Roger Auque

# Roger Auque

## Abstract

Roger Henri Auque (11 January 1956 – 8 September 2014) was a French journalist, war correspondent, diplomat and Mossad spy. He served as France's Ambassador to Eritrea from 2009 to 2012.

## Life and career

Auque was born in Roubaix, France, on 11 January 1956. His father was a Gaullist, while his mother (née Baudry) was a French Communist. Roger Auque identified with the French right and was a member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

Auque began his career as a freelance reporter in the late 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War. He worked closely with members of Lebanon 's Phalange political party during the war. He also became friends with Uri Lubrani, the Israeli governor of coordinator of South Lebanon security belt from 1983 to 2000.

Auque was arrested by Hezbollah in January 1987 after being suspected of espionage activity on behalf of the Israelis. He was one of the first Western journalists and espionage agents to be held by Hezbollah during the war. Auque was held with another French journalist, Jean-Louis Normandin, of Antenne 2 TV (present-day France 2). In a 2014 interview with Le Parisien, Normadin recalled their captivity, "We met in the trunk of a car in Beirut, later we have been freed together, on the same evening… He was a charmer… always keep smiling… sincerity, enthusiasm, energy." Auque became a devout Catholic after receiving a Bible from one of his captors. Both Auque and Normandin were freed in November 1987 following negotiations and financial payments from then French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac and Interior Minister Charles Pasqua.

Auque authored two books, including an autobiographical account of his captivity by Hezbollah. Ronen Bergman, an Israeli journalist, documented Auque's 1987 captivity in a chapter of his book, The Secret War With Iran: The 30-Year Clandestine Struggle Against the World’s Most Dangerous Terrorist Power, which was published in 2008.

Roger Auque was sent to Rome as a reporter for RTL following his release. He also covered stories in the Middle East, Africa, and Yugoslavia. He authored pieces on Israeli affairs for several French magazines, including Le Figaro Magazine, Paris Match, and VSD. He covered the Iraq War from Baghdad for Yediot Aharonot using the pen name, Pierre Baudry (Baudry is his mother's maiden name). He worked in Baghdad until 2006 when he returned to Beirut for two years.

In 2008, Auque returned to France to pursue politics and diplomacy. He was elected a Paris municipal councilor in 2008 as a member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). Auque served as the French Ambassador to Eritrea from 2009 to 2012. He became friends with the Israeli Ambassador to Eritrea, Guy Feldman, during his tenure.

Roger Auque died from brain cancer on 8 September 2014, at the age of 58. He had been treated at Val-de-Grâce military hospital during his illness. He revealed in a book published posthumously in 2015 that he had been a Mossad agent.

## Family

He is the father of Vladimir Auque, Carla Auque and Marion Maréchal-Le Pen.

His daughter Maréchal-Le Pen was a member of the National Front party. She was born in 1989, to Yann le Penn, daughter of National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, and was raised within Yann's marriage to Samuel Maréchal, a fact only revealed publicly in 2013 in a book by Christine Clerc titled Les Conquérantes. In 2012, Maréchal-Le Pen was elected France's youngest MP ever. Marion Maréchal sued French weekly newsmagazine L'Express for a "serious invasion of her privacy," and won her case in April 2015.


Winston Murray

# Winston Murray

## Abstract

Winston Shripal Murray (31 January 1941 – 22 November 2010) was a Guyanese politician and who was Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana from 1985 to 1992. He was a member of the People's National Congress party, serving as its shadow minister for finance at the time of his death.


Bishopstone, Swindon

# Bishopstone, Swindon

## Abstract

Bishopstone is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Swindon, England, about 6 miles (10 km) east of Swindon, and on the county border with Oxfordshire. Since 1934 the parish has included the village of Hinton Parva. Both Bishopstone and Hinton Parva have Grade I listed churches.

Bishopstone lies on the north slope of the Lambourn Downs, overlooking the Vale of White Horse. It is between Wanborough and Ashbury on the historic Icknield Way.

## Geography

Bishopstone lies at the western end of the Vale of White Horse. The parish was on the county boundary with Berkshire until 1974, when the Vale was transferred from Berkshire to Oxfordshire. The village retains the former millpond, and is characterised by ancient lanes which are narrow and winding.

The northern part of the parish is drained to the north-west by streams which join the River Cole, and that river forms part of the northern boundary of the parish. In the south, the land rises steeply to Charlbury Hill, Lammy Downs and Russley Downs. Russley Park, in the far south of the parish near Baydon, is a group of about 30 houses and equestrian facilities.

The parish is crossed from east to west by the Icknield Way, an ancient trackway; the minor road from Wanborough to Bishopstone follows a similar route. The village, most of it north of the road, developed around a spring-fed stream. For much of the 20th century the road was designated as part of the B4507, but this section – from the junction with the A419 in the west beyond Wanborough, to Ashbury in the east – is now unclassified. The land to the south of the road is within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In the north, part of the parish is within the New Eastern Villages mixed use development area, an eastward expansion of Swindon which will include around 8,000 houses. The Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026, adopted in 2015, states that the character and identity of Bishopstone will be protected by a rural buffer.

## History

There was a complex of Roman buildings on Lammy Down, southeast of the village, near Starveall Farm. Iron Age pottery shards have been found on the site, which is inside a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) enclosure. Elsewhere on the north-facing slopes of the downs above Bishopstone are medieval field systems known as lynchets, described by Historic England as "in excellent condition and a good example of its type".

Bishopstone is not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book, when the area may have been part of the Bishop of Salisbury 's Ramsbury estate. The name Bishopstone is first recorded in the early 13th century. The manor was held continuously (apart from a short period during the Civil War) by the bishops until it passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1869; their successors the Church Commissioners held the land in 1980.

A National school was built next to the millpond in 1849, replacing an earlier cottage school. Around 70 children of all ages attended in 1859, and the building was enlarged in 1872. Numbers fell to 31 by 1980, but in 2023 had increased to 45.

As the number of farms in the parish decreased, the population fell by a third between 1881 and 1901.

Russley Park has a long association with racehorse training, being close to the Lambourn gallops. The Scottish ironmaster James Merry owned stables there from the 1850s, where his trainers included Mathew Dawson and James Waugh. During the First World War, premises at Russley Park were used as a remount depot where horses were prepared for officers; the depot was unusual in having an all-female workforce. Racehorse training continued until the 1980s, when Russley Park became a small residential development.

The parish was enlarged in 1934, when its western neighbour Hinton Parva (or Little Hinton) was added to it.

The whole of the village was designated as a Conservation Area in 1973.

## Parish church

There was a church at Bishopstone by the 12th century. The present St Mary's church is built of coursed sarsen with some ashlar and has a two-bay chancel, a three-bay nave with aisles and a west tower. In the north wall of the chancel is a small Norman doorway from the second half of the 12th century, called "extremely ornate" by Pevsner. Fragments of 12th-century carved heads are set into the wall above the south door. The north porch, added around the 14th century, leads into the aisle and re-uses a simple arch of c.1200. The east window of the south aisle has reticulated tracery of the early 14th century. The rest of the church is Perpendicular, although restored in 1868 and 1883, the latter by Ewan Christian. There was further work after a fire in 1891. The pierced parapet above the south aisle, and the arches of the arcades, are noted by Pevsner and Orbach to be similar to Highworth church. The church was designated as Grade I listed in 1955.

The tower has a lower stage with substantial buttresses, and two squat upper stages; Orbach writes that the tower "began with ambition". There is a clock on the south side. The eight bells were destroyed in the 1891 fire, and replaced by eight cast in the same year by Mears & Stainbank.

The font is late Norman but may have been partly recarved. The chancel has a marble tablet monument to Edith Willoughby (died 1670).

The benefice and parish were united with those of Hinton Parva in 1940; this became effective on the next vacancy, which occurred in 1946. Today, the church is within the area of a united benefice which also covers Lyddington and Wanborough.

Notable vicars include Whittington Landon from 1822 to 1826; he was provost of Worcester College, Oxford and later Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Dean of Exeter.

## Amenities

The village has a pub, the Royal Oak, and Bishopstone CE Primary School.

The village is often used as a base for walkers on the Ridgeway National Trail. The Ridgeway above Bishopstone is a byway open to motor vehicles between April and October. A path from the Ridgeway leads to Charlbury Hill, a viewing point.

## Notable people

- Alfred Edmonds (1821–1893), artist, draughtsman and cartographer.

- Helen Browning, a farmer in the parish, is a promoter of organic farming who has been CEO of the Soil Association charity since 2011.


Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)

# Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)

## Abstract

The Silesian Voivodeship (Polish: województwo śląskie; German: Woiwodschaft Schlesien) was an autonomous province (voivodeship) of the Second Polish Republic. The bulk of its territory had formerly belonged to the German / Prussian Province of Silesia and became part of the newly reborn Poland as a result of the 1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite, the Geneva Conventions, three Upper Silesian Uprisings, and the eventual partition of Upper Silesia between Poland, Germany and Czechoslovakia. The remainder had been the easternmost portion of Austrian Silesia (see Cieszyn Silesia) which was partitioned between Poland and Czechoslovakia following the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the Polish–Czechoslovak War and the Spa Conference of 1920. The capital of the voivodeship was Katowice.

The voivodeship was dissolved on 8 October 1939 following the German invasion of Poland, and its territory was incorporated into the German Province of Silesia. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, its territory was incorporated into a new, larger Silesian Voivodeship which existed until 1950.

## General description

The Silesian Voivodeship was one of the richest and best developed provinces of inter-war Poland. It owed its wealth to rich deposits of coal, which resulted in the construction of numerous coal mines and steelworks. For this reason, this Voivodeship was crucial to Polish armaments production. However, its location on the border with Germany made it vulnerable. In the mid-1930s, the Polish government decided to move some sectors of heavy industry to the nation's heartland, creating the Central Industrial Region. Due to efficient agricultural practices, the Silesian Voivodeship also was a major producer of food, in spite of its small size.

According to the 1931 Polish census, 92.3% of the population stated Polish as their mother tongue. Germans made up 7% and Jews only 1.5%. Poles lived mainly in the villages (95.6% of the population there), while Germans and Jews preferred cities (12.9% of Polish Upper Silesian cities' population was German, especially Bielsko and Katowice).

Population density was the highest in the country at 299 persons per 1 km. On 1 January 1937, forested areas made up 27.9% of the province. Rail density was the highest in the country at 18.5 km per 100 km. In 1931, the illiteracy rate was the lowest in the country at 1.5% of the population.

## History

After the First World War a dispute arose about the future of Upper Silesia. This part of the Silesia region was the least affected by centuries of Germanisation. The population was predominantly Slavic, especially in rural areas, although over the years the percentage of the German population increased and in many cities they constituted the majority. Many of Slavic people considered themselves Poles (majority), and some Czechs (minority). The rest did not feel any strong connections to either of those nations; according to Wojciech Korfanty 's estimations, this last group represented up to a quarter of the total whole population of the region.

The Treaty of Versailles resolved that a plebiscite be conducted so that the local population could decide whether Upper Silesia should be assigned to Poland or to Germany. Before the plebiscite took place, two Silesian Uprisings supporting the Polish option had broken out. A third uprising occurred after the plebiscite.

Based on the results of the plebiscite, which was held on 20 March 1921, Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Germany. The Polish part was incorporated as the Silesian Voivodeship. After the referendum of 1921, the German-Polish Accord on East Silesia (Geneva Convention) was concluded on 15 May 1922 and dealt with the constitutional and legal future of Upper Silesia, as part of it had become Polish territory.

The voivodeship was one of the most economically-developed parts of Poland. It had been granted autonomous status by an Act of the Polish Sejm dated 15 July 1920. That status was secure until the May Coup in 1926, which started various attempts to limit it in favour of a strong and centralised state.

After the German invasion of Poland, the voivodeship was dissolved on 8 October 1939, and its territory was incorporated into the German Province of Upper Silesia. The territory returned to Polish possession at the end of the war, and the 1920 act giving autonomous powers to the Silesian Voivodeship was formally repealed by a law of 6 May 1945. An enlarged Silesian Voivodeship (unofficially called Silesia- Dąbrowa Voivodeship, województwo śląsko-dąbrowskie) continued in existence until 1950, when it was divided into Katowice Voivodeship and Opole Voivodeship. (For details, see Administrative division of the People's Republic of Poland.)

## Politics

The voivodeship possessed wide autonomy in domestic matters excluding foreign and military policy. It had its own Silesian Parliament with 48 MPs (24 since 1935) elected in democratic elections. Legislation, however, had to be consistent with the Polish constitution. The voivodeship also had its own national treasury - the Silesian Treasury (Polish: Skarb Śląski). Only around 10% of taxes were transferred to Polish national treasury. The head of the administration was headed by a voivode appointed by the president of Poland to act as a representative of the central government.

## Administrative divisions

### Counties (powiaty)

In mid-1939, in the wake of invasion, the population of the voivodeship was 1,533,500 (together with Trans-Olza, annexed in October 1938. Its total area was 5,122 square kilometres (1,978 sq mi). The voivodeship was divided into the following counties; with largest cities based on the 1931 population census).

## Voivodes

- Józef Rymer 16 June 1922 – 5 December 1922

- Zygmunt Żurawski 15 December 1922 – 1 February 1923 (acting)

- Antoni Schultis 1 February 1923 – 3 March 1924

- Tadeusz Koncki 15 October 1923 – 2 May 1924 (acting until 3 March 1924)

- Mieczysław Bilski 6 May 1924 – 3 September 1926

- Michał Grażyński 6 September 1926 – 5 September 1939


C'était un rendez-vous

# C'était un rendez-vous

## Abstract

C'était un rendez-vous (English: It Was a Date) is a 1976 French short film directed by Claude Lelouch, showing a high-speed drive through Paris.

## Plot

The film shows an eight-minute drive through Paris during the early hours (05:30) of a Sunday morning in August (when much of Paris is on summer vacation), accompanied by sounds of a high-revving engine, gear changes and squealing tyres. It starts in a tunnel of the Paris Périphérique at Porte Dauphine, with an on-board view from an unseen car exiting up on a slip road to Avenue Foch. Well-known landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Palais Garnier, and Place de la Concorde with its obelisk are passed, as well as the Champs-Élysées. Pedestrians are passed, pigeons sitting on the streets are scattered, red lights are ignored, one-way streets are driven up the wrong way, centre lines are crossed, and the car drives on the sidewalk to avoid a rubbish lorry. The car is never seen as the camera seems to be attached below the front bumper (judging from the relative positions of other cars, the visible headlight beam and the final shot when the car is parked in front of a kerb on Montmartre, with the famous Sacré-Cœur Basilica behind, and out of shot). Here, the driver gets out and embraces a young blonde woman as bells ring in the background, with the famous backdrop of Paris.

## Cast

- Gunilla Friden as La fille

- Claude Lelouch as L'homme (uncredited)

## Production

Shot in a single take, it is an example of cinéma vérité. The length of the film was limited by the short capacity of the 1000 foot 35mm film reel, and filmed from a (supposedly) gyro-stabilised camera mounted on the bumper of a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. A photo has surfaced that seems to reveal an Eclair cam-flex 35mm camera with a wide angle lens, and a typical "speed rail" hard mount—no gyros—on a Mercedes. This model, which could reach a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph), was only available with a three-speed automatic transmission. Lelouch drove his own car himself and claimed that the top speed achieved was around 200 km/h in the 1.3 km avenue Foch. Lelouch also claimed during a "making of" documentary that the soundtrack was dubbed with the sound of Lelouch's Ferrari 275GTB, which has the corresponding number of gears and a V12 sound that is quite distinct from that of any V8, including the 6.9 litre V8 of the alleged Mercedes camera car.

On the chosen course there were two people who knew to expect Lelouch. First there was Élie Chouraqui, his first assistant, who was posted with a walkie-talkie in the Rue de Rivoli, behind the archway exiting from the gardens of the Louvre palace, meaning to assist the driver at the only blind junction (archway); however, Lelouch has revealed that the radios failed, and if Chouraqui had tried to warn him of a pedestrian the message would not have been received. Anyway, the traffic light at that junction showed green. The other person who knew about his arrival was Lelouch's girlfriend Gunilla Friden. He'd told her he'd arrive within ten minutes at the Sacré-Cœur and asked her to appear upon his arrival.

## DVD release

In 2003, documentary filmmaker Richard Symons contacted Claude Lelouch and after six months of arduous talks, persuaded him the film should be restored from its original 35 mm negative and re-released on DVD. Symons' company Spirit Level Film now distributes the DVD worldwide.

## Route

The route was as follows: Bd Périphérique (exits at Porte Dauphine) · Av Foch · Pl Charles de Gaulle · Av des Champs-Elysées · Pl de la Concorde · Quai des Tuileries · Pl du Carrousel · R de Rohan · Av de l'Opéra · Pl de l'Opéra · Fromental Halévy · R de la Chausée d'Antin · Pl d'Estienne d'Orves · R Blanche · R Pigalle · Pl Pigalle · Bd de Clichy · (aborted turn at R Lepic) · R Caulaincourt · Av Junot · Pl Marcel Aymé · R Norvins · Pl du Tertre · R Ste-Eleuthère · R Azais · Pl du Parvis du Sacré Cœur.

The route measures 10.597 km long, which indicates an average speed of approximately 80 km/h (50 mph).

## Criticism

Comments attributed to Lelouch indicate that he acknowledges the public's "moral outrage" over his method of shooting this film. He also states that he was prepared to take the risks in making the film, but that he was also ready to drop it if he came across any unexpected risk (pedestrian, obstacle, etc.).

## In popular culture

The film was an inspiration for Criterion Games ' 2001 title Burnout, which would spawn the video game series of the same name.

In 2003, Nissan released a promotional DVD for the 350Z entitled The Run. It featured multiple camera views of a copper coloured 350Z driving through the streets of Prague, ending with a rendezvous with a beautiful woman, an obvious homage to Lelouch.

In 2007, the film was used as the music video for Snow Patrol 's song " Open Your Eyes ".

In late 2009, a short film called The Fast and the Famous, directed by Jeremy Hart, was released on YouTube. The film features Jay Leno behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. During his circuit of Mulholland Drive, Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Drive, and Coldwater Canyon Drive, Leno makes several references to Lelouch's classic film. In 2010, Jeremy Clarkson used the film as a basis for the opening scene of his DVD/Blu-ray The Italian Job.

In 2013, French indie pop band Phoenix used the film as a backdrop for live shows during the song "Love Like a Sunset Part I".

On 17 February 2017, Ford Motor Company in association with Claude Lelouch released a 360 degree view remake of the film using a Ford Mustang. Unlike the original, the 2017 version contains several cut scenes and does not show the entire (original) route of Lelouch's 1976 version.

In 2017, the British motoring show The Grand Tour produced an homage featuring a Bugatti Chiron driving across Turin in the episode "Bah Humbug-atti".

The 2018 video game Forza Horizon 4 features a story mission in which the player drives an Alpine A110 around the streets of Edinburgh for a short film in an homage to C'était un rendez-vous.

In the video game Burnout Paradise, the radio host DJ Atomika mentions how watching C'était un rendez-vous inspired him to enter the street racing scene.

In 2018, series 2 episode 8 ("Escape From Paris") of the Amazon series Patriot featured a drive across Paris with shots taken from a camera mounted low on the front of a car. This appears to be an homage to "C'était un rendez-vous". In later scenes it even includes inappropriate engine noise and tyre squeal, just like the original.

Christopher McQuarrie noted on the Empire Film Podcast that the film inspired multiple shots in his 2018 film Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

## Tribute film

In 2020 Lelouch filmed a tribute film of the film with assistance from Scuderia Ferrari entitled Le Grand Rendez-vous, this time set in Monaco instead of Paris and starring Monegasque Scuderia driver Charles Leclerc. Filming for the new version took place on the streets of Monte Carlo, featuring Leclerc driving a Ferrari SF90 Stradale. It took place on 24 May 2020, which was to have been the date of the Monaco Grand Prix that had been called off because of the global pandemic as only two major motorsport series had resumed competing as of that date. The film premiered on 13 June 2020.


# List of Arab League countries by GDP (nominal)

## Abstract

This article lists the countries of the Arab League sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at nominal values. GDP is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. The table below shows the nominal GDP and GDP per capita for the 22 countries of the Arab League in 2024. The figures shown are estimates compiled by the International Monetary Fund 's World Economic Outlook


Nicholas Pinnock

# Nicholas Pinnock

## Abstract

Nicholas Andre Pinnock (born 2 September 1973) is a British actor. He is known for his role as lead character Aaron Wallace in the American legal drama For Life.

## Early life and education

Nicholas Andre Pinnock was born in Roehampton, London, and is of Jamaican descent. He spent his early childhood living in Saudi Arabia.

On his return to England, he was enrolled at Corona Stage Academy in Hammersmith, London at the age of 12. While there, in his first week, he made his professional debut, landing several jobs as a model and child actor in adverts, music videos, film and television. Continuing his vocational training, Pinnock attended a three-year musical theatre course at the London Studio Centre. After the first year, he decided acting was his first love and in the following years, concentrated on drama and contemporary dance.

After graduating, Pinnock joined Lea Anderson 's Contemporary Dance Company, the Featherstonehaughs, for several years before pursuing acting full time.

## Career

In 1986, as a child actor, Pinnock starred in the fantasy drama TV serial Mr Magus is Waiting for You, based on the novel by Gene Kemp and following the adventures of four young children who get mixed up with a mysterious magician. A year later, he became one of The Pink Windmill Kids on Emu's World on CITV.

In his 20s he regularly appeared in pantomime. He played guest roles in television programmes such as Grange Hill, EastEnders, The Bill, Dalziel and Pascoe, Footballers' Wives and Casualty. TV films followed, such as Kingdom of The Blind with Clive Owen and Diamonds with James Purefoy.

Theatre work included As You Like It at Stafford Castle at the Staffordshire Shakespeare Festival, Hampstead Theatre's production of Born Bad directed by Kathy Burke, and San Diego, directed by David Grieg and Marisa Zanotti in the Edinburgh Festival. He appeared in Topdog/Underdog in Glasgow 's Citizens Theatre in 2009.

Pinnock appeared in his first Hollywood feature film, the 2011 summer blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger, as a SHIELD Tech. That same year, he went on to play the role of Leon in a four-part drama Top Boy, which was broadcast on Channel 4 over four consecutive nights from 31 October 2011. After the 2011 England riots in London, Pinnock appeared in the BBC docudrama The Riots: In Their Own Words, The Rioters. The following year, Pinnock portrayed the role of Evan in the ITV drama The Ice Cream Girls. The three-part drama aired in April 2013.

Pinnock portrayed a young Nelson Mandela in the ITV docudrama Mandela: The Prison Years, which aired on 15 December 2013, the day Mandela was buried.

In 2015, Pinnock showcased the role of Frank Sutter in Fortitude on Sky Atlantic. The same year saw the release of his next two films, Monsters: Dark Continent, the sequel to Monsters in which he plays the role of Forrest, and The Keeping Room, portraying the role of Bill.

In November 2015, he played Jay "The Sport" Jackson in The Royale at the Bush Theatre in London.

In 2016, Pinnock played Jason Backland on ITV's crime drama Marcella series 1 and 2, alongside Anna Friel. The series aired on ITV on 4 April 2016. He then appeared as Ian Shaw in Counterpart, a science fiction thriller first aired on 10 December 2017.

In September 2019, Pinnock appeared in the first season of Criminal: UK on Netflix.

Pinnock was cast as lead character Aaron Wallace in For Life, an American legal drama television series created by Hank Steinberg and executive producer Curtis " 50 Cent " Jackson. The series was inspired by the life of Isaac Wright, Jr, who was serving a life sentence for a wrongful conviction, but got himself exonerated and became a defense lawyer. The series premiered on ABC on 11 February 2020. and ran for two seasons.

In 2022, he was cast in Jeymes Samuel 's The Book of Clarence.

Pinnock played John Ellis in Django, a 2023 television series for Sky and Canal+, alongside Noomi Rapace, Matthias Schoenaerts and Lisa Vicari.

Pinnock was cast in This Town, alongside Michelle Dockery and Jordan Bolger, a 2024 six-part British television series for BBC One written and created by Steven Knight. He was also cast in Hedda, an upcoming American drama film written and directed by Nia DaCosta, based on the play Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen.

## Awards and nominations

In December 2022, Pinnock was announced as winner in the Best Actor category at the British Urban Film Festival awards in London.

## Charity work

Pinnock is an ambassador for the mental health charity, Mind UK.

## Filmography


Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)


2024 Clube Atlético Mineiro season

# 2024 Clube Atlético Mineiro season

## Abstract

The 2024 season is the 110th season in the existence of Clube Atlético Mineiro and the 18th consecutive season in the top flight of Brazilian football. In addition to the national league, Atlético Mineiro participate in this season's editions of the Campeonato Mineiro, the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores.

## Players

### First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

### Other players with first team appearances

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

## Transfers

### Transfer summary

Undisclosed fees are not included in the transfer totals.

## Competitions

### Overview

Source: Soccerway

### Campeonato Mineiro

#### First stage

#### Matches

#### Knockout stage

##### Semi-finals

##### Finals

### Copa Libertadores

#### Group stage

#### Round of 16

#### Quarter-finals

### Campeonato Brasileiro

#### Standings

#### Result by round

#### Matches

### Copa do Brasil

#### Third round

#### Round of 16

#### Quarter-finals

#### Semi-finals

## Statistics


Kagurabachi

# Kagurabachi

## Abstract

Kagurabachi (カグラバチ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono. It has been serialized in Shueisha 's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since September 2023, with its chapters collected in three tankōbon volumes as of July 2024.

## Plot

Chihiro Rokuhira is the son of Kunishige Rokuhira, a renowned blacksmith who forged six enchanted blades that were instrumental in ending the Seitei War. After living in hiding, the Rokuhiras are discovered and attacked by a criminal gang of sorcerers called the Hishaku. The Hishaku murder Kunishige and then steal the enchanted blades. Armed with a seventh enchanted blade called Enten, Chihiro embarks on a bloody path of vengeance and justice to destroy the Hishaku and reclaim the stolen enchanted blades.

## Characters

### Chihiro's group

### Kamunabi

The Kamunabi (神奈備, Kamunabi) is a government-affiliated organization of sorcerers with a mission established during the Seitei War to eliminate threats to the nation as a whole, notably different to civilian sorcerers who generally deal with more person-specific matters such as corporations or the yakuza.

#### Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces

The Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces (対クラウドガウガー特殊部隊, Tai Kuraudo Gaugā Tokushu Bbutai) was a squadron of six elite sorcerers within the Kamunabi who were tasked with opposing Sojo and the Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger he wielded.

### Antagonists

#### Hishaku

The Hishaku (毘灼, Hishaku) is a small group of elite sorcerers who murdered Kunishige and stole his six Enchanted Blades three years ago, and are as such the targets of Chihiro's revenge. Their expertise in sorcery is so great that they are compared to monsters.

#### Sazanami Clan

The Sazanami Clan (漣家, Sazanami-ke) is a powerful criminal clan of sorcerers who are the proprietors of the Rakuzaichi, an annual auction which serves as a highly popular fixture in the Japanese underworld, and have administered this auction for over 200 years.

#### Others

### Other characters

## Publication

Written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono, Kagurabachi began serialization in Shueisha 's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on September 19, 2023. The first tankōbon volume was released on February 2, 2024. As of July 4, 2024, three volumes have been released.

Viz Media and Shueisha's Manga Plus platform are publishing the series in English. In March 2024, Viz Media announced the print release of the manga. The first volume is set to be released on November 5, 2024.

### Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

- "Breach" (突破口, Toppakō)

- "Selection" (取捨, Shusha)

- "Intruders" (乱入者, Rannyūsha)

- "Greeting" (挨拶, Aisatsu)

- "Selection" (選別, Senbetsu)

- "Defend to the Death" (死守, Shishu)

- "Duty" (役目, Yakume)

- "Cage" (檻, Ori)

- "Geniuses" (天才達, Tensai-tachi)

- "Equal" (対等, Taitō)

- "Race" (競合, Kyōgō)

- "Surpass!" (超えろ!!, Koero!!)

- "The Tip" (一端, Ippashi)

- "Fervent" (熱狂, Nekkyō)

- "Everything" (全部, Zenbu)

- "Fulfill" (全う, Mattō)

- "The Curtain Falls" (閉幕, Heimaku)

- "What Comes Next" (これからの話く, Korekara no hanashi)

- "Unruly Punk" (勝手な野郎, Kattena Yarō)

- "Uruha" (漆羽, Uruha)

- "The Kokugoku Steam Squad" (国獄 湯煙スクワッド, Kokugoku Yukemuri Sukuwaddo)

- "Deadlock" (均衡, Kinkō)

## Reception

By July 2024, the manga had over 350,000 copies in circulation (including digital copies). Upon release, Kagurabachi surpassed series such as Spy × Family, Dragon Ball Super, and Boruto on Manga Plus ' s popularity ranking. Its sudden popularity amongst global readers was partially the result of numerous Internet memes, with many ironically considering it to be the inheritor of Weekly Shōnen Jump ' s "Big Three" (One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach). Its first chapter was the world's most viewed in its first week of publication on Manga Plus, and the series has received over 99 million page views on the platform by April 2024. The series has been recommended by manga creators Kōhei Horikoshi and Masashi Kishimoto, and the musician Vaundy.

It ranked seventh on AnimeJapan 's "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" poll in 2024. The manga won the 10th Next Manga Award in the print category in 2024.


List of spits of Ukraine

# List of spits of Ukraine

## Abstract

Spits (Ukrainian: Коса, romanized: Kosa), also called sandspits, are long, narrow coastal landforms that resemble sandbars or embankments and protrude into a body of water from a headland. Spits are formed by the process of longshore drift, in which waves impact the headland at a sharp angle, depositing sediment and causing the water's currents to transport the sediment down the beach, allowing it to accumulate in the area of the spit. Through the process of wave shoaling, this accumulated sediment becomes increasingly curved, resembling the appearance of a fish hook as the waves refract around the spit's end. Often lagoons and salt marshes will form behind spits. There are numerous spits across the territory of Ukraine and, amongst the country's nine most geographically prominent spits, seven are located along the shores of the Sea of Azov. The remaining two prominent spits, Kinburn Spit and Bili Kuchuhury, are located in the northwestern Black Sea, with the Kinburn Spit located close to the Dnipro–Buh estuary at the far western end of the Kinburn Peninsula and Bili Kuchuhury, located in the Gulf of Tendra, between the mainland Yahorlyk Kut peninsula and the far western half of the Tendra Spit. Although called a spit, the Tendra Spit (Ukrainian: Тендрівська Коса, romanized: Tendrivska Kosa) in western Kherson Oblast is separated from the mainland by a narrow strait, thus making it geographically an island. In classical antiquity, Tendra Spit and the nearby island of Dzharylhach to the east both connected to the mainland coast to form a single, continuous spit called Achilles' Run. Based on the combined current land areas of Tendra Spit and Dzharylhach, Achilles' Run would have had a total area of approximately 68.89 km (26.60 sq mi), making it one of the largest spits in Ukraine at that time.

The largest spit in Ukraine currently, and one of the largest spits in the world, is the Arabat Spit, which separates the western parts of the Sea of Azov from the Syvash, a large area of salty, shallow lagoons in Crimea. Following the Russian occupation and annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea -portion of the Arabat Spit, as well as additional smaller spits located on the Crimean peninsula, came under the control of Russian forces, who de facto administered the territory as part of the unrecognized Russian Republic of Crimea. Parts of the small, northern segment of the spit administratively located in Kherson Oblast, including the village of Strilkove, were also briefly occupied by unmarked Russian soldiers beginning from 15 March before their withdrawal on 9 December 2014. After the Donbas war, the Kryva Spit located in Donetsk Oblast was also occupied in 2014, with pro-Russian militants taking the spit's area and neighboring settlement of Siedove.

From the withdrawal of the Russian troops in December until the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the northern parts of the Arabat Spit were amongst the few areas geographically part of the Crimean peninsula that stayed under the control of Ukrainian authorities, while the Kryva Spit remained under the control of separatist forces as part of the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic. After the start of the full-scale invasion, the remaining northern segment of the Arabat Spit as well as the rest of Ukraine's Azov Sea coastline (including the five spits still under the control of Ukrainian authorities before 2022), were occupied by Russian forces. In addition, following their offensive into and occupation of Kherson Oblast, Russian troops also occupied the Kinburn and Bili Kuchuhury spits. The occupied spits were all integrated into Russia following its unilateral annexation of separatist-controlled and other Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine on 30 September 2022. Since 2022, many of Ukraine's spits, including all of its Azov Sea spits, have been under Russian de facto control while the United Nations and most of the international community continue to recognize the territories as de jure part of Ukraine.


Grand Order of Water Rats

# Grand Order of Water Rats

## Abstract

The Grand Order of Water Rats is a British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organisation based in London. Founded in 1889 by the music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, the order is known for its high-profile membership and benevolent works (primarily within the performing industries). Its sister organisation is The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings, which includes female performers and family members.

## History

In 1889, two British music hall performers, Joe Elvin, and Jack Lotto, owned a trotting pony called "Magpie". As the pony was a regular race winner, its owners decided that they would use the profits to help performers who were less fortunate than themselves.

One day, as Elvin was driving the pony back to its stables in the pouring rain, a passing bus driver called out, "Wot yer got there, mate?" "Our trotting pony!" replied Elvin. Observing the bedraggled, soaked condition of the pony, the driver shouted back, "Trotting pony? Looks more like a bleedin' water rat !" As Rats spelled backward is Star, and vole, another name for a water rat, is an anagram of love, the name was deemed appropriate for the Order's agenda of Brotherly Love.

The Water Rats originally held meetings in Sunbury-on-Thames in a public house called The Magpie. Their headquarters is now at The Water Rats pub in Gray's Inn Road in Kings Cross, London. The order "is the most famous show business brotherhood and charity organisation in the world".

## Symbols

The name Water Rats was selected bacause "rats" spelled backward is "star", and vole, another name for a water rat, is an anagram of love, the name was deemed appropriate for the Order's agenda of brotherly love. its motto Is "Philanthropy, conviviality, and social intercourse".

Members are called Rats. They wear a small gold emblem shaped like a water rat on the left lapel of their jackets, and if one Water Rat meets another who is not wearing his emblem he is fined, with the money going to charity. Magician David Nixon wore his while appearing on television, explaining that as current King Rat, he could be fined by any other member who saw him on screen without it.

The head of the organization is called the King Rat. The official publication of the Grand Order of Water Rats publication is The Trap.

## Activities

The order raises money by organising shows, lunches, dinners, and other events. Its objectives of the charity are "to assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who, due to illness or old age are in need." When possible additional funds raised go to a diverse range of charities and good causes including hospitals, health charities, and benevolent funds.

## Membership

Membership is limited to 180 male members of the entertainment industry plus 20 Companion Rats. Some Water Rats are household names but many are not, but all must be respected and trusted by their peers. Joining the Order is a complicated process that involves finding a proposer and seconder within the Order, consideration by the Order's Grand Council, and finally a vote which needs a large majority for success.

A member of the public can become a Friend of the Water Rats. There is also a small number of Companion Rats, distinguished men from various fields of business and influence who are not performers but who have achieved recognition for their support and friendship of the Order. These include Bob Potter OBE, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, King Charles III and Prince Michael of Kent.

## King Rats

The first King Rat, who is the head of the charity, was the music hall singer Harry Freeman. The comedian Dan Leno joined in 1890 and was King Rat in 1891, 1892 and 1897. The post is usually held for one year.

Previous King Rats include:

- 1890 Harry Freeman

- 1891 Dan Leno

- 1892 Dan Leno

- 1893 Wal Pink

- 1894 Joe Elvin

- 1895 J. W. Cragg

- 1896 Eugene Stratton

- 1897 Dan Leno

- 1898 Joe O'Gorman (senior)

- 1899 Paul Martinetti

- 1900 Eugene Stratton

- 1901 Joe O'Gorman

- 1902 Wal Pink

- 1903 Fred Russell

- 1904 Tom McNaughton

- 1905 Arthur Reece

- 1906 Little Tich

- 1907 J. Allison

- 1908 W. H. Clemart

- 1909 Fred Ginnett

- 1910 C. Warren

- 1911 Harry Tate

- 1912 Charles Austin

- 1913 Charles Austin

- 1914 Fred Russell

- 1915 William Bankier

- 1916 Lew Lake

- 1917 Lew Lake

- 1918 Charles Austin

- 1919 William Bankier

- 1920 Deane Tribune

- 1921 George D'Albert

World Upheaval – Lodge suspended until 1927

- 1927 Charles Austin

- 1928 Charles Austin

- 1929 Fred Russell

- 1930 Talbot O'Farrell

- 1931 Will Hay

- 1932 Charles Austin

- 1933 Joe Morrison

- 1934 Will Fyffe

- 1935 Marriott Edgar

- 1936 George Wood

- 1937 Stanley Damerell

- 1938 Fred Miller

- 1939 Fred Russell

- 1940 Will Hay

- 1941 John Sharman

- 1942 George Jackley

- 1943 Tom Moss

- 1944 George Doonan

- 1945 Bud Flanagan

- 1946 Teddy Brown (died) / Bud Flanagan

- 1947 Robb Wilton

- 1948 Albert Whelan

- 1949 Ted Ray

- 1950 Ted Ray

- 1951 Bud Flanagan

- 1952 Charlie Chester

- 1953 Ben Warriss

- 1954 George Elrick

- 1955 Tommy Trinder

- 1956 Dave O'Gorman

- 1957 Cyril Dowler

- 1958 Clarkson Rose

- 1959 Johnny Riscoe

- 1960 Arthur Scott

- 1961 Ben Warriss

- 1962 Ben Warriss

- 1963 Tommy Trinder

- 1964 Ted Ray

- 1965 Tommy Trinder

- 1966 Arthur Haynes

- 1967 Terry Cantor

- 1968 Frankie Vaughan

- 1969 Harry Seltzer

- 1970 Phil Hindin

- 1971 George Martin

- 1972 Albert Stevenson

- 1973 George Elrick

- 1974 Cyril Dowler

- 1975 Joe Church

- 1976 David Nixon

- 1977 David Nixon

- 1978 Donald Ross

- 1979 David Berglas

- 1980 Henry Cooper

- 1981 Declan Cluskey

- 1982 Charlie Smithers

- 1983 Len Lowe

- 1984 Davy Kaye

- 1985 Les Dawson

- 1986 Alan Freeman

- 1987 Danny La Rue

- 1988 Bernard Bresslaw

- 1989 Roy Hudd

- 1990 David Lodge

- 1991 Wyn Calvin

- 1992 Bert Weedon

- 1993 John Inman

- 1994 Roger De Courcey

- 1995 Paul Daniels

- 1996 Paul Daniels

- 1997 Alf Pearson

- 1998 Frankie Vaughan

- 1999 Gorden Kaye

- 2000 Roy Hudd

- 2001 Don Smoothey

- 2002 Keith Simmons

- 2003 Chas McDevitt

- 2004 Chas McDevitt

- 2005 Melvyn Hayes

- 2006 Kaplan Kaye

- 2007 Kaplan Kaye

- 2008 Kaplan Kaye

- 2009 Graham Cole

- 2010 Derek Martin

- 2011 Keith Simmons

- 2012 Joe Pasquale

- 2013 Jess Conrad

- 2014 Rick Wakeman

- 2015 Rick Wakeman

- 2016 Ian Richards

- 2017 Ian Richards

- 2018 Adger Brown

- 2019 Nicholas Parsons

- 2020 Duggie Brown

- 2021 Duggie Brown

- 2022 Duggie Brown

- 2023 Chris Emmett

- 2024 Richard Gauntlett

## Grand Order of Lady Ratlings

The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings (GOLR), a sister organisation for female performers and wives, sisters, and daughters of male performers, was established in 1929, when Fred Russell was King Rat of the GOWR. His wife, Lillian Russell, was installed as the first Queen Ratling. From 1965, membership was restricted to "recognised performers, those directly connected with the theatrical profession, wives of Water Rats and Companion Rats." In 1931, Minnie O'Farrell, the wife of Talbot O'Farrell, initiated the Cup of Kindness, which subsequently became a recognised charity.


Sampoong Department Store collapse

# Sampoong Department Store collapse

## Abstract

On June 29, 1995, the Sampoong Department Store (Korean: 삼풍백화점; Hanja: 三豐百貨店) in Seoul, South Korea, collapsed due to a structural failure. The collapse killed 502 people and injured 937, making it the largest peacetime disaster in South Korean history. It was the deadliest non-deliberate modern building collapse until the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh.

Construction on the store began in 1987 and was completed in 1990. The company initially contracted to build the structure withdrew after the chairman of Sampoong Group's construction division, Lee Joon, demanded changes to the concrete support columns that introduced structural concerns. Lee Joon ultimately used his own company to complete construction. Investigators blamed the collapse primarily on the column specifications which were incorrect for a flat-slab building design.

On December 27, 1995, Lee Joon was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to 10 years and 6 months imprisonment. His sentence was later lessened to 7 years and 6 months on appeal. His son, Lee Han-sang, was convicted of corruption and accidental homicide and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. Additionally, two city planners from the Seocho District of Seoul were convicted of taking bribes.

## Background

In the events leading up to the 1988 Summer Olympics, there was a large development boom in the Seoul Capital Area. Because of bans against international construction contractors signing contracts for projects in Seoul at the time, almost all buildings were being erected by South Korean companies, which typically built the structures quickly because of the large number of projects assigned to them.

The Sampoong Group began construction of the Sampoong Department Store in 1987 over a tract of land in the Seocho District previously used as a landfill. The building's plans originally called for a residential apartment building with four floors to be built by Woosung Construction. However, during construction, the blueprints were changed by the future chairman of Sampoong Group's construction division, Lee Joon, to instead create a large department store. This involved cutting away a number of support columns to install escalators and the addition of a fifth floor (originally meant as a roller skating rink but later changed to a food court).

Woosung refused to carry out these changes due to serious structural concerns. In response, Lee Joon fired them and used his own company to complete the store's construction instead. The building was completed in late 1989, and the department store opened to the public on July 7, 1990, attracting an estimated 40,000 people per day during the building's five years of existence. The store consisted of north and south wings connected by an atrium.

The completed building was a flat- slab structure without crossbeams or a steel skeleton, which effectively meant that there was no way to transfer the load across the floors. To maximise the floor space, Lee Joon ordered the floor columns to be reduced to be 60 cm (24 in) thick, instead of the minimum of 80 cm (31 in) in the original blueprint that was required for the building to stand safely, and the columns were spaced 11 metres (36 ft) apart to maximize retail space, a decision that meant that there was more load on each column than there would have been if the columns had been closer together. The fifth-story restaurant floor had a heated concrete base referred to as ondol, which has hot water pipes going through it; the presence of the 1.2-metre-thick (4 ft) ondol greatly increased the weight and thickness of the slab.

The store's three 15-tonne air conditioning units were installed on the roof leading to a greater structural strain. The air conditioning was also exceedingly loud and led to noise complaints by customers. As a result of the complaints, in 1993, the air conditioning units were dragged across the overloaded roof, resulting in cracking. The units were moved over column 5E, where the most visible cracks in the fifth floor were seen before the collapse. The cracks in the columns worsened because the columns supporting the fifth floor were not aligned with the ones supporting lower floors, thus causing the load of the fifth floor to be transferred through the slab.

## Collapse

In April 1995, cracks began to appear in the ceiling of the fifth floor in the south wing, with the only response by Lee Joon and staff management to move merchandise and stores from the top floor to the basement.

On the morning of June 29, the number of cracks in the area increased dramatically, prompting management to close parts of the top floor; however, the store management failed to shut the building down or issue formal evacuation orders, as the number of customers in the building at the time was unusually high, and management did not want to lose the day's revenue. When civil engineering experts were invited to inspect the structure, a cursory check revealed that the building was at risk of collapse. The facility's manager also examined the slab in one of the fifth-floor restaurants only hours before the collapse. Five hours before the collapse, the first of several loud bangs was heard emanating from the top floors, as the vibration of the air conditioning caused the cracks in the slabs to widen further. Amid customer complaints about the vibration, the air conditioning was turned off, but the cracks in the floors had already grown to 10 cm (3.9 in) wide.

Around then, it was realized that collapse of the building was inevitable, and an emergency board meeting was held. While the directors suggested to him that all staff and customers be evacuated, Lee Joon angrily refused to do so for fear of revenue losses. However, Lee Joon and the executives left the building safely before the collapse occurred.

At about 5:00 p.m., KST (UTC+9:00), as the fifth floor ceiling began to sink, store workers finally closed off all customer access to the fifth floor. The store was packed with hundreds of shoppers 57 minutes before the collapse, but Lee Joon did not close the store or carry out repairs during that time. When the store started to produce cracking sounds at about 5:52 p.m., workers began to sound alarms and evacuate the building, but it was too late: the roof gave way, and the air conditioning units crashed into the overloaded fifth floor, which in turn gave way and caused the units to crash through the lower floors. The main columns, which had weakened to allow the installation of the escalators, also collapsed, and the building's south wing began pancaking into the basement. In less than twenty seconds, all the columns in the store's south wing had given way, killing 502 people and trapping more than 1,500 inside. The disaster resulted in property damage totaling about ₩270 billion (about US$206 million).

### Rescue efforts

Rescue crews were on the scene within minutes of the disaster, with cranes and other heavy equipment being brought in the next day. However, Seoul's mayor, Choi Pyong-yol, announced the rescue would be called off due to concerns that the unstable remains of the store would collapse. After massive protests, especially from friends and relatives of those still missing, Choi and officials decided to continue looking for survivors, with the remains of the store being steadied by guy cables. At one point, Korea Telecom was transmitting a signal every half hour, designed to trigger cellphones or pagers that trapped survivors might be carrying.

After nearly a week, the focus was on removing the debris, but construction crews were careful to check for victims. Two weeks after the collapse, city officials concluded that anybody who was still in the building must have already died; therefore, further efforts would be made only towards "recovery", not "rescue".

Despite the sweltering heat, some who were not rescued in the first few days avoided dehydration by drinking rainwater. The last to be rescued, 19-year-old store clerk Park Seung-hyun (Korean: 박승현, Hanja: 朴勝賢), was pulled from the wreckage 17 days after the collapse with a few scratches; 18-year-old Yoo Ji-hwan was pulled out after nearly twelve days; and a man rescued after nine days reported that other trapped survivors had drowned from the rain and from the water used for fire suppression.

## Casualties

The collapse killed 502 people and injured about 937 people. About 1,500 people were trapped inside the structure. Rescue attempts lasted over the course of many days leading to the rescue of a few survivors, including two that were pulled from the wreckage after a week.

## Investigation

The investigation of the collapse was headed by Professor Chung Lan (Korean: 정란, Hanja: 鄭鑾) of Dankook University 's engineering school. Shortly after the collapse, leaking gas was suspected as the probable cause because two gas explosions had occurred elsewhere in Seoul that year. However, the fires in the rubble were from burning automotive gasoline coming from crushed cars parked in the underground garage, and a gas explosion would have been significantly larger. It was also widely feared that there had been a terrorist attack, with North Korea as the prime suspect. However, the fact the building collapsed downward, with little debris thrown outward, ruled out a significant explosion, according to South Korean and American experts.

Once the investigation focused on structural failure, it was initially believed the building's poorly-laid foundation and the unstable ground that it was built on, both led to the failure. Investigation of the rubble revealed that a substandard concrete mix of cement and seawater and poorly- reinforced concrete was used for the ceilings and walls.

Further investigation revealed that the building was built with incorrect application of a technique called " flat slab construction ". Reinforced concrete buildings are often built by using columns and beams, with the floor slab supported over the full length of the beams. "Flat slab construction" does not use beams but supports the floor slab directly on the columns. The area of floor around the columns must be reinforced in order to carry the load; if the columns are too narrow, they can punch through the slab.

Examination of the building showed the concrete columns installed were only 60 cm in diameter, below the required 80 cm shown in the plans. Worse still, the number of steel reinforcement bars embedded into the concrete was 8, not the required 16, which gave the building only half its needed strength. Steel reinforcements intended to strengthen the concrete floor were placed 10 cm from the top instead of 5 cm, decreasing the structure's strength by about another 20%.

Fire shields were installed around all escalators to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor, but to install them, the support columns were cut, further reducing their diameter. The reduced diameter concentrated the load on a smaller area of the slab, leading to an eventual puncturing of it. Those factors, along with the addition of a fifth floor including restaurants and heavy restaurant equipment, all contributed to the building's eventual failure. The final design had less than half of the required strength but despite this managed to stand for almost five years.

Investigators finally pinpointed the direct cause of the collapse, known as the "trigger" or tipping point, in the building's history. It was revealed that two years before the collapse, the building's three rooftop air-conditioning units had been moved because of noise complaints from neighbors on the east side of the building. The building's managers admitted noticing cracks in the roof during the move, but instead of lifting them with a crane, the units were put on rollers and dragged across the roof, further destabilizing the surface by each unit's immense weight.

Cracks formed in the roof slabs and the main support columns were forced downward. Column 5E took a direct hit, forming cracks at the position connected to the fifth-floor restaurants. According to survivor accounts, each time the air conditioners were switched on, the vibrations radiated through the cracks, reaching the supporting columns and widening the cracks, over the course of two years. On the day of the collapse, although the units were shut off, it was too late, the structure had suffered irreversible damage, and the fifth floor slab around column 5E finally gave way.

## Legal

### Trial and prison sentence

During his interrogation with Professor Chung, Lee Joon sparked further controversy by saying that his main concern was that the collapse of the store not only harmed the customers, but also inflicted great financial damage to his company. On December 27, 1995, Lee Joon was found guilty of criminal negligence and received a prison sentence of ten and a half years. Prosecutors originally asked for Lee Joon's sentence of twenty years, but was reduced to seven and a half years on appeal. Lee Joon died on October 4, 2003, months after his release from prison, of complications from diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Lee Joon's son and the store's CEO, Lee Han-sang, received seven years for accidental homicide and corruption. Following his release from prison in 2002, Lee Han-sang worked as an evangelist in Mongolia.

City official Lee Chung-Woo, who was a chief administrator of the area where the store was located, was sentenced to three years in jail for bribery. Hwang Chol-Min, a former chief for the area, was found guilty of accepting a ₩12 million bribe from Lee Joon, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Other participating officials, including a former chief administrator of the Seocho district, were also jailed. Other parties sentenced included a number of the store's executives and the company responsible for completing the building.

### Compensation

At first, families of the victims were asking for an average of $250,000 each. However, the City of Seoul, representing the store's owner, offered to pay $220,000 for each victim, arguing that he could not afford to pay more.

Two months after the collapse, Lee Joon and Lee Han-sang submitted a jointly-signed memo to Seoul, offering their entire wealth to compensate the families of the victims. As a result, the Sampoong Group ceased to exist.

The settlement involved 3,293 cases, totaling ₩375.8 billion (about $300 million). Payouts were complete by 2003.

## Reaction

The initial reaction of the disaster was an enormous public outrage that led to months of public demonstrations on the streets of Seoul. The disaster led to skepticism and fears regarding safety standards on other engineering projects undertaken as South Korea had experienced an economic boom during the 1980s, and it resulted in a review of South Korean safety regulations; the disaster also revealed the level of corruption and greed among city officials, who were willing to accept bribes with little regard for public safety.

## Reforms and new regulations

The collapse of the Sampoong Department Store in Seoul on June 29, 1995, resulted in over 500 deaths and nearly 1,000 injuries. Following the Sampoong Department Store collapse, inspectors identified key factors contributing to the disaster:Unauthorized design changes and added heavy loads severely stressed structural elements.Poor construction management and supervision led to substandard building practices.Inadequate building and structural planning caused progressive collapse.Over five years, these issues weakened the structure, leading to the shear failure of slabs around key pillars, resulting in the building's total collapse.

This disaster spurred significant reforms in South Korea's construction industry, leading to comprehensive changes in building standards and legislation to prevent future tragedies.

Enforcement of Existing Codes: In response to the collapse, South Korea reinforced the enforcement of existing building codes and introduced more rigorous inspection processes. Authorities emphasized the importance of adherence to engineering best practices and mandated that all modifications to original building plans undergo thorough vetting and approval by qualified authorities. This aimed to prevent unauthorized changes that could compromise structural integrity.

Several new laws were enacted to enhance building safety and accountability:

Building Act Amendments: These amendments imposed harsher penalties for violations of building codes, including significant fines and potential imprisonment for those found guilty of negligence or corruption. This aimed to deter malpractice and ensure that all construction projects adhered to safety standards.

Special Act on the Safety Control of Public Structures: This act mandated regular inspections and maintenance of public buildings. It required that all public structures undergo periodic safety evaluations by certified professionals, with results being reported to relevant authorities. This ensured continuous monitoring of building safety and early detection of potential issues.

Construction Technology Promotion Act: Enacted to enhance the safety and quality of construction projects, this law mandated the use of advanced construction technologies and materials. It required contractors to adhere to international standards in building safety and structural integrity, promoting the adoption of innovative construction practices.

Public Disclosure Requirements: The amendments required greater transparency in the construction process. This included mandatory public disclosure of safety inspection reports and construction permits, allowing for greater public scrutiny and oversight. These measures were designed to foster a culture of accountability and public awareness.

Mandatory Reinforcements: In response to the structural failures observed in the Sampoong collapse, new regulations mandated the use of reinforced concrete and steel reinforcements in building designs. This ensured that buildings could withstand significant loads and environmental stresses.

Seismic Design Requirements: Recognizing the importance of earthquake-resistant designs, the government introduced requirements for seismic reinforcements in new constructions. This was particularly crucial given South Korea's vulnerability to seismic activity. New buildings were required to incorporate features that would enhance their resilience to earthquakes.

The Sampoong Department Store collapse was a pivotal event that led to significant reforms in South Korea's building standards and regulatory practices. The new laws and regulations were designed to enhance building safety, improve structural integrity, and ensure greater accountability and transparency in the construction industry. These measures aimed to prevent future disasters and restore public confidence in the safety of South Korea's buildings and infrastructure.

## Legacy

The remains of the store were demolished shortly after the collapse and the recovery operations; the site remained vacant until 2000. The families of the victims requested that a memorial be built on the site, but it was opposed by the Seochu District government, forcing the Seoul Metropolitan Government to mediate the dispute. In a controversial move, the memorial was built elsewhere and the land sold off to a private developer. The site of the collapse is now home to a luxury apartment complex, Acrovista Apartments, whose construction began in 2001 and was completed in 2004.

The incumbent Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol was a resident of this apartment until moving to the Presidential Residence 6 months after assuming office.

### Memorials

The Yangjae Citizen's Forest has a sculpture made in memory of the collapse. The twelve-meter high marble memorial was designed by Ewha Womans University professor and sculptor Kim Bong-gu, and funded by the Sampoong Group as compensation to the victims.

## Cultural references

### Documentary

- Blueprint for Disaster – The Sampoong Collapse (2004)

- Seconds from Disaster – Sampoong Department Store Collapse (2006)

### Film

- Judgement (1999)

- Traces of Love (2006)

### Television

- Chocolate (2019)

- Black (2017)

- Move to Heaven (2021)

- Rain or Shine (2017)

- Reply 1994 (2013)

- The Scandal (2013)

- When My Love Blooms (2020)