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| While you were out: what happened in the world when all eyes were on Sandy | While you were out: what happened in the world when all eyes were on Sandy |
| (5 months later) | |
| Almost 72 hours have passed since millions of people on the east coast took shelter in their homes and braced for a historic storm that would eventually cause serious destruction in many states. With so many huddled up for several days, much attention was directed to reading and covering the storm. And while people tirelessly refreshed social media streams for updates and flipped through multiple browser tabs to read Sandy liveblogs, the world beyond the north-east corridor kept on turning and news kept happening. | Almost 72 hours have passed since millions of people on the east coast took shelter in their homes and braced for a historic storm that would eventually cause serious destruction in many states. With so many huddled up for several days, much attention was directed to reading and covering the storm. And while people tirelessly refreshed social media streams for updates and flipped through multiple browser tabs to read Sandy liveblogs, the world beyond the north-east corridor kept on turning and news kept happening. |
| For those of you who have been consumed by all things Sandy for three days, here's a quick catch-up guide to the key stories you may have missed. | For those of you who have been consumed by all things Sandy for three days, here's a quick catch-up guide to the key stories you may have missed. |
| US elections | US elections |
| • It's less than a week until the big day, though both candidates had to adjust their strategy and campaign stops due to inclement weather. Campaign advertising was mostly suspended on the east coast but is pushing onward in the rest of the country. | • It's less than a week until the big day, though both candidates had to adjust their strategy and campaign stops due to inclement weather. Campaign advertising was mostly suspended on the east coast but is pushing onward in the rest of the country. |
| Two national polls put Obama and Romney at a 47% apiece tie. Updated polling numbers are hard to come by as many calling centers are based in New Jersey and many swing states were affected by the storm. | Two national polls put Obama and Romney at a 47% apiece tie. Updated polling numbers are hard to come by as many calling centers are based in New Jersey and many swing states were affected by the storm. |
| • In the highly contentious Massachusetts senate race between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown, the candidates seem to be in a dead heat, according to two new polls which place each candidate a hair ahead of the other. Their final debate was cancelled because of the weather. | • In the highly contentious Massachusetts senate race between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown, the candidates seem to be in a dead heat, according to two new polls which place each candidate a hair ahead of the other. Their final debate was cancelled because of the weather. |
| • Also, Joss Whedon "endorsed" Mitt Romney and Madonna actually endorsed Barack Obama at a New Orleans concert, inciting boos from the audience. | • Also, Joss Whedon "endorsed" Mitt Romney and Madonna actually endorsed Barack Obama at a New Orleans concert, inciting boos from the audience. |
| National news | National news |
| • A third Massachusetts pharmacy has shut down after a contamination at another pharmacy in the state caused a deadly outbreak that has killed 25 people and sickened another 337 in 18 states. The most recent pharmacy to close, Infusion Resource, is not affiliated with the company connected to the outbreak, New England Compounding Center. The outbreak has prompted criticism of Massachusetts regulators, and the state is inspecting all pharmacies that handle sterile medications. | • A third Massachusetts pharmacy has shut down after a contamination at another pharmacy in the state caused a deadly outbreak that has killed 25 people and sickened another 337 in 18 states. The most recent pharmacy to close, Infusion Resource, is not affiliated with the company connected to the outbreak, New England Compounding Center. The outbreak has prompted criticism of Massachusetts regulators, and the state is inspecting all pharmacies that handle sterile medications. |
| • An Oklahoma law that lets people carry their firearms out in the open goes into effect on Thursday. State officials say there has been a sharp rise in the number of residents applying for gun licenses. | • An Oklahoma law that lets people carry their firearms out in the open goes into effect on Thursday. State officials say there has been a sharp rise in the number of residents applying for gun licenses. |
| Syria conflict | Syria conflict |
| Monday marked the final day of the truce declared for Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. A UN and Arab League envoy admitted the ceasefire had done little to quell attacks and aid agencies were only able to deliver a portion of the humanitarian relief they were hoping to, due to the failure of the truce. | Monday marked the final day of the truce declared for Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. A UN and Arab League envoy admitted the ceasefire had done little to quell attacks and aid agencies were only able to deliver a portion of the humanitarian relief they were hoping to, due to the failure of the truce. |
| The government attacked rebels with renewed intensity after the end of the truce with airstrikes on the suburbs of Damascus, outlying areas of Homs and the rebel-held town of Ma'arat al-Numan. | The government attacked rebels with renewed intensity after the end of the truce with airstrikes on the suburbs of Damascus, outlying areas of Homs and the rebel-held town of Ma'arat al-Numan. |
| On Tuesday, state TV reported the assassination of an air force general in a Damascus suburb – the most recent of several attacks on high-level figures from the Assad regime. | On Tuesday, state TV reported the assassination of an air force general in a Damascus suburb – the most recent of several attacks on high-level figures from the Assad regime. |
| A three-day conference between 150 members of the Syrian opposition began in Istanbul on Monday to focus on "transitional governance and management after the downfall of the Assad regime". | A three-day conference between 150 members of the Syrian opposition began in Istanbul on Monday to focus on "transitional governance and management after the downfall of the Assad regime". |
| World news | World news |
| • Bahrain's interior ministry announced on Tuesday they would be banning all protest rallies or gatherings and threatened legal action against groups that organize anti-government demonstrations. A Sunni minority rules over a Shia majority in the country, and the warning seems to be directed towards the largest Shia political bloc, al-Wefaq who have organized several marches and requested to hold a rally Sunday, but were rejected by the government. | • Bahrain's interior ministry announced on Tuesday they would be banning all protest rallies or gatherings and threatened legal action against groups that organize anti-government demonstrations. A Sunni minority rules over a Shia majority in the country, and the warning seems to be directed towards the largest Shia political bloc, al-Wefaq who have organized several marches and requested to hold a rally Sunday, but were rejected by the government. |
| • Lawyers for Chinese premier Wen Jiabao are denying reports by the New York Times that his family members have $2.7bn of "hidden riches". | • Lawyers for Chinese premier Wen Jiabao are denying reports by the New York Times that his family members have $2.7bn of "hidden riches". |
| • A Greek magazine editor was arrested Sunday and is set to appear in court after publishing a list of more than 2,000 wealthy Greeks who allegedly have Swiss bank accounts in his weekly journal Hot Doc. | • A Greek magazine editor was arrested Sunday and is set to appear in court after publishing a list of more than 2,000 wealthy Greeks who allegedly have Swiss bank accounts in his weekly journal Hot Doc. |
| • The North Korean leader's wife made her first public appearance after a two-month absence, according to state media. Ri Sol-ju attended a concert and football match with Kim Jong-un on Monday. | • The North Korean leader's wife made her first public appearance after a two-month absence, according to state media. Ri Sol-ju attended a concert and football match with Kim Jong-un on Monday. |
| Sport | Sport |
| • Sunday, the San Francisco Giants won their fourth consecutive game of the world series, swiftly annihilating the Detroit Tigers. It's the Giants' second title in three years and The Guardian's David Lengel artfully explained (in the third-person) why sportswriters didn't predict the sweep. | • Sunday, the San Francisco Giants won their fourth consecutive game of the world series, swiftly annihilating the Detroit Tigers. It's the Giants' second title in three years and The Guardian's David Lengel artfully explained (in the third-person) why sportswriters didn't predict the sweep. |
| • NBC bought the rights to broadcast English Premier League games in the US with a three-year deal that begins next season. The $250m deal beat offers by Fox and ESPN. | • NBC bought the rights to broadcast English Premier League games in the US with a three-year deal that begins next season. The $250m deal beat offers by Fox and ESPN. |
| • The regular season of the NBA began Tuesday and we've got a preview ready for the big day. | • The regular season of the NBA began Tuesday and we've got a preview ready for the big day. |
| Technology | Technology |
| • On Monday, Microsoft launched the third version of its newest operating system Windows Phone 8, in an attempt to catch up with Apple's iOS and Google's Android. The service is positioned distantly behind in the market and is trying to chase Apple and Google's dominant mobile platforms. | • On Monday, Microsoft launched the third version of its newest operating system Windows Phone 8, in an attempt to catch up with Apple's iOS and Google's Android. The service is positioned distantly behind in the market and is trying to chase Apple and Google's dominant mobile platforms. |
| • Apple announced Monday that their senior vice-president of iOS software, Scott Forstall, would be leaving next year. He will serve as an adviser to chief executive Tim Cook in the interim. Head of retail John Browett is also set to leave after being appointed five months ago. | • Apple announced Monday that their senior vice-president of iOS software, Scott Forstall, would be leaving next year. He will serve as an adviser to chief executive Tim Cook in the interim. Head of retail John Browett is also set to leave after being appointed five months ago. |
| Culture | Culture |
| • In an offence to geeks everywhere, George Lucas has announced the Star Wars series will continue with new feature films after Lucasfilm was bought by Disney for $4.05bn. Star Wars episode seven is set for a 2015 release, with a new film expected to come out every two to three years after. Lucas will serve as a creative consultant on the new films and hand-picked Lucasfilm co-chairman Kathleen Kennedy to be president of Lucasfilm. | • In an offence to geeks everywhere, George Lucas has announced the Star Wars series will continue with new feature films after Lucasfilm was bought by Disney for $4.05bn. Star Wars episode seven is set for a 2015 release, with a new film expected to come out every two to three years after. Lucas will serve as a creative consultant on the new films and hand-picked Lucasfilm co-chairman Kathleen Kennedy to be president of Lucasfilm. |
| • Anderson Cooper's daytime talk show will not be returning for a third season – proving the difficulty of claiming the daytime chat spot ratings once owned by Oprah Winfrey. | • Anderson Cooper's daytime talk show will not be returning for a third season – proving the difficulty of claiming the daytime chat spot ratings once owned by Oprah Winfrey. |
| • Bristol Palin's ex-boyfriend Levi Johnston married someone in Alaska. That is already one more sentence than you needed to know about Levi Johnston. | • Bristol Palin's ex-boyfriend Levi Johnston married someone in Alaska. That is already one more sentence than you needed to know about Levi Johnston. |
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