Israel declares Gaza Strip ‘enemy entity’; preparing for military incursion

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Israeli government has declared the Gaza Strip an “enemy entity” due to the continued firing of rockets into Israel from Gaza. Gaza’s ruling Hamas party has stated that it considers the announcement a “declaration of war.”

The definition means that Israel could stop supplying Gaza with fuel, electricity and other commodities.

“Following extensive legal consultations, Israel has decided to declare Gaza as a hostile entity, with all the international implications. This move will prepare the groundwork for sanctions against Gaza, such as the interruption of gas, electricity and water supply, which will occur in a gradual process,” said an unnamed Israeli government official.

Ehud Barak, the Israeli Minister of Defense said the “objective is to weaken Hamas” , while Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum suggested “…they aim to starve our people and force them to accept humiliating formulas that could emerge from the so-called November peace conference,”

Barak also said that Israel is considering a military operation in the Gaza Strip saying that “every day that passes brings us closer to an operation in Gaza.”

The democratically-elected Hamas party, and its militant wing the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have been labeled “foreign terrorist organization”s by a number of bodies including the European Union, Israel, the United States, Canada and others.

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14 February

High Quality Education And Necessities High Quality Education And Necessities

High Quality Education And NecessitiesHigh Quality Education And Necessities

by

Danuta Vanmeter

In Singapore, a normal piece of luxury residence spanning one hundred sq m (about one,076 sq ft) charges about US$two.71 million (S$3.38 million)roughly 43 occasions the nation’s regular yearly revenue. This implies that at an common cost of S$3,149 per sq ft, a luxury residence listed here would need an typical resident with a standard per-capita acquiring electrical power of US$fifty nine,900 (S$seventy four,679) a lot more than 50 percent his daily life to pay out off. The GDP for each capita estimates are based mostly on the for every capita buying electrical power parity of each country, which compares how a lot cash is necessary in every place to acquire comparable baskets of merchandise and services.

While creating this letter, I kept inquiring myself whats are the events and suggestions that led me to utilize for style layout AAS software at Parsons. What I have come to summary is that there is no specific occasions that led me to this determination but relatively powerful enthusiasm for vogue that has amassed via my life, and understanding that this is the correct time for me to pursue my desire and not go away regrets. Jane Futrell Winslow , local community and regional arranging Ph.D. pupil and Sustainable Metropolitan areas Doctoral Initiative Fellow is a Grand Prize winner in the “Out There!” image contest, sponsored by The Trust for Public Land.

A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner receives a ceremonial wash as it comes at ‘Hare worldwide Airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, from Houston, following making United’s inaugural 787 income flight. The aircraft is touted to be significantly more fuel efficient than any other related aircraft and has a host of passenger features, this kind interior design course hk

of as greater home windows, unique lighting and filtered air. (AP Photograph/Nam Y. Huh) Users of the media seem inside a Boeing 787’s cabin as United Airlines prepares its initial scheduled North American professional Boeing 787 flight from Houston to Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 in Houston at Bush International Airport. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Eric Kayne)

Ekebergparken – The new sculpture park is open! With works by worldwide artists this kind of as James Turrell, Louise Bourgeois and Marina Abramovic interspersed with classical bronzes by Rodin and Norway’s Per Ung, several of the functions discover ideas of the feminine”, producing an intriguing distinction to the masculine sculptures of Vigeland to the west. Obtain interior design school hong kong

the application and keep an eye out for rogue art this sort of as the knit-tree mufflers to protest the tree removal. Bekkelaget, Tram eighteen or 19 to Sj’mannsskolen A memorial provider will be held on Saturday 2 November, 2pm-5pm at Mission Viejo Place Club, 26200 Country Club Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92621.

RELEVANCE “The profession defines assignments at their graduation, and champions human expertise at all stages. Interior designers and inside architects synthesize human and environmental ecologies and translate science to beauty addressing all the senses. The practitioner listens, observes, analyzes, enhances and produces original tips, visions and areas that have measurable benefit.” Tradition “As a innovative organization, interior design and inside architecture are a mode of cultural production. They are a spot-maker that interprets, translates, and edits cultural money. In a worldwide planet, interior design and inside architecture must perform a function in facilitating the retention of cultural variety.”When the seat belt lights ended up turned off, the flight attendants immediately sprang into motion. Currently being so late already, several of the initial class passengers actually chose to skip the meal and go directly to sleep, so the cabin lights had been mainly dimmed. In the middle of the services, the primary lights ended up in fact totally turned off. I felt poor shining the brilliant dining gentle in my suite, but I experienced no choice since the different was to try to eat in the darkish!I guess I see the intent of the Absolut Art Bar series as an initiative to create installations” far more so than bars,” and as a sculptor I discover this exceptionally fascinating. It marks a change from a historic focus on two-dimensional functions to a lot more immersive modes of creating. Apart from Art Basel Hong Kong (and the Fringe Club’s basement), what else would you recommend for visitors to the city during the art truthful? What is it that can make Hong Kong, nicely, ‘Hong Kong’? Freehand sketching techniques for illustrating interiors in 3 dimensions. Involves viewpoint, shading, textures, and use of resources. Emphasis on swift presentation of concepts for designer or consumer.All future freshmen, transfer and modify of key learners intending to major in graphic design and style need to satisfy JMU admission demands as said in the Undergraduate Catalog. In addition to conference JMU admission needs, all college students are essential to post a portfolio to the school’s SlideRoom account The deadline for submitting portfolios to the school’s SlideRoom website is the 1st Monday following the previous portfolio feedback day in January. There is a $10 cost for this submission. The submission of a portfolio is witnessed as proof of a student’s desire and prospective for foreseeable future success in art.Inside designer is making use of specialised abilities and inventive talent essential to not only actual physical physical appearance, to boost the usefulness of any place. Inside designers, working in the direction of the enhancement of good quality non-public housing, accommodations, places of work and hospitals, anyplace. It is perfect for people who want to understand the knowledge and expertise needed to turn into a interior design course inside designer. Interior design programs and admission of course individuals, while you are doing work presently, they are provided the opportunity that allows you to promote their careers, and to enroll in classes of far more than one time students improve employability should.A tiny interior design agency in UtahI actually searched the phone ebook for any kind of inside designer that I could discover considering that they had been number of and significantly between in the town I was living. It was undoubtedly a obstacle given that my boss’ fashion was fairly various

from mine, but this kind of a great experiencelearning the ins and outs of working a venture/design business, looking through programs, drawing layouts, choosing supplies, doing work with tradesmen, comprehension consumer interactions, and many others. What influenced you to take your design business to the subsequent amount by making Caitlin Wilson Textiles? What require did you see in the textile industry that influenced you to create your own line?

Passengers seem in the window as they relaxation in the transit zone in Sheremetyevo airport terminal

F in Moscow on June 26, 2013, in which US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden reportedly spent the fourth working day with his onward journey. The man dependable for one of the most significant intelligence stability breaches in US history has not been sighted because arriving in Moscow on a flight on June 23 from Hong Kong and in accordance to Russia is nevertheless in a transit zone at Sheremetyevo airport. AFP Photo / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Picture credit score should read through KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Photos)

Soon after the table was cleared, I requested for my seat to be transformed into a mattress, and I determined to consider a swift stroll close to the plane in the meantime. Unfortunately, the two initial course bogs were nowhere close to as magnificent as these discovered on other A380s, especially when compared to Emirates or Lufthansa. These ended up truly fairly common, and no distinct than any bathroom in the economy cabin.Kvadraturen- This is oldest district of Oslo. Established in the early 1600’s when the town experienced to be relocated closer to the fortress subsequent getting leveled by a hearth. Nearly all the previous wooden structures were replaced in the 1800’s however the aged street grid nonetheless exists and mercantile historical past even now continues to outline the area today. Here you’ll find fantastic searching along with the National Museums for Architecture and Contemporary Art which are housed in previous bank structures on Bankplassen. Seldom called out on maps but frequently referred to, the bordering streets are Akersgata, Karl Johan’s gate, and Strandsgata and the inventory exchange building.The occasion will attribute a day of workshops on Typography and Calligraphy adopted by two times of meeting dedicated to typography and tradition. The intercontinental meeting which will be devoted to addressing concerns confronted by sort designers, kind users and type educators. The conference includes displays by invited keynote speakers, eminent academicians, blind juried papers, industry experts, analysis scholars and students. The function will also host an exhibition of picked posters and typographic functions of pupils and school associates from Design Institutes. For even more information on our organizationThe enterprise was picked for the Thesis Awards Jury at Syracuse Architecture, and was awarded Dean’s Citation for Excellence in Thesis Style. He was ?lso a receiver ?f the Syracuse University Chancellor’s Scholarship ?nd Dean’s list. In his 4th 12 months ?t Syracuse, he analyzed with Joshua Prince-Ramus (RE X) ?n the New York Town Metropolis studio, and examined overseas in Florence, Italy.A moment later, flight attendants handed through the cabin once more, this time with heat towels and delicious canaps that includes artichoke dip with rosemary biscuits and Lugerian olives. In addition, he introduced out a bottle of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2000 for me to examine before pouring a glass. I experienced barely taken two sips prior to he arrived by once again to refill the glass. I could tell this would be a excellent flight! A gentleman hangs from hooks place in his back and arms in the course of the First International Tattoo Conference in Medellin, Antioquia department, Colombia on October 31, 2010. (Raul Arboleda, AFP / Getty Photos)I say, kudos to the civilized, lively-minded folks of Hong Kong for being rational and for embodying the ‘free industry principles’ of their very own federal government. Educated and intelligent Filipinos need to discover it ironic that this discrimination” situation fairly exposed a collective or group that is in fact guilty of racism” and ethnocentrism. It’s none other than the Filipino men and women. As to the concern of whether or not Hong Kong and other freer economies (e.g., United States, Singapore, China) need to impose reciprocal treatment method towards the Philippines, I think it relies upon on whether or not their economies or firms (HK, U.S., Singaporean, Chinese corporations) have been seriously or right afflicted/victimized by our protectionist guidelines.Apparently two galleries that will showcase functions by Indian artists will be Hauser and Wirth Switzerland and Arndt Berlin. Hauser and Wirth will showcase Subodh Gupta’s perform and Arndt will showcase Jitish Kallat. Subodh Gupta’s untitled work with utensils moulded into a vessel with a long neck stand tall and draw eyeballs. claims interior designer Vernon Applegate.”The previous kitchen was dismal,” he states. “It was modest , cramped and outdated, with low ceilings and a design that reminded me of the early ’80s.”It was also some way from what the homeowners a younger couple desired. They had been seeking for a modern day open-plan “The RHODEC Diploma in Interior Design is regarded as the most comprehensive and arduous length-studying Interior Design course in the planet. It is extremely regarded in the skilled entire world and is acknowledged as a passport to the fulfilling and probably rewarding profession in Interior Design. This programme is developed to give members with specialist understanding in interior design in buy to prepare them to enter the subject as pros. It also prepares participants to pursue a increased qualification in this discipline. IDI delivers flexible payment programs, discount rates for early payment and an Companies Low cost Plan which also applies if you are self-used.I have never believed about overall health environments until finally lately. I have been to fairly a handful of diverse hospitals in Hong Kong, dependent on the possession of the hospitals (personal or federal government), their inside environments can be fairly diverse. I just lately went on a area trip to the Emory College medical center it was extremely exciting to see the differences in the hospitals environment of distinct society. We have been only permitted to tour the floor stage of the medical center, consequently our observation was minimal. Some of those components are quite similar to the hospitals in Hong Kong but some I have never ever observed just before.The room appeared just the identical as my preceding knowledge there about a calendar year back. The massive stroll-in stall was really cleanse, and a pile of clean towels was remaining on the counter. The Molton Brown bath items smelled nice, and I appreciated the instead minor amenities such as the hair dryer and lotion. Right after receiving transformed and experience refreshed, I headed back again into the lounge and well prepared to go down to the gate. Elaine Davidson, the most pierced female in the planet, displays off some of her 2,520 piercings at the fiftieth anniversary of the Guiness Globe Data in London 16 November, 2004. (Nicolas Asfouri, AFP / Getty Photos)Gutta p Haugen – The Boys on the Hill” run a specialty foods shop with fantastic seasonal generate and Italian-fashion meat and cheese counter. They also make gourmet sandwiches to take absent and offer you pick elements for a every day featured recipe. If you have a sweet-tooth, try the dim chocolate fl’deboller- snow balls” from Summerbird Ullevlsveien 45 Smalhans – A german-derived time period for frugal or slim arms, Smalhans has developed the notion to suggest very good-good quality handmade food at a excellent benefit. This comfortable community cafe focuses on clean natural elements, wine and excellent microbrews served household-design. Waldemar Thranesgate tenNorway Designs – Given that 1957, this quirky store has collected comprehensive alternatives of high quality style from individual Scandinavian artists and layout companies. The multi-amount layout is a bit rambling and dated but if you are into design and style this location is value checking out including their massive part dedicated to paper like the function of the Norwegian style duo Darling Clementine Stortingsgata 28 Steenand marinas. The quay is a well-known place to take pleasure in the harbor, promenade, hang out, and men and women-look at. Tjuvholmen Seaside and Swim Platform – While the pebble beach could not be as inviting, the swim system at the conclude of Tjuvholmen Allsure is! I have not taken the plunge yet but I have watched numerous content swimmers leap off the dock and it appears tremendous fun- so carry your suit and take a dip in the fjord! Tjuvholmen AllIn a effective blending of previous and new, Mandarin Oriental resort demonstrates a futuristic benchmark in innovative technologies, situated in the heart of Nihonbashi, an aged district of historic dimension. The lodge ballroom is fitted with 36 projectors to develop a 360-degree panorama of photographs and graphics, the initial installation of its type in Japan. A point out-of-the-artwork gymnasium is 38 stories earlier mentioned and the 178 visitor rooms have Lcd televisions geared up with satellite, wifi and the most up-to-day engineering for an in-space workspace. So, it’s just the correct time for these economically freer nations to dump and isolate us since we’ve been isolating our place for almost 100 several years!It truly is not clear whether Iceland could protect a leaker like Snowden from American requires for his return. Iceland has a longstanding extradition treaty with the U.S., even though it has never ever been employed to deport an American citizen. If (Snowden) decides to appear to Iceland, I believe we could defend him,” he explained. “It is genuinely about the political will to do so. The U.S. is 1 of our greatest trading companions and we have diplomatic relations with them that the parliament may possibly not want to jeopardize. But, historically, Iceland has never ever extradited a U.S citizen back to the U.S.”Not only about skyscrapers, how about the world’s fastest practice, the Maglev? In two minutes flat, subsequent the whoosh at departure, the electronic cockpit flashes in the passenger compartments indicating a velocity of 185 miles for each hour. The LED screen retains flashing until finally the optimum permitted for passenger vacation is arrived at at 270mph, (check runs accomplished 311mph), producing this practice faster than any Formulation A single Auto. One particular of the international corporations that explicitly adopted this principle is the Globe Trade Organization (WTO). In fact, reciprocity, according to WTO, is 1 of the essential concepts in world-wide trade. Other WTO’s fundamental ideas includenon-discrimination and enforcement/dispute settlement, transparency, and basic safety valves.Bergshaven Bakeri – A new outpost for the one hundred yr outdated bakery from Grimstad has a refreshing and inviting interior and artisanal strategy. You’ll

46 year-old Real Estate Agency

Principal

Levi

Matsumura

from Deer Lake, has hobbies and interests such as microscopy, interior design and boomerangs.

Recently has made vacation to Cultural

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of the Bamiyan Valley.

To check out more about Article Source: eArticlesOnline.com

13 February

Eastern Conference wins 2008 NBA All-Star Game

Monday, February 18, 2008

Eastern Conference 134 128 Western Conference

The Eastern Conference defeated their Western Conference counterparts at the 2008 National Basketball Association All-Star Game held at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday. The final score was 134-128.

The East took an early 11 point lead in the first 5 minutes, due to an injured Kobe Bryant only playing 2 minutes before sitting on the bench for the rest of the game. “There’s one player we really, really missed, and that was Kobe,” said West coach Byron Scott. The West later reduced the lead to 2 points, but at halftime, the East led 74-65.

The West trailed by 13 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but rallied behind New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, who had seven assists in the final period. With 2:48 remaining, Brandon Roy scored a layup on an assist from Paul, giving the West a 122-119 lead, their biggest lead of the game.

The East then answered back with two three-pointers from Ray Allen, before Chris Paul tied the game with a three-pointer of his own. However, the East would then take the lead and the game with layups from Dwyane Wade and Allen, as well as a driving dunk from LeBron James. A Brandon Roy three-pointer put the game within three points with 8.7 seconds left, but 3 free throws from Ray Allen sealed the win for the East.

“The fourth quarter was crazy,” said Chris Paul. “We were down 13. We picked up the intensity. We took the lead a few times but Ray Allen was unbelievable the way he shot the ball. And that last dunk by LeBron, we had two people on him but that still wasn’t enough.”

With 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, James was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career. Some television commentators also considered Ray Allen a likely choice for the award, with 14 of his 28 points coming in the final 3 minutes of the game. “I think Ray Allen had a heck of a shooting night,” James said after being presented the award.

Contents

  • 1 Other All-Star events
    • 1.1 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge
    • 1.2 Haier Shooting Stars Competition
    • 1.3 Playstation Skills Challenge
    • 1.4 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout
    • 1.5 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
  • 2 Related news
  • 3 Sources
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13 February

Swine flu outbreaks appear globally; WHO raises pandemic alert level to 5

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

New cases of the swine flu virus have been reported around the world in recent days, prompting fear of a global influenza pandemic. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level to 5. The United Nations has warned that the disease can not be contained. At least 91 confirmed cases of the flu have been reported worldwide.

In a special report, Wikinews takes a look at the reaction to the outbreak, and how different countries around the world have been affected by it.

The disease, which is believed to have originated in Mexico, has now spread across the globe, with confirmed cases having been reported in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Israel. The United States has also reported its first death from the disease in a toddler. South Korea and France both had probable cases.

The WHO said on Tuesday that while it was not yet certain that the outbreak would turn into pandemic, countries should prepare for the worst. “Countries should take the opportunity to prepare for a pandemic,” said the acting assistant director-general for the WHO, Keiji Fukuda.

“Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5,” said Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the WHO, in a statement on Wednesday. “…All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.” After the announcement was made, Wikinews learned that the WHO website had crashed for several minutes, presumably due to high traffic volume.

There is no vaccine for swine flu. In 1976 during an outbreak of the virus, at least 500 people became seriously ill, and of them, 25 had died when inoculated with an attempt at a vaccination. The 500 that became ill developed a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) which caused paralysis “and is characterized by various degrees of weakness, sensory abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction.” Those who developed the disorder did so because of an immunopathological reaction to the drug. Nearly 40 million US residents, including then US president Gerald Ford, were inoculated.


Screening measures at Canadian airports have been raised on Tuesday to screen passengers returning from Mexico for symptoms of swine flu. The measures come amid reports that thirteen people have now been infected in the country, in four different provinces.

The Public Health Agency has recommended Canadians who have booked flights to Mexico to delay them if possible. Those who choose to fly anyway will be asked questions about their health after they return, such as whether they have had symptoms of the flu, like diarrhea, coughing, or a sore throat. If anyone answers in the affirmative, they may be further assessed and perhaps transferred to a quarantine officer, who will suggest that they seek medical help, or isolate themselves at home.

“These measures will help to prevent further spread and protect the health of Canadians and we thank you for your patience and co-operation with this process,” said the chief public health officer, David Butler-Jones.

Several Canadian airlines have also limited or cancelled flights to Mexico. Air Transat and its partner tour companies, Nolitours and Transat Holidays, have cancelled all flights bound to Mexico until June 1. West Jet has also stated that it will suspend all vacation planning and air flights for Cancun, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and other destinations in Mexico.

Egypt, which has not yet reported any cases of the flu, has recently begun a campaign to slaughter all 300,000 pigs in the country, despite assurances by health officials that the disease is not transmitted from animals to humans. “It has been decided to immediately start slaughtering all the pigs in Egypt using the full capacity of the country’s slaughterhouses,” Egypt’s health minister, Hatem el-Gabaly, told reporters.

Farmers have been protesting the measure. At one pig farming area in the country, crowds of farmers blockaded the roads to prevent health officials from entering to slaughter their pigs. Some of the farmers hurled stones at officials’ vehicles, and the latter was forced to retreat without killing any of the animals.

In Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, officials have announced up to 159 suspected deaths from the virus, out of a total of 2,498 suspected cases. The Mexican cabinet has announced that all flights departing from Mexico City will be suspended, while Argentina and Cuba have both cancelled all flights to the country. The European Union and the US have both issued warnings against traveling to Mexico.

The Royal Caribbean cruise line has suspended all stops in Mexico indefinitely, while Norwegian Cruise Line announced that its vessels will not make stops at Mexican ports until September of this year.

The government has ordered all restaurants in the country’s capital to serve only carry-out food, and closed archaeological sites with the intent of limiting large groupings of people. Churches, gyms, pool halls, and other institutions in Mexico City have been asked to close. School classes across the country have been suspended until May 6.

The Mexican government has estimated that the epidemic is costing companies in the capital at least US$57 million per day, and that tourism revenue has dropped by 36%. The finance ministry has set up a special fund of $450 million to fight the disease.

Thirteen confirmed cases have been known in New Zealand. All of them have been prescribed the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

New Zealand airports have now started to screen at least ten thousand people who arrive in the country from flights from Northern America. Those who display symptoms of the flu are taken aside by health authorities and placed into a quarantine.

“The number of suspected cases is likely in increase,” said Fran McGrath, the Deputy Director of Public Health. “While the numbers in any category will fluctuate, this is a pattern to be expected from an influenza outbreak. It is important to note that the 13 people we are treating as confirmed cases have all had mild flu symptoms, have received treatment and are all on the mend of have recovered.”

Spain’s health minister Trinidad Jinenez announced on Wednesday that a total of 53 persons in the country are under observation for the influenza. The number of confirmed cases in the country has been risen from four to ten, including one person who did not obtain the illness by traveling to Mexico.

Until now, Jimenez said that all of Spain’s confirmed cases involved persons who had recently visited Mexico, where the outbreak is believed to have began.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that five people who recently visited Mexico are now ill with the swine flu in the United Kingdom. “All of them have traveled recently from Mexico,” he said. “All of them have mild symptoms. All of them are receiving and responding well to treatment.”

The school of one the infected people, a twelve-year-old girl from Torbay, has been shut down and its 230 pupils given the drug Tamiflu, Brown said.

The Prime Minister said that the country is preparing for a possible pandemic. It has increased its stocks of antiviral drugs, enough for fifty million people, and ordered additional face masks for health workers. The government has encouraged all British residents to avoid travel to Mexico.

A 23-month-old boy from Mexico died at a Houston, Texas hospital on Wednesday, the first casualty from swine flu in the United States. The child had arrived in Brownsville, Texas, near the border with Mexico, with unspecified “underlying health issues” on April 4. Several days later, he presented symptoms of swine flu, and was hospitalized on April 13. The next day, the boy was transferred to a Houston hospital, where he remained until dying on Monday night of pneumonia brought on by the virus.

In response to the epidemic, Texas governor Rick Perry has given a disaster declaration. Schools have closed down statewide. Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also declared a state of emergency in his state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the number of incidents of swine flu in the country to 64 on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for a fund of $1.5 billion to fight the outbreak, saying that it is needed for “maximum flexibility to allow us to address this emerging situation.”

US health authorities have warned that more cases and fatalities from the flu are probable. “We expect to see more cases, more hospitalizations, and, unfortunately, we are likely to see more deaths from the outbreak,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services secretary.

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13 February

‘Apple’s data is dirtiest,’ says Greenpeace

Sunday, April 24, 2011

In a report on cloud computing issued this week, the environmental group Greenpeace rated ten top Internet companies, including Apple, Google, Twitter and Amazon, on several factors such as each company’s willingness to be transparent by providing information on its energy sources and the energy efficiency of its data centers.

In the report entitled “How Dirty is your Data”, Apple, while receiving good marks for transparency, rated at the bottom for energy efficiency, primarily because its huge, new data center in North Carolina, called iDataCenter, relies largely on coal. Although Apple claimed its California operations used cleaner energy than that produced by most grids, iDataCenter has an estimated energy demand three times Apple’s current use, significantly increasing Apple’s environmental footprint. As Apple increases the online products it delivers from its iTunes platform, it will enlarge its cloud computing operations further.

“Apple’s decision to locate its iDataCenter in North Carolina, which has an electrical grid among the dirtiest in the country (61 percent coal, 31 percent nuclear), indicates a lack of a corporate commitment to clean energy supply for its cloud operations,” Greenpeace said in its report.

About 2 percent of worldwide energy use is consumed by data center computer servers, and this amount is increasing by 12 percent a year, Greenpeace reports, an energy demand that is more than that of Russia.

Greenpeace said many IT companies do not reveal the environmental impact of their energy consumption, and concentrate more on energy efficiency that on using clean energy. Most of their energy is supplied by coal and nuclear energy. Companies are locating their data centers in areas that afford cheap, abundant coal-powered electricity.

Yahoo was praised by Greenpeace for placing its data centers near sources of clean energy and its minor use of coal-based power.

IT brands at the vanguard of this 21st century technological shift are perpetuating our addiction to dirty energy technologies of the last two centuries.

Greenpeace noted that Google says that it is conscious of the need to use renewable sources of electricity to power cloud computing, but it does not acknowledge the size of its carbon footprint. The company claims it has seven data centers worldwide, but it is estimated to have 20 to 30.

The carbon footprint of cloud computing is a recent emphasis of Greenpeace in its attempt to disprove the belief that the biggest polluters are manufacturers.

[T]he data centers of Amazon, Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Apple, and Akamai . . . are probably not much different from the business where you work every day when it comes to dependency on coal for electricity generation. And ditto for the home that you return to every night.

In a response to the report, Timothy Prickett Morgan criticized Greenpeace for focusing on data centers which are responsible for using about 3 per cent of the US power generation and globally account for 1.5 to 2 percent. He noted that “the data centers of Amazon, Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Apple, and Akamai . . . are probably not much different from the business where you work every day when it comes to dependency on coal for electricity generation. And ditto for the home that you return to every night.”

Morgan quotes data from a 2008 report by the International Energy Agency and cited by the World Coal Association, now known as the The World Coal Institute, that showed coal plants produce over 40 percent of the global electricity. The Institute determined that United States receives half of its power from coal plants. Some other countries, such as South Africa, Poland and China, use more coal. “The world is still dependent on non-renewable energy sources – coal and nuclear with a smattering of oil and gas – to generate electricity,” he says, suggesting the IT companies should not be singled out.

Morgan is also critical of Greenpeace’s methodology in gathering the data, as it included only a sample of the data centers of these companies, and some that were not yet completely operational. He noted that because the companies were not always cooperative in disclosing information, Greenpeace estimated a portion of the data. He said that the reader has to “drill down into the report” to see the the complete picture.

Another criticism of Greenpeace is its definition of coal and nuclear power as “dirty energy”. Because it does not discharge greenhouse gases, nuclear power is rated more favorably than coal by some environmental organizations. Greenpeace is adamantly against nuclear power’s radiation risks.

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13 February

British TV presenter Rico Daniels tells Wikinews about being ‘The Salvager’

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Rico Daniels is a British TV presenter living in France who is known for his two television series — The Salvager — whilst he still lived in the UK and then Le Salvager after he moved to France. Rico has been in a variety of jobs but his passion is now his profession – he turns unwanted ‘junk’ into unusual pieces of furniture. Rico’s creations and the methods used to fabricate them are the subject of the Salvager shows.

Rico spoke to Wikinews in January about his inspiration and early life, future plans, other hobbies and more. Read on for the full exclusive interview, published for the first time:

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12 February

Internet Marketing Online Marketing Companies}

Internet Marketing – Online Marketing Companies

by

Internet Marketing Guru

Internet Marketing – Online Marketing Companies

There are many online marketing companies to choose from in Canada. However, Canadas renowned multimedia center lies in the heart of Montreal. A well known film school is located in Vancouver, and Toronto boasts one of the greatest design arts and multimedia schools in our nation, Sheridan college. However, in Montreal, there are publicly-funded trade schools that allow all talent a chance to perform, as such programs are affordable.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX4brA3w8j4[/youtube]

In addition, John Molsons School of Business (JMSB) and McGills business schools, are among the top Canada-wide, producing some of the top marketing and business grads across our nation. Montreal also has access to online marketing programs, and grads can also work affordably for a variety of online marketing companies.

It is important to take the time to evaluate multiple online marketing companies prior to selecting one. Luckily, online marketing companies are ubiquitous, as we witness their work on a daily basis, whether it is, checking email, using Facebook or other social media, scrolling through search results using a search engine.

In fact, there has been a decline in the demand for traditional advertising, while public relations and online marketing companies have been steadily on the rise. This trend will likely continue as revenue from television, radio, and other more traditional media continue to decline. However, such media sources are now taking action to develop their online presences. The result is online radio stations, streaming television programs, podcasting, affiliate marketing and video marketing.

When selecting amongst the myriad of online marketing companies that all proclaim to be #1, a thorough background check, consisting of certifications, references, and a thorough overview of their accomplishments, should be weighted against the price-points that each respective online marketing company is requesting. In addition, a local presence helps get an idea of the people behind the technology. Ideally, your prospective online marketing companies will meet with you, and will take the time to develop effective online marketing strategy. At the very least, I would recommend a few Skype or MSN or GTALK chat, voice, and video discussions prior to signing an agreement.

Emran RashidProject Manager at

Omnivision Design

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Article Source:

Internet Marketing – Online Marketing Companies}

11 February