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Israeli barrage of Gaza continues with strike on PM's office Israel has continued its barrage of the Gaza Strip with an attack on the office of the Palestinian prime minister. France beat Brazil 1-0 to take last semi-final spot In a quarter-final rematch of the 1998 Fifa World Cup final France beat Brazil 1-0 to progress to the semi-finals, Saturday.

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Purpose of mysterious website Eon8 revealed On July 1, 2006 at Midnight Eastern Daylight Time, the purpose of Eon8 was revealed, turning out to be an experiment on how the public reacts to a lack of information. Eon8, prior to the revelation, was a website counting down to July 1 created by a 23-year-old web designer from Florida only known as "Mike".

Wikipedia Current Events
Hamas spokesperson threatens further attacks against Israeli schools and power plants if the military campaign to free the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit continues. Iraqi authorities distribute a most wanted fugitives list containing Saddam Hussein's wife and daughter and with Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri at the top of the list. Israeli ground forces deployed in Dahaniya airport kill two approaching Palestinian gunmen. Voters in Mexico head to the polls in elections for the President of Mexico and both houses of the Congress of Mexico as well as five gubernatorial elections. Exit polls showed the race between Felipe Calderon of the National Action Party and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a former mayor of Mexico Cityas too close to call. The launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery is postponed until Tuesday at 2:38pm local time due to stormy weather in Florida. In Pakistan, all parliament members from the Jamaat-e-Islami political movement resign over fighting between the army and terrorists in Waziristan and General Musharraf's support for the United States in an effort to force Musharraf to step down. Israel strikes an empty office of Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh. Two other Hamas operatives are killed in two separate aerial strikes. Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz warns stepping up quality of targets, reiterating the responsibility of Syrian president Bashar Assad for the continued crisis. Israeli PM approves a military operation in the northern Gaza Strip aimed at halting Qassam rocket attacks. More than 1200 Qassam rockets, three of them on Sunday, were launched since October 2001, killing 12 Israeli civilians and a comparable number of Palestinian civilians.

U.N. aid rejected by Sudanese Government
The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has rejected the U.N."s offer of up to 17,000 troops to stem the continuing crisis within the country.

Bashir met Kofi Annan today at the 7th African Union Summit being held in the Gambian capital Banjul. In a speech to delegates from across the continent, Mr. Annan, who was born in Ghana, labeled the Darfur crisis as "one of the worst nightmares in recent history". But Mr. Bashir said he was concerned that a UN mandate would be seen as a "western invasion" that would attract militants and create a situation similar to Iraq.

Kofi Annan did say though that he hoped dialogue would continue on the issue. The current African Union force of 7,000 has struggled to maintain order in a country with over 2.5 million displaced citizens. There have also been accusations of rape by AU soldiers inside camps.

In his speech Mr Annan did praise the progress in development across the continent since 1997 but, he said:

"Despite elections, many Governments continue to suppress opposition parties and a free press. Many continue to exclude certain groups from participation in public life. Many continue to practise or tolerate large scale corruption."

This will be Kofi Annan"s final speech to the AU as Secretary-General.

Also at the summit, Hissene Habre, Chad"s leader until 1990, will face trial in Senegal, the Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade announced today.

The former leader is under arrest for human rights abuses during his reign, including 200,000 counts of torture. There has been much wrangling as to who should try the former leader. Belgium initially stepped in to hold the trial, but Mr. Wade agreed with the African Union that "Africans must be judged in Africa."

Former president Habre ruled Chad for eight years before being removed in an uprising by current president Idriss Deby.

Michael Schumacher wins 2006 United States Grand Prix
Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher and his teammate Felipe Massa won the first and second place on the FIA Formula-1 United States Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Schumacher became the winner on this track for the 5-th time.

Renault driver Giancarlo Fisicella pushed hard on Ferrari's, but finished third. Fernando Alonso, his teammate, was only fifth.

A major incident right after the start terminated the race for a number of drivers, including the only american Formula-1 driver Scott Speed and both the McLaren-Mercedes cars of Kimi Raikkonen and Juan-Pablo Montoya.

Also tough luck for both MF1-Toyota team drivers, Tiago Monteiro, who collided with Japanese driver Takuma Sato, and Christijan Albers, who ended the race due to technical problems.

The race ended with only nine cars finished, much better though, than a year before, when Michelin's tyre scandal broke.

Rally in Australian forests to oppose woodchip industry
A rally organised by a coalition of nearly 30 environmental groups took place at the site of the Eden wood chip mill in the south east forests of New South Wales today. Organisers estimate that 600 people attended the event, many of whom had travelled hundreds of kilometers to the site from various parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

The protesters sought to highlight the trade in wood chips made from old growth forests which has continued in Australia despite promises by governments to discontinue the practice. It is thought to be an unnecessary sacrifice of a publicly owned resource and the habitat of native animals for short term profits. The industry is subsidised through provision of publicly funded infrastructure and a unreasonably low royalty levied on harvesters of the resource.

All Eden wood chips are exported, mostly to pulp and paper mills in Japan and the paper made from Eden chips is generally copy paper used in the printing industry and it is consumed within Japan. Since its establishment, Eden has exported over 35 million tonnes of native forest chips.

Australia exports approximately 900,000 tonnes of chips produced from native forests each year and is the only country that continues to trade forest wood chips to Japan, as all other supplier countries use plantation stock to produce chips.

The rally was organised with police cooperation and was conducted without any incident.

David Beckham resigns as captain of England football team
David Beckham, a football player for England and the Real Madrid football club, has announced he no longer wishes to be the captain of England's football team. After the teams loss to Portgual in yesterday's (1 July 2006) World Cup quarter-final, Beckham announced at a press conference at the team's training camp in Germany that he stands down from his position of captain immediately but would remain a part of the England team.

"I came to this decision some time ago but I had hoped to announce it on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly that wasn't to be. This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and those closest to me I feel the time is right," he said.

Beckham became the captain in 2000 by caretaker manager Peter Taylor. He had served 58 games of the 92 he has played as the national captain.

Wiki sites share ad revenue with editors
In what may be the first wiki sites to do so, two websites have (independently) begun to offer ad revenue sharing to their wiki contributors.

Wikitysplit.com began its site on March 15, 2006.

Another website, Allyourideas.com which had been existence since September 4, 2005, began its ad revenue sharing on March 31, 2006.2, having started its ad sharing independently and without knowledge of the former site.

Both sites allow creators of wiki pages to get a potential share of the site's ad revenue. AllYourIdeas.com also offers editors of others' pages the chance to make money from their edits.

The present compensation system listed at these sites is as follows. Wikitysplit states it will add ads 50% of the time to be credited to the original author, whereas AllYourIdeas only offers them 35% of the time. However, AllYourIdeas will credit the remaining 65% of the credit to the most frequent editor of the page (which, of course, in the beginning at least, will be its creator). (The site owner of the latter states that he always obtains revenues for one of the other ads on the pages.)

Allyourideas.com also offers a means on each relevant page for Paypal donations to be received by the site founder and most frequent editor.

Revenue sharing has become a popular means for businesses to gain visitors to their sites. Google is famous for widening this possibility for individual site owners with its Adsense program, and later opening it up to blogs in conjunction with Blogger.com. Later, a number of forums eventually began to offer this chance for revenue to their own contributors, starting with Digitalpoint.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto dies
RyÅ«tarÅ Hashimoto, who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998, died in a Tokyo hospital on July 1, 2006. He was 68 years old.

Born in Soja city, Okayama Prefecture, he moved through the ranks of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), getting elected to the lower house of parliament for 14 consecutive terms. He held several cabinet posts and in 1989 became secretary general of the LDP.

He was Prime Minister of Japan from January 11, 1996 to July 30, 1998. He remained a powerful back-room player in Japanese politics until scandal forced him to resign his leadership position in 2004.

"Armageddon" rock misses Earth by Moon's distance
Asteroid 2004 XP14, a half-mile wide chunk of hard rock travelling at 40'000 miles an hour, is scheduled to miss the Earth by a few hundred thousand miles, Monday.

Dr David Asher from the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland said if the rock, discovered in 2004, were to hit the Earth the result would be devestating. "It would probably be big enough to wipe out a small country," he said.

Amateur astronomers with 6-inch telescopes would be able to follow the speeding space debris in Europe and North America at its closest approach to the planet at 4:25 a.m. UTC.

At this time it would be at a safe distance of 268,624 miles from Earth - closer to the Earth than the Moon would be at its farthest extent in its orbit.

2004 XP14 is named as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA), along with 782 known others by Astronomers at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at Harvard.

Zipping about in the solar system no PHAs have yet been found on direct collision course with the Earth. Still, "For something of this size to come this close is unusual," said Don Yeomans, the head of NASAâs Near Earth Object Program."

An expert at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California said it was the closest approach by such a massive object for over 80 years - since 1925.

Before 2004 XP14's exact orbital path around the sun was known exactly there were concerns it would hit the Earth.

In the near future Jon Giorgini said such cosmic uncertainty would be much less and the public less alarmed. "In the next 20 to 30 years, we'll have a complete catalog of hazardous objects," Giorgini said.

Edward Lu and Stanley Love, of Johnson Space Centre, Houston, also have allayed fears about a collision. In a 2005 article in Nature they theorised a "gravity tractor" could move any known threat within a year.

Sadr City suicide bomber uses fruit truck to kill 66 on market day
A suicide bomber exploded a truck bomb in the crowded Al-Ula market in Sadr City in Baghdad on Saturday, killing 66 people and injuring over a 100.

'At the beginning of this market, the criminal blew up his dynamite-packed truck after trying to go over the pavement,' said Iraq's Deputy Health Minister Sabah al-Hussein.

The explosion happened when a police patrol was passing by and caused heavy casualties in the morning market rush. Some shoppers were sent flying on top of nearby two-storey buildings.

The force of the blast left a large crater and wreckage of blown-out cars and windowless buildings. Rescuers were left to pick through a sickening scene of human remains mixed in with exploded vegetable matter and dead animals.

Sadr City, a Shiite city of two million in which religious leader Moqtada Sadr has found popular support, had many times before been targeted by Sunni terrorists who were blamed by some residents for this attack.

It was the deadliest bombing of civilians since Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government assumed responsibility for domestic security in May 2006.

Experts said the truck bomb was a lethal concoction of explosives, shells and shrapnel hidden under a consignment of fruit. The driver of the truck blew himself up in the explosion.

Chavez asks Africa to unite against U.S.
Hugo Chavez called on Africa Saturday to develop closer ties with Latin America to fight what he called the threat of U.S.A. hegemony.

"In Venezuela, we were tired of all our oil going to Count Dracula," Chavez said to applause. "Now Venezuela is free and we have recovered control over our oil. We should march together, Africa and Latin America, brother continents with the same roots ... Only together can we change the direction of the world," he told the opening day of the African Union summit. In Africa "we know there are international companies that do not pay taxes on what they get from petrol, or some pay very little." Chavez said.

"The world is threatened by the hegemony of the North American empire," said Chavez, following speeches that had criticized colonialism; speeches made by African leaders.

Hugo Chavez is attending the African Union summit and has long been opposed to U.S Foreign policy. He has also praised the leader of Iran in his policies against the U.S and raised taxes significantly on oil companies in Venezuela. Critics say that some of his policies have been partially responsible for the increase in oil prices.

Israeli barrage of Gaza continues with strike on PM's office
Israel has continued its barrage of the Gaza Strip with an attack by a helicopter gunship on the office of the Palestinian prime minister. Israel claims the attack on Gaza, codenamed Operation Summer Rains, is to pressure the Palestinian government into freeing Cpl. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli tank gunner they say was kidnapped by Palestinian militants on Monday.

The attack, which left the building ablaze, injured three Palestinian security guards and was described by the prime minister, Ismail Haniya, as senseless. "This is the policy of the jungle and arrogance," Haniya told Reuters. "They have targeted a symbol for the Palestinian people."

Other Israeli strikes on Saturday night hit a school in Gaza City and Hamas facilities in the town of Jabalia in the north of the strip where one 34-year-old Hamas operative was killed and another wounded.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert stated "these are difficult days for Israel," and continued to proclaim that "we won't give in to terror." Olmert's cabinet met on Sunday morning to discuss the continuing operation in Gaza and the, as yet unsuccessful, efforts to have Shalit returned to Israel.

Palestinian militant sources claimed overnight that an agreement over the release of the soldier was close. They stipulated that Israel must make a commitment to a third party to future releases of Palestinian prisoners and end its attacks on the Gaza Strip, although they accepted that immediate releases were unlikely.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejected these demands and said that Israel would make no deals.

In other developments, human rights group Amnesty International described what they called Israeli forces' deliberate attacks against civilian property and infrastructure as "violat[ing] international humanitarian law and constitut[ing] war crimes." Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions prohibits "indiscriminate attacks ... which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated."

"Israel must now take urgent measures to remedy the long-term damage it has caused and immediately restore the supply - at its own cost - of electricity and water to the Palestinian population in the affected areas," urged the organization. "As the occupying power, Israel is bound under international law to protect and safeguard the basic human rights of the Palestinian population," Amnesty International said.

Israeli airstrikes earlier damaged Gaza's only power plant, knocking out 43 percent of the electricity supply to 1.4 million Palestinians. UN and Palestinian officials predicted water shortages and sewage flooding within days if emergency generators run out of fuel. Israel has closed border crossings and shut off its fuel pipeline into Gaza.

"I'll be lucky if I can continue [pumping] for a few days. Then, unfortunately, there will be shortages of drinking water," stated the mayor of Gaza City, Majed Abu Ramadan.

Water shortages could lead to a health crisis in the Gaza Strip, with some reports of hospitals already cutting back on routine care in order to save fuel. It is expected that damage to the power plant will take five to six months to repair.

5 charged, 12 taken to hospital after Sydney rave
Police have charged five people with drug-related offences while 12 were taken to hospital during a rave in Homebush Bay, a suburb in Sydney's inner-west overnight. Over 4,500 people attended the party.

The party was held overnight at Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay - the home of the 2000 Olympic Games.

According to police, 12 party-goers were taken by ambulance to Auburn and Concord hospitals where they were treated for suspected drug overdoses. All are believed to be in a satisfactory condition.

Inside the rave, police arrested two males and a female. The males, aged 19 and 20 were charged with drug possession and a female, aged 35 was charged with two counts of drug possession.

Outside the party, police charged a 16-year-old male with drug possession and supplying a prohibited drug. Police also charged a 27-year-old male for drug possession outside the venue.

During the rave, security reported that they removed three people following offensive conduct. The rave ended at 7 a.m. without further incident according to police.

Australian Big Brother contestants removed for alleged sexual assault
Two contestants from Big Brother in Australia have been escorted from the show. Ashley, a pseudonym for Michael Cox of Perth, and John, a pseudonym for Michael Bric of Melbourne, allegedly sexually assaulted a contestant known as Camilla by rubbing his crotch on her on a bed at 4 a.m. AEST.

No charges have yet been laid over the incident.

âWe had a great time in the house and it is unfortunate it had to end this way, but BB has rules and regulations and we broke them,â they said in a joint statement. âWe are all very close in the house and we would never do anything to offend our fellow housemates.â

This is the first time contestants have been removed from the show for breaching rules.

They will not receive further endorsement or prizes from the show.

"I can't comment [on the sexual allegations]," said David Brown, from Southern Star Endemol, "But their removal from the house should indicate how serious the matter is."

The discussion forum of official Big Brother site has been shut down due to the incident. There is no notice on when the forum will be reopened.

There are now eight contestants competing for the remaining $275 thousand. It has been reduced after fines for not wearing microphones when talking, discussing nominations and singing commercial music.

Several days ago the show's adults-only series, Big Brother: Adults Only, was axed.

Last year the show was under scrutiny when a male contestant rubbed himself on a female contestant during a massage.

Canada Day celebrated at Parliament Hill
Canada Day was celebrated at Parliament Hill. People came across Canada to Ottawa to celebrate Canada's 139th birthday.

About 25,000 people including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his wife and their two children were there. The party got started at about 12:00, noon ET. The ceremony was in English and in French.

Military veterans, medal-winning Olympic athletes and some of Canada's biggest names in music were there. Canadian artists like Colin James and Annie Villeneuve performed in front of the Peace Tower. Other performers included Jesse Cook and the Samba Squad. Since Canada has two official languages (English and French) some artists were from Quebec and sung in French.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Canadians to pay tribute to the soldiers and aid workers in Afghanistan. "Let's show our appreciation, today and every day, to those who do it best for us in Afghanistan and around the world," Harper said. "Our diplomats, our development workers and brave men and women of the Canadian Forces." said the Prime Minister.

Gov. General. MichaÃ«lle Jean noted Canada's prosperity, including in her remarks a thank you to the people who toil to provide the country with a safe and plentiful food supply.

"Ours is a country of great wealth from its plains, forests and mountains that nourish us to the crystal clear waters of our abundant lakes and rivers," she said. She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and is the current Governor General of Canada. Harper and Jean took part in a wreath laying at the National War Memorial at an event marking the 90th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel in France.

Bill Graham released a statement describing Canada as being like no other country, "made up of individuals, representing all ethnicities and all religions, bound together by our shared values of family, community, tolerance and freedom."

Musicians performed in front of the Peace Tower, and fireworks ended the show.

Today in History
323 - Roman Emperor Constantine I defeated colleague Licinius in the Battle of Adrianople.

987 - Hugh Capet was crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that ruled France till the French Revolution in 1792.

1608 - Quebec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain.

1863 - Pickett's Charge occurred during the final and bloodiest day of fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, marking a turning point in the American Civil War.

1938 - The LNER Mallard reached a speed of 203 km/h (126 mph), a world record for a steam railway locomotive.

1964 - President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting racial segregation in public places in the United States.

Quote of the Day

"I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you might nudge the world a little or make a poem that children will speak for you when you are dead."
~ Tom Stoppard
Word of the Day

behemoth; n

A great and mighty monster.

Something which has the qualities of great power and might, and monstrous proportions.

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