Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River

Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River

EAST ALTON, Ill. (AP) — A helicopter flying over the Mississippi River ran into a powerline Thursday, then crashed into a barge and sparked a fire, killing two people, officials said. The two dead were flying in the helicopter and there were no other reported injuries in the crash near East Alton, Illinois, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. East Alton is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of St. Louis. The state patrol said no one was on the barge when the crash happened, and the fire has been extinguished. The river has been closed to commercial traffic. The helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 meters) downriver from the Alton Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. Fire, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the crash. Federal agencies are on the way, Pender said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. Video provided to KMOV-TV by a witness shows a black plume of smoke rising from the barge.

byAlpha World

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August 07, 2025

Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River

Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River EAST ALTON, Ill. (AP) — A helicopter flying over the Mississippi River...

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3 people rescued from U.S. Antarctica base in high-risk operation

3 people rescued from U.S. Antarctica base in high-risk operation

Three people needing medical care were evacuated from an American research base inAntarctica, New Zealand's air force says, during a perilous rescue operation carried out in freezing temperatures and 24-hour darkness. U.S. officials called the mission "nothing short of heroic." One person requiring urgent medical care and two others needing medical assistance were flown out of McMurdo Station in a mission that took nearly 20 hours, the Royal New Zealand Air Force said in astatementon Wednesday. The U.S. National Science Foundation, which operates the station, sent out the call for help because there were insufficient medical resources at the base. A crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules braved the harsh conditions and successfully carried out the mid-winter medical evacuation, officials said. No information was given about the patients or their conditions. Officials said a U.S. team at the base had to manually create a runway and ensure the ice was groomed and suitable for landing in Antarctica's perpetual winter darkness and sub-zero temperatures. After a detailed analysis of the weather and conditions of the airfield, the New Zealand air force crew -- with a doctor on board -- used night vision goggles to carry out the mission. Overnight, the RNZAF carried out a high-risk winter medevac from the U.S. Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station. Landing a large aircraft on ice, in darkness, using night vision, takes precision and extraordinary skill. We are deeply grateful for the crew's professionalism,…pic.twitter.com/IKrS2bxxEQ — US Embassy NZ 🇺🇸🇳🇿 (@usembassynz)August 6, 2025 Once on the ice, the engines of the C-130J Hercules were kept running to keep them warm for refueling, a process known as "hot refueling," before the aircraft took off with the three patients, officials said. The aircraft landed back in Christchurch, New Zealand on Wednesday, the air force said. Air Commodore Andy Scott said the freezing cold, unpredictable weather conditions and the difficulty of landing on ice in total darkness make such flights "one of the most challenging" for crews to  perform. "(It is) an extremely challenging environment to fly in on night vision goggles due to the extreme weather conditions, which are highly changeable at this time of year and makes accurate forecasting a challenge," he said. McMurdo Station-- which is located about 25 miles from the world's southernmost active volcano --reported temperaturesof -11 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday. The U.S. Embassy in New Zealandlaudedthe success of the mission. "Landing a large aircraft on ice, in darkness, using night vision, takes precision and extraordinary skill," the embassysaid on social media. "We are deeply grateful for the crew's professionalism, courage, and partnership. This mission was nothing short of heroic." The New Zealand air force carried out similar rescues in 2021 and 2024, the embassy said. Melissa Sweeney, the U.S. charge d'affaires for New Zealand, said the latest operation was carried out "flawlessly." "This required absolute precision. It was daring, dangerous, and deeply courageous," Sweeney said in astatement. "This is the kind of mission that tests every ounce of skill and bravery. RNZAF delivered, just as they always do." According to its website, McMurdo Station is "the central logistical hub for the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), supporting research on the continent and at NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station." Sneak peek: The Strange Shooting of Alex Pennig Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on plans for a moon-based nuclear reactor OpenAI releases ChatGPT-5 to the public

byAlpha World

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August 07, 2025

3 people rescued from U.S. Antarctica base in high-risk operation

3 people rescued from U.S. Antarctica base in high-risk operation Three people needing medical care were evacuated from an American research...

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'The Paper' trailer: 'The Office' spinoff teases this character's return

'The Paper' trailer: 'The Office' spinoff teases this character's return

The creator of "The Office" is back to take on another struggling industry. Peacock hasreleased the first trailerfor "The Paper," the new spinoff of "The Office" that centers on a local newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. In the show, the same documentary crew that followed Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch in "The Office" pursues a new subject: a publisher's attempt to revive the Toledo Truth Teller newspaper. While "The Paper" mostly features new characters, one "Office" alum returns: Oscar Nuñez as Oscar Martinez, who worked as an accountant at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Oscar immediately recognizes the documentary team in the trailer, and he wants no part in their project. "Not again! I'm not agreeing to any of this," he tells the camera before cursing so they can't use his footage. Domhnall Gleesonstars in "The Paper" as the newspaper's new editor-in-chief, who makes it his mission to improve the publication. While the central comedy in "The Office" typically derived from Michael Scott (Steve Carell) being an incompetent manager, Gleeson's Ned Sampson appears to be a more capable and well-intentioned boss. The humor in the trailer stems from the uphill battle of the task before him. 'The Office'producer explains why 'The Paper' isn't exactly a spinoff Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and Tim Key also star in "The Paper," which comes from "The Office" creator Greg Daniels.Ricky Gervaisand Stephen Merchant, who created the original British version of "The Office," serve as executive producers. Here's when 'The Office' spinoff'The Paper' will premiere: What to know Danielspreviously told USA TODAYthat "The Paper" is "technically" a spinoff of "The Office" because Oscar is in both shows. "But you know, it isn't like the story of Oscar in a new land," he said. Daniels described "The Paper" as a show "about journalism in the modern age," adding, "They're following a very idealistic person who is really trying to swim against the tide." During a May presentation to advertisers in New York, Gleeson also noted that the series focuses on "underdog characters that are banding together to keep journalism alive." "The Paper" will be the first follow-up to "The Office" since the acclaimed sitcom ended its run in 2013, though it's not the first attempt at continuing the show. A Season 9 episode of "The Office," "The Farm," was originally intended to launch a spinoff about Dwight Schrute's (Rainn Wilson) farm, which never ultimately came to pass. "The Paper" will debut its first four episodes on Peacock on Sept. 4. After that, two new episodes will be released each Thursday through Sept. 25. Contributing: Kelly LawlerandGary Levin,USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'The Paper,' spinoff of 'The Office,' debuts first trailer

byAlpha World

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August 07, 2025

'The Paper' trailer: 'The Office' spinoff teases this character's return

'The Paper' trailer: 'The Office' spinoff teases this character's return The creator of "The Office" is back t...

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Brooke Hogan Threatens Legal Action Against Hulk Hogan's Reps, Slams 'Pathetic' Rumors About Their Relationship

Brooke Hogan Threatens Legal Action Against Hulk Hogan's Reps, Slams 'Pathetic' Rumors About Their Relationship

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage Brooke Hogan threatened legal action against her late father Hulk Hogan's representatives During an interview with TMZ Live, the former reality television star claimed her late father's camp has been spreading "disgusting" false rumors about her Brooke said rumors that she shut down her father's attempts to reconcile their strained relationship are "pathetic" Brooke Hoganis threatening legal action against her late fatherHulk Hogan's representatives. During an appearance Wednesday afternoon onTMZ Live, the former reality television star and daughter of the late professional wrestler said she's "done" with rumors about her and her father's relationship and inferred she's ready to file lawsuits against her father's camp, who she claimed "continues to spew lies" about her. "Whatever representative from that camp that continues to spew these lies, if they want to keep going, grab your best hold, grab your best lawyers because I'm ready to go," Brooke, 37, told TMZ. "Because I'm done with it. I'm done, this is ridiculous. I know too much. I've been through too much, I'm not to be played with. I'm done, so it better stop." Brooke said she wanted to appear on TMZ to put the issue between her and her late father's representatives "to rest." "This is ridiculous that it's gone to this point of this war of words, and that's why I'm here with you to put it to rest," Brooke said. "My dad has finally been put to rest. Leave him alone, leave me alone and let the poor man go to heaven, and just end it. Stop coming after me. I'm not the one you want to come after." George Pimentel/WireImage Brooke lamented doing the interview, saying she's been "trying to live my life quietly and peacefully" but that in recent days she's had to "constantly battle false claims" about her relationship with her late father. On Tuesday, Brooke disputed reports surrounding her and her dad's relationship, which became strained following the leak ofa 2015 tapein which Hogan was heard criticizing his daughter and using racist slurs to describe her boyfriend at the time, who was Black. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf SinceHogan's deathon July 24, Brooke told TMZ she's specifically taken issue with reports that she shut down efforts from her father to reconcile their relationship before he died, that she skipped his2023 weddingto his third wifeSky Dailyand about why sheskipped his funeralthis week. The reports had been tied to sources close to Hogan's inner circle. "It's making me mad," Brooke told TMZ on Wednesday, calling the rumors "disgusting" and "pathetic." WireImage Earlier in the week, during a call-in appearance on a podcast hosted by her father's former best friend Bubba the Love Sponge, Brooke said she last spoke to her father two years ago over the phone. The formerHogan Knows Beststar also said she made the decision to remove herself from her father's will in order to avoid confrontation over his financial legacy with her mother Linda Hogan and Daily. Brooke repeated the claim during her interview with TMZ on Wednesday. "I just know how my family is," Brooke said. "And I've seen how certain members of my family go after money. And I see how they fight over money, and how they turn on each other over money. And I said, if and when my dad dies, this is going to be — pardon my French — a s--- show. And I want no part of it." Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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August 07, 2025

Brooke Hogan Threatens Legal Action Against Hulk Hogan's Reps, Slams 'Pathetic' Rumors About Their Relationship

Brooke Hogan Threatens Legal Action Against Hulk Hogan's Reps, Slams 'Pathetic' Rumors About Their Relationship Jamie McCarthy/W...

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Netanyahu confirms Israel plans to take over Gaza, but not 'keep' long term

Netanyahu confirms Israel plans to take over Gaza, but not 'keep' long term

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel plans to take control of Gaza, but ultimately hand over the responsibility of governing the enclave to Arab forces. In an interview on Fox News in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Thursday that Israelis "intend to" take over Gaza "in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel." He said that Israel doesn't want to "keep" Gaza long-term. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body," he said. "We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life. That's not possible with Hamas." On Monday, officials from Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the Israeli leader had decided to"occupy all of the Gaza Strip, including areas where hostages may be held." The statement was shared in Hebrew and the term used can be translated to mean both "occupy" and "conquer." Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for clarification on the intended definition. New aerial photos of the Gaza Strip have laid bare the magnitude of the destruction in the enclave, showing row upon row of shattered buildings interspersed with mounds of rubble and huge tent encampments. The images were captured from a Jordanian military aircraft during a recent aid airdrop over Gaza, and come as Israel weighs expanding its military operation in the densely populated Palestinian territory ahead of a crucial security meeting Thursday. It is not known what parts of Gaza are shown in the photos, which were taken by Salah Malkawi on Wednesday for Getty Images. In one image, a tent village sits on a sandy patch of land. Bright blue tarps dot a sandy beige landscape full of rubble and brown and gray ruined structures. Here and there, flattened buildings fill entire city blocks. Recent research from Israel's Hebrew University,reported in Haaretz, estimates that about 70% of all structures in Gaza have been made uninhabitable. While Israel had fought numerous conflicts in Gaza since Hamas militants took over the enclave in 2007, the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that left 1,200 dead and saw 250 taken hostage triggered a war of unprecedented ferocity in the territory. Israel's military operation has forced most of the territory's residents to be displaced multiple times, and killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, according to local health officials. The world's leading body on hunger, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC,has sounded the alarmthat the "worst-case scenario of famine" is now unfolding in the Palestinian enclave. With a ceasefire elusive and some dozens of hostages still being held by militant groups in Gaza, Israel has bene weighing an expansion of the military campaign. Netanyahu held a three-hour-long "limited security discussion" Tuesday, according to his office, in which the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff presented different options for continuing the offensive in Gaza. Netanyahu will convene his security Cabinet at 6:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET) Thursday to consider those different options, an Israeli official told NBC News. The Times of Israel reportsthat the Cabinet is expected to sign off on a phased plan that would initially focus on seizing the central area of Gaza City, before expanding aid distribution centers in coordination with the United States. The operation could take place over up to five months, according to the report. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the hostages in Gaza, says more than 80% of Israelis want a comprehensive deal for the return of the hostages and an immediate end to the war. "Six hundred and seventy days, almost two years since October 7th, and we keep hearing only promises," the group said in a statement Wednesday. Einav Tsangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Tsangauker, called on people to gather outside the Cabinet meeting Thursday to protest against expanding the military operation. "Anyone who talks about a comprehensive agreement doesn't go conquering the Strip while putting hostages and soldiers in danger,"she wrote in a post on X. There are 50 hostages who remain captive in Gaza, with just more than 20 believed to be alive as of late June, according to Netanyahu's office.

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Netanyahu confirms Israel plans to take over Gaza, but not 'keep' long term

Netanyahu confirms Israel plans to take over Gaza, but not 'keep' long term Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday ...

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