Archive for January, 2008
Kenya killing reach 300
Kenya crisis reached its worst on Thursday as the number of homicide turned 300. Reports said that the Nairobi morgue is crowded with dead bodies of children and babies in the shelves.
The crisis arose due to the continuous protest in connection with the December 27 presidential election where current President Mwai Kibaki retains its position against Odinga. Raila Odinga, the opposition candidate declared the incident as a “grand scale genocide” after touring the freezing morgue and seeing the dead bodies.
Meanwhile, Odinga’s supporters were dispersed by police tear gas and water cannons as they rally against the election results.
Management called off London’s Airports Strike
Airport management has been meeting with the Airport’s Union to resolve a dispute between them regarding its compensation plan.
This action called off the series of strike planned by the workers of the country’s seven key airports including Heathrow, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, and Southampton. The 24 hour strike was planned to implement by all workers including security personnel, office workers, firefighters and maintenance teams on January 7 and 14 and a walkout for 48 hours on January 17.
The negotiation between the management, Unite Union and Commercial Services Union ended however with no agreement made regarding the employees welfare.
Netflix to bring movies directly into television
Netflix Inc will bring digital entertainment into another phase as they began the plan of delivering movies directly to consumer’s television with the use of a set-top box and the Internet later this year.
Netflix partners with LG Electronics Inc who will supply the set-top box similar to what Apple and Vudu created. The idea is to provide the customer with current entertainment at the comfort of their homes, without the hassle of movie delivery though mail. Subscribers will select which program to watch using the internet connected to the top-box. Depending on their subscription plans, movies can be watched up to 48 hours each month at no extra cost to the customers.
This venture expected a vast increase into Netflix profits this year.
Paris bans smoking in Café
A law forbidding smoking in bars, cafes, and restaurants went full blast in Paris, France after the 11 month grace period. This is to continue the last year’s campaign against smoking in schools, hospitals, offices, airports and other public places.
Closed chambers however were built so as to accommodate smokers. A fine of $93 for the smokers and $198 for the venue and establishments will be imposed upon seeing anyone lighting a cigar in the public places.
Café owners however were worried about their businesses and said that some people will loose their jobs because the establishment’s sales will decline.
Opposition demands tighter security for the election
Opposition demanded greater security, including a bulletproof car for the presidential candidate Nawaz Sharif, a former Prime Minister, as the Pakistan election campaign begins on February 18.
The demand takes place after the murder of another presidential candidate Benazir Bhutto causing incumbent President Pervez Musharraf to move the January 8 election for another month. Opposition however contested the postponement of the election and believes Musharraf is making a ploy to increase his support.
Editor Najam Sethi of Pakistan’s Daily Times noted that postponing election signifies government weakness making the election loose its credibility.
Pope Benedict calls for World Peace
The pope calls for world peace in his Vatican opening message for New Year. Pope Benedict’s message is in line with the January 1 celebration of World Day Peace by the Catholic Church.
World Peace according to the pope is a divine gift of God, the families, being the prime foundation should bring the initial peace at home. The pope also noted that peace as a commitment is not just a result of mere conquest or political bargain and therefore should be followed with patience.
In his speech the Pope also stress the essence of traditional marriage of woman and man.
Suspects from Oviedo murder arrested
Other suspects from Jean Cuddy Oviedo murder were arrested Thursday by Columbian authorities.
Oviedo was said to be on Vacation to Columbia with her family when the suspects got into their house with the intention of robbery. Laptop, mobile phones and credit cards were taken when no cash was found in the house. Santander head of police, Gen. Alvaro Miranda reported that the suspect who killed Oviedo with a fatal shot in the neck was arrested first from its Bucaramanga safe house in Santander on Wednesday.
Oviedo’s relatives and friends were very glad and thankful to the local authorities for the arrest of the suspects.
Temple stampede in India killed five devotees
The recent stampede in Shri Durga Malleswara temple in India killed five devotees and injured several people. The incident happened when thousands of Hindu devotees rush to garland the Durga statue located in the temple.
CV Anand, the city’s chief of police blamed the tragedy to the people managing the temple due to inadequate security measures. He also cited that the temple has only one door for its entry and exit causing the stampede to arise. Among the five casualties were four women and five of the injured were in serious state.
The ceremony however continued after the incident.
Turkish bomb blast killed 4 people
Kurdish terrorist were said to be the people behind bomb detonation in Diyarbakir, southeastern part of turkey that killed around 5 people and injured 52.
The explosion reportedly targets the military bus passing through a five star hotel in the city proper around 4:55 pm, Thursday. Six cars and nearby buildings and glass wall of the establishments were destroyed by the attack. Injured civilians were rushed to Kurdish military hospital for immediate treatment.
The government however admits the lack of evidence pointing the bomb blast to Kurdish activist and now securing the area in case of follow up attacks.
Two social volunteers freed from Somalian gangs
The two abducted volunteers were released safely after being kidnapped by 6 gunmen on December 26 in Somalia.
Reports said that the two women, Dr. Mercedes Garcia from Spain and Pilar Bauza, a nurse from Argentina, were captured a week ago while going to their destination in Puntland to aid malnourish Somalian children. Spanish ambassador Nicolas Martin Cinto happily noted in his speech that no ransom money has been paid to the kidnappers and thanked everyone who helps for the release of these two social workers.
The two women stayed in a hotel in Somali after being released unscathed while waiting for their Thursday flight back home.
Video sharing law to take effect in China
Online video sharing policy will be implemented in China effective January 31. The rule limits online user to post or upload videos containing pornography and activism, especially those that could mar the country’s image like terrorism and national attacks. Under the rule, website owners that provide video sharing in China should secure a 3 year renewable permit to the government, violators will be banned from video sharing for five years.
Video uploading will be limited to state owned or controlled sites when the new rule takes effect. Reports however did not clear how different web hosting sites like Youtube will be affected.
Atlanta Airports remains the busiest
Hartsfield –Jackson International Airport, Atlanta got its second world’s busiest title as its 2007 flight reached 994,466 compare to its 2006 statistic of 976,447.
Statistics includes landings and takeoff as noted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight details however were not feed by the FAA. Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranks second with 935,000 flights; the third in rank was Dallas Forth Worth International Airport for its 686,711 flights.
Officials said that Hartsfield increased its flights due to the massive promotion of the cities key airlines like Delta Air Lines and Air Trans Airways causing travel demands to increase in metro Atlanta.
Former Ms. Pima Country accused of torturing ex-boyfriend
Kumari Fulbright, a current law student and a former beauty queen bailed out of Arizona jail where she was accused of torturing and imprisoning a former boyfriend. A court report in December 18 noted that Fulbright with the help of another former boyfriend and two other men detained and tortured the victim in her apartment, biting him in the arms and threatening him with gun and butcher’s knife.
The man escaped from Kumari’s house and ran for help to the neighboring home. He ran to the authorities with his bite marks and swollen bodies. Meanwhile the police are still searching for Fulbright’s other accomplice as the investigation continuous.
China to replace execution with lethal injection
China government being the top country in carrying death penalty will use lethal injection in replace of mere shooting execution.
China currently executes inmates by shooting at the back. Minor crimes to other countries like tax evasion, stealing, rape, robbery, and drug felony cause death penalty in Chinese government.
Supreme Court vice president Jiang Xingchang told the China Press that lethal injection will be implemented by the 404 Intermediate People’s Courts for its execution process upon securing professional training and complete facilities. This move as Xingchang noted is more acceptable and humanitarian to Chinese people.
10 Euro tickets charge for every Milan vehicles
Milan Mayor, Letizia Moratti forecasted a 30% pollution decline and a 10% traffic reduction as she enforced a 10 euro “eco-pass” charged for every entering vehicle in the city.
This idea divides the city people into half but Mayor Moratti, foreseeing an improved living standard, was not frightened and pursued the implemented regulation.
Drivers on weekdays can secure tickets either from city posts or online. Hybrids as well as Electric cars are exempted from securing a ticket and can enter the city without it. Ticket price vary and a fine of 70 euros will be charge to anyone without it.
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