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Tropical Storm Ian: President Biden Issues Emergency Declaration

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President Biden has issued an emergency declaration for the state of Florida as Tropical Storm Ian intensifies in the Caribbean.

Biden’s move directs federal assistance to supplement Florida’s storm response, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to help coordinate emergency relief efforts, according to the White House.

The president’s planned trip to Florida Tuesday was also canceled due to the storm.

As Florida braces for the storm’s forecasted arrival, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Saturday extended an emergency declaration initially set for a handful of Florida counties to apply statewide.

DeSantis has urged Floridians to monitor the storm and take precautions as it approaches.

Tropical Storm Ian comes just a week after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico, bringing dangerous wind and flash flooding conditions and at one point cutting power to the entire U.S. territory.

After tearing past Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, Fiona made its way north to hit Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada as a post-tropical cyclone.

Ian is expected to push past Jamaica and Cuba before approaching the Florida Keys and becoming a “major hurricane” by the time it nears Florida’s west coast, according to the most recent forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.

“Regardless of Ian’s exact track and intensity, there is a risk of dangerous storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall along the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle by the middle of the week,” the forecast reads.

Hong Kong To Scrap Quarantine Rules For International Arrivals

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Hong Kong has announced it will end mandatory hotel quarantine, scrapping some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions, which battered the economy and kept the finance hub internationally isolated.

The long-awaited move brings relief to residents and businesses clamouring for the city to rejoin the rest of the world in resuming unhindered travel.

For the past two and a half years Hong Kong has adhered to a version of China’s strict zero-Covid rules, deepening a brain drain as rivals reopened.

The announcement leaves mainland China as the only major economy still hewing to lengthy quarantine for international arrivals.

Chief Executive John Lee said the current three days of hotel quarantine would be reduced to zero for those arriving from overseas.

From September 26, travellers will be subject to PCR tests on arrival and will be unable to visit restaurants and bars for the first three days under a system authorities have dubbed “0+3”.

“Under this arrangement, the quarantine hotel system will be cancelled,” Lee told reporters.

Overseas arrivals will also need further PCR tests on days two, four and six in the city.

Tourists who test positive face being isolated in hotel rooms at their own expense. Most residents can isolate at home, but those who cannot may be sent to government facilities.

Authorities also said they were lifting quotas on arrivals from mainland China.

US Launches Spy Satellite Into Orbit From California

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A classified satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office launched into orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket on Saturday.

The NROL-91 spy satellite lifted off at 3:25 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California’s Santa Barbara County.

It was the last launch of a Delta 4 from the West Coast. Additional launches are planned from Florida before the Deltas are replaced by ULA’s next-generation Vulcan Centaur rockets.

The Delta IV Heavy configuration first launched in December 2004. This was the 387th flight of a Delta rocket since 1960 and the 95th and final launch from Vandenberg.

The National Reconnaissance Office is the government agency in charge of developing, building, launching and maintaining U.S. spy satellites that provide intelligence data to policymakers, the intelligence community and Defense Department.

Once Upon A Time – Sept 25. – 1513 – Spanish Explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa Becomes 1st European To See Pacific Ocean

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1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge: English army under King Harold II defeat invading Norwegians led by King Harald Hardrada and Harold’s brother Tostig, who were both killed

1237 Treaty of York signed between kings Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland which establishes a boundary between the two countries (mostly unchanged in modern times)

1513 Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crosses the Panama Isthmus becoming first European to see the Pacific Ocean

1789 US Congress proposes the Bill of Rights

1906 Leonardo Torres Quevedo successfully demonstrates the Telekino at Bilbao before a great crowd, guiding a boat from the shore, considered the birth of the remote control

1926 Henry Ford announces an 8 hour, 5-day work week for workers at the Ford Motor Company

1981 Sandra Day O’Connor sworn in as the 1st female US Supreme Court Justice

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1957 18th Venice Film Festival: Influential Indian film “Aparajito” directed by Satyajit Ray is first film to win the Golden Lion and the Critics Award

Today in Music
1975 Pink Floyd’s concept album “Wish You Were Here” reaches No. 1 in the US, goes on to sell 13 million copies

Today in Sport
1844 Canada defeats USA by 23 runs in the first cricket international match at the grounds of the St George’s Cricket Club in Manhattan, NYC

MORE FACTS…
1939 Andorra and Germany sign a treaty ending World War I, as Versailles Peace Treaty forgot to include Andorra

1878 British physician Dr. Charles Drysdale warns against the use of tobacco in a letter to The Times newspaper in one of the earliest public health announcements on the dangers of smoking

Famous Weddings
1845 Confederate army Nathan Bedford Forrest (24) weds Presbyterian minister’s daughter Mary Ann Montgomery (18) in Hernando, Mississippi

1873 Frontiersman and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok supposedly marries Calamity Jane according to the latter’s daughter (disputed)

1889 Prime Minister of Canada Robert Borden (34) weds Laura Bond

Beautiful Nigeria: Ogba Ukwu Cave And Waterfall, Anambra State

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Ogbaukwu Caves presents one of the greatest natural tourist attraction in Anambra State.

But very little is known about the site, which has been in existence for many years.

Hidden away from the busy routes that crisscross Anambra, the Ogbaukwu Caves and Waterfalls are located in Owerre Ezeukala community that borders three other states: Abia, Enugu and Imo.

It is approximately 75 kilometres east of Onitsha.

The Ogba Ukwu cave is considered to be one of the largest cave in West Africa, which will take upwards to two hours to explore.

It forms a deep and complex rock formation with roomy compartments large enough to take in an entire village.

There is one particular compartment, accessed by the aid of stone steps where an old elephant’s foot still stands, long dead and dry.

In another crevice, there is a natural spanner of rock, and in yet another is a gun of stone, as old as the cave.

Guided tours in and around it is a wonder, and leaves a visitor dumbfounded to this wonderful work of nature.

Exploring Lau Lagoon, Solomon Islands

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Lau Lagoon is a 35 km (22 mi) lagoon which contains more than 60 artificial islands, and it is located on the northeast coast of Malaita Island, of the Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands.

The artificial islands are built on a reef, and the Lagoon is home to a number of different villages, the largest of which is Forau.

As it is the largest with around 1,500 inhabitants, the number can increase due to the important local feasts or religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.

The people there call themselves “salt-water people”, as opposite for “bush people” who are the inhabitants living in the interior of the bigger island.

Because of that there were conflicts between these people, and building the artificial islands allowed some sort of protection against attacks. These islands were formed literally one rock at a time.

A family would take their canoe out to the reef which protects the lagoon and then dive for rocks, bring them to the surface and then return to the selected site and drop the rocks into the water.

Living on the reef was also healthier as the mosquitoes, which infested the coastal swamps, were not found on the reef islands.

The agriculture is really important for the people of the main island, as they are growing swamp taro, sweet potato and yam, as well as papaya, banana, sugar cane, coconut and green vegetables.

The other important part of their lives is of course, the fishing.

As there is no formal accommodation on the islands, still one can always asks one of the chiefs of the islands whether if it is possible to stay with them on the island. Still, getting there could be tricky, but you can learn a lot from talking with the locals.

Once Upon A Time – Sept. 24 – 1877 – Battle of Shiroyama

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1180 Manuel I Komnenos, last Emperor of the Komnenian restoration dies. The Byzantine Empire slips into terminal decline.

1493 Christopher Columbus embarks on his second expedition to the New World, setting sail with a fleet of 17 ships

1789 US Federal Judiciary Act passes, creating a six-person Supreme Court

1869 Black Friday; Wall St panic after Gould & Fisk attempt to corner gold

1877 Battle of Shiroyama, decisive victory of the Imperial Japanese Army over the Satsuma Rebellion

1950 Operation Magic Carpet concludes after having transported 45,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel

1994 National League for Democracy is formed by Aung San Suu Kyi and various others to help fight against dictatorship in Myanmar

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1968 “60 Minutes” premieres on CBS-TV

Today in Music
1957 “Jailhouse Rock” single released by Elvis Presley (Billboard Song of the Year 1957)

Today in Sport
1934 2,500 fans see Babe Ruth’s farewell Yankee appearance at Yankee Stadium

MORE FACTS…
1657 1st autopsy and coroner’s jury verdict is recorded in Maryland

Famous Weddings
1487 Founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak marries Mata Sulakkhani in Batala

1948 American Major League Baseball outfielder Ty Cobb (61) weds Frances Cass (40)

1953 American “Gilda” actress Rita Hayworth (34) weds Argentine singer Dick Haymes (35) at The Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Beautiful Nigeria: Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, River State

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Isaac Boro Park is a public park and outdoor recreation area located along the Old GRA neighborhood of Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt.

The park is named after Isaac Boro, who was one of the pioneers of minority rights activism in Nigeria.

The geographical coordinates of the park are: 4°47’16″N (4.787960), 7°0’19″E (7.005517).

Situated just opposite the Mile One Flyover, Isaac Boro Park is home to baseball and softball in Port Harcourt.

Isaac Boro Park is bounded to the south by Bauchi Street, north by Ogbodo Street and Blue Street, west by Ikwerre Road and to the east by Ohia Street

On numerous occasions between 2006 and 2013, the park hosted the annual international trade fair and continues to serve as venue for memorable events such as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Workers’ Day and the National Youth Service send-off parade ceremonies.

Sept. 24: Exchange Rate for USD to NGN

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Below you can see the chart for the Nigerian Naira rate today compared to the Dollar.

1 USD = 437.2464 NGN
1 Dollars = 437.2464 Nigerian Naira
The USDNGN rate as of 24 Sep 2022 at 10:22 PM

Hurricane Fiona: Houses Washed Away, Residents Experience Power Cuts In Canada

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Fiona washed houses into the sea, tore the roofs off others and knocked out power to the vast majority of two Canadian provinces Saturday as it made landfall as a big, powerful post-tropical cyclone.

Fiona transformed from a hurricane into a post-tropical storm late Friday, but it still had hurricane-strength winds and brought drenching rains and huge waves. There was no confirmation of fatalities or injures.

Ocean waves pounded the town of Channel-Port Aux Basques on the southern coast of Newfoundland, where entire structures were washed into the sea.

Mayor Brian Button said Saturday over social media that people were being evacuated to high ground as winds knocked down power lines.

“We’ve already had houses … that are washed away,” he said.

Button said anybody who has been told to leave their home needs to leave.

“I’m seeing homes in the ocean. I’m seeing rubble floating all over the place. It’s complete and utter destruction. There’s an apartment that is gone, that is literally just rubble,” said René J. Roy, a resident of Channel-Port Aux Basques and chief editor at Wreckhouse Press, said in a phone interview.

Roy estimated between eight to 12 houses and buildings have washed into the sea. “It’s quite terrifying,” he said.