Wikinews:Briefs/August 8, 2005
Robin Cook, the former British foreign secretary and current Member of Parliament, has died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing during a walk on Ben Stack hill in Scotland. Cook, aged 59, was airlifted to a hospital 90 minutes after the collapse. He was reported dead five minutes later.
A trapped Russian submarine, located in a bay in the country's northeast region, has been rescued by the Royal Navy. The crew, consisting of seven officers and midshipman is unharmed. "The crew opened the hatch and climbed the rescue ship's deck on their own," reported a Russian admiral. "The rescue operation was completed successfully. We thank everyone, and especially the British rescue crew."
The 60th anniversary of the first use of an atomic bomb against a city has been remembered in a ceremony in Hiroshima, Japan. The atomic bomb, code-named "Little Boy", was dropped on Hiroshima at precisely 08:15 on August 6 1945.. Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the bombing, speaking at yesterday's ceremony, said "As the years go by so many of my friends and relatives die. This must not be forgotten." Now 80, he recounted some of the details of what he witnessed that day." Describing in grim detail the events of the bombing, Tsuboi commented, "I was thinking that if I die here, I would feel so sad and alone. Everyone had given up; no help was coming. We were beyond pain."
An investigation into the collapse of the Antarctic Larsen B Ice Shelf has revealed ecosystems previously unknown to the world. These ecosystems have most likely been isolated for about 10,000 years, during which the 600 foot shelf remained stable. Eugene Domack, who led the investigation, believes that methane gas has been fueling life beneath the some 2,800 feet of ice. Domack warns that the collapse of the ice shelf may have disrupted and could possibly destroy the recently-discovered ecosystem.
ABC's World News Tonight anchor, Peter Jennings, died Sunday after a four month fight with lung cancer. From the anchor desk or from the field, Jennings covered more than 40 years of national and international news. It is unknown who will fill Jennings' now vacant position.
NASA has cancelled today's planned landing of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Officials initially delayed the landing, but finally cancelled any attempts for today citing the reason as being "unstable, unacceptable cloud cover [with the] potential for showers in vicinity of landing site." There will be two more opportunities tomorrow morning.
Israeli Finance Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has resigned from the cabinet Sunday to protest against the upcoming Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank according to a ministry spokesman.
Israeli Prime Mister Ariel Sharon named the Vice Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, as the new finance minister.
Wikipedia Current Events
[edit]Iran has reportedly resumed its nuclear program within a uranium conversion facility.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has dissolved the Japanese House of Representatives and will call a snap election for September 11.