11/4/2022

Newly Renovated Bridge in India Leaves 135 Dead

A century-old footbridge in India collapsed on Sunday, leaving 135 people dead–including many children. Built in 1877, the bridge was recently renovated for 20M rupees and had reopened just 4 days earlier. CCTV footage shows a group of men rocking the bridge moments before the cable snap. The bridge, originally made by the British, became overcrowded as locals gathered for Diwali celebrations. The firm in charge of the bridge’s operation, the Oreva Group, is under fire. While Oreva’s owner said, “nothing will happen to the bridge for the next 8-10 years”, police reveal that the cables were rusted and not replaced during the renovation. 9 people have been arrested with the firm, including managers, contractors, and ticket clerks.

11/4/2022

Newly Renovated Bridge in India Leaves 135 Dead

A century-old footbridge in India collapsed on Sunday, leaving 135 people dead–including many children. Built in 1877, the bridge was recently renovated for 20M rupees and had reopened just 4 days earlier. CCTV footage shows a group of men rocking the bridge moments before the cable snap. The bridge, originally made by the British, became overcrowded as locals gathered for Diwali celebrations. The firm in charge of the bridge’s operation, the Oreva Group, is under fire. While Oreva’s owner said, “nothing will happen to the bridge for the next 8-10 years”, police reveal that the cables were rusted and not replaced during the renovation. 9 people have been arrested with the firm, including managers, contractors, and ticket clerks.

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After 10 Years In Hiding, Salman Rushdie Stabbed On Stage

Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses and ‘Midnight’s Children’’, is fighting life-changing injuries to his heart, liver, and eyes after being repeatedly stabbed on-stage while giving a lecture. While the suspect, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, was just indicted by a grand jury on Thursday August 18, he told the New York Post that his motivation came from Rushdie’sattacks on Islam and its beliefs. Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel left Muslims feeling outraged and that the book’s author was claiming verses of the Qur’an were “the work of the Devil”. ‘Satanic Verses’ is a phrase unknown to Muslims, and coined by Orientalist Western academics who were specializing in the study of cultures considered Eastern. Rushdie’s title immediately sparked protest because it refers to a legend about Prophet Muhammad that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims believe are fabricated by idolators. Rushdie’s book was also considered offensive because it portrayed weakness in the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslims felt that Rushdie was questioning Muhammad’s credibility as the messenger of God. The book was banned in many parts of the world, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini even issued a fatwa - or decree - calling for his death. Though the Iranian government has since separated itself from the fatwa, the price on Rushdie’s head recently increased to over $3M. For nearly a decade, the award-winning author went into hiding and lived under police protection, though in recent years became more lax about this, even venturing outside without bodyguard protection at times. Now, the outspoken defender of writers’ freedom of expression is living openly in New York, and once again at the center of free speech debate in literature.

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Newly Renovated Bridge in India Leaves 135 Dead