New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that at least 12 people in the state have died as a result of a frigid winter storm that has covered much of the US, leaving tens of thousands without power and thousands of flights cancelled.
At least 34 people across the country have died as a result of the storm — either through collisions, exposure to freezing conditions or other causes, the Associated Press reported.
Western New York was expected to continue experiencing snowfall until 4am on Monday, the National Weather Service said.
“It took an enormous amount of time to get here; the city is still under siege,” Ms Hochul said on Sunday, during a briefing in Erie County.
“My own home has been without power for a couple of days and flooding with broken pipes, frozen pipes. So, there's a lot of bad things going on right here.”
Ms Hochul earlier said the freezing event will “go down in history as Buffalo's most devastating storm”.
Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said a driving ban was in effect for non-emergency vehicles.
“Crews are out in the south towns now as snow is falling at 3 inches [7.62cm] per hour in some areas. This is why we need everyone to stay off the roads,” Mr Poloncarz said.
More than 26,000 customers in Erie County were left without power on Christmas Day, according to poweroutage.us.
“This is not the Christmas any of us hoped for nor expected, but try to have as merry a Christmas as possible today.
“Remember the holiday spirit and why we're a community of good neighbours.”
Ms Hochul said the state has stationed 200 National Guard members in the area to conduct wellness checks, deliver food and relieve first responders.
Ms Hochul told reporters that the White House would support the state's request to declare a federal disaster.
She discouraged President Joe Biden from visiting the state due to the conditions, but noted his administration's support has been “extraordinary”.
More than 2,100 flights across the country were cancelled as of Sunday afternoon, according to flight tracker FlightAware, compounding the travel chaos faced by travellers throughout the week.
About 6,000 flights were cancelled on Christmas Eve.
The National Weather Service said Buffalo Niagara International Airport accumulated 109cm of snow on Sunday morning.
Severe wind chills were experienced throughout the US as well, with Madison, Wisconsin, facing temperatures as low as minus 47ºC.
And city officials in the southern city of Jackson, Mississippi, told residents they must boil drinking water until further notice because of lines bursting in the sub-zero conditions.
Officials in Kentucky had also confirmed at least three storm-related deaths.
The storm was the product of a weather storm caused by cold temperatures from the Northern Great Plains to the US-Mexico border last week.
About 60 per cent of the US — ranging from the Great Lakes down to the southern border — was under some winter weather advisory, the NWS said.
Agencies contributed to this report
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
