Pakistan Declares State of Emergency

Pakistan today declared a State of Emergency. Quoting CNN:

Musharraf issued a provisional constitutional order proclaiming the emergency and suspending the nation's constitution, according to a statement read on state television.

BBC is reporting that Pakistani Troops have surrounded the Supreme Court and

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who condemned the moves, has reportedly been sacked and is being confined to the Supreme Court with 10 other judges.

Fly to Pakistan Supreme Court, Islamabad, Pakistan in Google Earth:

Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities in United States

Hawaii led the nation with highest number (52%) of Traffic Fatalities where Alcohol was involved. Utah was at the other end of the scale with 24% of Traffic Fatalities which were related to Alcohol.

Here's Google Maps view of how the other states ranked. (Source NHTSA).

Gun Ownership around the world

United States leads the world in Gun Ownership with 9 Guns for every 10 Americans followed by Yemen where 6.1 Guns are owned by every 10 Yemenis.

I have created a Google Maps View of Gun Ownership from around the world with data from "Small Arms Survey - 2007).

Departures and Cancellations at major US Airports (June 2007)

Here's a Google Maps View of Departures and Cancellations at Major US Airports (June 2007) along with YouTube video of take off. (Source - TIME Magazine dated September 3rd, 2007).

Hyderabad, India hit by Terrorist Attacks

Hyderabad, India was struck by terrorist attacks which claimed more than 41 lives. The Deadly Bomb Blasts took place at an open air auditorium in Lumbini Park where families were enjoying a laser light show. The other Bomb Blast took place couple of miles away at a restaurant named "Gokul Chat". (More at CNN and BBC)

LATEST NEWS FROM HYDERABAD and other major cities in the Indian Sub-Continent

Here is a Google Maps View of both Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat restaurant.
Lumbini Park


Gokul Chat Restaurant (via Wikimapia)

Canada's Last Igloo to be flattened

Canada's Last Igloo at Iqaluit, Canada (Google Maps View) which housed the Kamotiq Inn restaurant is to be replaced in the coming months by a 4,645 square-meter (50,000 square-foot) office building. This due to the fact that the region (just 120 miles south of Arctic Circle) is experiencing an economic boom. (more at Yahoo News)

Monsoon Floods in Eastern India

Image shown below from NASA Earth Observatory was taken on August 3rd. Quote from their website:

On August 3, the Ganges, Gandak, and Kosi Rivers were so swollen that it was hard to see exactly where the rivers normally flow. The tributaries that feed the Kosi River, not even visible on June 4, have combined in a vast web of water-covered land. The light blue area under the clouds in the lower left corner of the image is probably water-soaked earth, not standing water.

According to BBC as of August 3, nearly 20 million people had been displaced in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and 125 had died in India.

Barry Bonds becomes Baseball's Home Run King

Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's record of 755 Home Runs. (more at CNN)

Barry Bonds achieved this feat at AT&T Park, San Francisco on 08/07/2007. Here's a 3D Google Earth View of AT&T Park.



Click here for Google Maps View of AT&T Park, San Francisco.

Coal Miners trapped in UTAH

6 Coal Miners were trapped in a coal mine in UTAH. The men were caught in a cave-in at the Crandall Canyon Mine before dawn Monday (8/6/2007). As of last word the rescue workers have still not been able to reach the trapped miners. (more at CNN)

Here's a Google Earth View of Crandall Canyon Mine, UTAH.


Here's a Google Maps View of Crandall Canyon Mine, Utah

I-35W Bridge collapses into Mississippi River in Minneapolis

Google Earth View of I-35W Bridge over Mississippi River:


Interstate 35W Bridge over Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed this evening. Click here for Bridge Specs.

From local KARE 11 TV station in Minneapolis

The entire span of the 35W Bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue. Traffic in both directions was affected.

There about 100,000 cars a day traveling over this bridge according to MnDOT and it is believed there were at least 50 cars on the bridge when it collapsed.

Google Maps View of the Bridge location in Minneapolis.

Pratibha Patil - India's 1st Woman President

Pratibha Patil was sworn in on July 25th, 2007 as India's first woman President succeeding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Pratibha Patil now moves into Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi - Official residence of President of India.

Here's a Google Maps View of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

News Helicopters Collide in Phoenix, Arizona killing 4

Couple of News Helicopters covering a Police Chase in Phoenix, AZ collided in mid-air and then crashing into the ground at Steele Indian Park located in Phoneix, AZ. Quoting CNN

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor told The Associated Press that the agency is reviewing air traffic control tapes to see if the helicopters' pilots were communicating before the crash.

"Typically air traffic controllers clear helicopters into an area where they can cover a chase like this," Gregor told AP. "Once they are in the area, the pilots themselves are responsible for keeping themselves separated from other aircraft."

Google Maps view of the crash site.

Burj Dubai becomes the world's tallest building

Burj Dubai becomes the world's tallest building (on July 21st, 2007) at 512.1 metres (1,680.1 feet) overtaking Tapei 101.

Google Maps View of Burj Dubai.

Blast at Mojave Air and Space port kills 2

CNN is reporting that a blast at Mojave Air and Space Port killed 2 people. This occurred during a test of a new rocket motor for SpaceShipTwo -- a spaceship being built for Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's space tourism company. (more at CNN)

Google Maps View of Mojave Air and Space Port

Visitors trapped for hours inside St. Louis Arch

CNN is reporting that because of an apparent power outage, approx. 200 people were trapped in St. Louis Arch for hours. Power went out at about 8.45 pm on July 21st, 2007. Power was finally restored after 2 hours. (more at CNN)

Google Maps Satellite view of St. Louis Arch:

Brazilian Airliner crash in Sao Paulo kills 200

BBC is reporting that upto 200 people have been killed after a passenger plane, a TAM Airlines Airbus A320 crashed and burst into flames at Congonhas International Airport, as it landed in wet weather, shot over a busy road and hit a fuel depot. (more at BBC)

Google Maps View of Congonhas International Airport.

100 Great American Towns - Mapped

Here's a Google Maps View of 100 Great American Towns as mentioned in CNN Money. This Google Maps View also has the latest news for each of the 100 Towns via Google News RSS Feeds.

Yes!! the town I live in "Plymouth Township, Michigan" makes it to the top 50!!.

New 7 Wonders of the World - Mapped

Here's a Google Maps View (along with video from YouTube) of the new 7 wonders of the world which was announced in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007.

Google Mapping America's Top 100 Sweatiest Cities

Old Spice has come out with a list of America's 100 most Sweatiest Cities. Phoenix, AZ tops the list for 4 years in a row. Here's a Google Maps View of America's Sweatiest Cities. (Source: NBCi TV from Dallas)

Google Mapping Top 100 Most Powerful and Best Paid Celebrities

Here's a Google Maps View of Forbes List of World's Top 100 Most Powerful and Best Paid Celebrities. Topping the List this year is Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Madonna, Rolling Stones, Brad Pitt. (Source Forbes)