US: World’s tallest water slide to be torn down after boy dies riding it
The world’s tallest water slide will be torn down after a 10-year-old boy suffered a broken neck and was killed riding it in August, an amusement park in Kansas City, said.
By Reuters, Kansas City
UPDATED ON NOV 23, 2016 09:02 PM IST
The world’s tallest water slide will be torn down after a 10-year-old boy suffered a broken neck and was killed riding it in August, an amusement park in Kansas City, said.
Caleb Thomas Schwab, son of a state lawmaker, died on Aug 7 at the Schlitterbahn waterpark on the Verruckt water slide, which sends riders plunging down 17 storeys at up to 50 miles an hour (80 kph).
The 168 feet (51.4 meter) slide will be decommissioned, closed permanently and removed after the ongoing investigation is complete, park officials said in a statement on Tuesday.
“In our opinion, it is the only proper course of action following this tragedy,” they said.
Schwab was riding on a raft with two women who suffered minor injuries when the incident occurred, police said.
The ride is taller than the Statue of Liberty from torch to the top of its pedestal.
The park will wait until a court gives it the approval to remove the water slide, it said.
“We will, at some point in the future, announce what will be built in its place,” park officials said.
Iran 'can't act with impunity,' Biden says after U.S. air strike
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 04:12 AM IST
The United States carried out air strikes authorized by Biden against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria on Thursday, in response to rocket attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq.
United States welcomes Indo-Pak ceasefire pact
By Yashwant Raj, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 02:46 AM IST
The United States welcomed the India-Pakistan joint statement – released on Thursday — committing to a ceasefire along the LoC with Ned Price, spokesperson of the state department, saying: “We encourage continued efforts to improve communication between the two sides and to reduce tensions and violence along the Line of Control.”
US implicates Saudi crown prince in journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
The central conclusion of the report was widely expected given that intelligence officials were said to have reached it soon after the brutal Oct. 2, 2018, murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s authoritarian consolidation of power.
Myanmar's UN envoy dramatically opposes coup in his country
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:48 PM IST
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun urged all countries to issue public statements strongly condemning the military coup and refuse to recognize the military regime and ask its leaders to respect the free and fair elections in November won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party.
EU medicines regulator approves Regeneron Covid-19 therapy
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:38 PM IST
Regeneron's synthetic antibody treatment was used to treat former US President Donald Trump after he contracted coronavirus last year.
FDA advisory panel to review J&J Covid-19 vaccine with thumbs up expected
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:09 PM IST
After it receives the recommendation, the FDA is likely to authorize the vaccine for emergency use within a day or so, making it the third available in the United States, and the only one that requires just one shot.
Bank of America gives paid time off for US staff to get Covid-19 vaccines
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:50 PM IST
Staff at Bank of America will have the option to use two half days, for up to four hours each, for vaccination appointments this year.
Biden administration to promote vaccination with businesses
Bloomberg
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:46 PM IST
The White House will partner with the US Chamber of Commerce; leaders of the Black, Latino and Asian business community; the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers on the efforts, White House adviser Andy Slavitt announced in a briefing.
Biden team looking to stop Saudi arms deals that help it attack others
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:45 PM IST
The Biden administration is recalibrating its relationship with Saudi Arabia, a country with which it has severe human rights concerns.
Third US vaccine could raise question: Which Covid-19 shots are best?
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:12 PM IST
- If cleared for emergency use, the J&J vaccine would offer a one-dose option that could help speed vaccinations.
US justice department pledges to probe, as attacks on Asian Americans increase
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:56 PM IST
While verbal harassment has made up more than 70 per cent of the incidents, more than 8 per cent involved physical assaults.
Nepal cabinet recommends President to call meeting of reinstated Lower House
ANI, Kathmandu, Nepal
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:40 PM IST
The meeting comes after the Nepal Supreme Court had reinstated the House of Representatives (HoR) and directed the government to summon a session of the country's Lower House of Parliament within 13 days.
Caribbean countries ask wealthy nations to share vaccine supply
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:38 PM IST
In a statement issued late Thursday, CARICOM said it was “dissatisfied and deeply concerned about the inequitable access to vaccines” it was facing.
US conducts first military operation under Biden, hits Iran-backed groups in Syria
By Yashwant Raj I Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:36 PM IST
The US had not released any casualty figures or estimates. But a war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has said 22 members of the militant groups were killed and the toll could climb because some of the others had suffered severe injuries.
Half a million US chicks euthanised after storm hits Texas
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 08:50 PM IST
- While it’s unclear how many chicken producers experienced losses, even small percentage changes in supply can move the market, and prices have already been gaining.
