Crane bursts into flames, collapses on building in Australia

TODAY's Natalie Morales takes a look at video showing the biggest crane in Sydney, Australia, engulfed in flames then crashing down onto a nearby building. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the ordeal.

By Ian Johnston, NBC News

A 210-foot crane burst into flames and its arm then crashed onto a university building in Australia Tuesday as people fled.

Video footage showed flames engulfing the engine and cabin of the crane.

It was the second crane collapse involving multinational construction company Lend Lease. It currently is being sued by two dentists over the collapse of a crane on a 90-story luxury apartment building in New York City during superstorm Sandy.

The University of Technology Sydney said in a statement that the crane caught fire shortly before 10 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).

The university said no one was hurt with students and staff evacuating buildings in the affected areas. It added it was working with Lend Lease and the authorities ?to assess the safety of the site and surrounding area.?

Fire crews quickly withdrawn
Fire & Rescue NSW said in a statement that ?a crane driver and a second worker in the cabin evacuated soon after firefighters arrived as the fire spread from the engine to engulf the cabin.?

Fire crews were ?quickly withdrawn when the fire started to destabilize the crane?s structural integrity and its fly boom [the crane arm] collapsed,? the statement said.

About 200 people were evacuated from the area and a 0.6-mile exclusion zone was set up.

On Oct. 29, during superstorm Sandy, a crane operated by Lend Lease collapsed on the One57 building, which includes a number of expensive apartments and a number of businesses.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that two dentists with offices near the building had filed a lawsuit against Lend Lease and other companies involved, saying they had been forced to close as the area was evacuated.

Police have evacuated the upper floors of buildings near a luxury high-rise on West 57th St. in New York City as damaged crane dangled precariously from what is slated to be Manhattan's tallest residential tower. NBC's Rehema Ellis reports.

Crane left dangling from partly built Manhattan tower

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, said Lend Lease was negligent because it failed to make sure the crane was properly secured before the storm.

"The crane collapse and the ensuing week-long evacuation was a direct result of defendants' failure to prepare, maintain, operate, and secure the crane to withstand the winds of the widely anticipated Hurricane Sandy," the lawsuit said.

There was no response to calls placed with Lend Lease offices in London, U.K., and New York Tuesday.

The British trade magazine Building?s website (requires registration) quoted a Lend Lease spokesperson as saying the crane collapses in Sydney and New York were ?completely unrelated.?

?No one has been injured as a result of the incident,? the spokesperson said, referring to the Sydney collapse. ?Lend Lease is working closely with emergency services and relevant authorities to manage the incident.?

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Nobel Peace Laureates Call For Military Boycott Of Israel | Common Dreams

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'DWTS' Finals: Who Deserves the All-Stars Mirrorball?

After an entire season of fabulous dances, it all came down to the final competition of Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars, where three beautiful women: Shawn Johnson, Kelly Monaco and Melissa Rycroft danced their hearts out for a chance to claim the All-Stars mirrorball! 

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makaskarler: World Racquetball News: no 1 racquetball player in ...

Donna Ryder from Newport, Co. Mayo, is a Sports Scholarship student at IT Sligo and is currently ranked the no 1 racquetball player in Europe. She was conferred with a Bachelor of Business in Recreation and Leisure at the 2012 IT Sligo Conferring.
Mayo graduates were among more than 1,800 graduates conferred at IT Sligo at its annual Conferring Ceremonies last week. President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said encouraged the graduates to be entrepreneurial in their outlook.
She quoted the President of the USA Barak Obama who said that ?focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it?s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential.?

Source: http://mauro-racquetball.blogspot.com/2012/11/no-1-racquetball-player-in-europe.html

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Comments from euro zone finance ministers, officials

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund clinched agreement on reducing Greece's debt in a breakthrough to release urgently needed loans to keep the near-bankrupt economy afloat.

After 12 hours of talks at their third meeting in as many weeks, Greece's international lenders agreed on a package of measures to reduce Greek debt by 40 billion euros, cutting it to 124 percent of gross domestic product by 2020.

Following are comments after their talks:

FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER PIERRE MOSCOVICI

"We made progress with solutions that are realistic. Everyone has gone beyond their red lines, driven by a common interest to find credible solutions for the integrity of the euro zone."

GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE

ON PAYMENT OF AID TRANCHE TO GREECE:

"We will make the final decision about the payment of the tranche after the conclusion or result of a possible debt buyback program."

ON POSSIBLE FURTHER MEASURES TO CUT GREEK DEBT:

"When Greece has achieved, or is set to achieve, a primary surplus and fulfilled all of its conditions, we will, if need be, consider further measures for the reduction of the total debt."

EUROGROUP PRESIDENT JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER

ON GOAL AND POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER MEASURES:

"Our common goal is that Greece achieves a credible and sustainable reduction of Greek debt-to-GDP ratio, reaching a level substantially lower than 110 percent of GDP in 2022.

"We will consider further measures and assistance if necessary to achieve this goal once Greece reaches an annual primary surplus.

"With these decisions, member states can now launch their national parliamentary procedures, which should be finalized in time for the Eurogroup to finally decide on the disbursement on the December 13.

"I can assure you that the IMF is fully on board with the far-reaching decisions taken today."

ON AGREEMENT FOR GREECE:

"I'm pleased to announce that today we reached a political agreement on the next disbursement to Greece.

"Let me first say that this is not just about money, this is the promise of a better future for the Greek people and for the euro area as a whole, a break from the era of missed targets and loose implementation towards a new paradigm of steadfast reform momentum, declining debt ratios and a return to growth.

"I admit, however, that this has been a very difficult deal.

"It required very significant efforts by each and every stakeholder. First and foremost Greece, whose government has implemented a wide-ranging set of reforms and demonstrated its firm commitment to the adjustment program and more generally to fiscal consolidation and growth-enhancing reforms."

ON DISBURSEMENTS AND CONDITIONS:

"This includes a set of stronger budgeting and monitoring rules, this includes the establishment of a strengthened and fully transparent segregated account for debt servicing and this does include the disbursements from the EFSF (temporary bailout fund) in the first quarter of 2013, which will be made in three tranches linked to the implementation of conditionality milestones to be agreed by the troika.

"We also consider that as part of the recapitalization of Greek banks, remaining subordinating debt totals of these banks should participate in this process in order to achieve a fair burden-sharing. We were informed that Greece is also considering certain debt-reduction measures in the near future which may involve public debt tender purchases of one or more of the various categories of sovereign obligations."

ON IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY OF GREEK DEBT:

"On the part of the other euro member states, crucial decisions were made to enhance Greece's debt sustainability and its overall debt profile in the spirit of European solidarity and common faith in Greece's future in the euro area.

"Let me just mention a few:

* The lowering of the interest margin on the bilateral loans granted in 2010/2011 to the low level by a further 100 basis points

* an extension of the maturities of all loans provided to Greece by 15 years, and

* a deferral of the interest payments by Greece on EFSF loans by 10 years

"These measures will lower the refinancing hump after the program period and improve the prospects for regaining market access."

"A transfer by member states to Greece of amounts equivalent to the income stemming from the SMP portfolio accruing to their national central banks."

ON CONDITIONALITY:

"The Eurogroup wants to stress, however, that the above mentioned benefits and initiatives will accrue to Greece in a phased manner and conditional upon a strong implementation by the country of the agreed reform measures in the program period as well as the post-program surveillance period.

"Jointly, all the initiatives decided on today will bring Greece's public debt clearly back on a sustainable path throughout this and the next decade and will facilitate a gradual return to market financing.

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT MARIO DRAGHI

"I very much welcome the decisions taken by the ministers of finance. They will certainly reduce the uncertainty and strengthen confidence in Europe and in Greece."

(Reporting by Robin Emmott and Luke Baker; compiled by Rex Merrifield)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/comments-euro-zone-finance-ministers-officials-000543746--business.html

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Neighbor arrested in murder of girl kept in chains

By The Associated Press

Benton County Sheriff's Office via AP

Booking photo of Zachary Holly.

A neighbor has been arrested as a suspect in the killing of a 6-year-old Arkansas girl whose high-profile child abuse case last year sent her father and stepmother to prison, police said.

Jersey Bridgeman was reported missing the morning of Nov. 20. Minutes after a search for her began, Jersey's body was discovered in an abandoned house two doors from her home in Bentonville.

Zachary Holly, 28, who lives next door to where Jersey was staying, is being held in the Benton County Jail on charges of capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary, police Chief Jon Simpson said Monday night.

Simpson said Holly will have a bail and probable cause hearing Wednesday, during which a probable cause affidavit will be released. At that point, "many questions related to this investigation and arrest will be answered," Simpson said.

He did not release details of how Jersey died or what led police to Holly. Simpson said work by the State Crime Lab helped speed the arrest.

Jersey's short life was checkered with discomfort. About a year before her death, her father and stepmother were charged with abuse after investigators discovered they had chained her to a dresser to stop her wandering around the house at night. David Bridgeman, Jersey's father, told investigators he restrained his daughter to prevent her from getting into medication and other things around the house.

Courtesy of Bentonville Police Department via AP

Undated photo of Jersey Bridgeman.

David and Jana Bridgeman, Jersey's stepmother, pleaded guilty in June to false imprisonment, permitting abuse of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor.

Jana Bridgeman is serving a 12-year prison sentence, plus three years for a probation revocation. David Bridgeman is serving an 18-year prison sentence.

Police Capt. Justin Thompson said there was "no reason ... for the community to be worried at this point," but otherwise revealed little more about the homicide investigation in Bentonville some 215 miles northwest of Little Rock.

Thompson said the girl died sometime between midnight and 6:53 a.m. on the day her body was found. He would not say who called 911 to report her missing. Investigators later searched the home where she lived and the house where her body was found, as well as the homes in between.

'A little old soul': Girl found dead after dad, stepmom jailed

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? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/27/15484276-neighbor-arrested-in-murder-of-arkansas-girl-found-in-chains?lite

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Rice's big run, Tucker FGs give Ravens 16-13 win

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh celebrates after his team's 16-13 overtime win against the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh celebrates after his team's 16-13 overtime win against the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) is tackled by San Diego Chargers defensive back Corey Lynch (41) as Melvin Ingram looks on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco wipes his face on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice runs between San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, left, ans cornerback Antoine Cason during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones tries to recover his fumbles against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in San Diego. The Ravens recovered. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN DIEGO (AP) ? It was such an unbelievable play that Ray Rice reached deep and used a nursery rhyme to describe it.

"Check down, Hey Diddle Diddle, Ray Rice up the middle," the Baltimore running back said with a smile after the Ravens converted a fourth-and-29 play to help force overtime before stunning the San Diego Chargers 16-13 on Sunday.

It was almost an afterthought that Justin Tucker kicked a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 13 as regulation expired, and then made another 38-yarder with 1:07 left in overtime to win it

This was all about Rice's 29-yard catch-and-run that saved the day and allowed the Ravens (9-2) to take an even firmer grip on the AFC North race.

Pushed back by a holding call against guard Marshal Yanda and a 9-yard sack of Joe Flacco by Antwan Barnes, the Ravens were down to their last desperate shot.

"I was thinking we needed a miracle," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said.

They got it.

Flacco took a shotgun snap, looked downfield and then dumped it to Rice, who ran through a big hole in the middle of the field. Three Chargers missed him at the 50 before Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason finally brought him down.

The ball originally was spotted at the 33. After a lengthy review, the ball was moved back to the 34 and the refs measured. The new spot still gave the Ravens a first down by the length of the ball.

"It was just total will," Rice said. "Once I made the first guy miss when I cut back across the grain, I actually saw the defense had to flip their hip and I kept eyeing the first down. I looked and said, 'Should I keep running to the sideline or should I just keep trying to get up field?' And that's what I did. I just kept getting up field.

"I left it in the hands of the officials and I'm not going to say they owed us one, but I'm glad we came out on top," he said.

Said wide receiver Torrey Smith: "I had a great view. ... That's probably one of the best plays I've ever seen. You won't see too many plays like that. He was the perfect guy for it."

With the Chargers defenders playing deep, Flacco couldn't find Smith open so he went to Rice.

"I thought it might be our best shot at the time ? give it to Ray ? and Ray made a great run and got a little lucky and it worked out perfect," Flacco said.

All the Chargers had to do was get the stop and run out the clock for their first win against a team with a winning record this season.

"I don't know what to say," Jammer said. "A play like that should never happen. You can't give them a chance to execute that play. But we had some breakdowns, for sure."

Up to that point, San Diego's defense had played well.

"It definitely upsets the stomach when things like that happen, but they happen," said defensive end Corey Liuget, who had a sack, a big fourth-down stop earlier in the game and a pass deflection.

"You have to give a guy credit when he makes an awesome play like that. But it was big, the biggest of the game it changed the game. ... Those kinds of plays are never acceptable in the NFL. You have to have somebody make the play."

San Diego (4-7) was pushed closer to elimination from the playoff picture for the third straight season, and with it, almost certainly the end of the Norv Turner era. The Chargers dropped four games behind AFC West leader Denver, which swept the season series against San Diego. In the wild-card race, the Chargers trail Indianapolis by three games and Pittsburgh and Cincinnati by two games.

Baltimore increased its lead to three games over Pittsburgh, which lost to Cleveland, and Cincinnati, which beat Oakland. The Ravens won their fourth straight and for the eighth time in nine games.

San Diego punted on both of its OT possessions. The second punt, a 63-yarder by Mike Scifres, pinned the Ravens at their 11 with 4:56 to go.

On third-and-10 from the Chargers 47, Smith came back and went over Jammer's tight coverage to make a nice catch of a 31-yard pass from Flacco to the Chargers 16. Flacco twice took a knee to set up the winning kick.

San Diego had gone ahead 13-3 on Nick Novak's 30-yard field goal with 7:51 to go in regulation.

This was the third time the Chargers blew a lead of double digits in the second half. They also came from ahead to lose at New Orleans and in an epic Monday night game here against Denver, when they blew a 24-0 halftime lead and lost 35-24.

Philip Rivers was sacked six times, twice by Arthur Jones. Rivers was turnover-free for just the third time in 11 games. He came in with 14 interceptions and four lost fumbles.

Rivers threw a 21-yard TD pass to Malcom Floyd and Novak kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.

The Ravens struggled offensively until the opening drive of the second half. Flacco threw a short pass to Smith, who made two Chargers miss, then cut inside and deked another defender before being tackled at the Chargers 27 for a 54-yard gain.

The Ravens had to settle for Tucker's 43-yard field goal.

Flacco was sacked five times, twice by Antwan Barnes.

NOTES: Chargers S Eric Weddle sustained a concussion when he was hit by Anquan Boldin on the fourth-and-29 play. Chargers S Atari Bigby and LB Donald Butler both left with groin injuries in the second quarter. ... Ravens TE Ed Dickson sprained a knee. ... The Ravens were 8 of 13 on third-down conversions in the second half and overtime, and 12 of 24 for the game. The Chargers were 3 of 15 on third-down conversions for the game.

___

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Associated Press

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