. Earth Science News .
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Britain ups aid for storm-hit Caribbean, but Brexit fears loom
by Staff Writers
London (AFP) Sept 13, 2017


Five crew missing after boat collision off Singapore
Singapore (AFP) Sept 13, 2017 - Five sailors were missing after their dredger collided with a tanker off Singapore Wednesday, authorities said, just weeks after a deadly accident in the same area involving a US warship.

A search effort was launched for the four Chinese members of crew and one Malaysian after the accident around the busy Singapore Strait, the city-state's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.

Seven other Chinese sailors were rescued from the Dominican-registered dredger after it capsized following the collision in the early hours, and were taken to hospital.

The Indonesian-registered tanker sustained damage to its front section but is stable and none of its crew members were hurt, the port authority said.

The MPA said in a statement it was "leading the search and rescue operations", with boats and an air force helicopter deployed to hunt for the sailors.

There was no disruption to shipping in the Singapore Strait, it added.

On August 21, the destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with a tanker near the Singapore Strait, tearing a gaping hole in the ship's hull, and flooding it with water.

Ten US sailors were found dead inside flooded compartments after the collision, the latest accident involving an American warship in Asian waters.

The waters around Singapore are some of the busiest in the world, with huge numbers of cargo vessels plying the trade routes between Asia and Europe.

Britain on Wednesday announced an extra �25 million ($33.2 million, 27.2 million euros) in aid for its Caribbean territories devastated by Hurricane Irma, but lawmakers warned reconstruction efforts could be hampered by Brexit.

The self-governing territories of Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands were hard hit by the mega-storm that swept through the region last week, and London is deploying more than 1,200 troops to help deliver aid and restore order.

"Today I'm announcing an additional �25 million to support the recovery effort, further to the �32 million of assistance I announced last week," Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons.

She rejected claims her government had been too slow to act, and noted that more than 1,000 British military personnel are now in the region, with another 200 due to arrive within days, along with more than 60 police officers.

"The devastation that has taken place means there will be a significant need for reconstruction," she added.

"We will be working with our overseas territories to ensure we are able to see those countries actually brought to life once again, and people able to have an economy and a good life there."

During a visit to the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pledged "our absolute commitment" to Britons there.

"What they're seeing is an unprecedented UK response, but I want to stress it is not just for the short-term, we are going to be there for the long-term as well," he told the Press Association news agency.

In a letter to Brexit Secretary David Davis published Wednesday, however, a House of Lords committee warned the government it must consider how Brexit might affect the long-term sustainability of the territories.

They "will now face a particularly acute need to access significant reconstruction funds following the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Irma", the committee said.

It noted many of them do not qualify for British development aid, instead relying on funds from the European Union to build schools and roads, and maintain their environments -- funds which could dry up with Brexit.

- 'Cover the loss' -

"Some of the islands devastated by Hurricane Irma rely heavily on EU money through the European Development Fund to support their infrastructural development," said acting committee chairman Lord Michael Jay.

"We heard that 36 percent of Anguilla's capital budget comes from EDF funding -- that will be needed more now than ever."

He urged ministers to consider making contributions to the EU budget after Brexit to maintain this funding.

"If the Overseas Territories can no longer access EU funding the government will need to think seriously about how that loss is covered," the peer said.

Nine people were killed in the British territories in the hurricane out of a total of at least 50 dead in the region.

The chief minister of Anguilla, Victor Banks, told the Press Association that the bill to repair his island's infrastructure alone could reach �1 billion.

ar/pg

EDF - ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Monster success of "It" feeds primal fear of clowns
Los Angeles (AFP) Sept 12, 2017
The big-screen remake of Stephen King's "It," starring the evil entity Pennywise, has smashed box office records and reaffirmed an age-old rule of horror: clowns are creepy as hell. But while countless movies and television shows have cashed in on so-called "coulrophobia" - or fear of clowns - the primal dread associated with the long-shoed entertainers probably isn't Hollywood's fault. ... read more

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Britain ups aid for storm-hit Caribbean, but Brexit fears loom

Global split over Rohingya crisis as China backs Myanmar crackdown

Thousands need shelter, healthcare in Caribbean after Irma: UN

US environmental regulators probe Arkema after explosions

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
New microscopy method for quick and reliable 3-D imaging of curvilinear nanostructures

Chinese video site offers virtual escape from 'boring' reality

Chinese video site offers virtual escape from 'boring' reality

Molecules move faster near sticky surfaces

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Man-made reefs: A compelling diving alternative

Vulnerable Pacific states demand urgent climate action

Risky business for fish in oil-polluted reef waters

Japanese seaweed is welcome invader on US coasts: study

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Reindeer grazing protects tundra plant diversity in a warming climate

Bleak outlook for Asian glaciers

Ancient tree exposes cause of hike in Arctic temperature

Experts call for added focus on the impact of glacier mass loss on downstream systems

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Foodies cheesed off as China says 'non' to France's finest

Latvia tweets no room for mushroom hunters on army base

EU chamber urges China to lift cheese ban

Climate change threatens Latin America coffee producers

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake: Results from seismic reflection data

Why Irma wasn't as catastrophic in Florida as feared

Italian couple and son die after falling into volcanic crater

Study finds U.S. threatened by more frequent flooding

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
DRCongo troops chasing reporter 'force entry' at UN base

Angolans vote as Dos Santos ends 38-year rule

Death toll in SLeone flood disaster reaches 441

Africa Endeavor 2017 communications conference starts in Malawi

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Large-scale study of genetic data shows humans still evolving

Groups are more likely to lie than individuals, new study shows

Human settlement in the Americas may have occurred in the late Pleistocene

Humans are still evolving, study suggests









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.