievable gaffer. Yes we’ve had a rough couple of games but everybody loves him and have the upmost respect for him. “He always gives us a clear game plan we just have to carry it out. “It’s always hard in camp when you have so little time to prepare - but that's no excuse. We just need to concentrate on performing well. “There are huge matches coming up also against Japan at home and Saudi away (in March) but that’s what you want as a footballer. “As difficult as it is there are opportunities for special moments to be had. “We’ve had some difficult results but we have keep a strong mentality and make sure we win at all costs. “There are still plenty of chances to make sure we finish in the top two. We just need to focus on winning the last four games. The ball is still in our court. “Of course there’s pressure because the whole country is watching. It means a lot to everyone.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a torn meniscus","devastating ACL"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Socceroos fitness staff headed by conditioning guru Andrew Clark"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Adam Taggart","Harry Souttar"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["knee surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"ENHYPEN’s Heeseung Recovering From Surgery","document":"On November 3, ENHYPEN’s agency BELIFT LAB announced that Heeseung recently underwent surgery to remove an epidermoid cyst on one of his toes and is currently resting, as recommended by his doctors. The agency also announced that while Heeseung is planning to rest for a week, if recovery takes longer than anticipated, he may have to limit his participation in some of ENHYPEN’s performances at their upcoming fan meeting on November 19. BELIFT LAB’s full statement is as follows: Hello. This is BELIFT LAB. We would like to provide the following information on the current health status of ENHYPEN member Heeseung. While taking part in activities for ENHYPEN’s first studio album, Heeseung experienced pain in one of his right toes and visited a hospital for examination, and was diagnosed with an epidermoid cyst. Following physician advice for timely treatment, Heeseung underwent surgery on Monday, November 1 immediately after the conclusion of album promotions. Heeseung is currently resting as doctors recommended a week of rest and recuperation. However, should recovery take longer than expected, we ask for your understanding that Heeseung may be participating in a limited capacity for some of the performances for the 2021 ENHYPEN [EN-CONNECT: COMPANION] fan meeting, scheduled for the 19th. We will continue to monitor Heeseung’s recovery and determine his level of participation by taking into consideration physician advice and the artist’s condition, to make sure that he is not unduly strained. BELIFT LAB will continue to place the highest priority on artist health and safety, and will do our utmost to ensure that Heeseung can join all fans healthy and well.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["an epidermoid cyst on one of his toes"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["his doctors","doctors"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung","Heeseung"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["a week of rest and recuperation","rest for a week","surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Richard Beck dog team hit by truck, an accident mushers foresaw","document":"Richard Beck's snowmobile beneath a truck following a collision on December 13, 2021. Photo: Alisa Blake A Yellowknife musher broke several ribs and a leg in a collision with a truck, further elevating concern about the safety of a crossing shared by dog teams and vehicles. Richard Beck, a 10-time winner of the city’s Canadian Championship dog derby, and his dog team were attempting to cross Kam Lake Road, between Kam Lake and Grace Lake, when they were struck on Monday afternoon. None of his dogs were harmed but Beck, who is in his late sixties, required surgery and is beginning a long recovery process at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Alisa Blake, Beck’s daughter-in-law, rushed to the crossing to find Beck being loaded into an ambulance. “He’s doing OK. He did have to have surgery. He has some broken ribs and a broken femur,” Blake said. “I’m just thankful that I’m able to talk about my father-in-law and say he’s in the hospital, he’s recovering, and not speaking of him in the past tense. He came within inches of losing his life.” The collision horrified the city’s dog mushing community, for whom the crossing is a constant worry. Advertisement. Jo Kelly, of Qimmiq Kennels, was returning with her dog team about 15 minutes behind Beck when she reached the scene. “This is a spot I pass with trepidation every time, and I just felt sick when I came over that hill with my dog team, looked over, and saw his snow machine rolled under that truck,” Kelly told Cabin Radio on Wednesday. “It’s the worst nightmare. It’s a terrible crossing … I’ve had close calls there. I’m sure everyone has.” ‘So much new traffic’ Kam Lake has been home to Yellowknife’s dog mushers for decades. More than 100 dogs can be found occupying a lot on Curry Drive, a block away from the crossing. In winter and spring, with mushing season under way, trails extend from Curry Drive across nearby Grace Lake and Kam Lake. In recent years, Grace Lake has been transformed into one of the city’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, offering families the opportunity to build their dream lakeside homes from scratch. There’s also a gravel pit beyond the development. That means more passenger traffic, more construction vehicles, and more service trucks using the one road that stretches between Grace Lake’s southern reaches and Kam Lake. A map shows the crossing used by mushers between Grace Lake and Kam Lake. The scene of Monday’s collision. Some mushers say the type of driver is changing, too. “Yellowknife residents know Kam Lake is dog mushing central and to watch out for that, to move slowly on the road alongside the dog lot,” said Jordee Reid, president of the Yellowknife Dog Trotters Association, which represents the city’s mushers. “But with more residents down here, there’s a lot more traffic, too. Even though the dogs have been here for 40 years, all the people haven’t been. There wasn’t traffic like this in the past.” Kelly said: “People don’t expect to see dog teams because there is so much new traffic. Historically in Kam Lake, people expected to see dog teams.” Mushers describe the crossing as a blind corner. To fully gauge whether they can cross, dog teams must inch out into the road – a dangerous manoeuvre, as 10-dog teams rarely operate in inches. “By the time you stick your nose out of a blind corner with a dog team, you’re committed. It’s not like power steering or power brakes, you can’t swerve to avoid things and sometimes you can’t stop,” said Kelly. “We all use that same crossing and have all known for some time that it is a very dangerous place,” said Reid. “It could have been any one of us. It is surprising that nothing quite to this scale has happened sooner.” ‘A stop sign, you listen to’ The City of Yellowknife has tried to make the crossing less dangerous. At one point, the city built a culvert under the road with the intention that dog teams could pass through the culvert from lake to lake, safely away from traffic. But the culvert design and height, mushers say, made it unusable. Dog teams went back to using the road. The city installed signs warning of the crossing, but mushers say several have been stolen and the remaining sign is neither close enough to the crossing nor large enough to make a difference. “They need a proper, I would say, crosswalk,” said Kelly, searching for a word to describe a much more visible crossing for dog teams. Others said a stop sign would work. “Snow machines and dog teams need protection on that crossing,” Kelly continued. “There’s nothing there to slow people down.” Reid said the existing signage was too passive to have an impact on musher safety. A sign warns of the crossing from Grace Lake to Kam Lake. Photo: Alisa Blake “It seems like it needs to be something a bit more abrupt. A stop sign is something you need to listen to,” she said. Blake said she had called municipal enforcement to see if more patrols of the area could be made. “There are many times I’ve seen passenger vehicles and dump trucks probably going at 50 km/h, 60 km/h,” she said. The City of Yellowknife, which declined an interview request for this report, said the posted speed limit on that stretch of road is 30 km/h. “There are signs posted in the area warning traffic about snowmobiles and dog teams,” city spokesperson Aimée Dentinger said by email. Hurt, but alive The exact detail of what happened in Monday’s incident was not provided by RCMP, whose officers attended the scene. The driver of the truck, who was not identified, could not be reached for comment. In a written statement, RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon said: “At this time, there does not seem to be any criminal intent and no charges or tickets have been filed.” Richard Beck at the 2019 Canadian Championship dog derby in Yellowknife. Fran Hurcomb/Canadian Championship Beck’s season is over before it began. Dog races don’t ordinarily start in earnest until January and the Canadian Championship usually runs on Yellowknife Bay in March. “There is nothing at the end of that road that is so important you need to speed along on it,” said Blake, pleading with Yellowknife residents to pass the crossing as slowly as possible. Reid, describing a shaken dog mushing community, said what happened could have been much worse. “I know Richard is really hurt, physically and I imagine mentally as well, but he is still alive,” she said.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["has some broken ribs and a broken femur"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Stanton Territorial Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Richard Beck","Richard Beck","Richard Beck"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Choosing circumcision for a baby boy by mum who tells of ‘hard decision’ and ‘hurtful’ response","document":" Mum gets candid about decision to have baby boy circumcised Mum gets candid about decision to have baby boy circumcised. It’s a choice that sparks heated debate amongst parents - and now one mum has spoken candidly about her decision to have her baby boy circumcised and the response she received for doing it. Florida woman Princessa Abreu went viral after she shared a TikTok video about her son Levi’s surgery that was viewed a staggering 12.7 million times. The footage showed the tot in hospital recovering from fever and swelling he developed following his op. WATCH Princessa’s viral footage in the video above “I honestly do not know why I posted the video ,” Princessa tells 7Life. “I remember feeling so many emotions. I guess I just felt compelled to share. I never expected it to go viral.” Princessa did not expect her video to go viral. Credit: Supplied/TikTok/rainbowbabychasing Princessa describes her son as the “sweetest, smartest” little boy - who loves Mickey Mouse and exploring. While it was “never the plan” to get him circumcised, Princessa says medical issues forced her hand. “Levi was born healthy at 39 weeks but started getting UTIs at three months old despite good hygiene, and medications,” Princessa says. The UTIs continued to return periodically as he aged. “At the age of 10 months, his doctor recommended getting him circumcised to help prevent the UTIs from returning,” the mum adds. The advice sparked a “long debate”, Princessa admits - she got a second opinion and did her own research into the matter. Finally, she decided to go ahead with the surgery and Levi was 12 months old when he went under the knife. Princessa said making the decision for Levi to go under the knife was hard. Credit: Supplied “Ultimately what changed my mind about circumcision was the benefits it had on preventing infections,” Princessa says. “It was a hard decision because I did not want to change my son. I believe he was perfect the way he was born, but because of his health it is what was best. “I don’t regret my decision. As a mother I did what was best for my son.” In Australia circumcision is not routinely done on newborn boys unless there is a medical reason. According to government-funded online health service Health Direct, most doctors don’t recommend it but circumcision is commonly performed for religious or cultural reasons or due to family tradition or parental preference. Levi’s procedure went “very well”, Princessa says. Chevron Right Icon I was a mess “He was placed under anaesthesia and the surgery took about an hour and thirty minutes. “While he was in the surgery room I was a mess, I was not allowed in the surgery room. I was placed in a small waiting room, and I just remember walking back and forth,” she recalls. “I was so happy when he woke up and said ‘mummy’.” While Levi’s operation went well, he developed a fever soon after. Credit: Supplied After the surgery, Levi was discharged immediately. Princessa was told her son’s wound should heal in four to six days and swelling should go down. “This was not the case for Levi,” Princessa says. “Around day four post-surgery his area was still very swollen and he developed a fever.” “I felt guilty because he was in pain due to a decision I had made, but I knew the end outcome would benefit him,” Princessa says. Worried about her son, as the swelling and fever continued, Princessa took him to Emergency. “At the ER they administered medication to help with swelling and fever. This helped Levi instantly,” she recalls. Thankfully blood tests showed Levi didn’t have an infection and after two days in hospital, he was allowed home. “Once we were discharged I would say he was back to his regular self by day eight,” Princessa says. And since his op, she adds he’s not had any UTIs. She says if she had her time again, she would not do anything differently. Levi, who loves exploring, has not had any UTIs since his circumcision. Credit: Supplied “I believe everything happens for a reason. I got my son the help he needed and nothing else mattered,” she says, adding that Levi is now “very happy and very active”. However, that hasn’t stopped social media users from sharing a range of opinions with the mum. “I actually knew this topic was a hot debate,” Princessa admits - but she adds that some of the messages left her “shocked”. Chevron Right Icon They were hurtful and judgemental “Many people were angry that I waited so long to do the surgery. While others were against the idea of circumcision completely,” she says of the comments she received. “What I didn’t expect was the amount of hate I was receiving from other mothers. “I was shocked, by some of the messages. They were hurtful, and judgmental. “I remember wanting to turn off the comments, but I did not because some of the things people had to say was actually very informative. And I believe it could help others who aren’t sure about what to do.” While the comments hurt Princessa - who suffered a devastating miscarriage a year ago and is fundraising in the hope of having another baby via artificial insemination - she wouldn’t rule out putting a second child through the procedure if it was needed. Levi is now ‘very happy and very active’ according to his mum. Credit: Supplied “I love being a mother, I can’t wait for the day I can finally give Levi a sibling,” she says, adding that TikTok became an “outlet for healing” for her after the tragic loss of her baby. “Every child is different and just because Levi had UTIs does not mean that my other child will. “If my other baby was having health issues and it was medically needed then yes [I’d get him circumcised].” Now the mum has a message for others. “Becoming a mum changes the way you view life, once that little baby is brought into this world no one or nothing else matters. “Every decision that we make as parents will impact our children’s lives in one way or another. “This being said do what you believe is best for your sons. There is no wrong or right choice.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["UTIs","UTIs","UTIs","UTIs","UTIs","TIs"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["hospital","hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["swelling and fever continued","fever and swelling","swelling and fever"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["his doctor"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Levi","Levi","Levi","Levi","Levi","Levi","Levi","Levi","evi","Levi","Levi","Levi","evi"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["circumcised","circumcised","circumcised","circumcised","circumcised","circumcised","administered medication"]}]}
+{"title":"General Hospital: Rays Injury Updates","document":"With the Rays’ roster crunch settled (for now), let’s take a look at which injured players at the MLB and AAA level are expected to come back in 2022, and possibly make an impact to the MLB roster. Nick Anderson - RHP - Right Elbow Surgery Anderson didn’t make too many appearances in 2021, and when he did, he was only throwing 92 MPH . Later in the season it was revealed that Anderson had a partial UCL tear, and in late October, Dr. Keith Meister performed an internal brace procedure on Anderson. The recovery is shorter than the typical full UCL tear and the Tommy John Surgery that follows. Due to the shorter recovery, Anderson will be shut down for 3-4 months and is expected to return after the 2022 All Star Break. Jaleen Beeks - LHP - Tommy John Surgery Jaleen Beeks underwent Tommy John Surgery in August of 2020, and as of July 5th of 2021 Beeks described his recovery as “a slow ramp up, but feeling more like a pitcher”. Beeks also stated that he started throwing in June of 2021. You can hear more about Jalen Beeks’ recovery on the always wonderful Rays Radio Podcast (Beeks starts at 29:54). Collin McHugh, Vidal Bruján, Jalen Beeks, + a preview of Cleveland w/ @IndiansRadio more - This Week in @RaysBaseball 7/4 https://t.co/S1ObHxo02K As long as there aren’t any setbacks on his recovery, Beeks should be good to go by Spring Training in 2022, but will probably have his innings limited. Yonny Chirinos - RHP - Tommy John Surgery Before his latest setback, Yonny Chirinos was on track to return at full health by 2022 Spring Training. According to Marc Topkin at the Tampa Bay Times, Chirinos suffered a fractured elbow during live batting practice at the end of September. You may recall that former Rays prospect Brent Honeywell experienced the same sequence of UCL repair surgery followed by an elbow fracture. The bad news is that Chirinos had to undergo surgery again to insert a screw to repair the fracture, but thankfully the repaired UCL was not damaged in any way. Tyler Glasnow - RHP - Tommy John Surgery Glasnow was on track to what looked like his first All Star and Cy Young contention season with his added slider. But Glasnow was sidelined in mid-June for a partial UCL tear, and was hopeful that rehab would be enough to bring him back to the rotation. After a throwing session, it was decided that Tommy John Surgery would be the best course of action, and Glasnow underwent the knife on August 4, 2021. With the lengthy recovery process, it is likely that we won’t see Glasnow on the mound until 2023. Brendan McKay - LHP/DH - Thoracic Outlet Surgery At the end of November, Brendan McKay underwent TOS compression surgery, which was another injury on a long list for the former 1st round pick. In 2020, McKay underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, and in addition to some setbacks from that recovery, had a left arm flexor strain in August of this year. With all of the missed time, the Rays are expected to receive a 4th year option for McKay, so if the left hander does have a successful recovery, he more than likely will be spending some time in AAA and with an obvious innings limit. Colin Poche - LHP - Tommy John Surgery All the way back in 2020, Colin Poche suffered from a full UCL tear, and underwent TJS at end of July in the same year. TJS is typically a long recovery, but by the time 2022 Spring Training rolls around, it will be almost 2 years post surgery. Although there will be an innings limit as Poche gets back to a full workload, we haven’t heard of any setbacks, and he should be good to go for the 2022 season. With the lockout going on, I’ve decided to open myself up to any local Little League teams who need an extra player. Now accepting offers! pic.twitter.com/6MtNKGTPQT — Colin Poche (@colinpoche) December 9, 2021 Jeffery Springs - LHP - Right Knee Surgery Jeffery Springs was a considerable addition to the Rays’ bullpen in 2021. When he went down with what was originally labeled as a right knee sprain, the recovery outlook was optimistic and only listed at 2 to 4 weeks. Unfortunately, his rehab efforts were not effective, as he continued to suffer discomfort, and as a result, had to undergo ACL surgery in August. The recovery time for Springs is unknown, although typical recovery is in the 6 to 9 month range, which would put a return for Springs at April or May for full recovery, not counting any throwing or ramp up programs. Ryan Thompson - RHP - Thoracic Outlet Surgery Another TOS surgery for another Rays’ pitcher. Thompson was originally sidelined at the end of June with what was then described as “right shoulder inflammation”, but continuing setbacks during his recovery resulted in an August surgery. According to Marc Topkin, the Rays’ currently believe he will be ready for 2022 Spring Training. Ryan Thompson, 81mph \"Two Time Zone\" Slider...and Sword. — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2021 Matt Wisler - RHP - Right Finger Inflammation Wisler re-injured his right middle finger in October in a late season series against the Red Sox, an injury that caused him to go in the IL in August and September. Nothing is known right now of his injury, so it should be assumed that he will be ready to go by the time pitchers and catchers report. Kevin Kiermaier - CF - Right Knee Surgery On November 3rd Kiermaier underwent arthroscopic surgery to take care of a small tear in his right knee. Although KK is notorious for spending time on the IL, he waited until the offseason to address this issue. Recovery is typically four to six weeks, which lines Kiermaier up to be ready by the beginning of Spring Training. With one of the MLB’s top farm systems, the Rays look poised to have plenty of options in 2022, and should be able to manage a calculated ramp up for the recovering players. Along with that comes some tough roster decisions, if everybody is healthy. But that will be a very big, although welcomed, if.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a full UCL tear","full UCL tear","a partial UCL tear","partial UCL tear","a small tear in his right knee","Right Knee","right knee","Right Knee","a fractured elbow","a torn labrum","a left arm flexor strain","“right shoulder inflammation”","Right Finger Inflammation"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr. Keith Meister"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Jaleen Beeks","Jaleen Beeks","Yonny Chirinos","Yonny Chirinos","Brendan McKay","Brendan McKay","Colin Poche","Colin Poche","Colin Poche","Jeffery Springs","Jeffery Springs","Ryan Thompson","Ryan Thompson","Nick Anderson","Brent Honeywell","Tyler Glasnow","Matt Wisler","Kevin Kiermaier"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","Tommy John Surgery","surgery again to insert a screw","surgery","surgery","surgery","surgery","Surgery","surgery","surgery","Surgery","surgery","Right Elbow Surgery","UCL repair surgery","shoulder surgery","ACL surgery","arthroscopic surgery","Thoracic Outlet Surgery","Thoracic Outlet Surgery","an internal brace procedure"]}]}
+{"title":"Joy T Barnum has spent the last 21 months fighting for her health","document":" Joy T Barnum singing outside Long Story Short on Water Street at the St Georges Christmas Shop N Stroll on Sunday afternoon (Photograph by Jessie Moniz Hardy) People came out of the woodwork when Joy T Barnum started singing at the St Georges Christmas Shop N Stroll on Sunday afternoon. Passers-by stopped in their tracks to listen to her medley of Christmas songs. Even Santa Claus showed up. But halfway through her set she got a little teary-eyed and had to pause. “Two months ago I couldn’t do this,” the singer told the crowd. “I’m back …” She has spent the last 21 months fighting for her health. The first sign of trouble happened in March 2020 when she awoke to find blood in her bed. “I was like what the deuce is happening,” she said. Because the blood was near her head she thought maybe she was having a brain haemorrhage. Then her mother decided she had bed bugs. Ms Barnum had her bed steam cleaned. “For two days everything was fine,” she said. “Then there was blood again.” It was a full month before she put all the pieces together and realised her left breast was leaking bloody fluid. By then the island was in full lockdown because of Covid-19. A quick bit of googling revealed that bloody discharge from your breasts can be a sign of cancer, but her doctor’s office was closed because of the pandemic. The minute it was open again she scheduled an appointment. Joy T Barnum singing outside Long Story Short on Water Street at the St Georges Christmas Shop N Stroll on Sunday afternoon (Photograph by Jessie Moniz Hardy) Her general practitioner took her symptoms seriously and ordered a mammogram. It came back clear. An ultrasound also found nothing. “The people at the scan said you’re fine. There is nothing wrong with you,” Ms Barnum said. “I went back to the doctor and said, I’m not fine. I’m bleeding. The doctor said I’m going to order another test for you.” Her doctor called for a biopsy, but because Ms Barnum’s previous scans had come up clean, she could not have one. “I understand now, if they don’t see where a mass is, they don’t know where to guide the needle,” she said. “So I get it. But also, now I understand that we have the iPhone 4 of machines here. And we paid a lot of money for them. We are trying to get enough insurance money to pay that off, but just like a car that you take off the lot, the next year there will be a new version that is better.” The doctor’s next move was to send her to her gynaecologist. He seemed dismissive of her symptoms, saying all women had a little bloody discharge from their breasts, from time to time. “I said no, that is not normal,” Ms Barnum said. “Then he said I am going to take samples of it. I said at that point I could fill up a shot glass. I was just squeezing blood out of my chest too fast for him to suck it up with his equipment.” Again the tests came up clear of cancer. A friend put her in touch with a doctor at a clinic in Texas. That doctor recommended she see another doctor in Bermuda and arrange a breast MRI. She took her advice, and had a breast MRI and a biopsy. This time there was something, an adenoma and a papilloma, small non-cancerous tumours. Her gynaecologist said he would take out the papilloma, but not the adenoma. He told her it was too small and he did not have time to look for it. He told her that these things usually had a “little cancer”, but it was nothing to worry about. Feeling this medical professional was being too cavalier with her health she found another gynaecologist. But then she had to put thoughts of surgery and testing on hold, when she lost the job she kept solely to maintain health insurance. With numbers down due to the pandemic they did not need her. She took out her own full coverage insurance with a new insurance company, but soon learnt that they would not cover the surgery to remove the small masses until she had been with them for a full year, because they considered it a pre-existing condition. So after two months with the new company, she cancelled her insurance with them and went onto HIP, paying for supplemental coverage. Because she was unemployed, her mother helped her pay for it. With this insurance, she only had to wait three months before her health insurance would pay for surgery. She grew depressed during this time. “I did not have a job or anywhere to go and I could not wash my dishes,” she said. “I felt there was something wrong with me and I was dying and no one would tell me what was wrong with me. It was pretty awful.” Santa Claus, right, pays Joy T Barnum a visit at the St Georges Christmas Shop N Stroll on Sunday afternoon (Photograph by Jessie Moniz Hardy) She took solace in her twin eight-year-old nieces, Elizabeth and Grace. Her love for them made her fight for a diagnosis. One day, through Facebook she told her friends what she was going through. Many people reached out offering suggestions or encouragement. Then, she got a call offering her a new job doing deliveries for a pharmacy. The job came with full health insurance through a group policy. It was with the same company she had used before the pandemic. They offered her the same coverage she had had before the job loss. Now she reached out to Dana Farber Cancer Hospital in Boston for further testing. “I just called Dana Farber and said is there a way to get in?” she said. There was. She could be tested at Dana Farber’s sister hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. With a referral from her gynaecologist insurance would cover it all. Dana Farber would handle her care if she was officially diagnosed with cancer. “My mother and I went to the appointment and the doctor said we have looked at your things,” she said. “He said it is great that you sent us everything that you needed from October, but we can not read the MRI. I had the MRI done at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. That is when I found out that our equipment is not up to date.” At Brigham & Women’s she had various scans done of her chest, including an ultrasound. When the radiologist spotted something on the screen, she started to cry. “I said they told me in Bermuda that there was nothing wrong with me and to handle it from home,” she said. “He went ‘how in the world are you supposed to handle this from …’ ” A year after she first noticed blood in her bed she finally had an answer. Her left breast was riddled with stage one cancer. The good news was, there was no sign of it in her right breast, and it had not spread to the rest of her body. “They said they could try to save my nipple but there was a mass behind my nipple that was a precancerous tumour the size of a golf ball,” she said. She believes it was initially missed because the equipment in Bermuda, while not old, is already outdated. “It should not be this way,” she said. “But I don’t know what it is going to take besides private donors to get it where it needs to be and be able to up keep it continually.” “Healthcare should not be a rich person’s thing,” she said. “Life should not be for someone who has money. During the pandemic, the government gave me a $100 a week for 14 to 16 weeks and I was grateful. If they can find that then there is a way we can find money so that everyone is insured.” And she said the policy of saying you can not get a biopsy unless the scans show something, is inherently flawed. “Talking to doctors in Bermuda I felt difficult because I wanted care so that I could live,” she said. She persisted in her fight to get diagnosis and treatment, but she worried that other women would give up. “There is no such thing as no,” she said. “There is always going to be a different avenue.” After doctors discovered the problem, her treatment was transferred to Dana Farber. She would need surgery to remove her left breast and reconstruct it. She would not need chemotherapy or radiation. She went home for several weeks to await her first surgery. She spent the summer singing, then had her left breast removed on August 16. Her breast reconstruction, using her own stomach fat, was done on November 6. “In between surgeries I heard about Flora Duffy,” she said. “I decided to write her a song.” Recording it in the studio was challenging, because she was still recovering from her first operation. She got breathless and light headed and had to sit down after making the recording. On Flora Duffy Day on October 18, she was very proud to sing the song for the Olympic athlete. She told doctors at Brigham & Women’s that she always wanted to have a baby. Staff at the Brigham & Women’s fertility clinic helped her make a plan to reach this goal. She went through two rounds of IVF, thanks to some financial backing from a friend, and harvested four eggs which were put on ice. Because her cancer is Oestregen driven, she will be on a drug that causes menopause for the next five years. After that, she can try for a baby. In the meantime, her focus is on her singing. She is now selling a collection of her Christmas music including a new song written by Bim Bademosi called the Gift, on a USB drive for $20. It is available at Pull My Hair on Front Street, at Long Story Short on Water Street in St George, through www.Iamplantbased.store or directly from her.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["cancer","cancer","ancer","ancer”","ancer","ancer","small non-cancerous tumours","an adenoma and a papilloma","apilloma","denoma"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Brigham & Women’s Hospital","ospital","ospital","ospital","Brigham & Women’s","at Brigham & Women’s","the Brigham & Women’s"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Her gynaecologist","ynaecologist","ynaecologist","ynaecologist","Dana Farber","ana Farber","ana Farber’","ana Farber","Her general practitioner"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Joy T Barnum","Joy T Barnum","Barnum","Joy T Barnum","Barnum","arnum","Joy T Barnum"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery to remove her left breast and reconstruct it","urgery","urgery","urgery","urgery","left breast removed","an adenoma and a papilloma","econstructi","take out the papilloma"]}]}
+{"title":"Gisborne speedway racer Brenden Gooch underwent surgeryin Middlemore Hospital yesterday","document":"Gisborne speedway racer Brenden Gooch underwent surgery in Middlemore Hospital yesterday after suffering a spinal injury in a crash at the Meeanee track in Hawke's Bay on Saturday night. Gooch hit the wall head-on in the second race of the night. “He was leading by about a quarter of a lap, way out in front, when he undertook a slower car that clipped him, and he flew into the wall,” his father Neil said this morning. He had to be cut out of the car before being flown to Middlemore Hospital with spinal injuries. “Brenden underwent four hours of surgery on his lower back at Middlemore yesterday morning and is now recovering,” Neil said. “We await the results of his surgery.” Members of the Gooch family headed to the hospital to be with him. “Gooch Motorsport would like to thank the numerous St John staff, speedway volunteers and helpers who took care of Brenden after the incident,” Neil said. “They all did an amazing job under the circumstances. “Also, our thanks to everyone that has sent in best wishes.” The family and Brenden have had calls from all over the country. “The support has just been overwhelming,” Neil said. “It shows just how respected Brenden is as a driver and a person.” “His road to recovery has just begun and we are hopeful of a full recovery. “With the support of his family, friends and the speedway community we have no doubt that he will overcome this.” BADLY HURT: Streetstock speedway racer Brenden Gooch, seen here racing with 3NZ on his car in 2020, was seriously injured in a crash at the Meeanee speedway in Hawke's Bay on Saturday night and is in Middlemore Hospital. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a spinal injury"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Middlemore Hospital","Middlemore Hospital","Middlemore Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Brenden Gooch","Brenden Gooch"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Coping with Holiday Stress & Anxiety: Tips for Those with Mesothelioma","document":" Written By: Tamron Little , December 14, 2021 Well, it’s that time of year again. The holidays are pretty stressful for everyone, but especially those affected by mesothelioma . For the record, stress is something we all deal with, so don’t be so hard on yourself if it is affecting you this holiday season. As a mesothelioma survivor , I know firsthand how difficult the holidays can be. I remember the Christmas right after I had the HIPEC treatment . It was my first Christmas as a new mom, a new wife, and I was two months post-surgery. It was definitely stressful. When you’re a new mom you’re always thinking about how perfect you want your child’s first Christmas to be. I wasn’t working at the time since I was still recovering from major surgery , and so many things were running through my head. When life isn’t going the way you planned, it’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts that remind you of where you’re falling short. Then you start comparing yourself to others and begin feeling sorry for yourself. There are five words to remember if you find yourself going down this path: Be grateful for every day. Surviving Another Pandemic Holiday Season After being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma , I made it my purpose to enjoy each and every moment, especially around the holidays. I processed my situation and accepted it for what it was. I may not have had everything I wanted, but I was cancer-free, enjoying time with my husband and baby boy. The memories we make with family are what matter the most. We’ve been in this COVID-19 pandemic for almost two years now, and I’m sure it’s placed a damper on everyone’s holiday and added much stress and anxiety – especially given the unknowns. When the pandemic first began, we had the fear of not knowing what was going to happen next. Our normal life as we knew it was transformed into a season of isolation. The holidays didn’t feel the same. This year, as the holidays approach again, I’ve heard numerous people say that it feels different. You can still celebrate your holiday traditions with some precautions, as well as create new ones. 10 Ways to Cope During the Holidays As someone who has experienced anxiety myself, I’ve come up with some tips to help you cope with the stress you may feel around the holidays. Give yourself some grace. Look how far you have come within your journey and the strides you’ve made. Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is good advice any time of year, but it’s especially important around the holidays. Take things one day at a time. Don’t feel as if you have to rush to do anything. One thing I’ve noticed is that when I’m rushing or feel as if I have to hurry to do something, it can lead to anxiety. Refrain from slipping into “social comparison.” This is when we compare ourselves to people we think are doing better than we are. Talk about your feelings. Find a health care professional, therapist or even a close friend and express to them how you’re feeling. Take some time out for self-care. Self-care is the best care and it is whatever you make it. Pray. I believe that prayer works. Take a social media break. Social media is great for connecting with family and friends, but it can also trigger stress and anxiety. Get your happy back. Do something spontaneous that brings you joy. Live in the moment. However you celebrate the holidays, enjoy each minute and make some great memories. One thing to note: You’re not alone. It’s important to try to stay positive and take life one day at a time. Things will work out, just keep the faith! And have a happy holiday.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["mesothelioma","mesothelioma","mesothelioma"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Tamron Little"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["HIPEC treatment"]}]}
+{"title":"Paige Bueckers injury: Experts explain tibial plateau fracture, recovery timetable and more","document":"Connecticut's Paige Bueckers dribbles around Notre Dame's Madelyn Westbeld (34) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. Connecticut's Paige Bueckers is on the court injured as her team huddles around her in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) Jessica Hill / Associated Press Show More Show Less 4of4 UConn’s Paige Bueckers is expected to sit out the next six to eight weeks with a tibial plateau fracture, the school’s athletics department announced Tuesday morning. Bueckers took a fall in the final minute of Sunday’s game against Notre Dame. An MRI and a CT scan confirmed the sophomore’s injury. “Obviously, we’re all extremely disappointed for Paige and that she suffered this injury,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in Tuesday’s release. “It would be really hard to describe how much basketball means to Paige and how much her teammates mean to her. Not being able to do the thing that she loves to do, to be there for her teammates, is really difficult for her.” Bueckers has paced UConn by averaging 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 36.3 minutes per game. She leads the team in every category except rebounds, which she is second. “We’ve had players get injured in the past and my philosophy here is, I’m not interested in how fast we can get someone back; I’m interested in what’s best for them long term,” Auriemma said. “Every decision made will prioritize what’s best for Paige and her career. Everyone involved with this program will be there to support Paige through her healing process.” What is a tibial plateau fracture? A tibial plateau fracture can occur when the shin bone — the tibia — meets the knee and/or the end of the femur bone in a forceful manner. The flat top end of the tibia is called the tibial plateau and it carries the bulk of the weight of the femur on top of it through various ligaments, like the anterior cruciate, ACL, and cartilage, like the meniscus. “Typically these happen when you have the femur bone, which is the bone at the top of the knee, driving into the tibia bone, which is the bone at the bottom of the knee,” Jordan Gruskay, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at the Connecticut Orthopedic Institute told Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday. “Fractures require a certain level of force and torque and typically we see patients either tear the ligaments first, like an ACL injury, or they just get bruising of the bone rather than an actual broken bone.” However, what makes Bueckers’ case rare is that these types of fractures usually occur during trauma to the knee. Dr. Sabrina Strickland, a sports medicine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Stamford, said she sees this fracture commonly in football players and skiers. Since Bueckers was not in contact with another player when she went down with the injury, it’s likely the fracture was caused when she hyperextended her left knee during her fall. “It’s basically, she’s breaking her leg with just running which is pretty uncommon,” Strickland said. “Typically, a broken bone, which is what a tibia plateau fracture is, is typically from some kind of trauma, like real trauma, not running on a basketball court and hyperextending your knee. ... Her knee hyperextended and then it looked like it, at least from the video, looked like it buckled and that force right there was too much for her bone and broke the bone.” While the sophomore will still be out six to eight weeks, the diagnosis may be a best-case scenario. Initially, from the video of the fall, doctors speculated Bueckers might have torn her ACL, which would have been season-ending and required surgery. With a tibia plateau fracture, not only will Bueckers likely not need surgery but doctors says she will also likely have no long-term lasting effects to her knee. “(It’s) much better than having an ACL tear or a meniscus tear because this basically should heal back to normal,” Dr. Richard Diana, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery at Connecticut Orthopaedics said. “So she should have no lack of integrity at all. It shouldn’t be 95 percent as good as normal, it should be as good as normal.” Recovery timetable In terms of recovery, Bueckers will be out six to eight weeks from any contact or weight-bearing activities to allow the bone to heal itself. Bueckers’ timeline for when she’ll make her return to the court will depend on the severity of her fracture. “Typically bone takes six weeks to heal,” Gruskay said. “I would assume that they will have her being nonweight bearing or limited weight bearing for a period of four to six weeks. I’m sure their hope is that the bone completely heals and then they can have her start rehabbing, getting back to playing once that bone is healed. “I think the eight weeks is hopeful. Sometimes and obviously younger patients who get these can heal faster and have access to better rehabs so the eight weeks is certainly a hopeful return to sport timeline.” Strickland said the eight week timeline released by UConn’s statement on Tuesday would likely entail Bueckers recovering by wearing a brace and on crutches. “It must not be a particularly bad tibia plateau fracture because saying a tibia plateau fracture could mean that you get two plates and 20 screws or it could be that you’re just in a brace,” she said.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a tibial plateau fracture","A tibial plateau fracture"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Jordan Gruskay, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at the Connecticut Orthopedic Institute"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Paige Bueckers","Paige Bueckers","Paige Bueckers"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["wearing a brace and on crutches","brace"]}]}
+{"title":"Gloucester Rugby star Ben Morgan set for knee operation","document":"The former England number eight has been a star of the resurgent Cherry and Whites side in 2021/22 Sport Ben Morgan of Gloucester Ruggby goes away from Kieran Wilkinson of Sale Sharks Former England number eight Ben Morgan will have minor surgery on a knee injury, Gloucester Rugby head coach George Skivington has confirmed. The backrower limped off late in the day in the victory over Bristol Bears two weeks ago in his eighth appearance of the season having come out of pre-season looking like the devastating ball carrier who won 31 international caps between 2012 and 2015. Skivington said: \"Morgs has got to have a little procedure on his knee, it is not as serious as it could have been but he has had to have a procedure and it will be a decent amount of time recovering. \"I am not sure exactly what the time frame is but he won’t be featuring for a few weeks certainly.\" Morgan’s injury comes as a blow to the Cherry and Whites not just because of the rich vein of form the 32-year-old has been in, scoring four tries already this campaign in the Premiership and a hat-trick in the Premiership Rugby Cup thrashing of Gloucester, but because star number eight Jake Polledri remains sidelined from the knee injury he suffered on international duty with Italy 13 months ago. The good news is Skivington has powerhouse Ruan Ackermann in fine form and will likely move the South African over from blindside to the back of the scrum in Morgan's absence, with flanker Jordy Reid now fit again to bolster the backrow. Seb Nagle-Taylor provides another dynamic backrow option as well as the impressive Jack Clement. Skivington said: “We have got competition and that is a good thing but I felt this year Morgs really came to the party.” Morgan missed all of 2020 with a series of frustrating injuries, making him feel like a new signing to Skivington who only arrived at Kingsholm in July 2020. “He turned up to pre-season in really good shape,” Skivington added. “He was building nicely doing some really nice things on the field and starting to look like the Ben Morgan of old. “I think he has enjoyed being on the back of the mauls scoring the tries, he is one of the top scorers in the league, but he was having some great moments around the field and really enjoying his rugby. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["knee injury","knee injury"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Ben Morgan","Ben Morgan","Ben Morgan"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["minor surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Pelé In Hospital Due To Colon Tumor, To Be Released In Days","document":"Pelé was briefly put in intensive care after surgery on his right colon. He is recovering at his home in Guarujá, outside Sao Paulo. Brazilian soccer great Pelé was hospitalized in Sao Paulo to continue his colon tumor treatment. Hospital Albert Einstein said in a statement on Wednesday that 81-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento is “stable and expected to be released on the next few days.\" Pelé’s assistant Pepito Fornos told The Associated Press that Pelé is having chemotherapy sessions to treat the tumor that was found during routine exams at the end of August. Pelé was briefly put in intensive care after surgery on his right colon. He is recovering at his home in Guarujá, outside Sao Paulo. Pelé won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, and remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["colon tumor"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Sao Paulo","Sao Paulo","Sao Paulo","home","home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Pelé","Pelé","Pelé","Pelé","Pelé","Pelé"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["intensive care after surgery","intensive care after surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Rajinikanth Recovering Well After Surgery, Likely To Be Discharged In Few Days","document":"In an official statement from the hospital, it is revealed that Rajinikanth underwent a surgical procedure and recovering well. Superstar Rajinikanth. 2021-10-29T15:41:13+05:30 Rajinikanth Recovering Well After Surgery, Likely To Be Discharged In Few Days Superstar Rajinikanth was admitted to Kauvery Hospital on Thursday after experiencing giddiness. In an official statement released by the hospital, it is revealed that he underwent a surgery and is now on his road to recovery. The statement read, \"Mr Rajinikanth was admitted to Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpeet, Chennai yesterday (28th October 2021) following an episode of giddiness. He was thoroughly evaluated by the expert panel of doctors and was advised to undergo Carotid Artery revascularization.\" The statement, which was signed by Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director Kauvery Hospital. Giving an update about the days to come, the statement further said, \"The procedure was performed successfully today (29th October 2021) and he is recovering well. He is likely to be discharged from the hospital after few days.\" The superstar was trending on social media recently after the trailer of his much-awaited film 'Annaatthe' was released. The Siva directorial looks like a complete entertainer and also stars Keerthy Suresh.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Kauvery Hospital","Kauvery Hospital","Kauvery Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["expert panel of doctors"]},{"role":"Date","values":["In Few Days","days","few days."]},{"role":"People","values":["Rajinikanth","Rajinikanth","Rajinikanth","Rajinikanth","Rajinikanth"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["Carotid Artery revascularization"]}]}
+{"title":"Martha Stewart recovering from surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon","document":"The “Martha Knows Best” host, 79, revealed that she is recovering from surgery to repair her ruptured Achilles tendon. Stewart told her Instagram followers that she underwent a three-hour operation at NYU Langone Health on Tuesday after injuring herself a while back. “Not the prettiest photo nor the happiest back story,” she captioned a picture of her bandaged leg on Wednesday. “Bad timing all around. Ruptured my Achilles’ tendon a while ago. Tried to get it to heal on its own to no avail.�� The “Martha Bakes” star told fans that she has “to lay still with [her] leg elevated for two weeks.” After that, she needs “another two to four weeks [on] crutches,” she wrote. “Most such ruptures occur when dancing or playing sports. Mine was caused by a surprise step into a hole in the dark getting out of the car,” she explained. Stewart shared a photo of her bandaged foot in the air Wednesday. “Thank you NYU for attempting to make me whole again,” Stewart concluded her post. Other celebrities were quick to send well-wishes to the businesswoman after she shared the news. “Your [sic] still so sexy !!! so so so sexy!” Drew Barrymore commented. “Oh my dear!!! so sorry for that ! get well soon,” chef Geoffrey Zakarian wrote. Stewart later proved she was in good hands when she welcomed some medical advice from friend and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo. “Glad to hear you are on your way to a full recovery !!! Lots of love from your favorite fake doctor ❤️,” the actress, 51, commented.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["ruptured Achilles tendon"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["NYU Langone Health"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Stewart","Stewart","Stewart","Stewart"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"WWE NXT Superstar Gives Injury Update","document":"Injuries are unfortunately a part of the professional wrestling business, and WWE NXT 's Zoey Stark was taken out of action after suffering an ACL and Meniscus tear during the match at Halloween Havoc. She had surgery not too long ago, and she provided an update on her status on social media. Stark posted a video with the caption \"Officially off the crutches and walking on my own! Next step = RUNNING @WWENXT #WWENXT, and the video shows her walking at a steady clip with a brace around her leg. She seems to be recovering quickly, and we can't wait to see her back in a ring when she's fully healed. The kayfabe reason for the injury was an attack by Toxic Attraction, and after surgery, she had a message for them. Stark wrote \"Sadly, I tore my ACL/Meniscus due to Toxic's attack. Here's the bad news for the \"champs\". Surgery went great and I'm already rehabbing. I'll be back BETTER & STRONGER with three targets in mind! Until then @shirai_io @KacyCatanzaro @wwekayden kick their ass tonight! @WWENXT\" — WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 15, 2021 It would seem Stark will have plenty of revenge to seek out when she gets back to NXT, and who knows, if the faction still holds the titles when she gets back, perhaps she will be the one to dethrone them. Stark teamed up with Io Shirai earlier this year, but they were not exactly friends. Stark tried to cement a friendship with Shirai, but Shirai didn't go for it, though they were still able to defeat The Way's Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell and in the process become the new NXT Women's Tag Team Champions. They would defend their titles successfully until they met Toxic Attraction's Jayne and Dolin at Halloween Havoc, and there they would lose their titles. The same night Mandy Rose would defeat Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women's Championship, so all of Toxic Attraction is now wearing gold around their waists. It would definitely seem to be their time at the moment, and any possible rematch between the two teams will have to wait until Stark is back in the ring. Shirai did get a win against them though at WarGames, as her team of Gonzalez, Kay Lee Ray, and Cora Jade came away the victors. We wish Stark a speedy recovery, and hope she is back and better than ever soon. Do you want to see Stark reteam with Shirai after she returns or go on a singles run? Let us know in the comments!","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["an ACL and Meniscus tear","ACL"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Zoey Stark"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery","Surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Cats midfielder sidelined after knee surgery","document":"MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Sam Menegola of the Cats celebrates kicking a goal during the round 15 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium on June 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. Geelong midfielder Sam Menegola will miss a large portion of the pre-season after undergoing knee surgery. The club revealed on Thursday that the 29-year-old consulted with medical professionals shortly after the season's conclusion, with Menegola requiring attention for a meniscal repair in October. The setback will see his preparations for the new season delayed, with the Cats eyeing a chance to redeem themselves following their disappointing finals exit this year. SAM MENEGOLA Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd revealed the surgery on Menegola's troubled knee was a success, with the Cats star set to remain in Western Australia until 2022. “Sam and the medical team were pleased with the outcome post-surgery,” Lloyd said. “Sam is totally professional in all aspects of his football, and he will tackle the rehabilitation process with gusto. Sam has started his rehab in Perth and will return to Geelong in the new year.” MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: Sam Menegola of the Cats handballs whilst being tackled by Jake Stringer of the Bombers during the round seven AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 05, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Menegola missed three matches early into this year due to a shoulder injury, playing the final 22 games of the season for Geelong. The East Fremantle product will join defender Tom Stewart in recovering from injury this summer , with the All-Australian backman having had his 2021 campaign cut short due to a foot injury.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["medical professionals"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Sam Menegola","Sam Menegola","SAM MENEGOLA","Sam Menegola"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["knee surgery","a meniscal repair"]}]}
+{"title":"Obaidul Quader has recovered, to be released soon: Doctor","document":"Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is recovering, all his test results are reportedly good. \"Obaidul Quader is almost completely healthy. His blood pressure, oxygen circulation are all normal. Hopefully, he can return home in a day or two,\" informed Professor Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, BSMMU vice-chancellor and board head of the 10-member medical board formed for the minister's treatment. He said that when he (Obaidul Quader) first came to the hospital, he had a little pain in his chest, his blood sugar was high and he suffers from heart problem. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has been undergoing treatment at BSMMU since last Tuesday when he was admitted there with chest pain, high blood sugar and heart issues. Initially, Obaidul Quader was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital on 2 March, 2019, following breathing complications. After examining his angiogram there, doctors found three blocks in his coronary artery. On 4 March, the minister was flown to Singapore on an air ambulance for advanced treatment. The minister underwent bypass surgery at Mount Elizabeth Hospital on 20 March. Later, he returned home on 15 May after receiving medical treatment in Singapore for over two months. On 31 January 2020, Obaidul Quader was again admitted to BSMMU due to shortness of breath after a meeting of the party's secretaries was held at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi. At that time, he felt shortness of breath and left the office 10 minutes after his arrival. From there he went directly to BSMMU.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["chest pain, high blood sugar and heart issues","breathing complications"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital","hospital","BSMMU","Hospital","BSMMU","BSMMU","Mount Elizabeth Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Professor Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, BSMMU vice-chancellor and board head of the 10-member medical board","Professor Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, BSMMU vice-chancellor and board head of the 10-member"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Obaidul Quader","Obaidul Quader","Obaidul Quader","Obaidul Quader","Obaidul Quader","Obaidul Quader"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["bypass surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Carbery requires elbow surgery in latest injury nightmare","document":"Joey Carbery is once again facing the prospect of months on the sideline, with Munster confirming... 14.47 14 Dec 2021 Joey Carbery is once again facing the prospect of months on the sideline, with Munster confirming he requires surgery. The out-half sustained a fractured elbow in Sunday's 35-14 win away to Wasps in the Heineken Champions Cup. Carbery left the field in Coventry with his arm in a makeshift sling, having been on the receiving end of a late challenge from Wasps' Robin Hislop. Munster confirmed on Tuesday that Carbery suffered an elbow fracture, and will undergo surgery on Thursday (December 16). It leaves the 26-year old in a race to be fit for Ireland's Six Nations campaign. It's a cruel blow for the no.10, who had been slowly finding his rhythm once more after - seemingly - shaking off the shackles of a previous injury lay-off. He spent more than a year out with a troublesome ankle. News of the extend of Carbery's injury came on the same day it was confirmed Johann van Graan will be leaving as head coach at the end of this season. Following the heroics of Coventry, Van Graan must again tap into his reserves for Saturday's meeting with Castres at Thomond Park. Despite returning from Cape Town at the weekend - and recovering from COVID-19 - the 14 players who travelled back late from South Africa \"have been required to undertake an additional period of self-isolation as advised by public health\". However, the 34 players who returned Covid-free have completed their quarantine period and are under consideration for Saturday's game in Limerick.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a fractured elbow"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Joey Carbery","Joey Carbery"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["surgery","surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Pele 'Recovering Well' After Surgery: Daughter","document":"She however did not comment on local media reports saying the 80-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento is back in intensive care. Pele won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, and remains Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches. | Courtesy: Twitter (@Pele) Pele 'Recovering Well' After Surgery: Daughter Brazilian soccer great Pele “took a little step back” in his recovery from surgery to remove a tumor from his colon, his daughter Kely Nascimento said, but he is “recovering well” at a Sao Paulo hospital. She did not comment on local media reports saying the 80-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento is back in intensive care. Kely Nascimento posted a picture with her father on Instagram which she said she had just taken in his room at the Albert Einstein hospital. “He is recovering well and within normal range. Promise!” Kely Nascimento said. “The normal recovery scenario for a man of his age after an operation like this is sometimes two steps forward and one step back. Yesterday he was tired and took a little step back.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a tumor from his colon"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["a Sao Paulo hospital","the Albert Einstein hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Edson Arantes do Nascimento","Edson Arantes do Nascimento","Nascimento","Nascimento","Nascimento","Pele","Pele","Pele","Pele"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["intensive care","intensive care","surgery","Surgery","operation"]}]}
+{"title":"After surgery, medical experts predict a long and difficult recovery for Tiger Woods","document":"Woods, 45, suffered “comminuted open fractures” — meaning multiple breaks in which part of the bone breaks through the skin — in both the upper and lower portions of his right tibia and fibula, which required doctors to insert a rod into the tibia, according to a statement Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer and CEO of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, released early Wednesday through Woods’s representatives. “Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins,” Mahajan’s statement said. “Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.” Woods’s team added that the golfer was “awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room” after what it described as a “long” surgery. Because of the “open” nature of Woods’s fractures, sometimes also called compound fractures, the risk of infection is significant and the likelihood of additional surgeries is high, according to experts in the field of orthopedic trauma surgery. The injury suffered by quarterback Alex Smith of the Washington Football Team is one well-known example. “This is not a one-surgery [condition]. This is a multiple-surgery [condition],” said David L. Helfet, orthopedic trauma surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. With an open fracture, he said, protocols call for multiple debridements — the removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue. Story continues below advertisement In addition, Helfet said, Woods “may need soft-tissue procedures, maybe a skin graft. He may need multiple, additional procedures to stabilize the bone perfectly, to restore the length, alignment and rotation of the leg.” Insight into Woods’s condition and prognosis by those outside his immediate medical team are naturally limited by a lack of detailed knowledge of the specifics of his case. Among the questions left unaddressed by the statement early Wednesday from Woods’s team was whether there were additional injuries to his left leg, as initial reports suggested . However, Helfet, a surgeon for 40 years, was cautious about Woods’s prognosis. “The risk of an injury like this is not necessarily lifesaving; it’s limb-saving. And the sooner you get the patient into … a trauma center, the better,” he said. “ … To get one of these injuries healed — the bone healed, the soft tissues recovered, [and] assuming there’s no nerve and artery damage and the muscle is recoverable, you’re talking about, until he can walk and put weight on his leg and actually have function, two to three months, at least. “Golf,” Helfet added, “is immaterial.” Bill Mallon, a former PGA Tour golfer and orthopedic surgeon, had a more optimistic outlook for Woods’s long-term professional pursuits. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement “My suspicion is — and I’m dealing here with incomplete information — if he doesn’t get an infection in his leg and he doesn’t get arthritis in his ankle, I think he will definitely play golf again,” said Mallon, who played on the tour from 1975 to 1979 and was later a surgeon at Emerge Ortho and a clinical professor at Duke University School of Medicine. Mallon said arthritis is a concern anytime a fracture affects a joint, such as the ankle. Sally Jenkins: Woods’s genius has never been a free gift. Now his only task is to heal. Mallon said Woods was fortunate that the injured leg was his right because it is the left leg that absorbs most of the force in a golfer’s downswing during the transfer of weight. Mallon, while citing his lack of specific knowledge of Woods’s condition, guessed Woods would be under non-weight-bearing orders in the immediate future — perhaps with a “knee scooter” to get around while keeping his right leg off the ground — then graduate to partial-weight-bearing protection. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement “With fractures of this sort in the lower extremities, it takes about three months to heal enough to fully bear weight,” he said. At Harbor-UCLA, Woods’s initial surgical team probably included a general-surgery trauma specialist as well as vascular, orthopedic and plastic surgeons. He almost certainly was placed on a strong antibiotic to reduce the immediate risk of infection. Still, it is a risk that will remain for the duration of his recovery, according to Helfet. “The danger of infection is there until he is fully healed,” he said. “Obviously, it’s more likely to occur sooner rather than later. But bugs have a way of hiding. … They can hide for a long time and only appear later.” Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Fire Chief Daryl Osby on Feb. 23 offered an update on a rollover car crash involving Tiger Woods in Southern California. (The Washington Post) According to Andrew Pollak, chair of the department of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland Medical System, the main concerns for Woods in the coming days will be the risk of infection; the potential development of compartment syndrome, in which swelling inside the leg constricts blood flow, often leading to amputation; and the possibility of “nonunion,” in which the bones fail to heal properly. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement “The real challenge he’ll have in the coming weeks,” Pollak said, “is whether he’ll get primary healing of his wounds.” Pollak said UM’s trauma hospital sees injuries such as Woods’s several times a week and that 50 percent of those are unable to return to work within two to seven years of the injury. “However, high-performance athletes in our experience generally do better,” Pollak added. “What I would say about Tiger is he’s already recovered from five spinal surgeries and come back from them. So I wouldn’t put anything past him.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["“comminuted open fractures”"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["the risk of infection","risk of infection","risk of infection"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["nish Mahajan, chief medical officer and CEO of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center","Harbor-UCLA"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Woods","Woods","Woods","Woods","Woods","Woods"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["insert a rod into the tibia"]}]}
+{"title":"Derrick Henry out of surgery, recovering","document":"Titans running back Derrick Henry underwent foot surgery Tuesday morning as planned. Dianna Russini of ESPN reports that surgery “went well,” and Henry now is recovering. Henry injured his foot in Sunday’s victory over the Colts, but he still played through the end of the game. He played 74 percent of Tennessee’s offensive snaps. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Monday there is a chance Henry can return this season, but it is roughly an eight-week recovery. Henry led the league in rushing each of the past two seasons, gaining 2,027 yards with 17 touchdowns last year. He currently leads the league with 219 carries, 937 yards rushing and 10 rushing touchdowns, which had him on pace for 465 touches, 1,948 yards and 21 touchdowns. Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor is second with 649 rushing yards. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["injured his foot","foot"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Derrick Henry"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["foot surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"M. Nasir tests positive for COVID-19, recovering in home quarantine","document":"The Malaysian singer-songwriter’s wife Datin Marlia Musa confirmed the news yesterday (December 13), per Harian Metro . M. Nasir took a rapid test on Sunday morning (December 12) in preparation for an appearance the next day, which turned out positive. Upon receiving the result, the singer and his wife underwent RT-PCR tests right away, which bore the same result. He is currently in home quarantine and recovering. According to Marlia, M. Nasir, 64, is only experiencing cough symptoms at the moment. She urged people to pray for his speedy recovery. Marlia also shared that presently, she and her children, along with their maid, tested negative. She added that they are not sure where her husband contracted the virus. M. Nasir had reportedly tested negative for COVID-19 before his performance at the 31st Malaysia Film Festival last week on December 10. M. Nasir was in the headlines earlier this year after his father Mohamed Sam died at the age of 96 in Singapore , where the singer was born. M. Nasir, who has been a Malaysian citizen since 1989, had not seen his father for a year due to the pandemic, and applied for permission from the authorities to travel to Singapore, but was denied. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["COVID-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["M. Nasir","Nasir","Nasir","Nasir","Nasir","Datin Marlia","her children, along with their maid"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Unvaxxed ’72 Heisman winner: Fitness sped COVID-19 recovery","document":"OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football great Johnny Rodgers, back home after spending more than two weeks in the hospital with COVID-19, said Tuesday he believes his superior physical condition helped him have a better outcome than many 70-year-olds who contract the coronavirus. The 1972 Heisman Trophy winner, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from his Omaha home, acknowledged he has not been vaccinated. He said he thought a device he had installed in his home that purportedly weakens viruses, along with another type of air cleaning machine, provided him a measure of protection. “I figured with all this, I’m just fine,” Rodgers said. However, Rodgers said he now plans to get vaccinated once his doctors say he is able to do so. “At the time I had it covered,” he said, referring to the equipment in his house. “I really wasn’t around a lot of people. It was just something unexpected — like being in closed quarters for 10 hours at a time (while traveling) — that threw me for a loop. “At that particular point in time I wasn’t really that concerned about it because I was very healthy. I didn’t think I needed it. Now I think I most definitely need it. More people need it than don’t.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["COVID-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Johnny Rodgers"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["get vaccinated"]}]}
+{"title":"I am back home & recovering, says Silambarasan TR","document":" I am back home & recovering, says Silambarasan TR Actor Silambarasan TR was admitted to a hospital in Chennai on December 11 after getting a throat infection. While it was first speculated that the 'Maanaadu' star has been affected by the deadly corona virus, it was later revealed that he just had a viral infection. Silambarasan's close friend and actor Mahat Ragavendra also informed the fans that Simbu has been discharged and is safe and recuperating at home. Now, the star actor himself has taken to his social networking page to inform everyone that he is back home and recovering. Thanking everyone, Silambarasan TR posted. \"Thanks for all your blessings I am back home & recovering ??#NeengailaamaNaanilla ❤️\" (sic) Thanks for all your blessings I am back home & recovering ??#NeengailaamaNaanilla ❤️ — Silambarasan TR (@SilambarasanTR_) 1639316187000 Silambarasan aka Simbu is expected to recover soon, so that he can continue with the shoot for his upcoming film ‘ Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu ’ directed by Gautham Menon and is being bankrolled by Vels Film International. Radikaa will be playing the role of Simbu's mother in this rural action drama, whose story has been written by acclaimed writer Jeyamohan.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a viral infection"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","home","home","home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Silambarasan","Silambarasan","Silambarasan","Silambarasan","Silambarasan"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Brian Manning back home...spends first anniversary in quarantine","document":"San Fernando East Member of Parliament Brian Manning spent his first wedding anniversary at home under quarantine with his wife. Manning, who was hospitalised after contracting Covid-19, was discharged last Friday. In a telephone interview on Tuesday, he told the Express he was doing well and working from home while quarantined. His wife, media executive Shelly Dass, who also tested positive for Covid-19 and spent time recovering at home, was on the mend. Both are fully vaccinated. On Sunday, they celebrated their first anniversary as a married couple. Manning said it was a quiet day. “We were very happy and very grateful that we were spending our first anniversary together and that we are both on the road to recovery. It was a good time, all things considered.” Updating on his health, Manning said: “I’m doing well, everything is great. I’m in quarantine, getting some rest, working from home and just ensuring that our constituency events are executed as planned and also several of the things ...the Ministry of Finance ... we want to wrap up before the end of the year…I’m doing everything to stay on top of the responsibilities I have, even though I’m home recovering.” Unsure of outcome without vaccine Manning, who has no comorbidities, said he was surprised that he had to be admitted to hospital. “My breathing became very shallow and that’s really what alerted us to maybe I should check myself in and that’s what I did,” said the Minister in the Ministry of Finance. Manning, who spent days at Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility, described the medical staff as extremely professional. “I really appreciated the work that they did while I was there. I had an opportunity to visit the intensive care unit and it was really a harrowing experience and the one thing I would want to say to everyone is please get vaccinated. “Vaccination is supposed to work on modifying your immune system to make you better resist the effects of the virus and, without that support, there are some people who just are not going to survive...The stark reality is that you need to do something to protect yourself because you never know. Some people may get the virus and get over it in a few days and be fine, other people won’t, whether you have comorbidities or not,” he added. “If I weren’t vaccinated, I don’t know what the outcome would have been and the numbers show that persons who are unvaccinated are far more likely to die if ever they were to acquire this virus. So please take care of yourselves and your loved ones.” While there are those who said Manning would have been treated better than others while at the hospital, he said: “I’m pretty sure that all of the medical professionals there are doing all they can to assist everyone that they can and I’m not aware of any special treatment.” Manning said since his discharge from the medical institution he has been doing breathing exercises. And he was grateful for the outpouring of love, concern and prayers he and his wife received from the national community during what he described as a challenging time.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","home","home","home","Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["the medical staff"]},{"role":"Date","values":["last Friday"]},{"role":"People","values":["Brian Manning","Shelly Dass"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["get vaccinated"]}]}
+{"title":"Dog Recovering After Being Attacked by Coyotes in San Francisco","document":"“The coyotes just came out of the shadows. Literally they just walked out from behind cars. Roscoe started chasing them and one of them started going fast and I said ‘Roscoe, come here,'” Przybyl said. Przybyl added that Roscoe was grabbed and taken away by the pack of four coyotes. Her boyfriend Tim ran them down and he barely caught up. “[Tim] was clapping, screaming saying stop. Then the coyote just ended up dropping [Roscoe] and just stood over Roscoe and Tim went and just grabbed him,” she said. The couple then took a Lyft to a 24-Hour Oakland emergency clinic, where Roscoe was treated for six puncture wounds on his neck. Przybyl reported the incident and Roscoe is now recovering at home. The San Francisco Animal Care and Control tweeted out an alert to “keep dogs on a leash and cats indoors in areas where coyotes are active.” Coyotes are common in San Francisco, but NBC Bay Area has done stories this past year about how they appear to be coming closer to humans. One was spotted casually sitting in the middle of the San Francisco Botanical Garden in June. Officials at the Coyote Project have said when humans illegally feed the coyotes, it encourages them to approach other people and it doesn’t help. Przybyl said that she’s happy Roscoe is still alive. “I’ve had him for so long and to see something like that happen, I really thought that was it and I’m happy it wasn’t. Very lucky to still have him,” she said.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["six puncture wounds on his neck"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["a 24-Hour Oakland emergency clinic","home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe","Roscoe"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Volunteers build ramp for 4 siblings recovering at home after Waukesha parade","document":"Nearly three weeks after the tragedy at the Waukesha Christmas parade, volunteers are hard at work building a wheelchair ramp at Dylan Yourell's home. Posted at 10:25 PM, Dec 10, 2021 and last updated 2021-12-10 23:25:54-05 WAUKESHA, Wis. — Nearly three weeks after the tragedy at the Waukesha Christmas parade, volunteers are hard at work building a wheelchair ramp at Dylan Yourell's home. Yourell's four children were walking in the parade together when they were hurt. Some were hospitalized for several days. Thankfully, all four have been back home for some time now. Yourell's four children were walking in the parade together when they were hurt. Their mother tells News they are taking it day by day. Yourell stressed his story is one of many people's that day. \"My story is just one, but my story is including finding two of my daughters on the road,\" Yourell said. It's been a challenging few weeks for the family, but Yourell says he's choosing to focus on how the community has rushed to help. TMJ4 Volunteers build a ramp for four siblings recovering at home after the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. \"From law enforcement, from the people that were taking children in their vehicles and taking them immediately that they could not wait, and one of those situations included my son, so it does hold a personal note,\" Yourell said. \"I just want to say thank you to everyone that was helping and being good on that day. Truly, I felt it coming up that road.\" Yourell's 8-year-old-son, Grayson, will need a wheel chair for a little while. Volunteers have already built a ramp at his mother's home, and they hope the ramp at his father's home will be finished in a few weeks. \"Picture-frame decking and stainless steel horizontal railings,\" said builder Brock Held. \"That's what he deserves after what he's gone through.\" TMJ4 Volunteers build a ramp for four siblings recovering at home after the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. Yourell lives around the corner from the parade route and down the street from where the suspect was caught. He hopes the ramp in front of his home will serve as a symbol of Waukesha uniting in this tough time. \"I also believe it will be for anyone coming down this street, down this road, seeing this kind of epic thing, going into the Five Points, knowing that the community has come together, that good is battling evil,\" Yourell said. \"I think that is important.\"","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Yourell's four children","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell's four children","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell","Yourell"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["need a wheel chair for a little while"]}]}
+{"title":"Simon Bridges' injured son now recovering at home, behaving like 'a very old man'","document":"Simon Bridges on The AM Show with David Parker. Simon Bridges' son, badly injured in a playground accident at school, is now recovering at home. Seven-year-old Harry was rushed to Starship Hospital on December 2, suffering a torn liver and internal bleeding after an accident on a swing. As a result, Bridges missed that day's announcement he'd become the National Party's new finance spokesperson. A few days later Harry was well enough to be cracking jokes , and speaking to The AM Show on Friday, Bridges said Harry is now doing \"great\". \"He's here at home. I just want to be hugely thankful to you and others who have sent well-wishes, Starship Hospital.\" ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a torn liver and internal bleeding"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","Starship Hospital","Starship Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Harry","Harry","Harry"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"'I wanted to be left alone': Laurens De Plus returned to his parent's home to recover from viral fatigue","document":"Laurens De Plus says he \"wanted to be left alone\" while he recovered from 'viral fatigue' during most of 2021. De Plus, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers , hasn't actually raced a kilometre for the British registered team since April 10 at the Tour of the Basque Country where he did not finish on the sixth stage. The 26-year-old Belgian returned home to re-cooperate and to try and recover from his nagging hip injury as well as the fatigue that turned out to be caused by the leftovers of an unnamed virus. Where is it we all go when unwell? Our parents, if we can. And that's what De Plus did. \"Honestly? I wanted to be left alone,” De Plus told Belgian media, reported Wielerflits . \"Messages from fellow riders? I did get them, but I didn't answer them. A little selfish at the time, but a good friend understands. \"I desperately needed that rest. And some nest heat. So I went back to live with my parents. My brother and parents gave me peace and energy. And every few days I was in contact with the Ineos team management. It was amazing how I got there and still am supported.\" De Plus said that Ineos has taken great care of him while he has been recovering adding \"no team in the world takes better care of its riders than Ineos.\" In 2019, De Plus was a vital cog for his then Jumbo-Visma team-mate, Primož Roglič but in 2020 he suffered a bad crash, injuring his hip, seeing him not race again after April. This year was similar, only he managed a few more races for Ineos before the break. The ambition hasn't left De Plus but he says that keeping a low profile and getting enjoyment back is the priority. \"The road for the coming years has been mapped out, but I'm not going to explain it here. I hope you will understand that. I don't know yet where I will compete again. We will decide that last minute. But I'm initially aiming for smaller stage races. No competitions like Paris-Nice. That's for later. \"Having fun again is the first goal. I will probably start riding bigger races again towards the summer. Maybe even a Grand Tour. But I want to show the necessary flexibility in the first few months. \"Out of fear of relapse? No, not really. Rather because I want to maintain a low profile. That's how I was at my best in the past. The less pressure, the better I function. I don't feel like running past myself.\" Tim Bonville-Ginn Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs! I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France. It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather. After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories. When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular. My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["nagging hip injury","the fatigue that turned out to be caused by the leftovers of an unnamed virus"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Laurens De Plus"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Bentonville man home recovering after fall while setting up annual Christmas display","document":"BENTONVILLE, Ark. ( KNWA/KFTA ) — A Bentonville man known for his yearly family Christmas light display is at home recovering after an accident that left him in the ICU for nearly a month. Mark Valentine and his family decorate their house for the holidays every year to raise money for multiple sclerosis research, but this year they could use a little help of their own. Valentine fell off an 18-foot ladder while hanging a wreath for the light display and was rushed to the hospital with 10 broken ribs and a collapsed lung. After almost a month in the hospital, he said glad to be home but he is looking forward to being able to get back to meeting those who are visiting their Bentonville Heart Lites display. “This weekend I was just trying to stay in the house and kind of be quiet and I’m not even having visitors just to try to start getting my strength back. I’m hoping that next weekend and Christmas weekend, we’ll actually be able to be out and talk to visitors while the display is running,” Valentine said. Now, a GoFundMe page has raised over $33,000 to help cover the cost of medical expenses. This year was already scheduled to be the display’s last run due to how quickly it’s expanded, but with the outpouring of support from the community it’s become one to remember. “I just want to thank everybody for their support and their love,” said Mark’s wife Crystal. “The prayers, everything has been a true blessing.” The Bentonville Heart Lites will be open until New Year’s Eve from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10:30 Friday and Saturday.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["10 broken ribs"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home","home","ICU"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Mark Valentine"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Dog run over on the M19 finds a new home after recovering","document":"Basil has been adopted by a special family and is looking forward to being spoilt by them. Dog run over on the M19 finds a new home after recovering DURBAN – The Kloof and Highway SPCA said Christmas came early for Buddy Loadshedding, now known as Basil, who has gone to his new family. Basil was rescued on the M19 after he was hit by a car. Kloof and Highway SPCA manager Barbara Patrick said Basil’s prognosis was not great, and members of the public immediately started fundraising for him. Basil was rescued on the M19 after he was hit by a car. “I phoned Dr Steve Wimberley at Westville Veterinary Hospital and he said they would help us,” Patrick said. “Thanks to the incredible team at Westville Veterinary Hospital who did his operation and took extra good care of him, to all the generous donors who contributed to his medical care… and to Andreas Mathios and other members of the public who stopped on the M19 to help.” Dramatic M19 rescue for Buddy Loadshedding Basil was rescued on the M19 after he was hit by a car. Picture: Supplied Patrick said Inspectors Petros Simamane and Petra Abrams responded to the call immediately, and rushed Basil to the SPCA clinic where he was stabilised overnight before being transferred to Westville Veterinary Hospital. “Basil has been adopted by a special family and is looking forward to being spoilt by them,” Patrick said. She also thanked everyone for making her Christmas happier. When Basil was run down, Marshall Security spokesperson Andreas Mathios said Marshall Security’s community support team on route to a call-out in the La Lucia area spotted a dog that had been hit by a car on the M19 freeway, just outside of Pinetown. The dog was in a serious condition. He said the Kloof and Highway SPCA were notified and dispatched to the scene. On Thursday, Mathios said he was absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the community that came together to donate funds towards the dogs welfare. “The fact that it found a home is also very touching given the circumstances that that dog was on death row seconds before I arrived,” Mathios said. “What amazes me the most is how people who did not know each other came together on that specific day to help this animal and for me that is the most touching part about helping animals and rescuing them from such a fate. That dog’s life would have ended within minutes had it not been for people coming together at the right place at the right time and I am just so happy that the dog has found a happy ever after home,” Mathios said. He said what also stood out for him was the way the Westville vet, the staff and everybody rallied around the dog to make sure that in the best interest of the dog, the right decisions were made at the right time. “It was never about the money, but the love for the animal that was seconds away from being taken out by the traffic that was arriving around that corner that morning on the M19 when I was on my way to work,” Mathios said. He added that during the Covid-19 pandemic where funds were already stretched, businesses and individuals came together to make sure that the best outcome for the dog was made available.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":null},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Westville Veterinary Hospital","Westville Veterinary Hospital","SPCA clinic"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["team at Westville Veterinary Hospital","Dr Steve Wimberley"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Basil","Basil","Basil","Basil","Basil","Basil","Basil","Basil"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Recovered Covid-19 patients in S’pore tell their stories","document":"The Delta strain currently accounts for nearly all cases in Singapore. Three former patients tell ST health correspondent Linette Lai about their experiences of being diagnosed with the virus. Woman found out she had Covid-19 six hours before she planned to give birth Six hours before Ms Poh Wen Ching was due to undergo a caesarean section for the birth of her second child, she got a call at midnight delivering some bad news. A routine pre-admission test at Thomson Medical had found her and her husband positive for Covid-19, derailing their plans to deliver the baby girl on Sept 23. The couple also have a two-year-old daughter. Initially, I thought it was a joke. She panicked. I saw tears coming from her eyes... I woke my entire family up. Mr Lee Shao Hao Ms Poh’s husband They live with his parents, who are fully vaccinated. Ms Poh, an accounts executive, had decided to get vaccinated only in August – about six weeks before she was due to give birth – after reading an article about a pregnant woman in Malaysia who had died of Covid-19. The 29-year-old had both doses before she tested positive. “Everyone told us not to do it. A lot of people said she should finish the confinement, then go for it, since she was already near the end of her third trimester,” recounted Mr Lee, 32. “But for us, our question was: ‘What if we don’t take it and something happens?’” They also looked up articles on whether vaccination was safe for pregnant women, and consulted their gynaecologist who gave them the green light. Throughout the course of Ms Poh’s pregnancy, the family took extreme precautions to keep themselves safe. These included taking showers immediately after coming back from running even simple errands, such as collecting letters or buying food. Ms Poh Wen Ching with her husband Mr Lee Shao Hao and their two children at their home on Oct 14, 2021. ST After the couple were found to have the virus, the rest of the family got themselves tested. They ended up testing positive, but experienced only mild symptoms that subsided after three days. Their daughter – the only one not vaccinated because of her age – had a fever that lasted five days, as well as a cough and runny nose that persisted for around 10 days. In the 48 hours after that midnight call, the family barely slept as they waited for confirmation on what would happen next. At the time, the home recovery programme, introduced as a pilot scheme on Aug 30 and expanded to more patients on Sept 15, was still new and plagued by some issues. More On This Topic If mum gets Covid-19, will the unborn baby get it too? Ms Poh was eventually taken alone to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) on Sept 24, as the Health Ministry requires women in her situation to either recover at home or be taken to a public hospital. The caesarean section was carried out on Sept 28, after doctors determined she was no longer infectious. Although she was allowed to hold the newborn, the rest of her family could meet her only after Oct 2, when their 10-day quarantine was over. Mr Lee was also quarantined at home. The baby was not tested for Covid-19 as KKH told the family there was no need for it. “Vaccination for pregnant ladies is very important,” said Mr Lee, who is co-founder of media site Sure Boh Singapore. “It’s really very fortunate that we went ahead to do it.” He urged others to mentally prepare themselves to deal with Covid-19, adding that much of his initial fear arose because he had not done so. “For the first 24 hours, I was at a loss,” he recalled. “If you prep for it, it will be shocking – but not to the extent that you don’t know what to do and develop severe anxiety.” Woman who gave birth in isolation ward urges others to get Covid-19 vaccine He also hopes that his experience will help reduce the stigma of being diagnosed with Covid-19. His father, a mechanic, had clients cancel on him even after he had recovered, as they were afraid of contracting the virus. His older daughter was also allowed to return to school only around 20 days after being infected with the virus, as a precautionary measure. “There’s a social stigma. If you test positive, people look at you differently,” added Mr Lee. “A lot of people are still very afraid... We have to be careful, but we don’t have to be so afraid – we have to know what to do.” • Over 85% of pregnant women who are hospitalised due to Covid-19 are not fully vaccinated. • About 20% of this group required oxygen supplementation, while 10 per cent required high dependency and intensive care. • As at Oct 1, no vaccinated pregnant woman has required oxygen or intensive care. Mental health affected When Madam Umma, 50, came down with a fever on July 7 – two days after her first dose of the vaccine – she assumed it was just a side effect of the shot. But over the next few days, as her family members began developing a fever one after another, she knew something was wrong. The housewife’s household of nine tested positive for Covid-19. Only her fully vaccinated 92-year-old father was spared. “At that time, the number of community cases was very low, in the single digits,” said Madam Umma, who declined to give her full name. “So when we got it, we were very shocked.” The family – most of whom were either unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated – ended up in different hospitals. This was before the home recovery programme was implemented. Madam Umma, along with her husband, mother and son-in-law, spent most of their recovery time in the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. Her two grandchildren – aged five and three – were taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, along with their mother and domestic helper. Meanwhile, her father was taken to a hotel for quarantine. All their symptoms were relatively mild, with most of the family experiencing only a fever that faded after a day. The children were asymptomatic.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19","Covid-19"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital","Hospital","hospital","hospital","different hospitals","Children’s Hospital (KKH)","hospital","KKH","Hospital","a hotel"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["the family","family","family","family","family","family","family","The family","family","Ms Poh Wen Ching","Ms Poh Wen Ching","Madam Umma","Madam Umma","Madam Umma"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Girl, 13, critical, second teen injured after shooting inside North Philly home, police say","document":"A 13-year-old girl is in critical condition, while a second teen is recovering after a North Philadelphia shooting. PHILADELPHIA - A 13-year-old girl is in critical condition, while a 17-year-old male is recovering after a shooting inside a home in North Philadelphia. The shooting happened at approximately 11:30 a.m. when police responded to reports of a shooting on the 900 block of North 11th Street. Police say a 13-year-old girl sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and is in critical condition. It appeared her injury went through her front and out of her back. A 17-year-old male was shot at least once in the arm and is in stable condition. Both were rushed to Temple University Hospital. The mother of the 13-year-old victim, Charda Brown, says she sent her daughter to school Wednesday morning, as she would any other day. She has no idea how her daughter ended up shot in a home in North Philadelphia. \"It’s definitely a wake-up call for me. It’s definitely a wake-up call for the whole family and I’m pretty sure it’s a wake-up call for my baby girl and I’m pretty sure her decisions will be different after this,\" said Brown. Detectives said there was the possibility of video, but they hadn't recovered video of the shooting. They were also interviewing witnesses. There were no adults on the scene, according to officials. \"At this time, we're really not sure who we're looking for and how many people that may be,\" an official told FOX 29. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["shot at least once in the arm"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Temple University Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["17-year-old male"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Rehab centre in Thane sees more patients in 25-45 yrs age group recovered from Covid visiting it","document":"Rehab centre in Thane sees more patients in 25-45 yrs age group recovered from Covid visiting it Following the second wave, those between 25 and 45 years have been mostly seen visiting the post-Covid rehabilitation centre; the main aim of this centre in Majiwada, Thane, is the physical and mental well-being of patients who have recovered from Covid A patient being put through simple exercises at the rehab centre in Thane. The patients in 25-45 yrs age group who have recovered from Covid form a large portion of those visiting the centre for follow-up and counselling. Since its inception more than a year ago, more than 2,000 patients have been treated at the post-Covid care and rehabilitation centre in Thane till now. The second wave subsided months ago. However, people affected in this wave continue to deal with Covid-related complications, claim the doctors. In the first wave, the patients who sought help were mostly between 40 years and 60 years. However, post the second wave, those between 25 years and 45 years have been mostly seen visiting the post-Covid rehabilitation centre. The main aim of this centre situated at Lodha Luxuria in Majiwada is the physical and mental well-being of those who have recovered from Covid. Most recovered patients visit for yoga sessions at the rehabilitation centre. They also focus on breathing and building one’s strength. “After the second wave, 60% of the patients who visited here were for breathlessness and hardly 2% had lung fibrosis. Moreover, there were 20% who faced severe joint pains and another 20% who required counselling. The most common issues among post-Covid difficulties were palpitation and panting. We suggest yoga, lung physiotherapy and basic exercises for the body,” said Dr Mansi Doiphode, medical officer and in-charge of the post-Covid rehabilitation centre. For a 34-year-old Kalyan resident, the joint pain had not subsided even three months after recovering from Covid. He came all the way to Thane’s post-Covid rehabilitation centre and was suggested some simple exercises and physiotherapy. On following them regularly, along with basic medications, he has noted some improvement. “We have been treating such patients with orthopaedic-related issues. Even those who recovered a few months back are facing joint pains. This could also be because of the winter and the dip in temperature. We suggest some exercises and, if needed, basic medications for them to recover. In some cases, calcium and multi-vitamin medicines have also helped them to recover,” said Dr Mahesh Mhatre, orthopaedic, post-Covid rehabilitation centre. The centre also saw senior citizens who were staying alone and who found it difficult to manage daily chores and routines on their own after recovering from Covid. “One such case was of a 65-year-old Thane resident who also had asthma and found it very difficult to cope with post-Covid breathing problems. We suggested simple exercises that could be done at home to enhance the lungs’ capacity. Only every fortnight he would visit the centre and gradually he started finding it easier to cope,” added Dr Mhatre. As the sexagenarian stayed with his spouse on the third floor of his house with no lift, daily chores and even a visit to the doctor involved climbing and descending three floors. It would leave him panting and breathless even after three months post-Covid infection. He visited the post-Covid centre and based on the breathing exercises prescribed, he has now recovered and is able to manage his daily chores without support. As the virus affects the lungs and lowers the immunity, pulmonary physiotherapy to strengthen the lungs along with regular exercises and proper diet help revive one’s body. There are designated doctors for the same who guide those visiting the centre. Moreover, many find it difficult to cope up after being in isolation for long periods. There are counsellors who help such individuals as well. “We have noticed that in many instances, people who are working from home and have tested positive for Covid have led to Covid-related anxiety. This is often because they are confined to a single room, feel lonely, and hence are vulnerable to emotional upheaval. Medication is not the only solution in such cases. Hence, we recommend some kind of physical activity to encourage the mind. Also, we have counselling sessions at least once a week,” added Doiphode. With a gradual dip in cases, a part of the centre has now been converted to a vaccination centre. Moreover, patients visit with prior appointments. The yoga and counselling sessions are currently available only on call or prior appointment.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","Covid"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Thane’s post-Covid rehabilitation centre","post","Covid rehabilitation centre"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["post-Covid breathing problems","post","joint pain","joint pain","joint pain","palpitation and panting","panting"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["Dr Mahesh Mhatre"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["a 65-year-old Thane resident","year","Kalyan"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["simple exercises and physiotherapy","simple exercises","physiotherapy","simple exercises","physiotherapy","yoga, lung physiotherapy and basic exercises","yoga","yoga","simple exercises","basic medications","basic medications","counselling sessions at least once a week","counselling sessions"]}]}
+{"title":"New Mexico reports first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant","document":"NMDOH says the woman was released from an emergency room and is recovering at home. Omicron has now been found in at least 30 states and more than 60 countries. Health officials say Omicron appears to spread faster than the delta variant but may not cause as severe an illness. The department says Omicron has been identified as a variant of concern by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC describes a variant of concern as “A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (for example, increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Omicron","Omicron","Omicron"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["the woman"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Video of Cat Recovering From a Cold in Home Spa Has Internet in Stitches: 'Catatonic'","document":"You may have been relaxed before, but have you ever been as chilled out as a certain cat in a recent viral video? In footage, posted to Reddit by user Sunshineandhomicide, a white fluffy feline can be seen enjoying the benefits of a makeshift home spa. In the 14-second-long clip, which can be viewed here, the cat has a warm compress, consisting of brown hand towel, covering his eyes and the pet is swaddled in a soft blanket. Cat Has the Time of Its Life Getting a Massage in Adorable Video Calming music plays softly in the background as the cat, clearly enjoying the pampering, lies still as his little tongue pokes out. Sunshineandhomicide explained the situation in the caption of the video, writing: \"My cat got a cold and the vet recommended a warm compress for his eyes. I think he's enjoying his spa time.\" Although cats cannot catch colds from humans, according to Hillcrest Animal Hospital's website they can get a \"upper respiratory infection (URI) caused by bacteria or a virus.\" This includes symptoms such as sneezing, sniffing, watery eyes, runny nose and mild fever. My cat got a cold and the vet recommended a warm compress for his eyes. I think he’s enjoying his spa time. from aww The website reveals that among other treatments they \"need to stay warm, so place an extra blanket in their bed or favorite area to curl up.\" This could explain the warm compress solution. The hilarious footage has gained lots of traction on the site since it was shared on November 16, having received more than 129,000 upvotes. Additionally, more than 1,600 people have headed to the comments section to share their opinions on the video. One Reddit user, Sorciere_rousse, wrote: \"It's hard to watch this cat live out my dreams.\" Another person, Omarmad123, added: \"Cat is in the avatar state. Don't disturb him.\" Capt_Hawkeye_Pierce shared: \"My 7yo [7-year-old] dorkus does this, but with my hand. He jams his face into my hand to cover his eyes, make a goofy face and then falls asleep.\"","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["cold","cold"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":["vet","vet"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["My cat","cat","Cat","cat","cat","cat","Cat"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["a warm compress for his eyes","warm compress","a warm compress for his eyes"]}]}
+{"title":"'My recovery is down to the emergency services': Darren raises €31k for Air Ambulance service","document":"While he was recovering at home, he decided to organise a 60km fundraising cycle for the service. The 31-year-old suffered injuries to his head and face and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital after crashing his bike near Schull in July. A WEST Cork man has raised more than €30,000 for the Irish Community Air Ambulance, just 10 weeks after being involved in a serious cycling accident. Darren Lynch, who is from Caheragh, was inspired to organise the Friends of the Air Ambulance Charity Cycle after crashing his bike near Schull in July. The 31-year-old suffered injuries to his head and face and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital by the charity-funded Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Air Ambulance on the day. While he was recovering at home, he decided to organise a 60km fundraising cycle for the service in Skibbereen, which 140 people took part in on October 2. Altogether, the event raised over €31,450 for future air ambulance missions. Darren Lynch from Caheragh presenting a cheque for €31,457 to Irish Community Air Ambulance key relationships manager Lorraine Toner. Mr Lynch recently presented the cheque to the Irish Community Air Ambulance base in Rathcoole and thanked the rescuers. “It was really important for me to turn what could have easily been a negative situation into a positive one,” he said. “I believe my recovery is down to all the emergency services who treated me that day and this fundraiser is a way of saying thanks to them. I was one of five incidents that the helicopter responded to that day in July which really puts into perspective how important this service is. “The cycle was a great success and I would like to thank the participants, over 60 volunteers, supporters, kind sponsors, friends, and family that helped to make the day possible.” The money raised will fund nine future air ambulance missions, which cost the Cork-based service around €3,500 each to complete. Speaking after the presentation of the cheque, CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance Mícheál Sheridan thanked all of those who took part in the cycle. “I want to say a big thank you to Darren Lynch, his supporters, the cyclists, and the entire community in West Cork for arranging such a fantastic event,” he said. “Darren and his friends took on the challenge of organising a major fundraising cycle just weeks after he was injured in a similar event. We’re often called to cycling incidents in remote locations like West Cork and it is great to meet former patients and see them doing so well. “We’re not government funded so we rely on donations and fundraisers like this to bring hope to people in emergency situations.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["injuries to his head and face","injuries to his head and face"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Cork University Hospital","Cork University Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Darren Lynch","Darren Lynch","Darren Lynch"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Adams County woman comes home after battling COVID for 9 months","document":" HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) — Julie Brown spent nearly nine months in several hospitals recovering from covid. She was released from the Pa. Health Rehab Hospital in Hummelstown on Tuesday afternoon. Weis Markets offering COVID boosters to all adults She was admitted last February, before the vaccine roll-out. “I tested positive and tried to fight it at home, but was sent to the hospital when I began to have oxygen problems,” Brown said. “A short time after, I was in the ICU and on a ventilator.” Brown says she was told that she may need lung transplant surgery. “That was stressful. We know the survival rate is very low, so we kept at it, and we didn’t need to get it done.” Brown says staff at all five hospitals were a support system that she never imagined. “They did their jobs as medical professionals and the nurses and therapists are underrated,” Brown said. “They are there for you to talk to and they help you mentally and physically get past some dark and uncertain days.” Julie was greeted at her home by friends and family members. She will require homecare services and ongoing therapy, but she says she is looking forward to stuffed cabbage as her first meal when she sits down at the dinner table for the first time in nine months.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["covid","COVID"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["Pa. Health Rehab Hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday afternoon"]},{"role":"People","values":["Julie Brown"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["lung transplant surgery"]}]}
+{"title":"Mother, toddler daughter killed in house fire; father recovering from burns","document":"“Units started a fire attack at that point and initiated search and rescue efforts, at which point we located two occupants of the home, which we brought out and turned over to metro EMS for treatment,” Champion said. Taylor Hammonds, 24, and her 14-month-old daughter, Lennon Hammond, died from smoke inhalation. Hammonds was a teacher at Pine Log Elementary School. Husband and father Brady Hammonds was taken to the hospital to be treated for burns. “Our thoughts and prayers are going out to the family, and due to the circumstance, this was just a very bad situation,” Champion said. Neighbors said the family just recently moved into the home. “It’s horrible. Horrible. Just breaks your heart this time of year. Any time of year. I can’t believe it,” Chovanec said. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The Bartow County school system released a statement about Hammonds’ death: “REMEMBERING OUR OWN: Calm, gentle, and patient; they’re all characteristics that made Taylor Hammonds an extraordinary special needs pre-kindergarten paraprofessional at Pine Log Elementary School. Her unexpected passing instantly left a void in her classroom and school community that can never be filled. “She was a young mother and loved her daughter, Lennon, more than anything,” said Sharon Hibberts, Hammonds’ friend and colleague. “I think her strong maternal instincts helped her with her relationships with the pre-K children.” “Taylor was so good at what she did,” added Jannell Atkins, another close friend and colleague. “Being a natural nurturer to these sweet kids and our team is what completed our team. Taylor loved these kids as her own.” Hammonds, an Adairsville High School graduate, had roots in Bartow County and quickly found her second home at PLES this year when she was offered the paraprofessional position. PLES Principal Tracey Alford remembers her sweet, soft-spoken demeanor and unconditional kindness. If there was a need, she jumped in to help without asking. Those closest to her say, “To know Taylor was such a special treat.” “We loved her and quickly became close to her,” said Hibberts. “She will be missed, but we all know she is where she would have wanted to be...with her baby girl.” Four extra counselors helped staff care centers Monday morning at PLES, so students and staff had extra support during this difficult time. Additional resources will be available as needed throughout the week.”","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["burns"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Brady Hammonds"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Kamloops mom seeks Christmas cards for son still recovering from 2016 baseball bat attack","document":"Jessie, however, has had a much more significant sentence, she said. He suffered catastrophic injuries to his skull and face, requiring that his skull be surgically replaced. He was in a coma for more than 10 months, had 11 surgeries, and had to learn how to eat and speak again. He’s even had to re-learn how to joke around and laugh. But he will never walk again. “I’m inspired by Jessie, absolutely inspired since Day 1 with him. He’s fought to live, to be here with us,” she said. “He said he fought for me. I’m just lucky he’s here.” Kamloops teen in hospital with life threatening injuries Kamloops teen in hospital with life threatening injuries – Jun 21, 2016 So Simpson fights for him in different ways, all the time. In recent months, she’s been working to make her home a safe place. In March, she plans to bring him home for the first time since the attack, and has spent months investing in everything from ramps and a safer, screened-in porch, to a van. She’s also planned to bring in the medical support he needs. Story continues below advertisement Until then, though, he’s still in the care home. To help lighten his mood, Simpson is turning to her hometown, Kelowna, in the hope of bringing her son some Christmas cheer. “I’m asking for some cards,” she said. “Jessie loves people. He’s a huge people person and cards are a way to cheer him up.” She did the same last year and said the cards, with personal stories penned inside from points across North America, would make him laugh and smile. She said she knows people often want to give gifts and said they are appreciated. She also has a GoFundMe up and running to help with the transition ahead. She’s also started a “Justice for Jesse” sticker campaign. She’s hoping one day, she can make it so that people who do what was done to her son face a more significant penalty.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["catastrophic injuries to his skull and face","his skull and face"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["care home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Kamloops","Kamloops"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["his skull be surgically replaced"]}]}
+{"title":"Public safety officer now recovering after a shootout on Georgia Ave.","document":" NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF) – 15-year veteran, Lt. Aaron Fittery suffered a gunshot wound to the leg following a shootout on Georgia Avenue. Chief of Police, John Thomas says he’s back home and now recovering. The suspect, 42-year-old, Thomas Arrington, has been arrested and is charged with attempted murder. Those charges could pile up as the investigation unfolds. Gunshots erupting last night following a collision on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta. “It was very, very loud, there were so many,” said Jessica Boyd. Jessica Boyd is the owner of Air Workshop in North Augusta. Her store is just a few feet away from where the shooting happened. She and another employee saw everything unfold. “We saw the black truck go by and then it was a line of SUV’s that stopped out in front. Then the police officers jumped out of the car, they all had their guns and were already ducking for cover,” said Boyd. Boyd was able to see it all from her storefront window. When she saw the guns come out she and the other employee ran to the back of the store and locked the doors. “I was concerned for myself, my employees, for everybody in this area, but I think they did a fantastic job,” said Boyd. The bullet holes left in Lt. Fittery’s cruiser tells only part of the story. Boyd says there were dozens of evidence markers where casings were found. Chief of Police North Augusta Public Safety, John Thomas says the suspect 42-year-old Thomas Airrington led police on a chase after a resident called in suspicious activity. “We in turn spotted the vehicle and obviously tried to attempt to stop that vehicle. The suspect fled in the vehicle which caused a collision,” said Chief of Police John Thomas. That crash was at the intersection of Martintown Rd and Georgia Ave. Chief Thomas he does not know the conditions of the people involved in that accident. “The suspect continues down Georgia Ave. and exits the truck and as you have seen and heard from the previous report shots were fired so at that point he opened fire on our officers,” said Chief Thomas. Chief Thomas is calling it a miracle that no one else was hurt, but there was some concern from people who live nearby about their safety after being involved in the crossfire. “A couple officers were involved in returning fire to the suspects, but I think you have to understand to the training and restraint that I talked about during that time of day. You know a lot of people talked about what happened here, but we have to look beyond the sights of a gun we have to look at what’s in our view what’s in our vision what kind of crossfire we’re going to get into, so my hats off and kudos to our department,” said Chief Thomas. North Augusta Public safety is asking for the person who took Lt. Fittery to the hospital to come forward. Police officials say, Arrington, the suspect, had an extensive criminal background. We’re still gathering more information on that. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["a gunshot wound"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["home"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Lt. Aaron Fittery","Lt","Lt"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"What to do when post-Covid symptoms linger months after recovery","document":"As several cases of 'long covid syndrome' have been reported, doctors recommend covid patients to closely watch their symptoms post-recovery, follow a healthy diet and try going back to their usual routine to prevent psychological problems While the transmission rate of coronavirus is extremely high, such is not the case of symptoms that patients experience post-Covid. It’s been over a month since Senaara Ailawadi tested positive for Covid-19 , however, her symptoms remain. From extreme fatigue, breathlessness to wheezing and coughing, the 28-year-old has continued to experience prolonged post-Covid symptoms making it difficult for her to return to a normal lifestyle. After contracting the disease in November last year, Ailawadi developed the symptoms of the coronavirus again in April and began treatment. “I was exposed to a Covid positive person and was isolating to monitor my symptoms. The fever spiked to 103 twice and then stayed constant at 99 for a few days,” she told the indianexpress.com . However, even after 17 days of taking the necessary precautions and medication, Ailawadi continued to show covid symptoms. “I felt heaviness in my chest with cough, cold and fatigue with a consistently high pulse rate, even when I was in a resting state,” she said. ALSO READ | What happens if the gap between two COVID-19 vaccine doses exceeds? Similar prolonged symptoms were also experienced by 29-year-old Neha Rajpal, who tested positive for Covid on April 16. Post-recovery, Rajpal has continued to complain of “lingering cough and weakness”. What Ailawadi and Rajpal experienced is being termed “long COVID syndrome “, where a Covid patient continues to show symptoms even post-recovery and can last over six months. According to Dr Vikas Maurya, Director and HOD, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, patients with moderate to severe symptoms have a higher tendency of experiencing post-COVID symptoms. “Patients may experience post-COVID symptoms such as extreme fatigue, headache, muscular pain, or some may experience cardiac problems also,” Maurya told indianexpress.com. However, in the majority of cases, patients are recovering without any post-COVID symptoms, he added. Patients who recovered at home with mild to moderate disease may continue to expect early fatigue, muscle pains. What post-COVID symptoms to expect? As several cases of ‘long covid syndrome’ have been reported, doctors recommend covid patients to closely watch their symptoms post-recovery, follow a healthy diet and try going back to their usual routine to prevent psychological problems. Moreover, it is also suggested to pay close attention to Mucormycosis or black fungus infection, which is being detected in various post-recovery Covid patients. Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection being detected among Covid-19 patients . The disease often manifests in the skin and affects the lungs and the brain. According to Dr Reshma Tewari, Director Critical care, Artemis Hospitals Gurgaon, patients who recovered at home with mild to moderate disease may continue to expect early fatigue, muscle pains. However, they must watch out for signs of Mucormycosis such as pain or swelling around the eye, cheekbone or lower jaw and connect with a doctor immediately “Patients who are still in hospital on ventilatory support or O2 support even after becoming negative would need continued hospital care till they improve. They would be at high risk for secondary infections, multi-organ failure and mucormycosis,” she added. ALSO READ | Doctor recommends this pranayam for COVID patients to keep lungs healthy Isolating while experiencing post-COVID symptoms While the transmission rate of coronavirus is extremely high, such is not the case of symptoms that patients experience post-Covid. Experts do not recommend isolation after testing negative and instead encourage resuming regular, daily activities. “Since the patient has already recovered from COVID, even if someone is experiencing post-COVID symptoms, isolation is not required. In order to overcome the psychological issues, it is better to start normalising regular activities post-recovery,” says Dr Maurya. However, Dr Tewari recommends up to 14 days of isolation for patients with moderate disease who received steroids and/or O2 therapy at home. When experiencing post-COVID symptoms or recovering from COVID, when can a patient resume normal activity? Experts do not recommend isolation after testing negative and instead encourage resuming regular, daily activities. As the virus affects each individual differently, Dr Tewari suggests that resuming activity depends on the nature of symptoms and complications of the virus. “If at home with fatigue, muscle pain patient needs to give more time and accept extended convalescence.” In agreement, Dr Maurya suggests that a patient can definitely follow their usual routine even during their isolation. “For example, if a person used to exercise regularly, he/she can do it at home even during isolation. A patient can start his/her office work slowly post isolation. But how much they are affected, that factor is very much important.” Vaccination post-COVID With the second wave of Covid-19 infecting a major population of India, getting vaccinated is a sure-shot way of preventing the spread of the virus. However, the question of vaccinating infected people often lingers. While the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests patients wait for 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine if treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, there are reports that the NTAGI has stated that those tested for SARS-CoV-2 illness should defer Covid vaccination for six months after recovery. There will be no issues if a patient gets vaccinated after two-three weeks post-recovery, said Dr Maurya. “There will be no issues if a patient gets vaccinated after two-three weeks post-recovery. But it is important to consider the fact whether at that point in time a vaccine is required or not since a patient develops an antibody post-Covid and the antibody can prevent them from getting infected further,” Dr Maurya said. Commenting on the recent change in guideline stating a wait of 3 months post-recovery, Dr Maurya adds that even if a patient takes a vaccine after four weeks post his/her recovery, the vaccine may not work fully because the patient would have developed an antibody that is effective enough to prevent him/her from further infection. ","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Covid-19","covid","covid","Covid","Covid","Covid","covid","COVID-19","Covid","COVID","Covid","COVID","COVID","COVID","COVID","covid","covid","Covid","Covid-19","COVID","COVID","Covid","COVID","COVID","COVID","COVID","COVID","Covid-19","COVID-19","Covid","Covid","COVID","Covid","Covid","COVID"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":null},{"role":"Sequelae","values":["extreme fatigue, breathlessness to wheezing and coughing","lingering cough and weakness"]},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["Senaara Ailawadi","Neha Rajpal"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Omicron treatment: Man from Karnataka shares details after recovering from COVID variant","document":"The man says he suffered more when he was infected with Delta variant of COVID than Omicron A man from Karnataka who tested positive for the Omicron variant of Karnataka has shared details about his treatment and journey to recovery. the man who tested positive for Omicron had returned from South Africa after which he developed mild symptoms. The 34-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru says his sufferings were more when was infected with the Delta variant of COVID than Omicron. Reportedly, a video of him sharing details of treatment has gone viral on social media. \"There is no separate treatment as such for the Omicron variant. Vitamin-C tablets and antibiotics were given. Since there was no tiredness and symptoms were too mild, I worked from the hospital ward for a week,\" IANS quoted him as saying. He also took precautionary measures after returning from South Africa. He isolated himself, thus safeguarding his family. \"I isolated myself after arrival from South Africa and my family members didn't catch the infection. Those who come from abroad should maintain distance and follow quarantine guidelines. If symptoms crop up, without wasting time and negligence, they should get tested and inform health authorities. If this is done, we can prevent the infection from spreading to neighbours and people around,\" he shared. The Omicron variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate, the World Health Organization has said. WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus said that a total of 77 countries have reported Omicron cases so far but the reality is that this variant is probably yet to be detected in some countries. \"Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. It's not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well\", said Ghebreyesus. In India, the Omicron variant caseload is rising each day. Cases have been found in Delhi and Maharashtra. The other states where this variant has been reported includes Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh.","event_type":"Famous Person - Recovered","schema":["Disease","Cost","Location/Hospital","Sequelae","Doctor and Medical Team","Date","People","Treatment Method"],"arguments":[{"role":"Disease","values":["Delta variant","Delta variant","Omicron variant","Omicron variant","Omicron variant","Omicron variant"]},{"role":"Cost","values":null},{"role":"Location/Hospital","values":["a hospital in Bengaluru","hospital"]},{"role":"Sequelae","values":null},{"role":"Doctor and Medical Team","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"People","values":["A man from Karnataka","Karnataka","Karnataka"]},{"role":"Treatment Method","values":["Vitamin-C tablets and antibiotics"]}]}
+{"title":"Dolphins sign first player; ex-Dogs star’s career lifeline finally emerges: Transfer Whispers","document":"The Dolphins have made their first signing in club history and it’s no marquee man - this young gun hasn’t even played in the NRL.\nDylan Napa’s time in the NRL is all but over with the star prop likely to ink a deal with a Super League club, while the Sharks and Warriors are in a tug of war over a 22-year-old rookie.\nDespite the links between Luke Brooks and the Knights growing stronger and stronger, the star halfback has reportedly reaffirmed his commitment to the Wests Tigers.\nMeanwhile, axed Raider Curtis Scott’s career is far from over with four clubs said to be interested in him and a retired player is preparing to dust off his boots for an NRL comeback.\nRead on for the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.\n\nDOLPHINS MAKE HISTORIC FIRST SIGNING\nFormer Queensland under-18 representative Harrison Graham has reportedly become the first player signed by NRL expansion side the Dolphins. There was plenty of talk linking the Dolphins to marquee men Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga, but it’s 20-year-old Graham who has etched his name into the club’s history books.\nGraham has been touted as one of the best young hookers in the game and can also play lock. The young gun has been signed on a development contract with scope to upgrade him, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. However, he has a train-and-trial contract with the Broncos for the upcoming pre-season and could be picked up by Brisbane for the 2022 NRL season.\nGraham played for the underage Maroons when he was 17. He came off the bench in a team that included Cowboys winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Warriors fullback Reece Walsh, Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker, Broncos fullback Tesi Niu, Melbourne recruit Xavier Coates and Wests Tigers hooker Jake Simpkin.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The Dolphins","DOLPHINS","Dolphins","Dolphins","Harrison Graham"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a development contract with scope to upgrade him"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Ex-cop files civil rights suit, says supervisors forced him out, then blacklisted him","document":"A former police officer who worked for the North Plainfield Police Department has filed a lawsuit against his former supervisors, claiming they forced him out of his job and then blacklisted him.\nBryan Lewis, 31, worked as a borough police officer from April 2014 until October 2019, when he agreed to resign, according to court papers.\nAbout a year before his resignation, Lewis was “served with disciplinary charges by his employer, to which (Lewis) vigorously disputed,” the suit states.\nThe lawsuit, filed Oct. 26 in Superior Court of Somerset County, does not detail the nature of the disciplinary charges.\nHowever, in an email to NJ Advance Media on Monday, the former officer said he was falsely accused of writing a letter to the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General that detailed alleged criminal activity within the department.\n“I was accused by the administration of writing that letter, which I had never written. They tried to destroy/end my career for that reason,” Lewis said in the email.\nThe lawsuit states Lewis hired attorney Frank Cioffi of Clifton to defend him at a disciplinary hearing. But instead of helping him keep his job, Cioffi allegedly told Lewis to resign from the department.\n“Cioffi advised plaintiff that should he continue with the hearing, more likely than not, he would be terminated from his position as a police officer,” the suit states.\nOn the advice of his attorney, Lewis signed an agreement with the borough that stated he was resigning in good standing “for personal reasons.” Under the agreement, Lewis received $8,538.90 in unused vacation and sick time, along with pension benefits and pay for several months of administrative leave.\nThe document states that the borough agreed “not to interfere with all present and future attempts by (Lewis) to seek employment with another law enforcement agency” and that all complaints would be removed from his personnel file and that the file would be sealed.\nDespite the agreement, Lewis claims that no one will hire him to work as a police officer.\n“Plaintiff has applied to numerous law enforcement agencies and has not been offered employment,” the lawsuit states.\n“Prospective employers have been able to obtain plaintiff’s personnel records and past complaints from the township due to (his former supervisors’) actions,” the lawsuit alleges.\nCourt papers accuse police Chief William Parenti and Captain Alan McKay of preventing Lewis from obtaining another job as a police officer. Parenti and McKay are named as defendants in the suit.\n“McKay and Parenti have been careless, negligent and reckless misrepresenting (Lewis’s) employment history to prospective employers,” the lawsuit alleges.\nMcKay and Parenti did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment on the allegations.\nThe lawsuit also accuses Cioffi of legal malpractice, stating that the attorney “deviated from the standard of care” by having Lewis sign the allegedly faulty agreement.\nCioffi did not immediately respond to a request for comment left on his office voicemail.\nThe lawsuit accuses the police supervisors of violating the former officer’s civil rights and Cioffi of causing him emotional distress and lost wages due to alleged malpractice.\nLewis is seeking a jury trial, along with unspecified damages from all three men.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","Lewis","the borough","borough","borough"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["stated he was resigning in good standing “for personal reasons.” Under the agreement, Lewis received $8,538.90 in unused vacation and sick time, along with pension benefits and pay for several months of administrative leave","Lewis signed an agreement with the borough that stated he was resigning in good standing “for personal reasons.” Under the agreement, Lewis received $8,538.90 in unused vacation and sick time"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"A history of strikes at SEPTA, called the nation’s most strike-prone transit agency","document":"\nUpdate, Oct. 29: SEPTA and TWU Local 234 announced on Friday morning a tentative agreement on a new contract, averting a possible strike next week. The two-year deal includes a 3% annual wage increase, paid parental leave, and a pandemic hazard bonus of $1 for each hour worked between March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021, CBS3 reports. It also adds Juneteenth as a paid holiday. The deal is tentative until ratified (that could reportedly happen as soon as Nov. 5), but means there won’t be a service shutdown of bus, trolley and subway service next week.\nFor a bit it looked like your last normal SEPTA ride for a while this year could be filled with passengers dressed up as devils and witches or costumed as characters from “Wandavision.”\nMidnight on Halloween was the expiration date for the current contract between the Philly region’s transit authority and Transport Workers Union Local 234. The union represents more than 5,000 SEPTA workers, from bus drivers to cashiers, and authorized a strike last weekend if an agreement wasn’t met by Oct. 31.\nA strike would have shut down bus, trolley, and subway service inside the city, although Regional Rail would still run, likely with increased frequency.\nSEPTA has been called the most-strike prone transit agency in the nation.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["SEPTA","SEPTA","SEPTA","SEPTA","TWU Local 234"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["two-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday morning"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a 3% annual wage increase, paid parental leave, and a pandemic hazard bonus of $1 for each hour worked between March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021, CBS3 reports. It also adds Juneteenth as a paid holiday"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"It’s Official: McAfee To Go Private In $14B Deal","document":"‘This transaction is a testament to McAfee’s market-leading online protection solutions, our talented employees, and outstanding customers and partners,’ says McAfee President and CEO Peter Leav. In one of the largest cybersecurity acquisitions in IT history, McAfee is set to be purchased by a group of private equity and investment firms for $14 billion next year with plans to take the security star private. “This transaction is a testament to McAfee’s market-leading online protection solutions, our talented employees, and outstanding customers and partners,” said McAfee President and CEO Peter Leav in a statement. “We are thrilled to be partnering with premier firms who truly understand the cybersecurity landscape and have a proven track record of success.”\nThe investor group will acquire all outstanding shares of McAfee common stock for $26 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $12 billion on an equity value basis, and over $14 billion on an enterprise value basis after giving effect to repayment of McAfee debt, according to the San Jose, Calif.-based company.\nWhen completed, the investor group will “take ownership of McAfee” and McAfee’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public securities exchange, according to the company. The deal represents one of the biggest cybersecurity acquisition of all-time, including larger than Thoma Bravo’s $12.3 billion purchase of Proofpoint as well as Broadcom’s $10.7 buy of Symantec’s enterprise business.\n[Related: 6 Big Dell Stock And VMware Share Numbers To Know Post Spin-Off]\nThe acquisition is expected to close sometime in the second half of 2022. McAfee has officially entered into a definitive agreement to be bought by an investor group led by Advent International Corporation and Permira Advisers LLC, Crosspoint Capital Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC Private Limited, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The investor group said it will provide McAfee with both financial and operational resources to enhance its consumer offering and capture the rapid growth in consumer demand for digital protection services.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","McAfee","an investor group led by Advent International Corporation and Permira Advisers LLC, Crosspoint Capital Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC Private Limited, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The investor group will acquire all outstanding shares of McAfee common stock for $26 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $12 billion on an equity value basis, and over $14 billion on an enterprise value basis after giving effect to repayment of McAfee debt"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"the United States signed some 368 treaties with various Indigenous people across the North American continent","document":"From 1778 to 1871, the United States signed some 368 treaties with various Indigenous people across the North American continent.\nConcluded during the nearly 100-year period from the Revolutionary War to the aftermath of the Civil War, some 368 treaties would define the relationship between the United States and Native Americans for centuries to come.\nThe treaties were based on the fundamental idea that each tribe was an independent nation, with their own right to self-determination and self-rule. But as white settlers began moving onto Native American lands, this idea came into conflict with the relentless pace of westward expansion—resulting in many broken promises on the part of the U.S. government. In September 1778, representatives of the newly formed Continental Congress signed a treaty with the Lenape (Delaware) at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. In the first official peace treaty between the new United States and a Native American nation, both sides agreed to maintain friendship and support each other against the British. \nBut mutual suspicion continued, especially after Pennsylvania militiamen killed nearly 100 Lenape (most of them women and children) at the village of Gnadenhutten in March 1782, mistakenly believing they were responsible for attacks against white settlers. After the American victory, more and more white settlers moved onto Lenape territory, until the Treaty of Greeneville in 1795 forced them and other Ohio Country Native Americans to surrender most of their lands. \nIn the years following the Revolutionary War, Andrew Pickens and other commissioners of the new U.S. government concluded three highly similar treaties with the Cherokee, Choctaw and Cherokee Nations at Hopewell, Pickens’ plantation home in northwestern South Carolina. \nCollectively known as the Treaty of Hopewell, these agreements extended the friendship and “protection” of the United States to the southern Native American tribes; all three ended with the same sentence: “The hatchet shall be forever buried, and peace given by the United States of America.” \nDespite this sentiment, white settlers were already moving onto the lands designated for the Cherokee, leading to more conflict and the Treaty of Holston (1791), in which the Cherokee forfeited still more land. \n\nSeeking to improve relations between his government and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a powerful group of six Iroquois-speaking tribes (the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora Nations), President George Washington sent his postmaster general, Timothy Pickering, to negotiate a treaty at Canandaigua, New York. \nThe treaty restored more than 1 million acres of land to the Seneca that had been ceded by treaty 10 years earlier and recognized the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern themselves and set laws. It also promised an annual payment by the United States to the Haudenosaunee of $4,500 in goods, including calico cloth. \nOver the years, as the Six Nations’ territory was further reduced, the Onondaga, Seneca, Tuscarora and some Oneida remained in New York on reservations, while the Mohawk and Cayuga left for Canada and the Oneida settled in Wisconsin and Ontario.\nAs more white settlers moved west into the Great Lake region, a Native American confederacy including the Shawnee and Delaware, who had already been driven westward by U.S. expansion, as well as the Miami, Ottawa, Ojibwa and Potawatomi, mounted an armed resistance beginning in the late 1780s. \nAfter U.S. troops under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne defeated them in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Miami chief Little Turtle and other Native leaders ceded large parts of what would become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin in the Greeneville Treaty. \nBut the treaty provided only short term resolution, as continued U.S. expansion quickly nullified its effect. By 1808, Shawnee war chief Tecumseh had organized a Native confederacy to mount armed resistance to continued U.S. seizure of Native American lands. A map of Native American cessions in the Northwest from 1789 to 1816. Territories include lands ceded under the Fort Wayne Treaty (labeled C and K on the map), as well as Clark's Grant, Greenville Treaty, Vincennes Treaty, St Louis Treaty, Fort Industry Treaty, Grouseland Treaty, and the Detroit Treaty.\n\nIn this treaty, negotiated by William Henry Harrison, then governor of Indiana Territory, with Native tribes including the Delaware, Potawatomi, Miami and Eel River tribes, the United States acquired 2.5 million acres of land in what is now Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, for the equivalent of about two cents per acre. Tecumseh and others argued that the treaty’s signers had no authority to sell the land and warned Americans not to settle there. \nIn 1811, Harrison led an attack on a Native American camp on the Tippecanoe River, beginning a new U.S.-Native conflict that would last through the War of 1812. After Tecumseh’s death in battle in 1813, his confederacy dissolved, along with his dream of Native American independence. \nOver the decade (1814-24) that Andrew Jackson served as a federal commissioner, he negotiated nine out of 11 treaties signed with Native American tribes in the Southeast, including the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, Seminoles and Cherokees, in which the tribes gave up a total of some 50 million acres of land in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and North Carolina. \nElected president in 1828, Jackson spearheaded the Indian Removal Act (1830) through Congress, by which the U.S. government granted land west of the Mississippi River to Native tribes who agreed to give up their homelands. Though removal was supposed to be voluntary, in practice Jackson used threats of withheld payments and legal and military action to conclude nearly 70 removal treaties over the course of his presidency, opening up some 25 million acres of land in the South to white settlement, and slavery.\n\nMany Cherokee resisted removal from their ancestral lands in the Southeast, bringing their struggle all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. But despite the Court’s ruling in Worcester v. Georgia (1832) that the Cherokee and other tribes were “sovereign nations,” the removal continued. In 1835, U.S. government met with a group of Cherokee representatives at New Echota, Georgia, to sign a treaty that traded all 7 million acres of Cherokee land for $5 million and land in Indian Territory. \nThe majority of Cherokee opposed the treaty, but Congress ratified it anyway, and in 1838 the federal government sent 7,000 U.S. soldiers to enforce the removal of the Cherokees. An estimated 10 to 25 percent of Cherokee would die during the 1,200-mile trek to Oklahoma, later known as the “Trail of Tears.” \nThe signing of a treaty between William T. Sherman and the Sioux in a tent at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, 1868.\nBettmann Archive/Getty Images\nIn this treaty, signed at Fort Laramie and other military posts in what is now Wyoming, the U.S. government recognized the Black Hills of Dakota as the Great Sioux Reservation, the exclusive territory of the Sioux (Dakota, Lakota and Nakota) and Arapaho people. But after gold was discovered in the Black Hills, miners and settlers began moving onto the land en masse. \nNative resistance to the treaty’s violation culminated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, after which government troops flooded the region. By that time, Congress had ended the nearly 100-year-old practice of making treaties with individual Native American tribes, declaring in 1871 that “henceforth, no Indian nation or tribe...shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe or power with whom the United States may contract by treaty.” In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that the Black Hills were illegally confiscated, and awarded the Sioux more than $100 million in reparations. Sioux leaders rejected the payment, saying the land had never been for sale. Controversy continues over the sacred land—as well as other broken treaties. \n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["government","government","government","government","government","government","government","government","the Lenape (Delaware)","Lenape","Lenape","Delaware","Delaware","William T. Sherman","William","the Sioux","Sioux","Sioux","Sioux","Sioux","the new United States","a group of Cherokee representatives"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["September 1778","1835","1868"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["both sides agreed to maintain friendship and support each other against the British","traded all 7 million acres of Cherokee land for $5 million and land in Indian Territory"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Taco John’s International inked its biggest area development agreement to date with the largest Wendy’s franchisee","document":"Taco John’s International inked its biggest area development agreement to date with the largest Wendy’s franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc. Per the terms of the agreement, the group will build 50 new Taco John’s restaurants by March 31, 2026 with options to develop an additional 150 restaurants. “Taco John’s is the perfect fit for our company. While exploring concepts to expand our portfolio, we were quickly attracted to Taco John’s,” says Gary Rose, president and COO of Meritage Hospitality Group. “We are excited about the Mexican restaurant segment and the Bigger, Bolder, Better direction of the brand. We’re excited to open our first restaurants near our headquarters in west Michigan in 2022.” “This is historic for our brand,” said Brooks Speirs, vice president for franchise development. “As we begin our aggressive growth into new markets, there is no better partner than Meritage. While getting to know the group, I’ve been impressed with the organizational infrastructure, attention to detail, commitment to people, operations capabilities and development of top-notch restaurants. The best is yet to come for Taco John’s!” Differentiating itself in the popular Mexican quick-service segment, Taco John’s prides itself on a unique menu that features delicious, quality-made food. Its commitment to quality has established the brand as the go-to restaurant in its markets. Additionally, its significant drive-thru business, which represents 65 percent of systemwide sales, has helped insulate the brand from recent market shifts. “Over the last few years, we have been building fantastic momentum,” says Jim Creel, president and CEO of Taco John’s. “As a 50-plus year-old brand we knew we needed a modern look to energize our current locations. At the same time, we have elevated our executive team and board. Our evolution has helped us become an even more appealing investment to large multi-unit operators. The agreement with Meritage is a capstone moment, illuminating all the hard work the Taco John’s team has put in place.” Taco John’s is a thriving legacy brand with strong unit-level economics, prime markets available for multi-unit development and a unique menu. The brand has recently launched several new and innovative menu items, a refreshed brand look and feel, and is rolling out a systemwide remodel program to attract new consumers and retain longtime fans. As Taco John’s expands, it is seeking qualified, experienced and passionate franchisees, franchise groups and convenience store operators to develop the concept in key markets.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc","Meritage Hospitality Group","Taco John’s"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the group will build 50 new Taco John’s restaurants by March 31, 2026 with options to develop an additional 150 restaurants"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Bapco Awards the Largest Catalyst Management Agreement in its History to ART for its Resid Hydrocracking Catalyst","document":" COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART), the joint venture of US specialty chemicals and materials company W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) and US energy company Chevron (NYSE:CVX), today announced the award of an FCM agreement by state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco). The exclusive, 5-year agreement, which includes an option to renew for an additional five years, is valued at USD 240 million, the largest catalyst management agreement ever signed in Bapco’s history.\nAs part of the BMP, Bapco will boost Bahrain’s oil refinery processing capacity from 267,000 (b/d) to 380,000 (b/d). In addition, ART will supply its Resid Hydrocracking catalyst technology for a wide variety of feedstocks to maximize bottom of the barrel upgrading. The technology is the industry-leading catalyst for metals capacity and sediment control. In addition, ART will provide FCM services for the reclamation of metals from spent catalysts.\nThe signing ceremony took place on 11 August 2021 at Bapco Club in Awali, in the presence of Bapco’s Chairman and Chief Executive, and senior management and representatives from Bapco, ART, and CLG.\nBapco’s Chairman and Chief Executive Dr. Dawood Nassif highlighted the significance of the deal. “Our new hydrocracking unit will convert 78% of the vacuum residue feed into intermediate products, which will then be further processed into high margin kerosene and diesel. A key component is catalyst performance and management, and the unique agreement signed with ART, who will be responsible for the total supply chain of catalyst from cradle to cradle. This agreement has taken over 18 months to develop and negotiate, and I thank all the parties involved in making this a success.”\nJag Reddy, Managing Director of ART, said, “This award is significant. It demonstrates the superiority of our catalyst technology and our ability to provide value through unmatched global support and technical services. I want to thank Bapco for their vote of confidence.” He added, “They will benefit tremendously over the life of this agreement through maximum conversion, lower operating costs, reliability, and longer run lengths. Most importantly, Bapco will free up valuable time and resources.”\nWhen fully operational in 2023, the new Resid Hydrocracking unit known as 1RHCU will be the main profit centre for the Bapco Refinery. 1RHCU utilizes LC-FINING process technology licensed from Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron and Lummus Technology. The unit is a two-train design with a processing capacity of 65,000 barrels per day. Bapco’s application of this state-of-the-art technology will be the first within the Middle East. Less than a dozen of these units exist globally, and the Bapco unit will be one of the largest examples.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco)","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Bapco","Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART)","ART","ART","ART","ART","art"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["5-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Aug. 11, 2021","11 August 2021"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["As part of the BMP, Bapco will boost Bahrain’s oil refinery processing capacity from 267,000 (b/d) to 380,000 (b/d). In addition, ART will supply its Resid Hydrocracking catalyst technology for a wide variety of feedstocks to maximize bottom of the barrel upgrading","In addition, ART will provide FCM services for the reclamation of metals from spent catalysts"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Sri Lanka, World Bank Sign Agreement to Expand Water Supply and Sanitation Coverage for More than 1 Million People","document":"\nCOLOMBO, September 10, 2021 - The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank recently signed a $40 million additional financing for the ongoing Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP), to increase access to the piped water services and improved sanitation. This additional financing will expand water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services in seven districts, reaching more than one million people.\nSajith Atygalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, virtually signed on behalf of the government and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, signed on behalf of the World Bank.\n“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for safe water and sanitation facilities in every home,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country director of Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “The WaSSIP has demonstrated that community-operated water supply schemes can deliver strong and sustainable results, and this additional financing will help expand coverage of water and sanitation schemes to reach many more households.”\nThe project aims to increase the coverage of piped water by constructing new urban, rural and estate water supply schemes and rehabilitating existing schemes to provide households with a continuous supply of safe water. The project operates in Kegalle, Rathnapura, Monaragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Under this additional financing, septage treatment plants are planned in two additional districts - Galle and Kurunegala.\n“We are extremely happy with the on-going WASSIP and its impact on the local community,” said Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Minister of Water Supply. “The additional financing will help accelerate the government’s “Water for All” pledge to cover 4.7 million people within the next four years.”\nThe project will continue to strengthen community-based organizations (CBO) in rural and estate areas and aims to establish a strong federation of CBOs to operate and maintain the water supply services. The project includes specific actions to promote women’s participation and decision-making in CBOs such as skills development to strengthen women’s capacity to take on leadership roles and enhance women’s voice through mentorship from female leaders.\nThe project will be implemented by the Ministry of Water Supply. The World Bank support of $40 million builds on the existing WASSIP project of $165 million.\nThere are 18 active projects in the World Bank’s portfolio in Sri Lanka amounting to $2.3 billion in a variety of sectors including transport, urban, water, education, and health.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The Government of Sri Lanka","government","Sri Lanka","Sri Lanka","Sri Lanka","the World Bank","World Bank","World Bank","World Bank","World Bank"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["September 10, 2021"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a $40 million additional financing for the ongoing Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP), to increase access to the piped water services and improved sanitation"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Stephen Curry lands second $200 million contract of career with Warriors","document":"SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry has landed the second $200 million-plus contract of his career, reaching agreement on a $215 million, four-year extension with the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday that takes him through the 2025-26 season.\nCurry’s agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon, confirmed the new deal for the star point guard, who would have been entering the final season of his previous contract. Curry will earn $48 million for the 2022-23 season, then $51.9 million in ’23-’24, $55.7 million in ’24-’25 and $59.6 million in the final year of the deal.\n\nFor this extension — first reported by ESPN — it was only a matter of when it would get done after the 33-year-old Curry produced one of his best seasons.\nHe averaged 32.0 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds and shot 42.1% from 3-point range for the Warriors, who lost in the play-in tournament to Memphis. The two-time MVP shined despite injured Splash Brother Klay Thompson’s absence for a second straight season.\nAfter the season ended, Curry thanked his teammates for all they did to allow him to be at his best night after night, even when he had to spend long hours in the trainer’s room to keep his body healthy and fresh. He was limited to five games during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season primarily because of a broken left hand, then played 63 games last season while missing time because of a bruised tailbone that bothered him down the stretch.\nStephen Curry's agent, Jeff Austin of @OctagonBsktball, confirms the two-time MVP's $215M, four-year extension with Warriors as reported by @wojespn. Curry will earn $48 million for 2022-23 season, $51.9M in 23-24, $55.7M in 24-25 and $59.6 million in the final year of the deal.\n\n“I appreciate everybody out there committing to how we play, and that’s really unlocked what I do best,” Curry said. “That was huge, but God is good. I’ve been blessed to be back healthy and be able to just play night in, night out at a high level and the work that goes into it, it pays off, and it’s something that I really, really rely on, especially at this point in my career. As the years go on, that is the difference maker for me.”\nIn December, Curry noted he wanted to play until he’s 40 if possible and do so the whole way for the Warriors. Discussions had already begun then on an extension, he said, and now he has a new deal in hand well before he begins his 13th season.\nIn July 2017, Curry received a $201 million, five-year deal that initially was the richest ever, until James Harden topped it with a $228 million extension from the Rockets.\nConsidered overlooked and undersized after being drafted seventh overall out of Davidson in 2009, Curry has repeatedly proven the doubters wrong. He led the Warriors to five straight NBA Finals and championships in 2015, ’17 and ’18.\n“I’m really proud of what I put in to it, and the team, they know who they are, that help me and push me and motivate me,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing that until I can’t anymore. I don’t know how long that’ll be but that’s the difference-maker for me.”\nGolden State’s other moves in free agency so far include agreements with Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica.\nKeep track of every reported move before deals can be officially signed starting on Aug. 6.\nDeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond were among the names reportedly moving on in another busy day of roster reshuffling.\nNBA free agents from Kyle Lowry to Mike Conley go straight to social once the negotiation period opened at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.\nThe former All-Star big man heads to the Philadelphia 76ers to play alongside Joel Embiid.\nKeep track of every reported move before deals can be officially signed starting on Aug. 6.\nDeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond were among the names reportedly moving on in another busy day of roster reshuffling.\nNBA free agents from Kyle Lowry to Mike Conley go straight to social once the negotiation period opened at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.\nThe former All-Star big man heads to the Philadelphia 76ers to play alongside Joel Embiid.\nBreaking down stats and film on key storylines throughout the league after the 1st month of the season.\nGiannis Antetokounmpo's dominant showing Wednesday against the Lakers has L.A. flustered as its road trek begins.\nPhiladelphia has dealt with plenty of adversity this season, from the absence of Ben Simmons to players missing games due to health and safety protocols.\nThe Lakers are 4-6 overall this season without James, who has missed the last eight games with an abdominal injury. Sheppard's offseason moves have helped the Wizards to their best start since 1974-75.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Stephen Curry","the Golden State Warriors"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["four-year","four-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Curry will earn $48 million for the 2022-23 season, then $51.9 million in ’23-’24, $55.7 million in ’24-’25 and $59.6 million in the final year of the deal","Curry will earn $48 million for 2022-23 season, $51.9M in 23-24, $55.7M in 24-25 and $59.6 million in the final year of the deal","extension"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Amazon and MGM have signed an agreement for Amazon to acquire MGM","document":"\nSEATTLE & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and MGM today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire MGM for a purchase price of $8.45 billion. MGM has nearly a century of filmmaking history and complements the work of Amazon Studios, which has primarily focused on producing TV show programming. Amazon will help preserve MGM’s heritage and catalog of films, and provide customers with greater access to these existing works. Through this acquisition, Amazon would empower MGM to continue to do what they do best: great storytelling.\n“MGM has a vast catalog with more than 4,000 films—12 Angry Men, Basic Instinct, Creed, James Bond, Legally Blonde, Moonstruck, Poltergeist, Raging Bull, Robocop, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, Stargate, Thelma & Louise, Tomb Raider, The Magnificent Seven, The Pink Panther, The Thomas Crown Affair, and many other icons—as well as 17,000 TV shows—including Fargo, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Vikings—that have collectively won more than 180 Academy Awards and 100 Emmys,” said Mike Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. “The real financial value behind this deal is the treasure trove of IP in the deep catalog that we plan to reimagine and develop together with MGM’s talented team. It’s very exciting and provides so many opportunities for high-quality storytelling.”\n“It has been an honor to have been a part of the incredible transformation of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. To get here took immensely talented people with a true belief in one vision. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the MGM team who have helped us arrive at this historic day,” said Kevin Ulrich, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MGM. “I am very proud that MGM’s Lion, which has long evoked the Golden Age of Hollywood, will continue its storied history, and the idea born from the creation of United Artists lives on in a way the founders originally intended, driven by the talent and their vision. The opportunity to align MGM’s storied history with Amazon is an inspiring combination.”\nCompletion of this transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Amazon","Amazon","Amazon","Amazon","Amazon","Amazon","Amazon","MGM","MGM","MGM","MGM","MGM","MGM","MGM"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["today"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Amazon will acquire MGM for a purchase price of $8.45 billion"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"NBA Salaries: All players to have signed contracts of $200 million or more","document":"The extension of the NBA's TV deal with ESPN and Turner Sports in 2014, worth $2.6 billion per year over a nine-year period starting from 2016, gave a huge boost to the salary cap. That rise, given the players-league revenue split as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at that time, subsequently led to a leap in player salaries which led to multiple large contracts being handed out since.\nThe extension of NBA's TV deal with ESPN and Turner Sports in 2014, worth $2.6 billion per year over a nine-year period starting from 2016, gave a huge boost to the salary cap. For the 2015-16 season, the salary cap was set at $70 million and that saw a huge leap to $94.1 million for the succeeding 2016-17 season. It wasn't just that year, each of the following seasons also saw a significant boost such that for the upcoming 2021-22 season, the salary cap was set at 112.4 million.\nThat rise, given the players-league revenue split as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at that time, subsequently led to a leap in the player salaries which led to multiple large contracts being handed out since. That said, here's a look at the players that signed a contract worth upwards of $200 million.\nNote: Players like Damian Lillard and James Harden aren't on the list because their contracts exceed $200 million after they signed an extension.\nCurry, the first and only unanimous MVP in league history, signed the first contract worth more than $200 million.\nComing off a 4-year, $44 million deal - during which he led the Warriors to the NBA Championship in 2015 and won two straight league MVPs, he signed a 5-year worth around $201 million as a free agent to remain with the Golden State Warriors. That deal took him from the 82nd highest paid in the 2015-16 season to the highest-paid player in the league for every year of that deal. However, the 3-time NBA Champion would make more history when it comes to contracts in the 2021 offseason. MORE: Highest-paid players for 2021-22 NBA season\nAged 33, he would sign a four-year extension worth $215 million that would keep him on the franchise's books until 2026. This new extension made him the first player ever to sign consecutive deals upwards of $200 million.\nComing off his 2016-17 historic MVP season, where he became the first player to average a triple-double for a season since Oscar Robertson in 1962, even breaking the record for the most number of triple-doubles (42), Westbrook signed a 5-year extension prior to the 2017-18 season - the final year of his three-year, $85.6 million deal. The new extension worth $206 million would have kept him in Oklahoma City from 2018 to 2023, however in the four seasons since the start of the contract, he is set to play the first four years of that contract with four different franchises - Oklahoma City Thunder (2018-19), Houston Rockets (2019-20), Washington Wizards (2020-21) and now, Los Angeles Lakers (2021-22).\n\nThe final year of this deal, the 2022-23 season, is a player option. The Greek Freak became a free agent in 2020 but the two-time reigning league MVP - at that time - re-signed in Milwaukee for a 5-year deal worth $228.2 million.\nDespite the playoff disappointments, at the time of signing the contract, Antetokounmpo still had a stacked resume with his two MVPs, 2017 Most Improved Player award, four All-Star selections, four All-NBA selections including two in the First Team, plus the 2020 Defensive Player Award. However, in the first year of this new deal, the 26-year-old added more hardware to his trophy cabinet by leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title and winning the Finals MVP. He also won the All-Star Game MVP award earlier in the season. With the deal, he became the first international player to sign a deal of more than $200 million.\nNot long after Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert joined the $200 million group. The Frenchmen signed a 5-year deal worth $205 million in the 2020 offseason.\nThe largest deal in NBA history for a center, Gobert was eligible for the large extension because of his two DPOYs (now three) and three All-NBA selections (now four) at the time. The contract is also the largest for any player outside the lottery as Gobert was picked 27th overall in the 2013 Draft by the Denver Nuggets and then traded to the Utah Jazz.\nAt 22, Luka Doncic is the youngest player ever to sign a deal worth more than $200 million. He became eligible for this supermax extension, the first player from the 2018 Draft class, courtesy of his two All-NBA First Team selections in the previous two years. The five-year, $207 million extension, which kicks in at the end of the 2021-22 season, reportedly includes a player option for the final year.\nAccording to Elias Sports Bureau, only four players have been named to multiple All-NBA First Team before their 23rd birthday and, the duo of Doncic and Kevin Durant are the only two players to do so since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.\nSimilar to Doncic, the Atlanta Hawks superstar point guard also signed a 5-year deal that's worth $207 million. Atlanta Hawks All-Star G Trae Young has agreed to a five-year, $207 million designated rookie maximum extension, his agent Omar Wilkes of @KlutchSports tells ESPN.\nHowever, his contract is essentially worth $172.55M but it would take a jump to the max value of $207 million when he does receive an All-NBA selection at any point through his contract.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the Atlanta Hawks","Atlanta Hawks","Curry","the Golden State Warriors","Westbrook","the Milwaukee Bucks","Rudy Gobert","Utah Jazz","Luka Doncic","Trae Young"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["5-yea","5-year","5-year","5-year","year","five-year","five-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a five-year, $207 million designated rookie maximum extension","The new extension worth $206 million would have kept him in Oklahoma City from 2018 to 2023, however in the four seasons since the start of the contract, he is set to play the first four years of that contract with four different franchises","re-signed in Milwaukee for a 5-year deal worth $228.2 million","a 5-year deal worth $205 million in the 2020 offseason","The five-year, $207 million extension, which kicks in at the end of the 2021-22 season, reportedly includes a player option for the final year","his contract is essentially worth $172.55M but it would take a jump to the max value of $207 million when he does receive an All-NBA selection at any point through his contract"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Georgian, North Macedonian presidents sign visa free agreement: ‘we are making new history for our countries’","document":" Georgian and North Macedonian presidents met in Skopje earlier today and signed two agreements. \nGeorgian and North Macedonian presidents have signed the visa liberalisation agreement between the two countries earlier today in Skopje, during the first official visit of Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to North Macedonia. \nThe Agreement on Visa Exemption signed between ???????? and ???????? is a historic step in our bilateral relations. It’s meant to promote people-to-people contacts between our two friendly countries. It’s also a signal to our business communities that the doors of cooperation are open! \nAn agreement has also been signed for cooperation in the culture field. \nNorth Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski has stated during a joint press conference that ‘we are making new history for our two friendly nations.’ \nThis is a historic, high-level visit which will further strengthen the ties between Georgia and North Macedonia,” Pendarovski said. \nHe stated that the new agreements will create a legal basement for tourism and economic cooperation. \nWith this signing of the Memorandum on Cooperation in Culture, Tbilisi and Skopje acknowledge that our ties are not just political. They are rooted in common European values of #tolerance, of #freedom.\nPendarovski said that despite a two-year diplomatic relations Georgia and North Macedonia have much to share ‘because we follow common foreign strategies.’ \nZurabishvili stated ‘it's a big honour I became the first president of Georgia who visited Skopje on an official visit.’ \nShe said that along with occupation issues in Georgia and the illegal conviction of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the Russian-controlled occupation forces,regional and Ukrainian issues have also been discussed during the meeting with Pendarovski. \nThere is the only way to react to the escalation in the region. The NATO June 14 summit messages should be clear. This would be important both for Georgia and Ukraine, Zurabishvili said. \nZurabishvili is also scheduled to meet with North Macedonian PM and parliament speaker.\nIn January-April of 2021, revenue from foreign tourism decreased by 77.5% year-on-year in Georgia, says Galt & Taggart, an investment banking and investment management services company in Georgia.\nGeorgian President Salome Zurabishvili has paid her first official visit to North Macedonia earlier today. Now Zurabishvili and North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski are holding a face-to-face meeting. The presidents are scheduled to sign a visa liberalisation agreement between the two countries and a memorandum of cooperation in culture following the meeting. \nGeorgian officials have welcomed North Macedonia becoming the 30th member of NATO. President Salome Zurabishvili said the enlargement “of this great family” strengthens international security.\n \nGeorgia and North Macedonia, which has actually become the 30th member of NATO, have signed an agreement regarding the establishment of diplomatic and consular relations.Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani congratulated Macedonia on the end of dispute with Greece regarding its name and the signing of the accession protocol with NATO.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Georgian","Georgian","Georgian","Georgian","Georgian","Georgian","Georgian","North Macedonian","North Macedonian","North Macedonian","North Macedonian","North Macedonian"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["two-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the visa liberalisation agreement","visa liberalisation agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["earlier today","earlier today","earlier today"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["to promote people-to-people contacts between our two friendly countries. It’s also a signal to our business communities that the doors of cooperation are open"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Skopje","Skopje","Skopje","Skopje"]}]}
+{"title":"Self-Governing First Nations in Yukon","document":"Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. There are 14 First Nations in Yukon. Eleven of these nations are self-governing,\n\twhile the remaining three are governed under the Indian Act. The 11 self-governing First Nations have legislative and executive powers much like a province or\n\tterritory. In 1993, they signed the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA) with the governments of Canada and Yukon. The UFA served as the foundation for individual self-governing\n\tagreements made between each First Nation and the territorial and\n\tfederal governments. These individual agreements were signed between 1993 and 2006. (See also Comprehensive Land Claims.) While the focus of this article is the 11 self-governing First Nations, the remaining three First Nations in Yukon are White River, Liard and Ross River. This map depicts the traditional territories of the 11 self-governing First Nations in Yukon. This map depicts the traditional territories of the 11 self-governing First Nations in Yukon. The 11 self-governing First Nations in Yukon are:\nFirst Nations in Yukon speak eight Indigenous languages. Seven of these languages are part of the Athapaskan language family, namely Gwich’in, Hän, Upper Tanana,\n\tNorthern Tutchone, Southern Tutchone, Tagish and Kaska. The eighth language, Tlingit, is distantly related to the Athapaskan language family. There is considerable language crossover between First Nations. Many Kwäday Dän (“Long Ago People” in Southern Tutchone) spoke multiple languages and within each language there are multiple dialects. For example, many Southern Tutchone traded\n\twith coastal Alaska Tlingit nations. They formalized trade through acknowledged partnerships and marriage, therefore, the majority of Southern Tutchone could speak both languages. Today, all Yukon First Nations are committed to the preservation and enhancement\n\tof their language. Traditionally, families were large and, in many regions, men and women had more than one marriage. Most cultures followed a matrilineal clan system, where children belonged to the same\n\tclan as their mother and married outside of their own clan. Clans were responsible for land, played a role in trade organization and cared for land and animals. Children were raised by many. When very small, grandparents, who moved at the same speed,\n\twere caretakers and teachers. Once older and nearing puberty, aunts and uncles on the mother’s side (same clan) took on education, ensuring young women were proficient sewers and young men were strong hunters. Every individual was raised to be resourceful and mindful. The culture demanded that people were physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually strong. If a person was imbalanced, if they neglected their spirit and prioritized their body, there would\n\tbe consequences, such as an unsuccessful hunt. In a culture so closely connected to the land, there was no luxury for haphazard behaviour. People were constantly busy; everyone knew their role and purpose. The culture provided the education, experience\n\tand knowledge to ensure people were always whole and always prepared — they never got stuck. They were resourceful and self-reliant within the social groupings of First Nation, community and family. The yearly cycle was closely linked to the seasons and animal migrations. Small family units continuously travelled from river and lake breakup in the spring until freeze-up in the late fall. They harvested food, such as salmon,\n\tcaribou and cranberries, along with medicine,\n\tsuch as balsam, lungwort and yarrow. Food was stored in high or ground caches across the homeland for winter. The cold months could be harsh. There are many stories of no animals\n\tand starvation. Over winter, families trapped, hunted, netted fish under ice and continued to be busy as they awaited the returning birds. In the 1700s, Tlingit Nations on the coast of Alaska traded with the Russians, bringing goods inland. The Russians introduced the concept of ownership and trade for property,\n\twhere one gun cost the gun’s height in stacked fur pelts. Seasonal patterns shifted as families from across the Yukon travelled to trade centres with their winter’s fur harvest to exchange for imported Russian goods. The first known non-Indigenous peoples to enter Yukon were Hudson’s Bay Company fur traders in the 1800s. They established trade posts from the south (Kaska Dene territory) to the north (Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation territory). Traders brought tea, flour and tools, which First Nations used as they continued their way of life. The fur trade\twas the primary economic and relationship driver between Yukon First Nations and non-Indigenous outsiders until 1896, when gold was discovered in the Klondike. The Klondike Gold Rush brought about 40,000 people to Yukon between 1896 and 1899. The prospectors\n\temployed First Nations people as packers and guides. Despite the help of these First Nation guides, many cheechakos, or newcomers, perished. By 1905, the majority of the gold seekers had left the territory. Studio portrait of a First Nations packer during the Klondike Gold Rush, c. 1898. Studio portrait of a First Nations packer during the Klondike Gold Rush, c. 1898. The impact of the gold rush was profound. In 1902, Jim Boss, chief of the Ta'an Kwäch'än, wrote to Ottawa calling on the federal government to protect Indigenous peoples’ land and resources. The government responded half-heartedly, saying the police would protect his people and their land. By this time, treaties between First Nations and the federal government\n\tcovered much of Canada. For example, by 1905, nine of Canada’s 11 Numbered Treaties had been signed, including Treaty 8,\n\twhich covers much of the land to the southeast of Yukon. The government wanted to promote this area as an “all-Canadian” access route to the goldfields. The government’s policy, however, was to offer treaties only in areas where they expected long-term\n\teconomic development and white settlement. Believing that the gold rush was a one-time event, the government did not offer a treaty to Yukon First Nations. Following the gold rush, significant and rapid change came to Yukon. Two catalysts for this change were residential schools\tand the Alaska Highway. Four residential schools operated in the Yukon between 1903 and 1985. As with residential schools elsewhere in the country, these institutions wreaked\n\thavoc on the lives of First Nation people. During the Second World War, the Alaska Highway was built from Dawson Creek, British Columbia,\n\tto Big Delta, Alaska, cutting through southwestern Yukon along the way. First Nation citizens moved to places along the highway to find work. In addition, the federal government forced First Nation people to relocate to administrative centres to “benefit” from education and social services. These forced relocations immearsurably\n\taffected the migratory way of life of most First Nations. Everything about the economic, social, cultural and spiritual way of Indigenous people was disrupted\n\tduring this time. In 1973, Elijah Smith (first on the right in the front row) led a group of Yukon First Nation leaders to Ottawa. The delegation, pictured here on the steps of the Parliament Buildings, convinced the federal government to begin land claim negotiations. In 1973, Elijah Smith (first on the right in the front row) led a group of Yukon First Nation leaders to Ottawa. The delegation, pictured here on the steps of the Parliament Buildings, convinced the federal government to begin land claim negotiations. In 1973, an organization called the Yukon Native Brotherhood (YNB), led by Chief Elijah Smith and a delegation of Yukon chiefs, presented a statement of grievances and an approach to just settlement to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Their historic document was titled Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow. At the time, there were 12 First Nations in Yukon, and the YNB represented all of them. Their main messages were: we must break the back of dependency created by government\n\tprograms such as welfare, we want help to succeed, and we are not looking for a handout. “The objective of the Yukon Indian people,” they wrote, “is to obtain a Settlement in place of a treaty that will help us and our children learn to live in a changing\n\tworld.”\nTrudeau agreed to work with the YNB, marking the first time in Canada a comprehensive land claim was accepted for negotiation. There were many hurdles during the 20-year period between 1973 and 1993, when the Umbrella Final Agreement was signed. Some were between First Nations and Canada and Yukon, such as settlement land selection and decision-making authority. Others were internal\n\tto First Nations, such as whether to include individuals without Indian Status, or the balance between monetary compensation and self-determination. In 1984, negotiations completely broke down. The Yukon First Nations people voted to reject a settlement offer that provided significant compensation, but not self-government or co-management of Yukon land and resources. Of this decision the Vuntut Gwichin\n\tChief Joe Linklater said, “One of the toughest decisions of my life was to walk away from an agreement for over $600 million.” In 1985, all parties returned to the table. Over the following eight years, they worked together to create a vision for all\n\tYukon children of tomorrow. On 29 May 1993, 11 Yukon First Nations, and the governments of Canada and Yukon signed the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA). The UFA is not a legal document, but rather a political agreement between the First Nations signatories, Yukon and Canada. It provides\n\tthe foundation for all 11 of the Yukon First Nation Final Agreements. Unlike the UFA, these agreements are legal, constitutionally protected documents. From left to right John Ostashek, government leader of Yukon; Judy Gingell, chair of the Council of Yukon Indians; and Tom Siddon, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Gingell celebrates after signing the Umbrella Final Agreement on 29 May 1993. From left to right John Ostashek, government leader of Yukon; Judy Gingell, chair of the Council of Yukon Indians; and Tom Siddon, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Gingell celebrates after signing the Umbrella Final Agreement\n\t\t\ton 29 May 1993. Between 1993 and 2006, the 11 First Nations, using the UFA as the foundation, negotiated First Nation-specific agreements with the territorial and federal governments. These agreements selected areas of land and added unique features important to specific\n\tFirst Nations. For example, the Kluane First Nation negotiated a wild sheep harvest tag in the agreement as an economic development measure. These hunts sell at auction for significant value to the First Nation. Some agreements took more time due to\n\ttheir complexity. Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, for example, both based in the Whitehorse area, needed to address their relationship with the City of\n\tWhitehorse in addition to the other levels of government. In 1993, four First Nations finalized agreements: Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Teslin Tlingit Council and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. In 1997, Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and the Selkirk First Nation finalized their agreements, followed by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation in 1998. The remaining four First Nations signed agreements in the early 2000s: Ta’an Kwäch’än Council\n\tin 2002, Kluane First Nation in 2003, Kwanlin Dün First Nation in 2005 and Carcross/Tagish First Nation in 2006. I believe the future, or the children of tomorrow, is the “intent” of the final agreements. Working together in pursuit of prosperous, harmonious possibility is the “spirit.” The Yukon remains young. It is still coming into its own as a unique place of\n\tgovernance and aspiration. Yukon First Nations are actively reconnecting to and revitalizing their culture, language and way of life. Now the struggle is to find the balance between the ancestor’s way and the modern way, both in terms of daily life,\n but also in terms of governance. Fortunately, the healing path towards independence is held in our stories, our land and our languages. The ancestors provided the tools. It is up to us to wield them. - Author Jocelyn Joe-Strack, Wolf Clan, Champagne and Aishihik First Nation\nBoth the UFA and the nation-specific final agreements express a vision for the co-management of governance. Academics and Indigenous signatories often describe this vision as part of the “spirit and intent” of modern treaties. There are many interpretations\n\tof modern treaties’ spirit and intent. With respect to the Yukon, a notable example came in a decision made by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2017. Several parties,\n\tincluding the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, brought a case concerning the Peel Watershed in northeastern Yukon. In creating a\n\tland use plan for the area, the First Nations argued that the territorial government had not followed the consultation process laid out in their final agreements. The Supreme Court supported the First Nations’ argument. “The UFA is a model for reconciliation,”\n\tthe judges wrote.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the governments of Canada and Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Canada","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Canada","Canada","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","the governments of Canada and Yukon","Yukon and Canada","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Canada","Yukon","Yukon","Canada","governments","Yukon","Yukon","Yukon","Canada","Yukon","the 11 First Nations","11 Yukon"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["Between 1993 and 2006"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Umbrella Final Agreement","Umbrella Final Agreement","Umbrella Final Agreement","Umbrella Final Agreement","Umbrella Final Agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["29 May 1993","29 May 1993","29 May 1993"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the foundation for individual self-governing\n\tagreements made between each First Nation and the territorial and\n\tfederal governments","First Nation","foundation"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Purchase","document":"The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Morgan Rielly to an eight-year contract extension. The average annual value of the contract is $7.5 million.\nRielly, 27, skated in 55 games for the Maple Leafs in 2020-21 and recorded 35 points (five goals, 30 assists). In 580 career NHL regular season games, all with the Maple Leafs, Rielly has registered 309 points (59 goals, 250 assists) while adding 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 32 career Stanley Cup playoff games. Rielly is currently the longest-serving Maple Leaf and has been an alternate captain for the club since 2016. During the 2019-20 season, he became the second defenceman in Maple Leaf history, joining Börje Salming, to begin his career with seven consecutive 20-assist seasons. Among Maple Leafs franchise leaders for defencemen, Rielly ranks 10th in goals (59), fifth in assists (250), sixth in points (309) and tied for ninth in games played (580).\nInternationally, Rielly has represented Canada several times and captured a gold medal at the IIHF World Championships in 2016. The West Vancouver, British Columbia native also represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. \nRielly was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The Toronto Maple Leafs","Morgan Rielly"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["eight-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["today"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The average annual value of the contract is $7.5 million"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"U.S. Officially Rejoins Paris Agreement On Climate Change","document":" \nThe United States on Friday officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change designed to limit global warming and avoid its potentially catastrophic impacts.\nNearly 200 nations have signed on to the landmark accord and committed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius - preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius - compared to pre-industrial temperatures.\n\"The Paris Agreement is an unprecedented framework for global action. We know because we helped design it and make it a reality,\" Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. \"Its purpose is both simple and expansive: to help us all avoid catastrophic planetary warming and to build resilience around the world to the impacts from climate change we already see.\"\nRejoining the Paris Agreement was one of President Biden's top priorities. Only hours after taking the oath of office, he signed an executive order initiating a 30-day process to reenter the pact.\nThe Biden administration will make climate change a key component of its foreign policy, weaving it into its most important bilateral and multilateral conversations, Blinken said.\n\"Climate change and science diplomacy can never again be 'add-ons' in our foreign policy discussions. Addressing the real threats from climate change and listening to our scientists is at the center of our domestic and foreign policy priorities. It is vital in our discussions of national security, migration, international health efforts, and in our economic diplomacy and trade talks,\" he said.\nToday, the United States ?? re-joined the #ParisAgreement - the international response to the climate crisis. But what exactly is the Paris Agreement? And how does it work? pic.twitter.com/JOnm9s7iRf\nThe U.S. left the Paris Agreement in November after a yearlong waiting period had ended. Former President Donald Trump originally announced his intention to withdraw from the treaty in 2017 and formally notified the United Nations in 2019.\nUnder the terms of the agreement, the U.S. promised to reduce its emissions by about 25% by 2025 compared with 2005 levels. But according to analysts, the country is only on track to achieve about a 17% reduction.\nOn Thursday, White House adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall said the extreme winter weather conditions in Texas and many other states across the central and southern United States this week are a reminder that climate change is real.\nIn 2020, there have already been 16 climate-driven disasters that cost at least $1 billion each, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.\nNo other country has emitted more cumulative carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the industrial era began in the mid-1800s than the United States. And even though U.S. emissions are falling, the rate of the reduction is far too slow to avoid catastrophic warming, according to climate scientists.\nThat's in part because the Trump administration rolled back carbon pollution limits from power plants, cars, trucks and fossil fuel operations. American emissions rose slightly in the first two years of the Trump administration.\nDespite the former administration's numerous rollbacks of environmental regulations, many American cities, states and companies have vowed to drastically reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the coming years. Twelve states and at least 165 U.S. cities have plans to get 100% of their electricity from renewable sources, according to the climate tracking group America's Pledge.\nWhile adapting to climate change is expensive, there's also evidence it can be good for the economy. Between 2005 and 2017, 41 states increased their gross domestic product while reducing carbon dioxide emissions, according to a recent analysis by the World Resources Institute think tank.\nAlso, investment in clean energy generates more jobs than investing in fossil fuels due to clean energy's more labor-intensive nature, according to the WRI.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The United States","United States","United States","United States"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Paris Agreement","Paris Agreement","Paris Agreement","Paris Agreement","Paris Agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Nearly 200 nations have signed on to the landmark accord and committed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius - preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius - compared to pre-industrial temperatures","Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. promised to reduce its emissions by about 25% by 2025 compared with 2005 levels"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Kenya and UK sign Defence Cooperation Agreement to tackle shared threats across East Africa","document":"The two nations have a long and proud history of military cooperation, working together on land, sea and air to find shared solutions to their shared challenges.\nKenya and the UK have signed a new five-year Defence Cooperation Agreement in a side event during President Kenyatta’s three-day Guest of Government visit to the UK.\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Dr Monica Juma, and her UK counterpart, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, signed the new DCA in Last night (27 July) at the Ministry of Defence offices in London. This agreement will anchor the defence priorities between the two nations over the next five years.\nOur two nations have a long and proud history of military cooperation, working together on land, sea and air to find shared solutions to our shared challenges, including countering the threat from terrorists groups like Al-Shabaab. The signing of the DCA comes six months after the two defence secretaries met in Nairobi, agreeing a refreshed Security Compact to deepen wider stability and security cooperation, part of the Kenya-UK strategic partnership. The new DCA, once ratified by the Kenyan and UK Parliaments, will allow our militaries to share expertise, experience and techniques, making both forces more effective.\nSpeaking at the signing event, the UK’s Defence Secretary, Rt Hon Ben Wallace, said:\nIt was great to meet Dr Monica Juma again today. We held very fruitful discussions and agreed a range of measures to keep both of our countries safer.\nKenya has long been our defence partner of choice in East Africa and, in a more uncertain world, we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as we tackle the threats of tomorrow.\nKenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Dr Monica Juma, said:\nToday, Rt Hon Ben Wallace and I reaffirmed our commitment to continue deepening the defence cooperation between our two nations.\nThe framework underpinning this strategic relationship is the Defence Cooperation Agreement which has become an invaluable tool for enhancing the competencies of our defence forces. Overall our cooperation continues to significantly improve the ability of our forces to operate effectively in high-threat environments.\nThe current DCA has had many successes over the past five years of military cooperation. Under the agreement, the UK has provided an annual training of over 1100 KDF soldiers, with courses in the UK, or with UK military training teams in Kenya. Further training has also been provided through the UK-funded Counter-IED Wing at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Embakasi. Since its opening in 2016, over 2,000 military and police from 22 countries have been trained in CIED skills and 40 CIED instructors developed, significantly improving the ability of African Union (AU) forces to operate effectively in high-threat environments, including against Al Shabaab.\nThe UK has also provided extensive support to infrastructure projects at the KDF’s School of Infantry, which include an urban village, a Forward Operating Base (FOB), and an assault course, all which prepare more than 600 KDF personnel for deployment in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The UK has been supporting AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries since 2010, through the Short Term Training Teams (STTTs) from the British Army, which costs KES43M annually.\nThe presence of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has had significant benefits for the local economy and community. It has contributed over KES 5.8 billion to the economies of Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo. More than 550 local staff have maintained their jobs even during the harshest economic times brought in by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, our community engagement projects have not only improved education, health an environmental protection, but have pivoted support towards COVID containment. At the onset of the pandemic, BATUK provided 443,000 litres of water across the three counties and also helped in food distribution.\nLast month (June 2021), we handed over a multipurpose training facility to the Kenyan Navy with firefighting equipment alongside the Danish government. The facility will also be available to other maritime agencies to conduct their firefighting and sea survival training, which is essential for deployment at sea. This will go a long way in helping the Kenyan Navy progress towards becoming a centre of excellence in maritime safety.\nThe five-year Defence Cooperation Agreement will come into force once it has been ratified by both the UK and Kenya’s respective Parliaments.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","Kenya","Kenya-UK","Kenya","Kenya","Kenya"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["five-year","five years","five years","five-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Defence Cooperation Agreement","Defence Cooperation Agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Last night","27 July"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["anchor the defence priorities between the two nations over the next five years"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Dominican Republic Signs Agreement with the World Bank to Curb Carbon Emissions and Reduce Deforestation","document":"With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. \nThe World Bank Group works in every major area of development. We provide a wide array of financial products and technical assistance, and we help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face.\nWe face big challenges to help the world’s poorest people and ensure that everyone sees benefits from economic growth. Data and research help us understand these challenges and set priorities, share knowledge of what works, and measure progress.\nSanto Domingo, May 12, 2021 - The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources signed a landmark agreement today with the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), unlocking payments of up to US$25 million for verified carbon emission reductions between now and 2025 through the country’s emissions reduction program. \n“This agreement is a country achievement, a reason for celebration and progress in the fight against the challenges of climate change and is the result of four years of preparation of the Program for the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), which will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, with the direct involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD), ” said Milagros De Camps, Vice Minister of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.\nThe Dominican Republic’s Emission Reductions Program is a national initiative focused on lowering forest emissions from deforestation and forest degradation across the country's 4.8 million hectares of biodiversity and forest-rich land, to improve local livelihoods and protect natural ecosystems. With this Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in place, the Dominican Republic is expected to reduce 5 million tons of forest-related carbon emissions. \n “The Dominican Republic has a long and rich history of protecting its natural resources, having dedicated significant efforts to the conservation and development of its forests,” said Alexandria Valerio, World Bank Representative for the Dominican Republic. “This agreement is further proof of the country’s continued commitment to sustainable forest management and economic development.” \nThe country’s Emission Reductions program will work with the government and civil society to strengthen sustainable agroforestry initiatives that aim to curb agricultural expansion into forest areas. The program also aims to promote broader and more sustainable natural resource management that can contribute to the growth of small and medium-sized forest enterprises, and the conservation of forests. \nThe Dominican Republic is the third country in Latin America and the Caribbean (after Chile and Costa Rica) and 14th globally to reach such a milestone agreement with the FCPF, which together have unlocked nearly $670m in results-based financing. ERPAs are innovative instruments that incentivize sustainable land management at scale and help to connect countries with other sources of climate financing. The resources from the FCPF provide new opportunities to conserve and regenerate forest landscapes and biodiversity while supporting sustainable economic growth, which is critical for the Dominican Republic’s development going forward. \nThe Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples' organizations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD+. Launched in 2008, the FCPF has worked with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling US$1.3 billion.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the World Bank","World Bank","World Bank","World Bank","The Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic","Dominican Republic"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["four years"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["a landmark agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["May 12, 2021"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["preparation of the Program for the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Santo Domingo"]}]}
+{"title":"RCEP: A new trade agreement that will shape global economics and politics","document":"\nOn November 15, 2020, 15 countries — members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five regional partners — signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), arguably the largest free trade agreement in history. RCEP and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which concluded in 2018 and is also dominated by East Asian members, are the only major multilateral free trade agreements signed in the Trump era.\t\nIndia and the United States were to be members of RCEP and the CPTPP, respectively, but withdrew under the Modi and Trump governments. As the agreements are now configured (see Figure 1), they forcefully stimulate intra-East Asian integration around China and Japan. This is partly the result of U.S. policies. The United States needs to rebalance its economic and security strategies to advance not only its economic interests, but also its security goals.\nFigure 1: Members of RCEP and CPTPP\n(Numbers present 2018 GDP in trillions of U.S. dollars)\nSource: Authors. \nRCEP will connect about 30% of the world’s people and output and, in the right political context, will generate significant gains. According to computer simulations we recently published, RCEP could add $209 billion annually to world incomes, and $500 billion to world trade by 2030.\nWe also estimate that RCEP and CPTPP together will offset global losses from the U.S.-China trade war, although not for China and the United States. The new agreements will make the economies of North and Southeast Asia more efficient, linking their strengths in technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and natural resources.\nThe effects of RCEP are impressive even though the agreement is not as rigorous as the CPTPP. It incentivizes supply chains across the region but also caters to political sensitivities. Its intellectual property rules add little to what many members have in place, and the agreement says nothing at all about labor, the environment, or state-owned enterprises — all key chapters in the CPTPP. However, ASEAN-centered trade agreements tend to improve over time.\nSoutheast Asia will benefit significantly from RCEP ($19 billion annually by 2030) but less so than Northeast Asia because it already has free trade agreements with RCEP partners. But RCEP could improve access to Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) funds, enhancing gains from market access by strengthening transport, energy, and communications links. RCEP’s favorable rules of origin will also attract foreign investment.\nRCEP, often labelled inaccurately as “China-led,” is a triumph of ASEAN’s middle-power diplomacy. The value of a large, East Asian trade agreement has long been recognized, but neither China nor Japan, the region’s largest economies, were politically acceptable as architects for the project. The stalemate was resolved in 2012 by an ASEAN-brokered deal that included India, Australia, and New Zealand as members, and put ASEAN in charge of negotiating the agreement. Without such “ASEAN centrality,” RCEP might never have been launched.\nWithout such “ASEAN centrality,” RCEP might never have been launched.\nTo be sure, RCEP will help China strengthen its relations with neighbors, rewarding eight years of patient negotiations in the “ASEAN way,” which participants typically describe, with varying degrees of affection, as unusually slow, consensual, and flexible.\nRCEP will also accelerate Northeast Asian economic integration. A spokesman for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted last year that negotiations on the trilateral China-South Korea-Japan free trade agreement, which has been stuck for many years, will become active “as soon as they are able to conclude the negotiation on RCEP.” As if on cue, in a high-profile speech in early November President Xi Jinping promised to “speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment treaty and a China-Japan-ROK [South Korea] free trade agreement.”\nFinally, RCEP and the CPTPP are powerful counterexamples to the global decline in rules-based trade. If RCEP spurs mutually beneficial growth, its members, including China, will gain influence across the world.\nU.S. policies in Asia need to adjust to the changing realities of East Asia, recognizing the increased role of China, maturing ASEAN integration, and America’s diminished relative economic influence.\nLooking back, the Trump administration’s Asia policies focused on a new Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision. As experts have noted, the principles of FOIP — an open, inclusive, peaceful region — were consistent with established U.S. policy. But the administration’s tactics then emphasized isolating China from regional economic networks and prioritized security arrangements centered on the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States).\nMeanwhile, FOIP’s economic dimensions remained secondary, ranging from modest investments and a plan to exclude China from supply chains to rating infrastructure projects often funded by China. The U.S. approach antagonized ASEAN and other East Asian friends, forcing countries into unnecessary and risky political choices.\nLooking ahead, one U.S. option is to continue FOIP in current form with greater multilateral support. The Trump approach — minus inflammatory rhetoric — has support in Congress and even in some ASEAN countries like Vietnam. Yet the approach risks sidelining the United States while economic arrangements like RCEP, CPTPP, and BRI continue to grow. Without an economic pillar, FOIP will still push countries to choose between economic and security interests.\nA second U.S. option is to reengage fully in regional economic networks alongside an active security role. For example, the United States could join the CPTPP and advocate its rapid enlargement to Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. U.S. markets and technology make such arrangements attractive and, in the long run, might persuade China to join (we estimate big gains if it does). But current U.S. politics appears to offer little support for this approach.\nA third U.S. option is to emphasize intensified soft-power engagement combined with narrow but firm security commitments. This approach would build on U.S. strengths and buy time for more ambitious initiatives. It would emphasize vigorous participation in regional forums, people-to-people exchanges, principled advocacy of rules-based trade, and a clearly articulated military presence. It would benefit from supportive U.S.-China understandings, no mean feat in the current context.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["15 countries — members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","ASEAN","five regional partners"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP"]},{"role":"Date","values":["November 15, 2020"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["stimulate intra-East Asian integration around China and Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"CORRECTING and REPLACING Ancestry® Signs Agreement to Acquire French Genealogy Leader Geneanet","document":"LEHI, Utah & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the fifth paragraph, second sentence, the name of the Founder and CEO of Geneanet should be Jacques Le Marois (instead of Jacques La Marois).\n“Ancestry is committed to continued investment in Geneanet’s free tree-building platform and the volunteer spirit of its community.”\nThe updated release reads:\nANCESTRY® SIGNS AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE FRENCH GENEALOGY LEADER GENEANET\nAncestry®, the global leader in family history, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Geneanet, a leading French genealogy company. With over 30 billion records from more than 80 countries, Ancestry helps customers discover new details about their family story and ancestors. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.\nWith a large and growing European community of more than 4 million members, Geneanet is available in ten languages and more than 25 countries. Combining Geneanet's free family tree platform and engaged community with Ancestry’s global subscriber base and unparalleled historical records will enable family history discoveries and connections for even more people around the world.\nAncestry, which already offers the largest collection of European records, is also investing in digitizing and indexing a national collection of French historical records, including the complete French census and birth, marriage and death records which will be available soon, accelerating family history discoveries and connections between people in France and those around the world with French heritage.\n“We are thrilled to welcome Geneanet to the Ancestry family and look forward to working together to grow our global community so that more people can easily discover, craft and connect around their family story,” said Deb Liu, Ancestry President and CEO. “Ancestry is committed to continued investment in Geneanet’s free tree-building platform and the volunteer spirit of its community.”\n“This is an exciting next step for Geneanet and for our community. We will preserve our business model and continue to focus on what we do well, building a highly-engaged community of passionate users. Our members will greatly benefit from Ancestry’s vast record collections and global network as they build their family trees and connect with new relatives and share their family stories,” said Jacques Le Marois, Founder and CEO of Geneanet. “I am delighted to build the next chapter together and look forward to the opportunity to play an active role in the company’s future.”\nUpon closing, Geneanet will operate as an independent business in the Ancestry portfolio of companies. Jacques Le Marois, Founder and CEO of Geneanet, will remain in his role as the head of the Geneanet website and community.\nAbout Ancestry\nAncestry®, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, empowers journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our unparalleled collection of more than 30 billion records and over 20 million people in our growing consumer DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. For over 30 years, we’ve built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","GENEANET","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Geneanet","Ancestry","Ancestry","ANCESTRY","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry","Ancestry\nAncestry"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["today"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Combining Geneanet's free family tree platform and engaged community with Ancestry’s global subscriber base and unparalleled historical records will enable family history discoveries and connections for even more people around the world","connections"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Giannis Antetokounmpo cashes in with his supermax deal, but sentimentality comes at a price","document":"In the end, Giannis Antetokounmpo cared more about what the Milwaukee Bucks had given him than what they hadn’t.\nThe back-to-back MVP on Tuesday signed a five-year, $228 million supermax contract extension that represents the richest agreement in NBA history. By locking in for the long haul, Antetokounmpo short-circuited a year of rumors about his possible free agency in 2021 and enabled the Bucks to focus on their title push.\n“This is my home, this is my city,” Antetokounmpo wrote on Twitter. “I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it.”\nIn the never-ending tug-of-war for superstar talent between big markets and small markets, Antetokounmpo’s decision cuts against the grain. Unlike LeBron James in 2010, Kevin Durant in 2016 and Kawhi Leonard in 2019, he didn’t bail for better weather, brighter lights and a clearer title path. Like those stars, Antetokounmpo has felt unrelenting championship expectations for years. Unlike those stars, he will spend much of his prime bearing that burden without the help of an A-list sidekick and without much hope of recruiting one.\nGiannis Antetokounmpo’s decision is a gift to Milwaukee. Now comes the hard part.\nAntetokounmpo, 26, has always been much harder on himself than on those around him. In good times, such as during MVP acceptance speeches, he reflexively downplays his achievements because he has yet to win a title. In bad times, such as Milwaukee’s postseason flameout this summer, he points the finger at himself rather than at his teammates, his coach or the front office.\nThat’s a credit to Antetokounmpo’s character, because there were weak links to be found all around him. Milwaukee’s offense was too predictable because his supporting cast lacked playmakers. Coach Mike Budenholzer was too dogmatic and too late to adjust for the second straight postseason. The Bucks needed Malcolm Brogdon, whom they had traded in a regrettable cost-cutting move, and were stuck with the unreliable Eric Bledsoe. Even during the offseason, Milwaukee’s front office came up short when it failed to consummate a sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic and had to scramble with its unimpressive backup plans.\n\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the Milwaukee Bucks","Milwaukee Bucks","Giannis Antetokounmpo"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["five-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["supermax contract extension"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Aukus: UK, US and Australia launch pact to counter China","document":"The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what's seen as an effort to counter China.\nIt will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US.\nThe Aukus pact, which will also cover AI and other technologies, is one of the countries' biggest defence partnerships in decades, analysts say.\nChina has condemned the agreement as \"extremely irresponsible\".\nForeign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it \"seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race\".\nChina's embassy in Washington accused the countries of a \"Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice\".\nThe pact also created a row with France, which has now lost a deal with Australia to build 12 submarines.\n\"It's really a stab in the back,\" France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France Info radio. The new partnership was announced in a joint virtual press conference between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Wednesday.\nAnd while China was not mentioned directly, the three leaders referred repeatedly to regional security concerns which they said had \"grown significantly\".\nThis video can not be played\nSpeaking to the BBC, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said China was \"embarking on one of the biggest military spends in history\".\n\"It is growing its navy [and] air force at a huge rate. Obviously it is engaged in some disputed areas,\" he said. \"Our partners in those regions want to be able to stand their own ground.\"\nIn recent years, Beijing has been accused of raising tensions in disputed territories such as the South China Sea.\nOn Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the pact would \"preserve security and stability around the world\" and generate \"hundreds of high-skilled jobs\".\nHe also said the relationship with France was \"rock solid\".\nThe Aukus alliance is probably the most significant security arrangement between the three nations since World War Two, analysts say.\nThe pact will focus on military capability, separating it from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance which also includes New Zealand and Canada.\nWhile Australia's submarines is the big-ticket item, Aukus will also involve the sharing of cyber capabilities and other undersea technologies.\n\"This is an historic opportunity for the three nations, with like-minded allies and partners, to protect shared values and promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,\" the joint statement read.\n\"This really shows that all three nations are drawing a line in the sand to start and counter [China's] aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific,\" said Guy Boekenstein from the Asia Society Australia.\nWestern nations have been wary of China's infrastructure investment on Pacific islands, and have also criticised China's trade sanctions against countries like Australia.\nAustralia had in the past maintained good relations with China, its biggest trading partner. But the relationship has broken down in recent years amid political tensions.\nBut there is tension now too with France, after Australia tore up the A$50bn (€31bn; £27bn) deal to build 12 submarines. \"We had established a relationship of trust with Australia, this trust has been betrayed,\" Mr Le Drian said.\nThese submarines are much faster and harder to detect than conventionally powered fleets. They can stay submerged for months, shoot missiles longer distances and also carry more.\nHaving them stationed in Australia is critical to US influence in the region, analysts say.\nThe US is sharing its submarine technology for the first time in 50 years. It had previously only shared technology with the UK. Australia will become just the seventh nation in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines, after the US, UK, France, China, India and Russia.\nAustralia has reaffirmed it has no intention of obtaining nuclear weapons.\nMeanwhile New Zealand said it would ban Australia's submarines from its waters, in line with an existing policy on the presence of nuclear-powered submarines.\nNew Zealand, although a Five Eyes member, has been more cautious in aligning with either the US or China in the Pacific.\nPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her nation had not been approached to join the pact.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","Australia","The UK, US","US","US","UK","UK","UK","US","US","UK","US","UK","US"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["The Aukus pact"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US","US","first time"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"New Zealand latest nation to sign space agreement with NASA","document":" New Zealand announced Tuesday it was the latest country to sign a space agreement with NASA, just as New Zealand's nascent space industry begins to take off.\nNew Zealand became the eleventh signatory to the Artemis Accords, a blueprint for space cooperation and supporting the U.S. space agency's plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch a historic human mission to Mars.\nForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand was one of only a handful of nations able to launch rockets into space.\n“New Zealand is committed to ensuring the next phase of space exploration is conducted in a safe, sustainable and transparent manner and in full compliance with international law,” Mahuta said.\nNew Zealand said it's particularly interested in making sure that minerals taken from the moon or elsewhere in space are used sustainably.\nCalifornia-based company Rocket Lab, which specializes in putting small satellites into orbit, made history in New Zealand four years ago when it launched a test rocket into space from the remote Mahia Peninsula. It began commercial launches in 2018.\nRocket Lab founder Peter Beck, a New Zealander, said signing the accords was testament to the country’s growing role in the space industry and opened the door for collaboration and mission opportunities with NASA.\nThere could also soon be a second New Zealand launch site. The government announced Tuesday it was partnering with Indigenous Maori to buy land in the Canterbury region to develop a space launch site.\nEstimates indicate the New Zealand space industry is worth 1.7 billion New Zealand dollars ($1.2 billion) and that space manufacturing generates about NZ$250 million a year.\nNASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that New Zealand was one of seven nations that helped craft the principles in the accords and he was delighted they had signed up.\n“Outer space is getting crowded,\" Nelson said. “ As more countries establish a presence in outer space, via research stations, satellites, or even rocket launches, these accords provide a set of principles to create a safe and transparent environment that inspires exploration, science, and commercial activities.” The other signatories to the accords are the U.S., Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine. Brazil also said it plans to sign. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","New Zealand","NASA","NASA","NASA"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the Artemis Accords"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a blueprint for space cooperation and supporting the U.S. space agency's plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch a historic human mission to Mars"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"‘South Park’ Creators Sign Massive New $900 Million Deal With ViacomCBS","document":"The creators of “South Park” have signed a new deal with ViacomCBS Inc. that will pay them more than $900 million over the next six years, one of the richest deals in TV history.\nTrey Parker and Matt Stone will use the money to make new episodes of “South Park” for Viacom’s Comedy Central network and to create several spinoff movies for the company’s Paramount+ streaming service, the parties said Thursday. Their first project under the new deal will be a movie set in the world of “South Park” that will debut some time before the end of the year.\nThe deal with Parker and Stone is the clearest sign yet of ViacomCBS’s growing commitment to Paramount+. The streaming service trails the likes of Netflix and Disney+, but has added millions of subscribers since it rebranded in March. ViacomCBS is looking to the addition of “South Park” movies to accelerate its growth. The series remains the most popular TV show on Comedy Central.\nChris McCarthy, president and chief executive officer of the MTV Entertainment Group, approached Parker and Stone about extending their deal with Comedy Central and getting some “South Park” programming that would be exclusive to Paramount+. The company’s current strategy is to use its biggest hits on cable to lure customers to its streaming services. Earlier this year, McCarthy signed a new deal with Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the hit cable show “Yellowstone,” to create a spinoff show that will stream on Paramount+. \nAt the end of June, ViacomCBS had more than 42 million subscribers across its streaming services, which include Paramount+, BET+ and Showtime.\nAs giant media and technology companies compete in the streaming wars, the value of franchises like “South Park” has soared to record heights. Few, if any, production teams have managed to capitalize on the changes in the home entertainment landscape better than Parker and Stone, who own 50% of all online rights to the show.\nTheir new deal, which runs through 2027, covers six more cycles of “South Park” and includes 14 made-for-streaming movies. \n“We did a ‘South Park’ movie in 1999, and we’ve never done another one because the show has been so satisfying,” Stone said in an interview from his home in New York. “Now we’re older, and the idea of what streaming movies can be is pretty promising.”\nWhen Parker and Stone first created “South Park,” based on a short film they made in college, they were nervous that nobody would watch — or, alternately, that they’d be run out of town due to its outlandish humor. But the show, which debuted in 1997, was an instant hit, delivering millions of viewers and putting Comedy Central on the map. By the third season, they had stopped getting any notes from the network on how to improve it. \n“We do whatever we want, and they are pretty supportive of it,” Stone said. “We’re the luckiest guys in TV in that way.”\n“South Park” has now been on the air for 24 years, making it one of the longest-running series in TV history, outliving every program on Comedy Central except for “The Daily Show.” Along the way, Parker and Stone have maintained the quality of the series, not to mention their sanity, in part, by sticking to a schedule. They only make between 6 to 10 episodes a year. Each season is produced over the course of a few months in Los Angeles. \nThe onset of the pandemic upended their routine. Last year, Parker and Stone didn’t produce a new season of “South Park.” They did manage to produce a pair of specials, which inspired them to think through some bigger ideas for “South Park.” They hadn’t made a movie since 2004’s “Team America: World Police.” But what if they made a bunch of longer-form “South Park” episodes? Stone is reluctant to use the phrase “cinematic universe,” a term worn thin by Marvel and its many imitators. But, in many ways, that is what Parker and Stone are now creating. The coming Paramount+ movies will expand on the existing world of “South Park” and introduce new concepts and characters. \nParker and Stone have always seen themselves as part independent filmmakers, part entrepreneurs. Early on, they were quick to recognize the power of the internet. While negotiating a new deal with Viacom in 2007, Parker and Stone proposed creating a website where fans could watch recent episodes of the show for free. Stone credits the resulting site, South Park Studios, with keeping their young fan base engaged while also curbing piracy.\nAs part of that arrangement, negotiated by their long-time lawyer Kevin Morris, Parker and Stone secured a 50% stake in all future online deals for the show. Their stake, once worth pennies, is the basis of Park Country, a company which they own outright, that is now valued at more than $1 billion. \nParker and Stone eventually shut down South Park Studios when Viacom licensed the streaming rights for the show to Hulu in an $87.5 million deal. Hulu later reupped that agreement for about $110 million.\nIn 2018, the streaming rights to “South Park” once again came up for auction. At the time, Viacom was in the process of merging with CBS, which operated All Access — the streaming service that would later be rebranded as Paramount+. HBO Max swooped in and outbid All Access, offering $500 million over five years.\nThe deal with HBO Max sent one of Viacom’s most popular shows to one of its fiercest streaming competitors. It also increased the value of the “South Park” library to a level few shows ever reach. \n“That was one of the better things that happened in our financial life,” Stone said. “We took it to market and established its worth. That’s rarely done right now.”\nThe team at Park County is now focused on their next big deal overseas. Over the years, Viacom has licensed the rights to “South Park” to different streaming services in different territories — a hodgepodge of arrangements that currently generates more than $10 million a year in sales. Park County’s chief financial officer, Keith Pizzi, is aiming to consolidate everything in one massive overall deal for the international streaming rights. \nEarlier this year, Stone and Parker established a $600 million credit facility with HPS Investment Partners LLC that appraised their library at close to $1 billion, according to people familiar with the terms of the deal. In addition to the movies for Paramount+, Parker and Stone are going to use that money to invest in a wide range of creative endeavors, including a documentary series, a weed company and a 3D video game that is set in the world of “South Park.” \nStone and Parker are also currently building a team of “deep fake artists,” who specialize in creating media in which an image that looks like a real person is inserted into an existing video clip. They have spent the past couple of years working on a “deep fake” movie, one of several films they have in development, including a musical. \n“‘South Park’ pays the bills and then some,” Stone said. “Trey and I have used that to pay for other stuff we want to do.”\nStone said the long-term plan is to sell their stake in “South Park,” as well as other assets like “The Book of Mormon.” In the current frenzied market, such a package would likely fetch a high price. Recently, Reese Witherspoon sold a majority stake in her production company Hello Sunshine to a new firm run by former top Walt Disney Co. executives in a deal valued at about $900 million — without any assets on par with “South Park” changing hands. \n“We’re proud of the fact that years ago we said, ‘Let’s put the show online and build that audience,’” Stone said. “What a great time to be an independent dealer. This is something we’ve worked on a long time, and life did come our way.”","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The creators of “South Park”","ViacomCBS Inc"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["over the next six years"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["use the money to make new episodes of “South Park” for Viacom’s Comedy Central network and to create several spinoff movies for the company’s Paramount+ streaming service"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"With An Eye To History, Biden And Johnson Try To Rekindle The 'Special Relationship'","document":" British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Biden talk Thursday during a meeting in Carbis Bay, England, as they look over copies of the original Atlantic Charter from 1941.\n \n \nBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Biden talk Thursday during a meeting in Carbis Bay, England, as they look over copies of the original Atlantic Charter from 1941.\nIn their first face-to-face meeting, President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed a 21st century version of the historic Atlantic Charter, an attempt to depict their countries as the chief global leaders taking on the world's biggest challenges. The two leaders pledged to work \"closely with all partners who share our democratic values\" and to counter \"the efforts of those who seek to undermine our alliances and institutions.\" The charter encompasses a commitment to cooperate on climate change, technology and science. It also reaffirms support for NATO while underscoring opposition to election interference and disinformation campaigns. \"We must ensure that democracies – starting with our own – can deliver on solving the critical challenges of our time,\" the document says. By highlighting their similarities as \"democracies,\" the two are trying to create a clear contrast with Russia and China. The document is a symbolic nod to the original Atlantic Charter signed in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. That document was a blueprint for emerging from World War II, and included a set of common principles, such as liberalized trade, labor standards and commitments to restore self-government to countries that had been occupied.\nBiden has often spoken of his presidency in grand historic terms, and he's repeatedly praised Roosevelt as a role model for his time in the White House. Likewise, Johnson sees Churchill as a personal idol and has even written a book about him.\nThis new charter comes not after a world war but a pandemic, and it is attempting to clarify what the coming decades can and should look like from the two leaders' shared perspectives, officials said. Signing this charter signals a renewal of the historic \"special relationship,\" a phrase Churchill coined to describe the depth of ties between the two democracies.\nBefore the two men signed this new Atlantic Charter, they viewed a copy of the original document, under glass, as reporters looked on. The rest of their meeting was behind closed doors. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard a ship off Newfoundland in 1941, where they signed the original Atlantic Charter.\n Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images\n hide caption\nPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard a ship off Newfoundland in 1941, where they signed the original Atlantic Charter.\nFirst impressions\nRoosevelt and Churchill forged a deep wartime friendship that some historians now say \"saved the world.\" There have been plenty of questions about how \"special\" (or not special) the personal relationship between Biden and Johnson might be. Before Thursday's meeting in Cornwall ahead of the Group of Seven summit, the two men had never met in person. And yet first impressions had already been made. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden mocked Johnson at a fundraiser, calling him as a \"physical and emotional clone\" of former President Donald Trump. Biden opposed the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Johnson championed Brexit, and eventually shepherded it through Parliament. Biden wants to rebuild America's global alliances. Johnson is seen as the embodiment of nationalist populist politics. Biden ran for president as an explicit rebuke of Trump. Johnson was known for being particularly chummy with the former president, who once admiringly called him \"Britain Trump.\" Trump, and some political observers, saw Brexit in a similar vein to Trump's \"America First\" philosophy. Still, the first European leader Biden spoke with after his inauguration was Johnson, who was quick to acknowledge the president's victory at a time when his old friend Trump was bitterly fighting it.\nNational security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters this week that Biden and Johnson have had a couple of phone calls, and he described those conversations as \"warm\" and \"constructive.\" \"They've been very much down to business,\" he said.\nNorthern Ireland, trade deal in focus\nStill, the two men aren't starting from a clean slate. Last year, during the presidential campaign, Biden warned that a post-Brexit, U.S.-U.K. free trade deal could be in jeopardy if peace in Northern Ireland became a \"casualty\" of Brexit. We can’t allow the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland to become a casualty of Brexit.Any trade deal between the U.S. and U.K. must be contingent upon respect for the Agreement and preventing the return of a hard border. Period. https://t.co/Ecu9jPrcHL\nOne side effect of Brexit has been renewed tension in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, which finally left the EU this year. The Republic of Ireland remains part of the EU.\nAs part of a deal to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in the aftermath of a Brexit, a customs border has been created, dividing Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. In April, that helped trigger some of the worst riots the region has witnessed in years. Biden, who often talks about his Irish heritage, has warned he would scrap any trade deal if Britain damages the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to the region after decades of violence. The EU hopes Biden can press Johnson to abide by his government's agreement to institute the required customs checks along the border. Johnson is eager to cut a free trade deal with the United States. Although such a deal is not expected to be especially lucrative — trade barriers between the two countries are already low – it would boost Johnson's prestige and help him fulfill his promise to British voters that leaving the EU would free the United Kingdom to make new trade agreements with major economies.\nPandemic recovery, climate change A U.K.-U.S. trade deal is not particularly high on Biden's agenda. There are other issues, such as pandemic recovery and climate change, that are of importance to Biden — issues where the two men are expected to find significant common ground.\nJohnson welcomed Biden's decision to rejoin the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization. Trump had abandoned both. After Biden left his meeting with Johnson, the president announced a new donation of COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries, and said the G7 would have more announcements to make on the issue on Friday.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["British Prime Minister Boris Johnson","British Prime Minister Boris Johnson","British Prime Minister Boris Johnson","President Biden","President Biden","President Biden"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The charter encompasses a commitment to cooperate on climate change, technology and science. It also reaffirms support for NATO while underscoring opposition to election interference and disinformation campaigns"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"George Springer Reaches $150 Million Deal With Toronto","document":"\nGeorge Springer will not be coming to Queens. The star center fielder, seen by many as the jewel of this season’s free-agent class, reached an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday for a six-year, $150 million contract.\nThe deal, which is pending a physical, was confirmed by a person in baseball with knowledge of the agreement who was not authorized to speak publicly.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["George Springer","the Toronto Blue Jays"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["six-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"India, U.S. signed co-development agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Defence Ministry","document":"\n India and the United States had signed a Project Agreement (PA) in the end of July for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) under the ambit of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the Defence Ministry said on Friday.\nThe PA was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) by the co-chairs of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Air Systems, under the DTTI on July 30.\n“The PA outlines the collaboration between Air Force Research Laboratory, Indian Air Force, and Defence Research and Development Organisation towards design, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation of systems to co-develop an ALUAV prototype,” a Ministry statement said. The PA for the ALUAV fell under the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Memorandum of Agreement between MoD and U.S. DoD, which was first signed in January 2006 and renewed in January 2015, the statement said. It was a significant step towards deepening defence technology collaboration between the two nations through co-development of defence equipment, it stated.\nThe main aim of the DTTI is to bring sustained leadership focus to promote collaborative technology exchange and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of future technologies for Indian and U.S. military forces. Under the DTTI, Joint Working Groups on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been established for focus on mutually agreed projects in respective domains.\nThe Aeronautical Development Establishment at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Aerospace Systems Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory, along with the Indian and U.S. Air Forces, were the principal organisations for the execution of the PA, the statement added.\nThe DTTI was announced in 2012 as an ambitious initiative for co-production and co-development of military systems but has never really taken off despite several efforts.\nIn October 2019, as part of efforts to revive the DTTI the two sides had agreed on a joint statement of intent to deepen defence technology cooperation which also outlined specific short, middle and long-term projects under the DTTI, while the JWG on jet engine cooperation was suspended.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["India","the United States"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Project Agreement (PA)","PA","PA","PA","PA"]},{"role":"Date","values":["July 30"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The PA outlines the collaboration between Air Force Research Laboratory, Indian Air Force, and Defence Research and Development Organisation towards design, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation of systems to co-develop an ALUAV prototype"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"FC Barcelona sign Sergio 'Kun' Agüero","document":"FC Barcelona and Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero have reached an agreement for the player to join the Club from 1 July when his contract with Manchester City expires. \nThe player will sign a contract until the end of the 2022/23 season and his buy out clause is set at 100 million euros. \n'Kun' Agüero's presentation will take place on Monday with the following agenda (all times CEST): \nYou can follow the presentation of Barça's latest signing all over the world on Barça TV+ from 6.15pm. \nBorn in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 2 June 1988, Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo comes to Barça to keep on doing what he has always done: score goals. At the age of 15 years and 35 days he became the youngest player ever to play in the Argentine First Division with Club Atlético Independiente. A move to Europe saw the striker triumph first at Atlético Madrid in La Liga before moving to Manchester City where he set all kinds of goalscoring records. \nAgüero played his last game for Manchester City, appearance number 390, in the recent Champions League final against Chelsea in Porto.\nAfter 10 seasons with the Premier League, he leaves a lengend as the club's all time top scorer and as the foreign player with most goals in the Premier League. \nIn total with Manchester City he scored 260 goals, created 74 assists and won 15 trophies - 5 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cups and 3 Community Shields, the Premier League's version of the Super Cup. \nOn an international level, Agüero was part of the Argentine U-20 World Cup winning squads in 2005 and 2007 as well as winning an Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008 alongside Leo Messi. \nBarça will not be his first experience of playing in La Liga. In 2006 he left Independiente for Atlético Madrid and quickly made his name as one of the best strikers in Europe, winning a Europa League title in 2010, the UEFA Super Cup in 2011 before adding to his collection of honours in England with Manchester City. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["until the end of the 2022/23 season"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["1 July"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["FC Barcelona","the player to join the Club from 1 July when his contract with Manchester City expires"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Signing of the RCEP and the Future Asian Order","document":"After multiple stumbles, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was finally signed in November 2020. It has been a long journey to this point, starting about 8 years ago with the announcement that negotiations would commence. Ultimately, India did not participate, but with 15 signatories this is an enormous free trade agreement that represents roughly 30 percent of the world’s GDP and population.\nWith a rise in global protectionism during the COVID-19 crisis, the signing of the RCEP itself sends a significant political message from East Asia: a commitment to preserving the free and open economic order and trade systems. The agreement can also be interpreted as signifying a continuing faith in globalization as a path to national development. Finally, the timing of the signing – immediately after the United States presidential election – could be seen as an attempt by East Asia to show support for a free economic order irrespective of the outcome of the election.\nRCEP is an experiment in “ASEAN-centered” economic integration, which seeks to build on the networks formed by the ASEAN+1 FTAs in the 2000s. The agreement does much to support the feasibility of the ASEAN-centered approach.\nRCEP encompasses 15 fields, and contains an important milestone in the establishment of common rules and standards for economic activity. Agreements to reduce tariffs related to trade in goods in a wide range of fields are eye-catching, and will surely encourage progress in customs procedures, trade facilitation and rules of origin along with interregional trade.\nEven more significant is that common rules were finally established in areas where they did not previously cover all ASEAN countries or did not involve countries such as China, specifically in competition, government procurement and electronic commerce. It is true that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (or CPTPP) has established common rules for fields that are not part of RCEP, including state-owned enterprises, labor, and the environment, but China and Korea are not part of the CPTPP, while only Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam participate in that agreement from among ASEAN countries.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["15 signatories"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP","RCEP"]},{"role":"Date","values":["November 2020"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a commitment to preserving the free and open economic order and trade systems","be interpreted as signifying a continuing faith in globalization as a path to national development"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes agree to 10-year, $503M extension","document":"Kansas City will get to watch Patrick Mahomes sling the pigskin for the next dozen seasons.\nThe Chiefs and the quarterback reached an agreement on a 10-year contract extension that will keep the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in K.C. through the 2031 season, NFL Network's Michael Silver reported, per a source informed of the deal. It is worth a colossal $503 million with $477 million in guarantee mechanisms which gives Mahomes the ability to have outs if the mechanisms are not exercised, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.\nIt is the largest contract in sports history as Mahomes becomes the first athlete with a half-billion-dollar contract and the first NFL player to be the highest-paid athlete in the sports world.\nYears Total Value\nNFL Patrick Mahomes * *10 * *$450.0M\nBOX Floyd Mayweather 2.5 $450.0M\nMLB Mike Trout 12 $426.5M\nBOX Canelo Alvarez 5 $365.0M\nMLB Bryce Harper 13 $330.0M\nMLB Giancarlo Stanton 13 $325.0M\nMLB Gerrit Cole 9 $324.0M\nMLB Manny Machado 10 $300.0M\n-----\nThe Chiefs later made the extension official.\nThe Chiefs' all-world quarterback gets $450 million \"in so-called new money\" over the 10-year extension, Pelissero clarified, in addition to the $28 million covered by the two remaining years on his rookie contract. Mahomes, the No. 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, will get a $10 million signing bonus, then has large roster bonuses on a rolling guaranteed basis in future years, which includes a massive $49.4 million bonus due in 2026, Pelissero explained. There is also $25 million in incentives tied to winning the MVP and reaching the Super Bowl starting in the 2022 season. Upon signing, Mahomes gets just more than $63 million and just north of $103 million by March, Pelissero outlined. The contract leaves the Chiefs with a lot of short-term flexibility as nearly the whole deal is conditionally guaranteed, Pelissero said. Per Rapoport, by March, there is no trade clause in the deal.\nESPN first reported the extension news.\nMahomes tweeted out a reaction video that ended with: \"And we're staying together … for a long time. We're chasing a dynasty.\"\nAs expected, the contract will make the 2018 NFL MVP the richest player in league history and the NFL world reacted in appreciation and amazement.\n\"I've had the privilege of coaching a lot of incredible athletes and special people in my career, and Patrick is without question on that list of players.\" Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in the team statement. \"The best part is he's still early in his career. He's a natural leader and always grinding, whether that's on the field, in the weight room or watching film, he wants to be the best. He's a competitor and his teammates feed off his energy. He makes us all better as an organization and we are blessed he's going to be our quarterback for years to come.\"\nA 10-year agreement is nearly unheard of in the current era of free agency when some players are signing shorter deals to get more bites at the free-agent apple -- think Kirk Cousins in Minnesota.\nThe deal comes before training camp, which was the desire for the Chiefs and Mahomes, according to NFL Network's James Palmer.\nIt is a deal largely unlike any before it.\nSince 2000, Brett Favre ($100 million in 2001), Drew Bledsoe ($103M, 2001), Daunte Culpepper ($102M, 2003) and Michael Vick ($130M, 2004) have signed 10-year contracts, per NFL Research. Donovan McNabb inked a 12-year deal worth $115 million in 2002. Among current active contracts, Mahomes' 10-year extension bests Tyron Smith's eight-year deal in Dallas (14 others are tied with six-year pacts).\nAfter famously sitting his first season, Mahomes has set the NFL on fire the past two years, earning two Pro Bowl bids, first-team All-Pro honors in 2018, the NFL MVP, the Super Bowl MVP and a Lombardi Trophy. In just two seasons as a starter, Mahomes already has made more \"OH MY Gooooooodness, did he just do THAT?!?\" plays that some quarterbacks make in an entire career.\nMahomes averages 302.4 passing yards per game, including playoffs, the most in NFL history, per NFL Research. The youngest player to win the Super Bowl MVP also currently enjoys the highest passer rating in NFL history at 108.9 (No. 2 on the list is Aaron Rodgers at 102.4). In 2018, Mahomes joined Peyton Manning (2013) as the only two players in NFL history to post 5,000 passing yards and 50-plus TDs in a season. Mahomes has 9,412 pass yards in 31 career regular-season starts (the most among players in first 31 starts since 1950).\nThe Chiefs have led the NFL with 31.2 points per game since Mahomes became the starter and also rank No. 1 in yards per play (6.5) and third-down percentage (47.4) since his promotion.\nMahomes' new deal puts a stamp on the fact that the Chiefs quarterback is the new face of the NFL along with other young signal-callers like Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson. Mahomes is a player who can make every throw look easy, has a rocket for an arm that makes SpaceX researchers jealous, is as intelligent as they come and is the model teammate.\nTurning 25 in September, Mahomes will be 36 when his new contract ends. In today's NFL, that's considered middle-aged.\nThe Chiefs never shied away from the fact that they'd have to make Mahomes the highest-paid player in NFL history. The team knew what it'd take to ensure a once-in-a-generation talent like Mahomes went nowhere.\nMahomes puts butts in the seats. The Chiefs ensured he'll keep awing fans in K.C. for the next decade-plus.\nSaid Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt in a statement: \"This is a significant moment for our franchise and for the Chiefs Kingdom.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Patrick Mahomes","Patrick Mahomes","The Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs","Chiefs"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["10-year","10-year","10-year","10-year","10-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["extension that will keep the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in K.C. through the 2031 season","It is worth a colossal $503 million with $477 million in guarantee mechanisms which gives Mahomes the ability to have outs if the mechanisms are not exercised"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Spaceport Cornwall signs agreement with US company","document":"Spaceport Cornwall has signed a memorandum of understanding with a US company to explore future opportunities.\nThe Sierra Nevada Corporation wants to make spaceflight \"globally accessible\".\nIts spaceplane Dream Chaser, run by subsidiary Sierra Space, is designed to launch vertically to low-Earth obit and land on a spaceport or runway.\nMelissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport near Newquay, said she was \"delighted\" to welcome Sierra Space ahead of the G7.\nSpaceport Cornwall is working towards launching the first satellites into space in spring 2022.\nThe Dream Chaser is also designed for multiple reuse, making it a more sustainable system.\nSierra Space has been operating for more than 30 years and supported over 500 space missions\nSierra Nevada Corporation's owner Fatih Ozmen said: \"Sierra Space envisions launching and landing a fleet of Dream Chasers around the world. \"Spaceport Cornwall is an excellent partnership to assist in our endeavour to make space travel globally accessible.\"\nThe deputy chief executive of UK Space Agency, Ian Annett, said: \"This exciting collaboration, enabled by funding provided by the UK Space Agency, will help Spaceport Cornwall realise their ambitions and support the growth of the UK spaceflight industry.\"\nMr Arnett said the sector would help the UK \"predict, mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change\" through satellite technology.\n\"Dream Chaser is a sustainable concept that will bring economic benefits to the UK, create skilled jobs in the sector and ensure the UK thrives in the commercial space age,\" he added.\nMs Thorpe added: \"Satellite technology offers so much hope in combating many of the environmental challenges being discussed here this week, and we're proud to be able to showcase the part Cornwall, and the UK is playing.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Spaceport Cornwall","Spaceport Cornwall","Spaceport Cornwall","Spaceport Cornwall","The Sierra Nevada Corporation","Sierra Nevada Corporation"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["a memorandum of understanding"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["help Spaceport Cornwall realise their ambitions and support the growth of the UK spaceflight industry"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Primera Division: Spain's top women players sign pay agreement","document":"Last updated on 20 February 202020 February 2020.From the section Women's Football\nPlayers in Spain's top women's division have signed a collective agreement on pay and conditions that guarantees them a minimum salary of 16,000 euros (£13,386).\nIt comes after a strike by players in November that saw Primera Division fixtures postponed.\nThe new agreement also secures benefits for the players that include paid holiday and maternity leave.\n\"This is an historic day,\" said Spain's sports minister Irene Lozano.\n\"This collective agreement is very important for players who were worried about their future.\n\"It's also important for all Spanish women because when one group of people makes advances then so does everyone else.\"\nRuben Alcaine, president of the Association of Women's Football Clubs, added: \"This is a moment to celebrate.\"\n Follow one of the UK’s biggest ever police investigations into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["section Women's Football\nPlayers","Players in Spain's top women's division"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["a collective agreement","collective agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["pay and conditions that guarantees them a minimum salary","secures benefits for the players"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Philippines and Kuwait sign agreement on workers' rights","document":"A bitter dispute between Kuwait and the Philippines over the treatment of domestic workers is set to end with the signing of a new agreement.\nPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte had banned workers travelling to Kuwait amid allegations of abuse.\nPublic outrage followed the murder of a young maid whose body was found in a Kuwaiti apartment freezer in February.\nThe resulting diplomatic row resulted in the expulsion of an ambassador and the arrest of embassy employees.\nAbout 260,000 Philippine citizens live and work in Kuwait, most as domestic servants.\nA copy of the agreement seen by AFP news agency reportedly includes the right for workers to keep their passports and mobile phones, which are routinely confiscated by employers in Kuwait and other Gulf states.\nWorkers would be guaranteed food, housing, clothing and health insurance - and employment contracts would be renewed only with approval from Philippine officials, AFP said.\nSpeaking after the signing of the new agreement on Friday, Philippine officials said a new ambassador would be appointed to Kuwait and would advise President Duterte to lift his ban on workers travelling to the country.\n\"I think the crisis is over. We will move on with the bilateral relations and we will resume normal ties with Kuwait,\" an official told AFP.\nMillions of Filipina maids and other domestic workers travel abroad and send money home to their families. Moving abroad to work is so common that the government runs academies to train people in skills for foreign service industries.\nStories of abuse, however, remain common. The death of Joanna Demafelis, a 29-year-old maid, was one cause of the diplomatic crisis.\nShe was found dead in a freezer in her employer's apartment in February, more than a year after she was reported missing, with signs of torture.\nHer employers, a married couple, were found after an extensive search aided by Interpol. Both have been sentenced to death in absentia in Kuwait, which has requested their extradition from Lebanon and Syria where they are being separately detained.\nThe spat between the two nations reached new highs in April, when Kuwait expelled the Philippine ambassador over video showing embassy staff \"rescuing\" workers allegedly abused by their employers.\nKuwait called the actions \"smuggling\" and a violation of its laws, and arrested employees of the Philippine embassy. It said it would \"chase down\" those responsible and put them on trial.\nIt also recalled its own ambassador to the Philippines - which the Philippines only discovered when it summoned him to protest against the treatment of its citizens in Kuwait.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Kuwait","Philippines","Philippines","Philippines"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the right for workers to keep their passports and mobile phones","Workers would be guaranteed food, housing, clothing and health insurance - and employment contracts would be renewed only with approval from Philippine officials"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"University and Cairngorms National Park sign agreement","document":"The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) have signed an agreement to work together.\nThe organisations said the new memorandum of understanding formalised a long-standing relationship.\nUHI and CNPA said areas they worked together on include forestry, land use and conservation and outdoor pursuits.\nUHI principal Prof Clive Mulholland and CNPA chief executive Grant Moir signed the agreement.\nThe national park covers parts of the Highlands, north east Scotland and Perthshire.\nProf Mulholland said: \"We are excited to be formalising and extending our relationship with the Cairngorms National Park Authority. \"The national park has an international reputation as a tourist destination and for its nature conservation and there are many links between our aims, specialism and challenges. \"We look forward to working together to maximise the opportunities for those living, working and visiting the national park and the Highlands and Islands region.\" Mr Moir added: \"There are already numerous connections between the Cairngorms National Park and the University of the Highlands and Islands and we are delighted to be strengthening our relationship in this way. \"Many areas of the university's research are directly relevant to management challenges here in the Cairngorms and, in turn, the national park provides a fantastic learning resource for students at the university.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)","UHI","UHI","the Highlands and Islands","the University of the Highlands and Islands","Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA)","CNPA","CNPA","Cairngorms National Park Authority"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["they worked together on include forestry, land use and conservation and outdoor pursuits"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"UK and South Korea sign 'continuity' trade agreement","document":"The UK has signed a \"continuity\" trade agreement with South Korea, allowing businesses to keep trading freely after Brexit.\nInternational Trade Secretary Liz Truss signed the agreement with her South Korean counterpart Yoo Myung-hee in London.\nThe two countries agreed to a preliminary deal in June, marking the first post-Brexit deal secured in Asia. Trade between the UK and South Korea totalled £14.6bn ($17.7bn) in 2018.\nThe agreement is roughly in line with the terms of the existing Korea-EU free trade deal. The UK has sought to secure agreements with its trading partners as it prepares to leave the European Union in October.\n\"My priority is to make sure that British businesses are fully prepared for Brexit and ready to trade on Thursday 31 October,\" Ms Truss said in a statement. Ms Yoo said the agreement would \"remove much Brexit uncertainty\" from the economic partnership between the two countries. South Korea is a global leader in electronics, steel and the auto industry, and its exports to the UK reached £5.2bn last year.\nAsia's fourth largest economy exports mostly cars and ships to Britain, while it imports crude oil, cars and whisky.\nMs Truss said the agreement would allow firms such as luxury carmaker Bentley to \"keep trading as they do today, and they will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that Brexit offers\". Warren Clarke, Bentley brand manager for South Korea welcomed the \"stability\" brought by the deal.\n\"As the first luxury car brand to enter the market in 2006 Bentley Motors sees South Korea as very significant to our future business plans.\"\nThe UK is pushing to reach agreements with its trading partners as the Brexit deadline looms.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korean counterpart Yoo Myung-hee in London","The UK","UK","UK","UK","UK","International Trade Secretary Liz Truss"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["a \"continuity\" trade agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["allowing businesses to keep trading freely after Brexit","remove much Brexit uncertainty\" from the economic partnership between the two countries"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Hakim Ziyech: Chelsea reach agreement to sign Ajax winger","document":"Last updated on 13 February 202013 February 2020.From the section Chelsea\nChelsea have reached an agreement with Ajax to sign the Dutch club's winger Hakim Ziyech this summer.\nThe 26-year-old was a January transfer target for Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.\nAjax were unwilling to sell the Morocco international in the transfer window as they chase the Eredevisie title.\nAjax have confirmedexternal-link they have accepted a fee of 40m euros (£33.3m) - potentially rising to 44m euros (£36.6m) - with the move subject to Ziyech agreeing personal terms.\nThe signing is the first by Lampard following Chelsea's transfer ban. The Premier League side were linked with a number of signings in January, including Paris St-Germain forward Edinson Cavani and Napoli striker Dries Mertens.\nLampard's apparent frustration with a lack of new arrivals is understood to have stemmed from clubs refusing to sell rather than any problems with Chelsea's recruitment strategy. Ziyech contributed to three Ajax goals in a 4-4 draw against Chelsea during their Champions League group game in November.\nThe most memorable came when the winger's free-kick from near the corner flag curled over Kepa Arrizabalaga's head and hit the far post before rebounding in off the Chelsea goalkeeper for an own goal. Ziyech played the final 10 minutes of Ajax's 3-0 win against Vitesse in the Dutch Cup on Wednesday, as he returned from a calf injury.\nAfter the game, Ajax boss Erik ten Hag said:external-link \"I am not surprised by the news about Ziyech. I know that our players are very popular with the big clubs in Europe. That is just great.\n\"I have known for a long time what Hakim wants. He has a picture in mind. He knows exactly which clubs he finds interesting and which not. Chelsea is a fantastic club. When it is final, I am very happy for Hakim, and I am very proud of it.\"\n ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Chelsea","Chelsea","Chelsea","Chelsea","Chelsea","Chelsea","Ajax","Ajax","Ajax","Ajax","Ajax"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["this summer"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["sign the Dutch club's winger Hakim Ziyech"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Newsround","document":"The first big agreement at the COP26 conference in Glasgow will be signed today, and it's all about forests.\nMore than 100 countries are going to pledge on Tuesday to end deforestation by 2030. Deforestation is when trees are pulled down for materials, or to make space for farming or houses. $14 billion is being provided in public and private funds to help meet this target. This money will go towards restoring already damaged land, tackling wildfires and supporting indigenous communities who rely on the rainforests for food and medicine.\nYour big guide to COP26\nCOP26: What, where, when?\nClimate change: What is it?\nThe world leaders signing the agreement represent 85% of the Earth's forests. Some of the countries involved include Brazil, Russia, Canada, Colombia, China, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is calling it a \"landmark agreement\" at the Glaswegian climate conference on Tuesday saying: \"These great teeming ecosystems - these cathedrals of nature - are the lungs of our planet.\" Threats to the rainforest from businesses and farming Deforestation of the rainforest Professor Simon Lewis, an expert on climate and forests at University College London, welcomed the new commitment, but told the BBC the world \"has been here before\". He warned a previous deal made in New York in 2014 had \"failed to slow deforestation at all\" - although fewer countries signed up to that.\nDr Sizer, a former president of the Rainforest Alliance, said that while this deal is good news, some might find the 2030 target a bit long: \"We're facing a climate emergency so giving ourselves another 10 years to address this problem doesn't quite seem consistent with that.\" Campaigners say deforestation is happening at an alarming rate - in fact, in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, an area the size of a football pitch is cleared of trees every minute.\nForests play a key role in the fight against climate change. This is because they take in the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, and convert it into oxygen. This prevents CO2 from reaching our atmosphere, which means it can't trap heat and warm the planet. If you need help understanding the key terms from the conference, click here\nWWF: Forests twice the size of the UK were destroyed in just 13 years, new report says","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["More than 100 countries"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["by 2030"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","today"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["all about forests","to pledge on Tuesday to end deforestation by 2030"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Formula 1: All teams sign up to sport's new Concorde Agreement","document":"Last updated on 19 August 202019 August 2020.From the section Formula 1\nAll 10 teams have signed up to the new Concorde Agreement which will govern Formula 1 from 2021 to 2025.\nThe contract, which sets out the commercial terms of the sport, was first introduced in 1981.\nFerrari, McLaren and Williams announced their support of the revised terms of racing on Tuesday, with the other seven constructors now following suit.\nWorld champions Mercedes had reached an impasse with F1 over the new proposals, but they have now been resolved.\nThe new deal is designed to end what many consider to be an unfair revenue system, whereby the top teams earn disproportionately more prize money, a system that has created a disparity in competitiveness down the grid and locked in an advantage for Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.\n\"This year has been unprecedented for the world and we are proud that Formula 1 has come together in recent months to return to racing in a safe way,\" F1 chairman Chase Carey said in a statement.\n\"We said earlier in the year that due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, the Concorde Agreement would take additional time to agree and we are pleased that by August we have been able achieve agreement from all 10 teams on the plans for the long-term future of our sport.\"\nCarey added that the new agreement would \"create an environment that is both financially fairer and closes the gaps between teams on the race track\".\nJean Todt, president of motorsport's governing body the FIA, said the announcement marked \"an exciting new chapter\" for the sport.\n\"The conclusion of the new Concorde Agreement between the FIA, Formula 1 and all 10 of the current teams assures a stable future for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship,\" he added.\nMercedes team boss Toto Wolff had previously stated that the German manufacturer would be \"the biggest victim in terms of revenue loss\" but recent talks with Careyexternal-link produced a breakthrough on \"the clarifications that we wanted to achieve\".\nSpeaking on Tuesday, Ferrari chief executive Louis Camilleri said the new deal was \"an important step to ensure the stability and growth of the sport\", while McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said it was \"the right deal at the right time\".\nClaire Williams, deputy team principal of Williams, added: \"This next era will be characterised by closer and more exciting racing as a result of the new platform of regulations, which include more equitable revenue distribution and a first ever cost cap for our sport.\"\n ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["10 teams","10 teams"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["from 2021 to 2025"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the new Concorde Agreement","new Concorde Agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["August","August","August"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["end what many consider to be an unfair revenue system"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Raphael Varane: Man Utd confirm agreement with Real Madrid to sign defender","document":"Last updated on 27 July 202127 July 2021.From the section Man Utdcomments1559\nManchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign defender Raphael Varane.\nIt is understood the clubs have agreed an initial fee of £34m, which could rise to £42m, and that Varane, 28, has agreed terms on a four-year contract with the option for another 12 months.\nUnited said the transfer would be completed \"subject to a medical and to player terms being finalised\".\nVarane, a World Cup winner with France, has made 360 appearances for Real.\n\"Real Madrid wants to show all its affection to Raphaal Varane and his family and wishes him good luck in this new stage of his professional career,\" the club said in a statement.\n\"Our club thanks you for your professionalism and exemplary behaviour during the 10 seasons in which you defended our shirt.\"\nVarane, who has 79 caps, will become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's third signing in this transfer window - following the re-signing of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and the £73m arrival of England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.\nBBC Sport understands Varane will quarantine before having his medical, after which he will complete his move.\nUnited, who agreed a fee with Real on Monday, have been long-term admirers of Varane, whose contract was due to expire next summer.\nFormer boss Sir Alex Ferguson originally pursued a deal for the player before his move to Madrid, and Jose Mourinho was also keen to add the defender to his squad during his time at Old Trafford.\nAfter coming through Lens' academy, Varane broke into the first team at the age of 17, and while he was unable to steer them away from relegation, his performances attracted the attention of some of Europe's top clubs. Despite strong interest from United, Real signed the teenager on a six-year contract in 2011, and he went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions during his first season in Spain as Mourinho's side regained the title. That was the start of Varane's impressive trophy haul during his decade in the Spanish capital. He helped Carlo Ancelotti's side clinch their 10th European title - 'La Decima' - in the 2013-14 season, making seven appearances and partnering Sergio Ramos in the final as they beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra time in Lisbon.\nVarane was also a key figure under compatriot Zinedine Zidane, who replaced Rafael Benitez as manager in January 2016, as Los Blancos secured a hat-trick of Champions League titles from 2016-2018. However, a hamstring injury ruled him out of the 2016 final against Atletico and France's European Championship campaign that summer, which ended in defeat in the final.\nHaving battled injuries during the 2016-17 season, Varane enjoyed arguably his strongest year in 2017-18 as Real beat Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, before he starred for France at the 2018 World Cup, playing every minute of Les Bleus' triumphant campaign in Russia.\nVarane's performances for club and country during 2017-18 saw him finish seventh in the Ballon d'Or rankings - the highest-placed defender - and he was named in the Uefa Team of the Year. The centre-back has had his share of disappointments too, however, most notably in 2019-20 when his error-strewn display led to Real's Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Manchester City. Varane also played every minute of France's Euro 2020 campaign, which ended with a last-16 penalty shootout defeat by Switzerland.\nShould the Varane deal be completed as expected, United will have spent just short of £400m on players since Solskjaer was appointed manager on a permanent basis in March 2019.\nThat eclipses the outlay of Manchester City (£298m), Chelsea (£262m), Tottenham (£255m) Arsenal (£243m) and Liverpool (£119m) in the same period, according to Transfermarkt.external-link\nVarane is the fourth defender United have brought in since conceding 54 goals during the 2018-19 Premier League season, after Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alex Telles. Having acquired Maguire and Wan-Bissaka in the summer of 2019, the Red Devils conceded 36 goals as they finished third in 2019-20.\nThey climbed a place to finish second behind Manchester City last season, letting in 44 goals, 12 more than their neighbours.\nIt is understood any further signings this summer are likely to depend on outgoings.\nBBC Sport's Simon Stone\nThis certainly seems like an excellent deal for Manchester United.\nVarane has precisely the back-story they need to bring leadership and tactical nous to their defence. The experience of starting three Champions League finals victories and a World Cup final win is invaluable in what is a relatively young United squad.\nUnited have been able to exploit a weak transfer market - they were the only realistic option for Varane if he decided to leave Real - and the financial issues affecting all Spain's leading clubs to come up with a deal attractive enough to entice a player of true international quality.\nThe big question for United now is whether they are done in the market this summer.\nThat may well depend on whether Paul Pogba decides to sit out the remaining year of his contract or if he would be willing to accept a lower salary that may be on offer in 12 months' time in order to get a move to PSG.\nAxel Tuanzebe seems the most likely central defender to make way for Varane, potentially on loan to Newcastle, although doubts hang over the futures of Diogo Dalot, Brandon Williams, Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones, who did not make a single appearance last season and has not been involved so far during pre-season games against Derby and QPR.\nBalancing the finances is important for United. However, for the fans, they just want to see Varane in action. Coming so soon after Jadon Sancho's move from Borussia Dortmund was confirmed, optimism around Old Trafford has not been so high for quite some time.\nReal Madrid and Belgium attacker Eden Hazard:external-link \"I've come across some fantastic defenders during my career, such as John Terry and Vincent Kompany. I think that although [Varane] is still young, he's already one of the best centre-backs of all time. His partnership with Sergio Ramos is wonderful.\"\nFormer Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho in 2014:external-link \"I think Varane is the best central defender in the world. He is still young, but I think he's the best.\"\nLiverpool and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk:external-link \"Sergio Ramos's teammate at Real Madrid, Raphael Varane, is my favourite. He is an excellent defender and has already won a lot.\"\nFrance manager Didier Deschamps:external-link \"When he is 100% fit, he knows how to do everything. He's very strong defensively, he is fast. He has good anticipation. He's never in trouble on the ball. He can score goals at set-pieces. That makes him a complete player.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Real Madrid","Real Madrid","Real Madrid","Real Madrid","Real Madrid","Manchester United","Manchester United"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["four-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["sign defender Raphael Varane"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Romelu Lukaku: Inter Milan reach agreement to sign Man Utd striker","document":"Last updated on 8 August 20198 August 2019.From the section Man Utd\nInter Milan have reached an agreement with Manchester United to sign striker Romelu Lukaku for a fee that could rise to 80m euros (£74m).\nIn July, United rejected Inter's £54m bid for Lukaku, who was fined by the club after missing training on Tuesday.\nBelgium international Lukaku, 26, has trained at his former team Anderlecht for the past two days.\nLukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, flew to London on Wednesday in an attempt to resolve Lukaku's future.\nLater that evening, Pastorello posted a photo on Instagram of them on board a private jet with the caption: \"Ready to take off. Direction Milano.\"\nUnited and Inter Milan had been some way apart in their valuation, with United wanting to recoup at least the £75m they paid Everton two years ago.\nInter and fellow Serie A side Juventus have been competing to sign Lukaku, who did not play in pre-season because of an ankle injury.\nInter manager Antonio Conte - who wanted to sign Lukaku when he was Chelsea boss - has said he remains his number one target, adding: \"I consider him a player who could improve our team.\"\nUnited have an interest in Juventus' Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic, 33, who could reinforce their forward options.\nLukaku moved to United from Everton in 2017 and at the time was only the fourth player to score 80 goals in the Premier League before turning 24 - after Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney.\nIn his debut season, Lukaku became one of only 11 United players to score 25 goals or more in a campaign since 1992-93. Cantona, Andy Cole and current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (25 each) are among the strikers who never matched Lukaku's 27-goal tally in a United campaign.\nHowever, 26% of his United goals - 11 out of 42 - came in the first two months of his Old Trafford career.\nHe has scored 42 goals in 96 appearances for United but was often overlooked in the second half of last season in favour of England striker Marcus Rashford.\nLukaku's impending departure leaves United with just three established forwards - Rashford, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez - in addition to youngsters Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong.\nUnited have spent £140m this summer on Harry Maguire,Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Inter Milan","Inter Milan","Manchester United"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["sign striker Romelu Lukaku for a fee that could rise to 80m euros"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Myanmar ethnic groups sign ceasefire agreement","document":"The government of Myanmar has signed a ceasefire agreement with eight armed ethnic groups, that may end years of fighting around the country's borders.\nThe signing ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw is the result of two years of negotiations. Seven major insurgent groups have refused to sign - saying the deal does not give them the autonomy they were promised when the country became independent almost 70 years ago. Jonah Fisher reports.\nMyanmar groups sign ceasefire pact. Video, 00:02:06Myanmar groups sign ceasefire pact\nUp Next. Myanmar candidate blocked from constituency. Video, 00:02:40Myanmar candidate blocked from constituency\nOn the trail of Myanmar's Rohingya. Video, 00:02:41On the trail of Myanmar's Rohingya\nMyanmar faces fight over constitution. Video, 00:01:47Myanmar faces fight over constitution\nPresident defends Myanmar 'brutality' Video, 00:02:34President defends Myanmar 'brutality'\nThe political sway of Myanmar's monks. Video, 00:03:09The political sway of Myanmar's monks\n'Soldiers killed' in Myanmar clashes. Video, 00:01:30'Soldiers killed' in Myanmar clashes\nOne family, 40 failed border crossings. Video, 00:04:41One family, 40 failed border crossings\nThe students taking the 'world's hardest' exams. Video, 00:04:54The students taking the 'world's hardest' exams\nWhy Mexico is not prepared for the migrant caravan. Video, 00:03:42Why Mexico is not prepared for the migrant caravan\nDoes 3D-printed 'meat' pass the taste test? Video, 00:02:05Does 3D-printed 'meat' pass the taste test?\nCows rescued from storm floods by jet ski. Video, 00:00:47Cows rescued from storm floods by jet ski\nLiverpool bomb witness: 'Am I going to get over this?' Video, 00:02:01Liverpool bomb witness: 'Am I going to get over this?'","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The government of Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","Myanmar","eight armed ethnic groups"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a ceasefire agreement","end years of fighting around the country's borders"]},{"role":"Location","values":["the capital Nay Pyi Taw"]}]}
+{"title":"Jersey Police sign agreement with JFSC","document":"The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and the States of Jersey Police have signed an agreement to share information with each other.\nThe memorandum of understanding aims to make the co-operation between the two more formal.\nIt will mean the JFSC tells the police about significant financial crimes that may have been committed.\nAnd the police will tell the commission about breaches to regulatory legislation.\nIn a joint statement, John Harris, Director General of the JFSC and Mike Bowron, Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police, said: \"The commission and the police have long had a close and fruitful working relationship.\n\"We are therefore delighted to sign this memorandum of understanding which formally puts on record the circumstances in which our organisations will co-operate with each other.\n\"And, in particular, sets out the type of information which we have agreed to pass to each other to assist in the carrying out of our respective functions.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC)","JFSC","JFSC","the States of Jersey Police","the States of Jersey Police"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["share information with each other"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Sepp van den Berg: Liverpool reach agreement to sign defender from PEC Zwolle","document":"\nLiverpool have reached an agreement to sign 17-year-old centre-back Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle for an initial £1.3m.\nThe Netherlands Under-19 international, who was also a target for Ajax, Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven, will officially join the Reds on 1 July.\nThe fee for Van den Berg - the Reds' first signing of the summer - could rise to £4.4m depending on add-ons.\nMeanwhile, youth team player Rafael Camacho has joined Sporting for £5m.\nThe 19-year-old Portuguese, who made his first-team debut last season with substitute appearances in the FA Cup at Wolves and at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, had turned down the offer of a new contract.\nVan den Berg made 15 appearances for PEC Zwolle in the Dutch top flight last season.\n\"It's just an amazing feeling,\" Van den Berg told the club website.external-link\n\"It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it's a dream come true. I am really excited.\n\"I've seen what kind of players from the academy grew into the first team here. Of course, the trainer (Jurgen Klopp) is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful - and also one of the reasons I came here.\"\nLiverpool compare Van den Berg to being at about the same level as Joe Gomez when they signed the defender for £3.5m from Charlton in June 2015.\nEngland international Gomez was a key part of Liverpool's defence last season before injury curtailed his season.\nThe Anfield club see Van den Berg as a player for the long term and, although there is a belief he could be with the first team immediately, the focus initially would be on his development and integration.\n.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Van den Berg","van den Berg","Van den Berg","Van den Berg","Van den Berg","Van den Berg","Liverpool","Liverpool","Liverpool"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["sign 17-year-old centre-back Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle for an initial £1.3m"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"US and India sign space agreement","document":"The space agencies of India and the US have signed an agreement on future co-operation at Mars and at Earth.\nThe nations have just put satellites in orbit around the Red Planet, and plan a joint radar spacecraft to study our home world in 2020.\nBut the charter signed by Nasa and the Indian Space Research Organisation will also examine additional opportunities. The agreement was signed by agencies' two leaders at the 65th International Astronautical Congress in Toronto.\nIndia's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, arrived in orbit at Mars on 24 September to image the planet and study its atmosphere.\nIt was preceded by the American Maven satellite by two days. the US orbiter will also investigate the Mars' atmosphere.\nThe Toronto charter sets up a working group, which, among its activities, will explore ways for the two Red Planet missions to work together. The joint Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar mission (NISAR) will detail land change on Earth. Indian Mars probe sends first images\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the US","US","India"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["future co-operation at Mars and at Earth"]},{"role":"Location","values":["the 65th International Astronautical Congress in Toronto","Toronto"]}]}
+{"title":"South Sudan rivals sign ceasefire agreement","document":"Under the deal, signed in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the fighting is due to come to an end within 24 hours. In the past week, government forces have recaptured the two main cities under rebel control.\nMore than 500,000 people have been forced from their homes during the month-long conflict.\n\"These two agreements are the ingredients to create an environment for achieving a total peace in my country,\" said Taban Deng, head of the rebel delegation, AFP reports.\nHowever, the South Sudanese government has expressed scepticism over whether the opposition will be able to control all the militias involved in fighting, the BBC's Anne Soy reports.\nEffective monitoring of the truce will be vital once it begins, as tension between the two sides is very high, South Sudan analyst James Copnall says.\nThe talks have now been adjourned and are due to continue on 7 February. What started out as a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar on 15 December escalated into full-scale conflict, with reports of ethnic killings.\nA ceremony to mark the signing of the agreement on the \"cessation of hostilities and the question of the detainees\" took place at the hotel where the talks were hosted.\nThe agreement is thought to address the issue of 11 detainees whom the rebels wanted freed, and whose fate had previously left the talks deadlocked.\nThis video can not be played\nThe detainees - allies of Mr Machar and prominent political figures from a faction of the governing SPLM party - were taken into custody when Mr Kiir first made the allegations of an attempted coup - which Mr Machar denies.\nThe South Sudanese government had earlier said on its Twitter feed that it envisaged an amnesty for the detainees but only after their cases had been heard in court.\nAnother key rebel demand was for Ugandan troops fighting alongside the government forces to be withdrawn.\nThe question of Uganda's role was not raised during the signing ceremony but members of the rebel delegation said that they would bring up the issue again during the second round of talks, journalist Matthew Newsome told the BBC from Addis Ababa.\nThe US welcomed the deal, calling it a \"critical first step\" and urged both sides to \"fully and swiftly implement the agreement\".\nUK Foreign Secretary William Hague also welcomed the ceasefire and called for an \"inclusive process of national reconciliation\".\nLast week, the UN human rights chief said both government soldiers and rebels had committed atrocities in South Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries.\nMore than 70,000 civilians are seeking shelter at UN bases across South Sudan, and the UN estimates that considerably more than 1,000 have been killed.\nFollowing the outbreak of hostilities, it was agreed to boost the UN force and an extra 5,500 peacekeepers are being deployed to South Sudan, to bring its strength up to 12,500.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["government forces","government forces","the rebel delegation","rebel delegation"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the fighting is due to come to an end within 24 hours"]},{"role":"Location","values":["the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa"]}]}
+{"title":"Isle of Man and Lesotho sign tax agreement","document":"The Isle of Man government has signed a tax exchange agreement with the African nation of Lesotho.\nThe agreement signed in September by the island's Treasury Minister and the Acting High Commissioner of Lesotho in the UK came into force this week.\nThe deal is part of the Isle of Man government's ongoing programme to develop closer economic and taxation co-operation with other countries.\nWater and diamonds are Lesotho's main export earners.\nThe Kingdom of Lesotho, a landlocked country, is surrounded by South Africa.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the African nation of Lesotho","Lesotho","Lesotho","The Isle of Man government","the Isle of Man government"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["September"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["part of the Isle of Man government's ongoing programme to develop closer economic and taxation co-operation with other countries"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"RFU and Premiership Rugby sign new £225m agreement","document":"\nA new eight-year deal worth more than £225m has been agreed between the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs - with England getting more flexibility and greater player access in return.\nClubs will earn more for releasing players for international duty, as well as meeting the English-qualified players target and academy standards.\nEngland will get two more training camps a season and larger elite squad.\n\"This is a true partnership,\" said RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie.\n\"[It is] focused on making English rugby the best in the world for club and country.\"\nThe agreement is worth more than double the previous one, which was signed in 2007, and will give England greater flexibility in selection, with the Elite Player Squad (EPS) expanded from 33 to 45 players, while during core periods 36 players can be selected for camps rather than 33.\nRitchie said England head coach Eddie Jones \"was heavily involved\" in the process and \"is very supportive of the result - Eddie is very happy with the access this gives him to players\".\nIn terms of player welfare, England players who play a certain number of minutes throughout the autumn series will now have a mandatory one weekend rest period over Christmas.\n\"Player welfare, as ever, is a priority for us all, and so further rest periods have been built into the season,\" Ritchie added.\nPremiership clubs will also benefit for the first time if the RFU performs well financially.\nThe first four year payment from the RFU to the clubs is fixed at £112m, but the second four year payment could be higher.\n\"Success for England and the clubs depends on an effective partnership between the RFU and Premiership Rugby on many levels,\" said Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.\n\"The significantly increased monies to the Premiership clubs, alongside their own increased TV and commercial revenues, will ensure that Aviva Premiership Rugby continues to go from strength-to-strength.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Premiership clubs","Premiership clubs","Premiership clubs","the Rugby Football Union"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["eight-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Clubs will earn more for releasing players for international duty, as well as meeting the English-qualified players target and academy standards","England will get two more training camps a season and larger elite squad"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Thomas Lemar: Atletico Madrid reach 'preliminary agreement' to sign Monaco winger","document":"\nAtletico Madrid have reached a \"preliminary agreement\" to sign Monaco winger Thomas Lemar.\nThe France international - who has spent three seasons with Monaco since arriving from Caen - is in Russia for the World Cup.\nArsenal failed to sign Lemar, 22, in last summer's transfer window, while he was also a £60m target for Liverpool.\n\"Over the next days, both clubs will work to close the agreement for the definitive transfer,\" Atletico said.\nLemar has scored 22 goals in 123 games for Monaco and helped them win Ligue 1 and reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2016-17.\nHe made his France debut in 2016 and has scored three goals in 12 international games.\n ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Atletico Madrid","Thomas Lemar"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["sign Monaco winger Thomas Lemar"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Kenya and Ethiopia sign cross-border agreement","document":"Kenya and Ethiopia have signed a UN-backed trade deal worth $200m (£130m) in a bid to ease cross-border conflict.\nPresident Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn agreed the deal in the border town of Moyale.\nThe deal aims to tackle youth unemployment by creating jobs in the energy, mining and livestock industries. Tensions between rival ethnic groups have risen due to lack of land and water.\nThere was a heavy security presence ahead of the meeting on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.\n\"This is a historic function,\" Kenya's President Kenyatta was quoted as saying. He said a tarmac road would be built by September 2016, linking the two countries' capital cities.\nCross-border raids have forced thousands to flee their homes in recent years.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Kenya","Kenya-Ethiopia","Kenya","Ethiopia"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["to ease cross-border conflict","to tackle youth unemployment by creating jobs in the energy, mining and livestock industries"]},{"role":"Location","values":["in the border town of Moyale"]}]}
+{"title":"Guernsey and Hong Kong sign tax agreement","document":"A taxation agreement signed by Guernsey and Hong Kong is an important step in growing business links, Guernsey's chief minister has said.\nDeputy Peter Harwood said it would \"resolve issues relating to potential double taxation\" and \"lead to greater opportunities for new business\".\nSince 2011 Guernsey has signed six of the double taxation agreements.\nRob Gray, director of income tax, said they helped stop people and companies being charged in both jurisdictions.\nDeputy Harwood said one with Luxembourg would be signed shortly.\nLast week the chief minister signed a tax information exchange agreement with the British Virgin Islands - the 41st such accord to be reached.\nA policy council spokesman said: \"This network of agreements covers the majority of G20 countries and EU member states.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Guernsey","Guernsey","Hong Kong"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["resolve issues relating to potential double taxation\" and \"lead to greater opportunities for new business"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"BBC Sport\nfootball","document":"The deal which should secure Crystal Palace's future has been legally agreed and signed by the club's administrator and the new owners, CPFC 2010.\nPalace were saved from liquidation last week when the consortium agreed in principle to buy the Championship outfit and their Selhurst Park ground. \"Each football club has a share in the Football League,\" said the club's administrator Brendan Guilfoyle. \"And in essence we have agreed to transfer that share to the new owners.\" It is hoped completion of the deal will happen by the end of July once the Football League's insolvency policy has been fully complied with and their due diligence completed. Guilfoyle had given the Eagles until 1500 BST on Tuesday, 1 June to reach an agreement with Lloyds Bank or he would start to liquidate the club, but a deal was struck at the 11th hour with CPFC 2010, a consortium headed by Palace fans Steve Parish and Martin Long.\n\"Achieving this sale has been a balancing act between four parties - the stadium administrator, the secured creditor Agilo, other creditors and the Football League who need to be satisfied that the deal meets their requirements,\" Guilfoyle added. Palace avoided relegation from the Championship on the final day of the season with a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday that condemned the Owls to League One. The club was docked 10 points for going into administration in January before then manager Neil Warnock left to join QPR and star striker Victor Moses was sold to Wigan. Guilfoyle's main job on taking over at the ailing club was to secure funding for the costs of the administration to run the club while at the same time looking for buyers to agree a sale. Agilo agreed to fund the running costs with a cash injection of £1m, despite already being owed £4.5m by the club, while Guilfoyle also admitted he had reduced his own fees to boost the deal. \"All the parties in this deal have recognised they will be paid back more if they can find a rescue deal that works, rather than shutting down the club forever. We and our lawyers have played our own part by reducing our fees to enable the deal to go through.\"","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["CPFC 2010","CPFC 2010","Crystal Palace"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["agreed in principle to buy the Championship outfit and their Selhurst Park ground","Guilfoyle's main job on taking over at the ailing club was to secure funding for the costs of the administration to run the club while at the same time looking for buyers to agree a sale. Agilo agreed to fund the running costs with a cash injection of £1m, despite already being owed £4.5m by the club, while Guilfoyle also admitted he had reduced his own fees to boost the deal"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"East Midlands police sign collaboration agreement","document":"Five East Midlands police forces have signed a formal agreement to share resources, aimed at saving £26m over four years.\nThe move will see the East Midlands Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit (CTIU) combined with force special branches.\nA new major crime unit is being created and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit expanded. Police said the move would help provide an integrated response in the region. The crime units in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire will be centrally led and co-ordinated, but continue to be locally delivered.\nThe collaboration, which began last September, is being gradually phased in over a number of months.\nAll five forces' chief constables and police authority chairmen signed a formal agreement, which sets out the terms of the collaboration.\nPolice said the savings would be made by reducing the number of people dedicated to major crimes in the region from 315 to about 230, while those working on serious organised crime will fall from 350 to about 250.\nOfficers will be redeployed to their local forces but there will be an unknown number of civilian redundancies, said police.\nDeirdre Newham, chairman of the East Midlands Police Authorities' joint committee, said: \"Collaboration between police forces in the East Midlands presents a real opportunity to reshape our business.\n\"It will enable us to deliver the best possible police service, whilst making savings.\" Chief Constable Mick Creedon, of Derbyshire Police, who leads the specialist crime collaboration on behalf of the five forces, said: \"We are already seeing the benefits of creating the country's largest multi-force crime unit.\n\"The results during the first few months of operation have had a significant impact on crime in the East Midlands.\" Police said that since the creation of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit - Major Crime in September 2011, the unit has dealt with 31 new inquires, including more than 20 murders and an investigation into the death of two girls in a Northampton nightclub. Police collaborate to save £26m\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Five East Midlands police forces"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["last September"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["share resources, aimed at saving £26m over four years","help provide an integrated response in the region"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Guildford and Redhill hospitals sign radiotherapy agreement","document":"Cancer patients in Surrey will have a greater choice over where they receive radiotherapy treatment following a £10m agreement between two hospital trusts.\nFrom the end of 2013, patients who are currently treated at The Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Guildford, will be able to use East Surrey Hospital, in Redhill.\nIt is hoped the new facility will shorten journey times for patients.\nReigate and Banstead Borough Council are now considering the plans.\nMichael Wilson, who is the chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital in Redhill, said: \"This is good news for patients living in Surrey and Sussex as it will provide care closer to home. \"It is also an example of how by working in partnership with other hospitals we are securing the future of hospital services on this site.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["East Surrey Hospital, in Redhill","Redhill","The Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Guildford"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["have a greater choice over where they receive radiotherapy treatment","new facility will shorten journey times for patients"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Jamel Herring signs advisory agreement with Carl Frampton's management company","document":"Last updated on 13 September 202013 September 2020.From the section Boxing\nWBO super-featherweight world champion Jamel Herring has entered an advisory agreement with the management company that looks after Carl Frampton.\nThe American and Belfast boxers are expected to fight each other this year for Herring's world title.\nMTK Global vice-president Jamie Conlan said the Herring-Frampton bout is one that the company will be \"committed to fulfilling\".\nHerring successfully defended his title against Jonathan Oquendo last week. Oquendo was disqualified by referee Tony Weeks at the end of round eight in Las Vegas for repeated intentional headbutts.\nSpeaking after the win, 34-year-old Herring said: \"I still want the Carl Frampton fight next by all means. November, December, whatever. I still want that fight next.\"\nFrampton, 33, stayed on course for his world title challenge against Herring by stopping Scotland's Darren Traynor in London last month.\nPromoter Bob Arum suggested before that fight that Frampton will meet Herring this November as the Belfast man aims to become a three-weight world champion.\nNorthern Ireland produce their best performance of the qualifying campaign to earn a 0-0 draw that denied Italy automatic World Cup qualification.\nIreland captain Johnny Sexton will miss Sunday's autumn test against Argentina after being ruled out for up to six weeks.\nThe Republic of Ireland are finally on an upward trajectory, but will that be enough to secure manager Stephen Kenny's future?","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the management company that looks after Carl Frampton","Carl Frampton","Jamel Herring"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["an advisory agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":null},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Myanmar army and rebels sign draft ceasefire agreement","document":"Myanmar's President Thein Sein has witnessed the signing of a draft ceasefire agreement between the government and 16 rebel groups. The agreement, which came after seven rounds of talks, is a significant step towards ending decades of conflict.\nNegotiators from the armed rebel groups still have to consult with their leaders before giving final approval. Rebels from the newest and most active conflict in Kokang did not attend the talks.\nThe United Nations said the move was a \"historic and significant achievement\" and provided a basis for \"genuine and lasting peace in the country\".\nMyanmar has been engaged in armed conflict with various ethnic rebel groups seeking greater autonomy since independence from the British in 1948.\nWhile many have come into the political fold for peace deals, sporadic outbreaks of violence have continued.\nAll but two of the ethnic armed groups at the talks already have bilateral ceasefires in place.\n\"The people need peace, they desire peace and they expect peace,\" Thein Sein was reported by AFP as saying to negotiators on Tuesday.\nHe added that a full agreement could be signed in months. \"After that is signed, the road is open for political dialogue. This action will ensure the peace-builders a place in Myanmar's history,\" he said.\nThe BBC's Jonah Fisher says one representative from the armed groups told him on Monday that the government had compromised significantly at the last moment to make a deal possible.\nOur correspondent says the idea is to bring all the rebels into a process that will lead on to talks on greater devolution of power and resources - something that the Burmese government has always fiercely resisted.\nAt talks in Yangon the final four points of contention were resolved. There will be a halt to recruitment by the armed groups, their territory and status were confirmed, as was the nature and composition of the political dialogue that will follow.\nThe negotiators are now taking the text back to their groups for approval. There will then be a meeting which may lead to a signing.\nMeanwhile there is still heavy fighting in the Kokang region and there are still regular clashes in other areas.\nThe government declared a state of emergency in February as tens of thousands of refugees have been forced to flee their homes, some of them crossing the border into China.\nNaing Han Tha, who led the ethnic group negotiators for the ceasefire agreement, told AFP news agency that they planned to discuss the Kokang conflict in future dialogues.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["16 rebel groups","the Burmese government"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["a draft ceasefire agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["ending decades of conflict","provided a basis for \"genuine and lasting peace in the country"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man sign taxation agreement","document":"The three UK Crown dependencies have signed double taxation agreements aimed at helping businesses and individuals to avoid paying in two places.\nThe agreements also allow the exchange of tax information between Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.\nThey were signed in London by representatives of each government.\nRob Gray, Guernsey's director of Income Tax, said they would help the islands' authorities in ending tax avoidance and evasion.\nHe said: \"In view of the ease and frequency of transactions between all of the Crown Dependencies, having effective exchange of information provisions in place will also assist the Income Tax Office in the fight against domestic tax avoidance and evasion.\"\nMr Gray said the agreement between Guernsey and Jersey was an update of the previous one signed in the 1950s while it was the first time such agreements had been signed between the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.\nEddie Teare, the Isle of Man Treasury Minister, said it would \"strengthen the close political and business ties between Crown Dependencies\".\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Guernsey","Guernsey","Jersey","Jersey","the Isle of Man","the Isle of Man","the Isle of Man"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["double taxation","helping businesses and individuals to avoid paying in two places"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Jersey and UK sign tax sharing agreement","document":"Jersey has agreed an automatic tax information sharing deal with the UK aimed at combating tax evasion.\nIt follows a similar deal struck with the Isle of Man earlier this month and discussions with the other Crown Dependency of Guernsey.\nUK Chancellor George Osborne said it was a \"clear signal to anyone thinking they can evade their responsibilities\".\n\"The opportunities to hide your money offshore are disappearing and the net is closing in,\" he said.\nSenator Ian Gorst, Jersey's Chief Minister, said: \"It sends another clear signal that Jersey has no need or desire to tolerate tax evasion or aggressive tax avoidance.\n\"As well as our innumerable cultural, social and historical ties, the UK is our closest economic partner.\n\"In signing this agreement we are securing this vital relationship while reinforcing our international reputation as a transparent and well-regulated financial services centre.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the UK","UK","UK","Jersey","Jersey"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["automatic tax information sharing","combating tax evasion"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Tottenham sign planning agreement to build new stadium","document":"\nTottenham have signed a planning agreement to build a new stadium next to White Hart Lane.\nThe Premier League club says it can continue discussions with local authorities and the London mayor in a bid to secure funding for the move.\nTottenham, however, have not given up hope of becoming the long-term tenants of the Olympic Stadium after next year's Games.\nThey have mounted a legal challenge against West Ham's current winning bid.\nSpurs want to redevelop White Hart Lane in a 20-acre industrial side adjacent to the ground in a plan known as the Northumberland Development Project (NDP).\nThe Section 106 agreement means they have agreed to pay some money towards local facilities in the area around the stadium if they decide to go ahead with plans to stay in the north London borough.\nA Tottenham statement read: \"The club can confirm that the S106 agreement in respect of the Northumberland Development Project has now been completed and planning permissions have been issued.\n\"This enables discussions with the London borough of Haringey, the Mayor of London and central government to continue as we seek to make the development viable and deliverable.\n\"As always, we shall keep all our supporters updated as these progress.\"\nWhite Hart Lane has been Tottenham's home ground since 1899 but a capacity of 36,000 restricts income from ticket sales and match-day revenue compared to that enjoyed by many of the club's Premier League rivals.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Tottenham","Tottenham","Tottenham","local authorities"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["build a new stadium next to White Hart Lane"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Soldiers sign Rutland community agreement","document":"A community covenant has been signed between the people of Rutland and soldiers due to move into the county.\nThe Royal Air Force is closing its Cottesmore base and soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment will arrive from Ayia Napa in Cyprus in July.\nThe covenant is designed to ensure the troops are welcomed and that they become positively involved with life in the rural community. Further troops will arrive from the Royal Logistics Corps in 2013.\nLeader of Rutland County Council, Roger Begy, said it was important to make the soldiers feel part of the community.\n\"We have had a very close, working relationship with the airforce for many years and recently with the navy and army.\n\"We've got 400 single army personnel and 240 families coming in July and we thought it was a good idea, that we, the community, will work to make their life in Rutland pleasant.\n\"They, in turn, will work to make Rutland as pleasant as possible for us.\"\nBrigadier Andrew Williams, Commander 49 (East) Brigade, who signed the covenant on behalf of the army, said the idea between the agreement was to strengthen ties between existing and new residents.\n\"This covenant will help...ensure that our armed forces, veterans and their families have the support they need, are not disadvantaged for being servicemen and are treated with the dignity they deserve in the future.\"\nMr Begy added he was not unduly worried about the soldiers transferring from notorious party town Ayia Napa to rural Rutland.\n\"You don't have to be in the army to be dancing in the street, singing in the street and we have to work together and now live together. We do not want an us and them situation and we need to develop our society,\" he said.\nThe base is due to close in March with the loss of 1,000 jobs.\nRAF Cottesmore opened in 1938 and during the 1960s was the base for nuclear capable Vulcan bombers. It was the home of the Harrier aircraft until 2010.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["soldiers","soldiers","soldiers","soldiers","the people of Rutland"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["ensure the troops are welcomed and that they become positively involved with life in the rural community","to strengthen ties"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Guernsey and Singapore sign double taxation agreement","document":"The deal will help businesses and individuals in Guernsey with links to Singapore to avoid having to pay taxes in both places.\nIt is the 15th double taxation agreement the island has signed.\nFiona Le Poidevin, Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance, said the agreement demonstrates the island's commitment to the global community.\nShe said signing the double taxation agreement with Singapore was a very positive development for the future of Guernsey's finance industry. Ms Poidevin said it offers significant potential for expanding financial services between the two jurisdictions.\nGuernsey has signed a total of 15 Double Tax Agreements as well as 40 Tax Information Exchange Agreements, most recently with Brazil.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Guernsey","Guernsey","Guernsey","Singapore","Singapore"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the 15th double taxation agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["help businesses and individuals in Guernsey with links to Singapore to avoid having to pay taxes in both places"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Scottish gossip: Celtic, Rangers, Livingston, Hibernian, Ajer, Veerman, Mallan, Lawal","document":"\nCeltic are close to selling Kristoffer Ajer to Brentford in a £13.5m deal. The newly-promoted English Premier League club have been in talks over the Norway international in recent days, with an agreement now thought to have been reached. \nCeltic defender Kristoffer Ajer is set to undergo a medical in London today after a fee was agreed with Brentford. \nRangers hope to strike an agreement to sign Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman, 22, in a deal that could be worth up to £7m.\nHibernian midfielder Stevie Mallan is heading to Turkey to complete a move to Yeni Malatyaspor for \"a low six-figure transfer fee\".\nCeltic have beaten Chelsea, Norwich and a Serie A side to Watford's Bosun Lawal, 18, in a cut-price deal. \nCeltic's pursuit of Rennes duo Sacha Boey and Brandon Soppy has been played down by the French club's sporting director Florian Maurice. \n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Celtic","Celtic","Celtic","Brentford","Brentford"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["selling Kristoffer Ajer to Brentford in a £13.5m deal"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"George North: Lions and Wales back signs new dual contract with Ospreys and Welsh Rugby Union","document":"\nGeorge North has signed a new two-year dual contract with Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union.\nNorth, 29, has played 102 internationals for Wales and three Tests for the British and Irish Lions.\nThe Wales back is currently sidelined by a long-term knee ligament injury suffered in April.\n\"It's an honour to play for Wales and something I never take for granted, my focus now is to get back fit and playing again,\" said North.\nThe WRU has officially scrapped the old system of national dual contracts, when they signed players on deals agreed between the individual regions and the governing body. North's deal is an exception and has been tailored to suit his individual needs. It is a similar situation to when Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones signed a contract with both Ospreys and the WRU until the summer of 2022.\n\"I have enjoyed my first few years here at the Ospreys so I'm chuffed to be extending my time here in Wales,\" added North.\n\"The club are looking to the future and I'm looking forward to playing my role in helping the club to push on this year.\"\nAfter making his Wales debut as an 18-year-old in November 2010 and scoring two tries against South Africa, North has crossed the line 43 times for his country, second only to Shane Williams.\nNorth has won four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams, played in three World Cups and toured Australia and New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017.\nHe excelled after being switched from wing to centre by head coach Wayne Pivac for Wales during the 2021 Six Nations success.\nNorth was expected to travel on a third Lions tour before he was ruled out of this summer's trip to South Africa.\nHe ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee when playing for Ospreys against Cardiff in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup, with the end of 2021 a potential return date.\n\"We're delighted George is continuing his career in Wales,\" said Pivac.\n\"He was absolutely integral to our Six Nations Championship win last season.\n\"We all know what he has achieved playing on the wing and he has added to that with some world-class performances playing at outside centre for his country.\n\"He has amassed a huge amount of international experience at a relatively young age and I look forward to working with him in the future.\"\nNorth joined Ospreys from Northampton in 2018 and joins fellow Lions Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Alex Cuthbert, Rhys Webb and Adam Beard in committing to the region.\n\"George's achievements and ability are recognised by all of us in the game, and his performances for us resulted in a successful International return with Wales in the Six Nations, which saw him win his 100th Test cap,\" said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.\n\"His decision to extend his stay with the Ospreys is confirmation we are heading in the right direction and George will undoubtedly be at the centre of our progress as a team.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union","Ospreys","Ospreys","Ospreys","Ospreys","Ospreys","Ospreys","George North"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["two-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["George is continuing his career in Wales"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"France Has Returned 26 Objects Stolen From an Ancient Palace in Benin, Including a Throne, Altars, and Ornate Doors","document":"French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Benin’s President Patrice Talon to officially sign an agreement returning 26 objects originally stolen by French forces from the Palace of Abomey. The objects were on display at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris until public pressure led to their return to Benin’s Ouidah Museum of History.\nThe 26 items from the kingdom of Dahomey are among 70,000 other objects in the Quai Branley’s collection that originally came from countries in Africa. The trove includes the throne of Behanzin, the last king of Dahomey, three totems, four ornate palace doors, several altars, and three warrior dance staffs.\nThe ceremony took place at the Élysée Palace, which released an official statement noting that the event “marks an important step in building a new relationship between France and Africa.”\nThis move is seen as an effort to improve France’s image in the eyes of Africans. National and international calls to return the objects culminated in 2020 when the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of returning these items, and others from Senegal. Both are former colonies and many French citizens trace their cultural heritage back to these countries.\nQuai Branly is in the process of seeking “to identify works believed to have been taken through violence, without the owners’ consent, or as war booty or through the coercion of the colonial administration,” the director of the museum, Emmanuel Kasarhérou, told AFP.\nExperts say that between 85 and 90 percent of the cultural heritage of Africa remains outside the continent, according to Le Monde, and that of the 90,000 African cultural objects in French institutions, 46,000 arrived in colonial times.\n“Not all objects that are in European collections have been stolen, but what proportion were? Our objective is to find out,” said Kasarhérou.\nThe items will now make their way back to Benin where they will find a temporary home at the Ouidah Museum of History and go on a tour of the country before being housed at their original home, the royal palaces of Abomey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\nBenin is currently building a museum at the site slated for completion in 2026, aided by France which has financed the project with €35 million ($40 million) in loans and grants.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["French President Emmanuel Macron","Benin’s President Patrice Talon"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["returning 26 objects originally stolen by French forces from the Palace of Abomey"]},{"role":"Location","values":["at the Élysée Palace"]}]}
+{"title":"Patients in Germany 'infected with UK COVID-19 variant in November'","document":"\nThe long-awaited post-Brexit trade deal has been signed by EU heads and was overwhelmingly approved by British MPs.\nUK lawmakers backed the agreement on Wednesday afternoon by 521 votes to 73.\nOfficially called the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, it has taken months of negotiation to agree.\nEuropean Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed on behalf of the European Union on Wednesday morning.\nIt was then flown to London by a Royal Air Force plane where Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed for the UK at 10 Downing Street.\n“The agreement that we signed today is the result of months of intense negotiations in which the European Union has displayed an unprecedented level of unity,” Michel said.\n“It is a fair and balanced agreement that fully protects the fundamental interests of the European Union and creates stability and predictability for citizens and companies,\" he added.\nVon der Leyen stressed after signing the document that \"it has been a long road\" to get a Brexit trade deal.\n\"It's time to put Brexit behind us,\" she added.\nEuropean leaders have welcomed the deal, describing it either as a moment of \"historical importance\", an \"important milestone\", or a \"major step forward\".\nBut most have also reiterated warnings that despite the deal, changes to the current relationship will come into force on January 1.\nHours later, the UK Parliament overwhelmingly approved the trade agreement by a majority of 448.\nIt was backed by the ruling Conservative party — including the eurosceptic European Research Group — as well as the main opposition Labour party.\nKeir Starmer, Labour's leader, said in his address prior to the vote that he had instructed his MPs to vote for the deal, despite it being \"imperfect\" and \"thin\" because \"this treaty is the only way to ensure that we avoid no deal\".\n\"A thin deal is better than no deal and not implementing this deal would mean immediate tariffs and quotas with the EU which will push up prices and drive businesses to the wall. It will mean huge gaps in security, a free for all on workers' rights and environmental protections and less stability for the Northern Ireland Protocol.\n\"So we will vote for this Bill today but I do hope that this will be a moment where our country can come together and look to a better future,\" he added.\nSmaller opposition parties including the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voted against.\nJohnson signed the treaty after the vote, saying that by doing so \"we fulfill the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws, made by their own elected Parliament\".\nThe agreement eventually needs approval from the EU’s legislature, which is not expected to take up the deal for weeks.\nThe leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups said they would not seek full approval until March because of the specific and far-reaching implications of the agreement.\nThe overwhelming expectation is that EU lawmakers will approve the deal.\nThree separate agreements have been signed. Their full names are as follows:\n1) Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.\n2) Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information.\n3) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Atomic Energy Community for Cooperation on the Safe and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.\nTwo copies of each agreement will be signed. Once both parties have put their names to the documents, one of the two original copies of each agreement will be sent to the EU where they will go to the Archives of the Council and the other to the United Kingdom.\n.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the UK","UK","UK","UK","the European Union","European Union","European Union","European Union","European Union"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement","EU","EU","EU","Cooperation Agreement","EU"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday morning"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["post-Brexit trade dea"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2011 Negotiators from the United States Senate and House of Representatives reach a budget agreement. (Washington Post)","document":"Congressional negotiators signed off Thursday evening on a $1 trillion spending agreement for 2012 for federal agencies, barely 27 hours before a deadline that could have led to a government shutdown. After dropping minor policy prescriptions that President Obama opposed, members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees gave final approval to the plan after a four-day standoff related to Obama’s demands to extend the payroll tax holiday for 160 million workers.\nThat negotiation, lawmakers and aides said, also could be headed toward an agreement, with lawmakers considering extending the $120 billion tax break for two months to buy more time to determine how they offset the benefit’s cost so it does not add to the federal deficit.\nThe White House initially had pushed Congress to delay the spending plan until the issue of the payroll tax was resolved, a move that raised the specter of a government shutdown and threatened to increase workers’ withholding tax at the start of the new year. Linking the two measures only complicated the negotiations, however, and Republicans did not give in to Obama’s demands on how to set up the payroll tax provision. With the holiday season upon them, some aides suggested that lawmakers’ exhaustion and eagerness to leave the embattled Capitol for several weeks served as key factors in reaching the deals. Next year’s session will begin in late January. “In spite of many unnecessary obstacles, it is good to see that responsible leadership and good governance can triumph,” House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) said Thursday night, referring to the spending plan. The legislation will provide the full funding for the rest of fiscal 2012 for most of the government, including the Pentagon, the Education Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Now that the spending deal has been clinched — votes are expected in both chambers Friday — the payroll tax issue remains the last fight for the acrimonious first session of the 112th Congress, one that has been marked by repeated brinkmanship. After several days of trading blame on both issues, there was a broad shift in tone Thursday morning in negotiations on the tax plan. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) predicted the impasse would be resolved soon. And House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told everyone to “step back and take a deep breath.”\n“I think there’s an easy way to untangle all of this,” Boehner said. “We just need to let the members do their jobs, and we need to let the two institutions do their work.”\nTalks on the payroll tax holiday lasted deep into Thursday night. They had picked up steam 24 hours earlier, when Democrats dropped their demand that the cut be paid for with a new surtax on those who earn more than $1 million a year.\n“Yeah, that’s gone,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) confirmed Thursday evening. Baucus, who is negotiating the tax package for Democrats, continued pushing to complete a year-long extension of the payroll tax provision, coupled with extended unemployment benefits and an important tweak to the Medicare reimbursement rate for doctors. “There’s momentum building toward a comprehensive agreement, but still there are a lot of pieces to put together,” Baucus said. But senior Democratic and Republican aides said an agreement had been secured to at least continue the tax break for two months, at a cost of $40 billion. Among the ideas being considered to pay for the cut, aides said, were raising fees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collect from lenders and ending a tax break on the sale of corporate jets.\nExtending the payroll tax cut has become politically critical for Obama, the only major piece of his roughly $450 billion jobs plan that is likely to win approval. As part of a separate tax deal a year ago, the federal withholding tax dropped from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent in 2011, which gave the average worker an extra $1,000, and the president has argued that continuing the holiday for another year would help steady the economy. In exchange for agreeing to that extension, Republicans continued to insist on concessions intended to lure votes from conservatives who say the tax holiday is bad economic policy. Their most important demands were speeding up approval of the construction of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, reforms to unemployment insurance, higher Medicare premiums for upper-income seniors and a year-long extension of a two-year pay freeze for federal workers. Baucus said one consideration was to link the eligibility period of unemployment benefits to the level of joblessness in each state. Republicans remained publicly quiet about the proposal to temporarily extend the tax break, but one senior GOP adviser noted that it would lead to two more months of Republicans pushing for the oil pipeline.\nThe hardball tactic of linking tax-holiday negotiations — as well as jobless benefits — to the completion of the must-pass spending bill irritated some Democrats who had worked with Republicans for months to reach the appropriations deal.\nRep. James P. Moran (D-Va.), who sits on the key committee, said some Democrats had told the White House that “they should not be using federal employees as pawns in a larger issue.”\n“I don’t blame them for trying to use every means available to them,” he said. “But I just don’t think that it’s right.” While seeking leverage on the tax dispute, the White House also expressed lingering concerns about some of the policy items in the spending bill, including restrictions on travel to Cuba and a minor provision related to oversight of financial trades. The spending agreement Thursday eliminated language that would have limited trips to Cuba to once every three years for those with family living there, and would have placed stricter limits on remitting money to relatives on the island.\nRemaining in the legislation is a ban on the District spending local tax money on abortion.\n The funding bill sets government spending for the year at $1.043 trillion, a level agreed to in an August deal that raised the nation’s legal borrowing limit. The figure represents a 1.5 percent drop in spending from the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. That doesn’t count $115 billion for overseas military operations, a $43 billion dip since this past year as the war in Iraq winds down. It also doesn’t include $8.1 billion in emergency disaster-relief spending.\nThe measure outlines spending for three-fourths of the government — all but the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, State, and Transportation, as well as NASA and some smaller agencies — which were settled in a November deal.\nAs Congress works to lower the federal deficit and reduce government spending, most domestic programs will see cuts.\nThe measure omits funding for the Internal Revenue Service to prepare for the 2014 implementation of the federal health-care law. But it increases funding for border agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\nIt includes $8.4 billion for the EPA — a $233 million drop from last year. And provides $550 million for Obama’s signature Race to the Top education program, a cut of more than 20 percent.\n \n ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["2012"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday evening","Thursday evening"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["1 trillion spending agreement for 2012 for federal agencies"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2012 Asa'ib Ahl al–Haq, the Iranian–backed Shiite militia that carried out deadly attacks on U.S. troops agrees to lay down its arms and join the political process in Iraq. (ABC News)","document":"A decision by a Shiite militia to transform itself from an armed, anti-American movement into a viable political force could complicate Iraq's political crisis and strengthen Iran's clout in this country as U.S. influence wanes.\nPrime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government has welcomed the recent decision by Asaib Ahl al-Haq to lay down its arms and join the political process. But bringing the former militants into the fold may alienate the Sunni minority and increase tensions between competing Shiite groups.\nAl-Maliki, who is widely believed to have played an active role in encouraging the militia to transform, may now gain an important ally that could also lessen his dependence on radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political bloc. Al-Sadr considers Asaib Ahl al-Haq a disloyal faction that broke away from his own anti-American militia several years ago.\nAsaib Ahl al-Haq, or Band of the Righteous, believes it played an important role in resisting the American presence in Iraq and that it now deserves some political payback. The group is thought to have fewer than 1,000 armed militiamen, backed by tens of thousands of supporters. An Iraqi close to the extremist group said last year that it relies on Iran for roughly $5 million in cash and weapons each month.\nIt is unclear how committed the group is to disarming entirely. Despite agreeing to renounce violence in late December, its members have not handed over their weapons, according to the Iraqi official in charge of reconciling with the country's armed groups.\n\"The government will not buy up the group's weapons, but we are ready to take them if they want us to,\" said the government official, Amer al-Khuzaie.\nA senior member of Asaib Ahl al-Haq said in an interview this week that the group wants to ally itself with other Shiite groups to run in provincial and parliamentary elections. But he stopped short of saying the group would disarm completely, saying its members would \"do its best to secure Shiite areas.\"\nQais al-Khazali, the group's leader, was also circumspect when reached by The Associated Press late Friday.\n\"The issue of handing over our weapons will be discussed with the Iraqi government sometime in the future, away from the media,\" he said.\nIn a brief phone interview, al-Khazali also said the group is willing to turn over the body of kidnapped British bodyguard Alan McMenemy, though he wouldn't say when that might happen.\nAsaib Ahl al-Haq and the Hezbollah Brigades were among a group of Shiite militias backed by Iran that carried out lethal attacks against U.S. bases in June, the deadliest month in two years for American forces in Iraq.\nU.S. troops completed their pullout last month after America's nearly nine-year war.\nThere is little sign that the Hezbollah Brigades intends to follow Asaib Ahl al-Haq's path. The Hezbollah group, which is believed to be funded and trained by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and its Quds Force special operations wing, issued a statement Dec. 30 denying it was joining any national reconciliation process. It said it would not challenge the Iraqi government directly but made no mention of plans to give up arms.\nA Shiite lawmaker in Baghdad said bringing Shiite militants into the political process will only strengthen Iran's influence in Iraq.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government","Maliki","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","Asaib Ahl al-Haq","the Iraqi government"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["transform itself from an armed, anti-American movement into a viable political force"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Iraq","Iraq","Iraq","Iraq"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 The United Kingdom and France sign a deal to improve cooperation on nuclear energy. (BBC)","document":"The UK has signed a deal with France to strengthen co-operation in the development of civil nuclear energy.\nThe government said it reiterated the UK's commitment to nuclear energy \"as part of a diversified energy mix\".\nThe coalition said the agreement would create a number of commercial deals in the nuclear energy field, worth more than £500m and creating 1,500 UK jobs.\nThe deal was signed at a summit between PM David Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.\n\"This joint declaration will signal our shared commitment to the future of civil nuclear power, setting out a shared long term vision of safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy, that supports growth and helps to deliver our emission reductions targets,\" a statement from Downing Street said.\nThe two governments will work together with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) \"to strengthen international capability to react to nuclear emergencies and establish a joint framework for cooperation and exchanging good practice on civil nuclear security\". The move comes 11 months after a tsunami in Japan wrecked the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, leaking radioactive material into the air and sea.\nUK and French public and private sector bodies in the civil nuclear power industry will also work more closely in a number of areas.\nThese include education and training, research and development, and security. \"As two great civil nuclear nations, we will combine our expertise to strengthen industrial partnership, improve nuclear safety and create jobs at home,\" said Mr Cameron.\nLast June, ministers announced plans for the next generation of UK nuclear plants.\nThe government confirmed a list of eight sites it deems suitable for new power stations by 2025, all of which are adjacent to existing nuclear sites.\nThe sites are: Bradwell, Essex; Hartlepool; Heysham, Lancashire; Hinkley Point, Somerset; Oldbury, Gloucestershire; Sellafield, Cumbria; Sizewell, Suffolk; and Wylfa, Anglesey.\n\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The UK","UK","UK","UK","France"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["strengthen international capability to react to nuclear emergencies and establish a joint framework for cooperation and exchanging good practice on civil nuclear security"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Paris"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 New pacts promoting trade, investment and education between China and Ireland are signed in Dublin. (BBC) (Financial Times)","document":"\nMr Xi and the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, witnessed the signing of agreements at Dublin Castle between government departments, state agencies, universities and companies.\n\"Ireland and China have much to offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment,\" said Mr Kenny.\nBilateral trade between the two countries was worth about 4.2bn euros (£3.5bn; $5.5bn) in 2010.\nAlthough China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes.\nAfter flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle.\nOn Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.\nHe then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration at Croke Park of Irish field sports - hurling and Gaelic football.\nThe Chinese vice-president swung a hurling stick and kicked a football for the cameras. \"He showed some admirable skills for his first time kicking on what is... a very holy turf for us,\" said Alan Milton, a spokesman at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).\nMr Xi was also due to see a special performance of the hit show Riverdance.\nDr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development's chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses.\n\"China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world's population,\" he said.\n\"The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country.\"\nMr Xi's visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media.\nChina's Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries' ties as \"an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems\".\nAnswering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people's \"enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world\".\nBut Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China.\n\"Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,\" she said.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Ireland and China","China","China","Ireland","Ireland","Ireland","China"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Dublin Castle"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2012 Euro zone finance ministers reach an agreement on a second Greek bailout. (Reuters via Sydney Morning Herald)","document":"Euro zone finance ministers have sealed a second bailout for debt-laden Greece that will resolve its immediate financing needs but seems unlikely to revive the nation's shattered economy.\nAfter a marathon 13 hours of talks, euro zone officials said ministers had nailed measures to cut Greece's debt to about 121 per cent of gross domestic product by 2020, close to their original target of 120 per cent, after negotiators for private bondholders offered to accept a bigger loss to help plug the funding gap.\nThe IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde, talks with Greece's Prime Minister, Lucas Papademos, at the European Union council headquarters in Brussels.\nAgreement on a €130-billion rescue package with strict conditions attached will help draw a line under months of uncertainty that has shaken the currency bloc, and avert an imminent Greek bankruptcy.\n\"The financial volume [of the Greek package] is €130 billion and debt-to-GDP [will be] 121 per cent. Now it's down to work on the statement,\" one official involved in the negotiations told Reuters. Another confirmed the figures.\nThe euro jumped almost half a cent, reversing earlier losses, after Reuters reported the deal had been struck.\nA report prepared for ministers by EU, European Central Bank and IMF experts, obtained exclusively by Reuters, said Greece would need extra relief to cut its debts near to the official debt target 2020, given the ever-worsening state of its economy.\nIf Athens did not follow through on economic reforms and savings, its debt could hit 160 per cent by that date.\n\"Given the risks, the Greek program may thus remain accident prone, with questions about sustainability hanging over it,\" the nine-page confidential report said, highlighting the fact that Greece's problems were far from over.\nThe accord will enable Athens to launch a bond swap with private investors to help reduce and restructure its vast debts, put it on a more stable financial footing and keep it inside the 17-country euro zone.\nAbout €100 billion of debt will be written off as banks and insurers swap bonds they hold for longer-dated securities that pay a lower coupon.\nPrivate sector holders of Greek debt are expected to take losses of 53.5 per cent or more on the nominal value of their bonds. Previously they had agreed to a 50 per cent nominal writedown, which equated to about a 70 per cent loss on the net present value of the bonds.\nThe debt sustainability report delivered to ministers last week showed that without further measures Greek debt would fall to only 129 per cent by 2020.\nThe IMF had said if the ratio was not cut to nearly 120 per cent, it may not have been able to help finance the bailout, putting the whole scheme in jeopardy.\nTo help fill the financing gap, one senior euro zone source said the ECB would pass up profits it has made from buying Greek bonds over the past two years under its emergency bond-buying programme.\nThe ECB has spent about €38 billion on Greek government debt that is now worth about €50 billion. By forgoing that profit and redistributing it to national euro zone central banks, the ECB can indirectly provide debt relief to Athens.\nEconomists say that, whatever its constituent parts, the deal may only delay a deeper default by a few months. A turnaround could take as much as a decade, a prospect that brought thousands of Greeks on to the streets on Sunday to protest against austerity measures.\nDOUBTS OVER COMMITMENT\nSceptics question whether a new Greek government will stick to the deeply unpopular programme after elections due in April, and believe Athens could again fall behind in implementation, prompting exasperated lenders to pull the plug once the euro zone has stronger financial firewalls in place.\nWhile there are doubts in Germany and other countries that Greece will be able to meet its commitments, including implementing €3.3 billion of spending cuts and tax increases, the threat of contagion from a chaotic Greek default always made a deal more likely than not, no matter how tortuous the negotiations.\nGreek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde and ECB president Mario Draghi all attended the Brussels talks in a sign they were likely to be decisive.\nThe private creditor bond exchange is expected to launch on March 8 and complete three days later, Athens said on Saturday. That means a €14.5-billion bond repayment due on March 20 would be restructured, allowing Greece to avoid default.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Euro zone finance ministers"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["130-billion rescue package with strict conditions attached"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Brussels","Brussels"]}]}
+{"title":"December_2010 India and Russia sign a range of treaties including on development of a fifth–generation stealth fighter and provision of nuclear reactors from Russia to India. (The Hindu) (BBC) (RIA Novosti)","document":"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed nuclear and defence agreements worth billions of dollars during a two-day visit to India. He has met Indian PM Manmohan Singh in Delhi on a trip that saw handshakes on the joint development of a so-called fifth generation stealth fighter jet.\nThere was also an agreement to supply more Russian nuclear power reactors.\nAll five permanent UN Security Council members have now made trade-focused visits to India in recent months.\nThe BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi says the visits are a sign of India's growing clout on the world stage. As recession bites elsewhere, India is booming, he points out.\nA Cold War ally and for many years the default weapons supplier to India, Russia has faced tough competition from Europe and the US for a slice of Delhi's booming defence market.\nWary of its rising regional rival, China, India is now one of the world's largest buyers of fighter jets, tanks, submarines and other defence equipment. As Mr Medvedev and Mr Singh met on Tuesday, nearly a dozen agreements were signed in such areas as energy, technology and chemicals.\nThe setpiece was a long-awaited deal for the joint production of a fifth-generation fighter. India reportedly plans to take as many as 300 of the aircraft.\nOn the nuclear front, Mr Medvedev agreed to provide another two civilian nuclear energy reactors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where Russia is already setting up two reactors.\nEnergy-hungry India is one of the world's biggest nuclear power markets, with plans to expand its capacity nearly 15-fold to 63,000 megawatts by 2032.\nThe Russian president, who was joined by about 100 business leaders, is also meeting ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi.\nOn Wednesday, he will tour the Taj Mahal in Agra and India's financial capital, Mumbai (Bombay). In a joint statement, Russia voiced its support for India \"as a deserving and strong candidate\" for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.\nUS President Barack Obama voiced similar backing for India's hopes of a place at the UN's top table during his visit in November.\nHailing what he described as a \"special and privileged\" strategic partnership, Mr Singh said Russia was a \"time-tested friend... that has stood by us in our times of need in the past\".\n\"It is a partnership that has, and will continue, to develop independently of our relations with other countries.\"\nOn Monday, Delhi and Moscow agreed to double bilateral trade from the current $10bn over the next five years.\nBritish Prime Minister David Cameron visited India in July, and President Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have passed through over the past six weeks.\nEach was also accompanied by a large business delegation, and each has gone home boasting of billions of dollars of extra trade with one of the world's fastest growing economies. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["India","India","India","India","India","India","India","India","India","Russia","Russia","Russia","Russia"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["nuclear and defence agreements","nuclear"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the joint development of a so-called fifth generation stealth fighter jet","joint development of a so-called fifth generation stealth fighter jet.\nThere was also an agreement to supply more Russian nuclear power reactors","an agreement to supply more Russian nuclear power reactors"]},{"role":"Location","values":["India","India","India","India","India","India","India","India","India"]}]}
+{"title":"Taking defence cooperation to a new level, India and Russia on Tuesday signed a deal for design and development of advanced fifth generation fighter aircraft","document":"Taking defence cooperation to a new level, India and Russia on Tuesday signed a deal for design and development of advanced fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) estimated to cost $ 295 million, the first such venture between them.\nThe contract envisages joint development of preliminary design contract (PDC) for the advanced fighter jet and will involve Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) from India and the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Rosoboronexport on the Russian side.\nThe pact was signed on the margins of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, during which the two sides also discussed their defence relationship which is transforming from a buyer-seller format to one that, includes joint research and development, manufacturing and marketing activities.\nAccording to reports, the deal is expected to be worth over USD 295 million and the design of the aircraft is likely to be finalised within next 18 months.\nThe Indian Air Force (IAF) has plans of acquiring 250-300 of these aircraft by the year 2030. Single and twin seat versions of the aircraft are expected to be developed and the plane will be ready for flying by 2017.\nThe FGFA would be based on Sukhoi’s T-50 aircraft, which made its maiden flight in January this year.\nDuring their meeting, the two leaders also expressed satisfaction at the regular service-to-service interactions and joint exercises that have taken place between their countries.\nThe two sides also agreed to make efforts to upgrade joint military exercises in various fields including counter-terrorism.\nSince the Cold War era, Russia has been the biggest military hardware supplier to India and the Indian armed forces rely heavily on that country.\nThough India has been working to diversify its military imports, still the bulk of the hardware with the three defence forces is of Russian origin including frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft and T-90 and T-72 tanks.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["India and Russia","India","Russia","India","India"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The contract envisages joint development of preliminary design contract (PDC) for the advanced fighter jet and will involve Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) from India and the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Rosoboronexport on the Russian side","India"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"December_2010 The United States Senate votes to ratify the New START Treaty with the Russia, which halves the number of deployed strategic nuclear missile launchers maintained by each nation. (The Washington Post)","document":"The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a new nuclear arms-reduction treaty with Russia, the broadest such pact between the former Cold War foes in nearly two decades.\nThe Senate ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, by a vote of 71 to 26, easily clearing the threshold of two-thirds of senators present as required by the Constitution for treaty ratification.\nThe final vote came after Senate Democrats accepted two amendments designed to placate Republicans who had qualms about the treaty. The amendments, which passed on voice votes with bipartisan support, emphasized the administration's commitment to a limited missile-defense program and to continued funding to modernize the aging U.S. nuclear weapons complex.\nThe amendments were to the resolution of ratification accompanying the treaty, a nonbinding statement that codifies the Senate's understanding of the pact but does not directly affect its language. Republican efforts to alter the treaty language were defeated, with supporters of the pact arguing that such changes would have forced new negotiations with Moscow and effectively killed the treaty.\nThirteen Republicans joined all of the Senate's Democrats in voting for ratification, helping to exceed the 67 votes required. Three senators - all Republicans - were not present.\nIn a floor speech shortly before the ratification vote, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), the Foreign Relations Committee chairman who shepherded the treaty through the Senate, implored senators to put politics aside and take a broad view. \"This is one of those rare times in the United States Senate . . . when we have it in our power to safeguard or endanger human life on this planet,\" he said. \"More than any other, this issue should transcend politics. . . . More than at almost any other time, the people of the world are watching us because they rely on our leadership.\"\nKerry also chided Republicans who had argued against taking up New START ratification so close to Christmas, thus delaying their departures for the holidays. \"The question is not whether we get out of here for a holiday; the question is whether we move the world a little more out of the dark shadow of nuclear nightmare,\" he said.\nKerry said after the vote: \"The winners are not defined by party or ideology. The winners are the American people, who are safer with fewer Russian missiles aimed at them.\" He said the treaty's impact \"will echo around the world,\" showing that the United States remains determined to work with Russia and other countries to reduce the global threat from nuclear weapons.\n\"With this treaty, we send a message to Iran and North Korea that the international community remains united to restrain the nuclear ambitions of countries that operate outside the law,\" Kerry said.\nNew START cleared a key hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday, advancing to a final vote with a margin that appeared to guarantee ratification and a major foreign-policy victory for President Obama. Senators voted 67 to 28 to invoke \"cloture\" to limit further debate and move to the ratification vote, with 11 Republicans joining all 56 Democrats present in the chamber.\nThe stakes were high: Defeat of the pact would have severely damaged Obama's global standing, hampering his ability to negotiate other treaties, and would have dealt a major setback to the president's \"reset\" of relations with Russia.\n\"It's one of those things in life where failing to get it would be more important than actually what you get with it,\" said George Perkovich, a scholar on nuclear nonproliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Russia","Russia","Russia","The U.S"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START","New START"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["showing that the United States remains determined to work with Russia and other countries to reduce the global threat from nuclear weapons","With this treaty, we send a message to Iran and North Korea that the international community remains united to restrain the nuclear ambitions of countries that operate outside the law"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Pink Floyd sign a new five–year record deal with EMI after winning a lawsuit regarding digital distribution. (BBC)","document":"Pink Floyd have ended a legal battle with their record company EMI and signed a new contract with the label.\nThe rock group recently won a court ruling against the label over whether a deal signed in the pre-download age could be applied to digital sales.\n\"All legal disputes between the band and the company have been settled as a result of this new deal,\" EMI said.\nAn EMI statement said it would \"help the band reach new and existing fans through their incredible body of work\".\nThe band, who have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, have been with EMI since signing their first record deal in the 1960s. The new agreement will last for five years.\nThey have chosen not to follow acts like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Queen and Radiohead, who have all left the label since it was taken over by private equity firm Terra Firma in 2007.\nThe recent court case centred around Pink Floyd's last record deal, which was signed before the days of legal downloads and said individual songs could not be sold without the band's permission.\nThe band argued that the rule should apply to download sales in stores such as iTunes as well as CDs, saying their \"seamless\" albums should not be split up.\nEMI disagreed, claiming the word \"record\" in the band's contract applied \"to the physical thing - there is nothing to suggest it applies to online distribution\".\nA judge sided with Pink Floyd in March, and EMI's appeal was dismissed last month.\nHowever, single Pink Floyd tracks have remained on sale through iTunes and will continue to be available under the new deal.\nSpeaking in October, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason told BBC News it was \"not actually a big punch up\" with the record company, but rather \"about getting a third party to adjudicate\".\nHe also said he was \"very fond\" of EMI but bemoaned how \"the gang known as 'business affairs' have taken over the running of the company\".\n\"I look back with considerable fondness to the days when it was the entrepreneurs and individuals who actually ran these companies and created something that was about the music,\" he said.\nAnnouncing the new deal, EMI chief executive Roger Faxon said: \"Pink Floyd are one of the most important and influential bands of all time and I know I speak for everyone at EMI when I say that it is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with them.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["EMI","EMI","EMI","EMI","EMI","EMI","EMI","EMI","Pink Floyd","Pink Floyd","Pink Floyd","Pink Floyd","Pink Floyd","Pink Floyd"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["five years"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the rule should apply to download sales in stores such as iTunes as well as CDs, saying their \"seamless\" albums should not be split up"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 British–based global oil and gas company BP signs a deal with Russian oil firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf. (BBC)","document":"BP has signed a joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.\nThe \"strategic global alliance\" will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring the region.\nAs part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.\nIt is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill last year, which cost it billions.\nThe BP shares stake is worth just under $8bn (£5bn).\n\"BP executives see this as the first piece of good news since that disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last April,\" said the BBC's business editor Robert Peston.\nBut he said the deal was a controversial one, with Russia not seen as an entirely transparent society nor as a stable place to do business.\n\"This unique agreement underlines our long-term, strategic and deepening links with the world's largest hydrocarbon-producing nation,\" said BP's chief executive Bob Dudley.\nHe said the \"historic\" deal would \"create value, deliver growth, and meet the world's demand for energy\".\nMr Dudley said the agreement would meet the needs of consumers, shareholders and governments.\nThe firms will explore in three areas - known as EPNZ 1,2,3 - on the Russian Arctic continental shelf. The areas covers 125,000 square kilometres in an area of the South Kara Sea.\n\"Our future joint venture will utilize the experience and expertise of BP, one of the leaders in the global oil and gas industry,\" said Rosneft's President, Eduard Khudainatov.\n\"This project is unique in its complexity and scale both for Russia and the global oil and gas industry. We see it as the next step in developing our relations with BP.\"\nReferring to the Deepwater Horizon blast Mr Dudley said that the firm had \"learned many lessons over the past year\".\nHe also said the Russian deal had not been precipitated by the backlash it had experienced in the US because of the Gulf of Mexico spill.\nSince the rig disaster in the US Gulf of Mexico BP has been disposing of assets.\nMr Dudley is the former chief executive of Russian joint venture TNK-BP, and was forced out of the country in 2008 after falling out with other shareholders. But he said he was pleased to now be working with Rosneft in \"one of the world's last remaining unexplored basins\".\n\"We are today building a relationship between BP and Rosneft that has been forged over 12 years but going far beyond anything that has gone before,\" he said.\n\"We are creating an entirely new strategic alliance between what I know are two great companies.\"\nBP and Rosneft have also agreed to set-up an Arctic technology centre in Russia which will work with Russian and international research institutes to develop technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbon resources from the Arctic shelf. UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne hailed the agreement as a groundbreaking development.\n\"From what we know, it sounds like it's potentially good for BP,\" said Phil Weiss, analyst at New York equities firm Argus Research.\n\"BP gets access to resources, Rosneft gets access to expertise and knowledge.\"\nHowever in the US Congressman Edward Markey, who is leading Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called for a review of the deal by US regulators.\nBP had a terrible 2010 with the Gulf of Mexico spill, which is going to cost them at least $40bn.\nBut in November BP announced it was back in profit in the three months to September after last quarter' s record loss.\nThe firm said its replacement cost profit for the period was $1.85bn (£1.15bn), as against the $17bn loss recorded from April to June.\nThe previous loss reflected the massive costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","Rosneft","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP","BP"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares","set-up an Arctic technology centre in Russia which will work with Russian and international research institutes to develop technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbon resources from the Arctic shelf"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Saudi Arabia decides it will not ban BlackBerry instant messaging after agreeing a deal to iron out security fears. (The Daily Telegraph)","document":"Saudi Arabia and the makers of the BlackBerry smartphone have reached a deal to prevent a ban on the phone's messenger service.\nThe agreement, which involves placing a BlackBerry server inside Saudi Arabia, would allow the government to monitor users' messages and allay official fears the service could be used for criminal purposes.\nThe deal could have wide-ranging implications for several other countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates, which have expressed similar concerns over how BlackBerry maker Research in Motion handles its data.\nA Saudi regulatory official said tests were now under way to determine how to install a BlackBerry server inside the country.\nThe kingdom is one of a number of countries expressing concern that the device is a security threat because encrypted information sent on the phones is routed through overseas computers – making it impossible for local governments to monitor.\nThe United Arab Emirates has announced it will ban BlackBerry email, messaging and web browsing starting in October, and Indonesia and India are also demanding greater control over the data.\nAnalysts say RIM's expansion into fast-growing emerging markets is threatening to set off a wave of regulatory challenges, as its commitment to keep corporate emails secure rubs up against the desires of local law enforcement.\nRIM says it does offer help to governments, but says its technology does not allow it, or any third party, to read encrypted emails sent by corporate BlackBerry users.\nThe consumer version has a lower level of security.\nIn Saudi Arabia – which local media say has some 750,000 BlackBerry users – the threat of the ban raised accusations the government is trying to further curb freedom of expression.\nSaudi Arabia's telecommunications regulator announced the imminent ban on Tuesday, saying the BlackBerry service \"in its present state does not meet regulatory requirements.\"\nSaudi security officials fear the service could be used by militant groups. The kingdom has been waging a crackdown for years against al-Qaida-linked extremists.\nSaudi Arabia also enforces heavy policing of the internet, blocking sites both for political content and for obscenities.\nBlackBerry phones are known to be popular both among businesspeople and youth in the kingdom who see the phones' relatively secure communication features as a way to avoid attention from the authorities. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","BlackBerry","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["placing a BlackBerry server inside Saudi Arabia, would allow the government to monitor users' messages and allay official fears the service could be used for criminal purposes"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia","Saudi Arabia"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 The President of the United States Barack Obama signs a $26 billion bill to help struggling states to meet budgets. (Reuters)","document":"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved, and President Barack Obama promptly signed into law, an election-year bill providing $26 billion to struggling states by closing tax loopholes for multinational companies and cutting food aid to the poor.\nThe Democratic-controlled House of Representatives gave final congressional approval to the bill on a largely party-line vote of 247 to 161.\nDemocratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the rare step of summoning House members back to Washington during their summer recess for a final vote on the measure after the Senate approved the legislation last week.\nThe bill will give states, hard-hit by the U.S. economic downturn, $16 billion more for Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, and $10 billion for education in the hopes they can avoid making steep cuts in already-lean budgets.\nBudget gaps for the 50 U.S. states could total as much as $120 billion over the next year. States have slashed funding for everything from government employees to education since their revenues began collapsing in 2008 because of the weak U.S. economy.\n“Economists have told us that if this legislation were not passed and these jobs were not saved and the budgets of the states were not stabilized we would go into another deep recession, like the one we inherited from the previous administration,” Pelosi said, referring to the Republican Bush administration.\nRepublicans are trying to take back control of Congress from the Democrats in November’s congressional elections. Republicans hope to build on voter anger over the size of the U.S. budget deficit, projected at $1.47 trillion this year, by emphasizing the measure’s price tag.\n“Everyone knows that state budgets have been hit hard and no one wants teachers or police officers to lose their jobs,” said House Republican leader John Boehner, who opposed the bill. “But where do the bailouts end?”\nDemocrats want to convince voters they can strengthen a fragile economic recovery and bring down the country’s unemployment rate, currently 9.5 percent.\nA report from the research group the Rockefeller Institute of Government released on Tuesday showed that layoffs are hurting state and local governments, with their payrolls falling last month below pre-recession levels.\nThis is the only one of nine recessions since 1953 in which state government employment has fallen below its pre-recession level, the New York-based research group said.\nSince the start of the year, state and local governments have shed 169,000 jobs, according to the congressional Joint Economic Committee.\nRelated Coverage\n“We can’t stand by and do nothing while pink slips (termination notices) are given to the men and women who educate our children or keep our communities safe,” Obama said in the White House Rose Garden earlier on Tuesday as he urged the House to pass the legislation.\nObama added, “This proposal is fully paid for -- in part by closing tax loopholes that encourage corporations to shift American jobs overseas, so it will not add to our deficit.”\nDemocrats say figures from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show the legislation will shave more than $1 billion from the U.S. budget deficit\nThe bill will be funded by tightening tax rules related to how companies allocate income between domestic and foreign subsidiaries.\nIt also cuts $11.9 billion from the food stamp program, ending part of last year’s economic stimulus plan that temporarily increased the aid given to poor families each month to buy groceries. It rescinds advance refunds of the earned income tax credit, a break given to poor families, as well.\nLast year’s $862 billion economic stimulus law temporarily raised the federal reimbursements to states for Medicaid. States have been worried about how to fill the void when the money runs out in December.\nThe education funds contained in the bill will help retain 161,000 teachers and school staffers, according to the JEC.\nBut states are concerned about the education funds, which require them to maintain school spending at the same level as 2008. The recession had not hit many states then and few can now afford to return to that higher level of spending.\nMississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, said his state will have to rewrite its budget to qualify for $98 million in education funds, moving at least $50 million into education spending from public safety and health.\n“There is no justification for the federal government hijacking state budgets,” Barbour said.\nUpset that Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry put some of his state’s stimulus money in reserve, Democrats stipulated that Texas can receive education money only if it spends some of the earlier stimulus funds. Congress is sending a message to Perry, said Representative Sheila Jackson Lee: “Don’t fool with money for children and education.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The House of Representatives","House of Representatives","President Barack Obama"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday","Tuesday","Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["an election-year bill providing $26 billion to struggling states by closing tax loopholes for multinational companies and cutting food aid to the poor"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Washington"]}]}
+{"title":"US President Barack Obama has signed into law a $600m (£385m) bill providing increased security along the US-Mexico border","document":"US President Barack Obama has signed into law a $600m (£385m) bill providing increased security along the US-Mexico border.\nThe US Senate had reconvened on Thursday during its August recess to pass the measure.\nThe funds will mostly be directed to activities on the south-west border, such as hiring 1,000 border patrol agents. Money will also pay for surveillance technology, including unmanned drones.\nA further 250 immigration and customs enforcement agents will also be funded by the bill.\n\"This new law will also strengthen our partnership with Mexico in targeting the gangs and criminal organisations that operate on both sides of our shared border,\" Mr Obama said in a statement after the bill passed on Thursday.\nHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters that it would take eight months for the new border patrol agents to be recruited, trained and deployed to the border. She also said that border crossings into the US were down 50% as a result of extra security and a weakened economy with fewer jobs for migrants.\nRepublicans and Democrats agreed to pass the bill on Thursday by a \"voice vote\", requiring only two senators to be present. Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, presided while Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, voted in the 40-minute session.\nMr Schumer, the measure's chief sponsor, hopes it will pave the way for comprehensive immigration legislation to be considered after the August recess. \"Both moderate Democrats and Republicans said they wouldn't even consider comprehensive reform until we did something about the border,\" Mr Schumer said.\nSome Republicans appear unsatisfied though, with Senator Jeff Sessions calling the bill \"a small measure\" which \"if it is not followed by strong, sustained action, it is yet another gesture without consequence\".\nThe $600m will be paid for by raising fees on some foreign work visas.\nThursday's session was only the second time in four decades that the Senate has been called back into session during August. The other time was to pass emergency measures related to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["US President Barack Obama","The US Senate"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday","Thursday","Thursday","August","August","August"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["600m (£385m) bill providing increased security along the US-Mexico border","US"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a $600 million bill to beef up security on the U.S. border with Mexico, and his aides pressed lawmakers to set aside election-year politics and work toward broader immigration reform","document":"President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a $600 million bill to beef up security on the U.S. border with Mexico, and his aides pressed lawmakers to set aside election-year politics and work toward broader immigration reform.\nWith illegal immigration seen as a key issue in the November congressional elections, the Obama administration touted the border enforcement plan as laying the groundwork for a revived effort to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.\nCongress passed the measure this week and sent it to Obama, who sought the extra funding amid complaints from southwestern U.S. states that the government was failing to seal the border from illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.\nBut lawmakers have been reluctant to push ahead on the hot-button issue of immigration reform, and no serious progress is likely until after the mid-term elections.\nObama’s aides insisted the president remained committed to revamping what he has called a broken immigration system, and challenged Democrats and Republicans to show leadership.\n“They will need to address this in a bipartisan way,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters at the White House. “It cannot only be done by Democrats. The Republicans need to come to the table.”\nBut mindful of the political climate, administration officials set no timetable for breaking the deadlock.\nObama has called for comprehensive reform that includes not only better border security but a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. Republican critics support a tighter border but say citizenship proposals would amount to an amnesty for lawbreakers.\n“If the president takes amnesty off the table and makes a real commitment to border and interior security, he will find strong bipartisan support,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.\nThe new $600 million will fund some 1,500 new border patrol agents, customs inspectors and other law enforcement officials along the border, as well as two more unmanned aerial “drones” to monitor border activities.\nCongress’ speedy approval of the measure marked a rare display of bipartisanship.\nDemocratic Senator Charles Schumer said he hoped the bill’s passage would help break the stalemate over broader immigration reform. Obama, in a statement issued on Thursday, said he wanted to continue working toward that goal.\nThere are believed to be about 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. But immigrants’ rights advocates say Republicans have inflated concerns about illegal immigrants in order to put Democrats on the defensive ahead of the Nov. 2 congressional elections.\nWith the measure’s passage, members of Congress running for re-election will be able to spend the next several weeks boasting that they acted to reinforce the border.\nOfficials in southwestern states have asked for more help from the federal government to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, weapons and narcotics. Obama already has ordered more National Guard troops to the border for a year.\nA federal judge last month blocked key parts of an Arizona law that sought to drive illegal immigrants out of the state, handing a victory to the Obama administration, which argued the measure was unconstitutional.\nThe White House also rejected calls by some Republicans in Congress to alter the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution to eliminate language that gives automatic U.S. citizenship to all people born in the United States. These Republicans oppose automatic citizenship for babies of illegal immigrants born in the United States.\nThe amendment, ratified in 1868 in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, was intended to guarantee that former slaves were automatically given U.S. citizenship.\n“Those that have, with steadfast fidelity, talked about not tampering with our Constitution, have now swerved to pick the 14th Amendment as the best place to address comprehensive immigration reform,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.\n“It’s rich in its irony. It’s wrong in its approach.”\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["President Barack Obama"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["he new $600 million will fund some 1,500 new border patrol agents, customs inspectors and other law enforcement officials along the border, as well as two more unmanned aerial “drones” to monitor border activities"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"August_2010 Gabon signs agreements with several Asian companies designed to make it rely less on its oil. (BBC) (Financial Times) (Reuters Africa)","document":"Gabon has signed deals to diversify its economy in an attempt to be less reliant on its dwindling oil reserves.\nThe government has announced contracts with Asian companies worth $4.5bn billion dollars. President Ali Bongo signed the agreements on the eve of the country's 50th anniversary of its independence from France. The projects will revamp infrastructure and create about 50,000 jobs.\nGabon's oil output has been declining for years and the new deals are presented as the first steps towards diversification.\nThe largest deal is the with OLAM, a Singapore-based company which plans to develop a huge palm oil plantation in the south east.\nThe government wants to become the leading palm oil producer in Africa. In terms of infrastructure, the OLAM deal involves the construction of a refinery, and there are plans for a possible port.\nAnother agreement was signed with the Indian company M3M, to build 5,000 low-cost housing units over the next two years. Ramky Infrastructure, another Indian construction company, will build 1,000 kilometres of tarred road over the next three years in a $1.5bn project that will be jointly financed by the Gabonese government.\nGabon has already attracted a number of Asian investors, notably Malaysian and Chinese companies, but most of them were interested in the mining and timber sectors.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Gabon","Gabon","Asian companies"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["the eve of the country's 50th anniversary of its independence from France"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The largest deal is the with OLAM, a Singapore-based company which plans to develop a huge palm oil plantation in the south east","with the Indian company M3M, to build 5,000 low-cost housing units over the next two years. Ramky Infrastructure, another Indian construction company, will build 1,000 kilometres of tarred road over the next three years in a $1.5bn project that will be jointly financed by the Gabonese government"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"February_2013 Eleven African nations including all the members of the African Great Lakes region sign a United Nations brokered peace deal for the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC)","document":"Regional African leaders have signed a UN-brokered accord which aims to bring peace to the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.\nThe deal was signed in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.\nHe said he hoped it would bring \"an era of peace and stability\" to the region.\nAs many as 800,000 people have been displaced since the March 23 rebel group took up arms against the Kinshasa government last May.\n\"It is only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement,\" Mr Ban said.\nThe agreement, signed by leaders and representatives of 11 countries of the Great Lakes region, may lead to the establishment of a special UN intervention brigade in eastern DR Congo, along with political efforts to bring peace.\nAn initial attempt to get the peace agreement signed last month was called off at the last minute.\nLeaders from Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic and South Sudan attended the signing.\nThe M23 rebels say they want to improve living conditions for the people of eastern DR Congo, but the UN says they are supported by Rwanda, which has been heavily involved in its eastern neighbour since those responsible for the country's genocide fled there en masse in 1994.\nBosco Ntaganda, who is accused of being one of the M23 leaders, was an officer in the Rwandan army before he left to join a rebel movement in DR Congo. The ICC accuses him of using child soldiers and the UN says he controls several mines in the east of the country.\nThe group briefly seized control of the city of Goma last November after carving out an area for themselves in North Kivu province.\nDR Congo's government and rebels have been holding talks in Uganda aimed at reaching an agreement on a range of issues. In January, the rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire.\nAn earlier attempt to reach a deal collapsed in December after the group accused President Joseph Kabila of failing to honour a deal to integrate rebels into the army.\nThe region's mineral riches have been plundered by numerous groups and countries over the past 15 years and little has been spent on DR Congo's infrastructure. Setback for EU in legal fight with AstraZeneca\nBut the drug-maker faces hefty fines if it fails to supply doses of Covid-19 vaccine over the summer.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["leaders and representatives of 11 countries of the Great Lakes region","leaders","Leaders","leaders"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["bring peace to the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Addis Ababa"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 The UK's three main political parties reach an agreement on measures to regulate the British press. (BBC)","document":"A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on a new press regulation regime in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.\nAn independent regulator will be set up by royal charter with powers to impose million pound fines on UK publishers and demand upfront apologies from them. Party leaders told MPs the charter would preserve press freedom and protect victims of press intrusion. Many of the major newspapers said they needed time to study the details.\nPress reform campaign group Hacked Off has welcomed the deal.\nIt follows Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics, which found that journalists had hacked thousands of phones. He called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation designed to assess whether it is doing its job properly.\nPrime Minister David Cameron said the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour had agreed on a new system of \"tough independent self-regulation that will deliver for victims and meet the principles set out in (Leveson's) report\". He said a new system would ensure: The charter defines publishers as newspapers, magazines or websites containing news-related material.\nBut there was confusion over how the plans would extend to the rest of the internet - with one Downing Street aide telling the BBC it would not cover blogs such as Guido Fawkes' political commentary. While the charter is intended to cover organisations publishing in the UK, the Scottish government has asked Westminster to clarify the Scottish impact of plans for press regulation, which is a devolved matter.\nAnnouncing the draft royal charter, Mr Cameron told MPs: \"What happened to the Dowlers, to the McCanns, to Christopher Jeffries and to many other innocent people who've never sought the limelight was utterly despicable. \"It is right that we put in place a new system of press regulation to ensure such appalling acts can never happen again. We should do this without any further delay.\"\nLabour leader Ed Miliband said the agreement satisfied the demands of protection for victims and freedom of the press.\nDeputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he hoped newspaper groups would see the logic of the deal and back it.\nThe charter will not be passed by MPs, but will need to be approved at the May meeting of the Queen's Privy Council - advisers to the Queen, mostly comprising senior politicians. Meanwhile, a clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, which will mean that the charter cannot be amended without a two-thirds majority in Parliament, was approved in the Lords on Tuesday evening. And a separate bill, the Crime and Courts Bill, will have amendments ensuring that newspapers who refused to join the new regulatory regime would be potentially liable for exemplary damages if a claim was upheld against them.\nThe three main parties differed over whether this amounted to bringing in a new law.\nMr Cameron said a press law had been avoided - although he conceded the clauses were \"two very important but relatively small legislative changes\" that needed to be made.\nMr Miliband said there was statute underpinning the charter, \"which is actually protecting it from being changed\".\nBBC political editor Nick Robinson said the press had been informed over the days and months of wrangling, with key players being Telegraph's Lord Black, Associated Newspapers' Peter Wright, the editor of the Times John Witherow and the editor of the FT Lionel Barber. In a joint statement, the Mail and Telegraph groups, Northern and Shell, News International, the Newspaper Society and the Professional Publishers Association said the industry had not been represented in Sunday night's talks.\nIt said early drafts of the charter had contained \"several deeply contentious issues\" which had not been \"resolved with the industry\".\n\"We are not able to give any response on behalf of the industry to this afternoon's proposals until we have had time to study them,\" the statement concluded. The Sun and others have previously said they would accept everything recommended by Lord Justice Leveson - except statutory legislation. Evan Harris of campaign group Hacked Off was at the overnight talks with three other pressure group members. The group later said it believed the deal \"can effectively deliver\" Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations.\nBut the idea of a charter was criticised by free speech campaign group Index on Censorship. Chief executive Kirsty Hughes said the decision was a \"sad day for press freedom in the UK\".\nShe said: \"Index is against the introduction of a royal charter that determines the details of establishing a press regulator in the UK - the involvement of politicians undermines the fundamental principle that the press holds politicians to account.\"\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the three main political parties"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter with powers to impose million pound fines on UK publishers and demand upfront apologies from them"]},{"role":"Location","values":["UK","UK","UK","UK"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 President of the United States Barack Obama announces that Israel and Turkey have reached an agreement to normalize relations between both countries. (Reuters) (The New York Times) (CBS News)","document":"Under persistent prodding from President Obama, Israel and Turkey resolved a bitter three-year dispute on Friday with a diplomatic thaw that will help a fragile region confront Syria’s civil war, while handing the president a solid accomplishment as he closed out his visit to the Middle East.\nThe breakthrough took place in the most improbable of surroundings: a trailer parked on the tarmac of Ben-Gurion International Airport. Moments before Mr. Obama left for Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telephoned the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and apologized for deadly errors in Israel’s 2010 raid on a Turkish ship that was trying to bring aid to Palestinians in Gaza. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Israel and Turkey"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["resolved a bitter three-year dispute"]},{"role":"Location","values":["a trailer parked on the tarmac of Ben-Gurion International Airport"]}]}
+{"title":"March_2013 South Korea signs a new military plan with the United States to counter a possible incursion or a limited attack from North Korea. (BBC)","document":"South Korea has signed a new military plan with the US to counter what officials call North Korean \"provocations\". The plan provides for a joint response between both countries in the event of a limited attack from the North, officials say.\nHelp from the US - which has 28,000 troops in South Korea - has until now been optional in minor skirmishes. Regional tension remains high after the North's third nuclear test last month. The US already offers South Korea a \"nuclear umbrella\", but Cold War experts have pointed out that while nuclear deterrence may address the possibility of all-out war, it does not deter low-level incidents. Under the new plan, South Korea will be able to call on US assistance should Pyongyang follow through with its recent threats, for example to attack remote South Korean islands, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.\n\"This allows both nations to jointly respond to the North's local provocations, with the South taking the lead and the US in support,\" South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said on Monday.\n\"It will have the effect of preventing the North from daring to provoke us,\" he added of the deal, which was signed on Friday.\nThe \"provocative\" acts that the plan seeks to address include incursions on the border and by low-flying aircraft, and attacks on border islands, says the Agence-France Presse news agency.\nThe new plan was conceived in 2010, after North Korea shelled a border island. A South Korean warship also sank that year, leaving 46 sailors dead. South Korea said North Korea torpedoed the ship, but Pyongyang denied this.\nLast month the United Nations imposed fresh sanctions against North Korea following its nuclear test on 12 February.\nPyongyang has responded with escalating rhetoric both to this and US-South Korea joint military drills which it bitterly opposes.\nIt says it has scrapped the Korean War armistice and ended non-aggression pacts with Seoul. South Korea says North Korea cannot unilaterally dissolve the armistice and has called on Pyongyang to tone down its language. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the US","US","US","US","US","us","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea","South Korea"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["both nations to jointly respond to the North's local provocations, with the South taking the lead and the US in support"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"November_2006 An international consortium signs a deal formally launching ITER, a project to develop an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. (BBC News)","document":"The multi-billion-euro project known as Iter - or \"the way\" in Latin - will aim to produce energy from nuclear reactions like those that fuel the Sun.\nIf successful, it could provide energy that is clean and almost limitless. The project, which will be based in France, follows years of talks between South Korea, Russia, China, the EU, the US, India and Japan.\nIf all goes well, officials will build a demonstration power plant before rolling out the technology to the world. Iter says electricity could be available on the grid within 30 years.\n \n\"Fusion could become the dominant source of electricity on Earth in a century or so - we have to work to try to get it,\" Jerome Pamela of Iter told the BBC. \n \"Not doing so would be irresponsible because the outcome could be huge, great for humanity,\" he said, adding that it was nonetheless a \"very, very demanding challenge\" to essentially imitate the work of the Sun on Earth.\nIn a fusion reaction, energy is released when light atomic nuclei - the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium - are fused together to form heavier atomic nuclei. To use controlled fusion reactions on Earth as an energy source, it is necessary to heat a gas to temperatures exceeding 100 million Celsius - many times hotter than the centre of the Sun. Isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream?\n Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth\n The technical requirements to do this, which scientists have spent decades developing, are immense; but the rewards, if Iter can be made to work successfully, are extremely attractive.\nOne of the attractions of fusion is the tiny amount of fuel needed. The release of energy from a fusion reaction is said to be 10 million times greater than from a typical chemical reaction, such as burning a fossil fuel.\n\nThe project is based in Cadarache, about 60km (40 miles) from Marseille in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. It currently hosts Tore-Supra, one of the existing European centres for fusion research. \n Fusion is the nuclear process that operates at the core of the Sun\nProject estimated to cost 10bn euros and will run for 35 years\nIt will produce the first sustained fusion reactions\nFinal stage before full prototype of commercial reactor is built\nWork to clear a wooded area for the Iter buildings will begin in the spring. Ancillary and power facilities and a visitors' centre will go up in 2008. The reactor itself will start to take shape in 2009. The French site was chosen after a long period of bartering between the Iter parties; and the EU, as the host bloc, is shouldering 50% of the five-billion-euro construction costs.\nThe deal signed by ministers on Tuesday puts those negotiations into effect, establishing the international organisation that will implement the Iter fusion energy project.\nThe signature took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, hosted by the president of France, Jacques Chirac, and by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. After the signature ceremony, the first meeting of the Interim Iter Council will take place.\nThe green lobby is opposed to the Iter project. It believes the benefits have been oversold and the difficulties and waste production issues underplayed.\nRoger Higman, policy coordinator for Friends of the Earth, told BBC News: \"We face a very real energy crisis over the next 50 years which is to do with climate change; that we have to stop using coal, oil and gas. \"The question we would ask is: isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream that even its proponents say will take a hundred years before it's going to providing any of our energy answers?\"\nThe proposed Iter reactor is shaped like a doughnut - a Russian-conceived design referred to as a tokomak\nDeuterium and tritium - isotopes of hydrogen - are fed into the reactor and heated to 100 million Celsius\nA powerful magnetic field holds the hot plasma, or gas, away from the walls and squeezes to initiate fusion\nIter hopes to do this in bursts of 500 seconds; a commercial reactor would have to run for prolonged periods\nIn a commercial reactor, energetic neutrons are absorbed in a surrounding 'blanket' to drive a steam-turbine system","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["South Korea, Russia, China, the EU, the US, India and Japan","EU"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Iter - or \"the way\" in Latin","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter","Iter"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["officials will build a demonstration power plant before rolling out the technology to the world"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Elysee Palace in Paris"]}]}
+{"title":"February_2005 The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement addressing global warming, comes into effect. (BBC) (Reuters)","document":"The accord requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Some 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012. But the world's top polluter - the US - has not signed up to the treaty.\nThe US says the changes would be too costly to introduce and that the agreement is flawed. Large developing countries including India, China and Brazil are not required to meet specific targets for now. 'Out of control'\nThe ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, where the pact was negotiated, is hosting the main ceremony marking the treaty's coming into force.\nRussia ratified the treaty in November 2004 - the crucial moment making the treaty legally binding.\n Russia's entry was vital, because the protocol had to be ratified by nations accounting for at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions to become valid. This target was only met after Russia joined. But the head of the UN Environment Programme, Klaus Toepfer, said Kyoto was only a first step and much hard work needed to be done to fight global warming.\n\"Climate change is the spectre at the feast, capable of undermining our attempts to deliver a healthier, fairer and more resilient world,\" he said.\nRecent projections on planet warming made terrifying reading, he said, painting a vision of a planet that is \"spinning out of control.\"\nHe said it would be Africa which bore the burden of the world's failure to act.\nIndividual targets\nThe protocol, which became legally binding at midnight New York time (0500 GMT) on 16 February, demands a 5.2% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from the industrialised world as a whole, by 2012.\nNot just hot air - more than 140 countries have signed up\nEach country has been set its own individual targets according to its pollution levels.\nGrowing developing countries China and India are outside the framework, a fact pointed out by US President George W Bush when he abandoned Kyoto as one of his first acts when taking office in 2001.\nJapan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement welcoming the treaty but also calling on non-signatories to rethink.\n\"From now, we have to build a system in which more nations will work together under the common framework to stop global warming,\" he said.\nEnvironmentalists held protests around the world to mark the treaty coming into force - with many targeting the US.\nSpeakers at the official ceremony include Nobel Peace prize winner Wangari Maathai.\nMs Maathai, an ecologist and Kenya's deputy environment minister, said the Kyoto Protocol would require not just efforts from governments and businesses, but also a change in the way people lived.\nTough goals\nBut even for countries that have signed up to Kyoto, meeting the goals could be difficult.\n \n \nCanada, one of the treaty's first signatories, has no clear plan for reaching its target emission cuts. Far from cutting back, its emissions have increased by 20% since 1990.\nAnd Japan is also unsure it will be able to meet its legal requirement to slash emissions by 6% from 1990 levels by 2012.\n\"Japan will make all efforts to respect the rules of the Protocol,\" said Takashi Omura, of the Japanese environment ministry. \"It will neither be easy nor insurmountable.\"","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Some 141 countries"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["by 2012"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases","pledges to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Kyoto","Kyoto","Kyoto","Kyoto","Kyoto"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2014 The governments of Romania and Hungary sign a framework agreement for opening 20 cross–border roads, strengthening traffic links with the entire European Union. (Nine O'Clock)","document":"The governments of Romania and Hungary have signed a framework agreement for opening 20 cross-border roads, including five in Arad (western Romania), County Council chairman Nicolae Iotcu announced in a press conference on Tuesday.\nVice prime minister and minister of regional development and public administration Liviu Dragnea signed on behalf of Romania; Iotcu mentioned that the roads connect Nadlac to Csanadpalota, Pecica to Battonya, Variasu Mic to Dombegyhaza, Graniceri to Elek, and Iermata Neagra to Denesmajor (all pairs of Romania and Hungary, respectively); they allow the traffic of passengers and of freight up to 3.5 tonnes.\n‘We are glad about Romania’s Government respecting our work and efforts – both of Arad County Council and of local administrations – which strengthened the road links with Hungary, and implicitly with the European Union. Thus, Arad has new opportunities of economic and tourist development, as the free movement of people, services, goods and capitals is a fundamental principle of the European Union,’ said Iotcu.\nThe agreement has been sent to the Hungarian government for ratification; it will come into force 30 days after the last mutual notification of the two governments about the completion of all the necessary internal procedures.\n‘It’s worth mentioning that the free access of individuals, vehicles, merchandise and other goods will be possible when Romania joins the Schengen [Area], except for festive moments, which require special approvals. Until then, these roads will have barriers and obstacles on the territory of both states,’ added the official of Arad.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The governments of Romania and Hungary","Romania and Hungary"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["opening 20 cross-border roads, including five in Arad (western Romania)","they allow the traffic of passengers and of freight up to 3.5 tonnes"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"September_2014 Barack Obama, the President of the United States, signs a memorandum expanding the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to 490,000 square miles, making it the biggest marine preserve in the world. (AP via ABC News)","document":"President Barack Obama is carving out a wide swath the Pacific Ocean for an expanded marine preserve, putting the waters off-limits to drilling and most fishing in a bid to protect fragile underwater life.\nThe revamped expanded Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument will cover 490,000 square miles - an area roughly three times the size of California - and will become the largest marine preserve in the world. Millions of seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals live in the bio-rich expanse included by the new monument, which will also add new protections for more than 130 \"seamounts\" - underwater mountains where rare or undiscovered species are frequently found.\nThe move to broaden the George W. Bush-era preserve comes as Obama seeks to show concrete presidential action to protect the environment, despite firm opposition in Congress to new environmental legislation. At the United Nations this week, Obama announced new U.S. commitments to help other nations deal with the effects of climate change, as world leaders seek to galvanize support for a major global climate treaty to be finalized next year in Paris.\n\"We hope the steps taken today by the U.S. government will accelerate similar actions by a growing list of coastal nations to protect more of the world's great ocean treasures,\" said Matt Rand, who heads the ocean program at the Pew Charitable Trusts.\nObama will sign a memorandum expanding the ocean preserve on Thursday, the White House said. Secretary of State John Kerry was also to discuss the announcement during an event Thursday on ocean sustainability in New York.\nThe president signaled his intent to expand the monument in June and asked for input on the final boundaries from fishermen, lawmakers and scientists. Officials said they received more than 170,000 electronic comments on the proposal.\nThe memorandum bans commercial fishing, deep-sea mining and other extraction of underwater resources, by recreational fishing will continue to be allowed. White House officials said they decided to allow some fishing in an attempt to preserve and encourage the public's access to federal areas.\nWhile a major symbolic victory for environmentalists, who long urged Obama to take this step, the designation will have limited practical implications. That's because little fishing or drilling are taking place in the region even without the new protections.\nThe expansion also falls far short of what Obama could have done had he used the full extent of his powers.\nMaritime law gives the U.S. control up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. Under Bush, the U.S. set aside waters extending about 50 miles from the shore of an array of U.S.-administered islands in the south-central Pacific, thousands of miles from the American mainland.\nThe islands sit between Hawaii and American Samoa and are divided into five regions. Obama is extending the preserve to the full 200 miles - but only for three of the five regions.\nHad Obama expanded the preserve in all five regions, he could have protected more than 780,000 square miles, according to a geographic analysis by Pew.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["President Barack Obama"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday","Thursday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["carving out a wide swath the Pacific Ocean for an expanded marine preserve, putting the waters off-limits to drilling and most fishing in a bid to protect fragile underwater life.\nThe revamped expanded Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument will cover 490,000 square miles","expand the monument in June and asked for input on the final boundaries from fishermen, lawmakers and scientists"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2011 The United States and Chile sign a nuclear accord. (BBC)","document":"The United States has signed a long-awaited nuclear accord with Chile despite growing misgivings about the safety of nuclear power in Chile. The Chilean government has stressed the deal was about training nuclear engineers and not building a reactor.\nBut it comes amid fears over a radiation leak at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan following last week's huge earthquake. Chile suffered its own devastating earthquake last year.\nMany environmental groups in Chile have criticised the decision to invest more in nuclear energy as other countries are scaling back their nuclear plans. The deal was due to be signed by President Barack Obama in a high profile ceremony with his Chilean counterpart, Sebastian Pinera, on his visit to Chile early next week. But the agreement was signed behind closed doors by Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno and US ambassador to Chile Alejandro Wolff.\nMr Moreno reiterated that Chile is not able to produce nuclear energy.\n\"Chile is not in a condition to have nuclear energy and what has happened in Japan has done nothing more than underline that situation,\" he said.\nBut it comes after Chile signed a similar nuclear agreement with France last month. Environmental groups in Chile are concerned that the government appears to be pursuing a nuclear agenda despite moves elsewhere in the world to review nuclear plans. Earlier this week, Germany ordered its oldest nuclear plants to be shut down for urgent safety checks. The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, also announced he was suspending a nuclear deal with Russia following the disaster in Japan.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","The United States"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["training nuclear engineers"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile","Chile"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2015 Japan has delivered two more ships to Vietnam that will be refurbished into patrol boats. The ships, which arrived in the port city of Da Nang, are the second delivery of a 2014 deal in which Tokyo is to provide Vietnam with six used fishing vessels that will be converted into patrol boats for Vietnam's coast guard in the South China Sea. (Voice of America)","document":" Japan has delivered to Vietnam another two ships that will be refurbished into patrol boats in disputed waters of the South China Sea.\nThe ships, which arrived Tuesday in the port city of Da Nang, are the second delivery of a 2014 deal for Tokyo to provide Vietnam with six used fishing vessels that will be converted into patrol ships for Vietnam's coast guard and fisheries ministry.\nJapan has also agreed to provide equipment and technical advice. In September, the two sides signed a separate deal for Tokyo to provide even more vessels in the future.\nThe Japanese ships follow a U.S. pledge to provide at least five refurbished fast patrol ships to improve Vietnam's Coast Guard.\nNguyen Do, captain of a Vietnamese fishing vessel that works in disputed waters, told VOA Tuesday the international aid is desperately needed.\n\"Despite being frequently attacked and chased away by Chinese vessels, we keep fishing in these waters, we have no other choices,\" he said. \"They robbed and damaged our assets, they chased us out of the area. Their vessels are well-equipped gunboats armed with weapons. These vessels belong to coast guard forces or fisheries resources surveillance, not civilian fishing boats.\"\nFishing boat captain Le Van Xinh said Hanoi needs to make good use of the new ships.\n\"If the Vietnamese government put into practice some policies to support and protect fishermen then we will be less worried while operating at sea. To be specific, if the law enforcement forces are around in our fishing field, that would help ease our worries when being harassed by foreign vessels, especially in the context of constant threats from China’s vessels, as what’s going on right now,\" he said.\nAnti-China sentiments are still running high in Vietnam as Beijing seeks to strengthen its claim over virtually all of the South China Sea.\nLast year, Beijing was sharply criticized by Hanoi when it placed an oil rig in disputed waters, leading to several small maritime confrontations and deadly rioting in mainland Vietnam.\nChinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled in Hanoi this week for a visit aimed at improving relations.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Vietnam","Vietnam","Vietnam","Vietnam","Japan","Japan"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["2014"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["for Tokyo to provide Vietnam with six used fishing vessels that will be converted into patrol ships for Vietnam's coast guard and fisheries ministry"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 General Motors and the United Auto Workers announce that they have reached a tentative deal to end a month–long strike that cost the company US$2 billion. It will be sent to union members tomorrow for final approval. If approved, workers will receive a pay raise and temporary workers will be granted a more simplified path to full–time employment. (Reuters)","document":" General Motors Co and the United Auto Workers union reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday for a new four-year labor deal, moving closer to ending a costly month-long strike that shut down GM’s most profitable factories in a test of wills over the future of U.S. auto industry jobs.\nUAW and GM reach tentative labor deal\n\nNeither the UAW nor GM released details of the deal, which is subject to ratification by UAW members, a process that could last up to two weeks. A new contract is expected to include commitments by the automaker to invest billions in U.S. vehicle factories to build new generations of electric vehicles, as well as U.S. electric vehicle battery plants. Union leaders worry that a shift to electric vehicles could cost thousands of jobs at engine and transmission factories.\nThe longest nationwide strike against a Detroit automaker since 1970 became a political event. Democratic presidential candidates joined UAW picket lines, eager to win union votes in Midwest swing states. For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump put pressure on GM Chief Executive Mary Barra before the strike to preserve jobs at a car plant in Lordstown, Ohio, that she had targeted for closure.\nTrump spoke individually with Barra and UAW President Gary Jones on Wednesday, spokesmen for GM and the union confirmed. The White House declined to comment on the discussions.\nDetails of GM’s last offer emerged over the weekend and Reuters had reported that the company boosted the amount it plans to invest in the United States to about $9 billion from its previous offer of $7 billion. That figure is unchanged in the final agreement, a person briefed on the matter said.\nThe deal also would create or retain 9,000 UAW jobs, a “substantial” number of which will be new, the source said. GM in September said its initial offer would support 5,400 jobs - and a majority of those would be new jobs.\nIf the contract is ratified, UAW workers who have been living on $250 a week in strike pay are expected to get one-time signing bonuses, as well as increases to base pay. The union had also pushed for temporary workers at GM plants who earned less than permanent UAW employees to get an easier path to full-time wages and benefits.\nGM shares closed 1.1% higher at $36.65 on Wednesday after rising as much as 2.6% during the day. Shares of some auto parts suppliers also rose after the UAW announced the tentative deal. The cost of the strike - and how quickly those costs can be recovered - will be a focus for investors as the automaker and its major suppliers report quarterly results over the next several days.\nAnalysts have estimated the strike cost GM more than $2 billion in lost production, though some of that could be made up through overtime work. The strike halted production of GM’s large pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles - key drivers of the company’s global profit.\nRelated Coverage\nThe deal is not done yet. The union’s national GM council will decide whether to accept the agreement during a meeting on Thursday. Then UAW members at GM will vote on the agreement. The strike continues at least until Thursday’s meeting, the UAW said in a statement.\nThe strike began on Sept. 16, with about 48,000 hourly workers of the UAW union at GM seeking higher pay, greater job security, a bigger share of profit and protection of healthcare benefits. Other issues included the fate of plants GM has indicated it may close, and the use of temporary workers.\nGM’s revised offer that emerged over the weekend also included an increase of its proposed ratification bonus by $1,000 to $9,000. GM also proposed 3% pay raises in the second and fourth year of the four-year-contract and 3% and 4% lump sum payments in the first and fourth year respectively. It agreed to make temporary workers with three years of service permanent and give those workers a $3,000 ratification bonus.\nThe final agreement is similar to that offer on pay and bonuses, but includes some enhancements, the person briefed on the matter said.\nThe automaker said during the talks that it had offered “solutions” for the Lordstown assembly plant and a large assembly plant in Detroit-Hamtramck that were targeted for closure. A group affiliated with electric truck maker Workhorse Group had proposed acquiring the Lordstown plant. GM also said it had proposed a “union represented battery cell manufacturing site in the U.S.”\nGM was considering using the Detroit-Hamtramck factory to build a new line of electric trucks, sources said.\nThese proposals could have changed or been dropped in the final days of the talks.\nIf the deal is approved by the workers, the union will next begin negotiations with Ford Motor Co or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA), covering many of the same issues. The UAW previously agreed to temporary contract extensions with both automakers while it focused on GM.\nA successful ratification is not a sure thing as workers during the 2015 talks initially rejected a deal with FCA before eventually approving a revised offer.\nThis year’s talks have been overshadowed by a widening federal investigation into corruption at the union.\nFor GM and the UAW, the bargaining came at a time of industry uncertainty following nine years of strong sales and robust profit, fueled by the trucks and SUVs built by UAW workers. GM’s Barra and President Mark Reuss joined the bargaining on Tuesday, indicating a deal was close.\nUnion leaders said the rewards of GM’s recovery from its 2009 bankruptcy had not been shared fairly. Inflation-adjusted wages for all U.S. auto workers have fallen 16% since 2010, and UAW workers at the Detroit Three have received only two base wage increases of 3% in the past nine years, according to CAR.\nGM management, on the other hand, sees UAW wages as 26% higher than the average for non-union auto factories in the Southern United States. High absenteeism and rich health benefits add to the cost burdens at a time when U.S. vehicle sales are projected to decline and automakers are funding investments in electric vehicles.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["General Motors Co and the United Auto Workers union"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["new four-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["the company boosted the amount it plans to invest in the United States to about $9 billion from its previous offer of $7 billion","The deal also would create or retain 9,000 UAW jobs, a “substantial” number of which will be new","its initial offer would support 5,400 jobs - and a majority of those would be new jobs"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 The United Kingdom and the European Union agree on a new Brexit withdrawal agreement deal following talks in Brussels. Current coalition partner the Democratic Unionist Party subsequently announces they will oppose the deal. (BBC)","document":"Boris Johnson and EU leaders have hailed the deal they have struck to take the UK out of the bloc on 31 October in an \"orderly\" fashion.\nThe prime minister now faces a battle to get the deal through Parliament on Saturday, with the DUP opposing it. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds accused Mr Johnson of being \"too eager by far to get a deal at any cost\".\nEuropean Council President Donald Tusk did not rule out an extension to the Brexit deadline if MPs rejected it.\nEU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker earlier said: \"We have a deal so why should we have a prolongation.\"\nBut his Brussels colleagues have been more cautious, with Mr Tusk saying he would \"consult\" the leaders of EU member states about a possible extension if one was requested by the UK.\nHe said Boris Johnson's acceptance of customs checks at the point of entry into Northern Ireland, which the DUP objects to, had made a deal possible.\nMr Johnson has repeatedly insisted the UK will leave the EU on 31 October and he urged MPs to \"come together\" and \"get this excellent deal over the line\".\nHe added: \"Now is the moment for us to get Brexit done and then together work on building our future partnership, which I think can be incredibly positive both for the UK and for the EU.\"\nThe EU and UK negotiating teams worked round-the-clock on the legal text of the deal, but it will still need the approval of both the UK and European parliaments. In a statement, the Democratic Unionist Party, which the government relies on for support in key votes, said: \"These proposals are not, in our view, beneficial to the economic well-being of Northern Ireland and they undermine the integrity of the Union.\"\nThe DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds criticised Mr Johnson, telling BBC News: \"If he'd held his nerve - and held out - he would, of course, have got better concessions which kept the integrity, both economic and constitutional, of the UK.\"\nHe said he expected a \"massive vote\" against Mr Johnson's deal on Saturday in the House of Commons - and the DUP expected to \"play a crucial role\" in amending the legislation.\nThe winning post for votes in the House of Commons is 320 if everyone turns up - seven Sinn Fein MPs don't sit and the Speaker and three deputies don't vote.\nThere are currently 287 voting Conservative MPs. The prime minister needs to limit any rebellion among them.\nThen, if the DUP won't support his deal, he'll need the backing of 23 former Conservative MPs who are currently independents. Most will probably support the deal, but not all.\nThat's still not quite enough, though, so the PM will also need the backing of some Labour MPs and ex-Labour independents. In March, when MPs voted on Theresa May's deal for the third time, five Labour MPs backed it, plus two ex-Labour independents.\nThis time it's likely to be a bit higher than that because several MPs have said they would now back a deal.\nAll this still leaves the vote very close. And it's possible some MPs could abstain, making it even harder to predict the outcome.\nMost of the deal is the same as the one agreed by Theresa May last year - the main change is the Northern Ireland proposal.\nWhat's changed?\nIn a statement, the Democratic Unionists said Northern Ireland's main East-West trade route would still be subject to EU customs rules, \"notwithstanding that Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK customs territory\". \"All goods would be subject to a customs check regime regardless of their final destination,\" the statement added, and the plan for a joint EU/UK committee would give the EU a \"veto\" on which goods would be exempt from tariffs or not. \"This is not acceptable within the internal borders of the United Kingdom,\" the DUP said.\nThey expressed concerns Northern Ireland consumers would face increased costs and less choice, and Northern Ireland would also be subject to different VAT arrangements to the rest of the UK.\n\"Some progress\" had been made on democratic consent for the deal, it went on, but the idea of giving the Assembly a vote on the new arrangements that could be won by a \"simple majority\" violated the Good Friday Agreement, which demands the backing of both unionists and nationalists.\nWhile Boris Johnson may have a deal in Brussels, he absolutely does not have a deal in Westminster.\nThe DUP isn't prepared to back this package because it does not give it a veto over the new customs arrangement, which it fears could threaten Northern Ireland's position in the United Kingdom.\nTeam Johnson hopes that, by presenting this as a choice between Mr Johnson's deal and no-deal, the DUP will buckle.\nBut the DUP doesn't blink easily, and if it doesn't, the signs are Mr Johnson could be defeated on Saturday, when the party's 10 votes could be critical.\nThat could trigger the Benn Act, forcing a lengthy delay, and could encourage some opposition MP to trigger a motion of no confidence, paving the way for a general election.\nIt's going to be a titanic tussle on Saturday.\nLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the deal sounded \"even worse\" than the one negotiated by the PM's predecessor, Theresa May, and \"should be rejected\" by MPs. MPs have voted to hold an extra sitting in the Commons on Saturday to discuss the next steps.\nCabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the government would hold a vote on the deal and was not \"not contemplating defeat\".\nBut, he added, if the plan did not get the backing of MPs, the alternative was leaving without a deal.\nEU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he and Mr Juncker had been told by the PM that \"he has faith in his ability to convince the majority he needs in the House of Commons\". Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage called for the deal to be rejected by Parliament, saying it would mean \"we will not be making our own laws in our own country\".\nLiberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: \"The next few days will set the direction of our country for generations, and I am more determined than ever to stop Brexit.\"\nMPs passed a law in September that requires the PM to request an extension on 19 October if Parliament has not agreed a deal or backed leaving without a deal by that date. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Boris Johnson and EU leaders","Boris Johnson","Boris Johnson"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["31 October","31 October"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Northern Ireland's main East-West trade route would still be subject to EU customs rules","notwithstanding that Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK customs territory","All goods would be subject to a customs check regime regardless of their final destination"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Four major pharmaceutical companies agreed to a multimillion-dollar payout over the US opioid epidemic on Monday","document":"Four major pharmaceutical companies agreed to a multimillion-dollar payout over the US opioid epidemic on Monday, hours before a landmark federal trial in which they were facing accusations of a conspiracy to profit from addiction and death.\nTeva Pharmaceuticals, the largest manufacturer of generic drugs in the world, and three drug distributors, among the biggest corporations in America, are to pay a total of $260m to settle the first of thousands of lawsuits by communities across the US which accuse the industry of creating an epidemic that that has claimed more than 400,000 lives over the past two decades.\nMonday’s trial in Ohio was intended to help establish whether opioid makers, drug distributors and pharmacy chains are liable to pay out billions to more than 2,700 cities, counties and Native American tribes.\nOther trials are scheduled in the coming months if a comprehensive deal involving all parties is not reached. Talks over a total payout of about $50bn stalled on Friday but lawyers said Monday’s settlement may provide a path to an agreement.\nThe Ohio lawsuit was brought by two counties, Cuyahoga and Summit, using anti-racketeering laws, originally written to go after organised crime. The counties claimed that manufacturers of narcotic painkillers aggressively drove up sales with knowingly false claims that they were less addictive and more effective than they were, leading to a huge surge in prescribing and addiction.\nThey also alleged that distributors and pharmacies ignored legal obligations to restrict delivery and dispensing of the drugs, even as the death toll escalated, because they were making so much money.\nEileen Shapiro, the Summit county executive, said the lawsuit was intended to prevent drug companies flooding the area with opioids which “devastated” communities and created a surge in illegal opioids led by heroin and fentanyl.\n“We started this originally to stop the behaviours,” she said. “Enough is enough.”\nThe two counties were suing for a total of $7bn. Armond Budish, the Cuyahoga executive, said $260m would only go so far in dealing with the consequences of the epidemic.\n“The question is how much is enough? This is not enough,” he said.\nBut he said it will provide some relief in offsetting the cost of treatment, the huge burden of overdoses on the emergency services and providing social care.\n“Helping families deal with the results,” he said. “Helping kids basically left as orphans by this crisis.”\nAmong the companies that agreed to payout on Monday were the distributors McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, both among the top 10 revenue-generating companies in the US. The Walgreens pharmacy chain did not settle. Its case will be joined with other pharmacies, including Walmart and CVS, at a separate trial.\nIn the weeks leading up to the trial several opioid makers reached settlements, including Johnson & Johnson which lost a major trial in Oklahoma in August when a judge found the company’s drive to sell opioids with false claims caused addiction and death.\nOpioid makers and distributors have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to settle federal cases accusing them of failing to obey laws about cutting off opioid deliveries to pharmacies dispensing suspiciously large amounts of prescription painkillers. But the firms made no admission of liability.\nLawyers believe the industry is keen to avoid trials which will expose internal decision-making around the marketing, sale and delivery of opioids, and how much executives ignored evidence of rising addiction from prescription painkillers.\n“We now know from discovery in this case how this industry worked,” said one of the plaintiff’s attorneys, Joe Rice.\nRice and other lawyers say they will not permit drug companies to use settlements to prevent evidence of their responsibility for the epidemic from being made public. They say the release of documents will be a condition of any comprehensive agreement.\nThat will be welcomed by activists who want to see the drug industry exposed.\nEmily Walden, chair of the Fed Up coalition of families and doctors, said she wants to see the prosecution of executives responsible for marketing and other strategies that boosted opioid sales.\n“It’s pretty clear what happened and what they’ve done,” she said. “We need some accountability and it needs to lead to criminal charges. They’re getting away with murder. They’re buying their way out. They think that’s the way of doing business.”\nWalden also said the proposed $50bn comprehensive settlement falls far short of what is needed. A new study has found that the epidemic has cost more than $800bn in the last four years. The Society of Actuaries said costs ranged from increased health and social care spending to loss of earnings by people who have died and pressure on the criminal justice system.\n“We need hundreds of billions of dollars to deal with this crisis,” said Walden. “The settlement talks are not holding these companies accountable for what they’ve done. $50bn is pocket change to them.”\nThere have been some criminal prosecutions.\nIn July federal prosecutors charged three top executives of the drug distributor Miami-Luken with illegally flooding parts of Appalachia with millions of opioid pills. In May, John Kapoor, the 75-year-old billionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics, was convicted for bribing doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid, Subsys, to patients who did not need it.\nPurdue Pharma, the maker of the powerful opioid OxyContin, which played a leading part in firing up the epidemic, is negotiating to end hundreds of lawsuits. The company has filed for bankruptcy as part of a proposed agreement that would see it put into a trust and future profits go toward alleviating the epidemic. Members of the Sackler family who own the company would also pay from the personal fortunes they have built from the sale of OxyContin.\nBut the deal is opposed by several state attorneys general who want to see the company out of business and the Sacklers, who are estimated to have made more than $12bn from opioids, pay more money.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Four major pharmaceutical companies"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday","Monday","hours before a landmark federal trial in which they were facing accusations of a conspiracy to profit from addiction and death"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Teva Pharmaceuticals, the largest manufacturer of generic drugs in the world, and three drug distributors, among the biggest corporations in America, are to pay a total of $260m to settle the first of thousands of lawsuits by communities across the US which accuse the industry of creating an epidemic that that has claimed more than 400,000 lives over the past two decades","are to pay a total of $260m to settle the first of thousands of lawsuits by communities across the US which accuse the industry of creating an epidemic that that has claimed more than 400,000 lives over the past two decades"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ohio","Ohio"]}]}
+{"title":"Just before four drug companies were set to stand trial over their role in the opioid epidemic, a settlement has been reached","document":"Just before four drug companies were set to stand trial over their role in the opioid epidemic, a settlement has been reached.\nDistributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health will settle for $215 million with two Ohio counties, with manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals also paying $20 million and providing $25 million of anti-addiction medication, The Washington Post reports. This deal came shortly before opening arguments were scheduled to begin in what was to be the first federal opioid trial, the Post notes.\nIn the case, the plaintiffs had placed blame on the drug companies amid the opioid crisis and argued that \"the distributors conspired to flout the federal law that requires them to monitor sales and report outliers,\" as The New York Times writes. The Monday settlement doesn't include another defendant, Walgreens, and the Post reports its case was postponed. The Ohio counties were seeking $8 billion in the case.\nThe Wall Street Journal notes that more than 2,300 opioid lawsuits have been brought in federal court, and the settlement announced Monday does \"fall short of a more comprehensive deal currently being negotiated to resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits nationwide.\" Johnson & Johnson previously reached a $20.4 million settlement.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health","two Ohio counties","manufacturer Teva Pharmaceutical"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Monday","Monday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health will settle for $215 million with two Ohio counties, with manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals also paying $20 million and providing $25 million of anti-addiction medication"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Ohio","Ohio"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 The United Automobile Workers ends their 40–day strike against General Motors after a new contract is ratified. (MLive)","document":"The UAW has ratified a new contract with General Motors, ending the union’s weeks-long strike against the automaker.\nNearly 50,000 UAW members across Michigan and throughout the country who have been on strike against GM since September voted on the proposed contract in recent days. Voting ended at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, the strike’s 40th day, after which nationwide results were tallied and announced. UAW officials ratified the new four-year contract less than an hour later, ending the longest automotive strike in 50 years.\n“General Motors members have spoken,” said Terry Dittes, UAW Vice President and Director of the UAW-GM Department. “We are all so incredibly proud of UAW-GM members who captured the hearts and minds of a nation. Their sacrifice and courageous stand addressed the two-tier wages structure and permanent temporary worker classification that has plagued working class Americans.”\nThe new contract includes higher wages, an signing bonus of up to $11,000, performance bonuses, two 3 percent annual raises and two 4 percent lump sum payments, and an easier path to permanent employment for temporary employees.\n“We delivered a contract that recognizes our employees for the important contributions they make to the overall success of the company, with a strong wage and benefit package and additional investment and job growth in our U.S. operations,” said Mary Barra, General Motors Chairman and CEO. “GM is proud to provide good-paying jobs to tens of thousands of employees in America and to grow our substantial investment in the U.S. As one team, we can move forward and stay focused on our priorities of safety and building high-quality cars, trucks and crossovers for our customers.”\nThe scene in Flint was somber, but passers-by in cars were honking in support. By 5:30 p.m., the streets where picketers stood their ground since the middle of September in Bay City, Flint and Saginaw were mostly empty.\nFrank Trubiro, Vice President of UAW Local 598 in Flint, said the agreement gave a little to everyone involved.\n\"I think it's a solid agreement for what we could've gotten,\" Trubiro said. \"I don't think any one group got all of it, but I think everybody as a whole got something. It may not have been what they wanted, but nobody was left out.\"\nTrubiro has worked for General Motors for 36 years. The public's support, Trubiro said, is just as strong as it was when he was on strike in 1998.\n“Being employed and compensated well helps the community as a whole,” Trubiro said. “People that have been on strike before were prepared for it. None of us thought it would be a nationwide strike. It tells you how serious these negotiations are.”\nTony Mann, president of UAW Local 668 representing GM workers in Saginaw, was pleased the strike is over.\n“My membership is definitely happy that all this is over and behind us,” he said. “I know that the strike has definitely brought our membership closer. It is an eye-opening experience for some of our lower seniority folks who have never had to deal with situation before.”\nMann described the resolution as a bittersweet moment for all involved. He added an average of 74 percent of Local 668 members voted in favor of the new agreement.\n“I definitely, as being president, will back our membership in their decision,” Mann said. “I do believe that moving forward our membership will move in the right direction for the UAW. Hopefully, that we can move past this as a union as a whole and just look forward to a brighter future for the UAW.”\nShawn Pruitt, shop chairman at Local 362 Bay City, said about 68 percent of the workers there voted to approve the contract.\n“It wasn’t perfect, but our voices were heard,\" he said. \"Membership had the last say. We certainly appreciate the overwhelming support from the public.”\nDawn Dekalita, 48, has worked at General Motors in Flint for 16 years. She said stands united with her union.\n“It is what it is,\" she said about the contract. “I walked out with my union brothers and sisters and we’re going to walk back in together as one.”\nUAW President Gary Jones thanked the families of members and their local communities for their support.\n“Our members not only joined together in solidarity but felt the support of their whole community throughout this important stand,\" he said.\nMichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also applauded the strike’s end.\n“This is good news for our working families and our economy,” Whitmer said. “Michiganders are some of the hardest working people in this country, and they deserve to be treated with respect. I was proud to stand with the UAW as they negotiated for more American jobs, better wages, and good benefits, and my administration is committed to continuing our work to close the skills gap and protect hardworking Michigan families.”\nU.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow released a statement Friday.\n“I am grateful that both parties have come to an agreement that prioritizes job security, fair pay, and strong benefits,\" Stabenow’s statement said. \"This is good news for our workers, Michigan’s families, and our economy. Michigan workers built the middle class in this country and make our economy stronger every day.”\nGM last week encouraged the UAW “to move as quickly as possible through the ratification process, so we can resume operations and get back to producing vehicles for our customers,\" after the proposed contract was approved by top union officials.\nThe strike began Sept. 16, when 49,200 hourly workers, including more than 14,000 in Michigan stopped working, idling more than 30 GM plants across the country.\nGM has factories in Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas, but its operations are most concentrated in Michigan, where the company has plants in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Bay City, Orion, Brownstown Township, Romulus, Warren and Lansing.\nThis UAW strike against GM was the union’s first national strike since 2007, when GM workers were out for two days.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","UAW","General Motors","General Motors","General Motors","General Motors","General Motors"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["four-year"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday, Oct. 25","Friday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["higher wages, an signing bonus of up to $11,000, performance bonuses, two 3 percent annual raises and two 4 percent lump sum payments, and an easier path to permanent employment for temporary employees"]},{"role":"Location","values":["U.S"]}]}
+{"title":"October_2019 In a move that surprised insiders, Microsoft beats Amazon Web Services to win a $10 billion cloud computing contract with the United States Department of Defense. (Reuters)","document":"Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O has won the Pentagon's $10 billion cloud computing contract, the Defense Department said on Friday, beating out favorite Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O.\nThe contracting process had long been mired in conflict of interest allegations, even drawing the attention of President Donald Trump, who has publicly taken swipes at Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos. Trump in August said his administration was reviewing Amazon’s bid after complaints from other companies.\nThe Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud (JEDI) contract is part of a broader digital modernization of the Pentagon meant to make it more technologically agile. Specifically, a goal of JEDI is to give the military better access to data and the cloud from battlefields and other remote locations.\nOracle Corp ORCL.N had expressed concerns about the award process for the contract, including the role of a former Amazon employee who worked on the project at the Defense Department but recused himself, then later left the Defense Department and returned to Amazon Web Services.\nIn a statement, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesman said the company was “surprised about this conclusion.”\nThe company said that a “detailed assessment purely on the comparative offerings” would “clearly lead to a different conclusion,” according to the statement.\nAWS is considering options for protesting the award, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.\nAlthough the Pentagon boasts the world’s most potent fighting force, its information technology remains woefully inadequate, according to many officials.\nOfficials have complained of having outdated computer systems and being unable to access files or share information as quickly as they might be able to in the private sector.\nRelated Coverage\n“If I am a warfighter, I want as much data as you could possibly give me,” Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan, the director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, told reporters in August describing the importance of the contract.\nSome companies were concerned that a single award would give the winner an unfair advantage in follow-on work. The Pentagon has said it planned to award future cloud deals to multiple contractors.\nThis week, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper removed himself from reviewing the deal due to his adult son's employment with one of the original contract applicants, IBM Corp IBM.N. IBM had previously bid for the contract but had already been eliminated from the competition.\nMicrosoft said it was working on a comment. IBM and Oracle did not immediately return requests for comment.\nIn a book slated for publication Oct. 29, retired Navy commander Guy Snodgrass, who served as a speech writer to former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, said Trump called Mattis and directed him to “screw Amazon” by preventing it from bidding on the JEDI contract, according to an excerpt of the book seen by Reuters ahead of its release.\n“We’re not going to do that,” Mattis later told other Pentagon officials, according to the excerpt. “This will be done by the book, both legally and ethically.”\nSnodgrass declined to comment pending the release of his book.\nIn a statement announcing Microsoft as the winner, the Pentagon underscored its view that the competition was conducted fairly and legally.\n“All (offers) were treated fairly and evaluated consistently with the solicitation’s stated evaluation criteria. Prior to the award, the department conferred with the DOD Inspector General, which informed the decision to proceed,” it said.\nMicrosoft shares were up 3% to $144.98 in after-hours trading after the news. Amazon shares were down 0.92% to $1,745.12.\nThe Pentagon said it had awarded more than $11 billion across 10 separate cloud contracts over the past two years.\n“As we continue to execute the DOD Cloud Strategy, additional contracts are planned for both cloud services and complementary migration and integration solutions necessary to achieve effective cloud adoption,” the Pentagon said.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Defense Department","Defense Department","Defense Department","Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud (JEDI) contract","JEDI","JEDI contract"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Pentagon's $10 billion cloud computing contract","give the military better access to data and the cloud from battlefields and other remote locations"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 The government of Myanmar signs a peace treaty with eight ethnic armed groups, although some powerful groups stay away. (AP via Star Tribune)","document":" Myanmar's government and eight smaller ethnic rebel armies signed a cease-fire agreement to end more than six decades of fighting, but other more powerful groups refused to come on board, signaling that peace will remain elusive for some time to come.\nThe pact was signed at a ceremony in Myanmar's administrative capital, Naypyitaw, by President Thein Sein and representatives of the groups. The refusal by the larger armies, such as those of the Kachin and Wa ethnic groups, to sign it robs Thein Sein of what he had hoped would be the crowning achievement of his five-year term.\nStill, the agreement, called the \"National Ceasefire Agreement\" despite its truncated list of participants, is seen as a first step toward ending longstanding insurgencies against the Burmese-majority government by various minority groups demanding autonomy and control over their natural resources in the north, northeast and east of the country.\nEthnic groups, representing 40 percent of the country's 52 million people, have found themselves victims of military abuses and discrimination in areas spanning from health and education to road construction and access to electricity.\n\"Although some organizations are currently not ready to sign, the government decided to conclude the (agreement) with the vanguard group.\" Thein Sein said in a speech at the signing ceremony.\n\"We will continue with our efforts to bring the remaining organizations into the process. The door is open for them,\" he said. \"The road to future peace in Myanmar is now open.\"\nThough largely an agreement to keep talking, the agreement could pave the way for a more comprehensive political settlement in the future.\n\"It can't be considered a nationwide cease-fire agreement but it is the start of a process that might actually lead to all the ethnic groups signing the cease-fire agreement,\" Larry Jagan, a specialist on Myanmar and freelance journalist, told The Associated Press.\nMyanmar stunned the world by opening politically and economically in 2011 following a half-century of harsh military rule. But early reforms have since either stalled or started rolling backward. That has upped the stakes for getting cease-fire deals with all ethnic armies, one of Thein Sein's biggest pledges. \nMany ethnic armies have been fighting since the country gained independence from the British in 1948, and experts say continued civil unrest is slowing development in one of the region's poorest countries.\nThe signing of the agreement, which was also witnessed by representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, China and others, comes just before the Nov. 8 general elections for a new parliament, which will eventually lead to the election of a new president.\nCritics said the only real beneficiary of the agreement would be Thein Sein, as he would use the image as a peacemaker to try to win another presidential term. Some of the groups decided they'd rather wait and negotiate with a new government, even if that means starting from scratch.\nThe powerful Kachin Independence Army, Shan State Army and United Wa State Army — the biggest in terms of army strength and territory size— were among the groups refusing to sign.\nThings proceeded well in the early days of Thein Sein's administration, with more than a dozen groups signing bilateral cease-fire agreements. But negotiations have been on-again-off-again since then, with hundreds of meetings between rebels groups, peace negotiators and government officials.\n\"We have to keep fighting for our freedom, for our political rights,\" said Thar Phone Kyaw, the general secretary of Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which also refused to sign. He said no cease-fire agreement will be signed without assurances they will get the \"federal union\" promised to them by Myanmar's independence leader Gen. Aung San more than 60 years ago.\nThat would give them greater control over their natural resources in the northern Shan state, including a say in issues surrounding an oil pipeline to China that has displaced people and destroyed livelihoods. It would also allow them to control their own troops' movement and help end the spiraling scourge of drugs.\nStill, the agreement is not without meaning. State-run TV emphasized that point this week saying the signatories would be removed from a list of \"terrorist groups.\"\n\"It's going to allow them to move around their territory, talk to their townships, build up relationships with people on the ground that they have not been able to do because before this they were called illegal,\" said Jagan, the Myanmar specialist. \nIt also will potentially allow for development and investment in those areas, others say, serving as encouragement for other holdouts to join the process at a later date. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Myanmar's government and eight smaller ethnic rebel armies"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["National Ceasefire Agreement"]},{"role":"Date","values":["just before the Nov. 8 general elections for a new parliament"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["cease-fire"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Naypyitaw"]}]}
+{"title":"June_2015 The European Union has reached agreement to share at least 40,000 migrants over two years. (Reuters), (BBC)","document":"EU leaders holding late-night talks in Brussels have agreed to relocate tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in Italy and Greece.\nSummit chairman Donald Tusk said 40,000 would be relocated to other EU states over the next two years.\nHowever, there will be no mandatory quotas for each country. The Greek debt crisis was also on the summit's agenda. Greece and its international creditors remain deadlocked after talks on Thursday.\nEarlier, Mr Tusk called on EU member states to share the burden of the boat loads of illegal migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean.\nNew figures from the UN refugee agency UNHCR show that 63,000 migrants have arrived in Greece by sea this year and 62,000 in Italy.\n\"Leaders agreed that 40,000 persons in need will be relocated from Greece and Italy to other states over the next two years,\" Mr Tusk told reporters. \"Interior ministers will finalise the scheme by the end of July.\"\nLeaders also agreed to resettle another 20,000 refugees who are currently outside the EU. French President Francois Hollande said he expected most of them to be Syrians and Iraqis, AP reported.\nDetails of where the refugees will go has yet to be decided. The scheme was made voluntary after some nations in eastern Europe refused to accept set quotas. The UK also opted out of the scheme, using one of its exemptions as agreed in the EU Lisbon treaty.\nHungary, which has seen thousands of migrants cross its border by land, and Bulgaria, one of the EU's poorest countries, have also both been granted exemptions. This angered Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who called the plan \"modest\".\nItaly has sought more help from its EU partners to handle the thousands of migrants arriving by sea, many of whom are fleeing war and poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Somalia and Nigeria. More than three million people who fled the Syrian civil war are being housed in neighbouring countries - far more than the EU has taken in.\nThe migrant crisis has been high on the agenda for the EU summit, which opened on Thursday. The final day of the summit on Friday is due to focus on security issues, namely the Ukraine crisis and tensions with Russia.\nWhy is EU struggling with migrants and asylum?\n\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["EU leaders"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["over the next two years","over the next two years"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["relocate tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in Italy and Greece"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Brussels"]}]}
+{"title":"World powers have reached a deal with Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions","document":"World powers have reached a deal with Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions.\nUS President Barack Obama said that with the deal, \"every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off\" for Iran.\nAnd President Hassan Rouhani said the \"historic\" deal opened a \"new chapter\" in Iran's relations with the world.\nNegotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006.\nThe so-called P5+1 want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.\nIran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful. There has been stiff resistance to a deal from conservatives both in Iran and the US. The US Congress has 60 days in which to consider the deal, though Mr Obama said he would veto any attempt to block it.\nThe Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives, John Boehner, said the deal would only only \"embolden\" Tehran.\n\"Instead of stopping the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, this deal is likely to fuel a nuclear arms race around the world,\" he added.\nIsrael's government has also warned against an agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a \"stunning historic mistake\" that would provide Iran with \"hundreds of billions of dollars with which it can fuel its terror machine and its expansion and aggression throughout the Middle East and across the globe\".\nHe said he did not regard Israel as being bound by this agreement. \"We will always defend ourselves,\" he added.\nIn a televised address, Mr Obama insisted the deal would make the world \"safer and more secure\", and provided for a rigorous verification regime. \"This deal is not built on trust - it is built on verification,\" he said.\nImmediately afterwards, Mr Rouhani gave his own televised address, in which he said the prayers of Iranians had \"come true\".\nHe said the deal would lead to the removal of all sanctions, adding: \"The sanctions regime was never successful, but at the same time it affected people's lives.''\nAfter 12 years, world powers had finally \"recognised the nuclear activities of Iran\", he said.\nThe agreement will change the Middle East, perhaps a lot, but at the moment no-one knows exactly how. The biggest question is whether it will reduce or increase the turmoil in the Middle East. Iran and the world's big powers, most significantly the US, now have a habit of working together - but don't assume that will help automatically to resolve the crises and wars that Iran, the US and their allies are involved with in the region.\nThere is a danger that mutual suspicion will heat up the Middle East's fault lines, especially the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia - and with it sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. But the agreement in Vienna removes Iran's nuclear programme from the danger list. Two years ago, as Israel threatened to bomb Iran, it looked likely to lead to a major Middle East war. That in itself is a major diplomatic achievement. Both Mr Rouhani and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme as an \"unnecessary crisis\".\nMr Zarif said the deal was \"not perfect for anybody'', but that it was the \"best achievement possible that could be reached\".\nMr Obama, who is trying to persuade a sceptical US Congress of the benefits, said it would oblige Iran to:\nSanctions relief would be gradual, Mr Obama said, with an arms embargo remaining in place for five years and an embargo on missiles for eight years. Separately, the IAEA and Iran said they had signed a roadmap to resolve outstanding issues. IAEA head Yukiya Amano told reporters in Vienna, Austria, that his organisation had signed a roadmap \"for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear programme\".\nHe called the agreement a \"significant step forward\", saying it would allow the agency to \"make an assessment of issues relating to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme by the end of 2015\". ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany","Iran","US","Iran","Iran","Iran","Iran","US","US","US","Iran","Iran","Iran","US","Iran","US","Iran","Iran","US","Iran","Iran"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["by the end of 2015"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"Obama Comments on Iranian Nuclear Deal By Michael R. Gordon and David E. Sanger","document":"\n Obama Comments on Iranian Nuclear Deal By Michael R. Gordon and David E. Sanger\nVIENNA — Iran and a group of six nations led by the United States reached a historic accord on Tuesday to significantly limit Tehran’s nuclear ability for more than a decade in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions.\nThe deal culminates 20 months of negotiations on an agreement that President Obama had long sought as the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency. Whether it portends a new relationship between the United States and Iran — after decades of coups, hostage-taking, terrorism and sanctions — remains a bigger question.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Iran and a group of six nations led by the United States"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Iranian Nuclear Deal By Michael R. Gordon and David E. Sanger"]},{"role":"Date","values":["Tuesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["significantly limit Tehran’s nuclear ability for more than a decade in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions"]},{"role":"Location","values":["VIENNA"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2015 The United Nations Security Council unanimously approves the Nuclear Pact between Iran and a group of six world powers in return for sanctions relief. (Voice of America) (Reuters)","document":" The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the Iran nuclear deal Monday, clearing a path to lift crippling economic sanctions against Tehran while restraining it its nuclear development program.\nMonday's vote was largely a formality, because all of the Council's five permanent members — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — along with Germany, negotiated the deal with Iran. The Council ordered its nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to \"undertake the necessary verification and monitoring of Iran's nuclear commitments,' and it called on Iran to \"cooperate fully\" with the IAEA officials.\nAssuming Iran adheres to the nuclear agreement, the approved U.N. resolution calls for an eventual end to seven sets of sanctions passed since 2006 to force Iran to halt what the United Nations and the West contended was an effort to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has always said its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes.\nThe sanctions will be dropped when the U.N. inspectors confirm that Iran's nuclear program is being conducted peacefully.\nU.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Powers, praised the Council for \"testing diplomacy,\" while adding that the deal does not diminish continuing American concerns about Iran. She said those concerns include human rights violations, Iran's support for terrorism and its ballistic missiles program.\nIsrael’s Ambassador to the U.N. Ron Prosor called the resolution a “tragedy.”\n“Iran will now have $150 billion to fund terrorist groups. How much money will go to Hezbollah and Hamas? How much money will go to [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]?\" he said. \"How much money will go to fund worldwide terror activities?”\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — along with Germany, negotiated the deal with Iran"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Iran nuclear deal"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["lift crippling economic sanctions against Tehran while restraining it its nuclear development program"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"March_2005 Spanish prime minister Zapatero signs an agreement with president Hugo Chávez of Venezuela on the sale of warships and military transport planes. Conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy denounces the sale. (BBC)","document":"The deal involving ships and transport planes worth 1.3bn euros ($1.7bn; £1bn) was denounced by Spain's conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy.\nVenezuelan foes of President Hugo Chavez had also criticised it, he said.\nBut politicians of the governing Socialist party hit back, saying the sale would create jobs in Spain.\nThe row in Spain follows international concern over Venezuelan plans to buy 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles from Russia. The US state department has accused Venezuela of starting an arms race and has suggested the rifles could end up in the hands of Colombia's left-wing Farc rebels.\nBut Venezuela and Russia have both dismissed the US objections, saying the deal does not break international law.\n'Chavez yoke'\nSpanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is attending a four-nation summit in Venezuela that also brings together Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.\nThe arms deal is expected to be signed on Wednesday.\nOn the eve of the signing, Mr Rajoy, who leads Spain's opposition Popular Party, told local television: \"I think that what we are doing today in Venezuela in selling arms to Chavez is a monstrous error that the Spanish government should absolutely not make.\"\nHe added: \"It's something that has met with blanket criticism across the whole of the Venezuelan opposition... who suffer under the Chavez yoke.\"\nBut Socialist Party manager Jose Blanco said the sale would provide employment for Spanish workers - including those at the publicly-owned Navantia shipyards, which he said had been left \"technically bankrupt\" by the previous Popular Party government.\nThis is not the first time that Spain's two main parties have been at loggerheads over relations with Venezuela.\nIn December, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos drew fierce protests for suggesting that the Popular Party government of former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar had supported a failed coup bid against Mr Chavez in 2002.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Spain","Spain","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela","Venezuela"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["The deal involving ships and transport planes worth 1.3bn euros ($1.7bn; £1bn)"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2005 Bulgaria and Romania sign accession treaty to the European Union, continuing the enlargement process. (press release) (BBC)","document":"The treaties contain a safeguard clause delaying entry for a year if either country fails to meet EU standards.\nThe EU wants the independence of the judiciary to be strengthened and more efforts to tackle corruption in what will be its poorest member states.\nThe signing ceremony took place at the old Neumuenster Abbey in Luxembourg.\nIf Bulgaria and Romania join in 2007, it will be the fifth enlargement of the EU project, making a total of 27 member states.\nIn May last year, eight of the 10 new member states were former communist countries.\nBulgaria and Romania missed that first round of EU expansion into eastern Europe because they had failed to implement sufficient democratic and market reforms.\nRomania and Bulgaria are poorer than any of the 25 EU states\nAt the signing ceremony on Monday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it had been a \"demanding and challenging voyage\" and the EU set high standards for new members.\nBut he told Bulgaria and Romania that the Commission would work with them to overcome difficulties.\n\"We have every confidence that you are capable of making even most demanding reforms,\" he said.\nThe BBC's Nick Thorpe says many governments in western Europe fear an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians and may yet find reasons for delaying full membership.\n\nThe reforms that Bulgaria and Romania have already passed into law must now be put into practice.\nCourts will have to prove that people receive a fair trial and anti-corruption authorities will have to show that no one is beyond their reach.\nThe cost of living may rise dramatically as heating bills increase and the withdrawal of state subsidies for less profitable sectors like steel and coal may add to unemployment.\nOur correspondent says the leaders of both Romania and Bulgaria will, however, find comfort in the fact that the political will to accept them is now being put into writing.\nThat should also encourage countries further down the queue in the Balkans, Turkey and Ukraine, he says.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The EU","EU","EU","EU","EU","EU","Bulgaria and Romania","Bulgaria and Romania","Romania and Bulgaria","Bulgaria and Romania","Bulgaria and Romania","Romania and Bulgaria"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["safeguard clause delaying entry for a year if either country fails to meet EU standards"]},{"role":"Location","values":["old Neumuenster Abbey in Luxembourg"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2019 The Sudanese military and representatives of civil groups agree on a deal to share power for a transition period. (DW)","document":"Sudan's ruling military council and civilian protest leaders have reached an agreement to share power for a transition period. The plan envisages a rotating presidency and civilian-military ruling council.\nMediators said progress had been made on Thursday by ruling military leaders and opposition protest groups in their efforts to establish a transition period to democracy in Sudan.\nThe talks were held in an effort to end a political crisis that began when the army ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April — with the army resisting protesters' demands for civilian rule.\nPrevious discussions had collapsed over a dispute about who should lead the body governing the transition — a civilian or a member of the military.\nAfter two days of talks, the two sides agreed to \"establish a sovereign council by rotation between the military and civilians for a period of three years or slightly more,\" African Union mediator Mohamed Hassan Lebatt said at a news conference.\nThere was also agreement on forming a sovereign council to rule Sudan during the transition, with five seats for the military and six for civilians.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Sudan's ruling military council and civilian protest leaders"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["for a period of three years or slightly more"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["establish a sovereign council by rotation between the military and civilians","forming a sovereign council to rule Sudan during the transition, with five seats for the military and six for civilians"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Sudan","Sudan","Sudan"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 China and the United States sign a $45 billion export deal, including 200 Boeing airplanes. (BBC) (Al Jazeera)","document":"The US has signed a $45bn (£28bn) export deal with China, according to a Washington official.\nThe trade deal includes a $19bn purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft.\nIt comes amid an official state visit by China's President Hu Jintao to the States.\nBoeing chief executive Jim McNerney was among a host of American chief executives present at a Wednesday meeting with Presidents Hu and Barack Obama at the White House.\nAmong the other company heads attending were Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs and Jeff Immelt of General Electric.\nThe official said the trade deal included orders for US agriculture, telecoms and computer companies, and would create 235,000 jobs.\nOther beneficiaries of the agreement were technology company Honeywell, construction equipment maker Caterpillar, and Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear power company that is a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba.\nThe Chinese order comes in the wake of another six month postponement to Boeing's new Dreamliner plane.\nIt may help the plane maker square up to European arch-rival Airbus, which recently announced a late rush of December orders had helped it beat Boeing with a 52% market share last year.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["The US","US","China"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["a $45bn (£28bn) export deal","includes a $19bn purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft","orders for US agriculture, telecoms and computer companies, and would create 235,000 jobs"]},{"role":"Location","values":["White House"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2014 Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President of the United States Barack Obama reach a deal to limit greenhouse gases. (Washington Post)","document":" Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Obama struck a deal Wednesday to limit greenhouse gases, with China committing for the first time to cap carbon emissions and Obama unveiling a plan for deeper U.S. emissions reductions through 2025.\nChina, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, pledged in the far-reaching agreement to cap its rapidly growing carbon emissions by 2030, or earlier if possible. It also set a daunting goal of increasing the share of non-fossil fuels to 20 percent of the country’s energy mix by 2030.\nObama announced a target to cut U.S. emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, the first time the president has set a goal beyond the existing 17 percent target by 2020.\nThe announcement capped a trip that also resulted in steps to cut tariffs on technology products, adopt warning measures to reduce the chance of accidental military conflict, and ease visas.\nThe two countries together account for about 45 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions, and their commitments are likely to energize talks underway to set new post-2020 targets when climate negotiators meet in Paris in December of next year. “The announcement provides a real shot of momentum for international climate negotiations,” one administration official said before the Obama-Xi announcement.\n “We have a special responsibility to lead the global effort against climate change,” Obama said of the two nations at a joint news conference. “Today, I am proud we can announce a historic agreement.” Meeting the goals will be difficult for both countries.\nChina completes a new coal plant every eight to 10 days, and while its economic growth has slowed, it is still expanding at a brisk rate of over 7 percent.\nThe scale of construction for China to meet its goals is huge even by Chinese standards. It must add 800 to 1,000 gigawatts of nuclear, wind, solar and other zero-emission generating capacity by 2030 — more than all the coal-fired power plants that exist in China today and close to the total electricity generating capacity of the United States.\nIn the United States, Obama faces stiff opposition on climate issues from Republicans, who want to use their control of Congress to curb the power of the Environmental Protection Agency to limit carbon emissions from power plants, a key part of Obama’s “climate action plan.”\nAnd to meet its target, the United States will need to double the pace of carbon pollution reduction from 1.2 percent per year on average from 2005 to 2020 to 2.3 to 2.8 percent per year between 2020 and 2025.\nBut Xi and Obama have both made climate measures a priority.\nChina’s announcement is the culmination of years of change in attitudes among Chinese now fed up with dire levels of pollution that a study in the British medical journal the Lancet blamed for 1.2 million premature deaths in 2010 alone. China has cap-and-trade pilot programs in five provinces and eight cities. It is also the world’s largest investor in solar and wind energy.\nMoreover, it has barred coal-plant construction in some regions. Such construction has dropped from more than 90 gigawatts in 2006 to 36.5 gigawatts in 2013, according to the World Resources Institute.\nThe joint climate announcement could undercut U.S. critics who have said that limiting greenhouse gases is pointless while China refuses to join such efforts. And it could quiet those in China who have argued that carbon emissions should be measured on a per capita basis or by improvements in energy intensity.\n“It is imperative that these two countries — the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases — show real leadership. This is an important start,” said Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future. “Agreements like this are more important than they might appear at first glance, because in both countries there are political factions that justify inaction by pointing at the failures of the other country.”\nObama administration officials called the climate agreement a “historic step” that came together after months of negotiations, beginning when Secretary of State John F. Kerry raised the subject on a trip to Beijing in February. Obama followed up with a letter to Xi in the spring and met with Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli during the U.N. General Assembly in September. Chinese officials expressed interest in pursuing a deal that could be completed ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings here this week, administration aides told reporters in a background briefing Wednesday.\nWhether Obama’s target can be set now and achieved technologically — or enforced years after he leaves office — remains unknown.\nU.S. officials said they were confident the president possesses the authority to set the new climate targets without additional authorization from Congress. But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said “this unrealistic plan, that the president would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility rates and far fewer jobs.” Other Republicans joined McConnell in criticizing the deal. Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), who is widely expected to assume the chairmanship of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in January, called the pledges by Obama and Xi “hollow and not believable,” and he suggested that the agreement was tilted in China’s interest.\n“The United States will be required to more steeply reduce our carbon emissions while China won’t have to reduce anything,” Inhofe said.\nAround the globe, the pact was widely praised. Leaders of the European Union, which last month pledged a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2030, said the new commitments by China and the United States provided an important boost to negotiations on a global climate treaty in late 2015.\n“These two crucial countries have today announced important pathways towards a better and more secure future for humankind,” said Christiana Figueres, the European Union’s top official on climate change.\nA second Obama administration official said that it is uncertain whether other countries will seek to join the United States and China in pursuing new standards.\n“Climate negotiations have been fraught for 20 years,” this official said. “There are 190-plus countries in these tough negotiations, and it’s not like they will all fall into place in five minutes. But this a really important step.”\nEarlier, the United States and China reached agreements designed to defuse tensions over international trade and military maneuvers, even as both leaders courted other Asian nations attending the APEC forum in Beijing to join separate trade pacts.\nChinese and American trade negotiators agreed Tuesday to eliminate tariffs on $1 trillion a year of global sales of information and communications technology, including dozens of high-tech products such as GPS devices, medical equipment and game consoles. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman called the deal a “breakthrough” that could boost trade and create jobs.\nThe agreement now goes to the World Trade Organization, where 52 nations must approve. If they do, it would be the first major WTO agreement since 1996.\nThe deal would benefit U.S. companies seeking greater access to China as well as U.S. and Chinese companies with plants in China aimed at making products for the American market.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Obama"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["limit greenhouse gases, with China committing for the first time to cap carbon emissions and Obama unveiling a plan for deeper U.S. emissions reductions through 2025"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"April_2018 The International Maritime Organisation announces agreements to reduce shipping emissions by 50% of 2008 levels by 2050, and to ban heavy fuel oil from the Arctic. (CBC) (Reuters)","document":" The United Nations shipping agency reached an agreement on Friday to cut carbon emissions, following years of slow progress.\nThe compromise plan, which will cut emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared with 2008 levels, fell short of more ambitious targets.\nKitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said the adoption of the strategy “would allow future IMO work on climate change to be rooted in a solid basis”.\nThe IMO said it would also be pursuing efforts toward phasing out CO2 emissions entirely.\nDelegates said opposition from some countries - including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Panama - had limited what could be achieved at the IMO session this week in London.\n“The IMO should and could have gone a lot further,” said Bill Hemmings, shipping director with green campaigners Transport & Environment.\n“This decision puts shipping on a promising track.”\nGreenpeace International political adviser Veronica Frank said the plan was “far from perfect but the direction is now clear - a phase-out of carbon emissions”.\n“This decarbonisation must start now and targets improved along the way, because without concrete, urgent measures to cut emissions from shipping now, the Paris ambition to limit warming to 1.5 degrees will become swiftly out of reach,” Frank said.\nShipping association BIMCO in contrast described it as a “landmark achievement”.\nKathi Stanzel, managing director of tanker association INTERTANKO, added: “It is the culmination of international efforts to develop both ambitious and concrete plans to respond to the challenge of our century.”\nThe shipping sector, along with aviation, avoided specific emissions-cutting targets in a global climate pact agreed in Paris at the end of 2015, which aims to limit a global average rise in temperature to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius from 2020.\nEuropean Union countries along with the Marshall Islands, the world’s second-biggest ship registry, had supported a goal of cutting emissions by 70 to 100 percent by 2050, compared with 2008 levels.\nEurope’s transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said in a joint statement while the EU had “sought a higher level of ambition, this is a good starting point that will allow for further review and improvements over time”.\nBritish-based research group InfluenceMap said an emissions cut of 70 percent would have been “much closer to what is needed if shipping is to be in line with the goals of the Paris agreement”.\nShipping accounts for 2.2 percent of world CO2 emissions, according to the IMO, the U.N. agency responsible for regulating pollution from ships.\nThis is around the amount emitted by Germany, according to the latest EU data available, and is predicted to grow significantly if left unchecked.\nThe IMO has adopted mandatory rules for new vessels to boost fuel efficiency as a means of cutting CO2 from ship engines.\nA final IMO plan is not expected until 2023.\nAccording to the text produced by the IMO working group submitted to member states, the initial strategy would not be legally binding for member states.\nThe text separately pointed to possible medium-term measures to address emissions that could include low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, improved energy efficiency for new and existing ships and possible market-based mechanisms to encourage the shift to lower-carbon fuels.\nIt also said its final strategy should be subject to a review in 2028.\nMarshall Islands President Hilda Heine said the country’s delegation had “fought hard” for the outcome.\n“While it may not be enough to give my country the certainty it wanted, it makes it clear that international shipping will now urgently reduce emissions and play its part in giving my country a pathway to survival,” Heine said.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["International Maritime Organization (IMO)","IMO","IMO","IMO","IMO","IMO","IMO","IMO","IMO"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Friday","this week"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["cut emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared with 2008 levels"]},{"role":"Location","values":["London"]}]}
+{"title":"November_2006 Australia and Indonesia sign a security treaty on Lombok strengthening cooperation against terrorism, enhancing joint naval border patrols and formalising military exchanges. It also supports Indonesia's sovereignty over its provinces notably Western New Guinea. (ABC News)","document":"Landmark pact: Mr Downer has signed the treaty in Indonesia. [File photo] (AFP) The foreign ministers of Australia and Indonesia have signed a landmark security treaty on the Indonesian island of Lombok.\nThe pact strengthens cooperation against terrorism, enhances joint naval border patrols and formalises military exchanges.\nIt also underlines Australia's support for Jakarta's sovereignty over its provinces. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the agreement will be a \"bedrock for our relationship for many years to come\". The treaty was almost aborted earlier this year when Canberra granted protection visas to 43 Papuan asylum-seekers. Mr Downer's Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajuda, says with the signing of the agreement, Australia cannot be considered a staging post for Papuan separatists.\nBut Mr Downer rejects suggestions the treaty has any connection with the Papuan refugee issue.\nCanberra denies the pact will give Indonesia a free hand to suppress groups seeking Papuan independence but says it will ensure Indonesia's right to deal with its own territorial issues.\nMr Downer has also described as \"completely absurd\" suggestions the treaty could result in Australia clamping down on freedom of speech.\n\"People in Australia can hold what view they like about anything they like and of course that's true about Indonesia,\" he said.\nThe agreement is not a formal defence pact but it is the first security treaty signed by Indonesia and Australia since a 1995 one was torn up after the East Timor crisis in 1999.\nCalled the Australia-Indonesia Agreement on the Framework for Security Cooperation, it pulls together many areas of the relationship in which the two countries already work together.\nThey include: law enforcement, intelligence, maritime and aviation security and cooperation in relation to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.\nThe agreement, which still needs the approval of both parliaments, also opens the door to cooperation in civilian nuclear research and Australian sales of uranium to Indonesia.\nMr Downer says a deal that ensures uranium is only used for peaceful purposes would have to be reached before Australia could export uranium to Indonesia. South-east Asia expert Jurgen Haacke, from the London School of Economics, says the drawn-out negotiations for the new treaty indicated sensitivities on both sides.\n\"I see it as an important development to the extent it is likely to highlight and reinforce existing security cooperation, while also serving to reassure Indonesians that Australia fully supports its neighbour's territorial integrity.\"\nAustralian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson pledged on Sunday the new agreement would not lead to the nation's intelligence being used against Papuan separatists.\nConcern over bomb attacks by Islamic militants has already been driving greater police and intelligence cooperation.\n\nAustralia and Indonesia have signed what has already become known as The Lombok Treaty, committing each other to wide-ranging cooperation on mutual security issues.\nAustralia and Indonesia have signed a new security pact dubbed \"The Lombok Treaty\" which sets out a framework for consultation on a wide range of security issues.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Australia and Indonesia","Indonesia","Australia","Indonesia","Australia","Australia","Indonesia","Indonesia","Australia","Australia-Indonesia","Indonesia","Australia","Indonesia","Australia","Australia","Indonesia","Australia","Indonesia"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["Australia-Indonesia Agreement on the Framework for Security Cooperation"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["strengthens cooperation against terrorism, enhances joint naval border patrols and formalises military exchanges"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Lombok","Lombok","Lombok"]}]}
+{"title":"January_2011 Pharmaceutical companies Genzyme and Sanofi–Aventis are reported to have reached an \"agreement in principle\" on a deal in which Sanofi, a French company, will acquire Cambridge–based Genzyme for an undetermined amount of money. (CNBC)","document":"I can confirm that Genzyme, one of the world's largest biotechnology companies, and Sanofi-Aventis, a very large French pharmaceutical company, have reached a so called “agreement in principle” for a deal in which Sanofi will acquire Genzyme. The deal will include a contingent value right (CVR)—a type of right given to shareholders of an acquired company that ensures they receive additional benefit if a specific event occurs—and will include more cash than the current $69 a share that Sanofi is offering, according to sources close to the deal. How much cash the deal will include could not be determined. Sanofi has begun due diligence on Genzyme , a process that could take a couple of weeks and is often not begun until some sort of deal structure has been hammered out. In addition, work on the CVR is said to be complex, given the nature of that security.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Sanofi-Aventis","Sanofi","Sanofi","Sanofi","Genzyme","Genzyme","Genzyme"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["agreement in principle"]},{"role":"Date","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["Sanofi will acquire Genzyme","The deal will include a contingent value right (CVR)"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2015 Kuwait and France sealed a deal whereby the Gulf nation will upgrade its defense capabilities with $2.8 billion worth of military equipment. Defense experts cite the ongoing conflict in Iraqi Civil War, the June 2015 terror attack claimed by ISIS in Kuwait City, and a reluctance by the U.S. to supply Kuwait as reasons for the deal. (Vice News)","document":"With the Islamic State creating chaos next door in Iraq, Kuwait is arming itself to the teeth. The tiny, oil-rich nation just signed a defense deal with France worth $2.8 billion.\nFrench Prime Minister Manuel Valls and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad al-Sabah finalized the agreement on Wednesday in Paris. France will equip Kuwait with 24 Caracal helicopters, with an option for six more, as part of a contract worth $1.2 billion. The helicopter was designed for cargo transport and search and rescue missions, and has supported military operations in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali.\nThe two countries have also inked two provisional agreements. One involves France upgrading and maintaining Kuwait's small patrol warships, the other reportedly involves the sale of French-made all-terrain Sherpa trucks — light armored vehicles with 360-degree firepower that can carry up to four people and are designed to withstand landmines.\n","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["France","France","France","Kuwait","Kuwait"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["France will equip Kuwait with 24 Caracal helicopters, with an option for six more, as part of a contract worth $1.2 billion","One involves France upgrading and maintaining Kuwait's small patrol warships","the other reportedly involves the sale of French-made all-terrain Sherpa trucks"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Paris"]}]}
+{"title":"July_2015 The Yemeni government in exile announces that it has reached a truce with the Houthi rebels. (Al-Arabiya)","document":"Yemen’s government told the United Nations on Wednesday that it agreed to a conditional truce to end more than three months of fighting and hopes it can be implemented in the coming days, spokesman Rajeh Badi said. “The Yemeni authorities have informed the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon of its agreement to implement a truce in the coming days,” Badi told Reuters by phone from the government’s seat of exile in Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the spokesman said, had set “guarantees” for a pause, including the release of prisoners by Yemen’s dominant Houthi group and their withdrawal from four provinces where they are fighting local militias. Saudi Arabia and an Arab coalition have been bombing the Iran-allied Houthi group and their allies in Yemen’s army in order to restore Hadi and back armed opponents of the Houthis.\nMeanwhile, ground combat between various Yemeni armed factions and Saudi-led air strikes have deepened the plight of civilians in Yemen, with the United Nations saying more than 80 percent of its 25 million people need some form of emergency aid. Before Saudi Arabia intervened in March to try to restore Yemen’s president to power and roll back the Iranian-allied Houthi militia now controlling large areas of the country, Yemen imported more than 90 percent of its food, mostly by sea. Since then, many shipping companies have pulled out. Those still willing to bring cargoes face incalculable delays and mandatory searches by coalition warships hunting for arms bound for the Houthis, the dominant warring faction. According to a humanitarian aid assessment compiled by the U.S. Navy and obtained by Reuters, just 42 ships reached Yemen with goods in June compared with 100 in March. Further data was not available. Before the crisis, the number of ships making calls to Yemen’s major southern port of Aden alone averaged over 1,000 annually in recent years.\nYemen’s government told the United Nations on Wednesday that it agreed to a conditional truce to end more than three months of fighting and hopes it can be implemented in the coming days, spokesman Rajeh Badi said. “The Yemeni authorities have informed the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon of its agreement to implement a truce in the coming days,” Badi told Reuters by phone from the government’s seat of exile in Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the spokesman said, had set “guarantees” for a pause, including the release of prisoners by Yemen’s dominant Houthi group and their withdrawal from four provinces where they are fighting local militias. Saudi Arabia and an Arab coalition have been bombing the Iran-allied Houthi group and their allies in Yemen’s army in order to restore Hadi and back armed opponents of the Houthis.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Houthi group","Houthi group","Houthi group","Houthi group","Yemen’s government","Yemen’s government","government"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["conditional truce to end more than three months of fighting","conditional truce to end more than three months of fighting"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"June_2019 The Colombian military reveals that dissident FARC groups, in spite of a 2016 treaty, have been recruiting Venezuelan migrants at illegal border crossings, strengthening their numbers and increasing attacks. (Reuters)","document":"Venezuela’s crisis is spilling across the border into Colombia as Marxist rebels and right-wing paramilitaries recruit migrants to strengthen their ranks, according to five Colombian military commanders.\nViolence still simmers in Colombia despite a 2016 peace deal with leftist FARC rebels, meant to end five decades of conflict. Dissident FARC fighters, the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN), right-wing paramilitaries and drug-trafficking gangs are battling each other and the military.\nKeen for recruits, these armed groups are targeting Venezuelans as they traverse the porous 2,219-km (1,380-mile)frontier at illegal border crossings, according to the military officials, human rights officials and migrants themselves.\nFive military commanders told Reuters that as many as 30% of insurgents in Colombia’s eastern border region are Venezuelans, willing to take up arms in return for food and pay.\n“Recruitment of Venezuelans is happening,” said Colonel Arnulfo Traslavina, military commander of a special unit battling armed groups in Colombia’s eastern border state of Arauca. “The ranks of illegal armed groups are increasing. It’s a major threat to Colombia.”\nNationwide, an estimated 10% of fighters are Venezuelan, the commanders said. Their estimates were based on information from informants, deserters, captured rebels and residents.\nReuters was not able to independently verify these figures.\nThe head of Colombia’s military and government spokesman on this issue, General Luis Fernando Navarro, told Reuters that armed groups were targeting Venezuelans because they were easier to recruit than Colombians.\nAt the last official count by military intelligence in May, there were 2,296 FARC dissident combatants and 2,402 fighters from the ELN in Colombia. Including their urban offshoots, the two groups total nearly 8,400 members.\nRebel numbers are small compared with the 250,000 combat troops in the armed forces but Colombia’s rugged jungle terrain - spread across a country the size of France and Spain - makes it difficult for the military to tackle small, mobile units of fighters.\nThe military officers say they had interrogated some Venezuelans who had defected from armed groups and identified Venezuelan nationals killed in combat. They did not provide a total number for Venezuelan casualties.\nReuters was not able independently to confirm the information provided by the commanders or speak directly to any Venezuelans who had been recruited by an armed group.\nSeveral Venezuelan migrants told Reuters they had been approached by armed groups for recruitment on entering Colombia.\n“They said I’d get clothes, food, money, accommodation, a cell phone,” said Gregorio, a 20-year-old Venezuelan migrant who said he was asked to join an unspecified group in the mountains as soon as he waded across the Tachira River onto Colombian soil.\n“I was tempted, but scared... I’d been told there were bad people offering such things and I didn’t want to join,” said Gregorio, who declined to give his second name for fear of reprisals.\nAn estimated 1.3 million Venezuelan migrants have settled in Colombia in recent years, fleeing shortages of food, electricity and water as the South American nation has seen its economy unravel amid a bloody political confrontation.\nMost Venezuelans do not come to Colombia to enlist in insurgent groups but with almost nothing in their pockets, the prospect of food and shelter is enticing, said Deisson Marino, human rights ombudsman for the border region of Arauca.\n“They end up enrolled in a war that has nothing to do with them,” said Marino, whose job involves traveling to remote areas and speaking to victims of the conflict and armed groups.\nColombia’s Defense Minister Guillermo Botero has said the military has more than doubled operations against armed groups since President Ivan Duque took office in August, looking to tackle a rise in illicit drug production and trafficking. Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine.\n“The ELN has been retreating - at least its leadership - to Venezuela where it’s recruiting for greater strength, to attack us,” Botero said recently.\nA FARC dissident, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters the group was also present on Venezuelan soil and was recruiting Venezuelans.\nThe Venezuelan information ministry - which handles media enquiries for the government - did not respond to a request for comment about the conscription of Venezuelans by Colombia’s armed groups.\nVenezuela’s government has acknowledged that the ELN and dissident FARC are present on its territory. It has said it does not support the groups or tolerate their presence, and that its troops pursue them as they would any other illegal group.\nRepresentatives of the ELN did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FARC, which became a political party after the peace deal and kept its former acronym, has publicly expelled the armed dissidents.\nSince it was founded in 1964, the ELN has funded itself from kidnapping, drug trafficking and extortion but is increasingly making money from illegal migration, the officials said.\nMilitary officials and rights workers say the ELN and colectivos - shadowy irregular armed groups in Venezuela affiliated with President Nicolas Maduro’s Socialist Party - control most of the crossing points into Colombia and demand payment from migrants and traders.\nArmy Colonel Rodolfo Morales, head of the army’s 30th Brigade in the border town of Cucuta, said migrants were also being drafted by drug trafficking groups to pick coca, the raw material for cocaine.\nAntonio, another Venezuelan migrant who declined to give his second name, said that after crossing the border he was offered money by unidentified men to go into the jungles around Tibu - a border town around 115 km north of Cucuta in the dangerous Catatumbo region - to pick coca leaves.\n“I’d rather go hungry than go with them,” said the 33-year old from the central Venezuelan state of Carabobo.\nColombia’s right-wing paramilitary groups, which battled the ELN and FARC for decades, are also recruiting migrants, the military officials said.\nThe paramilitaries were behind most of the 260,000 killings that occurred during the nation’s half-century conflict and never fully demobilized under a 2006 peace agreement.\nEddinson, 26, a migrant from Venezuela’s coastal state of Aragua, said he and three other Venezuelans were approached by armed men who identified themselves as paramilitaries as they trekked through the mountains of Santander province near the border.\nEddinson said the leader of the eight armed men - who were dressed in khaki uniforms - tried to recruit them.\n“He said that training would last six months. We’d be given salaries according to rank,” said Eddinson, adding that he and the other Venezuelans declined the offer. “He told us that we’d know our start date but not when we could leave.”\nReporting by Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Rosalba O’Brien\nOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.\nAll quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":["peace deal","peace deal"]},{"role":"Date","values":["2016"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["end five decades of conflict"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia","Colombia"]}]}
+{"title":"August_2019 A peace deal is signed between the leaders of Renamo and the ruling party Frelimo in Mozambique, officially ending a conflict that plagued the country for years. (DW)","document":"A long-term peace pledge has been signed by Mozambique's president and the leader of the opposition Renamo party. The deal foresees disarmament and ex-rebels taking part in elections in October.\nPresident Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade signed the deal Thursday in Gorongosa National Park in a rugged wildlife region used by Renamo for more than 40 years as its base.\nThe location had \"tremendous symbolic value,\" said Swiss ambassador Mirko Manzoni, who is also a personal envoy of the UN secretary general.\n\"Gorongosa was where the war started and now it is where it ends,\" Mozoni said, referring to a war between Renamo and the ruling Frelimo party that claimed a million lives after Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975.\nRead more: Restoring Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park\nA deal reached in Rome in 1992 was declared void in 2013 by Renamo when government forces raided its bush camp. Fresh talks began in 2016.\nThe personal envoy of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres lauded the location of the signing ceremony\n \"We assure our fellow Mozambicans and the world that from now on violence will not be used as means for political goals,\" said Momade, who succeeded longtime Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama after his death in 2018.\n'New era,' says Nyusi\nThursday's accord \"opens a new era in the history of our country in which no Mozambicans should use weapons to resolve conflicts,\" said President Nyusi. \"We're here to say no to war.\"\nLast Tuesday, Renamo began disarming its more than 5,200 armed members.\nSome are to be absorbed into Mozambique's army and police, while others are to be re-integrated into civilian life.\nA small splinter group disavowed Momade in recent weeks, saying they would not hand over weapons while he was in charge.\n\nThursday's signing precedes presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections due in October, with Renamo seeking to win a number of provinces. Pope Francis is also expected to visit the country in September.\n ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Mozambique's president and the leader of the opposition Renamo party"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["disarmament and ex-rebels taking part in elections in October"]},{"role":"Location","values":["Gorongosa National Park","Gorongosa National Park"]}]}
+{"title":"May_2014 Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin sign a massive 30-year natural gas export contract worth $400 billion. (USA Today)","document":" China and Russia signed off on a huge gas deal worth as much as $400 billion Wednesday that heralds a pivot east for Russian business amid ongoing tensions with the West over Ukraine, though few details of the deal were made public.\nThe 30-year gas-export contract, seen as a move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to aggressively shift the country's commercial interests east amid mounting sanctions from the United States and Europe, was signed as the Russian leader has enjoyed a warm welcome in China, where the two countries have inked a raft of agreements during his ongoing, two-day visit.\nThe price China is paying for Russia's gas was not disclosed but the value of the agreement is thought to be somewhere near $400 billion. The deal, which will see Gazprom gas flow to China from a pipeline in Siberia, was confirmed by China's state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.\nThe price is believed to be closer to what Russia wanted than what China was initially prepared to pay, said Thane Gustafson, a Georgetown University political science professor specializing in Russia. He said a prepayment for the gas, similar to what was agreed in oil deals, was dropped.\n\"This higher price level reflects China's willingness to pay more for cleaner fuel,\" Gustafson said.\nThe eleventh-hour deal represents \"good news for both countries,\" said Shi Yinhong, an international relations expert at People's University of China, in Beijing. \"The political requirements on both sides are so powerful they can overcome the concerns on price,\" he said. \"This is a political action by both sides.\"\nTalks for the deal had been going on for more than a decade and will see Russia export up to 38 billion cubic meters of gas per year, for 30 years, starting in 2018. The export agreement is significant because it will permit Russia to diversify the market for its gas away from Europe, which has threatened sanctions over Russia's incursion into Ukraine.\nChina's neutrality over Ukraine has begun \"tilting\" toward Russia, said Shi, but this deal will not fundamentally change a relationship he called \"a convenient coalition, not an alliance.\" The agreement is an example of \"selective cooperation, due to the situation in Eastern Europe, the Western Pacific and East Asia at this period,\" but on some issues their concerns remain incompatible, he said.\n\"It's a demonstration of the fact that Russia always has and always will have other options to develop relations elsewhere. The threat of isolation coming from the West will not be complete,\" said Sergei Utkin, political expert at the Russian Academy of Sciences.\nPlans already announced by the two nations include building the first railway bridge over their long border, and manufacturing Chinese cars in Russia.\nThe neighbors, whose relationship has long been strained by distrust, promised Tuesday to increase bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2020, up from $90 billion last year.\nAhead of his visit to Asia's largest economy, Putin told Chinese media that China is a \"reliable friend.\" The Russian leader, now spurned in the West for his annexation of Crimea in eastern Ukraine, received reliably positive news media coverage Wednesday in China, where he enjoys personal popularity as a strong leader with a macho charisma unfamiliar in China's straitlaced political system.\nPhotos and comments highlighting Putin's masculine charm dominated social media sites, although some Internet users expressed pride that the portly Xi Jinping, China's leader, is at least taller than Putin.\nBoth countries consider the other a useful counterpoint to difficult relations with the United States.\nWhile in China, Putin traveled to Shanghai to attend a two-day session of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, a little-known Asian security group that includes Iran and several Central Asian states but not the U.S. or Japan, China's longtime rival in East Asia, and one of several maritime neighbors currently embroiled in disputes over territory with China.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["China and Russia","China","China","China","China","Russia","China","Russia","China","Russia","Russia","Russia","Russia","Russia","China","China","China","China"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["30 years, starting in 2018"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Wednesday","Wednesday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["huge gas deal worth as much as $400 billion"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"May_2014 The heads of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus sign a treaty forming the Eurasian Economic Union. (TIME)","document":"Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty Thursday forming a massive new trading bloc known as the Eurasian Economic Union, Reuters reports.\nThe treaty will come into effect on January 1, 2015 as long as it’s approved by the countries’ respective parliaments. It will create the largest common market across ex-Soviet states, which its signatories hope will challenge the might of the European Union, the U.S. and China. Russian President Vladimir Putin said shortly before signing the treaty that their meeting was of “epoch-making significance,” but that it was no attempt to recreate the Soviet Union. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the treaty represented “a bridge between the East and the West.”\nUkraine refused to join the treaty considering the conflict currently shaking the country and Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea. Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are considering joining the bloc, but other countries have turned down the opportunity to do so.\nThe new treaty unites three countries which have a combined population of 170 million people and a gross domestic product of 2.7 trillion dollars. Two of those countries, Kazakhstan and Russia, are oil producers. The deal will guarantee free transit of goods, services, capital and workers.","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus","Kazakhstan","Russia"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":["The treaty will come into effect on January 1, 2015"]},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["Thursday"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["forming a massive new trading bloc known as the Eurasian Economic Union"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}
+{"title":"October_2010 Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has signed a series of cooperative framework agreements with the Shanghai Financial Office. (21cbh)","document":"October 9, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has signed a series of cooperative framework agreements with the Shanghai Financial Office, a quasi-official body that promotes the city’s financial services industry, and Yangpu District Government to expand its business scope in China, the 21st Century Business Herald has learned.\nUnder the agreements, SVB, which specializes in providing financial services to technology and life sciences companies, as well venture capitalists and private equity firms, hopes to further explore venture capital (VC) opportunities and obtain a full financial services license.\nYangpu, an official “national innovation-oriented pilot district”, is building a cluster of domestic and foreign VC and domestic innovative enterprises. Bay Area Investment Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., the first overseas branch of San Francisco Bay Area Council, was inaugurated at Knowledge and Innovation Community in Yangpu on June 15.\nGerald Brady, managing director at SVB Venture Capital Group, said SVB is unable at present to provide a greater variety of financial services in China, but that the bank intends to obtain a full license. “We are investing for the future.”\nSVB is planning an enterprise VC platform in China that is similar to the Entrepreneur Services Platform it runs in Silicon Valley, California.\n\"Our long-term commitment to Chinese entrepreneurs, technology, life sciences and venture capital firms is to offer the same expertise, connections and banking services we provide to our clients in the U.S.,\" Ken Wilcox, CEO of SVB Financial Group and SVB said last December at the opening of the bank’s Shanghai representative office.\n\"Together with the Yangpu District Government and many others, we are working on several ground-breaking initiatives that will help build the infrastructure for a vibrant innovation economy in China.\"\nSVB will convene a board meeting in Shanghai in November, the first such meeting outside the U.S., according to a senior executive at SVB’s Shanghai office. ","event_type":"Sign Agreement","schema":["Contracting Parties","Agreement Validity Period","Agreement Name","Date","Agreement Content","Location"],"arguments":[{"role":"Contracting Parties","values":["Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)","SVB","SVB","SVB","SVB","SVB","SVB","SVB","Shanghai Financial Office"]},{"role":"Agreement Validity Period","values":null},{"role":"Agreement Name","values":null},{"role":"Date","values":["October 9"]},{"role":"Agreement Content","values":["promotes the city’s financial services industry, and Yangpu District Government to expand its business scope in China","China","China"]},{"role":"Location","values":null}]}