Significant increase in worldwide incidences of terrorism

According to the second edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), there were almost 10,000 terrorist attacks recorded in 2013 representing a 44 percent increase from 2012, resulting in nearly 18,000 deaths representing a 61 percent increase from the previous year.

Terrorism in 2013 was dominated by four organizations; ISIL, Boko Haram, al Qa'ida and the Taliban, collectively responsible for 66 percent of all fatalities.

Over 80 percent of the deaths from terrorist incidents in 2013 were recorded in just five countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria. Iraq continues to be the country most impacted by terrorism with 2,492 attacks killing 6,362 people, which represents a 164 percent increase from 2012. ISIL was responsible for most of the deaths in the country.

The two most successful strategies for ending terrorist groups since the late 1960s have been either policing or the initiation of a political process; 80 percent of organisations that ceased operations ended this way. Only 10 percent of terrorist organisations ended due to having achieved their goals while seven percent were eliminated by full military engagement.

Many more people die in homicides than in terrorist attacks, with an individual being 40 times more likely to be a victim of homicide than be killed by terrorism, according to the GTI.

Video: F-35C conducts night flights aboard aircraft carrier USS Nimitz

The F-35C Lightning II carrier variant Joint Strike Fighters performed night flight deck operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego this week. These milestones are part of initial at-sea Developmental Testing I for the F-35C, which commenced Nov. 3 and is expected to last two weeks. The F-35C is the carrier variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter designed for the U.S. Navy as a first-day-of-war, survivable strike fighter complement to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Coast Guard suspends search for missing plane in Lake Pontchartrain

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing aircraft in Lake Pontchartrain, Thursday.

Coast Guard officials received a call from the New Orleans International Airport air traffic control tower at approximately 8:30 p.m Wednesday reporting a missing Cessna 172 with two people aboard.

“The Coast Guard has searched the 161 square-mile area 13 times over the past 20 hours,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Molavi. “We would like to extend our sympathies to the families during this difficult time.”

The search is suspended, pending further developments, the Coast Guard said in a press statement.

Student instructor flight goes missing in New Orleans

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of a missing aircraft in Lake Ponchartrain, Wednesday.

The Coast Guard received a call from the New Orleans International Airport air traffic control tower at approximately 8:30 p.m., reporting a missing Cessna 172 with two people aboard.

The aircraft was last seen on radar one mile northeast of the Lakefront Airport. The flight was reported to be a student instructor flight.

The Coast Guard responded by issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and deploying a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.

The Coast Guard is working together with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the Houston Air Traffic Control Center and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office to search for the two missing persons.

Climax Utilities successfully completes first sale on ProEconomica

Climax Utilities, a virtual company created on the website ProEconomica, successfully conducted its first sale of utility water on Tuesday. The inaugural sale was conducted between Climax and a ProEconomica player in New Orleans, La. The player purchased 15 units of water from Climax at a cost of $1.50 per unit using virtual dollars.

"Our first sale in water is a historic milestone for Climax,” commented Brothel, CEO of Climax Utilities. He continued, "Our successful launch establishes ProEconomica players in New Orleans as an important cornerstone for this company. I am excited to see our continued growth."

The sale was conducted from Climax's virtual office on ProEconomica led by one virtual employee, Kim. The interactive nature of ProEconomica's virtual world combined with players worldwide allows for users to interact directly with each other and develop entrepreneurial skills.

"Through our customer service technology, we are providing global audiences with a secure platform where they can buy with confidence and trust," says Kim. "We are thrilled to have successfully completed our first sale without a single operational hitch. Everything went as planned, and we look forward to our next sale to a ProEconomica player in Las Vegas.” 

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Are you ready to develop your entrepreneurial skills in order to become a really successful businessman? Do you want to manage your own company or compete with other players in a virtual world based on the concepts found in reality? Then go to ProEconomica and get into an unique economic adventure. Join a virtual world that brings you real experience.

Video: Antares rocket explodes moments after liftoff at Virginia spaceport

The third Orbital Sciences cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) failed to reach Earth orbit on Tuesday when the Antares rocket exploded moments after liftoff from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The Antares rocket was carrying the Cygnus cargo ship packed with over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the ISS, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions.

Wind shear and pilot's lack of training caused Predator accident

An unmanned MQ-1B Predator drone impacted a runway on April 4 because of low-level wind shear and incorrect pilot recovery techniques during a practice landing at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, according to an Air Combat Command abbreviated accident investigation board report released Tuesday.

The aircraft and its aircrew were assigned to the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech, when the accident occurred. The aircraft was significantly damaged by the impact with a repair cost estimate of $4.5 million. There were no injuries or damage to private property. The aircrew was conducting a routine launch and recovery training mission at the time of the mishap.

The board president found by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the mishap was low-level wind shear during a critical phase of landing, and the pilot's lack of training in landing operations for the MQ-1B. Specifically, after the aircraft experienced loss of lift due to low-level wind shear, it bounced on the runway and the mishap pilot used the wrong recovery technique for an MQ-1B. The pilot's incorrect control inputs caused the aircraft to continue bouncing on the runway until its landing gear were destroyed.