blownlight.com – Page 454

South African president dismisses deputy on implications of corruption

2 February, 2021

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Tuesday, June 14, 2005File:JacobZuma.jpg Today at about 1600 UTC/GMT, South African President Thabo Mbeki announced in a special session of parliament that he has taken action he feels is necessary, that is to “release [his deputy president], Jacob Zuma, from his responsibilities as deputy president of the republic and member of the cabinet”. Zuma was […]

Australian government announces $52.5 million financial assistance package for Ford

2 February, 2021

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Friday, May 5, 2006 Australian Prime Minister John Howard and federal industry minister Ian MacDonald today announced that the federal government would be providing Ford Australia with a AU$52.5 million (US$40.4 million) “financial assistance package”. Additional assistance will also be provided by the Victorian state government. According to Mr Howard, the injection will secure Ford’s […]

Kennedy Center names 2007 honors recipients

2 February, 2021

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Friday, September 14, 2007 The Kennedy Center announced that its 30th presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors would go to pianist Leon Fleisher, comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, director Martin Scorsese and musician Brian Wilson. The Center was opened to the public in 1971 and was envisioned as part of the National Cultural Center […]

‘Earth-based life can survive in hydrogen-rich atmospheres’: MIT professor Dr Seager tells Wikinews about her research on organisms thriving in oxygen-less environment

2 February, 2021

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Friday, December 25, 2020In May, a study was published in journal Nature Astronomy, conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Dr Sara Seager and other researchers, showing single-celled organisms like Escherichia coli (E. coli) and yeast can thrive in both 100% hydrogen gas and helium atmospheres. Wikinews discussed the findings with Dr Seager to know […]

NASA: Series of errors led to loss of Mars Global Surveyor

2 February, 2021

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Saturday, April 14, 2007 A complex series of events, including a five month-old computer error, was responsible for the battery failure that led to the loss of NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor last year, an internal review board says. Findings from a preliminary report released on Friday say that while NASA controllers followed procedures while operating […]

Solar-powered airplane makes first international flight

2 February, 2021

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Sunday, May 15, 2011 The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse touched down at the Brussels National Airport late Friday night, after completing a 13-hour flight from its home base in Payerne, Switzerland. It was the first international flight by a fully solar-powered aircraft. The experimental aircraft was piloted by André Borschberg, co-founder and chief engineer for […]

Over 60 illegal miners die in South African mine fire

2 February, 2021

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009 Over 60 miners were killed in an abandoned gold mine shaft near Welkom, in the Free State province of South Africa, after a fire broke out inside the mine. 36 bodies from the Harmony Gold mining company Eland mine shaft were brought up earlier on the weekend from depths up to […]

Arson suspected in Namdaemun gate fire in Seoul

2 February, 2021

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Monday, February 11, 2008 Around 8:50 p.m. Korean Standard Time (11:50 UTC) on Sunday, a fire broke out at Sungnyemun Gate (more commonly referred to as Namdaemun Gate), one of the most iconic South Korean landmarks, located in the center of Seoul. Approximately 30 firetrucks and 90 firefighters were sent to the site and were […]

Deadly fire below US President’s Trump Tower residence

2 February, 2021

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Tuesday, April 10, 2018 On Saturday, the Trump Tower, in Midtown, New York City, caught fire shortly before 18:00 EST (2200 UTC) on the 50th floor, claiming the life of a 67-year-old resident, Todd Brassner, who lived in apartment 50C. All other residents were evacuated without incident. During the fire, six firefighters received non-life-threatening burns […]

New ‘clean water’ funding for Djibouti’s drought-stricken rural areas

2 February, 2021

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Wednesday, July 4, 2007 With the announcement Monday of €2 million in new funding from the European Union (EU), the Republic of Djibouti’s Ministry of Agriculture hopes to provide some relief to an estimated 25,000 rural inhabitants suffering through severe drought conditions. The money, to be channeled through UNICEF for its water and sanitation program, […]