Wikinews Shorts: February 5, 2007
A compilation of brief news reports for Monday, February 5, 2007.
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A compilation of brief news reports for Monday, February 5, 2007.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
An autopsy performed on Tuesday revealed that the late Boyzone singer Stephen Gately “had died of natural causes”.
Officials from the Spanish island of Majorca that Stephen had suffered from an accumulation of fluid on the lungs, or as it is known in scientific terms, a pulmonary edema. The 33-year-old singer was found dead on a sofa in the lounge of his apartment. He had been out of the accommodation for the night while he was partying with Andrew Cowles, who was his partner.
There was a court hearing held earlier today in Majorca. The hearing only lasted for a short time. The judge had decided that the family of Stephen Gately would be allowed to take his body back to the Republic of Ireland, the country in which Gately grew up and had lived in, by plane. After discovering Stephen’s death, the other members of Boyzone took a plane flight to Majorca, so as to comfort Andrew Cowles. They have now flown back to their homes.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
General Motors Corporation (GM) announced on Wednesday that it saw a 45% drop in United States vehicle sales for its cars in March.
Executives from several auto firms, however, said that there was some hope for the auto industry to stabilise, as car sales rebounded in the last week of March.
“The market is starting to show small signs of life which need to be nourished like seedlings,” said the vice president and chairman of Chrysler LLC Jim Press. “It’s too early to see a trend, but spring shows signs of hope.”
Other automobile manufacturers also saw their car sales slip: Chrysler and the Japanese Toyota both reported a 39% loss, whilst Ford Motor Company sales fell 41%.
Annualised sales of vehicles in the car industry in the US are predicted to have dipped below nine million in March, compared to February’s 9.12 million, which was the lowest number since 1981.
“Auto makers are pulling every lever in their effort to attract buyers, as evidenced by the new programs from Ford and GM. The typical incentive programs simply do not resonate in today’s economy,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Edmunds.
Ford shares gained 2.3% to a level of US$2.69 in early trading at US stock markets on Wednesday, while stocks for Toyota’s US depository increased 5.9% to $67. GM shares slipped 1.6% down to $1.92.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Dutch adventurer Ralph Tuijn has reached the halfway point of his attempt to be the first person to row across the Pacific Ocean unaided.
The 16,000 kilometre journey from the coast of Peru to the seaside city of Brisbane, Australia, the widest section of the Pacific, has never been crossed absolutely unaided by a rower, and Tuijn says just nine people have rowed it even with assistance.
Tuijn reached the central point of his crossing, an insignificant point of water in the ocean, 111 days after setting off from Peru in March. He has been making good progress, and has since cut his estimated time of arrival in Brisbane by a month.
The Dutchman, who now expects to reach his destination on October 20, has kept in touch with those tracking his movements through daily internet postings from his laptop computer, including his wife Winnie. His boat, the Zeeman Challenger, is a seven-metre custom plywood vessel.
Tuijn has overcome a variety of obstacles to reach the halfway point. He is suffering from the constant attention of sharks, who often bump his boat and disrupt his attempts at sleep. One particular shark, dubbed ‘Gomulka’ by Tuijn, has been trailing the adventurer’s boat for extended periods.
He has also accidentally burnt himself when he spilled hot water on his foot whilst trying to make coffee, apparently also from a shark ‘bump’. He is also forced to manually pump water for cooking and drinking after his automatic water pump broke down not long into his journey.
| “Physically everything feels great and I can’t help feeling that I could do this for 500 days, but mentally it’s still hard to be on your own for such a long time” | ||
His vessel has no motors or sails, but relies on his physical rowing power to move. The boat does have a solar power system to provide energy for his laptop, a telephone and a global positioning system.
Tujin, who is raising money for a children’s home in Mumbai, India, is rowing at an average speed of 58 kilometres each day. His diet consists of freeze-dried foods and fish, which are keeping him physically well-conditioned despite tiring mentally.
Tuijn is a serial adventurer and experienced rower. He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, as well as cycled across Russia and the icy terrain of Greenland.
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Do you have a tooth that is seriously cracked or decayed? If so, you may believe the only treatment method that will help alleviate the pain and get rid of the infection is to have the tooth pulled. However, this simply isn’t the case. In many cases, having a root canal may be the better option. To find out if you qualify for this treatment option, ask your Plano, TX dentist.
Benefits of a Root Canal
There are several advantages offered when you get a root canal from your Plano, TX dentist. For example, it will help to reduce the potential of having to have the entire tooth pulled. A root canal will also remove all the infected pulp inside the tooth. When the entire process is done, the dentist will use a crown to stabilize the tooth. However, since the pulp and nerve has been removed, there is no chance of a similar issue happening again.
When can a Root Canal be Done?
In most cases, a root canal can be an effective dental treatment in Plano, TX when the tooth is serious deteriorated. The dentist can remove the decayed portion, or hollow out the tooth by removing the pulp and nerve. Once this is done, the tooth will be pain and issue free.
Modern Root Canals
In the past, a root canal was somewhat uncomfortable. However, today, thanks to modern dentistry techniques, the process is pretty easy and while it may cause slight discomfort, it is minor and short lived. If you are apprehensive about the procedure, then your dentist can walk you through what will happen. They may also have some relaxation techniques you can use to help minimize the anxiety associated with the procedure.
There are many situations when a root canal can be beneficial. Talking with your dentist will help you figure out if this procedure could benefit you.
Learn more about root canals and when they are the appropriate treatment by visiting theShifa Dental website.
Friday, August 25, 2006
An 8th case of mad cow disease was found in a cow in the province of Alberta. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency did a test and found BSE. The agency found no part of the beef cow’s carcass entered either the human or animal feed chains. The CFIA said that, “the cow could have likely lived another 6 months or so, but died of complications of mastitis”.
“The animal’s age is between eight and 10 years”, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The CFIA also traced 172 animals would likely ate feed out of that load.
“The cow’s exposure to BSE likely occurred before or during the introduction of new feed regulations in 1997 prohibiting use of cattle parts susceptible to the disease in certain animal feeds”, A release said yesterday.
An investigation is already underway to find the animal’s birth farm and potential sources of contaminated feed.
The United States has delayed lifting a ban on older cattle imports from Canada, pending investigation.
A compilation of brief news reports for Saturday, December 20, 2008.
The United States government has announced that it will give US$17.4 billion in loans to help three of the nation’s automobile makers – Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford – avoid bankruptcy.
The money will be taken from the $700 billion bailout package originally intended to rescue US banks. General Motors will get $9.4 billion and Chrysler $4 billion before next year. Ford stated that it wants to get by without government aid.
President George Bush said that it would not be “a responsible course of action” to allow the companies to collapse.
Sources
Telephone and Internet communications between Asia and Europe have been disrupted after some submarine cables were severed.
The cables FLAG FEA, SMW4 and SMW3 near Alexandria, Egypt, were damaged, and the GO cable 130 kilometres off the coast of Sicily has also been reported as broken. France Telecom will repair the damage, and the company announced that it was dispatching a ship to repair the line between Egypt and Italy.
Experts warn that it could be several days before the problems are fixed.
Sources
Yann Elies, a French yachtsman participating in the Vendee Globe round-the-world solo yacht race, was rescued on Saturday by the Australian navy after the former was paralysed by a wave that struck his boat in the Southern Ocean.
Elies broke his left thighbone and perhaps several ribs after the wave slammed into his boat 200 kilometres southwest of Perth.
The Australian frigate dispatched the HMAS Arunta to rescue Elies. The ship left Fremantle early on Friday morning and reached Elies by evening.
Sources
Saturday, May 5, 2007
A small, “nicely trained” Jack Russell Terrier gave his life to help save a group of five children from two aggressive pitbulls last Sunday in Manaia, Taranaki, New Zealand.
The dog named George is being described as a hero, gathering a huge amount of international media interest in the process.
The dog suffered massive injuries that the vet had never seen to that extent before, which resulted in 69-year-old Alan Gay, the dog’s owner, allowing George to be put down. He now regrets this decision.
The two pitbulls rushed at the group of children that George was following to the dairy, including a four-year-old. George then started barking loudly at the pair of dogs, and put himself between the dogs and the children. Mr Gay told Fox News, “If it wasn’t for George, those kids would have copped it.”
Despite having received offers of new dogs, Mr Gay has said that he will wait a while before getting another Jack Russell Terrier, as he is afraid it could happen again.
It is also believed that the two attacking dogs, which have been destroyed, were bred to be aggressive, including being fed the drug methamphetamine, commonly referred to as “P” in New Zealand.
Mr Gay has said that Manaia has had a problem with stray dogs before, but he never expected that George would become a victim.
One story ran in USA Today, which prompted over 120 comments, and one reader to personally call Alan Gay expressing their condolences.
Responding to the huge amount of media interest, Mr Gay said, “This really surprises me, and it’s marvellous. I never expected this … I’m surprised it got around the world as it did.” He says he has been getting a huge amount of phone calls from the media and the public. “The phone has been going since about half past seven this morning. Every time I hang up it rings again. It’s worn out; I might have to get a new one.”
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When you take the major step of purchasing your own home, you are making a very significant investment. Moreover, homes become the place where individuals and families store up their belongings, treasures, and memories. Don’t let your investment and possessions be at risk; homeowners insurance is the key to ensuring that your property is covered in the event that something goes wrong. Finding the right policy to cover your possessions and belongings based on your needs and budget is also very important.
Worth the Cost
While paying for homeowners insurance can be a bit of a costly endeavor, the benefits far outweigh the financial cost. When purchasing a new home, most lenders require you to also purchase homeowners insurance to cover the amount on the loan. In times of economic downturn, however, many homeowners consider dropping their home insurance coverage in order to spend the money somewhere else. This is a very risky point of view, for you can never tell what life has in store for you. While an insurance policy is often something that you pay little attention to, it will become a significant focus in the event that you should need it.
Location is Key
Depending upon where you live, you may need to consider types of insurance which others do not need. For example, if you live near a river or stream which is prone to flooding, it is typically a good idea to purchase flood protection insurance. Some areas of the country are more prone to natural disasters-tornadoes, hurricanes, and wild fires, for instance-so homeowners in those locales should most definitely see to it that their properties are ensured through homeowners insurance. Harrisburg PA insurance professionals, regardless of your location, will examine your particular needs and situation and advise you on what plans of homeowners insurance in Harrisburg PA are best for you.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
By retaining homeowners insurance, you are protecting your family’s welfare. Imagine what you would do if your home were destroyed and you had no way of recovering and returning to a normal way of life. This is the value of homeowners insurance. Harrisburg PA insurance agents are ready to assist you in your effort to protect yourself and your family, and to provide for them in the event that the unimaginable happens, whether it is a house fire, flood, or even a home invasion and robbery. They can help you find the policy that provides the right balance of coverage based on the value of your property.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Kennedy Center announced that its 30th presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors would go to pianist Leon Fleisher, comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, director Martin Scorsese and musician Brian Wilson. The Center was opened to the public in 1971 and was envisioned as part of the National Cultural Center Act, which mandated that the independent, privately-funded institution would present a wide variety of both classical and contemporary performances, commission the creation of new artistic works, and undertake a variety of educational missions to increase awareness of the arts.
In a statement, Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman said that “with their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honorees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts.”
Fleisher, 79, a member of the Peabody Institute‘s music faculty, is a pianist who lost use of his right hand in 1965 due to a neurological condition. He became an accomplished musician and conductor through the use of his left hand. At 67, he regained the use of his right hand. With the advent of Botox therapy, he was once more able to undertake two-hand performances in 2004, his first in four decades. “I’m very gratified by the fact that it’s an apolitical honor,” Fleisher said. “It is given by colleagues and professional people who are aware of what [an artist] has done, so it really is apolitical — and that much more of an honor.”
Martin, 62, a comedian who has written books and essays in addition to his acting and stand-up comedy career, rose to fame during his work on the American television program Saturday Night Live in the 1970’s. Schwarzman praised his work as that of a “renaissance comic whose talents wipe out the boundaries between artistic disciplines.” Martin responded to the honor saying, “I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for finally alleviating in me years of covetousness and trophy envy.”
Ross, 63, was a product of Detroit‘s Brewster-Douglass Projects when as a teeager she and friends Mary Wilson and Florence Ballardis formed The Supremes, a ground-breaking Motown act. She portrayed singer Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues, which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award. “Diana Ross’ singular, instantly recognizable voice has spread romance and joy throughout the world,” said Schwarzman. Ross said she was “taken aback. It is a huge, huge honor and I am excited to be in this class of people.”
Scorsese, 64, is one of the most accomplished directors the United States ever produced, whose work includes Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, GoodFellas, Cape Fear, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Departed, for which he won a 2006 Academy Award for Best Director after being nominated eight times. Scorsese said, “I’m very honored to be receiving this recognition from the Kennedy Center and proud to be joining the company of the very distinguished individuals who have received this honor in years past.”
Wilson, 65, along with his brothers Dennis and Carl, formed the Beach Boys in 1961. They had a series of hits that included “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Their 1966 album Pet Sounds is considered one of the most influential recordings in American music. “This is something so unexpected and I feel extremely fortunate to be in the company of such great artists,” said Wilson, who is currently on tour.
The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees is responsible for selecting honorees for “lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.” Previous honorees, including Elton John and Steven Spielberg, also submitted recommendations. A wide variety of people were under consideration, including Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, Renee Fleming, Laurence Fishburne, Francis Ford Coppola, Melissa Etheridge and Kenny Chesney.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will attend the center’s presentation at its opera house on December 2, 2007, which will broadcast on December 26 on CBS.