November 13 [ 2006-11-13 08:00 ]
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Mrs Thatcher said the
absence of the Times had been "tragic and
over-long" |
1979: Times returns after year-long
dispute |
England have
The Times newspaper has been published for the first time in nearly a
year.
The paper's disappearance from news stands followed a dispute between
management and unions over manning levels and the introduction of new
technology.
After talks broke down, the Times' Canadian owners, the Thomson
Organisation, suspended publication last November pending an agreement.
Production of the four other publications in the Times group, including
its sister paper the Sunday Times, was also suspended.
It was the first break in the production of the Times, known
affectionately to its readers as "the Thunderer", since it was founded in
1788.
The dispute is estimated to have cost the Thomson Organisation more
than ?0m.
A settlement reached late last month paved the way for today's
publication.
The Sunday Times is also expected to appear again this weekend.
Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher has welcomed the Times reappearance
"with enthusiasm".
Mrs Thatcher said: "The absence of the Times has been tragic and
over-long."
About 500,000 copies of the paper were produced for the Times' first
edition on Tuesday - an extra 200,000 on its pre-suspension print run.
The personal columns carried a long string of welcome-back messages
from advertisers while readers announced births and deaths spanning the
period of the Times' absence.
Three special obituary
supplements are also planned as well as a news review covering the months
the Times was out of print. |
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Nevado del Ruiz was
known locally as "the Sleeping Lion" |
1985: Volcano kills thousands in
Colombia | Artificially 1969: The About
20,000 people are feared dead after a volcanic eruption in northern
Colombia.
Four towns in the Andes region are reported to have been buried when
ash spewed out of the volcano, Nevado del Ruiz, causing a mudslide.
The worst-affected was Armero, the province of Tolima's second largest
city, about 50 miles from the Colombian capital, Bogota.
Armero, which lay in a valley below the 16,200-foot high (4,937m)
volcano, was virtually destroyed - buried by mud and rubble swept down on
to it.
The fatal eruption happened during the night when most of the town's
27,000 residents were in bed.
Nevado del Ruiz, known locally as "the Sleeping Lion", had not erupted
for nearly 150 years ago.
Even though it is located only 310 miles (500 km) from the equator, the
volcano's summit is covered with snow.
It had given some warning of increased activity - in recent months
there had been some rumblings from the crater - but the authorities had
told Armero residents it was safe to remain in the city.
The initial blast began on Wednesday afternoon when ash came showering
down.
An evacuation was ordered but abandoned when the volcano went quiet at
about 1900 local time.
However, just after 2100 a more serious eruption began causing the
summit's icecap to melt and carry mud and debris down the mountain at
speeds of up to 30 miles (50 km) per hour.
The town of Armero lay in the so-called "Ring of Fire", an unstable
area of the earth's crust encircling the Pacific Ocean which includes most
of the world's active volcanoes.
The Colombian government has appealed to the United Nations for help.
However, rescue efforts are being hampered by fallen bridges and
impassable roads. |
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Vocabulary:
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obituary : a notice of someone's
death(訃告)
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