September 8, 2005 The free-content news source that you can write! Page 1
Top Stories Wikipedia Current Events new "business destinations" from
Atlanta and Salt Lake City,
Palestinian gunmen • Moussa Arafat, cousin of Yassir instead. Also 41 international
assassinate ex-security chief Arafat and former Palestinian connections are to be maintained
Former Palestinian security chief Authority security chief, is shot or expanded.
Moussa Arafat, and killed by members of the
cousin of the late Popular Resistance Committees. The changes took place due to the
Palestinian difficult financial situation of the
leader Yasser •The California State Assembly
passes a bill recognizing same- company, which suffered $10
Arafat, was billion in losses since 2001, and
assassinated at sex marriage in what some
consider to be a victory for gay warned that they would file for
his home in the bankruptcy if unsuccessful in
Gaza Strip after rights advocates. Earlier this
week the state Senate approved lowering costs.
a half-hour shootout between a
number of militants and Arafat's the measure; it now heads to the
desk of Governor Arnold Palestinian gunmen
bodyguards. assassinate ex-security chief
Schwarzenegger where there is
California passes same-sex uncertainty whether he will sign
marriage bill or veto the measure. The
On Tuesday, the state legislation is the first passed by a
of California passed a U.S. state legislature recognizing
controversial new bill same-sex marriage.
that would redefine •A report by an independent
marriage as the union inquiry commitee criticizes
between two people. Secretary General Kofi Annan,
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the U.N. Security Council in the
has not revealed whether or not Oil for Food Scandal.
he will veto the bill.
Featured story US carrier Delta Air Lines cuts
jobs, sells planes
Linux installed on 2,460 Map of the Gaza Strip from The
desktop computers in Italian World Factbook.
The United States' third-largest
schools
airline operator, Delta Air Lines,
A Linux computer Former Palestinian security chief
will cut 1,000 jobs due to a
operating system Moussa Arafat, cousin of the late
planned service reduction at their
was installed in all Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat,
Cincinnati hub. The carrier also
public and private was assassinated at his home in
announced they will sell 11 of their
schools of an the Gaza Strip after a half-hour
Boeing 767-200 planes to an air-
Italian province shootout between a number of
cargo company, ABX Air Inc., since
during the summertime. militants and Arafat's bodyguards.
they are the least fuel-efficient
The force, estimated to be up to a
aircraft in the fleet.
Wikipedia Current Events hundred men, overpowered
Arafat's numerous bodyguards,
•The first ever multi-party Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
using assault rifles and grenades,
elections in Egypt are conducted, International Airport lost 9
before directly assaulting the
with incumbent President Hosni destinations, but the carrier said
house. They dragged Arafat into
Mubarak expected to win a fifth there would be no inconvenience
the street, while still in his
six-year term. to passengers. Delta will fly to 20
pajamas, where he was shot. He
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Wikinews Page 2
was declared dead on arrival to conservative programming
hospital. approach to major news stories -
notably a sluggish response to
The Popular Resistance coverage of the December 2004
Committees, or PRC, claimed South Asian Tsunami. This almost
responsibility for the attack, as caused ABC to be declared
well as the kidnapping of Arafat's bankrupt which would have caused
son Manhal during the fighting. a huge rise in unemployment in
Manhal Arafat is a senior security Australia as many people would
official who has been described as have lost their jobs.
one of his father's closest aides.
A smaller ATR-42, designed to
The PRC explained the killing of The Channel Nine network, that
carry 40-50 passengers.
Arafat as punishment for she now joins, is in a rebuilding
corruption after normal Palestinian phase after coming under heavy
The level indicated by the gauge
security forces would not take ratings pressure in the past 12
was wrong, causing the pilot to
action, describing it as "executing months. Long the dominant
think that the plane needed less
the will of God". commercial network in Australia,
fuel that it did and less fuel than
in 2005 it has seen numerous
needed was loaded in the airport
While holding no official position, changes in its executive ranks,
of Bari. While in flight the airplane
Arafat had been retained as a including the sudden resignation of
ran of fuel, despite the gauge
military advisor to current CEO David Gyngell. Channel Nine
showing fuel was still available.
President of the PNA Mahmoud also almost closed down which
Abbas, after being removed from would also have caused a huge
After this conclusion by the Italian
his position as security chief. rise in unemployment.
National Security Flight Agency
Palestinian officials have
(ANSV) the Italian National
condemned the attack, describing Channel Nine's interim CEO,
Agency for Civil Aviation (ENAC)
it as an attack on the authority of television veteran Sam Chisholm,
has suspended Tunisian airline
the government. has launched cost-cutting at the
Tuninter's authorization to operate
network.
commercial flights in Italy. A
There is no indication that this
warning was also send to
incident will affect the withdrawal Tunisian ATR-72 plane crash
European Authority about what
of Israeli settlers from the Gaza on 6 August caused by
has happened asking that all fuel
Strip and parts of the West Bank, incorrect fuel gauge
gauges installed on ATR-42 amd
scheduled to be completed in the
ATR-72 be checked.
next few weeks. Investigation of the crash into sea
of a Tunisian airplane ATR-72 near
Australian PM Howard under
Australia's ABC head Levy Sicily on August 6, 2005 has
fire over AU$1.40/L pump
leaves for "Channel Nine" arrived at an astonishing
prices
conclusion. The wrong type of a
Australian Broadcasting Company fuel gauge was installed in the
Australian Prime Minister John
(ABC) television head, Sandra aircraft. The gauge was designed
Howard has been criticised for
Levy, has quit to become the for another type of aircraft, the
refusing to cut the fuel excise tax
director of development for much smaller ATR-42.
as petrol prices reach up to $1.40
"Channel Nine."
AUD per litre in parts of the
country. The criticism of
Her new role is expected to focus
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie
on drama.
has been particularly vocal,
claiming that the government
ABC managing director Russell
simply does not want to lose the
Balding said that Ms Levy had
revenue the excise generates. The
lifted audiences to "historically
Queensland government
unprecedented" levels. However,
The ATR-72, a 74-passenger subsidises fuel in the state with
Ms Levy came under fire during
plane. GST revenue.
her ABC tenure for an overly
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Wikinews Page 3
the new home for Cyril Neville and
"The reality is they cream off a Morgan Freeman, whose home family, with the band playing there
huge amount every day. He can fared well, is organizing an online September 9th. Family members
do something about it if he really auction of celebrity items at cooking up Louisiana specials in
wants to," Mr Beattie said. charityfolks.com, to benefit the the kitchen as well.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief
Mr Howard responded by Fund. New Orleans DirectNIC Offices,
explaining the steep rise in petrol 'Outpost Crystal' visited by
prices was due to current market Curt Schilling opened his home to 82nd Airborne
trends and short-term a family of nine driven out of their
repercussions of Hurricane New Orleans home. The Schilling
Katrina. This was consistent with family will provide housing for the
the statements by the Australian Fields for a year while their home
Competition and Consumer in New Orleans is rebuilt and
Commission, which explained the repaired.
major reasons for the increase
were Katrina and China's recent Some celebrities "graced" disaster
embargo on refined petrol exports. zones with their presence in the
days following Katrina.
The Prime Minister also estimated
that the Federal government Singer Macy Gray and television
would lose billions in a cut of personality Phil McGraw visited A United State military truck rolls
significant size. He estimated the Houston's Astrodome. through the streets of New
government would lose at least Orleans beneath the offices of
$380 million for every one cent Celebrities visiting New Orleans DirectNIC -- home of "Outpost
reduction, which would increase as include singer Harry Connick, Jr., Crystal".
drivers demanded a five to ten CNN's Anderson Cooper, actor
cent cut. Jamie Foxx, singer Faith Hill, actor The offices of DirectNIC, a New
Matthew McConaughey, singer Lisa Orleans based webhost and
Celebrities contribute to Marie Presley, comedian Chris services provider, were visited by
Katrina relief Rock, actor John Travolta, and The armed members of the 82nd
Oprah Winfrey Show contributor Airborne Division during an
After Hurricane Katrina passed Lisa Ling and interior decorator interview with Wikinews reporters
across the United States, various Nate Berkus. Oprah Winfrey also Tuesday evening. DirectNIC has
artists and media stars have leapt visited New Orleans, Houston, and been the home of "Outpost
at a call to action. Mississippi. Crystal" -- an information
dissemination effort involving
Sean Penn actually went to Singer Fats Domino was missing hundreds of volunteers throughout
Louisiana. After loading down a during the New Orleans flood but the world -- since Hurricane
small boat with his entourage, it has since reached safety. Katrine wracked the United States
was discovered one of them had Gulf Coast last Monday.
neglected to seal a hole in the New Orleans who were out of town
bottom. Penn was wearing a white during the Hurricane included Armed police and military are
vest rather than a life vest while rapper Juvenile, who left New currently patrolling the devasted
bailing. After the motor wouldn't Orleans before the storm, Dave city to protect residents and
start, the crew paddled down a Pirner, who was visiting his property. While New Orleans
flooded New Orleans street. Minneapolis hometown, and Mayor, C. Ray Nagin, has ordered
Bystanders jeered at whether any Master P, whose family members a "forced" evacuation of the city, it
victims could fit aboard the are missing. is not apparent yet whether these
crowded craft. No report on rescue orders are being executed by law
stunts. Local authorities had Family of Neville Brothers have enforcement agencies. DirectNIC
previously been criticized for not relocated to Round Rock, Texas, a personnel indicate that they will be
allowing volunteer boaters in to small city adjacent to Austin. allowed to stay as they constitute
help. Threadgill's World Headquarters is part of the recovery effort of the
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Wikinews Page 4
city. widely varying temperatures than
This article contains first-hand A least nine people are reported had been expected. Sections of
journalism by a Wikinews to be killed in the incidents. There Saturn's F ring were also
Reporter. are also many injured, some of recognised as breaking apart and
them seriously. Up to a dozen reforming, depending on the
California passes same-sex rescue helicopters immediately location of one of Saturn's moons.
marriage bill rushed to the scene from all over
the Swiss alps. The rings, which are now iconic to
On Tuesday, the lower house or Saturn, and known to be common
State Assembly of the State The work was made to make the to all Jovian planets in general,
Legislature of the US state of infrastructure more secure after were first observed in 1610 by
California passed a controversial an incident that happened when a Galileo. The rings have recently
new bill that would redefine low-flying US marine plane cut become a subject of scientific
marriage as the union between through a cable killing 20 people interest to modern astronomers
two people, as opposed to a man in 1998. This incident will bring who believe they are similar in
and a woman. The California State into question if those policies structure to the dust which orbited
Senate, the upper house, had saved lives or need to be recast in the Sun, in a similar pattern, and
already acceded to this. light of this tragedy. formed the planets some 4.5
billion years ago.
A critical swing vote came from Astronomers find changes in
Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) of Saturn's rings This, and other Cassini-related
Orange County, the second largest discoveries, were discussed at a
California county, which is meeting of the American
predominantly conservative. He Astronomical Society's division of
was ushered on by Senator Joe planetary sciences on Monday.
Dunn of the same constituency.
The voting predominantly followed Award show producers try
party lines, with no Republican Emmy Idol
supporting the bill and few
Democrats opposing it. The Primetime Emmy Awards will
have a unique twist for 2005, as
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Saturn as observed by Cassini- television celebrities will sing the
has not revealed whether or not he Huygens on March 27, 2004 themes of classic series. Similar to
will veto the bill. the format of reality shows like
Astronomers have discovered that American Idol and Rock Star:
Chopper knocks Austrian Saturn's D ring, the innermost of INXS, the audience will be able to
gondola off cables, killing nine Saturn's 15 rings, has grown vote on their favorite performance
dimmer in the past 25 years and during the initial broadcast of the
On Monday, a helicopter sections have moved up to 125 show.
accidentally dropped a concrete miles inward toward the planet.
block weighing nearly 1,500 This discovery was made after The ceremony's executive
pounds when it was flying it up to astronomers compiled results producer, Ken Ehrlich, said to the
an Austrian mountain for a "ski predominantly from the Voyager 2 press that "There are certain
resort construction project". The spacecraft, which passed Saturn television theme songs that are
concrete block struck a cable in 1981, and the Cassini-Huygens nearly as memorable as the shows
holding a gondola, the one that probe which entered Saturn's connected to them."
suffered all of the causalities, orbit last year.
although other gondolas reported Billionaire American business
people suffering injuries from the Other rings were found to be executive Donald Trump, of reality
jolt. The car that was hit fell quite rotating slower than had show The Apprentice, will
some distance to the ground, up to previously been estimated with accompany the high-pitched voice
hundreds of meters. Two more computer models. It was also of actress Megan Mullally, singing
cars started tilting as some people discovered that the matter the Green Acres theme. R&B
were flung out from these cars. composing the rings is of far more singer Macy Gray will be joined by
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Wikinews Page 5
Gary Dourdan of CSI: Crime Scene people from New Orleans to many Federal assistance for the
Investigation, as they sing "Movin' destinations throughout the evacuees in Utah.
On Up", the theme to All in the United States, including Utah.
Family spin-off sitcom The After arriving in Utah, one evacuee
Jeffersons. In addition, Utah Air National said "I want to thank the people of
Guard relief missions transporting Utah for their hospitality and for
William Shatner of Star Trek: The food and other supplies to New restoring my faith in America."
Original Series and opera singer Orleans relief efforts have also Another evacuee said "it seems
Frederica von Stade will perform been returning with people in the like heaven, looking at the
the theme from Star Trek. Shatner cargo areas of the airplanes on mountains and getting a breath of
is notorious for his musical return flights. "In keeping with fresh air and saying, 'Thank God
recordings, which many criticize, our mission to assist in the we made it.'"
as he typically speaks the lyrics security and safety of our
instead of singing them, typically homeland, we stand trained, Not all evacuees were pleased with
as an exaggerated interpretive ready, and able to respond to the the move to Utah. "I knew where
reading. However, the Star Trek call to assist our fellow citizens in Utah was, but nobody told me
theme does not require any Louisiana, Mississippi and that's where we were going.
singing other than that of the elsewhere," said Maj. Gen. Brian Nothing personal. It's nice. But I
female opera singer. Tarbet, Utah National Guard don't know anybody here," said
Adjutant General. Bergeron, among the first batch of
Kristen Bell of the series Veronica 152 evacuees to arrive at the
Mars will perform the theme to The people on board the airplanes Camp Williams Utah Army National
Fame, solo. had no idea where they were Guard training site.
going. In one case the airplane
The show will be again hosted by was headed to San Antonio and at The Utah chapter of the American
talk show host and comedienne the last minute while still airborne Red Cross has been training
Ellen DeGeneres. In honor of the the destination was changed to volunteers over the Labor Day
victims of Hurricane Katrina, all Utah. Peter Coroon, Salt Lake weekend, and according to one
Emmy presenters and performers County Mayor: "Some of the official they have been
will be given magnolias, the state people look dazed. Some of them overwhelmed with community
flower of both Louisiana and are just happy to be out of where support to help the evacuees. The
Mississippi. Information will be they were. Some of them are line of volunteers to recieve the
given out during the broadcast on eager to find their loves ones training helping those at Camp
how viewers can donate to relief they've been separated. Some of Williams was litterally out of the
efforts. them weren't sure where they door at the Red Cross offices
were going when they left New today. One volunteer, Kayelynn
The Emmys will be broadcast Orleans." Wright said, "The last couple of
September 18th, 2005. days we’d talked about it and said,
Governor John Huntsman, Jr. 'What can we do?' So when I saw
U.S. state of Utah begins to utilized surplus state funds by it (a call for volunteers) last night,
accept evacuees from declaring a state of emergency to I called (my neighbor) this
Hurricane Katrina begin efforts housing and clothing morning and said, 'We gotta go!'"
people coming to Utah, however The Red Cross has asked that you
Evacuees from New Orleans some of this will likely be contact the local office if you plan
arrived on Sunday and have reimbursed by the Federal on volunteering or donating any
continued to come to Utah, Government at a later date. He new clothing and other items to
utilizing the facilities at Camp announced that Utah was willing help the evacuees.
Williams, the training facility for to take up to 1,000 people at
the Utah National Guard, to house shelters in Utah, and that amount Volunteers from The Church of
the incoming people. Flights from was later increased to over 2,000. Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
New Orleans to Salt Lake City On Monday, President Bush on Saturday gathered at the LDS
International Airport provided by signed an executive order Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake
JetBlue Airways under a contract granting the emergency to assemble more than 50,000
from FEMA have been shuttling declaration in Utah to provide hygiene kits for hurricane victims.
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Wikinews Page 6
Plastic bags were stuffed with Governor Mitt Romney stressed reasons.
toothbrushes and toothpaste, that he wanted to give it a
combs, soap, washcloths and hand comfortable, non-hostile Sony breaks UK launch sales
towels. The supplies will be atmosphere. record with PlayStation
shipped to a church-owned Portable
storehouse Georgia for Upon touching down at Otis Air
distribution. National Guard Base, Massport
officials will issue identification
Transportation requests are also cards, create case files for them
being honored by the Utah state and ask the evacuees to provide
government, and evacuees are personal information which will go
having transportation to anywhere into to a database to be shared
in the United States paid for at with other states that are taking The Sony PlayStation Portable
state expense. In addition, a small evacuees. went on sale in the UK on
amount of extra money is being Thursday, September 1. In the
donated directly to each family to The agencies that will be on hand three days following the release,
help with immediate expenses. are, the Massachusetts more than 185,000 PlayStation
The Utah Transit Authority has Emergency Management Agency, Portables were sold. This sets a
already established a regular the American Red Cross and the new sales record on game
municipal bus service between Salvation Army. These agencies consoles. The record was
Camp William and downtown Salt will coordinate volunteers, who previously held by Nintendo, who
Lake City, which will begin formal must commit themselves to five sold 87,000 Nintendo DS
service starting tomorrow days of volunteer efforts, and handhelds the first three days
morning. they must be able to transport after its release. The PlayStation
themselves to the camp. Romney Portable is being sold for £179 in
Massachusetts to set up has asked for donations from the the UK.
"village" for Katrina evacs community.
Twenty of the 24 games launched
The US state of Massachusetts is Evacuees will be assigned housing with PlayStation Portable are in the
turning a portion of Camp by groups. There could be the top 40. PlayStation Portable
Edwards, an active Cape Cod barracks for single men, another games also occupy nine of the top
military base, into a "village" for for single women, and then space 10 slots on the sales charts. The
2,500 evacuees of Hurricane for elderly and families with game Ridge Racer was the most
Katrina, as part of Operation children. Visitors will not be popular, with one in every five
Helping Hand. allowed. people buying both the PlayStation
Portable and Ridge Racer at the
The temporary shelter on the The school superintendent for the same time.
Massachusetts Military Reservation township of Bourne, Ed LaFleur,
will have a population the size of will work on enrolling the children Sony's main competitors in the
Truro, Massachusetts and will of evacuees into Cape Cod handheld gaming console market
include an active mayor and a schools. Romney met yesterday are Nintendo with the Nintendo DS
system of government that will be with leaders of the Blake and Nokia with the nGage. Like
like a town council Churches Alliance who will make Nintendo and Nokia, Sony is
available chaplains and counselors marketing the device as being able
However, the shelter will face for the evacuees. to do more then just play games.
security demands different from The PlayStation Portable can play
the fifteen Cape towns because Romney spent Monday night specially created versions of poular
Cape Edwards is an active base asking for the State House to pass movies and surf the Internet
used for training exercises. a $25 million emergency spending wirelessly. Sony expects to sell a
Security will be overseen by the bill to pay the initial costs of the million PlayStation Portables in the
Massachusetts National Guard, facility. UK before Christmas.
with help from the Massachusetts
State Police and the County The arrival time of the evacuees
Sheriff's office. Massachusetts has been postponed, for unknown
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Today in History
1331 - Stefan Dušan of the House
of Nemanjić declared himself Tsar
of Serbia.
1504 - David, a marble statue by
Michelangelo, was unveiled in
Florence.
1888 - The inaugural season of The
Football League in England began
with six matches.
1923 - The Honda Point Disaster:
Twenty three sailors died when
nine destroyers of the U.S. Navy
ran aground off the coast of
California .
1978 - Hundreds of demonstrators
in Tehran were killed on Black
Friday during the Iranian
Revolution.
September 08 is National Day in
Andorra; Independence Day in the
Republic of Macedonia
Quote of the Day
"Freedom of choice is more to be
treasured than any possession
earth can give." ~ David O. McKay
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