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Libya frees foreign HIV medics Libya has freed six foreign medical personnel who were convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV and sentenced to death. Upon their arrival in Sofia, the Hungarian president pardoned them. Cindy Sheehan arrested inside Rayburn Building in Washington DC Cindy Sheehan, an Iraq War protester, was arrested inside the Rayburn Congressional Building along with 45 to 50 other protesters for disorderly conduct on Monday.

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Press conference to be held Thursday on new 'Star Trek 11' movie Wikinews has learned that George Takei, who played Sulu on the American television show Star Trek, has announced on the radio talk show Coast to Coast AM With George Noory on Monday night that a "press conference" will be held on Thursday July 26 regarding the new Star Trek 11 movie which is planned to be released in December 2008.

Wikipedia Current Events
Team Astana retires from the 2007 Tour de France following Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov testing positive for a banned blood transfusion. Race leader Michael Rasmussen has been dropped from the Danish cycling team for failing to tell officials his whereabouts so that he could undertake drug testing. New Haven, Connecticut becomes the first United States city to give identification cards to undocumented immigrants. Pakistani militants fire rockets at the town of Bannu resulting in at least seven deaths and 30 injuries. (Reuters via Canada) In another attack in the North Waziristan region, about 35 militants attacked on security forces killing 4 and injuring 6. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, accuses the United Kingdom of "colonial thinking" for wishing to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to face trial for the alleged murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Marie-Noëlle Thémereau resigns as the President of New Caledonia. A boiler explosion in a towel factory in North Karachi kills 8 and injures 28. A suicide car bomber kills at least 22 people in the Iraqi town of Hilla. One of Hungary's top health official says almost 500 people in the country have died in the past week as a result of a heat wave. Dozens of people are missing in Sulawesi, Indonesia as a result of recent floods and landslides. The 5 Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian assistant, imprisoned in Libya for 8 years and that had been sentenced to death, in several trials based on allegations of having inocculated AIDS to children, are leaving Libya and returning back to Sofia with Mrs Cécilia Sarkozy who negotiated their liberation.

Canada-wide manhunt for suspect in Ontario slayings
Police are currently on the hunt for a suspect in two Ontario, Canada, murders.

22-year-old Jesse Imeson, a native of the Windsor, Ontario area, is already wanted for the first-degree murder of Carlos Rivera, 26, a bartender at a gay strip club in Windsor, last week. Now Ontario Provincial Police are issuing a Canada-wide warrant for him in connection of the slaying of an elderly couple in their rural home near Grand Bend, on the shore of Lake Huron.

"I have to stress again the importance of not approaching the individual and contacting police immediately," says Ontario Provincial Police Const. Jeff Walraven on Tuesday. "We'd much rather deal with a suspicious person at the time than have to deal with the circumstances that arise."

Investigators have warned the public to be on the lookout for a grey 2006 GMC Sierra pickup truck with the licence plate JK8334. It is the slain couple's vehicle and they suspect that Imeson has stolen it.

Tour de France: Alexander Vinokourov fails blood test
Astana Team announced today that Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan failed a blood test following his victory in Saturday's time trial.

"Vino has tested positive having to do with a blood transfusion, and the team is leaving the Tour," team spokesperson Corinne Druey said. Vinokourov also won yesterday's stage.

"There is the presence of a double population of haematids, which implies there has been a blood transfusion with homological blood," read an Astana Team statement. "Tour organizers have asked Astana Cycling Team to leave the race, which has been accepted spontaneously."

Vinokourov was a pre-Tour favorite, but despite winning two stages, he has dropped out of contention. However, Astana Team, which has now withdrawn had two other riders in the top ten, Andreas Klöden, fifth overall, and Andrey Kashechkin, eigth overall.

Pat McQuaid, president of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) told Reuters: "I cannot comment on this until the result of the B sample's analysis."

"Jesus Christ, I'm speechless," said David Millar of the United Kingdom, who rides for Saunier Duval-Prodir. "It makes me sad. I have the impression the riders will never understand."

When asked if the Tour was too hard on the cyclists, Tour director Christian Prudhomme told reporters that "You do not cheat because it is too hard, you cheat because you want to be first."

Major fire in Montreal, Canada, destroys several businesses
Fire ravaged a few businesses in Montreal, Canada on Monday evening, despite the efforts of over 150 firefighters to extinguish the flames. The alert reached the so-called "five-alarm" stage, drawing in so many firefighters, and it took over twelve hours to extinguish the fire.

The fire is suspected to have broken out around 7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) at "Fruits & Passion," a personal care and ambiance products shop, on Saint-Denis street south of Rachel street. Later it spread to the Continental bistro and the L'Barouf bar. The Continental's roof has collapsed due to the fire-induced damage.

Ten firefighters suffered minor injuries, including a least four suffering from a heat stroke, whose condition is said to be stable.

Saint-Denis street was closed between Marie-Anne and Duluth streets during the fire itself, and again the next morning for the demolition of 2nd and 3rd stories.

Libya frees foreign HIV medics
Libya has freed six foreign medical personnel who were convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV and sentenced to death. In jail since 1999, the five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, today. The president of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov promptly pardoned them.

All six have maintained their innocence throughout. They have also claimed that they suffered torture to extract confessions. International HIV experts testified at the trials that the infections began before the six arrived at the Benghazi hospital. They said the infections were more likely the result of poor hygiene.

Last week, Libya lifted the death sentences following a US$460 million financial settlement, which works out to US$1 million to each HIV victim's family. However, Libya insisted on further concessions on relations with the European Union and aid.

A deal between the EU and Libya, mediated by Qatar, ended the diplomatic standoff. The foreign minister of Libya, Abdel Rahman Shalgham said the EU promised to provide "life-long treatment" to the infected children, as well as aid to "improve the Benghazi hospital" where the children were infected. Further, he claimed that deal will allow for "full cooperation and partnership between Libya and the European Union."

"We hope to go on further [in] normalising our relations with Libya. Our relations with Libya were to a large extent blocked by the non-settlement of this medics issue," said José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

The president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, said that neither the EU nor France paid money to Libya. He also said he would visit Libya on Wednesday to help Tripoli's reintegration. "I can quite simply confirm to you that neither Europe nor France have made the slightest financial contribution to Libya," said Sarkozy to reporters in Paris. "I have had the opportunity to thank the Qatari authorities very warmly for their mediation and their humanitarian intervention."

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations, said: "I share the joy of their families and friends and of the government and people of Bulgaria. For over eight years, we have never forgotten the suffering of the medical staff who have shown such dignity and fortitude during their long ordeal."

"Now I still can't believe that I am standing on Bulgarian soil. We were told the news at four o'clock in the morning and we left the jail at quarter to six to board the plane. Now I will try to get my previous life back," said Kristiyana Vulcheva, 48, upon her release at the airport.

Fish consumption by New Yorkers has lead to high blood mercury levels
Some 25% of New York City's adults have elevated mercury levels, according to the city's Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was released on Monday. Mercury poisoning, which can result from eating contaminated animals, leads to a wide range of conditions, including kidney and neurological damage, fatigue, vision problems, and tremors.

As one example, the report found that New York City women between 20 and 49 years old had an average level of mercury of 2.64 micrograms per liter, compared to a national average of 0.83 micrograms per liter among women in a similar age group. Mercury exposure in humans can result in brain damage, birth defects, severe neurological consequences, mercurial drooling, Minamata disease, and certain behavior abnormalities.

The high blood levels of the toxin were related to higher fish consumption. City's authorities said that children under 6 years old and pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid fish with high mercury contents. The types of fish that were found to have especially high levels of mercury were Chilean sea bass, swordfish, and fresh tuna. A 2006 study by the National Wildlife Federation found that, in the United States, the animals of many different species, not just fish, are contaminated with mercury at levels higher than previously thought.

UK government outlines plans for rail transport
The government of the United Kingdom has outlined its plans for the development of the Britain's railway network in a white paper presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly.

Ruth Kelly described the report as "the most ambitious strategy for growth on the railways in over 50 years" and announced that capacity will be increased to cope with an expected 20% growth in passenger numbers over the next seven years through a £10 billion investment.

The government is to continue to limit the rate of increase of regulated tickets, which include standard season and saver tickets, to a maximum of 1% above inflation, and plan to introduce a simplified ticketing structure of four basic ticket types.

Today's announcement also extended the government's commitment made in March of this year to fund extra carriages. An additional 300 brings the total to 1,300 carriages to be acquired to relieve overcrowding.

The impact of the investment the government has outlined will be concentrated in tackling areas of high overcrowding on the rail network. In particular, Ms Kelly has highlighted a number of key projects. These include the improvement of Reading and Birmingham New Street stations and the approval of the Thameslink modernisation programme.

150 stations across the network will be upgraded and refurbished at a cost of £150 million.

The largest opposition party, the Conservative Party, greeted the release with much scepticism, saying that the paper contains "reheated announcements that are years later than promised". A spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats described it as a "missed opportunity" to encourage more people to use trains in favour of cars or planes and suggested that much of the investment outlined in the document had been announced before.

George Muir, of the Association of Train Operating Companies which represents the companies providing passenger train services on the British rail network, said that the white paper is the "first plausible plan for expanding the railway" in recent years.

Press conference to be held Thursday on new 'Star Trek 11' movie
Wikinews has learned that George Takei, who played Sulu on the American television show Star Trek, has announced on the radio talk show Coast to Coast AM With George Noory on Monday night that a "press conference" will be held on Thursday July 26 regarding the new Star Trek 11 movie. The movie is planned to be released in December 2008.

"I understand that there will be a press conference on Thursday, regarding the new Star Trek movie, and major casting announcements will be made then," said Takei.

Brad Altman of www.georgetakei.com, has told Wikinews that the conference is scheduled to take place at the San Diego Comic Convention on July 26 from 1:00 p.m. (pacific time) until 3:30 p.m..

The director of the new movie, J. J. Abrams is expected to announce a "few surprises," says a statement posted on the Comic-Con 2007 website.

The conference is apparently to put to rest rumors that started to circulate online that Matt Damon was going to star in the new movie as Captain James T. Kirk. Damon later said in an interview with ign.com that he was "too old" to play the role and that it was nothing but an "internet rumor" and that he was not approached by anyone to be in the film.

It is rumored that Leonard Nimoy will be cast as Spock, or that Zachary Quinto will play the role.

It is also rumored that the movie will be a prequel to the TV show. According to IMDb the movie is going to be "set before 'The Original Series' [when] Kirk and Spock are newly graduated Cadets fresh from Starfleet Academy and are sent on their first space mission."

Cindy Sheehan arrested inside Rayburn Building in Washington DC
Cindy Sheehan, an Iraq War protester, was arrested inside the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. in United States along with 45 to 50 other protesters for disorderly conduct on Monday.

"The Democrats will not hold this administration accountable, so we have to hold the Democrats accountable. And I for one am going to step up to the plate and run against Nancy Pelosi," said Sheehan during her protest inside the capitol.

Sheehan and the other protesters were at the offices of Rep. John Conyers Jr. who is the House Judiciary Committee chairman, demanding that President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney be impeached. Conyers would be the politician who would start impeachment hearings.

Sheehan then stated that she would run against Nancy Pelosi, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in the next election for her seat in the House representing the state of California.

"If Nancy Pelosi doesn't do her constitutionally mandated job by midnight tonight, tomorrow I will announce that I'm going to run against her. Not only am I going to run against her, but I will beat her. Impeachment is not a fringe movement, it is mandated in our Constitution. Nancy Pelosi had no authority to take it off the table," added Sheehan.

Despite Sheehan's claims, Pelosi's Press Secretary Brenden Daly says that she is working hard to make sure that the right steps are taken in Iraq.

"The speaker is focused on changing course in Iraq by bringing our troops home safely and soon and refocusing our effort on protecting Americans from terrorism, holding the Bush administration accountable and setting a 'New Direction for America,'" said Daly.

Sheehan became an anti-war protester after her son, Casey Sheehan, was killed while fighting in the Iraq War on April 4, 2004 at the age of 24.

Bacterial meningitis possibly spread on AirTran flight
Authorities are currently working with employees of AirTran Airways to find passengers who sat near a teenage girl with bacterial meningitis on AirTran flights 687 and 862 on Saturday.

After falling "seriously ill" during the second flight, from Atlanta, Georgia to Wichita, Kansas the girl was diagnosed with meningitis, an infection of the brain and spinal cord, at Wichita's Wesley Medical Center.

Although meningitis cannot be transferred merely through casual contact, AirTran notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday, and are attempting to track the passengers who sat near the girl on the two flights.

U.S. minimum wage gets first federal boost in a decade
A federally mandated minimum wage increase for U.S. workers goes into effect today. The 70 cents per hour increase, from US$5.15 to $5.85, is the first hike since 1997.

The increase, which was approved by Congress in May, is the first stage of a 3-step increase over the next two years. Next summer, the minimum will increase by another 70 cents per hour, followed by another bump of 70 cents in the following summer, bringing the minimum wage to US$7.25 an hour by 2009.

The increase is aimed at helping minimum wage earners keep above the poverty level. The United States Department of Health and Human Services considers anyone who earns less than $10,210 per year to be in poverty. At the previous minimum wage level, a person working 40 hours a week would only exceed this by $500 a year.

As many as 20 states took the initiative to raise minimum wages before this federal government action became effective. Those states will only be affected by the new law if they fall beneath the new federal mandate.

By comparison, today's current minimum wage for adults in the United Kingdom is equivalent to almost $11.50. As of 2005, Mexico's minimum wage was Mex$4.50. The lowest minimum wage in Canada is C$6.50 in New Brunswick. The highest in Canada is in Nunavut, C$8.50 or US$8.15.

Many countries in Europe, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Cyprus have no minimum wage laws, but rely on employer groups and trade unions to set minimum earnings through collective bargaining. As of December 2006, the Australian standard federal minimum wage is A$13.47 per hour, equivalent to US$11.90.

Drew Carey to replace Bob Barker as host of "The Price is Right"
Comedian Drew Carey has announced that he will be the new host of the American game show The Price Is Right, replacing outgoing longtime host Bob Barker.

Carey revealed this on a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman, which, like The Price is Right, airs on CBS.

"It's a done deal. I'm the new host of 'The Price Is Right'," said Carey during The Late Show taping which airs tonight.

Carey was previously the star of his own sitcom on rival network ABC's sitcom The Drew Carey Show as well as the same network's improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He was also recently named as host of another CBS game show, Power of 10.

Barker retired from being the host of the show for 35 years and appeared as the host for the final time on June 15.

Today in History
306 – Constantine I was proclaimed Roman Emperor by his troops after the death of Constantius Chlorus.

1536 – Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar founded Santiago de Cali in present-day western Colombia while on his search for the mythical city of El Dorado.

1792 – French Revolutionary Wars: Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick issued the Brunswick Manifesto to the population of Paris, promising vengeance if King Louis XVI and other members of the French Royal Family were harmed.

1909 – French aviator Louis Blériot made the first crossing of the English Channel in a heavier-than-air flying machine, flying from Les Barraques near Calais in France to Dover, England.

1978 – Two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists were killed by police at Cerro Maravilla in Villalba, Puerto Rico, sparking a series of political controversies where the police officers were eventually found guilty of murder and several high-ranking local government officials were accused of covering-up the incident.

2000 – Air France Concorde Flight 4590, en route from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, crashed in Gonesse, France, killing all 100 passengers and nine crew members, as well as four people on the ground.

July 25 is Commonwealth Constitution Day in Puerto Rico; Galicia Day in Galicia, Spain; Feast day of Saint James the Great.

Quote of the Day

To know a person's religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance. ~ Eric Hoffer

Word of the Day

tilde; n

(orthography) A diacritical mark placed above a letter (as in ñ) to modify pronunciation, such as by palatalization or nasalization.

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