Another plane at the bottom of the sea, another search area widened: events in south-east Asia following the crash of flight QZ8501 have taken on haunting dimensions of the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March.
The AirAsia flight, with 162 people on board, lost contact with air-traffic controllers shortly after dawn, local time, on Sunday. The Airbus A320 was flying from Indonesia’s second city, Surabaya to Singapore.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency concluded that the aircraft is on the seabed, in a relatively shallow area of the Java Sea between Borneo and Sumatra. But as any hope of finding survivors was dashed, the families of the passengers and crew faced a second night of uncertainty.
Two days of aerial searches involving aircraft from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have failed to identify any wreckage. An oil slick sighted during the day on Monday was found to be unconnected with the loss.
The losses of MH370 and QZ8501 took place in very different circumstances. The disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet remains shrouded in mystery, with general acceptance that the transponder was deliberately switched off to avoid detection, at a point where the aircraft was out of contact with air-traffic controllers in both Malaysia and Vietnam. “Pings” from the Boeing 777’s engines have led investigators to search a swathe of the Indian Ocean west of Australia, where the jet is presumed to have crashed after fuel ran out.
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The AirAsia flight was in normal flight above a relatively narrow area of sea, in an area busy with other aircraft. Investigators are not exploring the possibility that the loss was deliberate.
Nevertheless, anger is growing that lessons from the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet have not yet been implemented by the aviation community. Some observers believe that real-time flight tracking, where the position of each aircraft can be continuously monitored, should have become mandatory after the loss of Air France flight 447 five years ago.
Technology allowing airlines to track their aircraft is widely available. A Canadian company, Flyht, sells a system that should have enabled rescuers to pinpoint QZ8501. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, the “Automated Flight Information Reporting System” (AFIRS) streams cockpit voice recordings and flight data to receiving stations in real time. The information, equivalent to that recorded by the aircraft’s “black box”, would help investigators to understand what caused the loss of the aircraft and where it is likely to be located. The equipment has been certified for use on the Airbus A320, but is not currently fitted to AirAsia aircraft.
In May, the UN International Telecommunications Union Secretary-General, Hamadoun Touré, said: “We must make every effort at the international level to develop real-time tracking solutions for the aviation industry.” But the UN agency responsible for passenger flights, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), has not issued any instructions to airlines to install the equipment.
MUST READ: Critics ask how planes can go missing in age of GPS
Scott Anderson, an analyst for the aviation website Leeham News and Comment, said: “It’s time for ICAO to make a decision, and if it doesn’t then individual country regulators need to step up and require real-time tracking. “This won’t save the lives lost but recovering wreckage and the black boxes in a timely manner could lead to safety and operational changes that will save lives in the future.”
Some experts have speculated that the Airbus was flying too slowly for its altitude, but without data from the “black box” there can be no certainty.
A statement from AirAsia in Surabaya said: “We have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support. Another group of AirAsia officials are providing the same to the families based in Singapore.”
As the search continues, attention is focusing on the pilots and whether they may have responded inappropriately to stormy weather. As with AF447, which was flying from Rio to Paris, the AirAsia jet was flying through an equatorial area. The sun’s energy creates thunderstorms that present a threat to aircraft. The pilots requested a change of direction and height shortly before it disappeared from the radar screens. The increase in altitude was refused by air-traffic controllers because of the presence of other traffic.
At a press conference in Surabaya, AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, said: “We really can’t speculate until we find the aircraft. Then we’ll see what we need to improve – if we need to improve.”
In April, AirAsia was forced to remove its inflight magazine following the disappearance of MH370. An article by a retired pilot, said:“Pilot training in AirAsia is continuous and very thorough. Rest assured that your captain is well prepared to ensure your plane will never get lost.”
Pangkalun Bun (Indonesia): Items resembling an emergency slide, plane door and other objects were spotted during an aerial search Tuesday for missing AirAsia flight 8501, Indonesian officials said.
“We spotted about 10 big objects and many more small white-coloured objects which we could not photograph,” Indonesian air force official Agus Dwi Putranto told a press conference.
“The position is 10 kilometres (six miles) from the location the plane was last captured by radar,” he said.
He displayed 10 photos of objects resembling a plane door, emergency slide, and a square box-like object.
An AFP photographer on the same flight that spotted the debris said he had seen objects in the sea resembling a life raft, life jackets and long orange tubes
Hundreds of underprivileged children of CRY’s ‘Diksha’ and ‘Calcutta Samaritan’ projects sang Christmas carol today aboard a luxury vessel hoping to ring in a promising tomorrow, in a unique first-ever show.
Popular Bengali singer Neepabithi Ghosh, actively associated with the two projects of CRY, handed over gifts to the children who sang along side her.
While the children of ‘Diksha’ hailed from some of the red light areas of the city, ‘Calcutta Samaritan’ works for the precocious street kids, a CRY spokesman said.
“My little association with them have opened my eyes in more than one way. I have brought my son to interact with them and show them how more privileged our children are than these kids who have the extra urge to prove themselves and don’t take things for granted,” Neepabithi told PTI.
Neepabithi, whose Mor Bhabanare in ‘Tagore on the Highway’ is among the top tracks on the FM, sang D L Roy’s iconic song ‘Dhano Dhanyo Puspe Bhara’ with the children.
“Amazed the way they recited the number and joined the chorus. A little compassion and tenderneess will make them feel special. They have the creative spark which needs to be ignited,” Neepabithi, who dedicated her last album Iconic comprising timeless Bangla tracks including the D L Roy number, said.
Besides Neepbithi, elocutionist Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee and popular film and small screen actor Bhaswar Chatterjee joined the children in singing ‘Jingle Bell’ on the deck of yacht.
AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has cautioned that any attempt of forcible religious conversion in the state will be severely dealt with.
“Left Front government is cautious about the religious freedom of every person or community and our government will not leave any stone unturned to thwart any attempt of forcible conversion and strict legal action will be taken against such move,” Sarkar told a meeting of party workers yesterday at Gandhacherra town in Dhalai district, about 150 km from here.
He said there was no religious conflict in the state, where Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists were living in communal harmony and that tradition should be maintained with utmost care.
“We are aware that some people are converted from one religion to another in Uttar Pradesh by giving them BPL card and other facilities, but any such attempt will be resisted here,” Sarkar said
Religious conversion is a very common practice in the North East for over a period of more than ten years. The amazing rate of Churches established in the interior parts of the North East is a matter of grave concern. Poverty, illiteracy and unemployment are the factors behind this conversion.
The indigenous groups, culture and festivals that are a pride of the North East is very much endangered by these conversions.
Shraddha Kapoor’s last Movie ‘Ek Villain‘ is on screen these days and making a very good Money. And now Shraddha Kapoor Hot Photos In GQ India Magazine Cover July 2014- Exclusive Pictures also making Buzz in B-Town. Leaving behind All other Bollywood Actresses Shradha got the chance to be on and in GQ magazine July Edition.
Shraddha Kapoor who is also known for her ‘Girl-Next-door’ in B-Town, looks in very Boly and sexy Avatar in the Fashion Magazine Pictures. She is showing her bold and sexy Shradha to the world.
Shraddha Kapoor is bearing her cutesy image on the front page of GQ magazine July Edition. The ‘Aashiqui 2′ actress is sporting a Bordelle Spring Summer 2014 bodysuit and American Apparel shorts paired with sky-high black pumps and we must say the she is looking extremely hot in the cover pic. See Shraddha Kapoor all Hot Photos In GQ India Magazine Cover July 2014.
BEIJING: Some 87,000 people have been arrested by Chinese police this year for their alleged involvement in prostitution and gambling, authorities said.
Police across the country closed over 37,000 criminal cases involving prostitution and gambling during the year, ministry of public security (MPS) said.
The MPS made public 20 of the 37,000 cases, including cases of organized prostitution in entertainment venues and through online platforms, setting up casinos, running cross-border gambling website, among other violations, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.
Police captured 87,000 criminal suspects for prostitution and gambling since the beginning of 2014.
Big security lapse at Madhya Pradesh
vidhan sabha bhawan
According to our RNI reporter ( Aslam Qurishe )
Madhya pradesh a hole of the size of man is found
towards the entrance of the Madhya pradeshhall. It is a
big security lapse. The Government has not taken any action
which could lead to any untoward incident.
www.realnewsofindia.com
New Delhi: It was a chilly morning on Monday with minimum temperature settling three notches below normal at 4.8 degrees Celsius while dense fog enveloped the city, delaying 98 trains and several flights in the national capital.
The minimum was two degrees higher than yesterday’s minimum of 2.6 degrees which was lowest of the season so far.
The dense fog badly affected train operation in the northern zone. According a northern Railway official, 98 trains were running late by several hours. Almost all north-bound trains including Mahananda Express, north-east Express, Vikramshila Express, Magadh Express, Punjab Mail, Poorva Express are running more than ten hours late.
Rajdhani Express coming from Bhubaneswar, Sialdah and Dibrgarh are also affected due to the bad weather, he said adding that Railways has rescheduled departure time of 20 trains.
23 flights, mostly international, have also been delayed due to foggy conditions.
The visibility according to MeT departments officials was 50 meters at 5.30 AM which increased to 100 meters at 8.30 AM.
MeT has predicted a clear day ahead.
“The maximum is expected to hover at 19 degrees Celsius,” said the weatherman.
PTI
Three children died in the Izatnagar area in Bareilly after they allegedly consumed milk, police said on Sunday.
Sarvesh (4), Amit (2) and Nisha (3) had consumed milk before going to sleep yesterday night and they did not wake up on Sunday morning, they said.
Their bodies have been sent for postmortem and milk samples have been seized and sent for forensic examination, police said.
NATO formally ended its war in Afghanistan today, holding a low-key ceremony in Kabul after 13 years of conflict that have left the country in the grip of worsening insurgent violence.
The event was arranged in secret due to the threat of Taliban strikes in the Afghan capital, which has been hit by repeated suicide bombings and gun attacks over recent years.
“Together… we have lifted the Afghan people out of the darkness of despair and given them hope for the future,” NATO commander US General John Campbell told assembled soldiers.
“You’ve made Afghanistan stronger and our countries safer.”
On January 1, the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission, which has suffered 3,485 military deaths since 2001, will be replaced by a NATO “training and support” mission.
About 12,500 foreign troops staying in Afghanistan will not be involved in direct fighting, but will assist the Afghan army and police in their battle against the Taliban, who ruled from 1996 until 2001.
When numbers peaked in 2011, about 130,000 troops from 50 nations were part of the NATO military alliance.
“I hope you take great pride in the positive impact you’ve made and will continue to make upon the Afghan people,” Campbell said in a speech released by ISAF on Twitter as live broadcasts were banned for security reasons.
Campbell folded up the ISAF flag and unveiled the flag of the new mission, named Resolute Support.
The ceremony — held in a sports hall at NATO headquarters — completed the gradual handover of responsibility to the 350,000-strong Afghan forces, who have been in charge of nationwide security since last year.
But recent bloodshed has undermined claims that the insurgency is weakening and has highlighted fears that the international intervention has failed as Afghanistan faces spiralling violence.
The United Nations says that civilian casualties hit a record high in 2014, jumping by 19 percent with 3,188 civilians killed by the end of November.
Afghan’s police and army have also suffered a grim death toll, with fatalities soaring to more than 4,600 in the first 10 months of 2014 — far higher than all ISAF deaths since 2001.
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