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Gunman holding hostages in US high school in Bailey, Colorado killed A 35 year-old gunman, who is believed to be a parent of a student who attends Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado, was killed today in a raid on the school where he held two hostages captive. Afghan women's rights official shot dead Suspected Taliban militants shot dead Safia Ahmed-jan, a senior official in the Women's Affairs ministry and a staunch advocate of women's rights, in Khandahar. She is the first woman official to be targeted by the militant group.

Featured story
Interview with Olive Rose Steele, City Council candidate for Ward 6 in Mississauga, Canada The upcoming 2006 Mississauga municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council. Wikinews contributor Nicholas Moreau has contacted as many candidates as possible, including Olive Rose Steele, asking him to answer common questions sent in an email.

Wikipedia Current Events
The Platte Canyon High School killer is identified as Duane Morrison, who has no known connections with Bailey, Colorado. Russia recalls its ambassador from Georgia over the detention there of several Russian army officers on spying charges and ordered a partial evacuation of Russian diplomatic staff from that country. Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, the new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, urges Muslims to make the month of Ramadan a "month of holy war" in an audiotape posted on an Islamic web site. Empress Maria Fyodorovna of Russia is interred in the Peter and Paul Cathedral of Saint Petersburg, next to her husband, Alexander III of Russia. Israeli radio reports that Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert said he plans to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in coming days. Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond leaves Leeds General Infirmary for an undisclosed hospital near his home to recoup after major car crash whilst filming last week.

1993 Mumbai blasts: One more guilty verdict, five others acquitted
The designated TADA court pronounced accused no. 55 in the '93 Mumbai bombing case Sarfaraz Dawood Phanse guilty of conspiracy and transporting arms and ammunition used in the attacks. Five aides of prime accused Tiger Memon, Manzoor Querishi, Kasam Shaikh, Sultan-E-Rome, Abdul Aziz Shaikh and Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, were acquitted of aiding and abetting terrorist activities. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the five men had travelled to Dubai in the February of 1993 to attend a meeting where the blasts were planned, and had also planned to go to Pakistan for weapons training. They had earlier confessed to their involvement in the conspiracy but, subsequently, retracted their statements.

India's Sania Mirza beats Martina Hingis at the Korea Open
Sania Mirza defeated Martina Hingis (ranked 8th in the world) 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the Korea Open. Hingis had, last week, knocked Mirza out of the semifinals of the Sunfeast Open. The two women have faced each other thrice this year, with Hingis winning both the previous matches.

New York City considers stricter regulations on trans fat
The Health Board of New York City on Tuesday presented a plan to ban trans fatty acids (or trans fat) from the eateries in the city. The ban would not involve grocery stores, or natural trans fat that is present in dairy products or meat from ruminants.

The proposal follows a campaign last year to encourage restaurants to cut down on using trans fat themselves, but recent surveys show that the campaign was unsuccessful. In 2003, the city already instituted a smoking ban in restaurants, which was met with protest, but the measure has been copied in many other states since.

In Western countries, most trans fat in food today is the result of industrial processing, and has been linked to coronary heart disease. Frying oils, shortening and margarines with trans fats have easier storing requirements. Artificial trans fat is considered by some experts to be even more dangerous than its natural counterpart, Saturated Fats.

The new limit would be at 0.5 grams of trans fatty acids per menu item, whereas a typical serving of French fries contains about 8 grams. It would be instituted in several phases, allowing time for eateries to adapt.

The plan would also have serious implications for both fast food chains and restaurants. A spokesperson for the New York State Restaurant Association reacted with disbelief, stating that "Labeling is one thing, but when they totally ban a product, it goes well beyond what we think is prudent and acceptable," referring to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's requirement for food labels to list trans fat, a measure taken last January.

The Boards Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden on the other hand said the ban would be a challenge for cooks, but substitute oils can easily be found. Comparing it to lead paint, he said "It is a dangerous and unnecessary ingredient", adding that "No one will miss it when it's gone."

A similar ban is being considered in Chicago, but would only target companies with annual revenues over $20 million, thereby targeting exclusively major fast-food restaurants. In the U.S., brands like Wendy's, Crisco, Frito-Lay, Starbucks, Subway, Kraft's already took action to remove trans fat from some of their products.

Denmark became the first country in the world imposing strict regulations on trans fatty acids in March 2003. McDonalds consequently started using trans fat-free oils in Denmark, but has not yet switched over in the United States.

A public hearing is scheduled on October 30, and a final vote on the proposal is scheduled for December.

Toll New Zealand announces that the Overlander train service will stay
Toll New Zealand has announced that it will keep the Overlander train service but on a reduced timetable, the service was initially due to stop service September 30. Toll said that they reached the decision because of the huge amount of public support the train service received, including a 16,000 person petition.

The Overlander will originally run for only three days a week; Friday, Saturday and Sunday during winter on the original timetable. But during summer through to autumn the service will run seven days a week. Toll hopes that this will cover all the needs of its patrons.

David Jackson, Toll NZ CEO, said: "We have had tremendous support from the regional councils and will consider an upgraded service option and offering alternate packages aimed at both domestic users and the tourist market."

Jackson said: "The continuation of the Overlander allows Toll to look at other funding options. We want to explore options that may be open to us to achieve this with the support and input of various interested parties. We especially appreciate the support of the regions to assist with marketing."

The decision comes days after the New Zealand Government announced that they will not provide financial assistance.

"Over the next few weeks we will be speaking to key people with the aim being of putting in place a clear plan for the positive development of the Overlander. Clearly it cannot remain in its current format so change will be fundamental for its survival. Reducing the services will allow us to perform refurbishments on the existing carriages and it [is] expected that this work will be completed by the start of the summer season."

Sue Morris, district mayor for Ruapehu, said: "The decision to save the Overlander is a relief. It's hugely important, it's our future. We are relying on the train to continue for a tourist option here, we're about toursim in the Ruapehu District, it's about bringing 13,000 passengers here."

The Manning Group has a proposal out for electro-diesel trains running two times a day and stopping eight times between Auckland and Wellington. Tom Manning said: "[I am] pleased Toll is looking at upgrading options for the Overlander and I am still open to working with the company to bring better trains to the network."

New Zealand Reserve Bank phone hacker unpunished
Gerasimos Macridis, 39-years-old, left the court room discharged without conviction after hacking into the New Zealand Reserve Bank's phone system and then asking for money for his services after pointing out these security flaws to both the Reserve Bank and Telecom New Zealand in May, 2006, and offering to fix them. He had identified himself as a security consultant.

The New Zealand Police then raided his home and took his computer on 21 September. Macridis told police that he did not think it was illegal, but knew he was not authorised to access the phone systems. Telecom then took him to court.

Colin McGilicray, police prosecutor, said: "Macridis has a significant number of previous fraud convictions and it appeared he was trying to obtain money through virtue of his technical knowledge."

Macridis, who represented himself, told the court that for 11-years he had worked as a casual security consultant and he had worked for Telecom, police and Department of Internal Affairs.

Macridis thought himself as an honest, law abiding citizen as his 1994 conviction had 'turned his life around'.

Judge Ian Mill said this case was very unusual and also noted that Macridis ended his offending over 10-years ago.

Mill said: "Macridis used his talents to identify security risks and he had identified a grave risk to the Reserve Bank and its customers. Macridis provided a report of his findings, requested payment albeit without a contract and for his troubles was prosecuted. He did not pass the information on to others and did not use it for personal gain."

"In my view his intentions were honourable," Mill added.

Mill discharged him without conviction on the basis that a conviction would be out of proportion with his actions.

NFL star Terrell Owens hospitalized
Instead of returning to practise from a fractured finger today as scheduled, flamboyant Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens is instead recovering at Baylor Medical Center this morning from an apparent suicide attempt last night. A female friend who was with Owens last night observed him taking several prescription pain killers and behaving erratically. She called 911 and Owens was rushed to the hospital.

Original reports stated that Owens was suffering from an adverse reaction to the pain medication, which he was taking for a fractured hand. But this morning, Dallas police have reported that Owens took an unknown large amount of the pills, and when asked by police this morning if he had been attempting to hurt himself, Owens replied, "Yes."

Paramedics have only confirmed that they called police to report that they were bringing Owens to hospital.

Owens has since said that he was not attempting suicide.

Former NHL player Tie Domi alleged to have cheated with Canadian MP Belinda Stronach
Canadian MP Belinda Stronach, 40, has reportedly cheated with Canadian hockey star Tie Domi. Domi and his wife were in court today getting divorced and both have now reached a temporary settlement in their divorce proceedings, less than an hour before the case was to be heard before Toronto's Superior Court. Stronach is refusing to comment on the divorce or say if she "wrecked" Domi's marriage.

"If it wasn't for my husband's affair with Belinda, we wouldn't be getting a divorce," Leanne told the Toronto Star in an interview last night. Domi's wife claimed that the former Toronto Maple Leaf player told her if she did not hire a lawyer he would give her $1 million in cash and a $1.5-million house if she kept quiet about his affair with Stronach. If she contacted a lawyer, however, she "would get nothing."

"I'm not going to comment at this point in time whether it's true, it's false or it's just the opinions of others," Stronach said on CTV's Mike Duffy Live. "I'm not prepared to talk about my personal life at this moment."

When Stronach was with the Conservatives she dated fellow MP Peter MacKay. In an interview in the Toronto Star on January 8, 2005, Stronach confirmed that she and MacKay were dating. Stronach, elected as a Conservative in the 2004 election, crossed the floor to the Liberal Party on May 17, 2005. She did not comment on what impact this would have on their relationship. On May 18, 2005, MacKay told the CBC that his relationship with Stronach was indeed over. Stronach crossed the floor from the Conservative party directly to Paul Martin's Liberal cabinet in May 2005. Stronach was previously married to Olympic speed-skating champion Johann Olav Koss of Norway, then divorced in 2005.

Tie Domi said he would not comment on his personal life and his agent said Monday the hockey star would have nothing to say while the matter was before the courts.

Leanne Domi's divorce application was filed on September 18, just one day before Tie Domi announced his retirement from the NHL.

None of the allegations have been proved in court.

Today in History
61 BC - In Rome, Pompey the Great celebrated triumphs over pirates in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and in the war against king Mithridates VI of Pontus in Asia Minor, with enormous parades of spoils, prisoners, army and banners depicting battle scenes. It was also his 45th birthday.

1829 - The first official police force in the world, the Metropolitan Police of London, also known as the Met or Scotland Yard, was founded by Robert Peel.

1938 - The Munich Agreement was signed, stipulating that Czechoslovakia must cede Sudetenland to Germany.

1941 - The Babi Yar massacre began in Kiev, Ukraine.

1964 - Mafalda, a comic strip by Quino, was first published in newspapers in Argentina.

September 29 is Michaelmas

Quote of the Day

"When once the mind has raised itself to grasp and to delight in excellence, those who love most will be found to love most wisely". ~ Francis Turner Palgrave

Word of the Day

wroth; a

Full of anger; wrathful.

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2006-09-28T21:22:45