More than 160 dead in bushfires in Australia

Author: 02 18th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Monday, February 9, 2009

173 people have been killed in fires raging through Australia, making this the deadliest bushfire in Australian history. Nearly 815,447 acres (330,000 hectares) have been burned and 750 homes have been burned to the ground. In 1983, 75 people were killed on what was dubbed the Ash Wednesday fires. 71 people were killed in similar fires in 1939. The country’s prime minister, Kevin Rudd, calls the fires “mass murder”.

“This is of a level of horror that few of us anticipated. There are no words to describe it other than mass murder,” said Rudd who also called the situation “numbing”.

The combination of Australia’s long term drought, a record heat wave with temperatures as high as 47.2 degrees Celcius (117 Fahrenheit) and winds over 100km/h (60mph), sparked the dozens of fires across Victoria. Some are being investigated as arson. Over 60,000 firefighters are battling the various blazes. These fires although common in Australia have caught people unprepared due to their intensity and speed. Survivors of Kinglake tell of how up until 10 minutes before the fire started to tear through their country town people were unaware of how close and dangerous the fire really was.

24 people from Kinglake and Kinglake West have died and hundreds of houses have burnt to the ground. Over 1,500 people in Kinglake alone have been left homeless, left with a town which has mostly burned to the ground. Many people have been caught in the terrifying position of staying and fighting for their houses or fleeing before the fires arrive. Many of the people who have died have attempted to flee in their cars too late and were caught in the middle of the inferno, some being burned alive. Despite the efforts of firefighters, many towns have been totally destroyed, leaving nothing but piles of ashes. Witnesses and survivors of fires in Marysville and Narbethong, Victoria, describe the towns as being totally wiped out or substantially damaged.

Authorities are investigating the fires, some 20% of them are being called arson or have being started by human error, leaving much of the scorched land a crime scene of ashes. Some of the fires were reignited by arsonists after firefighters had already taken control of them, according to one fire official in Victoria. Others are believed to have been started by lighting tires on fire.

“Some of these fires have started in localities that could only be by hand, it could not be natural causes,” said deputy commissioner for the Victoria state police, Kieran Walshe. Fire fighting operations chief, Steve Warrington says that the fire departments “know [they] have someone who is lighting fires in this community.”

The Federal Government has pledged $10 million (4.4 million pounds) in immediate assistance with more to come as the situation becomes clear. The other States of Australia have also announced their plans to help Victoria and Victorians during this time. New South Wales will send 250 firefighters and 50 tankers. The Australian Capital Territory home to Canberra has pledged 90 firefighters and support equipment.

Australia’s neighbour New Zealand is currently considering what assistance it will be able to provide. For the moment, the nation has sent 100 firefighters to help with battling the blazes. The team is expected to arrive to Australia in as little as 24 hours.

“What we can do is, with that manpower, really help out even if it’s just a matter of relieving at times. We’ve obviously got to make sure we protect our domestic situation as well,” said New Zealand prime minister John Key.

Google launches online payment service

Author: 02 18th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Google has today launched its foray into the world online payment processing with Google Checkout. This is considered by many to be a rival to the payment giant PayPal, owned by eBay. This service is currently only available to U.S. residents.

Google has created the service in a similar way to PayPal. There are two types of Google Checkout account, Buyer and Seller. Only a Seller account can receive payments through the service, a Buyer account can only make payments. This is tied in very closely with the Google Adwords service — adverts selling items can now display a small shopping cart icon — which indicates that the advertiser accepts Google Checkout as a method of payment.

The selling rate is also closely tied in with the Google AdWords service. Other online payment services generally charge a set percentage per transaction, whereas Google Checkout credits you with a certain amount of “free transactions” when you purchase Google AdWords (For every US $1 spent on AdWords, US $10 in sales can be processed at no charge) — or a rate of 2% plus US $0.20 if the Seller is not a Google Adwords subscriber. There are no charges associated with Buyer Accounts.

Currently, Google Checkout only accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Credit Cards for inclusion on a buyer’s or seller’s account. They also offer a special deal for users of a Citicard credit card — US $5 (or 1000 ThankYou^sm Points) for signing up. Google has announced its’ intentions to “to make the service available to merchants internationally” in the near future.

How Parents Benefit From Preschool Education For Kids}

Author: 02 18th, 2018 in Child Education No Comments »

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How Parents Benefit From Preschool Education for Kids

Shirley PadillaPreschool education, of course, plays a very definitive role in the development of a child, be it academically or socially. Attending a preschool is imperative for a child to nurture all the important social, emotional and academic skills, which eventually imparts long term benefits for them. To gain a deep insight as to how parents are benefitted by Albuquerque preschools education for kids, read on:1. Develops Social Skills:One of the reasons why preschool is an important phase a child has to go through, is because it puts more focus on developing his/her social or communication skills. As a child spends more time with their friends, it helps to nurture themselves as a social person, and learn how to interact with one another. As time passes by, they become more emotionally mature.2. Increases Concentration:Albuquerque preschools majorly aim to help learners cultivate a sense of attitude or behavior, so as to obtain increased attention, concentration or focus. By participating in different activities organized in class, children will concentrate and focus more on what they learn.3. Better Confidence and Self Esteem:Preschool will also strive to improve a child’s confidence and self-esteem. As your child interacts with others in the class room, transitioning from preschool to kindergarten will be much smoother for them. However, do your research and make sure you enroll your child in a preschool that has a properly structured curriculum.4. Enhances Cognitive Skills:Preschools in Albuquerque lay the foundation to your child’s education. Studies reveal that children who attend a preschool will have relatively better reading skills and math, than those who directly join a kindergarten. As they actively engage in a variety of activities, preschool children will have better cognitive skills.5. Keep Track of your Child’s Progress:As your child is constantly guided both by yourself and preschool teachers, they are highly likely to succeed in life. Teachers usually communicate with parents and ensure to maintain a universal and consistent teaching style. Parents can expect to receive periodical reports that keep tabs on your child’s progress.6. Better Decision Making Skills:Before entering kindergarten, a child will learn how to appropriately make decisions that go in line with their interests. This leads them to feel more responsible and confident in whatever activities they involve in.Your children will benefit tremendously by attending one of the best preschools in Albuquerque, which is why it is highly recommended to let them participate in a preschool program before enrolling them in a kindergarten.

The author is a teacher working in one of the leading

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CEO of GM outlines plan for “New GM” after auto company declared bankruptcy

Author: 02 17th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Thursday, June 4, 2009

In a New York press conference at 16:15 UTC, June 1st, Fritz Henderson, the Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, which filed for bankruptcy and Chapter 11 protection from its creditors earlier today, outlined a plan for what he called a “New GM”.

Speaking to the press under safe harbor provisions of U.S. law, Henderson described the events of today as a “defining moment” in the history of General Motors. Speaking to the public he said that “The GM that let you down is history,” and described a “New GM” that he expected to result from the bankruptcy process.

Henderson stated that he envisioned the bankruptcy process would take between 60 and 90 days. He stressed several times his view that the process would be one that is executed quickly, saying that not just a sense of urgency but “pure unadulterated speed” was his expectation of the process. He emphasized that “GM remains open for business” during the bankruptcy period, continuing to sell and to support its products, and that day one motions had been filed in the bankruptcy court in order to allow this.

Regarding the bankruptcy process he said, “We will do it right. And we will do it once.”

He stated that the plan for General Motors had the support of the United Auto Workers union, the Canadian Auto Workers union, the GM VEBA, and a majority of the unsecured bondholders of GM. He also mentioned that GM had already received €1.5 million in bridge financing from the German government.

In response to questions about the possibility of the United States federal government, a majority shareholder in the restructured company, dictating future product development and strategy, such as the sale of more fuel-efficient and green vehicles; he first observed that the federal government had already stated to him that it had “no real interest in running our business” and that he expected that still to be his job. Of the specific hypothetical scenario where the management of GM wants to make one type of car, because it thinks that it is the right thing for the business, and the U.S. government wants to make another type of car, he stated that “I don’t think it’s going to happen.” Expanding on that point he stated that he expected the “New GM” to focus upon “highly fuel-efficient and green technology”, and that operating both in accordance with U.S. environmental laws and in response to customer demand would naturally result in the New GM producing the types of vehicles that the U.S. government would encourage.

The “New GM” he also expected to focus on “four core brands”, and will size its dealership to match that. He stated that GM would offer a “deferred termination” package to dealers, to allow them to cease dealing in GM vehicles in a managed and gradual way.

He stated that the bankruptcy filings did not cover General Motors’ businesses in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific. Of GM’s profitable ventures in China, specifically, he stated that they were “a critical part of the New GM”. In response to questions of whether the New GM would import cars from China to the U.S., he stated the formative company’s core principle that “We build where we sell” applied in both directions, with GM building in China to sell in China and building in the U.S. to sell in the U.S., stating that this shortened supply chains.

He declined to predict when the New GM would return to profitability, stating that the goal was rather to lower the break-even EBIT point for the company. He also declined to speculate upon when the U.S. government would sell its stake in the company, saying that that was a question “better addressed to the U.S. Treasury”, and merely saying that he expected it to be “years, not months” when the U.S. Treasury felt it would give “the right return for taxpayers.”

Five police officers killed in Dallas, Texas during sniper attack

Author: 02 16th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Sunday, July 10, 2016

On Thursday, five police officers were killed and seven were injured after a sniper attacked a public protest march in downtown Dallas, Texas. Sources indicate at least three other people were taken into custody for questioning relating to the attack. The march was held to protest the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota during engagements with police officers.

Police identified 25-year-old Micah Johnson as the suspect. Johnson had previously served in the US army, and police reported he said he wanted to exact revenge upon police officers after news of Sterling and Castile’s deaths. Ammunition and weapons were found inside Johnson’s home. Dallas Police reported the policemen were shot at from a height. Officials said two civilians were also injured in the attack.

Micah Johnson served for the United States Army Reserve from 2009 until early 2015, including a tour of Afghanistan. Johnson had no criminal record. His attack was reported to be a lone mission.

After the attack earlier on Thursday, police killed Micah Johnson in El Centro College’s parking lot by a bomb explosion.

Hillary Clinton, 2016 United States presidential election candidate and favorite for the Democratic nomination this July, said, “There is too much violence, too much hate, too much senseless killing, too many people dead who shouldn’t be. No-one has all the answers. We have to find them together.”

After Johnson was killed, Mike Rawlings, Dallas’ mayor, said “We believe now the city is safe”.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Freedom Party candidate David McGruer, Ottawa-Orleans

Author: 02 16th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

David McGruer is running for the Freedom Party of Ontario in the Ontario provincial election, in the Ottawa-Orleans riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

3 Reasons To Hire An Advertising Agency For Your Business

Author: 02 15th, 2018 in Marketing No Comments »

byAlma Abell

Reaching out to your audience can be tough. If you’re still doing it old-school, you might want to hire the services of an advertising agency in Woodland Hills CA.

Innovation

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An advertising agency can help innovate, update and upgrade your marketing campaigns and practices. Interested in SEO and digital media marketing but don’t know where to start? An advertising firm can give you the help you need to get started.

Communication

These days, it takes more than putting up a site to get a steady stream of traffic. Depending on your products or services, you could be competing with hundreds—if not thousands—of other SMEs out there, doing the same thing you’re doing and selling to the same target market you are. That means reaching out to your consumer market through old marketing channels are no longer going to work.

An agency, on the other hand, can help you communicate special features or benefits of your products or services in a way that makes them stand out from the rest. That’s going to connect with your target audience better.

Reach

You’ll need to be where your market is at, whether that means opening an Instagram account or FB page. By hiring anadvertising agency in Woodland Hills CA, you won’t have to worry about not knowing enough to open an account on platforms that matter to your audience. The agency can create, build and maintain those pages for you so you and your team can focus on your core business.

Time

An agency will know what marketing measures to take. They also have the right tools and an experienced team in place to get the work done. With their expertise and experience, they can achieve better marketing campaign results much faster that you could on your own, says the Houston Chronicle, especially if you have little to no training in digital media, SEO or social media marketing.

The North India Tours: Come Visit The Paradise

Author: 02 15th, 2018 in Irrigation No Comments »

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Submitted by: Sara Hasan

North India includes the states of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Himanchal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Yamuna flow from the north. North India has been the center of rule of many of the dynasties and empire that established in India hence has an abundance of history and historical monuments.

Delhi is the Capital of India and also one of the major tourist destinations for the tourist. There are innumerable Mughal monuments that are found here. The Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Humayun s tomb, Jantar Mantar and India gate are frequently visited by tourists. These monuments are well maintained by the Archeological survey of India. The National museum in Delhi transforms you to the land of the most ancient civilization i.e. the Harappan Civilization and provides a trip through the various ancient and medieval dynasties by its collection of artifacts related to theses dynasties. You can find a number of shopping hideouts in Delhi and famous cuisines from all over India in different parts of Delhi.

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For enjoying peace and serenity in a green surrounding you must head towards Uttaranchal the paradise for tourists .Nainital, Musoori, Munsiyari. The Corbett national park in Ramnagar is some of the famous destinations for travelers. Nainital is a town located around an eye shaped lake (hence the name Nainital where Naini means eye and tal means lake).There is a famous temple near this lake called the Nandadevi temple. A number of luxurious hotels and resorts are found near the lake from where you can enjoy the sweet hill breeze in during the sunrise and sunset with a cup of famous Uttaranchal green tea. The Boat house club constructed over the lake is made of wood.

There are a number of other lakes near Nainital like Bheemtal, Saattal, Naukuchiatal and Naldabiyantital. One can go for a picnic in the landscapes around these lakes and enjoy the boat ride also. There are a number of water sports which Uttaranchal offers to the tourists like rafting, kayaking rippling etc. while other adventure activities like mountain climbing, trekking etc is also arranged for adventure lovers.

Jammu and Kashmir is known as the Paradise on earth because of the breath taking beauty. The most popular destinations of Jammu and Kashmir are Jammu, Gulmarg, Srinagar, Leh, Ladakh and Kargil. The state is known as the ideal place for trekking. A stay in the beautiful and exquisite house boat on the lakes of Jammu and Kashmir would be a lifetime experience.

Rajasthan which has always been associated with Royalty is a perfect holiday destination to indulge into the culture and splendor of Rajasthan. Cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaiselmar make some of the best tourist destinations in India. Uttar Pradesh houses the world famous monument The Taj Mahal. People from all over the world visit this beautiful abode of love. The Agra fort is another intrinsic Mughal monument situated in Agra while Fatehpur Sikri not quite far away from the main city is a very intrinsic historic city which tells the tale of how the kings in there times used to live in there palaces.

The North India has a lot to offer to the tourists. Whatever choice one may make all the destinations will provide full satisfaction of spending the most beautiful holiday here.

About the Author: Sara has deep interest in writing informative articles on Travel and Tourism in India. Also given her words to a portal for India Tours where one can find info on India Tour Packages, North India Tours and other destinations of India. Explore-

india-tours.net

Source:

isnare.com

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Technical troubles hold up International Space Station repairs

Author: 02 15th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Monday, August 9, 2010

A faulty ammonia line fitting delayed repairs to a cooling pump on the International Space Station Saturday during an eight-hour spacewalk.

During the spacewalk, astronauts Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson were to repair a faulty cooling system, which failed on July 31. The faulty cooling unit was to be swapped with a new one that was previously in storage to solve the problem; however, an ammonia leak in the final line to be disconnected from the unit halted attempts for a repair.

Upon discovering the problem, the astronauts were instructed to reconnect the line and install a positioning device to maintain the proper pressure on the line.

Upon completing the spacewalk, Wheelock and Dyson spent additional time in the airlock to get rid of any ammonia particles that may have attached themselves to their spacesuits.

NASA officials are analyzing possible solutions to the issue to attempt during a planned spacewalk Wednesday. Wednesday’s spacewalk was previously intended to be second in the series to repair the cooling system by reattaching fluid and electrical lines.

Before Saturday’s spacewalk, NASA officials projected that up to three spacewalks may be needed to repair the cooling system.

Most of the space station’s non-critical scientific components have been temporarily shut-down in order to reduce heat generation with only one cooling loop available to the station.

NASA reports that the station’s crew, three Russians and three Americans, are not in any danger; however, it is in the best interests of the crew to restore systems to nominal condition as soon as possible.

The eight-hour spacewalk is reportedly the longest ISS-based spacewalk, and the sixth longest in the history of human spaceflight.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with independent candidate Charles de Kerckhove, St. Paul’s

Author: 02 14th, 2018 in Uncategorized No Comments »

Monday, October 1, 2007

Charles de Kerckhove is running as an independent in the Ontario provincial election, in the riding of St. Paul’s. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

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