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    News briefs:January 04, 2008

    Contents 1 Wikinews News Brief January 04, 2008 23:35 UTC 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Israeli troops kill 9 in Gaza 1.3 Georgian President faces election challenge 1.4 US unemployment hits two-year high 1.5 Israel plans crackdown on West Bank settlement outposts 1.6 Transaven Airlines plane carrying 14 people crashes off Venezuelan coast 1.7 Sportswriter Milt Dunnell dies at 102 1.8 2007 was particularly good year for aviation safety 1.9 U.S. Senator Dodd bows out of presidential race 1.10 Intel ends partnership with One Laptop Per Child program 1.11 British Investigators arrive in Pakistan to join Bhutto investigation 1.12 Disgorge bassist Ben Marlin dies from cancer 1.13 Egypt lets 2000 pilgrims through…

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    NTSB releases updates on status of 3 major US investigations

    Sunday, June 17, 2007 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States, released updates on three major investigations on June 14. The NTSB, well known publicly for its involvement in the investigation of aviation incidents which involve harm or loss of human life, is also an agency that oversees the transportation of refined petroleum and gas products, chemicals and minerals. The agency determined the cause of a natural gas pipeline explosion that killed six. It also detailed the cause of an accidental release of 204,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia from a pipeline in an environmentally sensitive area, and released preliminary information…

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    NASA’s Mars rovers exceed all expectations

    April 6, 2005 With the approval of an additional 18 months of funding, NASA’s twin Mars rovers, the Spirit and Opportunity, will continue their exploration of “fantastic” landscapes for an additional 14 months. “The rovers have proven their value with major discoveries about ancient watery environments on Mars that might have harbored life,” said Dr. Ghassem Asrar, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “We are extending their mission through September 2006 to take advantage of having such capable resources still healthy and in excellent position to continue their adventures.” With 11 months of extensions exceeding their successful three-month prime missions, “We now have to make long-term plans for…

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    2012 Olympics clash with Ramadan

    Sunday, October 15, 2006 Muslim groups from across the world are criticising the organisers of the 2012 Olympics in London after it was revealed that the games will take place over Ramadan. The most holy month in the Muslim calendar, which will take place from the 21 July to 20 August in 2012, involves fasting during daylight hours and will affect an estimated 3,000 athletes. Joanna Manning Cooper, spokesman for the games said: “We did know about it when we submitted our bid and we have always believed that we could find ways to accommodate it.”Nevertheless, this will come as a huge embarrassment for the organisers who have tried to…

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    Restrictions imposed in China textile trade with U.S.

    Saturday, May 21, 2005 In an effort to ease complaints by the U.S. and Europe about a heavy influx of low priced Chinese goods, China will raise export tariffs on 74 categories of textile products in June. This follows plans from the U.S. to impose quotas on Chinese textiles and clothing. Products likely to see an increase from the Chinese move include synthetic fiber shirts, trousers, knit shirts and blouses, cotton shirts, and combined cotton yarn. Last week, similar restrictions were imposed by the U.S. on cotton trousers, knit shirts, and underwear. Currently, a 2.5 cent charge per item is imposed; the new tariff will raise this to the equivalent…

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    New Internet addresses tested on World IPv6 Day

    Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Online organisations around the world are today testing Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) — a new system of Internet addresses hoped to resolve the issue of the present system being at capacity. World IPv6 Day is checking everything works as planned. The current IPv4 standard was set up in the 1980s; it gives everything on the Internet a twelve-digit address and allows for 4.3 billion combinations. With these exhausted, IPv6 is designed to increase the limit 340 undecillion — that’s 340 trillion trillion trillion. Major websites including services run by Google, Facebook, and Yahoo! are taking part in the test, switching their content to use the…

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    Wikinews Shorts: June 4, 2007

    A compilation of brief news reports for Monday, June 4, 2007. MediaCorp Radio in Singapore has been fined 15,000 Singaporean dollars (US$9,800) over an on-air stunt in March in which female guests on a radio show were asked to remove their brassieres, and pose for video that was to be posted on the station’s website and on YouTube. The Media Development Authority said the radio show’s hosts made improper and sexually suggestive remarks about “how fast the bras were removed, as well as the color, design and cup size of the bras, and the size of the girls’ breasts.” Sources AP. “Fine for Singapore radio bra stunt” — CNN, June 4, 2007…

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    Wikinews interviews Frank Moore, independent candidate for US President

    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.

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    Obama offers sympathies to Fengshen victims

    Thursday, June 26, 2008 The presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee and Illinois state senator Barack Obama conveyed his sympathies and condolonces to the people of the Philippines through President Gloria Arroyo, after the country was struck over the weekend by Typhoon Fengshen. Obama also extended his regrets for not being able to meet Mrs. Arroyo who is on a 10-day official visit in the United States and met up with President George W. Bush at the White House. The senator from Illinois stressed the strong bond between the Philippines and the United States, taking note of the two countries partnership during the Cold War era and during the Second World War.…