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Transrapid collision in Germany kills 23 A Transrapid maglev train traveling on the system's test track near the Netherlands border in Germany collided with a maintenance vehicle on the track, killing twenty three and severly injuring ten of the train's 31 passengers and two workers aboard a maintenance vehicle. Thai military bans political party meetings Thailand's governing regime on Thursday have banned political party meetings of more than five people. There is also a ban on new political parties from being formed. However current political parties still have the right to exist. The military also promised that civilian rule will be restored within a year. Meanwhile the military is taking hold of all duties and responsibilities of the parliament.

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Canadian terror suspect Arar cleared after one year of torture The Royal Canadian Mounted Police bungled the case of Maher Arar leading to an innocent man being tortured in Syria following his deportation from the United States. Justice Dennis O'Connor's report, released yesterday, reveals that the RCMP erroneously told the United States that Arar was linked to Al Qaeda and was wrongly described as an "Islamic extremist individual".

Wikipedia Current Events
A Declaration of peace has been declared in America. Patricia Dunn announces her resignation as Hewlett-Packard's chairman and board member, following a pretexting scandal. Mark Hurd has replaced Dunn as chairman of the company, effectively immediately. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ranks fifth (7% support) in an Israeli poll of potential prime ministers. Thousands riot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, following the execution of three Christian militants found guilty of taking part in an attack on a Muslim boarding school. Richard Hammond is released from intensive care following a serious crash whilst filming for Top Gear. Hammond has been listed as stable. Doctors are monitoring his progress. A prototype Transrapid Maglev magnetic levitation train crashes into a maintenance vehicle on elevated track in Emsland, Germany, killing 23 people and severely injuring 10.

Transrapid collision in Germany kills 23
A Transrapid maglev train traveling on the system's test track in Lathen near the Netherlands border in Germany collided with a maintenance vehicle on the track, killing 23 people and severly injuring 10, according to Karl-Heinz Brueggeman, a spokesman for the rescue effort.

The driverless train was estimated as operating at above 200 km/h (120 mph) when the accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. GMT). The unmanned train with 31 passengers aboard crashed into a maintenance wagon containing 2 workers.

Bundeskanzlin Angela Merkel visited the site to pay her respect to the victims and the rescuers.

The train had traveled about 1 km (0.6 miles) from its departure station when it struck the maintenance vehicle. Debris from the accident was spread over a 300 m (984 ft) section of track. Police spokesman Hans Kley confirmed that the Transrapid train did not leave the track, which is elevated approximately 5 metres (16 ft) above the ground. Other reports indicate that the train's roof was torn off in the collision. Rescue workers used ladder trucks from local fire departments to evacuate the stopped train. On hearing of the accident, Germany's Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee suspended his trip in China and made preparations to return to Germany to view the accident scene.

The 31.8 km (20 mile) test system in Germany was built by a consortium of Siemens AG and ThyssenKrupp. It has been in operation since 1984 and is regularly used by tour groups for demonstration runs four days per week. Transrapid trains are capable of speeds up to 450 km/h (280 mph). This accident is the first on the system that included fatalities; analysts so far attribute the cause of the accident to a lack of communications between the train operators and the maintenance employees. The only commercial installation of Transrapid technology in service is currently the Shanghai Maglev Train linking Shanghai Metro Line 2's Longyang Road station to Pudong International Airport.

HP Chairman Patricia Dunn resigns amid scandal
Hewlett-Packard's chairman and board member, Patricia Dunn has immediately resigned, following a pretexting scandal in which she hired private investigators to discover the source of media leaks by using false identities to obtain telephone records from service providers.

Chief Executive Mark Hurd will replace Dunn as chairman, effective immediately. In a statement made by the company, Dunn resigned at the request of her fellow board members.

Hurd stated that Hewlett-Packard has hired Bart M. Schwartz, a former U.S. prosecutor, as legal counsel, to review the methods used in trying to find out sources of media leaks.

Interview with candidate Navdeep Gill, Brampton City Council Wards 2 & 6
The upcoming 2006 Brampton municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council or the council of the Peel Region.

Wikinews contributor Nick Moreau contacted many of the candidates, including Navdeep Gill, asking them to answer common questions sent in an email. This ward's incumbent is John A. Hutton; also challenging Hutton is Derrick Coke, Jim Howell, Mathew Mburu Njenga, Joyce Rodriguez, and Doug Whillans.

Q: List the three most important issues in your campaign.

A: 1) Addressing council's management of development in Brampton;

(2) Addressing the concerns of our residents regarding their quality of life;

(3) Addressing environmental and gridlock concerns.

Q: What one election issue do you feel is most relevant to your ward in this election?

A: Most important is to manage and tackle issues that branch out from the recent development and influx of population that has taken place in the past three years.

Q: What qualities or experiences do you possess, that make you more desirable than the incumbent?

A: Brampton residents need to know that their quality of life is being looked after and addressed by individuals who are educated in policy and government; individuals who have the knowledge to actively pursue their vision of Brampton in the coming years.

Q: Why do you want to represent your ward on council?

A: I want to engage my community residents and I want to become an active member in a position where I can influence change and make a positive contribution for all residents

Q: Of the decisions made by council since the last election, which one would you have changed, and why?

A: I would have worked harder to ensure that infrastructure was addressed and being put into place before new developments were completed. The lack of management in this area has placed a greater tax burden on residents to cover costs.

Q: How are you currently involved in the community?

A: I am working alongside Model United Nations to raise political and diplomatic awareness amongst the youth. Engaging the youth has always been a strong concern for me.

Q: Much of Brampton's existing council is quite seasoned in the civic political process. What could you bring to the table as a "rookie", above and beyond the current roster of councillors?

A: I would respond to the changing needs of these changing wards. A fresh perspective is needed for the very reason that these wards are headed towards a fresh direction. The issues we are facing now and will be facing in the future are very different from the issues faced in the 1980s and the 1990s. We have a changing environment, an influx in population, increasing levels of multiculturalism, and a high level of growth and most importantly, a large number of growing youth, who are the future of our City and our wards.

Q: The Rose Theatre recently launched. What are your thoughts on this facility? Have you had a chance to tour it yet?

A: So far business has been good with the Rose Theatre as local Brampton residents and residents beyond our borders are taking advantage of the entertainment shows. Of course the long-term success of the theatre is to be seen. My hope is that it will continue to provide successful shows as it has the potential to bring a lot of investment into our city. Yes I have visited the theatre.

Q: The province has strongly encouraged the development of high-density residences near the downtown. Do these buildings fit in with your vision of the downtown? How much say should other levels of government have in urban planning?

A: The choice belongs to the residents and my vision will coincide with the vision of those I represent.

Q: How do you feel about Brampton's rate of expansion? Council recently capped the annual amount of new development; do you agree completely with this decision, would you have slowed development even further, or not have imposed a cap at all?

A: It is good that Brampton slowed it down, as the process was out of control to begin with. Development is good, but only if it is managed well. Brampton should have expanded in increments instead of sporadic developments springing up in all corners. This has resulted in gaps leaving residents with a much larger tax burden to fill, rather than the lower costs that would have been achieved if Brampton had managed their expansion more efficiently.

Q: Why should businesses be attracted to locating in Brampton?

A: We are still a young city with much potential. We have a skilled population and any business would find great success for their future prospects.

Q: How could Brampton further itself in attracting corporate investment?

A: By showcasing a strong and efficient reputation as a city that is capable of effective management.

Q: Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process?

A: As a political science graduate I have long since targeted a profession in the political process, where I can use my strengths and my knowledge to help represent the views of my residents. The reason why I have chosen to join Council now is because I strongly feel there is a need for a committed and active representative. A fresh voice is needed.

Q: What does Brampton mean to you?

A: As a long-time resident of Brampton, it has meant a safe and clean neighbourhood where people can raise their families and enjoy a good quality of life. Working hard in council for me would be a way to help ensure that this sort of environment continues for future generations.

The order of questions in this interview has been changed, however everything else is intact as Ms. Gill responded to Wikinews. The entire original text can be read on the article's talk page.

Interview with candidate Tony Ciufo, Mississauga Council Ward 10
The upcoming 2006 Mississauga municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council.

Wikinews contributor Nicholas Moreau has contacted as many candidates as possible, including Tony Ciufo, asking them to answer common questions sent in an email. There is no incumbent in the newly created ward; the sixteen resident also competing for the position are Shah Rukh Alam, John Briers, Jamie Dookie, Dale D'Souza, Prag Euclid, Adnan Hashmi, Elias Hazineh, Jack Janiak, Fasal Javaid, Craig Lawrence, Sue M. McFadden, Patrick Mendes, Barbara Polis, Graziano Roti, Ali Tahmourpour, and Scott Wilson.

Q: List the three most important issues in your campaign, and briefly explain why these are important.

A: Public transportation for Mississauga and Peel residents: We need more buses in Ward 10 to ensure our residents are able to use the system to get to work and home with efficiency.

Maintain a safe Family environment in our Parks and School Areas: We need better lit parks so our residents can feel free to walk them at night. To maintain safe school area I a looking at investing the possibility of placing speed bumps in front of all school zones and any other.

Fair employment practices within the City and Region.

Q: Of the decisions made by council since the last election, which one would you have changed, and why?

A: One of the decisions made by council which I would have changed in council during the time that Churchill Meadows Area plan was approved. The size of the streets that were approved in my mind are to narrow for the area which case many problem with parking with in the area.

Q: What one election issue do you feel is most relevant to your ward in this election?

A: The issue of maintaining a safe Family environment within our parks and school areas is I feel is the most relevant to Ward 10 in this election.

Q: What vision do you have, for what you ward should look like?

A: Safe family environments where we can enjoy the use of our community facilities and watch our families grow.

Q: What service is most lacking in Mississauga?

A: The service that I feel that needs improvement on is better transportation system for our residents in regards to commuting to and from work. We have to investigate transportation which would relieve the pressure placed on our bus system.

Q: The city recenty released a study regarding transforming the City Hall and area. How do you feel about these plans?

A: I feel that it is about time that we do something to beautify our city core. So, I am for the plans set forth by Councillors regarding transforming the City Hall area.

Q: How do you feel about Mississauga's rate of expansion?

A: I feel that Mississauga has grown at a healthy rate of expansion.

Q: Why should businesses be attracted to locating in Mississauga?

A: New business should be attracted so we can keep our residents employed and also to increase our tax base helping to maintain our taxes as it relates to residential Taxes.

Q: How could Mississauga further itself in attracting corporate investment?

A: Mississauga could further itself in attracting corporate investment by making attractive for corporate client more aware of the amenities that Mississauga offers such as a International Airport, four major Highways and other Fortune five hundred company Headquarter in Mississauga.

Q: Why have you chosen to involve yourself in the political process?

A: My commitment and passion for this great City, and my determination to make positive changes are what motivate me to become the first Ward 10 Councillor.

Q: What qualities or experiences do you possess, that make you more desirable than the incumbent?

A: With me, comes 30 years of business management experience. I have owned an operated my own company for over twelve years. At this time I am a consultant for a Bakery Wholesale company acting as their National Account Manger to increase their sales and marketing within the market place. I am also part owner of a Marketing and Sales Agency that markets a variety of product across Canada. I am honest, trustworthy, and committed to any and all projects I undertake.

Q: Why do you want to represent your ward on council?

A: My commitment and passion for this great city, and determination to make positive changes within our community are what motivate me to become the First Ward 10 Councillor.

Q: How are you currently involved in the community?

A: I currently involved with Charities in support Credit Valley Hospital, Vita Manor and Chelsea Park Nursing Home. I'm a member of Churchill Meadows Residents Association, the the Peel Multicultural Community Association, and the ICA (International Prevention through Environment Design Association).

Q: Many councillors are quite seasoned in the civic political process. What could you bring to the table as a "rookie", above and beyond the current roster of councillors?

A: What I feel that I bring to the table is my ability to think outside of the box. I also feel that I am good people person.

Q: What does Mississauga mean to you?

A: This year marks 50 years since I first stepped foot in this wonderful country Canada… and I proud that I am a Canadian Citizen, and more so, a resident of Mississauga for the past 20 years.

Small technical changes have been made to select responses, the entire original text can be read on the article's talk page. Best efforts have been made to not affect the actual text of the interview.

Unwanted new recruit for two-millenia-old Chinese guard
Legendary Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China had one more terracotta warrior army guarding his tomb, recently. Pablo Wendel, an art student from Germany, disguised himself as one of the clay sculptures surronding Qinshihuang in his final resting place, now a museum.

Police protecting the northern China museum searched for an extended period of time, as Wendel stood silently, among several thousand sculptures. When police found the 26-year-old performance artist, who later told him he was fascinated by the monumental display, they carried him away "as if he were a log."

China was united by Emperor Qin Shi Huang over 2,200 years ago. The tomb in Xian, once the capital of China, is open to the public as a museum.

Fight for consideration as hockey's hometown rages on in Canada, as a premier takes issue
Joe Handley, Premier of the Northwest Territories, accused the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation of ignoring his province in Hockey: A People's History. From the producer of Canada: A People's History, H:APH is a ten-hour-long miniseries about the origins of Canada's most beloved past times.

The series debut, which aired Sunday on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, centred out games in Nova Scotia and Montréal as being the most importantc dates for the modern game. A group of enthuasts called the Society for International Hockey Research has long supported the competition on 3 March 1875 in Montréal as the game's birthplace. The game was describe in the news issue of the Montréal Gazette.

Handley, however, supports the Northwest Territories town of Deline as the sport's true roots. British explorer John Franklin refers to his expedition team playing "the game of hockey, played on the ice", while at Grey Goose Lake outside what is now Deline. This journal entry, discovered in 2003, was written in October 1825. The Society for International Hockey Research at the time hailed this as an important finding for sport historians.

Handley, who saw the episode on tape in his Yellowknife offices, told CanWest News Service that "I was disappointed... [the filmmakers apparently] didn't do their research."

The Member of the Legislative Assembly for an area including Deline, Norman Yakeleya, called the documentary "shameful. This is our holy grail. They didn't give any credit to the North."

While the producers were aware of the expedition, and other early games, a CBC spokesperson suggests that the choice was made as the Montreal game is "generally considered to have been clearly reflective of the modern game."

The Paul Gross-narrated documentary does make acknowledgements to stick and ball sports from Ancient Egypt, as well as golf-on-ice games in 16th-century Europe.

Halifax-Dartmouth and Windsor, both of Nova Scotia, and Kingston, Ontario are three other cities who have laid claim to the honour.

Forget driving to the Olympics, says Beijing
Anyone planning on attending the 2008 Summer Olympic Games is Beijing, China can forget about renting a car when they get there.

Newspapers reported on 18 September that no private cars would be allowed near any of the venues in the host city, in an attempt to combat traffic gridlock that has plagued the city.

Known for its stand-still traffic, Beijing's transport authority believes it needs to curb at least 20% of traffic flow, to ensure the Games run smoothly. The number of cars in the metropolitan area is set to increase from 2.7 million to 3 million, by the time of the Olympics. Country-wide, annual car sales are expected to reach 10 million annually by 2010.

A good infrastructure is one of the International Olympic Committee's top priorities when searching for bid cities. The IOC requires that athletes, support staff such as coaches, venue volunteers, spectators, and the press all should be able to get from venue to venue without hassle.

Existing plans in Beijing say that private cars may only drive the streets of the city on alternate days. Plates with odd numbers would run one day, while even numbered licenses would move around town the next day.

Wired magazine has suggested fuel-cell vehicles may be China's next cultural revolution. Vancouver-based venture capitalist Mike Brown told the National Post: "If they get aggressive about this, and they decided to build up a fuel cell manufacturing capability to sell half a million of these things, they'll get the costs down faster than anybody else."

First penis transplant reversed after two weeks
Two weeks after Chinese surgeons successfully transplanted a donated penis onto an unidentified 44-year-old man, they were requested to remove it. Despite functioning perfectly and having been physically accepted by the body, the patient and his wife asked for the penis to be amputated, due to the severe psychological trauma they had both suffered.

A team of surgeons led by Dr Hu Weilie took 15 hours to attach the penis, which was donated by the family of a 22-year-old brain-dead patient. Doctors have successfully re-attached patients' own severed members in the past, but this was the first use of a second-party penis.

The psychological rejection of the penis is not unusual from a medical point of view; In 2001 surgeons removed the world's first transplanted hand from donee Clint Hallam, who wanted the "hideous and withered" hand to be removed because he had become "mentally detached" from it. The team that led the transplant have since performed the world's first double arm transplant.

Planned anti-coup gathering in Thailand
There will be an anti-coup gathering at 6 pm, Bangkok time (GMT+7), (11:00 GMT) at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in downtown Bangkok. Due to the military's ban on protests and gatherings of more than 5 people, violence is expected to erupt.

Please note that the website www.19sep.org, the homepage of the group organizing the gathering, has already been shut down by the junta.

Complaint made against internet provider iHug upheld
A complaint made against Internet service provider (ISP) iHug by M. McNatty has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). McNatty complained that he was not told of the special conditions of banner adverts he saw on the iHug website.

McNatty said: "I signed up [to iHug] but discovered I had shot over my limit and IHUG had reduced my download speed from 100 to 64kps. I rang IHUG and they explained that I had gone over my 1 GB traffic allotment by 230%. I explained I was on the 3Gig plan and they went on to tell me that 2 of the 3GB can only be used between the hours of 2am and 10am." He then went on to talk to the manager of iHug but was told there was nothing he could do so he asked to be upgraded to the more expensive option of the 15 GB plan.

iHug replied to the complaint by saying: "It appears that M. McNatty has briefly looked at the front page of our broadband section without either reading down the page to the what you get section or clicking on the info or join now links on our website. If he had, he would have found information about the peak and off-peak split of data allowances. He has then rung the iHug call centre, where our call centre personnel have been instructed to inform customers of the details of data allowances because many customers don't understand how much data they will need. If the customer service representative has failed to explain how the data allowances work then that is a mistake on our part, for which I am sincerely apologetic. iHug has taken steps to resolve this by stressing to Customer Service Managers that they must remind their teams to fully explain data allowances during the sign up call."

iHug then went on to apologize to McNatty if felt he had been misled but said: "I think it is unreasonable for M. McNatty to expect all information pertaining to a broadband application to be contained in detail on a small banner advert which is clearly design to capture interest only and lead the customer to further information."

The ASA complaint board then reviewed the advertisement and noted that the advertisement clearly identified that information related to the offer was available on other pages and that a customer would most likely know that plans varied and would ask for clarification before subscribing.

But then said, referring to the 3GB plan advertisement; "However, nowhere in the main offer or the immediate conditions headed, "ihug broadband – what you get", did it inform the consumer that 2 of the 3GB could only be used between the hours of 2am and 10am, one third being peak user time, two thirds being off-peak user time. This, in the Complaints Board's view, significantly diminished the offer of '3 GB data', to the extent that the offer could be considered to be 'exaggerated'. As such the Complaints Board said that it would be likely to mislead the consumer."

They also noted that the wording "generous peak download allowance" was a hyperbole and overstated the product offered, which amounted to misleading the customer.

The Complaints Board said: "A website advertisement was not limited by a time constraint such as a television advertisement, or restricted by space available, and thereby there was no apparent reason why this paramount condition could not be more obvious in relation to the offer."

The complaints board then said that if special condition reduced the offer in value then those conditions need to be obvious. They noted that the ad does say conditions do apply. "However, as the condition in this instance diminished the offer in a major way, the Complaints Board was unanimously of the view, that it should have been disclosed in an obvious manner, as part of the initial offer or in close proximity to it," said the complaints board.

The complaints board then noted that the advertisement was in violation of the second rule in the Code of Ethics which states "Truthful Presentation - Advertisements should not contain any statement or visual presentation or create an overall impression which directly or by implication, omission, ambiguity or exaggerated claim is misleading or deceptive, is likely to deceive or mislead the consumer, makes false and misleading representation, abuses the trust of the consumer or exploits his/her lack of experience or knowledge. (Obvious hyperbole, identifiable as such, is not considered to be misleading)." The board did uphold the complaint.

Today in History
1459 - Yorkist forces led by Richard Neville won the Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire, England, the first major battle of the Wars of the Roses.

1845 - Origins of baseball: Alexander Cartwright organized the first "base ball" team, the New York Knickerbockers.

1846 - The planet Neptune was discovered by astronomers Urbain Le Verrier, Johann Gottfried Galle and John Couch Adams.

1868 - Ramón Emeterio Betances led the Grito de Lares, a revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico.

1932 - Hejaz and Nejd were merged and renamed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with Ibn Saud as the first monarch and Riyadh as the capital city.

September 23 is Spring or Autumnal Equinox at 04:03 UTC in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, respectively; Ramadan begins at sunset (Islam, 2006).

Quote of the Day

"The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description; one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it."
~ Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Word of the Day

expectorate; v

To cough up fluid from the lungs.

To spit.

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