Tornadoes are a force of nature that tore everything apart on their way with just wind power. Southtowns got to experience double such a fury on Thursday at noon. Nothing in the sky or the air was strange enough to predict such a natural event. Despite calm weather conditions, the two tornadoes burst in and wreaked havoc in about 20 seconds.

The Erie County Fair Is Still on Schedule Despite Damaged Suffered

Locals in the region of Western New York recounted what they experienced while still being amazed at the natural event they had witnessed. They remember how the windows started to cast shadows all of a sudden. Once they looked outside, they were not able to distinguish anything through the white murkiness. Immediately, the houses started to tremble as if there was an earthquake. Therefore, many locals began heading for the basement to stay away from the range of the natural phenomena.

However, before all people managed to evacuate, the weather came back to normal, and everything was calm again. Unfortunately, even though the two tornadoes lasted under a minute, it was enough time to leave some degree of destruction behind them.

At the Hamburg Fairgrounds, one of the whirlwinds devastated the location of the upcoming Erie County Fair. With just 20 days left to mend the damages, organizers are still going ahead with their festival.  The car windows were busted while the picnic tables were scattered around the area.

Governor Cuomo Claimed that Property Owners Might Get Financial Support for the Damages the Two Tornadoes Did

At 7 p.m., Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the fairgrounds to announce the crowd that they would receive help. Around 100 members of the National Guard arrived at the scene to support the relief efforts. The Governor also claimed that they are currently assessing the aftermath. Based on these records, property owners affected by the storm could receive financial aid.

“If it hits a minimum threshold then the state will step in.”

The first tornado appeared at around 12:30 p.m. and followed a path of 5 miles long and 700 feet wide from Hamburg to Orchard Park. The core of the storm measured 105 mph. The second natural phenomenon struck at 12:50 p.m. with a 2 ½ mile long path which was 500 feet wide. The top wind was at 95 mph.

Image source: 1

Kremlin can take it no more. The Russian presidential administration demanded the United States to bring two diplomatic compounds back under their possession. As a consequence, diplomats on behalf of the two parties met on Monday to settle the dispute by themselves. However, Moscow described the preconditions that the American representatives proposed for the deal as “daylight robbery.”

Barack Obama Ordered the Ceisure over the Two Russian Diplomatic Compounds Last Year

Last year, the United States took two diplomatic properties under its own control at the order of former President Barack Obama in December. The command included the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats as well. Obama considered taking such punitive measures in 2016 as Russia got involved in the U.S. presidential election campaign through hacking.

On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and U.S. Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon met to override Obama’s orders. The most ardent topic was the restitution of two Russian mansions. One of them is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore while the other is outside New York City. The negotiations lasted for three hours and took place in Washington.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared such an order as against international law. As a consequence, it was not surprising for the Russian party to find U.S. preconditions as without any legal grounds in such conditions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavror saw no justification for American party demanding something in return for their diplomatic compounds. The estates enjoy the protection of an intergovernmental, bilateral, and ratified document.

The United States Has Some Requests for Russia as Well

Therefore, Mr. Tyabkov left the State Department at 5:45 p.m in great haste. He stated for journalists at location that the situation of the two dachas as Russia calls them was almost resolved. The United States seem to be willing to improve relationship with Russian nation under the new leadership of Donald Trump. However, this particular issue presented a lot of friction for such feeble connection in recent months.

On the other hand, Russia has to comply with several American requests in its turn to make way to a constructive collaboration. The United States wants Putin’s country to stop harassing U.S. diplomats and stop opposing American adoptions of Russian kids.

Image source: 1

A Hawaiian Court took the decision that confronted directly one of President Donald Trump’s bills. The federal judge issued a ruling according to which all grandparents are outside the reach of the newly instated travel ban. This executive order prohibits members of six Muslim-majority nations to enter the territory of the United States.

Hawaiian Judge Views Grandparents as the Epitome of an Ideal Family

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson ruled in favor of extending the federal government’s list of exceptions from the Foreign Entry law. The new entries in this document concern grandparents, uncles, grandchildren, aunts, and other close relatives of U.S. citizens. Another added category includes those refugees who received a formal guarantee from agencies that they would enter America.

Watson’s ruling contained a direct remark at how the government described the community of a close family. His words dismissed this definition which“represents the antithesis of common sense.” The judge was astounded that the government chose to exclude grandparents from the foundation of a family. To his view, the elders are actually the embodiment of the symbol of an ideal family.

“Indeed, grandparents are the epitome of close family members. The Government’s definition excludes them.”

This ruling represents another hit to Trump travel ban. District Judge Watson has been numerous times the target of Trump’s criticism due to his unpopular decisions. However, he did it again by defying government’s view of a traditional family.

Trump Travel Ban Considered only Few Family Members as Exceptions

Last month, the Supreme Court endorsed the travel restrictions, yet with some exceptions. The Court gave clearance to any person that has “a credible claim of a bona fide relationship” with anyone in the United States.

Trump administration honored this ruling by allowing parents, spouses, children, parents-in-law, fiancés, siblings, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law to those in the country to get past the customs. However, this list of exemptions excluded grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, nieces, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and grandparents.

Image source: 1

Philippine experienced an aggressive case of an earthquake on Thursday. The natural phenomenon got to a power plant triggering power outages and caused numerous landslides. There were two casualties, and another 100 locals were injured. On top of that, the central country has now its buildings and roads cracked. The Philippine earthquake had a 6.5 magnitude.

The Leyte Town of Kananga Was at the Center of the Philippine Earthquake

On Thursday, Philippines was hit by a powerful earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey stated that the hearth of the phenomenon was 4 miles bellow Leyte Island. This depth was too superficial to protect the country from dire consequences. The Philippine Fault System was the block that caused the aggressive tectonic movement.

Therefore, the critical point of the event was located in the Leyte town of Kananga. This is where two people succumbed to death while other four were reported as missing persons. An entire building collapsed and crushed 21 locals. Other six were trapped under rubble. Fortunately, a team of rescuers saved them.

The eastern side was cut off from power due to the damaged geothermal power plant in the town of Jaro. A spokeswoman for National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Romina Marasigan, stated that those nearby constructions of light materials didn’t survive the quake and collapsed.

The aftermath of the 6.5 magnitude quake was of high intensity as well. There were at least 241 aftershocks that happened on Friday morning. Therefore, authorities warned locals to remain vigilant and watch out for any possible landslides, especially in upland regions affected by rain.

Villages that recorded high damages received groups of army engineers and soldiers. These troops tried to solve some critical situations, including blocked roads that allowed no traffic at all.

The event took place in a region that had already encountered other natural disasters such as the Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. This phenomenon resulted in 7,300 people that were either dead or missing. On top of that, around 5 million villagers had to leave their wrecked homes.

Image source: 1