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Dozens of monkeys die in German zoo fire by New Year’s Eve lanterns - world news

Flames from flying New Year’s Eve lanterns might have sparked a blaze that killed dozens of monkeys at a zoo in northwestern Germany, management and security services said Wednesday.The blaze tore through the monkey enclosure shortly before midnight, killing at least 30 animals, police said. The enclosure housed gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and marmosets. Only two chimpanzees survived, as well as a family of gorillas in a nearby building. “Our worst fears have been realised,” Krefeld zoo, which specialises in primates, announced on its Facebook page.Tearful visitors lit candles and left flowers and soft toys at the entrance of the zoo on Wednesday. One of the tributes asked simply “Why?”. Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to other buildings at the zoo in North Rhine-Westphalia.- Focus on fireworks -Preliminary findings suggest the fire might have been caused by flying paper lanterns, which float into the air when lit.Three lanterns bearing hand-written New Year’s wishes were discovered in the smouldering debris.These types of devices have been banned in the region since 2009.Police, who have launched an investigation for “arson through negligence”, were contacted late Wednesday by a number of people who may have used these lanterns. Krefeld police said investigators were verifying their statements. The German animal protection association quickly called for all kinds of fireworks to be banned near zoos, farms and kennels.The deadly blaze was “terrible proof of the dramatic consequences for animals” from “uncontrolled” celebrations, the group said.Germans often use powerful fireworks to celebrate the New Year and in Berlin, rescue services on Wednesday recorded 22 injuries, some of which required amputations, from the holiday.That was roughly comparable to levels seen in previous years.The effect of fireworks on air quality has also begun to spark debate and the federal environment agency UBA estimated that the amount of fine particles released in one night was comparable to two months of highway traffic.Several major German supermarket and hardware chains have decided to stop selling fireworks.Demand remains strong for now however, with the people spending around 113 million euros ($127 million) for New Year fireworks, the same amount as last year, according to sector federation VPI.Around 57 percent of the county’s inhabitants would support a ban on firework sales but 84 percent of those questioned also said they looked forward to displays next year.Krefeld zoo planned to remain closed Wednesday with employees “in shock” owing to the “terrible tragedy”, management said.The zoo has around 1,000 animals and attracts some 400,000 visitors a year. Read the full article

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McDonald's Shuts Outlets Across Peru For 2 Days To Mourn Dead Staffs

McDonald's said it is co-operating with the authorities to investigate the death of the workersMcDonald's has shut all its restaurants in Peru for two days of mourning after two of its employees died, the burger chain said on Twitter.The two teenaged employees were electrocuted while cleaning the kitchen of a McDonald's in Pueblo Libre, a district in the capital Lima, Peruvian daily La Republica reported."In response to the terrible loss of our two colleagues Carlos Gabriel Edgardo Campos Zapata and Alexandra Antonella Porras Inga, we wish to announce that we have declared two days of mourning from this morning, during which all our restaurants nationwide will remain closed," McDonald's Peru said on Twitter.The company said it was cooperating fully with the authorities investigating the deaths and offering support to their families. All staff would be paid during the two days when the restaurants were shut.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Read the full article

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Here Are 3 Major Changes In Permit For Mount Everest Climbers In Nepal

Nepal proposed changes to Mount Everest permit process after the deaths of 11 climbersMount Everest: The Nepal government has proposed changes to its permit process for climbers on Mount Everest following the deaths of eleven climbers this year. The proposals, and associated criticisms, are being debated by climbers.

Here are the changes in the Mount Everest permit process:

Climbers must submit proof of having scaled at least one 6,500-metre peak in Nepal. Critics argue limiting the provision to Nepal makes no sense.Climbers must produce a certificate of good health. Critics say it is easy to forge such certificates or find a compliant doctor.Guides must have three years of experience organising high-altitude climbs. Critics say so many Sherpas can claim such experience that virtually all outfitters will qualify. Read the full article

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2018 Canada Shooting Victims Sue US Gun Maker Smith And Wesson

Ottawa, Canada: Victims of a 2018 shooting rampage in Toronto that left two dead and 13 injured are suing the American maker of the pistol used in the attack, holding it responsible for not making guns safer.The class action, according to court documents obtained by AFP on Tuesday, alleges that Smith and Wesson knew that its M&P 40 handgun "was an ultra-hazardous product."And it should have known that the weapon might end up being stolen and used to harm or kill innocent people, the suit claims.Yet the company chose not to incorporate safety features such as fingerprint recognition to prevent unauthorized users, it alleges.The class action, which must still be certified, is seeking Can$150 million (US$115 million) in damages.Lead plaintiffs Samantha Price and Skye McLeod said in a statement of claim that they'd gone out for ice cream with friends on the evening of July 22, 2018 when they were confronted by a man opening fire on Toronto's bustling Danforth Avenue.Price was struck by a bullet, but survived. McLeod was injured while fleeing. Their friend Reese Fallon, 18, and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis were shot dead.After an exchange of gunfire with police, the shooter took his own life.Police still don't know how he obtained the gun, which had been reported stolen from a Saskatchewan shop in 2015.But the lawsuit notes that Smith and Wesson was aware that "more than 200,000 firearms" like the one used in the Danforth shooting "were stolen from their owners every year in the United States."The company had agreed in 2000 to incorporate smart gun technologies in new models by March 2003 to address this.The deal, however, collapsed after the United States passed a law in 2005 shielding gun manufacturers and dealers from liability when crimes are committed with their products.The shield does not apply in Canada.In March, a Connecticut court ruled that US gunmaker Remington can be sued over the 2012 massacre at the Sandy Hook elementary school in which one of its weapons was used to kill 20 children and six staffers.That lawsuit alleges that Remington is culpable because it knowingly marketed a military grade weapon that is "grossly unsuited" for civilian use yet had become the gun most used in mass shootings.In the Canadian case, the plaintiffs say Smith and Wesson should have included safety technology in its .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was made available for sale in Canada starting in 2013, "so as to avoid, prevent or deter substantial and foreseeable harm."Manufacturers have claimed that the technology is expensive and impractical.Patrick McLeod, the father of one of the Danforth victims and a former police officer, disagrees."I can look at my iPhone and it unlocks. Meanwhile, we're selling semi-automatic handguns that have no safety devices on them at all," he told the Globe and Mail.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Read the full article