Saturday, March 1, 2008
While nearly all coverage of the 2008 Presidential election has focused on the Democratic and Republican candidates, the race for the White House also includes independents and third party candidates. These parties represent a variety of views that may not be acknowledged by the major party platforms.
Wikinews has impartially reached out to these candidates, throughout the campaign. We now interview independent Presidential candidate Frank Moore, a performance artist.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
The German federal Constitutional Court, the Bundesverfassungsgericht, has dismissed the complaints by two Members of the Bundestag against the dissolving of the parliament and removed the last obstacle on the road to early elections on September 18th.
Jelena Hoffmann from chancellor Gerhard Schröder‘s Socialdemocrats and Werner Schulz from the Greens, which are also members of the government, claimed that the loss of confidence by Schröder on July 1st was orchestrated and that President Horst Köhler had therefore no right to dissolve the Bundestag on July 21st.
The majority of the court, voting 7:1, disagreed with that assessment. It ruled, that Schröder’s declaration, saying he does not have a reliable majority in parliament for his reform programme, is “plausible” and added that the Constitution grants the chancellor wide freedom in that matter.
Representatives of all major parties have welcomed the decision.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States have issued an ‘urgent safety recommendation’ in connection to their role alongside the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch in investigating loss of power in Rolls-Royce engines on Boeing 777s, with the AAIB following suit. One of them resulted in British Airways Flight 38 crashing short of the runway at London’s Heathrow Airport last year. The NTSB and the AAIB want Rolls-Royce to redesign the engines.
Both events occurred on Boeing 777-200ER airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines. On January 17, 2008 British Airways Flight 38 experienced a dual engine rollback (reduction of engine power) on final approach to Heathrow and crashed, leaving one passenger seriously injured, eight passengers and four of the flight crew with minor injuries and the airplane written off.
The second event occurred on November 26, 2008, when a Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 experienced a single engine rollback during cruise flight over Montana, United States while en route from Shanghai to Atlanta. Normal operations resumed after the flight crew followed Boeing’s published procedure to recover engine performance and the airplane landed safely in Atlanta.
Boeing has already developed new procedures after the crash to prevent ice from building up within their 777 fuel systems after it became apparent that icing may have been a factor, and it was some of these that the Delta flight crew had followed. Boeing modified these further after the Delta incident. As part of the recent releases by the NTSB and AAIB it has become apparent that investigators from both bodies, which are collaborating, have found ice buildup in the fuel system caused both rollbacks.
In both cases a build-up of ice (from water normally present in all jet fuel) developed on a component called the fuel/oil heat exchanger. This restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in the uncommanded engine rollback. Investigators initially struggled to produce enough ice under test conditions but have now found that at high concentration, fuel can form ice at very low temperatures in enough quantity to seriously restrict fuel flow, according to a new interim report by the AAIB. This does not occur when fuel demand is lower, as the hot oil then becomes sufficient to entirely melt the ice. The British jet experienced very low temperatures over Siberia.
The vigorous tests are thought to be the first of their kind. They have also confirmed that while ice may have formed elsewhere in the airliner’s fuel system fuel was probably not restricted at any other location. Instead, it is thought ‘soft’ ice formed in the pipes and then broke off, travelling to the fuel/oil heat exchanger and restricting it.
The NTSB has now revealed that they have advised Rolls-Royce to redesign the fuel/oil heat exchanger, and Rolls-Royce have stated that they are indeed working on a replacement part that will be available within twelve months. The AAIB advised Boeing and Rolls-Royce to jointly review the problem across the fuel system, and both companies responded that they ‘accepted’ this recommendation and repeated that a replacement part was being developed.
Both the NTSB and the AAIB also sent letters to the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency requesting the installment of the modified component be mandatory. The NTSB suggested this should be either the next maintenance check or within six months. There are 220 Boeing 777-200s – the only type using the affected engine – with Trent 800 series engines.
The fuel/oil heat exchanger is a dual purpose part designed to simultaneously melt fuel ice and cool down engine oil.
The AAIB further noted that it is unclear weather other aircraft designs are at risk, and advised the FAA and EASA to look into increased use of de-icing additives and investigate both the accumulation and sudden movement of ice in aircraft fuel systems and the actual formation of ice in the fuel itself.
By Jim Kesel
Marriage Costa Rica style is one marriage option that will surely appeal to any couple with a taste for the exotic and romantic. Imagine exchanging I do’s with the lush ocean as the background, the silvery sands as a never- ending carpet, and the honey moon location just a bare foot stroll away. Costa Rica prides itself in its warmth and natural beauty, and very few locations can compete with this tropical wedding destination.
Traditional weddings are now slowly becoming a thing of the past. Concept weddings, themed weddings, and of course foreign destination weddings are steadily becoming the trend nowadays. Gone are the days when a couple would plan a large local wedding, buy themselves a dress and a suit, invite friends and family to a large church and receptions and then leave on a honeymoon the next day. These days, weddings are more carefully planned, and with more couples choosing a more unique and romantic wedding, destination marriages are certainly gaining momentum.
Weddings need not be expensive, but if they have to be expensive then everything has to be just right and worth every penny. Marriage Costa Rica style is a wedding alternative that gives value to fine taste and all the money spent in the entire celebration. A wedding in Costa Rica is not even expensive when compared to other locations that are not as beautiful yet requires more strenuous financial planning.
It would be wise to take an inexpensive Costa Rica vacation to find the exact location for your wedding. This will make planning and executing the ceremony much easier. Finding a contracting a Costa Rica wedding consultant is really quite easy. Many of the top resorts have well qualified wedding coordinators on their staff to help you in your plans.
And as usual in any foreign country destination weddings, a marriage in Costa Rica requires a few legal procedures like hiring a lawyer, and making certain that the marriage will be valid both in the couple’s home country and anywhere else in the world. But this is just a fairly easy procedure that can be arranged in no time at all. What is more essential is making the most important day in a couple’s life as beautiful and unforgettable as possible.
Everything will be catered to when choosing a wedding in Costa Rica. There are excellent wedding planners to choose from, plus a number of hotels that offer quality services at reasonable rates. There are wedding photographers skilled enough to capture both formal and candid moments, so as to provide the couple with more unique and lasting memorabilia that they can take home and still cherish many years after.
And of course, just about any type of wedding can be held in Costa Rica. For a beach wedding, there are a great number of beach resorts available, depending on whether the celebration is a private gathering of just a few guests, or a more elaborate seaside hotel affair. If the couple has agreed on a church wedding, that is also possible. You also have the option to hold the ceremony inside or outside the resort or hotel, this arrangement is also very feasible. You will find all the help you need to make your wedding as perfect as can be.
With Marriage Costa Rica style, the wedding celebration will be something special and unique just like out of a fairytale, because there is nothing more unforgettable than getting married in a tropical paradise called Costa Rica.
About the Author: James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the
Inexpensive Costa Rica Vacation
website at http://www.costa-rica-source.com. Providing great information on vacations and travel in Costa Rica. You might want to consider
marriage Costa Rica
Style. Costa Rica is a beautiful tropical paradise just right for any wedding.
Source:
isnare.com
Permanent Link:
isnare.com/?aid=229697&ca=Marriage
Friday, March 5, 2010
According to reports from officials, four Pakistani and one Afghan road construction workers were killed in Afghanistan yesterday by armed men.
The interior ministry reported that the attack happened on Thursday morning, in the Panjwayi district in the Kandahar province, and noted that one other Pakistani and Afghan labourer were injured. The workers were reportedly en route to a building site operated by the SAITA construction firm.
“They were going to work when this incident took place. We are arranging transportation of their bodies back to Pakistan,” commented Ajmal Farooqi, an executive with the company.
Police official Agha said that two gunmen motorcycle opened fire on the workers, conflicting with reports from the interior ministry, which says that there were three gunmen.
Agence France-Presse reports that this incident bears the hallmarks of the Taleban; however, Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi remarked that “[o]ur friends did not say anything about it, we don’t have information about the incident”.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has launched Pakistan’s first international container train service from Islamabad to Istanbul via the Iranian capital, Tehran, as a trial project of the Economic Cooperation Organization to boost Pakistan’s trade with Turkey and Iran.
The train is carrying 20 containers on its first journey from Islamabad railway station, delivering 14 to Tehran and 6 to Istanbul and will cover 6,500 kilometres in two weeks.
Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said a successful trial phase of the freight train service would be followed by a passenger train service in an effort to boost tourism in the region.
There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia.
byAlma Abell
Nobody wants to live with roaches. However, when a roach is spotted in the home, the individual may assume it was one carried in hidden inside a grocery bag or brought in with a package that was mailed to the home. Don’t make any assumptions, as roaches have been proven to be damaging to a person’s health. As a result, Roaches Treatment Kapolei should be sought immediately. What are some health problems that may arise as a result of roaches in the home?
The Spread of Bacteria
As roaches eat human food, they leave behind unwanted surprises for the humans that later consume the food. For example, roaches are known to carry the bacterium known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in their gut in large quantities. Every time they eat human food, they regurgitate digestive food and saliva on the surface of the food. When a human then eats the food, he or she may contract a disease, such as digestive issues, a urinary tract infection or sepsis. Removing roaches from the home helps to reduce the risk of these medical conditions.
Allergies and Asthma
Cockroach saliva as well as the roach’s body parts are home to hundreds of allergens. When a human comes into contact with one or more of these allergens, he or she may have an allergic reaction and begin sneezing. His or her eyes may water and a rash may appear on the skin. Even more concerning is the fact that the allergens often bring about asthma in children when there is an infestation in the home. This can be dangerous, as asthma has been known to cause death.
If you have seen a roach in the home, know that they are likely many more, possibly in the hundreds or thousands, that are present but haven’t been seen. These creatures can survive almost anything. In fact, it is believed they would make it through a nuclear explosion unscathed. Home remedies typically don’t work when it comes to eliminating these pests also. As a result, every homeowner who has seen a roach or suspects the home has these unwanted guests should call for Roaches Treatment Kapolei right away. It’s simply not worth it to live with the problem and hope for the best. The health of the home’s occupants may depend on quick action so don’t delay. Make this call to Bowman Termite & Pest Management LLC today. You can also connect them on Facebook.
Monday, December 31, 2007
What would you tell your grandchildren about 2007 if they asked you about it in, let’s say, 20 year’s time? If the answer to a quiz question was 2007, what would the question be? The year that you first signed on to Facebook? The year Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse fell apart? The year author Kurt Vonnegut or mime Marcel Marceau died, both at 84?
Let’s take a look at some of the international stories of 2007. Links to the original Wikinews articles are in bold.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
A number of reports confirm that Michael Moore’s forthcoming documentary has been leaked onto Peer-to-peer networks. This is the second pre-release leak in a month of a film from Lionsgate Studios.
The movie, SiCKO contrasts the U.S. healthcare system with that of several other countries and includes a trip to Cuba for which Moore is being investigated. The investigation by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the United States Department of the Treasury is looking into whether Moore has violated United States embargo against Cuba, which has been in effect since 1962 and codified in 1992.
Moore has, according to agency reports, stored a copy of the original film in Canada as a result of the Federal investigation by the Treasury department. His concern is that an attempt may be made to confiscate the section of the film shot in Cuba.
According to Associated Press, David Boies, attorney for Michael Moore, believes the targeting of Moore for his unauthorised trip to Cuba may be the result of the criticism of the current administration in such films as Fahrenheit 9/11.
Tuesday Moore was seen at two pre-release screenings of the movie in Sacramento, California. His audiences were a group of politicians and a number of nurses, each attending their own screening.
The movie opens with a cold statistic that approximately 45 million Americans are without healthcare insurance. It continues by giving examples of people with healthcare insurance who have been denied all or part of their treatment for technical reasons. As well as getting thousands of responses from people who had problems with their insurance he received information from people working inside Health maintenance organizations and ex-employees who claim the system is set up to provide the minimum care and the maximum profit to the company.
The segment of the film that triggered the Federal investigation is his trip to Cuba with a number of people who relate their experiences with healthcare. Among these are several volunteer workers who worked at ground zero following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. These people claim to have been refused aid from the fund set up for 9/11 workers and were thus unable to afford their required treatment. After an attempt to obtain treatment at Guantanamo Bay detention facility – which Moore described as the only place on U.S. soil where there is “socialised medicine” – they seek out a hospital in Havana. All are checked and treated free of charge. One woman discovers that an inhaler for her respiratory problems costs approximately five cents in Cuba compared to 120 dollars in the U.S.
Health insurance companies, speaking through their trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), are critical of the film, which calls for healthcare similar to that of Canada, France, or the UK. “We need a uniquely American solution in which the public and private sectors work together to make sure that everyone has high-quality, affordable healthcare,” said Karen Ignagni, president of AHIP, on Wednesday.
The film is scheduled for wide release in the U.S. and Canada on June 29, 2007.