Monday, May 31, 2010
WIKINEWS: Nineteen activists killed by Israeli commandos aboard aid convoy bound for Gaza
Over nineteen Free Gaza Movement activists died yesterday when Israeli Defense Force commandos boarded vessels in international waters attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Reports say over 19 people are dead and over 30 were injured, including a captain. There is a radio and satellite blackout from the ships, which are now under Israeli control. The media have not been given access to the crews, activists or journalists.
Over 700 humanitarian activists from the Free Gaza Movement were aboard the vessels, including former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, nobel laureate Mairéad Maguire, and several European members of parliament and MPs from Germany, Belgium, Algeria and Israel. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla have connections to organisations such as Hamas and al-Qaeda. The so-called Gaza Freedom Flotilla of six vessels carried 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, including hundreds of water purifiers, prefabricated homes and medical equipment.
The Israeli military had declared it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza and said the activists were a "provocation intended to delegitimise Israel". The Israeli Navy had been transmitting messages throughout the night ordering them to turn back, stating: "If you ignore this order and enter the blockaded area, the Israeli navy will be forced to take all the necessary measures in order to enforce this blockade," and that the Gaza region was a protected military zone. The activists had stated that they were "fully prepared for the different scenarios" and that they had fully intended to go into Gaza regardless of any threats of violence that the Israeli forces may use, claiming "They are going to have to forcefully stop us."
The pre-dawn boarding took place in international waters around 150 kilometres (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza. Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship from helicopters and fighting with activists. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the activists attacked the Israeli commandos, boarding the vessel, with knifes and wrestled guns away from the Israeli commandos. A spokesman for the flotilla, Greta Berlin accuses Israeli troops of indiscriminately shooting at "unarmed civilians". Israel Defense Forces Radio said "the soldiers responded when live bullets were fired on them and one of the soldiers' weapons was stolen" and "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects". Israel said troops found weapons aboard the Gaza flotilla which were used against the IDF. The foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief who helped to organise the convoy denied they had weapons on board.
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the Israeli trade and industry minister issued words of regret. "The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities,". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' called for three days of mourning to commemorate what he called the "slaughter" of protesters. Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, has dubbed the Israeli action as "a crime". Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon said he was "shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on boats carrying supplies for Gaza" and called for "a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place" and urged Israel to "urgently provide a full explanation".
Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the raid on the ship and called it unacceptable and demanded an "urgent explanation" from Israel and warned of "irreparable consequences" after the incident. Some of the ships were sailing under Turkish flags and media reports indicate that Turkish nationals are among the dead. He summoned the Israeli ambassador to lodge a protest and said Israel violated international laws. Turkey is withdrawing its ambassador to Israel and is calling on the U.N. Security Council to convene in an emergency session about Israel.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has called on Israeli authorities to launch a "full inquiry" into the killing. She "reiterates the European Union's position regarding Gaza - the continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counterproductive." Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "deeply concerned about the events last night in the waters off Gaza... these are disconcerting initial reports." France said "nothing can justify" the incident. Sweden,Greece, Spain and Ireland have said it was important to "quickly establish" what happened, and have summoned the Israeli ambassadors to get more information.
The British Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on the Government of Israel to open all crossings for aid to enter Gaza and said Israel should "address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians ." The White House said that the United States "deeply regrets" the loss of life and injuries and was working to understand the circumstances surrounding this "tragedy."
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Over 700 humanitarian activists from the Free Gaza Movement were aboard the vessels, including former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, nobel laureate Mairéad Maguire, and several European members of parliament and MPs from Germany, Belgium, Algeria and Israel. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla have connections to organisations such as Hamas and al-Qaeda. The so-called Gaza Freedom Flotilla of six vessels carried 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, including hundreds of water purifiers, prefabricated homes and medical equipment.
The Israeli military had declared it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza and said the activists were a "provocation intended to delegitimise Israel". The Israeli Navy had been transmitting messages throughout the night ordering them to turn back, stating: "If you ignore this order and enter the blockaded area, the Israeli navy will be forced to take all the necessary measures in order to enforce this blockade," and that the Gaza region was a protected military zone. The activists had stated that they were "fully prepared for the different scenarios" and that they had fully intended to go into Gaza regardless of any threats of violence that the Israeli forces may use, claiming "They are going to have to forcefully stop us."
The pre-dawn boarding took place in international waters around 150 kilometres (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza. Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship from helicopters and fighting with activists. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the activists attacked the Israeli commandos, boarding the vessel, with knifes and wrestled guns away from the Israeli commandos. A spokesman for the flotilla, Greta Berlin accuses Israeli troops of indiscriminately shooting at "unarmed civilians". Israel Defense Forces Radio said "the soldiers responded when live bullets were fired on them and one of the soldiers' weapons was stolen" and "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects". Israel said troops found weapons aboard the Gaza flotilla which were used against the IDF. The foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief who helped to organise the convoy denied they had weapons on board.
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the Israeli trade and industry minister issued words of regret. "The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities,". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' called for three days of mourning to commemorate what he called the "slaughter" of protesters. Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, has dubbed the Israeli action as "a crime". Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon said he was "shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on boats carrying supplies for Gaza" and called for "a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place" and urged Israel to "urgently provide a full explanation".
Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the raid on the ship and called it unacceptable and demanded an "urgent explanation" from Israel and warned of "irreparable consequences" after the incident. Some of the ships were sailing under Turkish flags and media reports indicate that Turkish nationals are among the dead. He summoned the Israeli ambassador to lodge a protest and said Israel violated international laws. Turkey is withdrawing its ambassador to Israel and is calling on the U.N. Security Council to convene in an emergency session about Israel.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has called on Israeli authorities to launch a "full inquiry" into the killing. She "reiterates the European Union's position regarding Gaza - the continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counterproductive." Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "deeply concerned about the events last night in the waters off Gaza... these are disconcerting initial reports." France said "nothing can justify" the incident. Sweden,Greece, Spain and Ireland have said it was important to "quickly establish" what happened, and have summoned the Israeli ambassadors to get more information.
The British Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on the Government of Israel to open all crossings for aid to enter Gaza and said Israel should "address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians ." The White House said that the United States "deeply regrets" the loss of life and injuries and was working to understand the circumstances surrounding this "tragedy."
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Seven policemen killed in Afghanistan after bomb explosion
At least seven policemen were killed in northeastern Afghanistan yesterday, according to reports, after a bomb went off near a police patrol vehicle.
The incident occurred in the Darayim district within the province of Badakhshan, considered to be the least violent province in the country.
Another policeman was injured, and subsequently evacuated to a provincial hospital; deputy provincial governor Shams-Ul Rahman Shams said his condition is apparently critical. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, an Afghan army convoy full of soldiers struck upon another roadside bomb in Nangarhar, killing a further three people.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
The incident occurred in the Darayim district within the province of Badakhshan, considered to be the least violent province in the country.
Another policeman was injured, and subsequently evacuated to a provincial hospital; deputy provincial governor Shams-Ul Rahman Shams said his condition is apparently critical. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, an Afghan army convoy full of soldiers struck upon another roadside bomb in Nangarhar, killing a further three people.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Plug for underwater oil leak in Gulf of Mexico fails
The top kill procedure implemented by BP on the leaking Deepwater Horizon oil well on Wednesday has failed. According to David Suttles, BP's chief operating officer, "We have been unable to overcome the flow." Suttles stated that after studying three days of results, BP determined that the procedure was a failure.
On Wednesday, BP began pumping mud into the leaking well, a procedure known as top kill. BP chief executive Tony Howard said it would take at least 24 hours to determine if the procedure was successful. The procedure has worked before in surface situations, but was not previously attempted at 5,000 feet underwater.
"BP Oil Flood Protest" in New Orleans
The procedure involves pumping heavyweight drilling mud from the surface through a drill pipe, which directs the mud into a manifold lying on the sea bed. From the manifold, the mud is pumped into the blowout preventer, which is sitting on the well.
BP says it pumped 30,000 barrels of mud into the well at rates of up to 80 barrels a minute. After three attempts, the well was still leaking.
The next option, the sixth, is called the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap containment system. This procedure involves a robot using a saw to cut off the leaking pipe and place a cap on the pipe. The LMRP Cap is at the scene and the procedure is expected to take four days to complete.
In New Orleans hundreds gathered in protest, calling for a fast stop to the spill and greater efforts to mitigate its ecological and economic effects.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
---------------------------------
I love how they come up with all these epic names to plug up their failure.
On Wednesday, BP began pumping mud into the leaking well, a procedure known as top kill. BP chief executive Tony Howard said it would take at least 24 hours to determine if the procedure was successful. The procedure has worked before in surface situations, but was not previously attempted at 5,000 feet underwater.
"BP Oil Flood Protest" in New Orleans
The procedure involves pumping heavyweight drilling mud from the surface through a drill pipe, which directs the mud into a manifold lying on the sea bed. From the manifold, the mud is pumped into the blowout preventer, which is sitting on the well.
BP says it pumped 30,000 barrels of mud into the well at rates of up to 80 barrels a minute. After three attempts, the well was still leaking.
The next option, the sixth, is called the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap containment system. This procedure involves a robot using a saw to cut off the leaking pipe and place a cap on the pipe. The LMRP Cap is at the scene and the procedure is expected to take four days to complete.
In New Orleans hundreds gathered in protest, calling for a fast stop to the spill and greater efforts to mitigate its ecological and economic effects.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
---------------------------------
I love how they come up with all these epic names to plug up their failure.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Hell Sounds Better Than Heaven
Hell I think would be very unpleasant at first, but in time a person could get used to it. Would be just more of the same for ever and ever, would be nothing to answer to other than pain itself. If it is only pain which must dealt with, then one can be free to think about anything—which separates it from heaven where free thinking does not exist. I would rather answer to only pain than to a character like God in a mental prison like heaven. While a being which created us to see which of us were slaves and which were destined for hell sounds nice and all, I would rather swim in a lake of fire. There is no free-will in a large sense (especially if there is a god); we have no choice whether or not we want to be here, and we have no choice whether or not we want to leave, we have a choice between pain or boredom. Imagine living around "believers" for an eternity? All that "I told you so" would speed up the process of boredom twofold. Imagine living around people like this for the rest of time....
or.....
While pain is unpleasant, it is never boring, unless you become used to it. If hell becomes boring then you still would retain the freedom of thought and freedom from the mandatory worship of the all-powerful a-hole. If hell is the ultimate punishment then it can get no worse, so thought crime is impossible. With freedom of thought comes freedom of perception.
So who would like to join me in hell if by some act of God there was one (c wut i did ther?)? I got the marshmallows covered.
WIKINEWS: Israel declines appeals to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The resolution singles out Israel, calling on "all states in the Middle East that have not yet done so to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states so as to achieve its universality at an early date." In an official statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Israel said the resolution, "is deeply flawed and hypocritical. It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world." The statement went on to state, "[the resolution] singles out Israel, the Middle East's only true democracy and the only country threatened with annihilation. Yet the terrorist regime in Iran, which is racing to develop nuclear weapons and which openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map, is not even mentioned in the resolution."
An Arab-backed proposal for a WMD-Free zone in the Middle East, supported in 1995 by the NPT Conference, was never acted upon.
As a non-signatory state, Israel is not bound by any resolutions of the NPT.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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I have a feeling that the main export of the Middle East will be glass.
WIKINEWS: Facebook blocked in Bangladesh
Bangladesh temporarily blocked the social networking site Facebook on Saturday, after a man was arrested for uploading content onto it deemed offensive. Other users had reportedly posted other kinds of potentially offensive content, including anti-religious and pornographic materials.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Mahbub Alam Rodin, aged 30, in charges of uploading cartoons of some political leaders on the website. Rodin's activity on Facebook was classified as "offensive", said Commander Mohammad Sohail, director of RAB's Legal and Media side, as reported by The Daily Star. RAB asked to block all seven accounts of Rodin in Facebook. Rodin used pseudonyms like "Brigadier Mahadi", "Sepahi Mahadi", "Imam Hossain", "Rodin Al", "Mohammad Al Mahadi" and "Junaida Khandaker Zihan", Sohail said.
No official comment has been made, but Bangladesh's Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked it on the government's request. Private news agency bdnews24 reported that the measure was made on a request by the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion. Users couldn't log onto the website since 6:30 pm local time.
The website is to be unblocked on Monday.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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Must be fun to live in a country that bans an entire website because of one person.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Mahbub Alam Rodin, aged 30, in charges of uploading cartoons of some political leaders on the website. Rodin's activity on Facebook was classified as "offensive", said Commander Mohammad Sohail, director of RAB's Legal and Media side, as reported by The Daily Star. RAB asked to block all seven accounts of Rodin in Facebook. Rodin used pseudonyms like "Brigadier Mahadi", "Sepahi Mahadi", "Imam Hossain", "Rodin Al", "Mohammad Al Mahadi" and "Junaida Khandaker Zihan", Sohail said.
No official comment has been made, but Bangladesh's Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked it on the government's request. Private news agency bdnews24 reported that the measure was made on a request by the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion. Users couldn't log onto the website since 6:30 pm local time.
The website is to be unblocked on Monday.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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Must be fun to live in a country that bans an entire website because of one person.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Blame vs. Praise (careful, it may be watching).
We have all heard believers in God thanking the nonexistent friend of the masses. The thanking of God is done in order to be rewarded by the opportunity to thank him even longer. Here's a napkin for the people I'm talking about (you have a brown smudge on your nose).
Such people thank God for when good things happen to them, or when he chooses to have bad things happen to OTHER people. "Thank God I was lucky enough to survive"—what is really meant by this is: "thank you God for being a dick to those other people and choosing to leave me out of it". Is God choosing to harm people just so the suck-ups will thank him for not doing it to them? Is it just like when God crushes the dreams of a losing sports team by allowing the winning team to be victorious? If God is just a spectator then what is the point of thanking him? If God chose the winner then what is the point of playing? I'm sure all those winning sports players didn't think their speeches out all that much (thinking is not needed when God gives you athletic ability). On some level, I must admit that I wish I believed that whenever I successfully wiped my ass that the all-powerful creator's "hand" made it possible.
I would now like to thank my imaginary pal (he's invisible, so it requires very little imagination) for all the great things he has done for me.
Here are the things that I would like to blame God for...
I could go on and on, but I need to get some sleep. I blame God for making me tired the moment I start to calling him out for all the horrible stuff he did/does to people.
Such people thank God for when good things happen to them, or when he chooses to have bad things happen to OTHER people. "Thank God I was lucky enough to survive"—what is really meant by this is: "thank you God for being a dick to those other people and choosing to leave me out of it". Is God choosing to harm people just so the suck-ups will thank him for not doing it to them? Is it just like when God crushes the dreams of a losing sports team by allowing the winning team to be victorious? If God is just a spectator then what is the point of thanking him? If God chose the winner then what is the point of playing? I'm sure all those winning sports players didn't think their speeches out all that much (thinking is not needed when God gives you athletic ability). On some level, I must admit that I wish I believed that whenever I successfully wiped my ass that the all-powerful creator's "hand" made it possible.
I would now like to thank my imaginary pal (he's invisible, so it requires very little imagination) for all the great things he has done for me.
- Thank you for not having a serial killer standing behind me RIGHT NOW.
- Thank you for making me an atheist.
- Thank you for making that special "warm place" for Muslim suicide bombers and all those virgin priests (real good idea putting them together).
- Thank you for allowing Eve to eat that fruit that forced ugly people to feel shame and cover up.
- Thank you for never having a Yeti bum-rush me during their mating season (never go into the woods during the end of November through mid-December if you can help it).
- Thank you for not giving me cancer.
- Thank you for Chinese sweat shops (I like cheap shit).
- Thank you for not having me born in a third-world country.
- Thank you for all of the wars that have greatly influenced the way history unfolded (I like the way things are).
- Thank you for all the diseases that caused immense suffering and death that you chose to not inflict upon me.
- Thank you for allowing me to have free-will.
- Thank you for sparing my life when that bee stung me (God chose not to make me allergic).
Here are the things that I would like to blame God for...
- Not making me tall so that I could make millions by throwing a rubber ball into a metal hoop.
- Time I stubbed my toe and the nail fell off.
- Giving me that bad cold that I had 2 weeks ago.
- Not chosing me to win the lottery.
- Making hell harder to avoid for the people that use the freewill and brains he handed out.
- Hitler—I know, I know... free will—but, an all-powerful creator of the universe could have stopped this. He rather doesn't exist, didn't want to, or couldn't—thus, making him rather our imagination, not as powerful as a bullet, or a dick.
- AIDS
- Cancer
- Justin Bieber
- Haiti earthquake
- Starving people in Ethiopia (Jesus has the super-power of making bread and fish magically appear, could just beam him/himself down).
- Not striking down Catholic priests that touch little boys with lightning.
I could go on and on, but I need to get some sleep. I blame God for making me tired the moment I start to calling him out for all the horrible stuff he did/does to people.
YouTube (whitehouse): President Obama Assesses BP Oil Spill Response
The President speaks in Grande Isle, LA after assessing the response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill and reaffirms the Administration's commitment to doing all in its power to help protect the environment and the livelihoods of the population affected by the spill. May 28, 2010.
WIKINEWS: Malawi President pardons jailed gay couple
On Saturday, May 29, Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the African country of Malawi, granted pardons to a gay couple who had been sentenced to 14 years in jail for sodomy and indecency charges. Mutharika, who has in the past dismissed homosexuality as alien, stated that he was releasing the couple on humanitarian grounds.
On Thursday, the President of South Africa condemned the decision of the Malawi courts in a rare dissenting statement stating, "We have condemned the action taken to arrest people in terms of our constitution," in response to questions about the Malawi arrests.
In December, Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested following a personal engagement ceremony. The men were charged with gross indecency and unnatural acts, based on laws imposed during the British colonial period in Malawi.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
On Thursday, the President of South Africa condemned the decision of the Malawi courts in a rare dissenting statement stating, "We have condemned the action taken to arrest people in terms of our constitution," in response to questions about the Malawi arrests.
In December, Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested following a personal engagement ceremony. The men were charged with gross indecency and unnatural acts, based on laws imposed during the British colonial period in Malawi.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Friday, May 28, 2010
WIKINEWS: US Representative Joe Sestak allegedly offered job by Obama to stay out of Senate election
US Representative Joe Sestak, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, says that he was offered a job in the Obama administration if he would drop out of a Senate primary election. Obama told journalists in a news conference that an official report on the allegations will be released "shortly".
Republican leaders have asked the Attorney General's office to review the legal implications of this job offer, but the Justice Department has rejected other requests to investigate or appoint a special prosecutor.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: US actor Gary Coleman dies aged 42
Coleman had been suffering multiple medical problems throughout his life, however it is unknown if these problems affected his death. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which required two transplants and daily dialysis. On February 27, 2010 Coleman suffered a seizure on the set of the television show The Insider.
Coleman's career began with appearances in US sit-com's such as The Jeffersons and Good Times. He was best know for his recurring role as Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes and his recurring line, "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?".
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: At least 65 dead after train derailment in West Bengal, India
At least 65 people were killed and over 200 injured when a train derailed in West Bengal, India. Suspected Maoist rebels triggered the attack which occurred in the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express. The train, which runs from Kolkata to Mumbai, had thirteen coaches derailed, five of which were subsequently struck by a freight train coming in the opposite direction.
The train derailed near the city of Sardiha, about 90 miles (150 km) southwest of the state capital of Kolkata. The region is a Maoist stronghold where multiple attacks have occurred in the recent past. The exact cause of the disaster was unclear, with some officials claiming an explosion had led to the attack, while some unaffected passengers stating they heard no blast.
Police officials, including Bhupinder Singh, the head of police of the state, said the metallic parts which held parts of the rail track together were missing and labeled this as an act of sabotage. Singh blamed the Maoists for the attack stating policemen had found Maoist leaflets at the scene.
However, the driver said he had heard an explosion in the attack which derailed as many as ten passenger coaches. The country's railways minister Mamata Bannerjee said the combined effect of sabotage to the tracks and a bomb blast led to the incident. According to her, there was "definitely sabotage" and the bomb blast had led to the derailment. "From whatever I have been told the apprehension is the Maoists were involved," she added. Police officials mentioned they were investigating whether the removal of the "fish plates" was the primary cause of the attack.
"The driver heard a loud noise which indicates there could be a blast. A detail investigation will reveal more, but definitely there was lot of tinkering done to the tracks," a senior railway official, Vivek Sahay, said.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time, and police forces and local medics took an hour to rech the site. Lack of roads and the fear of an ambush by Maoists slowed rescue operations. Passengers complained of the slow operations; some of them claimed luggage and valuables were stolen in the confusion.
E. Mitra, a doctor at the nearby Kharagpur Railway Hospital, noted 30 bodies had been taken to the hospital. But "a lot of dead bodies are strewn under the derailed carriages," he added. Home Secretary of the state, Samar Ghosh, said 65 bodies had been found till then.
Air Force helicopters came to the scene at dawn as local television footage showed onlookers standing on the top of the affected carriages, as soldiers cut holes in the roofs with a gas-powered circular saw.
"People are crying. Rescuers are struggling to save the survivors and get the bodies out," Naresh Jana, a witness, said. "I can see body parts hanging out of the compartments and under the wheels. I can hear people, women, crying for help from inside the affected coaches."
"There was a massive jerk, and we thought the Maoists had stopped the train to hijack it," another unidentified witness told local media. "But thank God it was an accident … at least many people are saved. This area is very dangerous, very dangerous."
The railways minister of India announced a compensation of $11,000 and a job in her ministry for the families of the dead and $2,200 for those wounded.
The Maoists guerillas who are known as "Naxalites" in India are powerful force in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, which are the relatively poorer states of India. In the past few years, poor or landless peasants and tribesman have rendered their support towards the insurgents, due to the wealth gap and as a result of the former losing their land to government-aided mining companies.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
The train derailed near the city of Sardiha, about 90 miles (150 km) southwest of the state capital of Kolkata. The region is a Maoist stronghold where multiple attacks have occurred in the recent past. The exact cause of the disaster was unclear, with some officials claiming an explosion had led to the attack, while some unaffected passengers stating they heard no blast.
Police officials, including Bhupinder Singh, the head of police of the state, said the metallic parts which held parts of the rail track together were missing and labeled this as an act of sabotage. Singh blamed the Maoists for the attack stating policemen had found Maoist leaflets at the scene.
However, the driver said he had heard an explosion in the attack which derailed as many as ten passenger coaches. The country's railways minister Mamata Bannerjee said the combined effect of sabotage to the tracks and a bomb blast led to the incident. According to her, there was "definitely sabotage" and the bomb blast had led to the derailment. "From whatever I have been told the apprehension is the Maoists were involved," she added. Police officials mentioned they were investigating whether the removal of the "fish plates" was the primary cause of the attack.
"The driver heard a loud noise which indicates there could be a blast. A detail investigation will reveal more, but definitely there was lot of tinkering done to the tracks," a senior railway official, Vivek Sahay, said.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time, and police forces and local medics took an hour to rech the site. Lack of roads and the fear of an ambush by Maoists slowed rescue operations. Passengers complained of the slow operations; some of them claimed luggage and valuables were stolen in the confusion.
E. Mitra, a doctor at the nearby Kharagpur Railway Hospital, noted 30 bodies had been taken to the hospital. But "a lot of dead bodies are strewn under the derailed carriages," he added. Home Secretary of the state, Samar Ghosh, said 65 bodies had been found till then.
Air Force helicopters came to the scene at dawn as local television footage showed onlookers standing on the top of the affected carriages, as soldiers cut holes in the roofs with a gas-powered circular saw.
"People are crying. Rescuers are struggling to save the survivors and get the bodies out," Naresh Jana, a witness, said. "I can see body parts hanging out of the compartments and under the wheels. I can hear people, women, crying for help from inside the affected coaches."
"There was a massive jerk, and we thought the Maoists had stopped the train to hijack it," another unidentified witness told local media. "But thank God it was an accident … at least many people are saved. This area is very dangerous, very dangerous."
The railways minister of India announced a compensation of $11,000 and a job in her ministry for the families of the dead and $2,200 for those wounded.
The Maoists guerillas who are known as "Naxalites" in India are powerful force in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, which are the relatively poorer states of India. In the past few years, poor or landless peasants and tribesman have rendered their support towards the insurgents, due to the wealth gap and as a result of the former losing their land to government-aided mining companies.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Foxconn under pressure after tenth employee suicide this year
An electronics factory in China
Taiwan electronics giant Foxconn has moved to repair its reputation after the suicide of a tenth employee this year, two others having survived attempted suicides.
The latest death came on the same day as Terry Gou, Chairman of Foxconn's parent Hon Hai Precision, opened the Shenzen production facility to the media for the first time. In the face of accusations that he ran a modern day sweatshop, he showed off employee recreation facilities. Gou, bowing as an expression of regret, promised to work to prevent such tragedies occurring again.
Although not a household name, Foxconn is the largest producer of electronics components and badge engineered electronics products in the world, manufacturing products for companies like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Dell.
Investigations of working conditions are underway. "Apple is deeply committed to ensuring that conditions throughout our supply chain are safe and workers are treated with respect and dignity," said Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesperson. Allen Pu of Fubon Securities said: "Hon Hai needs to resolve the issue because the situation is also negative for Apple and HP. Clients may reallocate some orders to other manufacturers."
Labor activists have criticised conditions at Foxconn's factories as "military-style", with workers working long shifts and not being able to speak to each other. However, Foxconn claims that the suicides were mostly the result of relationship problems unrelated to its own management style, and it argues that for a work force so large the number of suicides is small.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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Almost makes you sick thinking about the conditions these people must be in for them to be committing suicide at such a rate. Eventually the Chinese people will fight for their rights—but us Americans will miss our cheap plastic goods and Walmart will not make nearly as much money.
WIKINEWS: California Senate prohibits sports drinks in public schools
Earlier today, California state senators voted 21 in favour and eleven against the prohibition of sales of sugared sports drinks at public schools during class hours. Soft drinks are already banned during school hours. "Sugar-sweetened electrolyte replacement beverages are still available and have surged in popularity among kids," said Senator Alex Padilla. "This is a a common sense step forward in the effort to address the obesity epidemic in California," he added. Padilla's bill is now on its way to the Assembly.
Studies have shown that drinks, especially sweetened, contribute to obesity among adults and children, leading to diseases like diabetes. "Eight out of ten drinks sold in California public schools are sports drinks," Padilla said, citing information from the California Department of Public Health.
Governor Schwarzenegger is sponsoring a package of legislation aimed at reducing child obesity in California.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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Another pointless law to get more control over kids. The problem with children in schools nowadays is the lack of physical activity—video games and computers have caused children (and adults) to have a more sedentary lifestyle. Instead of banning sports drinks, they need to promote sports. They should have the kids walk a couple of miles after lunch—it would be good for them—banning sugary drinks is just demoralizing. Regardless, exercise needs to be promoted, taking away certain beverages will have no noticeable effect.
WIKINEWS: Experimental aircraft breaks record for hypersonic flight
The experimental Boeing X-51A Waverider scramjet managed to break a hypersonic flight record Wednesday during a test flight.
The United States Air Force (USAF) said that the scramjet was able to fly for 200 seconds, achieving a top speed of around Mach 5 and setting a new record for what the Air Force called "the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight." The previous record of twelve seconds was set by the NASA X-43 in 2004. This hypersonic flight, also the first to use hydrocarbon fuel, was hailed by US government officials as a success. Despite an unknown failure which caused the X-51 to lose acceleration, an X-51 program manager said that the USAF was "ecstatic" about the event's accomplishments.
The X-51 is 14 feet (4.2 metres) long and has no real wings, allowing it to withstand the shock wave created during flight. The aircraft launched around 10 a.m. PDT (1700 UTC) from Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was carried by a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress to a height of 50,000 feet (15,240 metres) and then released over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range. The X-51 was then propelled by a solid rocket booster to Mach 4.8.
After about 200 seconds in flight, Boeing said that "something then occurred that caused the vehicle to lose acceleration. At that point, the X-51A was terminated as planned." Although it was expected to fly for about 300 seconds and reach Mach 6, the scramjet only managed Mach 5 at a height of about 70,000 feet (21,336 metres), possibly due to an engine blowout. The aircraft landed in the ocean as planned, and there are no plans to retrieve it.
This test is the first of four planned flights for the X-51 program, with the other three planned for this coming fall. Previously, the X-51 had flown twice, but was attached to the B-52 both times.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Thursday, May 27, 2010
TAP POEM: run to the top
run to the top
dream to be there
it's what we do
can't wait to get there
push hard
everyone will
before death
where everyone is
at the top
in heaven
enjoying everything
which is death
suicide is natural
everyone enjoys it
time the blade
--------------------------------------------------
This poem is not condoning suicide, don't be stupid—our goal it to live forever.
TAP POEM: Vomit
discarding what you ate
feel it coming
makes you sick
just nasty
it won't go away
until you flush
it was food
now garbage
why the change?
the feeling of nausea
nobody likes it
just us
TAP POEM: Pain Out of Knowledge
knowledge out of pain
understanding out of fear
fear of death
death has happened
several times
but of course you are different
you remember it
but there is nothing unique
others die
what happened to them?
you will to
have fun
TAP POEM: Focus
try to focus
they say it's important
it's your life
you must remember
memories eaten by nothing
gone in an eternity
its not your life
its everyone's
WIKINEWS: Sudanese president sworn in to another term
Omar al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, has been sworn in to another term after winning the country's recent polls, which were largely boycotted by the opposition.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by multiple African leaders and two diplomats from the United Nations, was held earlier today. A reporter for the Al Jazeera news agency described the event as being primarily "a gathering of African leaders".
In his inauguration speech, al-Bashir said that there would be "no return to war" with southern Sudan, and said a referendum on southern independence would be held on time. Southern Sudan is to hold a ballot in January of next year on whether to secede from the rest of the country. The referendum is a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended Sudan's north-south civil war.
al-Bashir was re-elected in April with 68% of the vote. Many opposition parties boycotted the election, accusing the president's party of having rigged the result.
The president is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, including allegations that he ordered mass murder, rape and torture in Darfur, where rebels have frequently clashed with the government; al-Bashir strongly denies the claims.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Obama to suspend Arctic oil drilling
According to Democratic Senator Mark Begich from Alaska, the U.S. Department of the Interior has decided to halt all new Arctic exploratory oil drilling applications until 2011. The response is believed to be caused in part by the two current oil spill disasters (that of the Deepwater Horizon Incident and more recently the Alaska oil pipeline malfunction). However, Begich is not happy about the actions taken by the White House."I am frustrated that this decision by the Obama administration to halt offshore development for a year will cause more delays and higher costs for domestic oil and gas production to meet the nation's energy needs," Begich claims.
Last September, the state of Alaska made a public notice about Shell's desire to drill off the coast of the Beaufort Sea, placing experimental drilling rigs at two drill site location: "Torpedo" and "Sivulliq".
"Shell is committed to undertaking a safe and environmentally responsible exploration program in the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea in 2010," said Shell Oil Company President Marvin E. Odum to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Mineral Management Service (MMS).
Odum follows with, "I am confident that we are ready to conduct the 2010 Arctic exploratory program safely and, I want to be clear, the accountability for this program rests with Shell."
Chuck Clausen, director of the Alaska project at the National Resources Defense Council is not so optimistic: "Hazards present in the Arctic can include frigid temperatures, presence of sea ice, gale-force winds, intense storms and heavy fog ... The potential for loss in the Arctic is great."
Odum believes that the climate in the arctic will make any spill easier to clean up because, "Arctic conditions create differences in responding to oil in cold and ice conditions. Differences in evaporation rates, viscosity and weathering provide greater opportunities to recover oil. In Arctic conditions, ice can aid oil spill response by slowing oil weathering, dampening waves, preventing oil from spreading over large distances, and allowing more time to respond."
However, Clausen believes that there are no current systems to remove oil from icy ocean waters.
This is not the first time that President Obama's administration has taken the environmentally cautious path in Alaska. The President put Bristol Bay off limits to oil and gas exploration until 2017. Bristol Bay currently is one of the top salmon fishing grounds in the state.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to give a speech at Thursday's White House address, regarding the suspension of Arctic oil.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
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I personally am glad Obama is starting to take a hard stance against domestic oil—they have been causing so much damage to the environment recently. Domestic oil is not worth the damage its causing—we should be putting all our efforts towards other ways of powering our vehicles—instead of continuing down this road to nowhere.
WIKINEWS: Head of US Minerals Management Service resigns following BP oil spill response
After reports that US President Barack Obama has fired the director of the Minerals Management Service, Elizabeth "Liz" Birnbaum, the Interior Department revealed that she instead resigned "on her own volition".
The resignation occurred amidst growing criticism of the federal government's response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and the agency's oversight over offshore drilling.
Birnbaum, who became director in June 2009, was expected to testify before a subcommittee of the House of Representatives today with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. She was not present when Salazar began to speak, however. Salazar said in a statement: "She is a good public servant. She resigned today on her own terms and on her own volition. I thank her for her service and wish her the very best."
News agencies had reported that Birnbaum was forced out of office, and Obama was expected to officially announce the supposed firing later today in a news conference along with discussing an Interior Department report on the explosion. Birnbaum observed in her letter of resignation that Salazar "will be requiring three new leaders for the Office Natural Resources Revenue, the Bureau of Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement" as the entire Minerals Management Service is reorganized.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Vanuatu hit by 7.2 magnitude earthquake
Vanuatu has been hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake at 04:14 local time on Friday (17:14 UTC on Thursday). The epicenter was located 215 kilometers to the northwest of Luganville, Espíritu Santo, Vanuatu; 340 kilometers to the southeast of Lata, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands; 485 kilometers to the northwest of Port-Vila, Vanuatu; and 2,070 kilometers to the northeast of Brisbane, Australia.
The earthquake had a depth of 36.1 kilometers, approximately 22.4 miles. NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. They said on the report: "It is not known that a tsunami was generated. This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours." The Vanuatu government Meteorological Office reported infrastructure cracks, and power outages, but does not foresee major damage. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, CNN reported. USGS initially reported the earthquake as 7.6, but they later downgraded it. A 5.2 aftershock was reported later by USGS.
Vanuatu is an insular country located in southern Pacific Ocean, located 1,750 kilometers to the east of Australia.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center
Space Shuttle Atlantis landed Wednesday, May 26, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after 11 days, 18 hours and 4.8 million miles in space on mission STS-132.
The Shuttle landed at 08:48:18 EDT (12:48 UTC), on runway 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility for the last time Wednesday. Speaking of the smooth landing, Mission Control said, "That was pretty sweet. That was a suiting end to an incredible mission." "It was smooth as silk. We were clearly riding in the middle of a fireball, and it was spectacular. The windows, all of them, were bright, brilliant orange. One of the neatest things was when we flew right into orbital sunrise," STS-132 Commander Ken Ham said of the landing.
Mission STS-132 carried the Russian-built Mini Research Module Rassvet and an Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD) to the International Space Station, and featured three spacewalks, after docking with the station on Flight Day 3, May 16.
It was Space Shuttle Atlantis' 32nd mission and also its last, completing almost 25 years of service. Along with Atlantis, the Space Shuttles Endeavour and Discovery will also be retired in 2010. The shuttles will be shown at museums around the country.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Bottled water concerns health experts
Canadian researchers from C-crest Laboratories have discovered an "unusually high" amount of bacteria in bottled water. Researchers don't blame specific brands, but bottled water in general.
A random study found unusually high rates of heterotrophic bacteria in the bottled water, more than 500 cfu, the legal limit set by United States Pharmacopeia on how much bacteria should be present in drinking water in Canada. Unusually high amounts of bacteria were present in 70% of the test samples across several brands of bottled water. "Heterotrophic bacteria counts in some of the bottles were found to be in revolting figures of (100) times more than the permitted limit," said Sonish Azam, a Canadian researcher involved in the study, “This amount of bacteria is alarming, as if we are ingesting a cup of culture... Microbiologically speaking, tap water is purer than bottled water -- most bottled water. We didn't know this until we conducted the research."
The bacteria are not very harmful to an average person, but many sensitive groups, such as the young, sick or elderly, could get sick from it. "Heterotrophic bacteria counts in drinking water are not a health concern to the general public," was the concluding analyses of a recent study by the World Health Organization.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
A random study found unusually high rates of heterotrophic bacteria in the bottled water, more than 500 cfu, the legal limit set by United States Pharmacopeia on how much bacteria should be present in drinking water in Canada. Unusually high amounts of bacteria were present in 70% of the test samples across several brands of bottled water. "Heterotrophic bacteria counts in some of the bottles were found to be in revolting figures of (100) times more than the permitted limit," said Sonish Azam, a Canadian researcher involved in the study, “This amount of bacteria is alarming, as if we are ingesting a cup of culture... Microbiologically speaking, tap water is purer than bottled water -- most bottled water. We didn't know this until we conducted the research."
The bacteria are not very harmful to an average person, but many sensitive groups, such as the young, sick or elderly, could get sick from it. "Heterotrophic bacteria counts in drinking water are not a health concern to the general public," was the concluding analyses of a recent study by the World Health Organization.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
smoking tot puffs 40 cigs a day MSNBC reports
/jaw drop
/face palm
I thought it was crazy when I seen this 11 year old smoking the other day in my town—kids grow up so fast now-a-days—that or the parents are just getting shittier.
WIKINEWS: Mexican cartoonist Gabriel Vargas dies at 95
Vargas’s most successful comic strip was “La Familia Burron” which he started in 1937. The strip looked at a low-income family struggling with everyday life. It sold up to 500,000 copies per week until the 1970s.
Later in his career he won several awards for his work, including Mexico’s National Journalism Prize in 1983 and the National Sciences and Arts prize in 2003.
There was a memorial viewing for Vargas at a funeral home in Mexico City yesterday.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: UK police announce arrest of suspected serial killer
Police in the United Kingdom have arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of being a serial killer. The man is being questioned over the death of one prostitute and the disappearances of two others in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
The man was arrested on Monday after 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires vanished on Sunday. Body parts believed to be hers were found floating in a river yesterday afternoon, and police today announced they were questioning a man on suspicion of her murder and that of two missing prostitutes.
The man, who lives in Bradford's red-light district, is facing questioning over the April 26 disappearance of Shelley Armitage, 31, and the June 2009 disappearance of Susan Rushworth, 43. This morning a magistrate granted West Yorkshire Police extra time to question the man, which will expire tomorrow evening.
Rushworth was last seen on a double-decker bus heading to Thornton Road. She had three children, was addicted to heroin and suffered from epilepsy. Armitage was last seen on CCTV in the red-light district. She lived just three streets from Blamires and the two knew each other. Blamire's suspected remains were found in the River Aire in nearby Shipley by a member of public at 2:00 p.m.
The area is being examined by forensics experts, crime officers and police divers. West Yorksire Police's homicide and major enquiries team is conducting the investigation. Police dogs have been used to search a drainage culvert and undergrowth on Thornton Road, and black bags from skips behind nearby halls of residence have been examined. Members of the police underwater search unit were also at work. Previously, seperate searches have been held for Rushworth and Armitage.
Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar said the remains from the river are of a single unidentified woman. He said that all three women's families are being assisted by family liaison officers. Speaking at an on-scene press conference at the junction between Dockfield Road and Otley Road in Shipley, he described the investigation as "a very thorough and painstaking inquiry into three missing women, all of them sex workers, with all the necessary resources and expertise devoted to it."
Some British media has compared the case to the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, often referred to as the Yorkshire Ripper. Sutcliffe lived in Bradford and killed three of his thirteen victims there; he also attempted to murder seven more people before his 1981 conviction. Most of his victims were prostitutes.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
The man was arrested on Monday after 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires vanished on Sunday. Body parts believed to be hers were found floating in a river yesterday afternoon, and police today announced they were questioning a man on suspicion of her murder and that of two missing prostitutes.
The man, who lives in Bradford's red-light district, is facing questioning over the April 26 disappearance of Shelley Armitage, 31, and the June 2009 disappearance of Susan Rushworth, 43. This morning a magistrate granted West Yorkshire Police extra time to question the man, which will expire tomorrow evening.
Rushworth was last seen on a double-decker bus heading to Thornton Road. She had three children, was addicted to heroin and suffered from epilepsy. Armitage was last seen on CCTV in the red-light district. She lived just three streets from Blamires and the two knew each other. Blamire's suspected remains were found in the River Aire in nearby Shipley by a member of public at 2:00 p.m.
The area is being examined by forensics experts, crime officers and police divers. West Yorksire Police's homicide and major enquiries team is conducting the investigation. Police dogs have been used to search a drainage culvert and undergrowth on Thornton Road, and black bags from skips behind nearby halls of residence have been examined. Members of the police underwater search unit were also at work. Previously, seperate searches have been held for Rushworth and Armitage.
Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar said the remains from the river are of a single unidentified woman. He said that all three women's families are being assisted by family liaison officers. Speaking at an on-scene press conference at the junction between Dockfield Road and Otley Road in Shipley, he described the investigation as "a very thorough and painstaking inquiry into three missing women, all of them sex workers, with all the necessary resources and expertise devoted to it."
Some British media has compared the case to the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, often referred to as the Yorkshire Ripper. Sutcliffe lived in Bradford and killed three of his thirteen victims there; he also attempted to murder seven more people before his 1981 conviction. Most of his victims were prostitutes.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Attack occurs in Stavropol, Russia; at least six dead
A radio-controlled bomb exploded in the city center in the southern Russian city of Stavropol earlier today, killing at least six and injuring more than 40, according to initial reports.
The explosion occurred at 18.45 Moscow time (UTC 14.45) in front of the Stavropol Trade-Union Sport and Culture Palace, where many people gathered, the Stavropolye State TV Company reports. A performance by Chechen dance ensemble "Vainakh" was about to begin in the Palace. Security officials haven't dismissed a possible connection between the concert and the attack.
"According to preliminary reports, several of those that were hospitalised are now in intensive care. The wounded have shrapnel wounds. Their conditions are considered critical or medium-critical," said Boris Skripka, the head of the civillian defence and emergency situation administration.
The country has seen some violence from rebel groups recently: on March 29, suicide bombings at the Moscow Metro killed at least 40 people and wounded over 100. Stavropol is included in the newly-created North Caucasian Federal District of Russia.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
The explosion occurred at 18.45 Moscow time (UTC 14.45) in front of the Stavropol Trade-Union Sport and Culture Palace, where many people gathered, the Stavropolye State TV Company reports. A performance by Chechen dance ensemble "Vainakh" was about to begin in the Palace. Security officials haven't dismissed a possible connection between the concert and the attack.
"According to preliminary reports, several of those that were hospitalised are now in intensive care. The wounded have shrapnel wounds. Their conditions are considered critical or medium-critical," said Boris Skripka, the head of the civillian defence and emergency situation administration.
The country has seen some violence from rebel groups recently: on March 29, suicide bombings at the Moscow Metro killed at least 40 people and wounded over 100. Stavropol is included in the newly-created North Caucasian Federal District of Russia.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Oil spill in Alaska closes 800 miles of pipeline
The spill coordinator for the Department of Environmental Conservation, Tom DeRuter, said that the oil spill contamination should be confined to the graveled oil containment liner. "Safety is their No. 1 objective right now. As soon as it is safe to move in, then they'll get the power on and try to empty that tank out. As long as everything is in that liner, it gives us time," DeRuter explained.
40 people had been evacuated from the Fort Greely site, and the Prudhoe Bay station has been reduced by 84%. "We're going to take as long as we need to make sure the site is safe before we start back up," said Alyeska Pipeline Service Company spokesperson Michele Egan. There is capacity in reserve tanks for 48 hours during this slow down of production.
About 650,000 barrels per day run through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline between Prudhoe Bay to the Port of Valdez oil tankers. The majority of shares in Alyeska are held by BP Exploration, Alaska (BPXA) which is also currently addressing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP addressed a 267,000 gallon crude oil spill in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in 2006 resulting in a lawsuit against BP Exploration.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
More oil fail.... fuck the environment, right?
WIKINEWS: Iraqi Airways drops flights to United Kingdom and Sweden
Iraqi Airways have announced that they are to drop all flights to the United Kingdom and Sweden. The announcement comes after a row with Kuwait over war reparations.
Iraq and Kuwait are in dispute over billions of dollars of reparations; this includes around $1.2bn in aircraft and parts seized beginning in 1990 by Saddam Hussein. The airline's director general was stranded in the United Kingdom on the basis of a High Court court order obtained by Kuwait Airways last month, but his passport was returned and he was allowed to leave after he informed the court of all the airline's assets in the UK.
Amer Abdul-Jabbar, the Iraqi Transport Minister released a statement saying that "We will announce whether or not we will dissolve the company." The cancellations were announced by the director general of Iraqi Airways, Kifah Jabar Hassan.
Hassan spoke about the plans to dissolve the company, saying that "[w]e can establish another airline company and put an end to this case. With this, the Kuwaitis will get nothing”.
On April 25th, Iraqi Airways sent its first jet to the United Kingdom in twenty years. The flight had been delayed for over a year and was met with further restrictions for nine days after the volcanic ash crisis in Europe. The aircraft was impounded by London High Court and no further flights to the UK have been made.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Iraq and Kuwait are in dispute over billions of dollars of reparations; this includes around $1.2bn in aircraft and parts seized beginning in 1990 by Saddam Hussein. The airline's director general was stranded in the United Kingdom on the basis of a High Court court order obtained by Kuwait Airways last month, but his passport was returned and he was allowed to leave after he informed the court of all the airline's assets in the UK.
Amer Abdul-Jabbar, the Iraqi Transport Minister released a statement saying that "We will announce whether or not we will dissolve the company." The cancellations were announced by the director general of Iraqi Airways, Kifah Jabar Hassan.
Hassan spoke about the plans to dissolve the company, saying that "[w]e can establish another airline company and put an end to this case. With this, the Kuwaitis will get nothing”.
On April 25th, Iraqi Airways sent its first jet to the United Kingdom in twenty years. The flight had been delayed for over a year and was met with further restrictions for nine days after the volcanic ash crisis in Europe. The aircraft was impounded by London High Court and no further flights to the UK have been made.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Plane crashes into Toronto office building
A Cirrus SR-20 aircraft crashed into an office building in Markham, a town near Toronto, at 12:30 p.m. local time yesterday. Both people on board were killed.
The aircraft, which crashed into the roof of the two-storey building at Woodbine and Hooper streets, was engulfed in flames. Witnesses say that it looked as if the pilot was trying to find somewhere to land and that the aircraft was trailing smoke and rolled before it crashed.
First reports state that the pilot and passenger were killed on impact, and the 14 employees at Thinkway Toys manufacturing all escaped the two-storey building and explosions from the crash.
The crash site is near Buttonville airport where many amateur and flight training flights occur.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
The aircraft, which crashed into the roof of the two-storey building at Woodbine and Hooper streets, was engulfed in flames. Witnesses say that it looked as if the pilot was trying to find somewhere to land and that the aircraft was trailing smoke and rolled before it crashed.
First reports state that the pilot and passenger were killed on impact, and the 14 employees at Thinkway Toys manufacturing all escaped the two-storey building and explosions from the crash.
The crash site is near Buttonville airport where many amateur and flight training flights occur.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
WIKINEWS: Washington politician Dino Rossi to announce US Senate bid
Former Washington Republican state legislator Dino Rossi is to announce on Wednesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Democratic Senator Patty Murray. The story broke Tuesday morning with reports that Rossi had begun hiring senior campaign staffers including Pat Shortidge, who most recently worked on Marco Rubio's Senate campaign in Florida.
While Rossi failed twice at winning the Washington State governor's office in 2004 and 2008, a poll by the University of Washington in early May 2010 showed that a Senate race between Patty Murray and Dino Rossi would be close. Meanwhile, several other Republicans in Washington State have already declared their intentions to run against Murray. A Rossi announcement this Wednesday could cause some turmoil within the Washington State Republican party, as other candidates have already gathered key endorsements and are moving forward with their campaigns.
On August 17, 2010 Washington State will have a primary election where the two candidates who get the most votes will advance to the general election in November.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
While Rossi failed twice at winning the Washington State governor's office in 2004 and 2008, a poll by the University of Washington in early May 2010 showed that a Senate race between Patty Murray and Dino Rossi would be close. Meanwhile, several other Republicans in Washington State have already declared their intentions to run against Murray. A Rossi announcement this Wednesday could cause some turmoil within the Washington State Republican party, as other candidates have already gathered key endorsements and are moving forward with their campaigns.
On August 17, 2010 Washington State will have a primary election where the two candidates who get the most votes will advance to the general election in November.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
(News) Irish Senator Kieran Phelan dies at age 60
Irish Senator Kieran Phelan has died suddenly at the age of 60. Phelan died after falling ill in his hotel in Dublin this morning, shortly before a meeting due to be held by the Seanad.
Phelan sat on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and had been a Senator since 2002. He was also a Laois County councillor and was elected council chairman in 1998. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party.
Taoiseach Brain Cowen released a statement on the death of Senator Phelan. "Kieran is a well known, much admired and greatly respected member of Seanad Éireann. He is a constituency colleague of mine and a lifelong friend. I will miss him deeply," he said.
As a mark of respect, Leader of the House Donie Cassidy proposed that the house be adjourned until June 1st.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Phelan sat on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and had been a Senator since 2002. He was also a Laois County councillor and was elected council chairman in 1998. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party.
Taoiseach Brain Cowen released a statement on the death of Senator Phelan. "Kieran is a well known, much admired and greatly respected member of Seanad Éireann. He is a constituency colleague of mine and a lifelong friend. I will miss him deeply," he said.
As a mark of respect, Leader of the House Donie Cassidy proposed that the house be adjourned until June 1st.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
(News) Jamaica: Violence kills at least 30
Authorities in Jamaica say that gunfights in the capital Kingston have left at least 30 people dead, as hundreds of troops and police search for an alleged drug kingpin wanted by the US. At least 25 people were injured as well.The violence has been triggered by the Jamaican government's efforts to extradite Christopher "Dudus" Coke, the alleged leader of the "Shower Posse" group. Armed security forces stormed the Tivoli Gardens slum of western Kingston on Monday in an effort to locate Coke, who has not been found. Last week, Coke's supporters barricaded the area in an attempt to thwart his arrest.
The trouble has forced the closure of schools and businesses across the capital, and the government has appealed for blood donations for the wounded. A state of emergency is in effect for parts of Kingston.
The US has issued a travel alert to warn citizens against visiting the island nation. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has promised "strong and decisive" action to restore order.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Oil spilled after ships collide in Singapore
Around 2500 tonnes of oil were spilled into the Strait of Singapore today after two ships collided.
The two ships involved in the collision were the oil tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3 and the bulk ship MV Wally, which collided around thirteen kilometers south of Singapore. The tanker received an estimated ten meter gash on its left side, while the bulk ship sustained only minor damage. After the incident, both ships moved away from the spill and are now anchored.
The oil slick has moved north, and is now now encompassing an estimated four square kilometers around six kilometers south of Singapore. Emergency teams from both Singapore and Malaysia have been mobilized, and around twenty vessels are taking part in the clean-up operations. Both containment booms and chemical dispersants are being used to clean up the oil.
The spill is not expected to have any major effects on shipping; Victor Shum, an official from a consulting firm in Singapore, said that "[i]f it is contained within an oil retaining booms, it may not disrupt shipping traffic. There is no comparison. That one has really no limit at this stage." Shum also expressed environmental concerns, saying that "certainly the concerns are there. Even if it is contained, it will take some time to clean up."
No crew members from either of the ships involved were reported to be injured.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Why are the people that drill/transport oil so fucking retarded?
The two ships involved in the collision were the oil tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3 and the bulk ship MV Wally, which collided around thirteen kilometers south of Singapore. The tanker received an estimated ten meter gash on its left side, while the bulk ship sustained only minor damage. After the incident, both ships moved away from the spill and are now anchored.
The oil slick has moved north, and is now now encompassing an estimated four square kilometers around six kilometers south of Singapore. Emergency teams from both Singapore and Malaysia have been mobilized, and around twenty vessels are taking part in the clean-up operations. Both containment booms and chemical dispersants are being used to clean up the oil.
The spill is not expected to have any major effects on shipping; Victor Shum, an official from a consulting firm in Singapore, said that "[i]f it is contained within an oil retaining booms, it may not disrupt shipping traffic. There is no comparison. That one has really no limit at this stage." Shum also expressed environmental concerns, saying that "certainly the concerns are there. Even if it is contained, it will take some time to clean up."
No crew members from either of the ships involved were reported to be injured.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Why are the people that drill/transport oil so fucking retarded?
(News) Musician David Byrne sues Florida governor over campaign song
David Byrne, the former lead singer of 1980s art punk band Talking Heads, is suing Florida governor Charlie Crist over the latter's use of the Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere" in an election commercial. Byrne alleges that Crist made use of the song in a campaign commercial without the artist's permission, and that if permission had been asked Byrne would have declined it.
Byrne told the BBC that the lawsuit, in which the musician is claiming $1 million in damages, is "not about politics, it's about copyright". In his personal blog, though, Byrne commented: "Besides being theft, use of the song and my voice in a campaign ad implies that I, as writer and singer of the song, might have granted Crist permission to use it, and that I therefore endorse him and/or the Republican Party, of which he was a member until very, very recently." Governor Crist is running for election to the United States Senate as an independent.
The lawsuit was filed early Monday afternoon in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa and has been assigned Case Number 8:10-CV1187-T26 (MAP). Byrne is represented by Lawrence Iser, the attorney who represented Jackson Browne when Browne successfully sued John McCain in a similar lawsuit in 2008.
The advertisement, which premiered on January 12, 2010 and has since been withdrawn from use, attacked politician Marco Rubio over reversals in Rubio's public positions. The video has been blocked on video hosting site YouTube "due to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group."
Governor Crist's campaign had no comment on the lawsuit.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Republicans are such fail.
Byrne told the BBC that the lawsuit, in which the musician is claiming $1 million in damages, is "not about politics, it's about copyright". In his personal blog, though, Byrne commented: "Besides being theft, use of the song and my voice in a campaign ad implies that I, as writer and singer of the song, might have granted Crist permission to use it, and that I therefore endorse him and/or the Republican Party, of which he was a member until very, very recently." Governor Crist is running for election to the United States Senate as an independent.
The lawsuit was filed early Monday afternoon in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa and has been assigned Case Number 8:10-CV1187-T26 (MAP). Byrne is represented by Lawrence Iser, the attorney who represented Jackson Browne when Browne successfully sued John McCain in a similar lawsuit in 2008.
The advertisement, which premiered on January 12, 2010 and has since been withdrawn from use, attacked politician Marco Rubio over reversals in Rubio's public positions. The video has been blocked on video hosting site YouTube "due to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group."
Governor Crist's campaign had no comment on the lawsuit.
Source: WIKINEWS
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Republicans are such fail.
(News) New BP oil spill plan
The British oil company BP will be attempting a "top kill" on the leaking oil well by firing a mud aEdit HTMLnd cement mixture into the blowout preventer on the oil well later this week. If successful, the oil well will be closed off with cement. A back up plan in case of failure (30-40% fail risk) would be another containment apparatus.
BP has been using the oil dispersant corexit to disperse the oil film into small droplets which mix with the seawater. A riser insertion tube inserted into the largest oil leak site is collecting between 1,360 to 2,000 barrels of oil per day. Two relief oil wells are also currently under construction for a permanent solution to the oil spill. This pair will take about 90 days to complete.
$500 million will be forthcoming from BP for the gulf spill impact on the environment, the effect on the ecology, and where water currents may be spreading the oil. BP also put forward a ten year research plan to study the long term effects of the oil spill on the environment. Exxon Valdez spill was cleaned up in 1989.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal wants an emergency permit for dredges which will contain the pollution. Homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano is seeking viable options which may be more effective and better for the environment.Controlled surface oil burns and skimming have removed some of the oil spill. It is estimated that 5,000 barrels of oil a day area leaking from the ruptured pipe 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below sea level. A Natural Resources Defense Council marine biologist, Lisa Suatoni, said that only about 7 to 10 percent of oil from the Exxon Valdez spill was cleaned up in 1989.
“I am angry and I am frustrated that BP has been unable to stop this well from leaking and to stop the pollution from spreading. We are 33 days into this effort, and deadline after deadline has been missed,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
"This is a complex operation requiring sophisticated diagnostic work and precise execution. As a result, it involves significant uncertainties and it is not possible to assure its success or to put a definite timescale on its deployment." said BP. We’re doing things that have never been done before at that kind of depth, so it’s very fluid. We’re not going to do it until we’re completely sure it’s right.”
The oil rig Deepwater Horizon sank April 22, 2010 off the coast of Louisiana resulting in 11 persons missing of the 126 on board. BP was completing a new oil well at the time, and was constructing a layer of cement in the well to reinforce it which resulted in theblowout.
BP has been using the oil dispersant corexit to disperse the oil film into small droplets which mix with the seawater. A riser insertion tube inserted into the largest oil leak site is collecting between 1,360 to 2,000 barrels of oil per day. Two relief oil wells are also currently under construction for a permanent solution to the oil spill. This pair will take about 90 days to complete.
$500 million will be forthcoming from BP for the gulf spill impact on the environment, the effect on the ecology, and where water currents may be spreading the oil. BP also put forward a ten year research plan to study the long term effects of the oil spill on the environment. Exxon Valdez spill was cleaned up in 1989.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal wants an emergency permit for dredges which will contain the pollution. Homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano is seeking viable options which may be more effective and better for the environment.Controlled surface oil burns and skimming have removed some of the oil spill. It is estimated that 5,000 barrels of oil a day area leaking from the ruptured pipe 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below sea level. A Natural Resources Defense Council marine biologist, Lisa Suatoni, said that only about 7 to 10 percent of oil from the Exxon Valdez spill was cleaned up in 1989.
“I am angry and I am frustrated that BP has been unable to stop this well from leaking and to stop the pollution from spreading. We are 33 days into this effort, and deadline after deadline has been missed,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
"This is a complex operation requiring sophisticated diagnostic work and precise execution. As a result, it involves significant uncertainties and it is not possible to assure its success or to put a definite timescale on its deployment." said BP. We’re doing things that have never been done before at that kind of depth, so it’s very fluid. We’re not going to do it until we’re completely sure it’s right.”
The oil rig Deepwater Horizon sank April 22, 2010 off the coast of Louisiana resulting in 11 persons missing of the 126 on board. BP was completing a new oil well at the time, and was constructing a layer of cement in the well to reinforce it which resulted in theblowout.
Source: WIKINEWS
Commentary:
How they could not have stopped this leak within 30 days time is beyond me. Here is a simple solution: dump a few hundred-thousand tons of sand over the top of it, perhaps throw in a few boulders. I can all but guarantee that a mountain of sand/rocks would stop this leak. Either way, Republicans have bad karma—remember "drill baby drill"? It seems as if the god that the republicans claim to love hates them—everything they touch turns to shit.
(News) US and South Korea to conduct naval exercises in response to warship sinking
Following a report blaming North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel in March, the United States and South Korea plan to hold joint naval exercises "in the near future."
The exercises are planned to focus on anti-submarine patrols, as well as improving both country's ability to detect shipments of nuclear material, which are currently banned. According to analysts, the patrols are not intended to serve to intimidate North Korea; rather, they are considered a gesture of support towards the South. The announcement marks the first response from the US military to the incident, although economic measures were announced earlier today.
Several hours before the announcement of military patrols, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak announced economic measures against North Korea in response to the attack. The measures, endorsed by the US government, include the following:
- Ending trade between the two Koreas;
- Preventing North Korean vessels from entering South Korean ports or waterways;
- The resumption of a Cold War tactic known as "psychological warfare," including propaganda broadcast at the border and the dropping of leaflets from balloons;
- Requesting the intervention of the United Nations
The moves are considered the most aggressive steps South Korea could take short of war. In a statement, President Lee said that "[w]e have always tolerated North Korea’s brutality, time and again. But now things are different. North Korea will pay a price corresponding to its provocative acts. Trade and exchanges between South and North Korea will be suspended."
The United States has not said what measures it will take in response to the incident beyond the announced naval patrols. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet with President Lee on Wednesday, after which she will announce the US response.
Clinton did say, however, that "[t]he Republic of Korea can continue to count on the full support of the United States. Our support for South Korea’s defense is unequivocal." She is currently in China, for talks between the US and Chinese governments.
North Korea has continually denied its involvement in the warship's sinking, and the country's military released a statement warning that "[i]f [South Korea] sets up new tools for psychological warfare such as loudspeakers and leaves slogans for psychological warfare intact, ignoring our demands, we will directly aim and open fire to destroy them."
A North Korean military commander told the state newspaper that "[m]ore powerful physical strikes will be taken to eradicate the root of provocation if [South Korea] challenges to our fair response."
A South Korean 1,200 tonne Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), the ROKS Cheonan, sank March 26, 2010 near the disputed maritime borderwith North Korea. Of the 104 aboard, 46 seamen went down. The multi-national Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group (JIG) investigation determined that a shockwave and bubble effect from a non-contact underwater horning North Korean torpedo explosion caused the naval vessel to split apart and sink.
Source: WIKINEWS
Monday, May 24, 2010
(News) State of emergency declared in Kingston, Jamaica
A state of emergency has been declared in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, after gunmen beseiged and fired at police stations, injuring at least two police officers and a civilian, killing another man. Rioters have erected barricades in the city and one police station was set on fire when it was abandoned after officers ran out of ammunition.
The violence comes after the Jamaican authorities announced that they would extradite Christopher Dudus Coke, an alledged drug lord, to the United States on drugs and firearms charges. However Coke is seen by members of the impoverished Tivoli Gardens neighbourhood as a "godfather" like figure, who fulfills roles that the government does not, and his supporters have vowed to protect him, one demonstrator stating "we are willing to die for Dudus,".
The Jamaican police accuse the alliance of gunmen from communities across the island state of a desire to "launch coordinated attacks on the security forces" and urged citizens to evacuate the Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town areas of the city.
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding called the attacks "a calculated assault on the authority of the state" and promised that "[t]he criminal element who have placed the society under siege will not be allowed to triumph".
Source: WIKINEWS
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