RIO DE JANERIO, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A massive electricity outage hit Brazil's two largest cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, leaving millions of people in the dark.The government has confirmed that the power failure was due to problems at the Itaipu dam, the world's second biggest hydroelectric producer which supplies 20 percent of Brazil's electricity.
The Brazilian director of the dam on the border of Brazil and Paraguay told a radio station that the power output of the entire dam was down. The exact cause of the power failure is still unknown. Other major cities, including the capital Brasilia, were also affected by the power cut, according to the website of Globo TV.
source
2. DC sniper [mind-controlled assassin? - ed.] executed by lethal injection
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- John Allen Muhammad, the mastermind behind the Washington area sniper attacks in 2002, was executed Tuesday by lethal injection in Virginia, authorities said. Muhammad, the so-called "Washington-area sniper," was declared dead at 9:11 p.m. EST (0211 GMT Wednesday), according to Larry Traylor, a spokesman for Virginia Department of Corrections. "Muhammad was asked if he wished to make a last statement, but he did not acknowledge this or make a last statement whatsoever," he told reporters.
Muhammad, 48, said nothing from the time he entered the death chamber, Traylor added.
read more @ chinaview
3. the blending of the people: Chinese language studies becoming popular in France
PARIS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The study of Chinese has become increasingly popular in France, says a French sinologist. ...Among the 30 school districts across France, 27 now offer Chinese classes, including some in the remote areas, said Bellassen, the Chinese learning inspector in the Education Ministry. About 25,600 middle school students were registered to study Chinese in September, a large increase from the less than 5,000 students 10 years ago, Bellassen said.
read more @ chinaview
4. Freemason presidents in Africa: Ali Bongo ordained Grand Master of Gabon
The grand master of the National Grand Lodge of France (GLNF) installed Ali Bongo as the head of Gabonese Freemasonry, a couple of weeks ago. The title was, until June this year, held by the former President Omar Bongo. About one thousand influential politicians practice freemasonry in Gabon. Just like his father, Ali Bongo is expected to mobilize the Masonic network in order to establish his legitimacy and authority in Gabon and the world.
...According to the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur, the cream of French Freemasons in Libreville, including Alain Bauer — former Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France (from 2000 to 2003) and special adviser for terrorism and crime at the French presidency, — after participating in Omar Bongo’s funeral ceremonies installed Ali Bongo as head of the two local branches of the lodge, which count some one thousand members.
read more @ afrik.com
5. Madonna lands in Brazil with her Rabbi to do "charity work"
excerpt:
"I am going there strictly for fundraising and humanitarian purposes," Contactmusic quoted her speaking ahead of her visit. While the 51-year-old star has not disclosed her plan for the visit, she arrived with the Kabbalah Centre's Rabbi Michael Berg, her partner in the Raising Malawi project, and is expected to meet with Rio Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes today.
read more @ brazilnews
6. Warren Buffet's crystal ball looks good for coal, railroads and Dallas TX - opinion
The purchase is a massive wager on coal. About half of Burlington Northern's cargo is coal, and coal accounts for a lot of the rail company's revenue. It's hard to imagine Buffett making this wager if he believed the U.S. economy wasn't recovering or that pending climate-change legislation in Congress would dramatically reduce coal consumption.
There are other implications. If Buffett's investment instincts are right, the rest of us should brace for pain from higher oil and gas prices. As oil and gas prices rise, and road congestion increases, rail becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to long-haul trucking, especially for transporting such commodities as coal, wheat and lumber and imported finished goods from West Coast ports to the Midwest. By, in effect, doubling his bet on rail, Buffett almost certainly believes Burlington Northern will be positioned to take advantage of rising fuel prices.
For Dallas, the Buffett deal is especially good news. It affirms the growing resurgence of connected rail and truck hubs like the International Inland Port of Dallas.
read more @ taiwan news
2 comments:
the big blackout hit Brazil while the movie '2012' is still in theaters - coincidence?
no coincidences i don't think. more like a message i would guess.
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