Powered by Max Banner Ads
Emergency Landing For U.S. Senators In Afghanistan
From the AP:
Helicopters carrying three senior U.S. senators made emergency landings Thursday in the mountains of Afghanistan because of a snowstorm.
Sens. John Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel were aboard the aircraft. No one was injured, according a statement from Kerry’s office. The senators and their delegation returned to Bagram Air Base in a motor convoy, and have left for Turkey.
“After several hours, the senators were evacuated by American troops and returned overland to Bagram Air Base, and left for their next scheduled stop in Ankara, Turkey,” the Kerry statement said. “Sen. Kerry thanks the American troops, who were terrific as always and who continue to do an incredible job in Afghanistan.”
The lawmakers were on a trip this week that included stops in India, Turkey and Pakistan, where they observed the elections earlier this week.
Kerry and Biden are Democrats from Massachusetts and Delaware, respectively, and the Republican Hagel is from Nebraska.
Tidal wave heading for England’s east coast poses ‘extreme danger to life’
From the Daily Mail:
Tens of thousands of householders are today preparing for some of the worst coastal floods in decades.
Sea levels could rise up to 9ft this morning along part of the East Coast, putting lives at risk.
Sea defences in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft could be breached around 7am, sending a torrent of salt water into the towns.
• Eight severe flood warnings issued by Environment Agency
• Surge expected to hit east coast in next 12 hours
• Police on standby to evacuate homes
• Dartford Creek and Thames barriers closed
Police and fire services were last night preparing to evacuate thousands of homes. Householders were stocking up on sandbags and emergency provisions.
The Norfolk Broads, Essex and northern Kent could also be hit, and the entire coast from Immingham in Humberside to Margate in Kent has been told to be on alert.
The Environment Agency, which issued eight severe flood warnings, last night said it was “gravely concerned” about the threat.
Gordon Brown called a meeting of the emergency Cabinet committee Cobra to prepare for his third major flood crisis since taking office in the summer.
The tidal surge is being caused by 50mph winds in the North Sea, an unusually high tide and an area of low pressure off the East Coast.
Simon Hughes, of the Environment Agency, said: “Great Yarmouth is very low lying and the surge is expected to hit at the same time as the high tide.”
