May 11, 2006 The free-content news source that you can write! Page 1

Top Stories Wikipedia Current Events In the past few days, US President Ahmadinejad sends letter to •China declassifies its diplomatic George Bush has said he "would George W. Bush files from between 1956 and very much like to end Iranian 1960, including records of the Guanatanamo", but said he had to government Sino-Soviet split. wait for a Supreme Court ruling on spokesman The Federal Open Market whether inmates could be tried by Gholam- • Commitee of the United States' military or civilian courts. This Hossein Elham central bank, the Federal ruling is expected in June. said that Reserve, decides upon an Iranian increase in the Federal Funds Judge delays exit exam president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Rate by 25 basis points to decision until Friday has sent a letter directly to US 5.00%. The US economic growth A California judge has delayed president George W. Bush has been strong so far, with only until Friday his decision on proposing "new solutions for moderate concern of possible whether to stop the state from getting out of international inflationary pressures. requiring high school students to problems and the current fragile pass the California High School situation of the world". Exit Examination in order to UK Attorney General says graduate. UK Attorney Guantanamo should close The Attorney General of the United General says On Monday, Alameda County Kingdom Lord Goldsmith has called Guantanamo Superior Court Judge Robert B. for the closure of the Guantanamo should close Freedman said he would issue an Bay detainment camp at a speech The Attorney injunction against the high-stakes in London today. He said "the General of the United Kingdom test, which was taken Tuesday by existence of Guantanamo Bay Lord Goldsmith has called for the thousands of seniors in danger of remains unacceptable - it is time, closure of the Guantanamo Bay not being graduated unless they in my view, that it should close". detainment camp at a speech in pass, unless the state’s attorneys The United States, which operates London today, saying "the came up with an otherwise the naval base, has been under existence of Guantanamo Bay convincing argument by 2 p.m. remains unacceptable". pressure for some time to close the camp, over fears that Instead, Freedman said he will prisoners have been mistreated wait until Friday to issue his Featured story and are being held for long periods decision. Last American survivor of the of time without conviction or trial. Titanic disaster dies The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Lilian Asplund, Lord Goldsmith said: "Not only Richmond High School senior the last would it, in my personal opinion, Liliana Valenzuela and others by American be right to close Guantanamo as a the San Francisco law firm survivor of the matter of principle, I believe it Morrison & Foerster. It contends Titanic, has would also help to remove what that the test violates the “equal died in her has become a symbol to many - protection” concept of the law in home in Shrewsbury, right or wrong- of injustice. The that poor students and English- Massachusetts. She was 99 years historic tradition of the United language learners don’t have old. States as a beacon of freedom, access to equal educations. liberty and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol."

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The ruling would affect about 47,000 California high school “It is not fair to the students to California Governor Arnold seniors, and dozens at James work their hearts out and agonize Schwarzenegger said, "Delaying Logan High School, who have yet over something that has such a the exam's implementation does a to pass the exam and would be large impact on them and then disservice to our children by barred from being graduated if find they didn't need to work so depriving us of the best tool we they don’t. hard. I know there are probably have to make sure schools are students who have not taken the performing as they should be. We Thirty-two James Logan students exam seriously, but the vast must increase our efforts to help were scheduled to take the second majority of Logan students have. all students meet the minimal bar half of the two-day test They deserve better than to not set by the exam, not lower our Wednesday, along with thousands know from one day to the next standards or expectations of of others throughout the state. what they need to do to be them.” granted a diploma. Most of our Last week, state Superintendent of students who are taking the exam "I am disappointed in the Court's Schools Jack O’Connell said that this go around have given up tentative ruling to stop about 47,000 California high electives, lunches or time after implementation of the California school seniors still needed to pass school to prepare for the test,” she High School Exit Exam this year the test or face the prospect of said. but I remain hopeful this will not completing four years of be their final word,” he said. schoolwork without receiving a "I am afraid that the message we diploma. O’Connell wrote the law are giving our students is that you If Freedman grants the injunction, requiring the test while serving in don't need to care,” O’Brien the state’s lawyers say they’ll the state legislature. continued, “Then, one day, the appeal. system will pull the rope tight, and The statistics O’Donnell cited also students will be caught not having Whatever happens with Valenzuela show that, while nearly 90 percent what they need. Yes, they should vs. California, the battle isn’t over. of seniors have passed the test, all be doing their best, but when Next week, Freedman is scheduled only 71 percent of seniors who are the system cries WOLF too often, to hear arguments in another suit English learners have passed, and people tend to ignore the which seeks to block the test. 83 percent of those classified as message.” Lawyers for Public Advocates claim low-income have passed. the department failed to hold until O’Donnell, in a statement released December a public hearing to Of the 50 taking the first part of on Monday, said he would try to consider alternatives to the test, the test at Logan High on Tuesday, make sure the test counts. six years after the Legislature only 13 were native English approved it. speakers. "Recognizing that today’s ruling is not final, I intend to do everything Multi-Million Dollar fraud at Cynthia O’Brien, who is in my power to ensure that at the Boston 'Big Dig' coordinating the administration of end of the legal day we maintain Boston's Central Artery and Third the exit exam at James Logan, the integrity of the high school exit Harbor Tunnel Project (CA/T), said she’d like some certainty exam, and that all graduates in unofficially known as the Big Dig, about whether the test is going to the class of 2006 will enter college plagued by cost overruns and be required or not. or the workforce with a diploma reports of shoddy workmanship, that reflects their mastery of has been hit with yet another “The politicals in STATE and our critical academic skills,” he said. scandal as six employees of its judicial system need to get primary concrete supplier have together and do the right job by “Independent research shows that been indicted for falsifying records the students. If the Exit Exam is because of the High School Exit regarding allegedly inferior going to go forward, then it needs Exam, students are working concrete supplied to the massive to go forward. If not, then it needs harder and learning more, and highway construction project. to be cancelled completely,” she those who are struggling are said after a long day of testing getting the help they need to Federal prosecutors alleged in a Tuesday. succeed,” he said. 135 count indictment that of the

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135,000 truckloads of concrete, a of Furlong, Pennsylvania, district their conduct was legal and "web" of falsified documents were operations manager; and Keith believed the concrete delivered to used to cover up a conspiracy Thomas, 50, of Billerica, the Big Dig was appropriate." where at least 5,000 truckloads — Massachusetts, a dispatch 1.2 percent of the concrete used manager. Stevenson and Farrar A spokesman for project manager — did not meet specifications. The are no longer with the company. Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff company, Aggregate Industries NE Aggregate says it has suspended declined comment. Inc. was paid US$105 million for the others. the concrete. On August 11, 2005, it was According to the indictments, announced that the Massachusetts Aggregate said in a statement the six Aggregate employees State Police searched Aggregate's Thursday that it will cooperate recycled concrete that had been offices in June and found evidence with authorities. rejected because it had not been of faked records that hid the poor used within 90 minutes of being quality of concrete delivered for "As a result of extensive testing by mixed highway project. On March 19, industry experts, Aggregate in some cases double-billing for 2006, the International Herald Industries is satisfied that all of the loads Tribune reported that the concrete it has supplied on the the workers gave falsified Massachusetts "Attorney General Big Dig and throughout the documentation to project Tom Reilly plans to sue commonwealth is structurally inspectors to show the concrete Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff and sound," the statement said. was fresh other companies if the two sides the faulty concrete was used in do not reach an agreement over Massachusetts Attorney General walls and roof slabs in the 200 complaints of poor work in the Tom Reilly said "We have no Interstate 93 tunnel, parts of the construction of a highway system evidence whatsoever that the Interstate 90 tunnel and the sea under the center of Boston, the structural integrity and safety of walls of the Fort Point Channel, Boston Globe reported Saturday. the tunnel has been among other places. Reilly was said to be seeking $67 compromised." million from Bechtel and $41 At the arrest hearing, Assistant million from other companies." Commonwealth of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshack said, Governor Mitt Romney said in a "The taxpayers of this community The purpose of the project was to prepared statement, "No one in and this country will be paying for remove the more than 50-year-old Massachusetts should be surprised years to come." aboveground Interstate 93 to learn that a project so badly freeway running through mismanaged, over budget, and Lawyers for the employees say the downtown Boston by burying it, grossly delayed is now also facing men believed their conduct was and connecting the Massachusetts allegations of criminal legal, that the concrete supplied Turnpike with Logan Airport by misbehavior." Romney and Lt. by Aggregate Industries met all running a third tunnel below Governor Kerry Healey have also the strength requirements of the Boston Harbor. The project was announced that they have decided project, and that Big Dig completed this year after serious to return campaign contributions managers sometimes waived the delays and cost overruns reached from workers of Aggregate 90-minute rule when trucks of US$14.6 billion, a more than Industries. concrete were lined up to meet 500% increase over the original heavy demand. Stephen Delinsky, estimate of US$2.6 billion. More Indicted were: former general an attorney for one of the than ten years of detours to traffic manager Robert Prosperi, 63, of defendants, said they delivered ended when the last major section Lynnfield, Massachusetts; Marc quality concrete, but prosecutors opened in January. Blais, 36, of Lynn, Massachusetts, probing the troubled project are a dispatch manager; John Farrar, looking to place blame. "It's Possibility of new graphic 42, of Canterbury, Connecticut, a always easy to blame the lowest health warnings on cigarette dispatch manager; Gerard level, which is the concrete packs McNally, 53, of Rockland, manufacturers. Each defendant New Zealand Associate Minister of Massachusetts, a quality control believed that they acted in good Health Damien O'Connor has manager; Gregory Stevenson, 53, faith. They believed at all times proposed that warnings, both

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, May 11, 2006 Wikinews Page 4 images and text, should cover UK hacker faces extradition to appeal to the High Court for a 60% of the packaging of cigarettes US decision to allow Gary to be tried sold in the country. Gary McKinnon was today told that here as a British citizen". This he would be extradited to the US seems unlikely to be successful, The new images would depict pending appeal. McKinnon stands however, as Struan Robertson, a throat cancer, rotting teeth/gums accused of having caused computing law expert, explains, and gangrenous feet. Ashley $700,000 worth of damage to US "the only way out of it is if he Bloomfield, Chief Advisor on Public military computer systems. faces the death penalty or if he Health, says written warnings Describing himself as a "bumbling can prove extradition is politically aren't as effective as pictures, and hacker", McKinnon said his motivated, which he hasn't done. that many smokers do not know intention was to look for UFOs and The fact that he may get 70 years most of the diseases that smoking information regarding technology in the US is irrelevant. The treaty can cause. which he claims the US makes an exception for capital government is withholding. punishment, but facing a harsh If the proposal were adopted, the sentence is not in itself grounds to Ministry would dictate the size and Karen Todner, McKinnon's solicitor, block extradition". placement of the images to the explained that "there is power tobacco companies, but would not under the Computer Misuse Act to Britney Spears announces she subsidise the cost of the changes. charge him here and he could is pregnant again stand trial here. In fact, had that Pop-singer Britney Spears, 24, Southern Australian munitions happened he probably would have announced last night on the Late factory explodes been tried, served his sentence Show With David Letterman, that An Australian munitions factory and have been released by now". she is pregnant again. exploded in South Australia. Two Speaking after the trial, District people were killed, another two Judge Nicholas Evans said, "I "So, we've established now that were injured and one is still readily accept, if convicted in the you are in fact pregnant, is that missing. US, the probable sentence is likely right?", asked Letterman. to be appreciably harsher in the The factory produced explosives US than, in comparable "Yes, sir," and "don't worry, Dave, for quarrying, civil engineering and circumstances, it would be in the it's not yours," replied Spears. the military. UK. It must be obvious to any defendant that if you choose to Spears gave birth to her son Sean The explosion levelled everything commit a crime in a foreign Preston last September after within 100 metres and could be country, you run the risk of being marrying back-up dancer Kevin heard from 70km away. prosecuted in that country". Federline, 28, in November 2004. This will be Spears' second child Emergency services have been Judge Evans reported that the US and Federline's fourth. held back to a one kilometre government have made promises radius of the factory until an that McKinnon will be tried in a In 2004, shortly after the birth of explosives expert from Adelaide civil court, rather than facing a her son, Spears put her singing could come. military hearing. Despite these career on hold to raise him. Her assurances McKinnon still fears last album to be released was her “It's very dangerous, so we're what could happen to him, "as one greateast-hits album in 2004. holding back,” police inspector Phil person has said to me, most Warwick said, “It's an explosives people in Guantanamo have not In February, a photo of Spears was factory. All right it's exploded, but been proved to be terrorists but taken while she was driving her that doesn't mean all the allegedly I directly attacked the car with her son in her lap. In explosives have gone. There's still military". April, her son allegedly fell from a smoke coming from the area, high chair hitting his head which which means there must be fire or Ms. Todner indicated that they prompted Child Welfare agents to heat. Put them (remaining intend to appeal against this initial go to her home. No charges have explosives and fire) together and ruling. "We're proposing to appeal been filed in either case. we could have another this to the Secretary of State, and (explosion).” if we're still refused we will then

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Explosives stolen from Australia will help in East Security Council to conduct a new California mine Timor if requested: Downer operation in East Timor. "Australia According to the Alcohol Tobacco Australian minister for foreign does stand ready to offer and Firearms Agency or ATF, at affairs, Alexander Downer (Mayo, assistance if requested by either least 686 sticks of dynamite and Liberal), told the Australian House the East Timor government at least 30 pounds of ammonium of Representatives on Tuesday directly or the United Nations." Mr nitrate were stolen from Gold that Australia would provide Downer told parliament. Mountain Mine Company in Big assistance to East Timor if the Bear City, California located in San East Timorese government or Last American survivor of the Bernardino County. Fuel oil and United Nations requested it. Titanic disaster dies mining equipment are also among On May 6, 2006, Lillian Asplund, the items stolen. When combined, Northern Territory member, David the last American survivor of the the fuel oil and ammonium nitrate Tollner (Solomon,Country Liberal), Titanic, died in her home in become combustable and who has long had an interest in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. She authorities fear what could be East Timorese affairs, asked Mr was 99 years old. done with the explosives. Downer to update the parliament on "recent developments in East "She went to sleep peacefully," "The obvious concern is someone Timor". said vice president of the stole it, and what are they going Nordgren Memorial Chapel Ronald to do with it? This is a quantity of Riots in East Timor's capital Dilli E. Johnson, which is located in explosives that could do significant killed five people on April 28 Worcester, Massachusetts. damage. We need to recover these following a march supporting 600 items," said John D'Angelo East Timorese soldiers who were Barbara Joyce West Dainton and spokeman for the ATF. dismissed for deserting following Elizabeth Gladys "Millvina" Dean complaints of discrimination are the two remaining survivors The thieves cut locks on the gate between those from the east and living in England, however they that leads to the facility and then west of East Timor. The Australian were too young to have a memory cut the locks on a metal storage government issued a travel of the Titanic sinking. bin and stole its contents and advisory for East Timor on May 4, everything inside the facility. The 2006 advising Australians to avoid "I could see the icebergs for a mine is run by a man who mines the country. great distance around … It was the area as a hobby. The robbery cold and the little ones were was reported on May 3. Mr Downer today told parliament cuddling close to one another and that there was no indication of trying to keep from under the feet "We urge anyone who has violence against foreigners despite of the many excited people … My information about this theft to the warning still being in place. He little girl, Lillie, accompanied me, contact ATF and the San continued by saying that the and my husband said 'Go ahead, Bernardino Sheriff's Department. government was "deeply we will get into one of the other Our job is to keep the public safe. concerned" and would continue to boats.' He smiled as he said it," We take the theft of explosives monitor the situation closely. "We said Asplund's mother shortly after extremely seriously, and we will have, in a number of ways, arriving in Massachusetts after the relentlessly follow up every lead strongly urged the leaders of East disaster. Throughout her life, Ms. until we solve the case," said John Timor to resolve quickly and Lillian Asplund avoided talking A. Torres who is the special agent peacefully the differences that about her survival. in charge of the ATF in Los there are and, of course, to do so Angeles. with full regard for the democratic The mother of Asplund, Selma and institutions of the country, its her three-year-old brother Felix Authorities have offered a $25,000 constitution, the rule of law and were also on the ship and both reward for information about the international norms of human survived. Her father and three crime that leads to an arrest and rights." said Mr Downer. other brothers were lost at sea. conviction. Selma died in 1964 on the 52nd Parliament also heard that anniversary of the disaster. She Australia had agreed with was 91 years old. Lilian's brother members of the United Nations Felix died on March 1, 1983 at the

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