ScienceStoryfulLightning Strikes Tower of the Americas in San Antonio
Eyewitness video has captured the moment lightning struck the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas, on May 24.Video posted to Twitter by Robert Rubio shows flashes of light as lightning strikes the 750-foot tower.“Pardon my excitement,” he wrote.The light show occurred as a tornado warning was in effect for Bexar County and a severe thunderstorm watch for several others. Credit: Robert Rubio / @rdrubio via Storyful
NewsReuters VideosBack to school for kids in Australia's most populous state
Wearing their best smiles and school uniforms, kids in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, were eager to return to a regular school week on Monday (May 25). At the Homebush West Public School in Sydney, teachers welcomed students back to full-time, in-person learning, as the country works to reopen its schools in stages. Parents like Clayton Buffoni expressed their relief. "Pros and cons, it's been fantastic having time with him and he's been really good at learning at home but having that connection with his classmates and stuff is so important to him. So it makes a big difference to get him back but it's been really good actually." Reopening schools is central to reviving Australia's economy. But even as kids go back to school full-time, Australian lawmakers are urging parents to continue working from home. It won't be business as usual for the kids either. On Monday students gathered to talk about how they were feeling, being back at school after weeks stuck at home. Homebush Principal Estelle Southall explains. "It's a moment in time that we won't forget, to have all our students and staff back on campus is really a great feeling. We are really positive about the day and we are looking forward to normalising our students' feelings, helping them to feel safe and secure and reconnected with each other and have that strong sense of belonging that students really, that makes a difference to students."
ScienceReuters VideosTimelapse shows Western Australia dust storm
Chris Lewis, who resides in Geraldton, in the mid-west part of Western Australia, filmed the videos, showing sand blasting towards the sea amid reddish-brown skies. Around 50,000 customers were left without power on Monday (May 25) due to storm-related outages, utility Western Power said, as the remnants of Cyclone Mangga hit a cold front and brought squalling rain and emergency level storm warnings to the south of the state. Wild weather downed trees, and the Australia Broadcasting Corp. reported that wind speeds of up to 132 km/hour (82 mph) were registered at Cape Leeuwin early on Monday, one of the state's most south-westerly points, making them the strongest May gusts in 15 years.
ScienceStoryfulDust Storm Hits Western Australian Wheatbelt Region as Ex-Cyclone Brings Wild Winds Across the State
A dust storm whipped up by damaging winds from a former cyclone blew across Cunderdin Shire in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia on May 24.Storms bringing damaging winds hit the southern half of Western Australia leaving 5,000 homes without power in the Perth Metropolitan area.Coastal communities in Western Australia were also hit with a “once-in-a-decade” storm front on May 24, bringing heavy rainfall and damaging winds to the region. Credit: Roger Groom via Storyful
ScienceStoryful'Very Demanding' Kangaroo Joey Makes Sheep-Like Sound to Get Attention at Victorian Animal Shelter
A kangaroo joey showed off her sheep-like noise as she appeared impatient before a feed at a wildlife shelter in regional Victoria.“Little Bubble is becoming very demanding, she’s not shy about telling you what she wants,” the Little Urchins Wildlife Sanctuary wrote in a post on Facebook.The sanctuary located north of Melbourne specialises in rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife, according to its Facebook page. Credit: Little Urchins Wildlife Sanctuary via Storyful
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Timelapse Captures Stunning Milky Way Spinning Over Tasmanian Lake
A timelapse recording captured the stunning sight of the Milky Way spinning in the clear sky over a Tasmanian lake, which reflected the shining stars in its still waters.The video was filmed at Arthurs Lake in the Tasmanian highlands by Fergus Gregory. He told Storyful that the timelapse was captured over a period of nearly four hours on May 22 as the lake froze over in the sub-zero temperatures.Gregory said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to film that night because of the unpredictable weather in the highlands of the Australian island state. Credit: Fergus Gregory via Storyful
PoliticsReuters VideosIranian fuel starts arriving in Venezuelan waters despite U.S. warning
Fuel sent from Iran was near to arriving in crisis-hit Venezuela over the weekend. The first of five tankers was near a port close to the capital Caracas on Saturday (May 23). That's despite a U.S. official's warning that Washington was considering a response to the shipment. While Venezuela has one of the world's largest oil reserves - it's now in desperate need of refined fuel as it grapples with economic collapse. And on Sunday (May 24), President Nicolas Maduro thanked Tehran on state TV: "To all of Iran, from the heart, [thank you] for your solidarity, for your support, for your courage, for your decision. Yesterday the tanker arrived in Venezuela, at the end of Ramadan, the sacred month of our Muslim brothers. The ship [named] Fortune has arrived." In total, Iran is providing just over one and a half million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela. The shipments have caused a diplomatic standoff - between the US and Iran and Venezuela - that are both under US sanctions. Venezuela's opposition has also condemned the shipment, as they are concerned about growing ties between Iran and socialist President Maduro, who has overseen a six-year economic crisis. A second vessel, the Forest, also entered the Caribbean Sea on Saturday and the last three remaining vessels were crossing the Atlantic. Venezuela's refining network has been operating this year at about 10% of its 1.3 million-barrel-per-day capacity. While the Iranian shipments are a lifeline for Venezuela, it's only enough fuel for just a month of consumption at current rates in the nation, that was once a prominent fuel exporter.
ScienceStoryfulLarge Supercell Storm Structure Floats Across Wisconsin Sky
A teenage storm chaser captured a looming supercell storm structure in the sky near Fairfield, Wisconsin, on May 23.Charlie Bourdo, aged 15, filmed this time-lapse video showing the ominous cloud formation swirling in the air.He told Storyful that it was one of the best storms he had seen, adding that he had been chasing storms since 2015 after being inspired by watching storm chasers on television.The National Weather Service warned of severe storms in the region on May 23, with the potential for hail and damaging winds. Credit: Charlie Bourdo via Storyful
PoliticsReuters VideosJapan seeks to end Tokyo's state of emergency, eyes $930 bln stimulus
Japan is expected to lift its state of emergency over Tokyo as it weighs an unprecedented relief package worth more than 900 billion dollars. The global health crisis has tipped the world's third-largest economy into recession, its deepest slump since World War II. It's also plunged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval rating to its lowest in nearly a decade. Mostly comprising of financial aid for companies, the proposed stimulus follows a $1 trillion plan deployed last month. The combined spending brings the total stimulus to about 40% of Japan's GDP. But paying for the big spending plans will force the government to add to Japan's debt pile, which is already twice the size of its economy. Japan lifted social distancing measures for most of the country on May 14, but the government has kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch. If the measures in those regions are lifted, Japan would have no remaining regions under its state of emergency, which was first instated on April 7. The government will seek approval for the lift from key advisers on Monday (May 25).
NewsStoryfulDisused Coal-Fired Power Station Demolished in Victoria's Latrobe Valley
Energy giant Engie demolished the eight 137-metre-tall chimneys of a decommissioned brown coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley region of Victoria, Australia, on May 25.The Hazelwood power station was closed in March 2017 after over 50 years of operation.“I’ve lived here since I was five, it’s an icon and now it’s gone, can’t understand why the government didn’t buy it back and keep locals in jobs,” Craig Dekaste, who filmed this video, told Storyful.Much of the demolition work required the removal of asbestos that was used to build the power station, according to Engie. Credit: Craig Dekaste via Storyful
NewsReuters VideosJacinda Ardern stays cool as earthquake rattles NZ capital
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was 37 kms deep and the epicenter was 30 km northwest of Levin, a city in New Zealand's North Island close to the capital Wellington, according to Geonet. Geonet first classified the earthquake as magnitude 5.9. Although no damages were reported it lasted for more than 30 seconds and caused panic in Wellington with several people in offices and homes getting under their tables for cover. The tremors started as Ardern was on TV from the parliament building, called the beehive due to its shape. "Quite a decent shake here ... if you see things moving behind me. The beehive moves a little more than most," she joked on the AM Show on Newshub.
BusinessReuters VideosAston Martin chief to be replaced by Mercedes-AMG CEO: Source
The CEO of luxury carmaker Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, is leaving the business. Palmer will be replaced by Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers as part of a leadership shake-up aimed at restoring the flagging company's fortunes. That's according to a source familiar with the matter, who spoke with Reuters on Sunday (May 24). Aston Martin, famous for being James Bond's car of choice, has seen its share price plummet since its initial public offering in 2018. And the 107-year-old company posted a deep first-quarter loss earlier this month after sales dropped by nearly a third due to the impact of the global health crisis. The Financial Times reported earlier that the Aston Martin chief was set to leave, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday (May 26). Palmer had not been informed of the upcoming announcement, according to the report. In an emailed statement, Aston Martin said it was reviewing its management team but declined to comment on Palmer's fate.
SportReuters VideosWesley So surprises with early draw concession to world chess champ Carlsen
SHOWS: INTERNET / UNKNOWN LOCATIONS (MAY 24, 2020) (CHESS24 HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) 1. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIRD GAME IN MATCH BETWEEN WESLEY SO (BLACK) AND MAGNUS CARLSEN 2. SO CONCEDING DRAW VERY EARLY IN MATCH SUPRISING COMMENTATORS WHO SAY IT WAS UNSPORTING (PART OF SCREEN CHANGES TO MATCH BETWEEN SERGEY KARJAKIN AND DANIIL DUBOV WHILE COMMENTATORS DISCUSS MOVE BY SO) 3. COMMENTATORS ASKING CARLSEN ABOUT SO'S EARLY DRAW CONCESSION STORY: American Wesley So conceded a surprising early draw to world champ Magnus Carlsen Sunday (May 24) in the quarter-finals of the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge online chess tournament. Norwegian Carlsen was up 2-0 after wins in the first two games of their match when So shocked commentators with the draw concession in the third game and accepted a 2.5 to 0.5 match defeat. The world champ didn't take offense when asked about move afterwards, hypothesizing that So's plan would be to go for wins later in the tournament. The day's other quarter-final match saw Russian Daniil Dubov dominate countryman Sergey Karjakin with a 3 to 0 match victory. (Production: David Grip)
SportStoryfulWaves Crash Over Newcastle Esplanade as Low Pressure System Whips Up Surf off Australia's East
A storm surge created large waves that crashed over the Newcastle foreshore on May 24.The dangerous surf conditions were whipped up by a low pressure system off the east coast of Australia, which created swells of up to five metres in Newcastle, Sydney and the New South Wales Central Coast.Wild winds continued to batter Sydney and coastal parts of the Illawarra region on May 25.Some surfers braved the dangerous conditions to catch the unusually high waves. Credit: David Diehm Photography via Storyful
NewsStoryful'Pearler of a Sunset': Resident Amazed by Stunning Sunset in Noosa, Queensland
Residents in Noosa, Queensland, were treated to a mesmerising sunset on May 23.Jessica Smith filmed a video which showed orange rays of light streaking through the clouds as the sun sets. The mirror-like lake reflects the sunlight, creating a breathtaking view.“Pearler of a sunset in Noosa Waters tonight,” Jessica Smith wrote in a post on Facebook.Smith told Storyful that the video was taken from the back patio of her home after “the coldest May day in four decades.” Credit: Jessica Smith via Storyful
NewsStoryfulMan Carefully Walks Across Frozen Abraham Lake in Alberta (FILE)
A traveler carefully walked on the frozen Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada, sharing footage of his daring stroll to Twitter on May 20.Stuart Milliner filmed a video that shows himself slowly walking on ice which is so clear that the pebbles on the lake floor are visible in the video.“It felt like you were walking on air,” Milliner told Storyful, adding that the video was originally recorded on January 25. “It truly is a wonder of nature and I highly recommend visiting.”Abraham Lake is an artificial lake created in 1972 with the construction of the Bighorn Dam. It’s famous for its frozen methane bubbles during winter. Credit: stuartmilliner1 via Storyful
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Crowds Flock to Ocean City Boardwalk for Memorial Day Weekend
Crowds flocked to Maryland’s Ocean City Boardwalk for the second day in a row during Memorial Day weekend.This video, filmed by Robert J Banach, shows people walking along the boardwalk on Sunday, May 24.“And just check out all the folks out here on the boardwalk. We got lots with masks on, and lots that don’t,” Banach says in the video.Local media said that the boardwalk was also “packed” on Saturday, though locals told reporters it hasn’t been as busy as previous Memorial Day weekends. Credit: Robert J Banach via Storyful
SportReuters VideosTackling, sparring allowed in next stage for Britain's elite athletes
SHOWS: LIVERPOOL (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LIVERPOOL TRAINING UNDERWAY 2. SADIO MANE (LEFT) AND MOHAMED SALAH (RIGHT) WARMING UP FOLLOWED BY JAMES MILNER (LEFT), ANDY ROBERTSON (MIDDLE) AND ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN (RIGHT) 3. MANE STANDING WITH TEAMMATES 4. XHERDAN SHAQIRI AND SALAH PASSING BALL 5. MANE PASSING BALL AS MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP WALKS PAST 6. JORDAN HENDERSON (LEFT) AND SHAQIRI STRETCHING TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - OCTOBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7. VARIOUS OF ENGLAND RUGBY TEAM FORWARDS TRAINING DRILL (2 SHOTS) TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - OCTOBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. VARIOUS OF TEAM TRAINING (3 SHOTS) LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - SEPTEMBER 19, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 9. VARIOUS OF UNIFIED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ANTHONY JOSHUA SPARRING (3 SHOTS) STORY: Soccer players will be able to tackle in close-contact training, and boxers spar with partners, in the next step towards Britain's elite athletes returning to live sport after the COVID-19 lockdown, guidance published on Monday (May 25) said. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) guidance spelled out the second part of a five-stage framework to enable athletes to get match fit before any top level competition resumes. "Stage Two training can be described as the resumption of close-contact training where pairs, small groups and/or teams will be able to interact in much closer contact," it said. Examples given include close quarters coaching, combat sports sparring, team sports tackling and the sharing of technical equipment such as balls, gloves and pads. "The progression of training into Stage Two is vital to prepare fully for the return of competitive sporting fixtures in many sports," added the document. "Close contact training is required to replicate match formations and conditions, so that the sport-specific demands can be placed on the body, mind and senses." Premier League soccer players have returned to non-contact training in small groups with their clubs while respecting social distancing guidelines. Some have already expressed concerns, however. The league was halted in mid-March but under 'Project Restart' hopes to get going again in June without spectators. Stage One for returning to unrestricted elite competition was set out on May 13, and must be completed before embarking on the next phase. The guidance said close contact training will be allowed only when sports bodies, clubs and teams deem conditions right to do so, following consultation with athletes, coaches and support staff. Under stage two, athletes will still have to keep their distance before and after training and time spent closer than two metres in training should be kept to "a reasonable minimum". "The exemption on social distancing is for the period of actual training itself but not to activities which are peripheral," it spelled out. "In particular there should be no opportunity for social distancing to be breached between training clusters or between different sports." The guidance also said there should be no resumption of Stage Two training without a documented risk assessment and risk mitigation strategy. (Production: Stefan Haskins)
SportReuters VideosItaly crowned eEURO 2020 champions
SHOWS: INTERNET (MAY 24, 2020) (UEFA - MUST ON SCREEN CREDIT: UEFA.) QUARTER-FINALS ITALY V ISRAEL 1. ITALY SCORING TO GO 1-0 UP AGAINST ISRAEL IN THEIR BEST OF THREE OPENING MATCH QUARTER-FINAL 2. ITALY SCORING TO GO 4-0 UP IN THE SECOND MATCH SEMI-FINALS ITALY V FRANCE 3. ITALY SCORING TO GO 2-1 UP AGAINST FRANCE IN THEIR BEST OF THREE OPENING MATCH SEMI-FINAL 4. ITALY SCORING TO GO 1-0 UP IN THE SECOND MATCH 5. ITALY SCORING TO GO 4-3 UP IN THEIR PENALTY SHOOTOUT 6. FRANCE HAVING THEIR PENALTY SAVED AS ITALY WIN THE SECOND MATCH 4-3 ON PENALTIES TO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL 7. ITALY PLAYERS CELEBRATING GRAND FINALS ITALY V SERBIA 8. SERBIA SCORING TO CUT ITALY'S LEAD TO 3-2 IN THEIR BEST OF FIVE OPENING MATCH OF THE FINALS 9. ITALY SCORING TO GO 4-2 UP 10. SERBIA GOING 2-0 UP IN THE SECOND MATCH 11. ITALY SCORING A LATE WINNER TO GO 2-1 UP IN THE FOURTH MATCH TO SECURE A 3-1 GRAND FINALS SERIES WIN AND BE CROWNED eEURO 2020 CHAMPIONS 12. PLAYERS CELEBRATING STORY: Italy saw off Serbia in the grand finals to be crowned UEFA eEURO 2020 champions Sunday (May 24) in the inaugural eEuropean Championship. Represented by gamers AlonsoGrayfox, Naples17x, Nicaldan and Genoa_Npk02, Italy took the best of five finals matches 3-1 having earlier seen off Israel and France respectively in the quarters and semi-finals. The four-man team walked away with the 40,000-euros winners' cheque in the biggest ever national team efootball tournament, which was represented by all 55 UEFA national associations from qualifying. (Production: Stefan Haskins)
ScienceReuters VideosAstronauts strap into SpaceX capsule before launch day
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken strapped into the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Saturday to rehearse Wednesday's expected launch to the International Space Station. They will become the first astronauts launched from American soil since the U.S. space shuttle program was terminated in 2011. The two arrived in Cape Canaveral last week and said they'd spend some time with their families at the beach before their mission to space. On May 27th, they're set to blast off on the commercial space vehicle to help the short-handed crew aboard the ISS for more than a month, and swap out the station's batteries. The use of the state of the art technology from Elon Musk's SpaceX is part of NASA's flagship campaign to use the private sector for ISS missions and curb its reliance on Russia's Soyuz rocket. Musk is also the CEO of Tesla, and new for Wednesday's launch ceremony will be a pre-departure transfer to the launch pad by the electric car company. "I'm thinking about going." Among those who may attend the launch is U.S. President Donald Trump, who has reportedly been given the green light to go and watch.
SportReuters VideosTrump enjoys second day of golf
The president also played a round at his Trump National Golf Club on Saturday, his first time at a golf property since March 8, when he visited his club in West Palm Beach, Florida. On Sunday, Trump - along with most of those in his group - did not sport masks for the outing. Later, Trump and others could be seen standing close together near the course's club house. Trump is eager to promote the idea that the United States is returning to normal, although the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak continues to rise and is expected to surpass 100,000 in the coming days. Trump's coronavirus task force coordinator, Deborah Birx, told a White House briefing on Friday that Americans over this Memorial Day weekend should "be outside, play golf, play tennis with marked balls, go to the beach - but stay six feet apart!"
SportStoryfulKentucky High School Graduates Enjoy Victory Lap Instead of Traditional Ceremony
A speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, gave high school seniors a memorable graduation by bringing them together for laps around the track on May 23.Drone footage from Kentucky Speedway shows the Gallatin County High School Class of 2020 gathered on the track. Local media reported that graduates and their families took their own cars and drove two laps of the track with a pace car leading the way.Gallatin County Schools issued a statement to local media saying they wanted to make the “nontraditional graduation unforgettable” and the lap symbolized their final year of high school.Kentucky Speedway said it was “honored to bring the Gallatin County High School Class of 2020 together one final time, inviting them to take a victory lap and cross the finish line on their hometown track.” Credit: Ryan Bailey/Kentucky Speedway via Storyful
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Spring Snowfall Brings Chilly Conditions to Idaho Falls
Several inches of snow fell in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, May 23, with preliminary totals indicating a record for springtime snowfall in the area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).The NWS said preliminary totals showed two to four inches of snow accumulated in the city, which would it the most snow recorded “this late in spring” since the area’s weather records began in 1948.This video shows snow falling in Idaho Falls around 11.30 am on Saturday. Credit: @taylordevin1 via Storyful
SportStoryfulLarge Alligators Fight on South Carolina Golf Course
Matthew Proffitt came across an incredible sight while golfing with friends at the Hilton Head Lakes golf course in Hardeeville, South Carolina, on May 20.As Proffitt and his group approached the 18th tee, they spotted two large alligators fighting on the fairway.“They would lay still for a few minutes, with their jaws locked on each other, and then try to roll or shake,” Proffitt told Storyful, adding that while gators are common in the area, he had never seen anything like this. “The fight went on for about two hours.”Alligators are more active during mating season from April to June.The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes originally posted the video on their Facebook account and warned patrons in their caption, writing, “Sudden death playoff on the 18 yesterday! Keep your eyes open out there, the course is full of wildlife!” Credit: Matthew Proffitt via Storyful
ScienceStoryfulWestern Australia Dust Storm Cuts Visibility to 'Near Zero'
A dust storm moving across Western Australia reduced visibility to “near zero” in some areas on May 24, police said.Northampton Police shared this video and urged people to stay off the roads, but encouraged drivers to turn their headlights on if travel was essential.Coastal communities in Western Australia were also hit with a “once-in-a-decade” storm front on May 24, bringing heavy rainfall and damaging winds to the region. Credit: Northampton Police via Storyful
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