Freighter hits fishing boat in Gulf of Suez; thirteen dead
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Freighter hits fishing boat in Gulf of Suez; thirteen dead

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A freighter hit a fishing boat around midnight on Sunday morning in the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea. Of the 40 Egyptian fisherman on board, thirteen are dead and thirteen more missing.

Survivor Al Sayyed Mohamed Arafat told local media he jumped from the fishing boat, named Badr al-Islam, as the container ship approached. He says he hung onto a wooden crate for four hours before rescue. Local authorities have promised compensation to each survivor.

A vessel, flagged in Panama, suspected to be involved in the collision has been detained by the military. The army said yesterday one victim raised the alarm by phone and the military sent four boats and a helicopter to commence search and rescue off the Gabal al-Zayt coastline.

A plane has since joined the search. The military say the fishing boat lacked safety equipment for emergency communications.

The detained ship was found south of the Gulf, near the port of Safaga. It was carrying 220 tonnes of cargo according to the General Authority for the Red Sea Ports.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Freighter_hits_fishing_boat_in_Gulf_of_Suez;_thirteen_dead&oldid=3125425”

How Gis Data Can Prevent A Weather Disaster

By Grayson McElfrey

Effective and up to date data management is rarely so important as when it pertains to the weather. It’s no secret that extreme weather can be devastating to buildings, landscape and the lives of people and animals. Weather forecasters use all of the technology and tools available to them to try and detect serious weather patterns before they happen. Letting the public know about extreme weather before it happens is the key to avoiding large-scale disasters and loss of human lives.

GIS data or spatial data is one element of weather data management that can help to prevent a weather disaster by keeping everyone informed about what is happening and what is going to happen. GIS is an acronym for ‘geographic information system’ and it is a relatively new form of technology that produces detailed maps and information based on geography. GIS data or spatial data may take the form of aerial maps, postal code maps or other data that includes geographic elements.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdIT9A8g1v8[/youtube]

Most weather disasters occur when an unsuspecting public is just going on about their business, and out of nowhere severe weather strikes. The severe weather may be a tornado, a blizzard, a hurricane, or an earthquake that triggers a tsunami in coastal regions. By using tools like geocoding software to produce GIS data as part of a greater data management system, the people living in the path of this type of weather can be given a proverbial ‘heads up’ before the weather is upon them.

When GIS data is used to inform the public of imminent weather danger, it gives people time to get out of harm’s way. Often, in severe weather where wind is involved, injuries and death occur from flying debris. When GIS data is used as part of the data management program, more people can be evacuated, which dramatically cuts down on the personal injury or death caused by flying cars, trucks, wood, metal and other debris. Spatial data used in the wintertime will help municipalities dispatch snow removal crews with greater accuracy and where they are needed most. This type of data management will reduce car accidents caused by severe weather, which will also save lives and prevent injury.

In essence, it all has to do with the timely sharing of information. Since so much of weather catastrophe centers around people being in the wrong place at the wrong time, GIS data and accurate data management help people get in the right place by the time danger shows up. It also helps direct the crews and teams designed to make the situation easier, where they should go to be of the most use.

Effective data management as created by geocoding software and other GIS data tools means that fewer people will be caught off-guard, and more people can live in high-risk zones without having to worry about severe weather. GIS data and spatial data aren’t foolproof for weather, but it will reduce the likelihood of injury and unnecessary death when the weather lashes out.

About the Author: With industry leading

GIS data

tools, leverage your customers’ location data to make intelligent decisions and impact your bottom line.

Source:

isnare.com

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England fans watch match in cinema
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England fans watch match in cinema

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

London — A few hundred England fans weren’t watching the 2006 FIFA World Cup match against Sweden last night in a pub or at home, but instead had ventured out to their local cinema to see the game on the big screen. A number of Odeon cinemas nationwide have been using digital projection technology to screen the matches live with a high definition (HD) picture. HD broadcasts contain a greater level of detail than traditional TV broadcasts, meaning a sharper picture and better sound quality.

In the darkened auditorium of the cinema in Covent Garden, the audience (or should that be crowd?) were behaving almost as if they were at the stadium, singing along to the national anthem, cheering at the England goals and groaning at the Sweden chances. At times, chants being sung by the England crowd at the match were even picked up and sung along to by those watching the cinema screen like some kind of football karaoke contest.

Trailers before the match were replaced by a soundtrack of England anthems, both the successful and not-so-successful ones, and the traditional movie treat of popcorn was replaced by trays of beer (in plastic cups) being brought in by the punters. The cinema had cheekily listed the screening as being ‘directed by Sven-Göran Eriksson’ and as ‘starring Wayne Rooney (hopefully)’.

Despite a disappointing 2-2 draw, the audience seemed impressed with the experience. “I’m a bit short and so wanted to make sure I had good view without having to jostle around for position,” Amanda, from London, explained to me. “I also liked that it was non-smoking, and there was a fabulous atmosphere”. Sian, Caio and Laura, who lived locally, said they wanted to see the match on the big screen and commented on the excellent picture quality.

Other events that have been broadcast by the cinema chain include concerts by Robbie Williams and Elton John. Odeon Marketing Director Luke Vetere said “offering films is just one part of the cinema experience – our ambition is to offer guests the chance to watch other events they feel passionate about”. Watching football in the cinema is not a brand new event though, during previous World Cups such as in 1966, film footage from the matches was broadcast in cinemas after the event, providing a way for people to see the games in colour when TV broadcasts were in black and white.

Cinema screenings aren’t the only way that fans can watch the World Cup games in high-definition this year though, as both Sky TV and Telewest have been broadcasting the games in HD to viewers with a special set-top box. There have been trials with HD on the growing Freeview platform too, with a pilot group of a few hundred viewers in London. However, as any move to roll out HD on Freeview would use up extra space on the broadcast spectrum and would require viewers to buy a new set-top box, it seems unlikely that this will happen any time soon.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=England_fans_watch_match_in_cinema&oldid=4281879”

Wikinews interviews Democratic candidate for the Texas 6th congressional district special election Daryl Eddings, Sr’s campaign manager
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Wikinews interviews Democratic candidate for the Texas 6th congressional district special election Daryl Eddings, Sr’s campaign manager

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Wikinews extended invitations by e-mail on March 23 to multiple candidates running in the Texas’ 6th congressional district special election of May 1 to fill a vacancy left upon the death of Republican congressman Ron Wright. Of them, the office of Democrat Daryl Eddings, Sr. agreed to answer some questions by phone March 30 about their campaigns and policies. The following is the interview with Ms Chatham on behalf of Mr Eddings, Sr.

Eddings is a federal law enforcement officer and senior non-commissioned officer in the US military. His experience as operations officer of an aviation unit in the California National Guard includes working in Los Angeles to control riots sparked by the O. J. Simpson murder case and the police handling of Rodney King, working with drug interdiction teams in Panama and Central America and fighting in the Middle East. He is the founder of Operation Battle Buddy, which has under his leadership kept in touch with over 20 thousand veterans and their families. He was born in California, but moved to Midlothian, Texas. He endeavours to bring “good government, not no government”. Campaign manager Faith Chatham spoke to Wikinews on matters ranging from healthcare to housing.

An Inside Elections poll published on March 18 shows Republican candidate Susan Wright, the widow of Ron Wright, is ahead by 21% followed by Democrat Jana Sanchez with 17% and Republican Jake Ellzey with 8% with a 4.6% margin of error among 450 likely voters. The district is considered “lean Republican” by Inside Elections and voted 51% in favour of Donald Trump in last year’s US presidential election. This is down from 54% for Trump in 2016’s presidential election, the same poll stated.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews_interviews_Democratic_candidate_for_the_Texas_6th_congressional_district_special_election_Daryl_Eddings,_Sr%27s_campaign_manager&oldid=4619102”

Investigation into Mumbai train bombings begins
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Investigation into Mumbai train bombings begins

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The toll in yesterday’s serial bombings on Mumbai‘s commuter trains has risen to 200 killed, with 714 people injured, according to the official estimate released by the Police. 127 victims have been identified and a further 56 remain unidentified, the estimate said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks. Indian authorities have said that the Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) may be involved. An LeT spokesman has denied any involvement.

The day after the blast, schools, colleges and offices functioned normally in Mumbai and the commuter train service targeted in the bombings was operational. Many commuters rode the trains to work, though their numbers were smaller than usual. The Bombay Stock Exchange, located in the city shrugged off the bombings, with the BSE SENSEX gaining 3 percent on opening, calming fears that economic confidence will be undermined by the blasts.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Investigation_into_Mumbai_train_bombings_begins&oldid=3157421”

Good Supplies Keeps Pets In Good Condition

Submitted by: Penny Lane

For those who have pets in the home finding a good outlet that sells all the necessary goods that animals need is paramount. For example, bird food for those kept in cages must have all the required vitamins and minerals since the pet will be really at the mercy of the owner. Fish supplies too must have all the nutrients needed if the pets are to be kept in good condition.

For the aquarium, there will be all kinds of toys and equipment that can be put in so that the animals have a safe and clean environment. Different kinds of filters are used so that the pets are kept in clean water which does not have nitrates building up in it. Nitrates, from the waste matter, will eventually build to such an extent that nothing will live in the water. It is also a good idea to have live plants in the water too since these give the pets something to nibble on, something to hide in, and something that will filter out toxins in the water. They will also add oxygen too so; all in all, live plants are necessary.

Some of the more exotic varieties in the aquarium will need fresh live food as well. Tiny shrimps or worms are put in so that they get a taste of life outside the aquarium so this will keep them healthier for longer too. This may sound a little barbaric, but the idea is to make the surroundings as natural as possible so that they live longer. One can ring the changes in the tank too by putting in different colored gravel and different toys for the animals to explore. Since all they do all day is swim and eat, having bridges and castles that they can swim in and out of is a good idea to stop them from becoming aggressive with each other.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NHFLJXAjNE[/youtube]

Also, it may be wise to note that these animals sometimes need a little privacy too. They will hide amongst the plants or in manmade caves to shelter from the light or from others who are attacking. Therefore, consider this when making up the tank at the beginning. One thing that beginners fail to do most of the time is to install the correct filter size for the size of the tank. Not only does this filter out all the waste matter, it also oxygenates the water too and this is necessary if the aquarium is going to be a suitable environment.

For our avian friends, finding mirrors with bells, or even a chunk of cuttlefish for them to peck on will ensure that they are neither lonely nor unhealthy. The cuttlefish ensures that the beaks do not overgrow which means that they will not be able to feed properly. As a matter of information, their claws will also have to be cut down occasionally too but this is best done by an expert.

Lastly, by buying food and other accoutrements from the proper outlets, online and in physical buildings, the pets that we have should remain healthy for longer.

About the Author: Penny Lane s husband recently purchased specialty

bird food

online for their collection of backyard bird feeders. She ordered specialty

fish supplies

online for their large salt water tank.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=929379&ca=Pets

Australia: Victorian government to trial driverless vehicles on public roads
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Australia: Victorian government to trial driverless vehicles on public roads

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Yesterday, the state government of Victoria, Australia announced their decision to trial self-driving vehicles on two of the state’s major connecting motorways, the CityLink and Tullamarine Freeway. The trial is to use autonomous vehicles from automobile companies including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Tesla. The two-year trial is to have three phases.

The cars are to drive alongside commuters, but in public testing a driver is always to be present, as Victorian law requires drivers always keep a hand on the steering wheel. However, in occasional closures of the Burnley Tunnel, with no other drivers to endanger, the cars are to be tested with nobody in the vehicle.

Lane assist, cruise control, and recognition of traffic signs are in the trial’s first phase, expected to complete before the end of the year. This includes monitoring how the driver-less cars respond to road conditions, including lane markings and electronic speed signs.

“Victoria is at the forefront of automated vehicle technology — we’re investing in this trial to explore ways that this technology can be used to reduce crashes and keep people safe on our roads”, said Luke Donnellan, the Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety. He noted, “Ninety per cent of the fault of accidents is human error […] so we know that if we can take out human error we will have less accidents”.

Tim Hansen, Victoria Police’s Acting Assistant Commissioner, said that police had founded a project team to investigate how self-driving vehicles would change policing on roads. “Can we intercept vehicles more safely to avoid pursuits and ramming?”, he asked.

The trial is a partnership between the state government, Victoria’s road management authority VicRoads, owner of the CityLink toll road Transurban, and insurance company RACV.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Australia:_Victorian_government_to_trial_driverless_vehicles_on_public_roads&oldid=4360020”

Israeli bombardment spills 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil
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Israeli bombardment spills 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Resulting from the Israeli bombings on July 13 and 15, 2006 of the Jiyeh power station, located on the coast 30 kilometers south of Beirut, Lebanon, approximately 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil have spilled into the Mediterranean Sea. The Lebanese Ministry of Environment expects additional tonnage to flow into the sea as a result of the damage. For comparison, the Exxon Valdez oil spill released nearly 40,000 tons.

According to Berj Hatjian from the Lebanon Ministry of Environment, “What we have here is equivalent to a tanker sinking, and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes reaching the shoreline.” Furthermore, several storage tanks caught fire due to the blast of the bombardment and continued to burn uncontrollably for 10 days after. Wind and water currents have spread the oil slick across 70-80 kilometers of Lebanon coastline.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Israeli_bombardment_spills_35,000_tons_of_heavy_fuel_oil&oldid=4536436”

Crane levels New York City townhouse, leaving 4 dead
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Crane levels New York City townhouse, leaving 4 dead

Sunday, March 16, 2008

A construction crane fell from a New York City condominium on Saturday afternoon, demolishing a four-story townhouse and killing four construction workers.

At least ten people were injured in the accident, three of them critically, mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “This accident is one of the worst the city has had,” said the mayor. “Our thoughts go to the families. I hope we will not find other victims.” He added that authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

The crane broke into pieces as it fell from a height of 15 or 20 stories, according to witnesses. It hit three residential buildings in the course of the fall and completely crushed the aforementioned townhouse, which housed a bar on the first floor. “The top of the crane went right through the building, and it sliced it in half,” said Maryann Krajacic, who lives next to the townhouse.

The bar was closed when the crane fell, but John LaGreco, who owns the bar, fears one of his employees may be dead within the rubble. “Our bar is done,” he said. “If I wasn’t watching a Yankees game, I would’ve come to work early and gotten killed.”

Cars were overturned and buried in rubble, and the air was filled with clouds of smoke and dust. Around 150 police officers blocked off the area, and 300 firefighters frantically searched for any additional victims. The search could continue all night, said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, and would include search dogs and thermal-imaging, and listening devices.

More than half a dozen buildings in the vicinity were evacuated, and a Red Cross shelter was set up nearby.

Stephen Kaplan, an owner of the Reliance Construction Group, says the accident resulted from a falling piece of steel, which severed one of the ties holding the crane to the building. “All the piece of steel had to do was fall slightly left or right, and nothing would have happened,” Kaplan said.

Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer said local residents had often complained about security violations in the building’s construction; they asserted that crews worked illegal hours and that the building was going up too quickly. “Over the last year, this is becoming standard in my borough,” Stringer said. “I think we have a real issue here.”

On March 4, a caller told officials that the crane lacked a sufficient number of safety ties. It was inspected March 6, and no violation was issued. The crane was also inspected Friday, the day before the accident.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Crane_levels_New_York_City_townhouse,_leaving_4_dead&oldid=3063129”

Monochrome Interiors It’s All In Black And White!

By Terry Henman

Monochrome interior design styles are a popular choice in many modern and contemporary homes as they offer a chic and trendy look which is easy to achieve. The other great advantage of having black and white colour combination is the crisp, clean look it offers which ideal for any room in your home.

As people in the UK move away from traditional wall to wall carpeting and begin to adopt the continental approach of having tiled floors the monochrome look comes into its own.

Beautiful marble flooring in penthouse apartments is also being utilised to give sophistication and elegance which is a design style commonly used in Italy as well as by plush hotels.

The use of monochrome tiled flooring is not a completely new concept. Victorian houses often used the diamond patterning in hallways and entrances or on paths leading to front doors. Many of these are still in existence and are being ‘discovered’ as the trend for renovating Victorian homes to their former glory is being adopted by more and more people.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beGGBxOtI4s[/youtube]

Black and white colour schemes also lend themselves beautifully for complimenting contemporary highly polished chrome and stainless steel fittings and fixtures, along with glass tables. Contemporary monochrome lounges look striking with a minimalist approach of clean lines and subtle injections of colour such as red being used in accent pieces.

Texture is also an important part of interior design of both tactile and visual appeal. Black and white cushions in suede or zebra animal print are ideal for this style of interior along with floor rugs to create a warm and cosy feel to the room, especially during the colder months.

Table lamps are a simple and effective way to produce ambient lighting in your home, those in black and white, of course, coordinate effectively with the monochrome theme.

Monochrome lends itself wonderfully for use a window treatments. Venetian or vertical style blinds in crisp white are ideal for enabling as much light as possible into a room, while black leather Venetian blinds are perfect for bedrooms and bachelor style apartments.

If you prefer to have a pattern at your windows there are some superb roller blinds with wonderful scroll designs which compliment a monochrome interior beautifully, these are a good choice for bedrooms to add texture and a more cosy feel.

Metal blinds are perfect choices for bathrooms and kitchens as they offer both a clean, crisp look and are ideal for providing privacy and a practical style of window dressing in humid atmospheres. The latest designs are not the noisy metal blinds of the past, designers and manufactures have produced virtually noiseless running systems. These blinds are nearly always treated with acrylic finishes to produce high gloss or matt finishes which are resistant to humidity and water. Many also have a coating which helps reduce the amount of dust settling on the louvers which is a real time saver when it comes to keeping the blinds looking at their best as less cleaning is required!

About the Author: Terrys Fabrics offer a wide range of curtains, fabrics and window treatments, including metal Blinds for your home

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=375080&ca=Home+Management

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