Wikinews:Audio Wikinews/News Briefs/Workspace/archive/May1-8

May 1, 2010
This is the heading for the May 1 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 14:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

UN official: DR Congo is ‘rape capital of the world’

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 18:42, 1 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

Nine of Alfred Hitchcock's films are restored; 30 years since his death

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 19:34, 1 May 2010 (UTC)
 * added "1925's The Pleasure Garden, about two chorus girls at The Pleasure Garden Theatre in London, 1927's The Lodger, concerning the hunt for a "Jack the Ripper" type serial killer and 1928's The Farmer's Wife which centers on a middle-aged farmer who decides to remarry." for some extra detail about the films.
 * added "he directed some of the most famous films in cinema including Psycho, Rear Window, North By Northwest and Vertigo" for cultural relevance and to balance the listing of the 4 lost films.
 * completed brief and recording

Redistricting reform efforts in Illinois fail for this year

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 18:50, 1 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

Bomb blasts in Somalia kill at least 30

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 19:59, 1 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

On this day in history
In 1960, a U2 spy plane, flying over the former Soviet Union and piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down and the pilot captured. The Soviet military had actually been anticipating the flight but shooting down the plane was difficult due to the extreme high altitude it operated in. After failing to intercept the plane with MIG fighters and an initial surface to air missile barrage, a surface-to-air missile battery commanded by Mikhail Voronov engaged and shot down the U2, along with a Soviet MiG-19 fighter which had been pursuing Powers, over the Ural Region.

Initially the United States government reported that an airplane had gone missing north of Turkey, claiming the pilot had fallen unconscious due to lack of oxygen and even grounded the U2 fleet to maintain the facade. Nikita Khrushchev, then the Soviet Premier announced that his country had shot down an American spy plane, intentionally leaving out the detail that Powers had been captured alive and so the Eisenhower Administration, thinking the pilot had been killed, claimed it had been a "weather research aircraft", and not a spy plane. Khrushchev took advantage of this lie, and finally announced that Powers was indeed alive, and the plane was mostly intact thus greatly embarrassing the Eisenhower Administration.

The Four Power Paris Summit between president Eisenhower, Premier Khrushchev and other world leaders, which had been scheduled to commence just over two weeks after the flight, fell apart largely because Eisenhower refused to accede to Khrushchev's demands that he apologize for the incident.

A large portion of the wreck, as well as Powers' survival pack are still on display at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow.
 * completed brief and recording

May 2, 2010
This is the heading for the May 1 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

Today's show is going to be a little late, sorry about that. Turtlestack (talk) 23:23, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

Stones thrown by protesters in Kashmir kill civilian
A middle-aged civilian has been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir after anti-India separatists threw stones at a bus in Srinagar. The victim, Shafiq Ahmad Sheikh, died in hospital after the stone struck his head.

The stone-pelting incident occurred in the Batmaloo area before the separatists marched to the local United Nations office to protest against Indian administration in Kashmir and "growing human rights abuses".

Farooq Ahmad, Inspector General of Police of the state, said Sheikh was an employee of the State Board of School Education and was traveling by bus to his office when "[s]ome boys threw stones at the vehicle he was travelling in. A stone hit Sheikh, who later succumbed to his injuries." The attackers have since been charged with murder.

Oil spill in Gulf of Mexico reported to have reached coast; offshore drilling ban announced by Obama administration

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 18:21, 2 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief

Bomb scare closes Times Square, New York
A suspicious car containing a bomb was spotted in New York City's Times Square. Reports say the vehicle had smoke coming out the back of it after a flash around 6.30 p.m. local time, and unconfirmed reports say an unknown man ran away from the car.

The area was evacuated as a bomb squad removed the package using a robot. Officials removed gunpowder, consumer-grade fireworks, two five-gallon cans of gasoline, three propane tanks, electrical wiring, and two clocks with batteries that apparently were fashioned as one or two detonators. The bomb has been described as "amateurish" but could have caused serious damage to Times Square if it had detonated. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Police have not named a suspect and are reviewing security footage. The car used by the suspect was a stolen Pathfinder with a non-matching license plate; its legitimate owner owner does not appear to be involved in the accident.

On this day in history
In 1952, The world's first ever jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet 1 made its maiden flight from London to Johannesburg.

While initially a hit with passengers, including Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother of England, who were early passengers, problems with the plane soon surfaced. Exactly one year after the plane began operations, on May 2 1953, a flight leaving from Calcutta, India, crashed in a severe tropical storm six minutes after take off, killing all 43 on board. The crash was attributed to a structural failure of the airframe due to metal fatigue.

In the wake os these and other disasters, all remaining Comets were withdrawn from service. When a new design, the Comet 4, was introduced to service in 1958, the new Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8 were already being flown and orders for the Comet dried up, with the last one delivered in 1964.

May 3, 2010
This is the heading for the May 3 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

Since today has been a busy news day, I'm extending my hours until all of Monday's stories are in. I'll then record the show and upload it once I'm sure I have everything for Monday covered. Turtlestack (talk) 23:23, 3 May 2010 (UTC)

OK, I'm going to start recording now (was eating dinner). It should be up in an hour or so. Turtlestack (talk) 01:08, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

New ash flight bans ordered in Ireland

 * completed brief

Bangladesh storms kill at least 23

 * completed brief

Oil company BP to pay for Gulf of Mexico spill

 * completed brief

Protests in Greece over proposed budget cuts

 * combine this story with Eurozone approves Greece bailout story
 * completed brief

Eurozone approves Greece bailout

 * combine this story with Protests in Greece over proposed budget cuts story
 * completed brief

Wikinews interviews spokesman for Greek far-left party Xekinima

 * completed brief

Nepal Maoists begin strike to overthrow government

 * completed brief

5.9 magnitude earthquake in Pichilemu, Chile revives fears of new tragedy

 * completed brief

Chilean earthquakes in the O'Higgins Region: photoessay

 * does not require a brief, just a short blurb to direct listeners to wikinews.org to view the photographs. Also, lead into this photo essay at the end of the 5.9 magnitude aftershock in Chile revives fears of a new tragedy story since they are related.
 * completed brief

Australian rules football: Traralgon, Maffra two games clear on top of 2010 Gippsland Football League ladder

 * could someone please tell me how to pronounce "Traralgon"? No matter how I pronounce it, it just doesn't sound right - maybe one needs the accent to say it right? :)


 * BRS would just go for phonetically - trah rahl gon.
 * It still sounds weird when I say it, lol - thanks though, I'll just do it phonetically
 * Blame me if its wrong. ;)


 * completed brief

Wikinews interviews Brittany Phelps, administrator of the United States Pirate Party

 * does not require a brief, just a short blurb to direct listeners to wikinews.org to read the interview.
 * completed brief

On this day in history
In 1915, the poem In Flanders Fields is written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian physician, after he witnessed the death, and presided over the funeral, of his friend, 22 year old Lt. Alexis Helmer. It became one of the most notable poems written during World War I and was first published on December 8th of that year in the London-based magazine Punch.

The poppies referred to in the poem grew in profusion in Flanders in the spoiled earth of the battlefields and cemeteries where war casualties were buried and thus they became a symbol of Remembrance Day, Armistice Day and Veterans Day.

In Flanders Fields John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

(music credit : )

May 4, 2010
This is the heading for the May 4 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

Iraq starts manual vote recount

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 16:52, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

6.4 earthquake hits Chile

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 16:46, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

California governor Schwarzenegger vetoes smoking ban in parks

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 16:56, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

Severe flooding leaves 28 dead in southern United States

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 16:40, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

Continental and United Airlines to merge

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 20:11, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * completed brief and recording

US criticizes Iran for remarks at nuclear conference
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticized Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after he made a string of remarks against Western nations and Israel at a conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York. He accused other countries of preventing Iran from developing what he called a civilian nuclear program. He also said that of nuclear arms are "a fire against humanity, rather than a weapon of defense. The possession of nuclear bombs is not a source of pride. Its possession is disgusting and shameful."

Hilary Clinton said that "Iran will do whatever it can to divert attention away from its own record in an attempt to evade accountability." Iran has thus far been increasingly under pressure over its nuclear program, and US officials characterized his latest speech, which caused several delegates to walk out, as a sign of increased Iranian isolation from the rest of the world. Blood Red Sandman (Talk)   (Contribs) 22:48, 4 May 2010 (UTC)


 * Thank you for writing this brief! Can you time stamp the brief so I can make sure to add you in the credits for the show? Turtlestack (talk) 22:46, 4 May 2010 (UTC)


 * Thank you. I forgot I could have just looked at the page history to see who wrote the brief :)

On this day in history
In 1970, The Kent State shootings occurred at Kent State University.

The incident began as a student protest to the United States involvement in the Vietnam war, specifically, the Nixon Adi ministrations decision to escalate the war into neighboring Cambodia.

Protests at Kent State actually started on May 1st when about 500 students gathered for a rally early in the day, but by late that night in the town of Kent, where the University is located, people began rioting, throwing beer bottles and breaking store fronts. When the authorities were called in, the crowd threw beer bottles and shouted obscenities at the police officers.

The next day, on May 2nd, the mayor of Kent, Leroy Satrom, declared a State of Emergency and asked Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes to send the National Guard to Kent to help maintain order.

That night, when the National Guard had arrived, a large demonstration was already underway and arsonists had set fire to the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps building. As firemen attempted to put out the blaze, students slashed the fire hoses and the National Guard used tear gas to disperse the crowd and they made several arrests.

On May 3rd, Governor Rhodes called the protesters un-American and referred to the protesters as revolutionaries set on destroying higher education in Ohio. During the speech, Rhodes said he would obtain a court order ordering an official state of emergency, thus banning further demonstrations which gave the impression that he was putting Kent under martial law.

Finally, on May 4th, a scheduled student demonstration took place at noon on campus grounds. The National Guard attempted to disperse the crowd initially using tear gas on the protesters, but because of winds, it had little effect. Next the Guardsmen, with bayonets fixed on their rifles, advanced on the crowd and this managed to disperse many demonstrators, but not all of them.

Then at 12:24 p.m., 29 of the 77 guardsmen fired their M1 Garand rifles at the students using a total of 67 bullets. The shooting was determined to have lasted 13 seconds killing four students and wounding nine.

The shootings led to protests on college campuses throughout the United States, and a student strike – causing more than 450 campuses across the country to close with both violent and non-violent demonstrations. Just five days after the shootings, 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C., against the war and the killing of the unarmed student protesters.

On May 14, ten days after the Kent State shootings, two students were killed (and 12 wounded) by police at the historically black Jackson State University under similar circumstances, but that event did not arouse the same nationwide attention as the Kent State shootings.
 * completed recording

May 5, 2010
This is the heading for the May 5 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

I'm going to extend my cut-off time today to get in as much of the rest of the news as possible. Blood Red Sandman, you've been awesome today and have really helped the show out a ton so, thanks to you, I can go a bit longer today. Turtlestack (talk) 22:40, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Tempodivalse! I didn't see you in here. Sorry I didn't notice earlier. Turtlestack (talk) 23:23, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Investigation into US Airways river ditching in New York completed
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed its investigation into the ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 into New York's Hudson River. The fifteen-month probe began after the Airbus A320 performed a water landing when bird strikes damaged both engines in a move dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson" by the media. Nobody was killed.

The NTSB's final report, adopted after a board meeting yesterday, concluded that a combination of safety equipment better than the mandatory minimums and good reactions by the crew were the main reasons the 150 passengers and five crew survived. Although not required, the plane had equipment designed for safety on flights over long stretches of water.

Other factors cited by the NTSB that helped the situation included that the good visibility, calm water, nearby ferries which provided rescues within twenty minutes and good co-operation in the cockpit, allowing the crew to maintain control. However, the report also cautioned that bird strikes are ultimately unpreventable and criticised safety briefings and life vests. The report also said that ditching procedures are designed for gradual descent from high altitude and not the lower altitude the jet lost power at.

The captain's decision to land on water was vindicated as the best option available.
 * brief recorded Turtlestack (talk) 20:29, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Wikinews interviews Dr. Phil Klotzbach on upcoming hurricane season
On June 1, hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding areas will commence, signaling the potential for a tropical storm to develop at any time. After last year's relatively quiet season, with only nine named cyclones, meteorologists are on-guard for increased activity over the upcoming summer and autumn. Hurricane season runs until November 30, and while storms are known to have developed at practically any time of the year, most tend to form within those bounds.

Wikinews contacted Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane expert at the Colorado State University, for an exclusive interview. You can visit Wikinews.org to read the interview and learn about predictions for the upcoming hurricane season.
 * brief recorded (CSU is a mile from my apartment. Too bad I don't have portable audio equipment, otherwise I could get some audio data to add to the brief.) Turtlestack (talk) 20:36, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Greek demonstrators protest austerity measures

 * No brief should be written yet as there were important new developments today. Hopefuly an article will be written before the cutoff time and then the two will be combined.
 * I'm waiting on Athens bank fire kills three as Greece goes on strike to go live. If it does not, then I'll do them both tomorrow, otherwise, I'll do them both tonight if it drops in time. Turtlestack (talk) 23:31, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Scottish airspace to be closed over volcanic ash concerns

 * Please check that the predictions made in the article actually occurred before recording, as this brief has been written assuming that airspace was indeed closed as planned
 * According to the BBC, flights were canceled from Glasgow, Prestwick and Campbeltown, however, flights at Edinburgh and Aberdeen are operating as of 1900BST with Inverness having opened at 1300BST. I know that Edinburgh and Glasgow are the main airports in Scotland, leaving 2 smaller ports closed and 2 others open, I'm not sure if I can use "much of Scotland" since I'm not familiar with how much much is :) Turtlestack (talk) 20:49, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Airspace accross much of Scotland was shut down at 7:00 a.m. local time due to volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland. Flights accross Europe are unaffected since new rules now permit aircraft to enter clouds of low-density volcanic ash.

A spokesperson for the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) cautioned that "forecasts also show that it is likely that the ash cloud will continue to move south, potentially affecting airports in the north-west of England and North Wales." The CAA stated that ash over Scotland and Northern Ireland is denser than that which engine manufacturers have deemed to be safe.

Inverness Airport reopened at 13:00 and as of 19:00 Glasgow, Prestwick and Campbeltown airports remained closed while Edinburgh and Aberdeen were operating normally.

The Republic of Ireland's airspace was closed yesterday but was open again today. The Irish Aviation Authority warned that sporadic disruption is possible throughout the summer as the eruption continues.


 * recorded brief

FDA report criticizes conditions in factory that produced recalled medications
The United States Federal Drug Agency (FDA) has issued a report into an investigation which began last April in which it heavily criticises a medicine factory. The company in question, Johnson & Johnson, issued a product recall last weekend which affected medications sold in twelve countries.

The FDA found that an unidentified bacterium was contaminating ingredients, quality control was ineffective and workers had not been properly trained in safety procedures for manufacturing pharmaceuticals. Security issues were also found. In all, the report listed twenty problems identified.

Johnson & Johnson's division McNeil Consumer Healthcare stated that the products recalled could contain foreign particles, excess active ingredients or improperly tested material. McNeil said the factory has been temprarily shut down and said the breaches were "unacceptable to us".
 * recorded brief

Knife-wielding woman arrested after allegedly stabbing four at store in West Hollywood
Police in West Hollywood, California have arrested a woman alleged to have stabbed four people in a Target shopping store. When paramedics arrived on-scene shortly after midday local time on Monday they discovered one person critically injured and transported them to hospital, while a second person received hospital treatment for minor injuries. Two people only required treated at the scene.

Off-duty police officer Clay Grant Jr was able to stop the violence with his police gun. Layla Trawick, 34, was arrested. At least one witness claims to have seen Trawick perform the attacks. She remains in custody with bail set at one million US dollars.


 * I reworked this brief to more "front load" the alleged assailants name and actions as described by the witness. When I do a brief, I really try to "tell a story" with a strong narrative (beginning, middle and end). I didn't feel it was quite a strong waiting to the end to give the alleged assailants name and I wasn't sold on the line "was able to stop the violence with his police gun". The interesting thing about wikinews is walking that line between being unbiased (only the facts) and making sure we are also presenting out material in an engaging manner for the listener. I know I hate to say it, but doing these audio briefs does require us to think a little more like "entertainers", however, I much more prefer calling us "story tellers". It's a fine line, I understand, and I will fight tooth and nail anyone who wants to sensationalize and be too entertaining with the briefs, but it is something we need to keep in mind as well. The AW is mainly a way to "sell" wikinews, to get outside listeners engaged in the project and hopefully get them to participate. I suppose, it's best to think of what we do on AW as the "marketing" division of wikinews :)

Police in West Hollywood, California have arrested 34 year old Layla Trawick who is alleged to have stabbed four people in a Target shopping store on Monday. At least one witness claims to have seen Trawick perform the attacks who described the assailants behavior as "look[ing] like she was going to stab everyone there."

When paramedics arrived on-scene shortly after midday local time, they discovered one person critically injured along with a second person who sustained minor injuries; both of whom were transported to a local hospital. Two other victims only required treatment at the scene.

Armed off-duty police officer, Clay Grant Jr, was able to stop the assailant who has since been arrested and is currently being held on $1 million bail.


 * recorded brief

Tanker seized by Somali pirates; Russian warship en route
Somali pirates seized the Moscow University, an oil tanker bound for China, earlier today, prompting a Russian warship to be dispatched to the scene, reports say.

The hijacking occurred about 900 kilometres off the coast of Somalia, according to officials. The vessel's owner, Novoship, says the pirates, armed with automatic weapons, shot at the boat from two speed boats early in the day.

There were 23 Russian crew members aboard the tanker; all are said to have locked themselves in a secure room in the ship. The crew sent out distress calls to the warship before communications were cut off, the owner says.


 * I tweaked this one just a bit to reduce a few redundant words, add the name os the Russian warship (many things Russian I can usually pronounce - not always, but fairly often) and added the context of what the pirates have been doing in the Gulf. I added that last bit because I always assume anyone listening to the show will be new to any news story. I learned this from the US financial crisis when reporters and broadcasters talked at length about credit default swaps and derivative as if everyone listening actually knew what those things were. Of course, as we soon learned, nobody knew what a CDO was and that led to the financial crisis becoming such a confusing mess (even though it was already super confusing because of the inherit nature of economics) that most people feel totally lost about what's really going on to the point that its beginning to effect policy. Hence, this is why I always try to add context and assume the audience has never heard about any of the events in a story before so that they can get caught up to speed. The downside is that it gets repetitive for us broadcasters :) 

Somali pirates seized the Moscow University, an oil tanker bound for China, 900 kilometres off the coast of Somalia earlier today, prompting a Russian warship to be dispatched to the scene. The vessel's owner, Novoship, says the pirates, armed with automatic weapons, shot at the vessel from two speed boats.

There were 23 Russian crew members aboard the tanker; all of whom are said to have locked themselves in a secure room on the ship. The crew sent out distress calls to the warship Marshal Shaposhnikov before communications were cut off. According to a reporter with the BBC, the warship probably would not intervene, as it may put the lives of the crew in danger.

Pirates are currently holding over 350 hostages and twenty vessels in various locations around Somalia and though international warships have been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, they have been unable to entirely halt the hijacking of ships.


 * brief recorded

BP: One oil leak in Gulf of Mexico plugged

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 22:47, 5 May 2010 (UTC)
 * brief written and recorded

Taleban launches attack on Afghan city; several dead

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 23:10, 5 May 2010 (UTC)
 * brief written and recorded

Heavy rains start in central and southern Chile while aftershock takes place

 * brief written and recorded - Diego is gonna kill me for butchering the Spanish language in this one :)

On this day in history
Today is Cinco de Mayo!

In 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, the Mexican army won an unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The battle is widely celebrated as the holiday Cinco de Mayo, the 5th of May, in the United States and, to a lesser degree, in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is considered a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride but should not be confused with Mexico's Independence Day, that day is celebrated on September 16th.

May 6, 2010
This is the heading for the May 6 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

Since there are quite a few stories in the newsroom ready for publishing, I'll extend my UTC cut-off time to the end of today so that we don't get back logged. I'm going to be away from the computer for a while to eat dinner and what-not, and will log back in and see where we stand and complete any briefs and/or recordings as necessary. Honestly, it's nice to see so many stories being published lately - hopefully that means the site is growing! Turtlestack (talk) 22:34, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua reported dead
Presidential aides and state television announced yesterday that the Nigerian president, Umaru Yar'Adua, died.

Yar'Adua ascended to the presidency in 2007, but was later taken ill, and had not been publicly seen for the last few months. He was hospitalised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to get treatment for inflammated tissue around his heart.

According to the BBC, Nigerian reports indicated the president died between 21.00 and 22.00 local time (20.00 to 21.00 UTC) in Abuja, the capital. Goodluck Jonathan, the vice-president, became the acting president this February; under the constitution, he is to now be sworn in formally and will appoint a new vice-president.

Tomorrow is to be a national holiday, and Nigeria will observe a week of mourning for the deceased president. In his statement, acting president Jonathan said: "Nigeria has lost the jewel on its crown, and even the heavens mourn with our nation tonight."
 * brief recorded (Umaru Yar'Adua pronunciation research from NPR.)

African leaders start drive to eradicate malaria
The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), consisting of leaders from 26 African countries, are beginning a drive to eradicate malaria from the continent by distributing medication, insecticides, and bed nets. In a budget announced at the World Economic Forum yesterday, US$100 million will be spent in the countries worst affected by the disease.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete told the World Economic Forum that the strategy of mass-covering beds with nets to keep out disease-carrying mosquitoes, distributing plenty of medicine and the use of insecticides has already reduced Zanzibar's malaria incidence from 40% to 1%. Ray Chambers, a special envoy for malaria with the United Nations, said the US President's Malaria Initiative will provide the money. Chambers also commented that ALMA has recently purchased 50 million "long lasting" insecticidal nets.

Malaria costs the continent an estimated US$40 billion every year in lost work time and medical care.


 * brief recorded (Jakaya Kikwete pronunciation research from NPR)

Greek demonstrators protest austerity measures

 * this is a carry-over from May 5th to be combined with Athens bank fire kills three as Greece goes on strike when it goes live.

Strikes and protests have swept across Greece, particularly in Athens, over the past two days. On the second day, yesterday, an apparent firebombing at a bank killed three, including a pregnant woman, as a sweeping 24-hour strike shut down most services, including schools, hospitals, public transport and government-run offices.

The protests against austerity measures intended to help Greece struggle through its current debt crisis, was largely peaceful on their first day, although some protesters threw stones at riot police, who responded with pepper spray. Members of the Greek Communist Party KKE broke through locks securing the Acropolis in Athens and hung up banners saying "Peoples of Europe — Rise Up".

On the second day students and striking teachers, hospital workers and other public servants were joined by more strikers to make a total of up to 100,000 people. As well as the fatal fire at the Marfin Bank, which allegedly occurred after petrol bombs were thrown through broken windows, other buildings, cars and bins were torched.

At one stage protesters attempted to storm riot police guarding the parliament building, using broken marble torn from buildings as weapons.

Although unpopular, it is considered unlikely that Greece will back out of the spending cuts contained in the austerity plan, which is a requirement for the cash-strapped nation to receive a joint rescue package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

The KKE has indicated to Wikinews reporter Iain Macdonald that they are willing to provide an exclusive interview about the current situation. The interview is likely to appear on wikinews.org within days.


 * brief recorded
 * brief retracted in favor of the new, combined story. See below.

Athens bank fire kills three as Greece goes on strike

 * Although listed for completeness, there will be no separate brief for this article as the recent events in Greece are being combined into one brief.
 * see below

New York bridge shut down after suspicious truck found
New York City's Triborough Bridge was shut down yesterday while bomb squad investigated a suspicious vehicle. A toll booth operator noticed a strong smell of gasoline coming from a U-Haul rental truck which had been abandoned nearby.

Witnesses told police they saw a man flee the vehicle last night. No bomb was found. The incident comes just three days after a failed bombing in the city's Times Square.


 * brief recorded

British political candidate Nigel Farage injured in plane crash on polling day
A political candidate for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has been injured in a polling day plane crash. Nigel Farage, the former leader of the party, was in a passenger a two-seater plane when it crashed at an airfield in Winchester just one hour after voting began.

The pilot received serious injuries while Farage's were not thought to be life-threatening, although a fellow UKIP member stated that Farage has been drifting in and out of consciousness. The plane was towing a UKIP banner to be flown over Buckinghamshire, the constituency for which Farage is a candidate. UKIP said unconfirmed reports stated the banner had become snagged or that crosswinds were a factor, but stated that after contacting an aviation expert they believed the banner was not a factor.

An investigation into the crash has been launched.


 * Glad I looked up Nigel Farage. I had a feeling his last name wasn't pronounced Fa-Ridge - instead, it's Fa-raj :)
 * brief recorded

Greek parliament passes austerity bill

 * It may be that the brief for the other Greek articles has already been recorded. No loss if so; this can easily be written up individually.
 * I can tie the brief for this story in with the brief about the protests and fire and record it as one larger story. Turtlestack (talk) 20:49, 6 May 2010 (UTC)
 * see below

Athens bank fire kills three as Greece goes on strike, Greek demonstrators protest austerity measures, Greek parliament passes austerity bill
This is the combination of the 3 stories on Greece. This should get us all caught up on the story and allow us to write and record briefs for any further stories on this crisis as it happens (hopefully, anyway)''' Turtlestack (talk) 22:04, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

---

The Greek parliament has approved an austerity bill proposed by the government to help rescue the country's ailing economy.

The proposal, which includes increases in taxes, as well as salary and pension cuts, needed at least 151 votes to pass in the 300 seat parliament. The vote comes after a debate that took the entire day and was passed with 172 members of parliament supporting, 121 opposing, and several abstaining.

Prime minister George Papandreou described the situation to parliament ahead of the vote, saying "The future of Greece is at stake. The economy, democracy and social cohesion are being put to the test."

The Eurozone and the International Monetary Fund had asked for austerity plans, an economic measure in which a government reduces its spending and/or increases user fees to pay back creditors, to be implemented so that Greece can access a rescue loan package worth US$146 billion in order not to default on debts. The austerity program is estimated to save $38 billion. Greece also aims to lower the public deficit to less than 3% of the GDP in four years; at the moment it is at 13.6%.

Meanwhile, rallies and strikes have been held across the country, particularly in Athens, to protest against the measures.

During the first day of protests, demonstrations were mostly peaceful, though some protesters threw stones at riot police, who responded with pepper spray. Members of the Greek Communist Party, KKE, broke through locks securing the Acropolis in Athens and hung up banners saying "Peoples of Europe — Rise Up".

Present at the protests were 150 members of the armed forces, who protested having their bonuses lowered and were joined by teachers, hospital workers and other public servants.

However, on the second day of protests, yesterday, an apparent firebombing at the Marfin Bank bank killed three, including a pregnant woman, as the sweeping 24-hour strike shut down most services, including schools, hospitals, public transport and government-run offices.

Up to 100,000 people were reported to have taken part in the demonstrations, the largest since Greece's economic crisis began last year. In addition to the bank bombings, protesters attempted to storm riot police guarding the parliament building, using broken marble torn from buildings as weapons. Protesters have also reportedly set fire to other buildings, cars and bins, as well as setting up barricades in the streets. Police responded by using tear gas and water cannons against protesters.

The Greek Communist Party has indicated to Wikinews reporter Iain Macdonald that they are willing to provide an exclusive interview about the current situation. The interview is likely to appear on wikinews.org within the next few days. Please stay tuned to wikinews.org for all the latest developments in this story.


 * brief recorded Turtlestack (talk) 22:22, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

Nigeria swears in new president after death of Umaru Yar'Adua

 * '''combine with Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua reported dead story
 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 23:58, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

Russian forces storm oil tanker seized by Somali pirates, crew freed

 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 00:02, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

British oil firm claim discovery off coast of Falkland Islands

 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 00:34, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Black boxes from Air France Flight 447 localized

 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 00:05, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

NBC employee wins $266M from California lottery

 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 00:39, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Mumbai gunman given death penalty, to be hanged

 * completed brief Turtlestack (talk) 00:12, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Peruvian bolero singer Lucho Barrios dies aged 75

 * completed brief
 * Music credit "La Joya Del Pacifico (The Jewel Of the Pacific)" The Internet Archive

2010 UK general election results

 * brief written Turtlestack (talk) 00:49, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

On this day in history
In 1937, the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed as it was attempting to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. Of the 97 people on board, 35 people died in addition to one fatality on the ground. The disaster was the subject of spectacular newsreel coverage, photographs, and Herbert Morrison's recorded radio eyewitness report from the landing field, which was broadcast the next day.

The actual cause of the fire remains unknown, although a variety of theories have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire.

The accident served to shatter public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship, and marked the end of the airship era.


 * Sound Credit The Internet Archive

Show is completed uploaded
''' Awesome job today! This turned out to be quite a news day but the show turned out great. Thank you ''' Turtlestack (talk) 02:36, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

May 7, 2010
This is the heading for the May 7 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

I have to head out for awhile, so today's show will be late going live again. I hate to do that, but I had a longer than normal day at work so my time has been somewhat limited. No worries though, I'll get it live later tonight. Turtlestack (talk) 22:26, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Voters turned away from polling stations in UK general elections

 * combining with UK elections: Hung parliament, Cameron to negotiate with Liberal Democrats
 * there is another story, British National Party loses all seats in Barking & Dagenham after general elections awaiting publishing that I can combine with as well.
 * completed brief

UK elections: Hung parliament, Cameron to negotiate with Liberal Democrats

 * working Turtlestack (talk) 22:07, 7 May 2010 (UTC)
 * combining with Voters turned away from polling stations in UK general elections
 * completed brief

US stocks see 9% drop before making recovery

 * combine with US economy added 390,000 jobs last month, unemployment at 9.9%
 * completed brief

US economy added 390,000 jobs last month, unemployment at 9.9%

 * combine with US stocks see 9% drop before making recovery
 * completed brief

On this day in history
In 1915, Leslie Morton, an eighteen year old lookout on the bow of the RMS Lusitania, spotted a torpedo in the water which had been fired from Unterseeboot 20, a German submarine commanded by Walther Schwieger. The torpedo struck Lusitania under her bridge and according to Schwieger's captains log, "An unusually heavy explosion takes place with a very strong explosive cloud. The explosion of the torpedo must have been followed by a second one ..."

At this point in his log, we wonders if the second explosion had been from the boiler or possibly coal or powder igniting, then continues his entry, stating "... The ship stops immediately and heels over to starboard very quickly, immersing simultaneously at the bow... the name Lusitania becomes visible in golden letters".

Onboard the Lusitania, an SOS is sent out and Captain William Thomas Turner, who was known as "Bowler Bill", gave the order to abandon ship. By now, water was flooding the ship's starboard longitudinal compartments, causing a 15-degree list to starboard. Captain Turner tried turning the ship toward the Irish coast in the hope of beaching her, but the helm would not respond because the torpedo had knocked out the steam lines to the steering motor. Meanwhile, the ship's propellers continued to drive the ship at 18 knots, forcing more water into her hull.

Despite Turner's efforts to beach the liner and reduce her speed, Lusitania did not answer the helm. According to Schwieger, who had been observing the disaster through U-20's periscope, there was panic and disorder on the decks. At 14:25, he finally dropped periscope and headed out to sea.

Later in the war, Schwieger was killed in action when, as commander of U-88, he was chased by HMS Stonecrop, hit a British mine, and sank on 5 September 1917. There were no survivors from U-88's sinking. Since the sinking of Lusitania, Schwieger had been condemned in the Allied press as a war criminal.

Captain Turner remained on the bridge of Lusitania until the water rushed upward and destroyed the sliding door, washing him overboard into the sea. He had managed to take the ship's logbook and charts with him as he escaped the rapidly sinking Lusitania and found a chair floating in the water which he clung to. He was pulled unconscious from the water, and survived despite having spent three hours in the water.

By the time it was over, Lusitania sank in 18 minutes eight miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, taking 1,198 lives with her.

In the aftermath of the sinking, the German government tried to justify it by claiming in an official statement that she had been armed with guns, and had "large quantities of war material" in her cargo. Lusitania had been carrying, according to her manifest, an estimated 4,200,000 rounds of rifle cartridges, 1,250 empty shell cases, and 18 cases of non-explosive fuses, but the cartridges were not officially classed as ammunition by the Cunard Line, the company who owned the vessel.

The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany, and was instrumental in bringing the United States, which up to this point had been reluctant to enter into European hostilities, into World War I.

Here is Herbert Stuart singing "When the Lusitania Went Down"


 * Music Credit The Internet Archive.

May 8, 2010
This is the heading for the May 8 show. All files and conversations for this show will take place here. Today's cut-off time is 22:30 UTC. I will be logged in around 18:00 UTC. If you want to add links to the stories you wish to read / write, please do so.

British National Party loses all seats in Barking & Dagenham after general elections

 * brief completed

Detroit Red Wings beat San Jose Sharks 7-1 in fourth NHL quarter final match

 * completed brief BTW: I'm a transplanted Bruins fan living in Avs country :)

Two Egyptian peacekeepers killed in Darfur by gunmen

 * completed brief

Falkirk relegated from Scottish Premier League

 * completed brief

Boat in DR Congo capsizes, 80 feared dead

 * completed brief

New York's Staten Island Ferry crashes, 60 injured

 * completed brief

Nineteen Spanish airports closed due to ash

 * completed brief

Death toll from China rainstorm reaches 65

 * completed brief

On This Day In History
In 1945, Allied forces in Europe formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.

In the United States, President Harry Truman, who turned 61 that day, dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-staff for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period, which ended on May 12.

Here is Harry Truman announcing Germany's surrender.
 * Sound credit The Internet Archive.

More than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. Many hardships remained, however, including continued rationing of food and clothing, which lasted even longer in peacetime than it had during the war.