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Chinese chemical plant explosion threatens water supply for major city A large scale environmental accident is causing wide-spread disruptions to water supplies in Harbin, China after an accidental release of toxins two weeks ago at a chemical plant. Water supplies are being shipped in amidst a relalative calm, Thursday. Local officals have suggested normal water supplies may resume in some form as early as Sunday. Tens of thousands of workers demonstrate in Ljubljana, Slovenia Despite heavy snowing, tens of thousands of workers and supporters assembled today in Ljubljana, Slovenia to demonstrate against the government programme of economic reforms.

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Turkey found buried alive in an Austin, Texas yard Before the McIntire family of Austin, Texas sat down for their Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, the family discovered something unusual: a live turkey buried in their front yard.

Wikipedia Current Events
The Rafah crossing linking the Gaza Strip and Egypt turns over to Palestinian control for the first time. An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Moment magnitude scale hits the area near Ruichang, Jiangxi in China, killing more than 14. Vijaypat Singhania of India sets a world record for highest hot air balloon flight, reaching 69,852 feet (20.29 km). British government suppresses further details of the Bush/Blair memo.

Internet virus circulates disguised as e-mail from US government
E-mails containing the Sober X worm are being sent around the Internet disguised as an e-mail from either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Central Intelligence Agency, both organizations of the United States government. Opening the e-mail on a system running on the Microsoft Windows operating system should be avoided at all costs, experts say.

The e-mail itself claims that the recipient has been caught visiting illegal websites, and asks the user to open an attachment to answer some questions. Once this virus is opened, a variety of system-damaging events may occur. It is reported that anti-virus and other security measures are disabled, and accessing websites for said assistance is disabled, and that your contacts on your address book can be sent this e-mail, and that your privacy may be invaded.

BBC News reported the virus was unleashed on November 22. MessageLabs caught at least three million copies within 24 hours after the breakout, and McAfee, a system security research firm, reports over 70,000 cases of the virus on consumer computers. This is also the 25th variant of the Sober worm, the first of which was released in October 2005.

The FBI and the CIA claims on their website that they did not send out the e-mail, and they discourage opening the e-mail. The Washington Post names this worm as the "worst computer worm of the year".

A similar e-mail circulated in Germany last week. Claiming to be sent by the Bundeskriminalamt the e-mail told its readers that they were caught downloading pirated software. An attachment also included the Sober worm.

China names its new head coach for swimming
Zhang Yadong has been named as China's new head coach for the 170 member national swim team. Zhang, a national coach since 2000, is the coach behind 100m Breaststroke Olympic medalist Luo Xuejuan.

The 170 members of the team, who will be aiming to compete in Beijing 2008, was announced by the Chinese swimming federation on Wednesday 21st November.

Mr. Yadong replaces Zhao Ge as head coach. Zhao has left the national team to coach the Guangdong team and has become a director of the Guangdong Swimming Association.

Gallery seeks Control themed mail art for exhibit
Canadian community art group Visual Arts Brampton is looking for entries for its international entry mail art exhibit "Control".

The exhibit's entry infomation discusses the theme of the show: "Are you a control-freak, or more happy-go-lucky? What do you think of corporations' control on the media and governments? Is your life quickly spinning out of control? Always hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del?"

The exhibition dates have yet to be scheduled, but the show will run in early 2006 at either the Fridge Front Gallery or upcoming World Art Gallery in Shoppers World Brampton, a mall in suburban Toronto.

While it prefers 4 x 6 inch artworks, VAB asks that entries are no larger than 6 x 6 inches. VAB's address is "Snail Mail Central / 1 Bartley Bull Parkway, Suite 10 / Brampton ON / L6W 1R8". Entries must be received by 31 January 2006.

This show will help Visual Arts Brampton to continue to build up a reputation in the mail art world. The non-profit community art group is in the process of opening up the World Art Gallery, which will be the first permanent display space to solely exhibit mail art. Over the past few years, the club has organized three general no theme exhibits, and "SAT: An Exhibit of Chairs", which is running currently.

US military admits to accidentally killing Iraqi child
U.S. forces accidentally fired upon on a civilian vehicle north of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least one child and 2 other people, a military spokesperson has said.

The incident occured when an American soldier spotted the vehicle moving in an erratic fashion outside a base in Baqouba. American soliders fired warning shots before shooting at the vehicle, according to U.S. military spokesman Maj. Steven Warren.

Dr. Ahmed Fouad, a doctor at the city morgue, later claimed that the death toll was higher, and three children were killed. Military sources claim that the extra casualties may in fact have come from a car bomb targeting American soldiers in the same area at the same time, which killed five civilians and wounded twelve others.

Tens of thousands of workers demonstrate in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Despite heavy snowing, tens of thousands of workers and supporters marched today in Ljubljana, Slovenia in the largest demonstration since the country's independence in 1991 to protest against the government programme of economic reforms, including privatisation of public services, tax cuts for businessmen and the abolition of the lower value added tax rate for items like food and books.

The protests, jointly organized by several trade union federations and attended by representatives of almost all Slovenian trade unions, began with an hour-long march from Ljubljana's Tivoli park to the Congress Square (Kongresni trg). Workers and trade unionists were joined by supporters from Croatia, Italy and Austria, as well as students, anarchist groups, and general population. Several politicians from the opposition Liberal democracy and Social democrats were seen in the crowd. Noisy protesters armed with whistles, rattles and even some flares, marched through the snow waving trade union flags and carrying banners denouncing government policies. There were even a couple of old socialist flags with red stars. Riot police were seen on side streets and guarding accessess to government buildings, but they did not intervene.

The protest continued at the Congress Square with speeches of the representatives of trade unions and student organizations who denounced the government policy as leading into greater inequality and decreased standard of living for ordinary people. The loudest boos of the audience were drawn by the remarks about blaming the unemployed for being unemployed, introduction of university fees, and government's waiving of taxes and health and pension fund contributions for church officials. The speeches were followed by a musical program, but the crowd soon started dispersing to escape the weather. Trade unions organized transport for 40,000 people to attend, but many buses were stuck in traffic jams on snowy roads and arrived too late for the protest. The police estimated the number of protesters to 25,000.

Banners and posters:

Ne pustimo, da nam zlomijo hrbtenico - "Don't let them break our spine(s)": The motto of the protest.

Vladne reforme? Ne, hvala. - "Government's reforms? No, thank you."

JJ kje so tvoje volilne obljube? - "J(anez) J(anša) what happened to your electoral promises?": The prime minister's party (then in opposition) campaigned on the platform of helping the ordinary people in the 2004 elections.

Hočemo ministra za zdravje, ne za zdravnike - "We want a minister for health, not for doctors": Displayed by the members of the nurses' trade union. FIDES, the doctors' trade union was one of the only three unions not to support the protest.

Draga vlada, kdo pa je vam plačal šolanje? - "Dear government, who paid for your education?": Most ministers graduated from Slovenian universities in times when education was competely paid for from taxes.

23rd Southeast Asian Games officially begins November 27
The Philippines will host the 23rd edition of the Southeast Asian Games starting Sunday. The host nation is not just hoping to gain the overall championship, but also seeking to boost its tourism industry. With the venues of the Games spread around the tropical country, officials were taking advantage of the 10-day sporting event to showcase some of the Philippines' best tourist destinations. Some events will be held in the cities of Bacolod and Cebu, and suburbs near Metro Manila. It is also for the first time in the history of the Southeast Asian Games, the opening ceremony will be held in an open-air park instead of in a stadium. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, will lead the nation in welcoming more than 7,000 athletes, officials and members of the participating countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, Vietnam and the host.

Cebu opened the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games yesterday with pomp and pageantry. The SEA Games welcome ceremony, served as the “appetizer” for the formal opening in Manila.

Security is tight with a 17,000-strong police force on alert to ensure the safety of the thousands of athletes and officials taking part, amid the threat of possible attacks by militants.

The government is also determined to impose a strict smoking ban throughout the duration of 23rd Southeast Asian Games.No one will be allowed to smoke within a 50-meter radius from venues in Metro Manila, Bacolod City, Cebu City, the Subic freeport in Zambales province, Angeles City in Pampanga province, Tagaytay in Cavite province, and Los Baños and Calamba in Laguna province. The ban also covers any form of advertisement of tobacco companies.

A total of 41 events, 441 gold medals are up for grabs, with the Philippine martial art arnis as well as ballroom dancing making their debuts.

The basketball event was cancelled after a dispute involving the Philippines Olympic Council (POC) and Basketball Association of Philippines (BAP), which saw the former expelling the latter. POC and BAP were later embroiled in a court case which apparently ruled in favour of BAP’s reinstatement.

In an unexpected move, representatives of the Philippines’ largest Muslim separatist group will attend the opening of the SEA Games as a “goodwill measure”, a rebel spokesman said yesterday.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said he and four other rebel officials would attend the event to show his group’s sincerity in seeking peace in the strife-torn southern region of Mindanao.

However in the capital, there are hardly any banners to herald the 23rd SEA Games. There is no excitement and even the mascot, the eagle, is nowhere in sight. Inconvenienced and incensed by the treatment, the ten visiting countries blasted hosts Philippines for poor arrangements before the start of the 23rd SEA Games.

Taibu quits Zimbabwe cricket team after further threats
Tatenda Taibu, the captain of the Zimbabwe cricket team, has announced that he will stand down from international cricket, after further threats were made against him by controversial Zimbabwean cricket figure Themba Mliswa.

Taibu alleges that he was threatened by Mliswa at a meeting with Zimbabwe Cricket Board chairman Peter Chingoka at a meeting earlier this week. He claims that Mliswa said to him "If you thought it is over it is not. Your time is coming and I will get you".

Taibu had earlier gone into hiding when he received a telephone call, allegedly fro Mliswa, in which threats were made against him and his wife and child. He says he is now considering his options, and a move to playing provincial cricket in South Africa, or county cricket in England appears likely. The largely state-controlled Zimbabwean media has largely attempted to portray the defection as a money issue, or a racial issue, and has not aired Taibu's allegations publicly.

Zimbabwe cricket has lurched from crisis to crisis recently, as political appointees from the Mugabe regime infiltrate the sport's governing structure. Many of the country's top players have either fled the country or turned their backs on the game, including Henry Olonga who fled into exile after having an arrest warrant issued in his name for treason, after stating that democracy was dead in Zimbabwe at the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Today in History
1095 - At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade.

1868 - Indian Wars: The U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment led by George Armstrong Custer defeated Chief Black Kettle and the Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Washita River.

1895 - Alfred Nobel (pictured) signed his will, setting aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after his death.

1926 - Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in the Historic Triangle on the Virginia Peninsula, United States began.

2001 - The Hubble Space Telescope detected sodium in the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet HD 209458b, the first planetary atmosphere outside our solar system to be measured.

Quote of the Day

"Put every great teacher together in a room, and they'd agree about everything; put their disciples in there and they'd argue about everything." ~ Bruce Lee

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2005-11-26T23:12:50