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2012 Paralympic Village occupied by competitors as nations ready for the Games

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 03:02:20 GMT

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Paralympic Village officially opened on Wednesday in London, with many nations having moved in as of Saturday in preparation for the start of the games. Press access has been limited, as Paralympic Games organisers are trying to give competitors as much privacy in the village as possible.

A Ukranian Paralympian
Image: Laura Hale.

A pair of Canadian Paralympians
Image: Laura Hale.

The Irish section of the village is decorated with signs bearing pictures
Image: Laura Hale.

A member of Team Great Britain uses a mobile phone while in the Village
Image: Laura Hale.

A member of the Cuban delegation
Image: Laura Hale.

Members of the Brazilian delegation
Image: Laura Hale.

Team Canada moves in a large group around the Village
Image: Laura Hale.

Two members of Team USA (right) pass an Angolan competitor (left).
Image: Laura Hale.

An Aremenian SB5 swimmer
Image: Laura Hale.

A Cuban Paralympian in the village
Image: Laura Hale.

A sign outside the Spanish part of the Paralympic Village
Image: Laura Hale.

Two members of the Iranian delegation
Image: Laura Hale.

An Iraqi competitor and an unnamed member of the United States delegation chat
Image: Laura Hale.

McDonalds is located inside the Paralympic Dining Hall; athletes receive meals free of charge.
Image: Laura Hale.

A Team Great Britain football player
Image: Laura Hale.

A pair of women from Uzbekistan
Image: Laura Hale.

Members of the Croatian delegation took out their umbrellas after it started to rain
Image: Laura Hale.

Senegal and Palestinian delegation members wait outside the gate to be officially welcomed to the Village
Image: Laura Hale.

A pair of Australians walk past the Hungarian part of the Paralympic Village
Image: Laura Hale.

A pair of Colombian Paralympians are guided around the Village by two Paralympic volunteers
Image: Laura Hale.

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Polio vaccination campaign targets 85 million African children

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:02:17 GMT

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Health

Sources [edit]

"Africa united in fight against polio outbreak" — The Botswana Gazette, 5 March 2010
"85 Million Children To Be Immunized Against Polio In West And Central Africa" — Voice of America, 5 March 2010

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African Union considers proposal to resettle Haitians

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:44:57 GMT

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

2010 Haiti earthquake

Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2010 Haiti earthquake

"Africa mulls resettling Haitians" — Al Jazeera, February 1, 2010
Leo Hornak. "Back to Africa: A new Haitian homeland?" — The Independent, February 1, 2010
"Resettle Haitians in Africa: Senegal president" — Agence France-Presse, January 17, 2010

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Senegal president offers free land to "repatriate" Haitians

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:25:18 GMT

Monday, January 18, 2010

Senegal

Sources [edit]

"Senegal offers land to Haitians" — BBC News Online,
Agence France-Presse. "Resettle Haitians in Africa: Senegal president" — Yahoo! News,

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Six soldiers killed in Senegal after ambush

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:46:13 GMT

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Senegal

Sources [edit]

This article includes material from Six Senegalese Soldiers Killed in Ambush by VOA News, which is in the public domain.

Scott Stearns. "Six Senegalese Soldiers Killed in Ambush" — VOA News, October 3, 2009
"Six soldiers killed in Senegal tourist hotspot" — Reuters, October 3, 2009

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Search in Atlantic underway for missing Air France passenger jet

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:04:43 GMT

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Disasters and accidents

More articles about disasters and accidents on Wikinews:

File photo of an Air France Airbus A330

Aircraft and water vessels from the French, American, and Brazilian military were searching the Atlantic on Monday after an Air France passenger jet with 228 people on board disappeared over the ocean.

Search teams from Brazil mainly focused on the area north of Fernando de Noronha, an island located approximately two hundred miles off the coast of Brazil. France's military, meanwhile, was several hundred miles away, searching the waters near Cape Verde.

Airplanes from Senegal and Spain have also been sent out to help out in the search effort. French officials have also asked for United States satellite data to help with the search.

"We want to try to reach the last point where the aircraft made contact, which is about 1,200km [745 miles] north-east of Natal [located in Brazil]," said Colonel Jorge Amaral, a spokesman for the Brazil air force.

The intended route of Flight 447.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he was pessimistic that any survivors would be found.

"This is a catastrophe the likes of which Air France has never seen before. I said the truth to them: the prospects of finding survivors are very low," the president said to reporters at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. The Pentagon has also ordered aircraft to assist in finding the plane.

The Airbus A330 had departed from Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night, with a dozen crew members and 216 passengers on board, according to a spokeswoman for Air France. The jet was in a normal cruise at 840 kilometres per hour at about 10,700 metres above sea level when it disappeared, almost four hours after having departed. No problems were apparent when the aircraft made its last radar contact.

Air France said that the aeroplane "crossed through a thunderous zone with strong turbulence" at about 23.00 local time (02.14 GMT). Approximately fourteen minutes later, an automated message was sent saying that the cabin had lost its pressurisation and that the electrical system of the aircraft had failed.

If no survivors are found, then this would be the worst aviation disaster since the November 2001 American Airlines Flight 587 crash.

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Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Air France Flight 447

Wikimedia Commons has media about Air France Flight 447.

Geoff Easdown. "Pentagon launches search for missing Air France flight" — Melbourne Herald Sun, June 1, 2009
"Vast search under way for Air France jet" — United Press International, June 1, 2009
"Atlantic searched for lost plane" — BBC News Online, June 1, 2009
"Vast search of Atlantic Ocean for Air France jet" — Associated Press, June 1, 2009

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Former Prime Minister of Senegal Mamadou Dia dies

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:55:43 GMT

Sunday, January 25, 2009

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File:3c19965vCROP.jpg

Mamadou Dia

Mamadou Dia, The first Prime Minister of Senegal has died today at the age of 99. The cause of death was announced as natural causes. Dia died in Dakar, the capitol of Senegal.

Born on July 18, 1910 in Kombolé, Senegal, he served as Prime Minister of Senegal from 1957-1962.

Dia started life in politics as a leader in the Afrique occidentale française (AOF) in 1948, shortly before being elected as a senator in 1949. He retired his senate seat in 1955 when he was appointed prime minister by the French National Assembly to serve alongside the newly elected president Léopold Sédar Senghor. His time served as prime minister was often controversial and his radical socialist views often clashed with those of the more moderate Senghor.

Dia was imprisoned from 1962 to 1974.

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Sources [edit]

"Senegal's first prime minister dies: reports" — The Associated Press,
Apa. "First Senegalese Prime Minister dies at age 99" — African Press Agency, January 25, 2009

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Former Chadian leader receives death sentence

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:00:21 GMT

Friday, August 15, 2008

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Chad

Sources [edit]

"Chad ex-leader sentenced to death" — BBC News Online, August 15, 2008
Moumine Ngarmbassa. "Chad court sentences ex-leader Habre, rebels to death" — Thomson Reuters, August 15, 2008
Associated Press. "Chad sentences exiled former president Habre to death along with 11 others" — South Florida Sun-Sentinel, August 15, 2008

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2008 Dakar Rally cancelled over terrorist threat

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:05:47 GMT

Saturday, January 5, 2008

A file photo of a Hummer H3 competing in the 2006 event

The threat of terrorism has caused the cancellation yesterday of the 2008 Dakar Rally, due to start today. The race, which was to be the 30th consecutive rally, was to start in Lisbon, Portugal and end on January 20 in Dakar, Senegal having crossed the Sahara Desert.

The endurance event is the world’s biggest off-road rally and Paris-based organisers Amaury Sport Organisation had said as late as Thursday that more than 500 cars, trucks, motorcycles and quads from fifty different countries were ready to go as scheduled. However, the organisation changed its mind under pressure from the French government.

Al-Qaida-linked groups are believed to have planned to attack the rally, and it is reported that specific threats were made against it by al-Qaida in the Islamic Magreb, a regional African offshoot. The day before Christmas a French family on holiday in Mauritania was murdered and al-Qaida are believed to be responsible; the rally was scheduled to spend eight days in Mauritania.

Al-Qaida in the Islamic Magreb have recently seen a crackdown by authorities, but are continuing their operations and are now seeking to strike international targets. Last month they bombed the United Nations headquarters in Algiers; that attack killed 37.

The Mauritanian government had promised a 3,000-strong security force to protect the competitors but the remote location of the desert and scrubland involved would make effective security arrangements almost impossible. French security consultant Louis Caprioli, former anti-terrorism head at the Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire, said “You would need really incredible security precautions, and I don’t think it’s possible with the new techniques of attack, such as suicide bombings.”

A Kamaz truck at the rally in 2004.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said yesterday that Amuary had been warned by government officials that it would be too dangerous to go ahead with the plan. After last-minute meetings with ministry officials. “No other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken,” said a statement on Amuary’s website.

Caprioli said the terrorists intended to prove “They can chase out the infidels. The cancellation was wise. But it gives the impression that the terrorists have won.”

Patrice Clerc, head of Amuary, stated “When you are told of direct threats against the event and when the sinister name of al-Qaeda is mentioned, you don’t ask for details. It was enough for me to hear my government say the danger is at a maximum.”

Security has caused many concerns for the race over the years. Extremists tend to view the race as a prime target, as it is highly covered by the media, and is a rare concentration of Westerners. As a result, major security measures have had to be undertaken by French and African authorities. Almost 50 people have been killed, several of whom at the hands of African fighters. Although there are fears for the future of the race, Amuary said that the event would continue in the future. “The Dakar is a symbol, and nothing can destroy symbols,” they said. “The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar.” However, they have confirmed that it is unlikely Mauritania will be a destination in future events. Competitors in the event, however, are less optimistic, with many saying that they feel the race will not go ahead next year. Newspapers in Senegal have described the cancellation as a death sentence. Meanwhile, the town of Portimao in Portugal, intended to be the rally’s first scheduled stop, are considering filing for damages against Amuary.

Victor Anderes, vice-president of a New York firm specialising in high-profile event security, called the cancellation an unprecedented one in sporting history, saying “Smaller cultural events have been cancelled , but this hasn’t happened with such a major international event.” However, he did accept that “The threat is significant. It would be almost impossible to secure the entire course.”

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Sources [edit]

"Future of Dakar Rally now in doubt" — The Times, January 6, 2007
"Cancellation threatens future Dakar Rallies" — Radio Netherlands, January 5, 2008
Geraldine Baum and Sebastian Rotella. "Dakar rally is canceled because of terrorist threat" — Kansas City Star, January 4, 2008

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West African cholera claims more than 500 lives, more deaths feared

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 01:27:11 GMT

Thursday, September 1, 2005

Mural in West Africa depicting the effects of cholera.

An outbreak of cholera in West Africa has resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people, and United Nations (UN) health officials are concerned that inadequate health services in the region could result in many more deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that over 31,250 cases of cholera have been reported so far this year in nine West African countries. It has claimed 488 lives at this point. "If we look at this year's trends, the figures are still going up in many countries," said John Mulangu, a senior regional advisor for the WHO. "If cholera is not brought under control in certain regions, we will soon be talking of... 100,000 cases," he said. "And hospitals and health centres will be overwhelmed. Last year we were not on this scale. The problem is getting worse," Mulangu said.

The UN says that the increase could also be related to the fact that due to poverty, many West Africans move around, sometimes out of the country, in order to receive higher wages for their work, and the region has been hit with heavy rains. This helps spread the disease, according to the UN.

"We are about to enter the harvest season where people will be moving around," said Herve Ludovic de Lys, the head of OCHA's West Africa office. "The main goal is to halt the transmission of this disease," he said. "It's not business as usual. This crisis needs a rapid response."

The following West African nations have all been hit by cholera epidemics: Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. The WHO issued a statement on Thursday that more countries were at risk. "Outbreaks are likely to spread to Central Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad - in the next weeks," it said.

Sources [edit]

"Cholera epidemic 'needs attention'" — Associated Press, September 2, 2005
"WEST AFRICA: Cholera kills nearly 500 people, more deaths feared" — IRIN, September 1, 2005

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2012 Paralympic Village occupied by competitors as nations ready for the Games

Sources [edit]

Polio vaccination campaign targets 85 million African children

Sources [edit]

African Union considers proposal to resettle Haitians

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Six soldiers killed in Senegal after ambush

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Search in Atlantic underway for missing Air France passenger jet

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Former Prime Minister of Senegal Mamadou Dia dies

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Former Chadian leader receives death sentence

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2008 Dakar Rally cancelled over terrorist threat

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West African cholera claims more than 500 lives, more deaths feared

Sources [edit]