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Israel Sea Border: Lebanon’s President Approves Historic Deal

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Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said Thursday that the cash-strapped country has approved a US-mediated maritime border deal with Israel.

Lebanon and Israel both claim around 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that are home to offshore gas fields.

The agreement to demarcate the maritime border comes after months of talks mediated by senior US official Amos Hochstein, and would mark a major breakthrough in relations between the two countries, which have formally been at war since Israel’s creation in 1948.

“This indirect agreement responds to Lebanese demands and maintains all our rights,” Aoun said in a televised speech.

Aoun made the announcement hours after meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri, who had received copies of Hochstein’s latest iteration of the agreement earlier this week.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that both countries agreed to “formally” end their maritime border dispute, and that their leaders both told him they were ready to take next steps.

Israel’s Cabinet on Wednesday voted in favor of the US-brokered deal by a “large majority” of its ministers. The agreement will be forwarded to the Knesset, or parliament, for a two-week review period before a final Cabinet vote.

Lebanon hopes that demarcating maritime borders will pave the way for gas exploration to help lift it out of its crippling economic crisis.

“I hope the end of these negotiations is the promising start to placing the cornerstone for the economic growth that Lebanon needs through extracting oil and gas,” Aoun said. “Which would add stability, security, and development that our nation Lebanon needs.”

Israel meanwhile also hopes to exploit gas reserves and hopes the deal will reduce the risk of war with Lebanon’s Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The agreement stipulates that the disputed waters would be divided along a line straddling the “Qana” natural gas field.

Gas production would be based on the Lebanese side, but Israel would be compensated for gas extracted from its side of the line.

Lebanon has been working with French energy giant Total on preparations for exploring the field.

After 4 Attempts, Iraqi Parliament Elects Kurdish Politician As President

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Iraq’s parliament on Thursday elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as president, who immediately named Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani prime minister-designate, ending a year of deadlock after a national election in October last year.

The presidency, traditionally occupied by a Kurd, is a largely ceremonial position, but the vote for Rashid was a key step toward forming a new government, which politicians have failed to do since the election.

Rashid, 78, British-educated engineer, was the Iraqi minister of water resources from 2003-2010.

He invited Sudani, the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned factions, to form a government. Sudani previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

Rashid won against former President Barham Salih, who was running for a second term.

Thursday’s vote, which was the fourth attempt to elect a president this year, took place shortly after nine rockets landed on Thursday around the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, according to a military statement.

British Rocket Company’s 1st Space Launch Ditches In Sea Off Iceland

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The British rocket company Skyrora’s first attempt to get to space has ended shortly after lift-off with the booster ditching in the sea.

The Edinburgh-headquartered company was aiming to get its Skylark L vehicle above 100km in a flight from the Langanes peninsula in Iceland.

But a technical problem saw the 11m-long rocket fall back into waters no more than 500m from the launch pad.

Skyrora is aiming to start orbital launches from Scotland next year.

These will occur at the Saxavord Spaceport being developed on Shetland. They’ll use a much bigger vehicle, the Skyrora XL.

Last weekend’s Skylark L flight was intended as an early chance to test systems and procedures.

“While this launch attempt did not go entirely as we expected, it has nevertheless been a valuable learning opportunity – and a huge victory for this new relationship between Iceland and the UK, as well as the European space sector more broadly,” said Volodymyr Levykin, the founder and CEO of Skyrora.

“Based on what we have achieved here, we remain confident of achieving our objective of a full vertical orbital launch from UK soil in 2023.”

Exploring Conservation Center For Aletsch Forest, Villa Cassel, Switzerland  

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Villa Cassel is a big mansion, previously owned by Sir Ernest Cassel, which once was a hotel and today serves as conservation center for the Aletsch Forest, located in southern Switzerland.

Located near the district of Raron in the canton of Valais, this Swiss villa is one really impressive architectural masterpiece, which can be accessed safely by mule.

There has been a plan for a road to be constructed to the Villa Cassel from the nearby town, however, the British merchant banker said that “If you do, I am not coming here anymore”.

It served as a summer residence for him, out of reach from any other human being, but with his death in September 1921, his granddaughter Edwina Mountbatton, who had looked after him, was the principal heiress.

But she had to decide what to do with the Villa Cassel at Riederfurka and all the other country estates in England, France and Switzerland.

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After all, she and her husband were keen to venture into the big wide world and that meant India rather than the Swiss mountains.

The Villa was sold to the Cathrein family of hoteliers in 1924 and had guests until 1969.

There were 25 rooms, and many famous people have stayed in, for instance Winston Churchill, in his young years.

After being too expensive to serve as a hotel, it merely escaped demolition, and successfully Villa Cassel was bought by then known as Schweizer Bund für Naturschutz.

It reopened as the Conservation Center for the Aletsch Forest in July 1976.

Pro Natura, today’s owner of the villa, has put a lot of effort and means in the reconstruction, which made it not only as a museum in memory of the early days of tourism, but also in anticipation of its new function as a nature conservation center.

The basement now houses the large kitchen, the dining rooms and the sanitary facilities.

The first floor with its drawing room and former dining room is now the home of a natural history exhibition.

The library on the second floor holds numerous works about the Aletsch area, but also some books which are dating from Sir Ernest Cassel’s time.

On the third floor, where the former servants’ quarters were, and also in the Cassel cabin, there are now 65 beds for resort guests and also the working and living rooms of the nature conservation center’s employees.

One of the most beautiful buildings ever built in Switzerland, is not that famous, but it certainly deserves to be on the cover of many well known magazines.

Europa: Boniface Eyes 17th Goal Of The Season

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Nigerian winger, Victor Boniface, will hope his goals could help Union Saint-Gilloise secure a place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday (today) when they face Sporting Braga

The Belgian outfit are currently on a run of five consecutive wins, will head into the encounter aiming to maintain their 100 per cent record in Europe against the Portuguese side who seek to end their three-game losing streak and move top of Group D of the Europa League.

Boniface, who joined the Belgians on a four-year deal from Bodo/Glimt in a deal worth €2m in the summer, has scored 16 times this season.

The 21-year-old scored 13 goals for Bodo/Glimt before he joined Union Saint-Gilloise and in 11 games for his new team, the in-form forward has found the back of the net three times – two in the league and one in the Europa League.

At the Estadio Anoeta in Spain, Iyayi Atiemwen will miss Sheriff Tiraspol’s match-day four clash against Real Sociedad due to suspension.

The 26-year-old was cautioned in the Moldovan champions’ last three games against Real Sociedad, Manchester United and Omonia Nicosia.

His countryman Rasheed Akanbi is expected to feature in the game as he aims to add to his tally of three goals this season.

Also, Moses Simon is expected to be in action for Nantes, when they host Freiburg in their reverse fixture, with Nantes having endured a dreadful start to the current campaign.

They have managed just one win in 10 league matches overall, while they have lost ground in the Europa League, with successive defeats to Qarabag FK and Freiburg. They beat Olympiacos on the opening match-day.

Antoine Kombouare’s side are languishing in second to bottom place in Ligue 1, having taken only one point from their last five league games.

Beautiful Nigeria: Ememabia Warm Spring, Benue State

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Ememabia Warm Spring is another water world that will make you love swimming.

Located in Benue State also another natural warm water.

It is also one of the best places for a family vacation and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Nigeria.

Enemabia Warm Spring is packed with fun-filled adventure that will make you return and do it over again.

It is also a major tourist attraction in Benue state.

Abuja Marathon: Top Nigerian Runners Fired Up For Kenya, Ethiopia Challenge

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Instead of being jittery about the world-class runners coming to Abuja for the marathon, Nigerian elite runners are excited and ready for the challenge.

Nigeria’s top elite runners have stepped up their preparations for the maiden Abuja International Marathon billed to take place in the Federal Capital Territory on 17 December 2022.

The organizers of the Abuja International Marathon have already promised an elite cast of runners with some of the world’s top runners from Kenya and Ethiopia already confirmed for the race.

AIM organisers are determined to achieve their aim of becoming the first race in Nigeria to have an elite men’s field that will return a sub 2:10 minutes.

Instead of being jittery about the world-class runners that will be in Abuja for the marathon, Nigerian elite runners are excited and ready for the challenge.

Leading the line of Nigerian runners hoping to make a mark at the Abuja race is the duo of Emmanuel Gyang and Deborah Pam, who have both won several accolades in the past years.

In a chat with the Abuja International Marathon Media team, Gyan particularly expressed delight that he will rub shoulders with some of the best runners across the world in a few months’ time.

According to Gyang, his preparations have been going on well and his major mission in the December race is to lower his Personal Best time-2hrs 25 minutes.

“Of course, I am delighted we are having an international race of this magnitude in Abuja, unlike other races that I have to embark on long journeys, this is very close to my base in Jos and it should have a positive effect on my performance,” Gyang declared.

“I am aware there will be runners from across the world in Abuja, especially the Kenyans and Ethiopians, what I can say is that we would give them a good challenge, beyond anything else, my target is to lower my PB to at least 2hrs.18mins thereabout,” he added.

Gyang is no stranger to road races in Abuja, having won back-to-back editions of the Para Military half marathon races in 2017 and 2018.

The petite runner has also recorded successes at the scows ECOWAS half marathon and the Anti Corruption races, among others.

Just like Gyang, Pam has described the Abuja International Marathon as her biggest race for 2022, and she is keen to finish the year on a high.

“Since my childbirth, I have been coming back to run gradually. Abuja International Marathon is one of my top targets for the year and I am confident I will do well by God’s grace,” Pam assured.

Throwback Thursday – Almanac: America’s First Aerial Photograph

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October 13, 1860 – two years after the French photographer Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (a.k.a. Nadar) took images of Paris from a tethered balloon, James Wallace Black took a photograph of Boston from a balloon 1,200 feet up.

Black (1825-1896), an innovative Boston photographer and portraitist, rode aboard Samuel Archer King’s hot-air balloon, the “Queen of the Air,” as it was tethered at Boston Common, to expose glass plate negatives.

The resulting photo was titled “Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It” – the first such aerial photograph in America.

“Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It,” by James Wallace Black, captured on October 13, 1860 from a balloon – the first aerial photograph taken in America.

The first, but hardly the last.

Today, thanks to satellite imagery and the internet, aerial views of just about anywhere on Earth are available at our fingertips.

Not to mention the advent of the drone camera, which allows just about anyone to get a bird’s-eye view.

Though when it comes to hands-on aerial photography, few can match Vincent Laforet.

Following in the tradition of James Wallace Black, Laforet also photographs cities from above, only he does it hanging out of the open doors of helicopters, sometimes at 11,000 feet or more, often at night.

“It was almost an out-of-body experience, because it’s just beautiful up there,” he told correspondent Lee Cowan, who in 2015 went along with Laforet on a vertiginous flight over Miami.

Cowan asked, “So, what is it that you’re really looking for?”

“I’m looking down there and I’m trying to make order out of chaos, looking for patterns, geometry, color, and light,” Laforet said.

Still, for all the differences in technology and technique over the years, the aim of the photographer remains much the same, as Laforet said, “As a photographer, as a visual communicator, you try to find images no one has seen before. That’s your goal.”

Once Upon A Time – October 13 – 2019 – Simone Biles Becomes Most Decorated Gymnast In History At World Championships In Stuttgart, Germany

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54 Nero succeeds Claudius as Roman Emperor

1307 French King Philip IV has Grand Master Jacques de Molay and Knights Templar arrested and charged with idolatry and corruption

1884 Greenwich in London established as the universal time meridian of longitude

1924 Mecca falls without struggle to Saudi forces led by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud

1943 Italy declares war on former Axis partner Germany

1944 US 1st army begins battle of Aachen, first German city captured during World War II

2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile comes to a happy end as all 33 miners arrive at the surface after surviving a record 69 days underground

Historical Events Today

Today In Film & Tv

1973 “Badlands” directed by Terrence Malick and starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek premieres at the New York Film Festival

Today In Music

1966 Jimi Hendrix Experience debuts with American guitarist Jimi Hendrix, British bassist Noel Redding & British drummer Mitch Mitchell in Évreux, Normandy, France

2016 American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature

Today In Sport

1903 1st Baseball World Series: Boston Americans beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-0 in Game 8 at Huntington Avenue for a 5-3 series victory

2019 Simone Biles becomes the most decorated gymnast in history when she wins record 25th medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany

More Facts…

1976 First electron micrograph of an Ebola viral particle obtained by Dr. F.A. Murphy, working at the C.D.C.

1987 1st military use of trained dolphins (US Navy in Persian Gulf)

Famous Weddings

1941 NFL halfback Red Grange (38) weds flight attendant Margaret Hazelberg

1956 MLB player Roger Maris (22) weds high school sweetheart Pat Carvell at St. Anthony Padua Church

1978 James Earl Ray, assassin of Martin Luther King weds Anna Sandhu

Famous Divorces

1995 Golfer champ Nick Faldo (41) divorces manager’s secretary Gill Bennett after 9 years of marriage

Nigeria Withdraw From Beach Soccer AFCON

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The Super Sand Eagles will play no part at the 2022 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations following the country’s withdrawal from the competition.

The withdrawal from the competition was as a result of lack of funds.

The Super Sand Eagles were previously expected to face Mozambique, Malawi and Morocco in Group A.

Seven countries will now compete for the ultimate prize in the competition which will be hosted by Mozambique.

Defending champions Senegal, Uganda Madagascar and Egypt are the four teams in Group B.

The competition will kick off on October 21 at the Vilankulos Arena.

The Beach Soccer AFCON final will take place on October 28.