What a way to ruin an upcoming holiday break. New York City Public School toppers have announced that all school days lost due to Hurricane Sandy will have to be made up before the end of this academic year.

NYC students have been told to report to school from 2/20 through 2/22. These days were originally scheduled off for a planned mid-winter recess. The last day will be made up June 4, originally supposed to be a clerical half-day.

School officials say sorry to the kids, but add that these step need to be taken due to circumstances beyond their control.

US Representative Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), a leader on Burma in the U.S. House of Representatives is delighted with president Obama visit to Burma.

FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS. Middle-east Madness Mounts.
While Palestinian militants keep firing rockets to Israel, the Israeli military widens its offensive to target military commanders of the ruling Islamist group. Meanwhile, Islamist demands include open Gaza borders and international guarantees that Israel will halt all attacks on the tiny territory.

OBAMA IN MYANMAR. Landmark Trip To The Former Burma.

BP pleads guilty to 14 felony charges and agrees to pay a record amount 4.5 million in penalty charges. The rig explosion and ensuing oil spill took 11 lives of the coast. In addition 17 others were injured in the explosion. The Deep-water horizon platform which is located 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana sank after an explosion on April 20, 2010. The mile-deep Macondo oil well spewed 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico which then floated to the coast line from Florida to Texas.

This Week in History, Nov 18 - Nov 24

Nov 18, 1991
Terry Waite released. Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon free Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite after more than four years of captivity. Waite, looking thinner and his hair grayer, was freed along with American educator Thomas M. Sutherland after intense negotiations by the United Nations.

Nov 19, 1863

MIDDLE EAST MAYHEM. Hundreds of Israeli Strikes Dozens of Gaza Rockets Into Israel.
Israel attacks on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, with 300 air strikes, killing a dozen people and destroying key Palestinian targets.

OIL RIG CADAVER. Body Found Near Burned Gulf Oil Rig.
Divers in the Gulf of Mexico recovered a body in the waters near the site that caught fire, U.S. Coast Guard officials confirmed.

MISSOURI MANIAC. Would-be Killer Targets Walmart.

One of the largest retailers may be facing a holidaze this season. Protesting their low wages, high health care premiums, and allegations of retaliation from managers, workers at Wal-Mart Stores are beginning to walk off the job. First, some workers at Wal-Mart’s distribution warehouses in California have decided to walk, followed by more from half a doze Seattle stores.

In response to the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the Parks Department is engaging our volunteer network like never before. More than 5,000 people have participated in park Hurricane Sandy clean-up activities to date. This weekend, the volunteer effort will continue at several sites across the city.

Please register online at www.nyc.gov/service.

Clean-up sites include:

Bronx

Pelham Parkway (Saturday, November 17, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Pelham Parkway North & Esplanade

Brooklyn

Canarsie Park (Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Queen Elizabeth ascends to the throne of England. On November 17, 1558, Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England, succeeding her half-sister Mary. Elizabeth was the first-born child of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife. In 1536, while Elizabeth was 2 years old, her mother was executed due in large part to her inability to bear Henry a son.

RENEWED MIDEAST FIGHTING. Testing Israeli Defense System.
Israel increases its aerial assault on Hamas targets inside Gaza as its troops prepare for a possible ground invasion. Meanwhile, a missile defense shield jointly developed with the U.S. is intercepting 90 percent of Palestinian rockets that appear to be a threat.

TERRORISM IN BENGHAZI. US Was Attacked By Terrorists.
Petraeus informs U.S. lawmakers at a closed-door testimony, but does not clearly state when CIA reached that conclusion.

U.N. NIKE INSPECTION. Nuclear Inspectors Worried About Iran.