Why Taiwan is so exposed to earthquakes and so well prepared to withstand them

 Taiwan was shaken on Wednesday by the most powerful earthquake in the last 25 years. At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured , while buildings and streets were damaged and train service was disrupted. The truth is that Taiwan is no stranger to powerful earthquakes, but it has managed to relatively contain a catastrophe for the island's 23 million residents thanks to its excellent earthquake preparedness, experts say.

Wednesday's earthquake measured 7.2 according to Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimated it at 7.4. It damaged several buildings in Hualien, but caused only minor losses in the capital, Taipei, although it was strongly felt there.

A rescue worker stands near the cordoned off site of a leaning building after an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. - Credits: @Johnson Lai

According to a count by the island's fire department, cited by The New York Times , one building completely collapsed, 15 others were in a state of partial collapse, and 67 others were damaged.

Furthermore, it occurred in the middle of the morning rush hour, but it only slightly affected normal transportation. A few minutes later, parents were returning to accompany their children to school and workers were heading to the offices.

“Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world ,” said Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The island has implemented strict building codes, a world-class seismological network and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety.”

“ The skills, capabilities, equipment and training are second to none ,” said disaster response expert Steve Glassey.

Taiwan's strongest earthquake in a quarter-century shook the island during Wednesday morning rush hour, damaging buildings and roads

The island lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire ,” the seismic fault line that surrounds the Pacific Ocean and where most of the world's earthquakes occur.

The area is particularly vulnerable to tremors due to the tension built up by the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can cause sudden releases in the form of earthquakes.

The region's mountainous landscape can amplify ground shaking and cause landslides. Several such landslides occurred on Taiwan's east coast, near the epicenter of Wednesday's earthquake, as debris fell into tunnels and roads, crushing vehicles and causing several deaths.

The government continually reviews the level of seismic resistance required for new and existing buildings (which can increase construction costs) and offers subsidies to residents who wish to test the seismic resistance of their buildings.

Following a 2016 earthquake in the city of Tainan, on the island's southwest coast, five people involved in the construction of a 17-story apartment building that was the only major structure that collapsed, killing dozens, were found guilty. of negligence and imprisoned.

Jennifer Lopez and the failure of 20 million dollars that they warned her but she did not want to accept

 What is happening with Jennifer Lopez? Without a doubt, the singer and actress from the Bronx is going through a bad streak, because at this moment, she accumulates more criticism than successes.

After 10 years of musical absence, JLo returned in February 2024 with the album 'This is Me…Now' , which was accompanied by a short film of the same name and a film 'The Greatest Love Story Told', which They can be seen worldwide on Amazon Prime Video, and what would be a world tour.

However, the album has gone unnoticed. The short was destroyed by thousands of people on social networks, where they have described it as “absurd” and “ridiculous”, as well as the film whose central theme is her relationship with her now husband Ben Affleck and the dynamic they have as a couple. . As icing on the cake, due to low sales of what would be her tour, JLo has had to cancel dates on her tour.

Ben Affleck was the source of inspiration for JLo's new era. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

Despite having invested approximately $20 million in his new album and using his extensive platform to constantly promote his films and album, the return on investment has not been satisfactory. In fact, the 54-year-old singer already announced it in her documentary. "I didn't even have to make the record. Nobody was asking for new Jennifer Lopez album material, you know?"

Rob Shuter, JLo's former publicist, believes that part of the failure of the new album would be due to the little interest that exists around her romance with Affleck.

"Jennifer has always been a genius at marketing and public relations, but she miscalculated and believed that the world is still interested in her love with Ben Affleck. But no one cares about Bennifer. The world has moved on," Shuter said.

Although the diva from the Bronx has not said anything about the criticism of her films, the low sales of her album and even the cancellation of some of her shows, it has emerged in the US entertainment press that she would be sad. "She left her heart and soul in this project. It was a big disappointment," commented a source close to the singer, adding that she would not perform in stadiums with empty seats.

As we have seen in the last two years, artists have taken advantage of the end of the pandemic to go on tour around the world. JLo, with her new album, intended to do the same, but she did not have the success of colleagues like Taylor Swift who even had to create her own system to sell her tickets and avoid resellers.

Everything you need to know if you also feel hungry after training

 

You've just finished training and a feeling of hunger hits you . It is not something strange, but rather a common sensation, especially after having completed an intense training session . This phenomenon will depend on a series of factors related to the functioning of our body and its reaction to sports practice.

Furthermore, it must be taken into account that this increase in appetite after sports practice is not linked to the burning of calories , contrary to what we may think, but rather occurs due to a decrease in blood glucose (sugar) levels . that provide us with immediate energy, present in muscle glycogen. This decrease in sugar in our body causes the mobilization of our reserve and awakens this feeling of hunger in our brain.

It is not something that happens to all people equally, because on the other hand, we find other people for whom the practice of physical exercise does not cause this sensation or, quite the contrary, what it generates is a loss of appetite. As we anticipated, this is because physiological factors intervene that vary in each person . They influence, for example, age, sex, type of diet or sports activity that you do regularly. And to that we must also add the characteristics of the exercise , because depending on its intensity and duration, they influence the increase in appetite.

What if you eat after doing sports?

But let's focus on the case of those who are hungry: if we eat immediately after performing physical exercise, we must do so in a healthy way , not only with respect to the nutrients that we are going to incorporate, but also in terms of the way to do it. Taking this into account, the experts from the Nutrition Area of ​​Club Metropolitan offer us these recommendations on the diet to follow after the activity.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are looking for their love nest in New York. Look at them!

 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are looking for a new love nest

2024 Backgrid/The Grosby Group

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were spotted exploring real estate options in New York's Upper East Side. The couple toured different properties, looking for a future love nest that would be spacious and bright, with space for their five children and with the best views of the city.

Shakira, tennis fan

2024 Media Punch/The Grosby Group

Shakira was photographed watching the match between Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov during the men's final of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The artist looked phenomenal in a huge pair of futuristic glasses, a cream-colored corset with a zipper in the middle and a white miniskirt.

Bianca Censori leaves little to the imagination

2024 Backgrid/The Grosby Group

Bianca Censori, Kanye West 's current wife , caused a stir on social media after her recent appearance in Oxnard, California. The young woman was seen wearing a provocative outfit that left little to her imagination.

Sofía Vergara with her boyfriend

Kristen Stewart says she'll never make movies with Marvel Studios because they're 'a nightmare'

 Kristen Stewart shares a surprising statement that has left many speechless. The acclaimed actress has categorically stated that she will never participate in films produced by Marvel Studios, describing them as "a nightmare." Spencer 's star (85%) puts the MCU productions on the line, which in recent years have been especially criticized on social networks.

Stewart , known for her work in independent films and arthouse dramas, has built a distinguished career since she rose to fame with her starring role in the Twilight film saga (48%) . Since then, she has showcased her talents in a wide range of projects, from intimate dramas to psychological thrillers. Her presence in her industry makes it clear that she is not just any voice lost in the noise, but a source of solid critical opinion.

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer (Source: IMDb)

What did Stewart say about the Marvel movies?

Marvel Studios films have dominated the global box office for more than a decade with their interconnected cinematic universe and iconic superheroes. They have redefined the superhero film genre and set new standards for storytelling and visual effects in commercial cinema. Despite their massive success, Marvel Studios films are not without criticism. While many praise its ability to entertain and its visual spectacularity, others argue that it may lack originality and depth in narrative. Repetitive tendencies in the plots and criticism of the lack of creative risk have been pointed out.

Movies and series that Sydney Sweeney, star of Euphoria, has filmed

 

Sydney Sweeney , a young actress who has left a lasting impression on the entertainment industry, has proven her versatility and talent across a variety of projects on the big and small screen. From her first forays to her breakout role on the HBO series Euphoria (80%) , Sweeney has captivated audiences with her ability to immerse herself in a wide range of characters. Here's a look at some of the biggest movies and series she's been in:

The Martial Arts Kid (2015)

In this film, Sweeney plays Julia, a young woman who becomes friends with the protagonist, a teenager who fights against bullying. Although it is one of her first big screen roles, Sweeney shows glimpses of her talent and charisma.

The Silver Lake Mystery (56%) (2018)

Directed by David Robert Mitchell , this film features Sweeney in the role of Shooting Star, one of the many mysterious figures that the protagonist, played by Andrew Garfield, encounters in his search for a missing woman in Los Angeles.

Sydney Sweeney as Cassie (Fuente: Warner Bros.)

Sharp Objects (96%) (2018)

In this HBO series, Sweeney plays Alice, one of the young residents of Wind Gap, Missouri, where the story takes place. Sharp Objects follows a journalist (played by Amy Adams ) who returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two girls, and Sweeney brings depth to the portrayal of the dark environment there.

5 luxury experiences that cost much less than you think

 Surely you often see images of people with high purchasing power indulging in those whims that you think you will never be able to enjoy. You're wrong. It is true that there are experiences that escape the vast majority of mortals, but there are many others that, behind that appearance of exclusivity , are much more attainable than you imagine.

And today we are going to give you some examples so that you can take them into account... and give yourself the gift you deserve.

Tasting oysters by boat in the Algarve (Portugal)

Oysters and boat in the same sentence? That can only mean one thing: a big investment. And no, it is not like that at all. On the beautiful coast of Portugal it is possible to book excursions in which you can taste such a delicacy while you let yourself be rocked by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

The plans are different depending on which agency or service you hire it with: you can, for example, take a ride of about 3 hours aboard a sailing catamaran , which leaves from Vilamoura and arrives in São Rafael, while you eat oysters and drink a good sparkling wine.

Who doesn't like tasting oysters on board a boat? - Image: Kate Tepl/Unsplash (Kate Tepl/Unsplash)

Another idea that you will also love, in case you don't like sailing (but you do like eating as if you were rich), is to visit an oyster farm in the Ria Formosa, where your guides will tell you how they are produced and processed. They are raised from birth until they reach the plate. Obviously once you have discovered all their secrets, you can proceed to taste them, accompanying them, of course, with a good Portuguese white wine.

Helicopter ride over Barcelona (Spain)

Barcelona is always one of the most visited tourist destinations when someone travels to Spain (even to Europe). The beautiful City of Barcelona has a long and rich architectural, cultural and gastronomic history, making it one of the most interesting enclaves.

When it comes to exploring it, you can do it in many ways, but without a doubt a special way to see it is from a bird's eye view , from the air. That's just what you can do aboard a helicopter specially designed for it.

A helicopter ride along the coast of Barcelona is a great (and luxurious) plan - Image: Benjamin Gremler/Unsplash (Benjamin Gremler/Unsplash)

There are different agencies that offer the possibility of taking different tours with very varied prices depending on the area and time. The most economical offers the possibility of seeing the coast, its beaches up close and the city a little further away. The entire experience lasts about 25 minutes (7 minutes for the flight itself) and the maximum number of seats is only 5 people.

Save a fortune traveling to other countries for your Botox, dentist and hair appointments

 

How far would you travel for your next hair appointment? A young influencer who loves hair extensions is apparently willing to travel up to 10,000 kilometers for the perfect look, as the latest post-inflationary wellness and beauty trend in the United States grows in popularity.

Bryn Elise Wright of Colorado says she has saved more than $40,000 on medical and cosmetic treatments by doing “beauty tourism.” In the last three years, she has flown to 14 countries to get extensions, visit the dentist, get Botox, or simply get a new tattoo.

It all started in 2021, when her regular stylist raised the prices of the extension placement service to US$4,500. “ It was astronomical, so I started thinking about other options . ” I started looking abroad,” the 29-year-old influencer told SWNS.

Wright found a stylist in Istanbul on Instagram who offered her the same service for just $500. “At first I thought there was a lack of communication, but we ended up planning the trip and it was great. I was amazed ,” she recalled.

When she was encouraged to share her experience as a “beauty tourist,” Wright began to gain greater visibility on TikTok , where she now has almost 300,000 followers and more than 5 million views. “This shouldn't surprise anyone who's seen me get my dental work done in Thailand or my tattoos in Colombia , but I'm obsessed with beauty tourism!” she said in a video with 11 million views.