Hotel Collapse in India Kills 6

Six people were killed and twelve injured when a hotel collapsed in Secunderabad, India.

Searchers spent Monday looking for more survivors and victims.

Officials say that the building was very old, and likely collapsed on it's own.

Some stated their thankfulness that it was only a two story building, or more may have ended up hurt.

FAA Pilot Registry Has Discrepancies Hindering Terror Checks of Foreign Applicants

It has come to the attention of the Transportation Department’s Inspector General that US registries of pilots and aircraft contain incomplete data. This missing information could prove detrimental when it comes to screening for terrorists. The lack of information can also interfere with investigations of aviation accidents.

The report also illuminates the fact that data on approximately half of foreign owned aircraft, registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), does not include critical required information, such as owner and address details. Louis King, assistant inspector general for financial and information technology audits, said that, “these data weaknesses largely stem from FAA’s lack of formal quality control procedures to regularly reassess the integrity of the registry’s data and information systems.” 

Auditors also discovered 130 cases in which planes were registered multiple times to different entities, making it difficult to identify the actual owner. The US registry contains 350,000 planes and helicopters, after all. “While this is a small number of discrepancies, the impact is potentially significant if a serious incident occurs and FAA is unable to identify the aircraft’s owner in a timely manner,” King said in the report. But, even though the number of discrepancies is relatively low, all it takes is one unchecked discrepancy in order for a disaster, such as a terrorist attack, to occur.

So, how are the FAA’s foreign trusts handled? According to an article by John Goglia in Forbes:

“FAA regulations allow only aircraft owned by US citizens or resident aliens to be registered in the US and bear US markings, the so-called N number used to identify US aircraft from foreign aircraft. However, there’s a loophole that allows foreign citizens to register their aircraft in the US and carry a US designator. The loophole allows aircraft to be owned by a trust and if the trust is a US trust with an American trustee, the actual owner (beneficiary) can be of any nationality in the world. This allows non-US citizens to have their aircraft registered on FAA’s Registry and bear US markings. As long as the trust meets US citizenship requirements, the FAA does not look beyond that to citizenship of the beneficiaries (e.g. foreign owners).”

When non-US citizens register aircraft with the FAA, under a trust, the owner of the trust and the operator of the aircraft must be identified. It is estimated, by the auditors, that 5,600 of 10,292 foreign-owned aircraft registered by the FAA lack that information. This constitutes 54% of foreign-owned aircraft which, not surprisingly, has led to cases in which the FAA was unable to identify an aircraft’s owner following an accident or other incident. 

Additionally, the FAA has granted pilot licenses to more than 43,000 people who failed to provide a permanent address. Instead, the report found, businesses or flight schools were used as addresses. 

Disturbingly, the IG’s report echoes the conclusions arrived at by a report conducted by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) last year. The GAO found that some of the 26,000 non-US citizens who received pilot licenses had not been vetted by the TSA as required. 

This situation is further compounded by the Obama administration’s recent move to sign an “Open Skies” agreement with Saudi Arabia. Soon, the Saudis will have “unrestricted” access to US airspace, according to the US State Department website:

“The United States-Saudi Arabia Open Skies agreement will, following a transition period, permit unrestricted air service by the airlines of both countries between and beyond the other’s territory, eliminating restrictions on how often the carriers fly, the kind of aircraft they use and the prices they charge. This agreement will allow for the strengthening and expansion of our strong trade and tourism links with Saudi Arabia, benefiting US and Saudi Arabian businesses and travelers by expanding opportunities for air services and encouraging vigorous price competition by airlines, while preserving our commitments to aviation safety and security. …”

The agreement, in essence, means Saudi airlines may fly from any point in the kingdom to any point in the United States. And, US airlines may fly from any point in the US to any airport in Saudi Arabia. This access is unrestricted. Not everyone is comfortable with this agreement since it is well established that the chief financier of terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda, for the past 3 decades are Saudi Arabia and Qatar. And, of course, 15 of the 19 men who hijacked and crashed American planes on September 11, 2001 were Saudis.

Front Page Magazine points out another troubling action President Obama has recently undertaken in regard to Saudi Arabia. Obama has basically trashed the most recent post 9/11 visa restrictions:

“Diplomats said the administration of President Barack Obama has removed most restrictions on the entry of Saudis to the United States. They said the percentage of visa approvals for Saudis has reached unprecedented levels.

‘The United States aims to raise the number of visas that it issues annually, particularly to Saudi nationals, who represent an important group,’ Joseph Hood, U.S. consul-general in the Saudi city of Dhahran, said.”

The federal government’s claim that the extensive surveillance conducted by the NSA is necessary for national security is inconsistent with many of its other actions, including the FAA screening process and the failure to acknowledge the potential risks entering the country from Saudi Arabia.

Andy Murray Wins Wimbledon

Andy Murray won Wimbledon today adding a brilliant moment to the growing career of the twenty-six year old Scotsman.

His victory made him the first Briton in seventy-seven years to win their own tennis championship.

The entire United Kingdom erupted into celebration as Murray beat Novak Djokovic, in straight sets.

Murray had come close last year, but lost in the final to Roger Federer.

West Fork Complex Fire 25% Contained

Firefighters have reached twenty-five percent containment on the West Fork Complex Fire, in Colorado.

Recent cooler weather, and light rains have helped aid the fight.

Only one building, a pump house, has been lost to the fire, which has crossed over the one hundred and ten thousand acre mark.

Three fires make up the complex: Papoose, West Fork, and Windy Pass.

Efforts are still concentrated on saving buildings and keeping the flames away from towns.

Due to the extremely hazardous nature of the terrain and conditions, extra care is being taken to ensure firefighters aren't put in unnecessary danger.

Mount Charleston Fire Forces Evacuations Near Las Vegas

The Mount Charleston fire, burning about twenty-five miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, has forced the evacuation of more than five hundred people.

It began on Thursday, and sped through dry brush and trees, aided by winds, low humidity, and high temperatures.

Flames as high as two hundred feet have helped spread the lightning sparked fire to over eleven thousand acres.

A Type 1 incident team has taken over command of more than four hundred firefighters and ten aircraft.

They have been able to keep it from claiming any buildings or lives.

Las Vegas has been under a health advisory since Thursday night, when smoke started hitting the city.

Crave Brothers Cheese Recalled for Listeria

A recall has been announced for Crave Brothers Les Freres cheese.

It has been connected a listeria outbreak which killed one person.

The recall effects thirty states and Washington DC.

Crave Brothers is sold at various retail outlets as well as online.

Consumers are told to throw the cheese away and bring their receipts in for a full refund.

Quebec Death Toll up to 5, 60 Still Missing

Lac-Megantic, Quebec is still reeling from the deadly disaster which struck it early Saturday morning.

A train lost control as it was coming through town, and five of it's oil filled cars exploded in the fiery crash that resulted.

The explosion flattened several blocks of the town, killing five and injuring dozens.

At least sixty people are still missing.

Firefighters are still fighting the flames, thirty six hours after the accident occurred.

As many as a thousand people are still evacuated from the area, down from the initial two thousand.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board is investigating trying to determine what caused the accident.

Israeli F16 Crashes in Mediterranean

An Israel F16 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, on Sunday.

Both pilots were able to eject safely, and neither was injured.

According to the IDF, the plane was on a routine training mission when the incident occurred.

All F16 training flights have been grounded, while an investigation is under way.

2 More Saudis Dead From MERS

Two more Saudis have died from MERS.

This brings the total to thirty-eight, all but four of which have been Saudis.

Sixty-five cases have been confirmed, in the country, with the majority being fatal.

MERS was first identified about one year ago.

Scientists say that MERS is related to SARS, which killed over eight hundred, in 2003.

Both are respiratory diseases that can be quite deadly, with no known cure.

Terrorists Explode Bombs at Indian Holy Site

Terrorists exploded nine bombs at India's holiest Buddhist shrine, on Sunday.

Two people were injured in the explosions at the Bodhgaya temple complex, in Bihar.

The blasts caused minor damage to buildings, but did not scathe the holy Bodhi tree.

According to legend, the Bodhi tree is a descendant of the tree that Buddha was sitting under when he received enlightenment.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.