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Wikinews Shorts: April 19, 2007

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Wikinews Shorts: April 19, 2007

A compilation of brief news reports for Thursday, April 19, 2007.

Contents

  • 1 Compensation sought for New Zealand’s Internet outage
  • 2 Peruvian farmers issue warning to government
  • 3 Missile shield to feature in talks
  • 4 Water cuts possible as Australia faces drought
  • 5 Russian plans for Bering Strait tunnel received with skepticism

Wikinews reported previously on an Internet outage in New Zealand that lasted for over five hours. Telecom New Zealand, the company that owns and operates the “local loop”, said that they will review compensation for its customers on a case-by-case basis.

A wholesale ISP is attempting to give its subscribers compensation for the outage. CallPlus says that it is asking Telecom for the thousands of dollars it needs to pass on to its affected customers. They doubt Telecom will give them the money needed.

Related news

  • “Outage leaves tens of thousands of New Zealanders without Internet” — Wikinews, April 18, 2007

Sources


Farmers in Peru striking over the Peruvian government’s stance on coca, have issued an ultimatum. The ultimatum appears to be: negotiate within 24 hours, or face roadblocks indefinitely.

The protests come in response to a coca eradication drive and measures Peruvian president Alan García is taking against cocaine production in the country.

Peruvian police have arrested the leader of the Shining Path rebel group, Jimmy Rodríguez on charges of organising anti-government protests.

Sources


Meetings are underway at NATO headquarters in an attempt to reassure Russia that the missile defence plans pose no threat. The United States maintains the system is to protect against missiles from rogue states, whereas Russia sees the system as compromising its strategic interests in the region.

In today’s talks NATO allies encouraged the United States to make the planned anti-missile shield capable of covering all of Europe. They did this without committing themselves to joining the project.

Reaction to the proposed system in European states has been mixed.


Irrigation water to a substantial proportion of Australia’s farming regions could be cut due to drought conditions, Australian PM John Howard has warned.

Mr Howard’s comments concerned the Murray-Darling Basin, one of the largest systems in Australia. “If it doesn’t rain in sufficient volume over the next six to eight weeks, there will be no water allocations for irrigation purposes in the basin”, adding that the drought conditions could continue until May 2008.

He continued “It is a grim situation, and there is no point in pretending to Australia otherwise,” he said. “We must all hope and pray there is rain.”

Sources


Russia, in coordination with the government of the United States and Canada, is planning to build a tunnel from Russia to Alaska, Viktor Razbegin, deputy head of industrial research at the Russian Economy Ministry, told reporters in Moscow Wednesday.

The tunnel is budgeted to cost US$65 billion and would take 10 to 15 years to build. The tunnel is to provide train and automobile transport between Alaska and the Russian Far East, and to carry petroleum and natural gas pipelines, and high-voltage electrical cable.

The proposed tunnel is 64 miles long, or about 100 kilometers, in total, and is designed to link with two islands in the Bering Strait. The project is expected to have a very positive economic effect in the area.

Derek Brower, an energy market expert, called the project “absurd” and suggested the Russian government is playing political games to threaten its European customers to sign energy deals.

“I’ve never heard of this plan,” said Sergei Grigoryev, Vice President of oil pipeline monopoly Transneft.

“To be honest, anyone who look[s] at the map will realize that the project is too hard to implement,” an anonymous government source told Reuters.

Sources


Oil pipeline explosion kills 27 in central Mexico

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Oil pipeline explosion kills 27 in central Mexico

Monday, December 20, 2010

The explosion of an oil pipeline in San Martín Texmelucan de Labastida in central Mexico has killed at least 27 individuals and injured 56 others. Twelve of the dead are children. Over 100 homes were damaged and at least 30 of them were destroyed. The explosion had an estimated blast radius of three miles.

Describing exploding gas tanks that flew through the air, Carlos Hipolito, who fled the scene with approximately 60 relatives, described the incident to Milenio Television as a “catastrophe”. Living ten blocks from where the explosion occurred, 58-year-old Jose Luis Chavez explained that he had heard a minimum of two loud explosions and witnessed flames rising over 10 meters (30 feet) into the air.

It is thought that at the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pumping station where the incident occurred, a gang of criminals were attempting to illegally tap crude oil from the pipeline when they punctured it. Valentin Meneses, Puebla state interior secretary, stated: “They lost control because of the high pressure with which the fuel exits the pipeline.”

Pemex has explained that the theft of oil from the pipelines causes them to lose hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Juan José Suárez Coppel, the head of the company, stated that the pipeline section near to the location of the blast was tapped illegally on 60 occasions. He also reported that across Mexico, 550 cases of illegal tapping had occurred.

Expressing his condolences to the families of those that had died because of this incident, Mexican president Felipe Calderon stated that the federal government is to launch an investigation to try to establish the identities of the offenders and apprehend them.

American athlete Marion Jones tests positive for EPO

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American athlete Marion Jones tests positive for EPO

Sunday, August 20, 2006

 Correction — January 23, 2006 Cyclist Floyd Landis failed a drugs test for the hormone testesterone, not adrenaline as reported in the article. 

Track Star Marion Jones, winner of 3 gold medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has tested positive for the performance enhancing drug, EPO. The hormone helps create extra red blood cells which allows the user’s body to absorb extra oxygen.

Jones was expected to compete in yesterday’s Golden League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, but left early in the morning for “personal reasons.” It was announced earlier today (UTC) that she had tested positive for EPO. Jones faces a two year ban if her B test sample comes back positive.

Jones has a history of association with steroid users and dealers. In 1999, her then husband CJ Hunter tested positive for a similar drug, Nandralone. He had to withdraw from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and received a two year ban.

Jones later divorced him, and in 2002 started a relationship with another track star, Tim Montgomery, who were both coached by Trevor Grahm.

Montgomery set a record in the 100 meter sprint of 9.78 seconds at a race in Paris that year. He was banned for two years and stripped of his record due to evidence in the Federal BALCO investigation. In the BALCO investigation, several witnesses stated that Marion Jones was taking banned substances received from BALCO.

Jones’ coach, Grahm, has been involved with 10 other athletes that tested positive and were ultimately banned for the use of illegal substances. Justin Gatlin, also coached by Grahm, also tested positive for artificial Testosterone, but has not been banned or stripped of his record.

Another American athlete, cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for excessive levels of adrenaline after winning the Tour-de-France, which may lead to him being the first winner in the tournament’s history to be stripped of the title.

categories Uncategorized | April 29, 2019 | comments Comments (0)

Prices at the pump spike overnight in U.S.

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Prices at the pump spike overnight in U.S.

Friday, August 12, 2005

All this week, prices at the pump have been reaching record levels across the United States. Since yesterday, the price for a gallon of gasoline increased by as much as fifteen cents in some places. Large cities in California, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, have reported gas prices that top $3.00 a gallon for regular grade, twenty cents higher than the state’s average of $2.80. Chicago is reporting gas prices beyond $2.80. These price hikes are a direct reflection of the record price of crude oil at $67 per barrel and the fact that 12 U.S. refineries have reported issues that have affected output.

These price increases are concerning some who worry that those with considerable financial hardships will endure more of a burden. A poll was conducted for The Associated Press and America Online News about whether or not these gas prices will cause problems with people’s personal finances and the poll found that 64 percent say gas prices will cause money problems for them in the next six months, while 35 percent did not think so.

According to a AAA Texas motor club spokesman, additional price increases will more than likely continue into the weekend.

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Home Improvement Made Simple Tips And Tricks!}

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Home Improvement Made Simple – Tips And Tricks!

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Bartholomew Erlandsen When you do home improvements yourself, you can save money and have a really nice, custom home. There is a lot to consider when making home improvements yourself though, so consider these helpful tips.

If you are seriously considering buying a home, get it inspected by a professional. You will not have to depend on your own judgement and what the seller is trying to tell you. Having a professional that is neutral will also be beneficial to both parties.

Paint the gaps where paneling will meet. Regardless of how precisely you install the paneling, there is usually a spot where the wall shows through. This can be prevented by taking a few minutes to measure the area in which the panels will adjoin. If you have paneling, make sure your paint color matches!

Always make sure to cover your furniture and floors when painting. Taking this precaution will save you from wet paint staining carpets or floors. You could make use of old newspapers to cover your floor inexpensively. Plastic sheeting or inexpensive paint cloths will work, too.

To keep air from leaving through the doors, get some sealant strips and draft excluders. Draft excluders go under the door and keep air from going out or coming in. Sealant strips do the same thing and fit around the door frames. You can find them at many hardware stores.

When it is time for major home improvement renovations, look into “age-in-place” measures you can apply to your home. Age-in-place refers to a design philosophy that accounts for the inevitable aging of homeowners over the span of their ownership. Whether you renovate your home to live in forever or if you plan to sell it, these kinds of additions can boost value and comfort.

When doing home improvement work, the wise homeowner will spend money on high-quality fixtures and materials before spending it on pricey furnishings and decor. You want to invest your money in projects that will improve the value of your home, not merely its appearance. For example, a quality front door and hardwood floors will bring a much larger price than holding an open house with a designer sofa.

If you find some leaks in your home, you should consider replacing your roof. If you ignore it, mayhem could ensue. Engage a reliable roofing specialist to evaluate the problem and give you an estimate. The roofer should have plenty of experience.

Plastic 2-liter bottles are an excellent kitchen storage option. You can see what is inside them, and can store and protect dry goods like flour or sugar. You can put them in the freezer or even in the fridge. When you require the contents, just remove its cap and pour.

Keep up with your septic tank continuously. You can buy products that can keep your septic tank from overflowing. When you are going to be digging, make sure you know where the septic tank is located. A plan of your home may be needed in order to prevent damaging the tank.

In order to makeover your home very quickly, you can use new paneling on your walls. This will help you make your home feel and look newer. If you do not enjoy the look of the paneling, it is easy to get rid of.

If you aren’t good with a hammer and nails, you can still make improvements to your home by decorating the inside. Add new materials like velvet or silk, or paint rooms in new colors to create a fresh, modern atmosphere. Remember the tips in this article for great home improvement!

Learning as much as you could about fireplace mantel is pretty normal. In truth, folks do this constantly. It is important that you prevent yourself from having information overload. It is quite confusing when it happens. Discussing fireplace mantel can often be people to offer their thoughts, and a few of them are not worth discussing in the slightest. Keeping focus is extremely important, particularly if you like to go in the right course and make progress on a daily basis. If you feel you re

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

categories Structures | April 27, 2019 | comments Comments (0)

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Communist Party candidate Johan Boyden, Toronto Centre

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Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Communist Party candidate Johan Boyden, Toronto Centre

Friday, October 5, 2007

Johan Boyden is running for the Communist Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Toronto Centre riding. Wikinews interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

categories Uncategorized | April 22, 2019 | comments Comments (0)

Category:June 21, 2006

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Category:June 21, 2006
? June 20, 2006
June 22, 2006 ?
June 21

Pages in category “June 21, 2006”

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Beijing 2008: Michael Phelps wins eighth gold

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Beijing 2008: Michael Phelps wins eighth gold

Sunday, August 17, 2008

American swimmer Michael Phelps, 23, has set a new record for the most gold medals won in one Olympic games by winning his eighth gold medal of the 2008 Olympic games, beating the previous world record of seven that was set by Mark Spitz in the 1972 Olympic Games, which took place in Munich, Germany.

Phelps’ eighth medal was won in the final of the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay. In addition to Phelps, Aaron Piersol, Brendan Hansen, and Jason Lezak were in the winning Olympic team, which had a time of 3:29.34, which was a new world record. In seven of his eight races, Phelps set or contributed to a new world record time. He set an Olympic record time in the remaining race.

“With so many people saying it couldn’t be done, all it takes is an imagination,” said Phelps after realizing he had set the new medals record. “There are so many emotions going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.”

“Without the help of my team-mates this isn’t possible,” he continued. “I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit. For the three Olympics I’ve been a part of, this is by far the closest men’s team that we’ve ever had. I didn’t know everybody coming into this Olympics, but I feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference.”

Grant Hackett, an Australian swimmer, praised Phelps for achieving his goal. “Michael Phelps – you can’t put it in words what he has done here, his level of achievement is phenomenal and I don’t think it will ever be seen again.”

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News briefs:July 14, 2010

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News briefs:July 14, 2010
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Scientology protest group celebrates founder’s birthday worldwide

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Scientology protest group celebrates founder’s birthday worldwide
 Correction — March 19, 2008 The next protest is scheduled for April 12, 2008. The article below states April 18 which is incorrect. 

Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Internet group Anonymous today held further protests critical of the Church of Scientology.

The global protests started in Australia where several hundred protesters gathered at different locations for peaceful protests.

In a global speech, the Internet protest movement said Scientology “betrayed the trust of its members, [had] taken their money, their rights, and at times their very lives.” The protesters welcomed the public interest their protests have led to, and claimed they witnessed “an unprecedented flood of Scientologists [joining] us across the world to testify about these abuses.” The group said it would continue with monthly actions.

In a press statement from its European headquarters, Scientology accused the anonymous protesters of “hate speech and hate crimes”, alleging that security measures were necessary because of death threats and bomb threats. This also makes the Church want to “identify members” of the group it brands as “cyber-terrorists”.

Wikinews had correspondents in a number of protest locations to report on the events.

Anonymous states that the next protest is scheduled to take place on April 18, which happens to be the birthday of Suri, the daughter of Tom and Katie Cruise.

Contents

  • 1 Location reports
    • 1.1 Adelaide, Australia
    • 1.2 Atlanta, Georgia
    • 1.3 Austin, Texas
    • 1.4 Boston, Massachusetts
    • 1.5 Brussels, Belgium
    • 1.6 London, England
    • 1.7 Manchester, England
    • 1.8 New York, New York
    • 1.9 Buffalo, New York
    • 1.10 Seattle, Washington
    • 1.11 Sydney, Australia
    • 1.12 Portland, Oregon
  • 2 Related news
  • 3 Sources

categories Uncategorized | April 21, 2019 | comments Comments (0)