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Hellen Saohaga's London performance second best for Solomon Islands at Olympics, Paralympics

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:56:04 GMT

Monday, September 10, 2012

Hellen Saohaga at the Paralympic Village on Friday
Image: Laura Hale.

The Solomon Islands during the Opening Ceremony, with Saohaga as flag-bearer
Image: Laura Hale.

London, England — When Solomon Islander Hellen Saohaga finished fifteenth in Saturday's women's shot put - F57/58, she set a personal best and became the second-highest finishing Solomon Islander ever in Olympic and Paralympic competition; only Olympic powerlifter Wendy Hale has bettered her performance, coming twelfth in competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Saohaga qualified for this year's Paralympics on the basis of being a wildcard invite; a representative of the Solomon Islands Paralympic Committee believes, with better coaching and additional training, she has the potential to qualify for the Rio Paralympics on performance grounds.

Saohaga's best throw in competition was a distance of 5.23 metres. This set a personal-best career throw for the athlete, and sees her finishing with a season's best score of 228. Her efforts saw her finish ahead of several competitors including: Nephtalie Jean Louis of Haiti, Rhodah Mutale of Zambia, Madinat Abdullayeva, of Azerbaijan and Nadia Medjedj of Algeria.

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Excerpt from an interview with Saohaga prior to competition
Image: Laura Hale.

In training at the practice athletics field in London, Saohaga spent time on-field at the same time as Oscar Pistorius, and got her picture taken with the "Blade Runner".

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Sources [edit]

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Funeral held for former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:34:14 GMT

Monday, June 27, 2011

Zambia

Sources [edit]

"Zambia's former President Frederick Chiluba buried" — BBC News Online, June 27, 2011
Kalonde Nyati. "Moz grieves with Zambia" — Zambia Daily Mail, June 27, 2011

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Zambian "porn" journalist found not guilty

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:44:51 GMT

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Zambia

Sources [edit]

"Zambia 'porn' reporter acquitted" — BBC News Online, November 16, 2009
"Editor's 'porn' charge dropped" — News24, November 16, 2009

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Four Indonesian airlines allowed back into Europe; Zambia, Kazakhstan banned

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:15:11 GMT

Friday, July 17, 2009

Garuda are allowed back into Europe

The European Union (EU) has allowed four Indonesian airlines back into their airspace. A blanket ban had been placed on Indonesian air carriers in 2007. The EU has now added every Zambian airline and all but one from Kazakhstan to their blacklist.

	We cannot afford any compromise in air safety
—European Commissioner for Transport Antonio Tajani

The four airlines allowed to fly into Europe are state-owned flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, privately owned scheduled carrier Mandala Airlines and two private chartered airlines dealing mainly with western clients, Airfast Indonesia and Premiair.

The decision to place the nation's fleet on the list of air carriers banned in the European Union followed a string of accidents, as well as a safety audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The accidents included the Adam Air Flight 574 disaster, where an airliner vanished from radar and crashed, Adam Air Flight 172, a nonfatal accident in which a plane cracked in half after landing and Garuda Indonesia Flight 200, a runway overrun that killed 21.

The ICAO had issued 600 safety recommendations to Indonesia. According to foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda, there are 69 requirements issued to the airlines by the EU, of which 62 have been met. Indonesia has also made improvements to its safety infrastructure, introducing better inspections. Earlier this year, five airlines had their operating certificates revoked for failing inspections.

Banned: Zambian Airways are no longer allowed into Europe

The EU said the decision was made as a result of "significant improvements and accomplishments of the Indonesian civil aviation authority" which "are recognised in the area of safety." Garuda plans to launch services to Europe next year.

The EU list now also contains all Zambian airlines and every airline from Kazakhstan except Air Astana. Astana has had restrictions put upon its flights to Europe.

European Commissioner for Transport Antonio Tajani used these additions as an opportunity to repeat a call for the list to be made global, which he had first suggested after the crash of Yeminia Flight 626 earlier this month.

"We cannot afford any compromise in air safety," he said. "Citizens have the right to fly safely anywhere in the world. It is high time that the international community rethinks safety policy. Those airlines which are unsafe should not be allowed to fly anywhere."

The only other modification to the list was to Angolan flag carrier TAAG. Previously banned completely, they will now be allowed to fly some of their aircraft into Portugal, with operating restrictions. The move comes after the Portuguese and Angolan civil aviation bodies signed a deal to co-operate to improve safety.

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Sources [edit]

"EU lifts ban on Garuda" — The Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2009
Robert Wall. "Garuda Allowed Back Into Europe" — Aviation Week & Space Technology, July 15, 2009
Slobodan Lekic and Anthony Deutsch. "Garuda removed from EU airline blacklist" — Forbes, July 14, 2009
Siva Govindasamy. "EU may lift ban on four Indonesian airlines in July" — Flight International, June 23, 2009
Eny Wulandari. "EU to lift ban against four local airlines by July: Minister" — The Jakarta Post, June 22, 2009
Dan Milmo. "EU bans 'unsafe' airlines from flights to the continent" — The Guardian, June 29, 2007

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Number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe reaches 80,000

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:02:02 GMT

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Zimbabwe

Sources [edit]

"Cholera cases in Zimbabwe pass 80,000, says WHO" — Hindustan Times, February 21, 2009
"Zimbabwe cholera cases pass 80,000 mark: WHO" — AFP, February 21, 2009
"Zimbabwe cholera cases top 80,000: WHO" — Reuters, February 20, 2009

External links [edit]

"Zimbabwe Daily Cholera Update and Alerts" — World Health Organization, February 19, 2009

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President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia dies at age 59 following stroke

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:37:39 GMT

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Zambia

Sources [edit]

"Zambian president Mwanawasa dies in France, aged 59" — The Guardian, August 20, 2008
"Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa Dies at 59 Following Stroke" — Fox News Channel, August 19, 2008
"Zambian president Mwanawasa dies in France, aged 59" — BBC News Online, August 19, 2008

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South African president wrongly announces death of Zambian counterpart

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:05:56 GMT

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Politics and conflicts

Sources [edit]

"Zambian Leader's 'death' Confusion" — Zimbabwe Independent, July 3, 2008
"Zambia asks Mbeki to explain comment on Mwanawasa" — Reuters, July 5, 2008

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African nations gather to support a ban on cluster bombs

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:36:13 GMT

Thursday, April 3, 2008

An American B-1b Lancer drops cluster bombs.
Image: U.S. Air Force.

A 39-nation coalition in Africa passed a declaration on Tuesday to ban cluster bombs in a nearly unanimous vote. The gathering in Lukasa, Zambia was the first meeting of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) in Africa.

"Africa is ready for Dublin," summarised Zambian delegate Robert Mtonga, referring to the upcoming May 19-30 meeting in Ireland to discuss a global ban on the weapons. "Too often Africa's voice is pushed to the margins in international decision-making. But in banning cluster bombs worldwide, a common African voice will speak volumes and win the day".

	Too often Africa's voice is pushed to the margins in international decision-making. But in banning cluster bombs worldwide, a common African voice will speak volumes and win the day.
—Robert Mtonga, Zambian delegate

Mtonga was critical of South Africa, the lone voice against Monday's decision and the continent's largest producer and stockpiler of cluster bombs, and called on the country to destroy its munitions and join the coalition to outlaw their use. Egypt, the only other African nation to produce the controversial weapons, voiced support for the ban.

"Strong political will" was credited with the resolution, by CMC co-ordinator Thomas Nash in recognising the drive "to stop the proliferation of this outdated weapon".

In a released statement the CMC said that 19 African countries, including South Africa, have endorsed the Wellington Declaration. The Wellington Declaration is the basis for the upcoming negotiations at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference in Ireland in May.

While countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom have tabled the idea of a "transition period" during which time cluster bombs would remain a legitimate weapon of war, the African delegation was resolutely against the idea, calling for an immediate ban.

Cluster munitions are dropped from aircraft, opening in mid-air and releasing a large number of smaller explosives over a wide area. Writer Theodora Williams stated that their use usually results in "...the death and maiming of thousands of innocent civilians".

There are currently 13 African nations that possess cluster bombs although Uganda has recently announced they are destroying their stockpiles. The weapons have been used in eight African conflicts in the past 35 years. In addition to Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria and the Sudan, other nations known to have used the weapons are the former Yugoslavia, Eritrea, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the United States, China, Russia, and Israel have resisted any ban on cluster bombs, arguing that they can be used in self-defense. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the United States has lobbied allies to create loopholes in the upcoming Oslo treaty, to allow for the use of cluster bombs. Reuters reported that a U.S. official had stated that cluster bombs should not be banned if they are used responsibly in state conflicts.

In October 2007, Uganda became the first African country to state it would destroy its cluster bomb stockpiles. Uganda has announced a pan-African meeting to take place after the Dublin meeting, which would seek to garner support for the signing of a treaty in Oslo set to take place in December 2008. The weapons have been used in eight African conflicts in the past 35 years.

The CMC is an international network composed of over 250 civil society organizations in 60 countries, with the stated aim of protecting civilians from cluster munitions. Members of the CMC have been working to complete an international treaty to ban cluster munitions by 2008.

At the February CMC committee meeting in New Zealand, only 82 of the 122 nations present endorsed a draft ban on the production, usage or storage of cluster bombs.

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Sources [edit]

Learn more about Cluster bomb and Cluster Munition Coalition on Wikipedia.

Agence France-Presse. "SA ‘must destroy cluster bomb stockpile’" — The Times, April 1, 2008
Moses Magadza. "Zimbabwe: Need for Cluster Bomb Ban Treaty" — The Herald (Zimbabwe), April 1, 2008
International Campaign to Ban Landmines. "Strong landmark African Declaration to ban cluster bombs - only South Africa calls for exceptions to the ban" — Press Release, April 1, 2008
Hugh Macleod. "Nations working to ban cluster bombs" — San Francisco Chronicle, March 17, 2008

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Wikinews Shorts: January 20, 2008

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:52:01 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Sunday, January 20, 2008 .

Suharto shows 'amazing signs of recovery' [edit]

Suharto

Former Indonesian president Suharto, 86, is now moving and speaking softly, doctors say. He was admitted to Pertamina Hospital in Jakarta on January 4 after suffering multiple organ failure.

"He is fully conscious, he can follow instructions and answer our questions in a weak voice," Dr. Jusuf Misbach said. "He scratched himself and raised his hands. It's an amazing accomplishment."

Mardjo Soebiandono said that Suharto would be given physiotherapy, but he also stated that his condition is still considered critical.

According to doctors, Suharto's blood pressure is now stable, his heart and lungs are functioning better, and infections are being treated with antibiotics.

Preparations for a state funeral had begun last week when Suharto developed pneumnonia and sepsis. He was given only a 50:50 chance of survival.

Related news

"Former Indonesian president, Suharto in critical condition" — Wikinews, January 5, 2008

Sources

Telly Nathalia. "Indonesia's Suharto tries to speak, lifts arm" — Reuters, January 20, 2008
Niniek Karmimi. "Indonesia's Suharto Speaks, Moves Hands" — Associated Press, January 20, 2008

Zimbabwe, Zambia suffer widespread power outages [edit]

Major power outages in Zimbabwe and Zambia left many without services such as electricity, water, and mobile phone connections for much of Saturday and Sunday.

The blackout reportedly hit the two nations almost simultaneously on Saturday evening. In Zambia, the power was restored eight hours later, but residents of Zimbabwe had to wait until Sunday afternoon for power.

Officials in Harare said the cause of the blackout was a fault that "tripped" the power grid, while some in Zambia blamed "turbine problems" at one of the country's hydroelectric dams.

40% of Zimbabwe's power is imported from neighboring countries like South Africa. As the power situation in South Africa has also been worsening, state utility company Eskom announced it will stop supplying power to Zimbabwe and other countries in order to meet domestic needs.

Sources

Angus Shaw. "Power Outages in Zambia, Zimbabwe" — Associated Press, January 20, 2008
South African Press Association. "Mbeki demands answers from Eskom chiefs" — Independent Online, January 20, 2008

Francis Joyon sails world in 57 days, breaks record [edit]

A trimaran

Francis Joyon of France completed his maritime journey around the globe in a 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes, and 6 seconds, breaking Ellen MacArthur's record by 2 weeks. He sailed the world's oceans in a trimaran of his own making.

The journey began November 23 in the port of Brest. Joyon then sailed under the tip of Africa and across the Southern Hemisphere before making his way back to France.

MacArthur was there to greet him when he landed on shore. "I'm really happy for him, proud of him," she said. "He was very fast, he played really well, and he really deserves this record." MacArthur had previously beaten Joyon's record in 2005.

"The speed part, the sailing passion part, that's extraordinary. But what is the strongest of all is having precious moments when you can be in harmony with the planet, with the elements. That is what will stay with me," Joyon said.

Related news

"Ellen Macarthur sets round the world solo sailing record" — Wikinews, February 7, 2005

Sources

Associated Press. "Frenchman Sails Around the World in Record 57 Days" — FOX News, January 20, 2008
"Frenchman Joyon smashes MacArthur's sailing world record" — AFP, January 20, 2008

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	This is a victory for the media
—Chansa Kabwela