The ESL Free Press

Going on Break

We will not publish news in July and August. Pages about upcoming holidays will be posted here. We may be back with the news in September.

Thank you for reading and please enjoy your summer.

Car Bomb Found in London

A car full of gasoline, gas in cylinders, and nails, was left in a street in London early Friday morning. Police say it could have been a car bomb.

People saw the car driving in an uncontrolled way. Then the driver left it near a club in a street called the Haymarket. An ambulance crew saw smoke inside the car and called police.

The police set off a controlled explosion. They say it is too early to tell who planted the bomb.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

"Police avert car bomb 'carnage'". BBC News Online, 29th June 2007

"London car bomb 'could have killed many'". Guardian Unlimited, 29th June 2007

"London mayor calls for vigilance". BBC News Online, 29 June 2007

"Police: Car bomb may have been inspired by al-Qaida". Guardian Unlimited, 29 June 2007

Fireworks, Canada Day, Banff National... Panoramic Images Buy From Art.com

Canada Day

July 1st is Canada Day. On this day in 1867, Canada became a country, after being a colony of Britain.

People in Canada celebrate with fireworks, picnics, and a concert outside the Houses of Parliament.

To learn more, visit this page.

Canada Day Rajka Kupesic Buy From Art.com

News of Death Posted Online Before Police Find Body

The story of a woman's death was posted to Wikipedia -- 14 hours before the police found out about it. The person who posted the news says it was a coincidence. They didn't know the death had really happened and were just reporting a rumor.

The woman, Nancy Benoit, was the wife of pro wrestler Chris Benoit. Police say the wrestler killed her, his son, and himself last weekend at their home in Fayetteville, USA. The family was found dead on Sunday.

Earlier, Benoit missed a wrestling match. Fans wondered why. Some said maybe his wife had died. One person decided to post this to Wikipedia. Later, when the Benoits were found dead, people wondered if the poster had known about the deaths earlier.

The poster, who won't give a name, says, "I found out that what I posted, ended up actually happening, a 1 in 10,000 chance of happening, or so I thought. I was beyond wrong for posting wrongful information, and I am sorry to everyone for this."

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Chris Benoit mystery editor confesses: claims "terrible coincidence", Wikinews, June 29th, 2007

Mike Morris "Benoit left trail of calls, online messages". Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 27, 2007

Blane Bachelor and AP "Officials: Wrestler Strangled Wife, Suffocated Son, Hanged Self". Fox News, June 27, 2007

AP "Canadian wrestler Chris Benoit, family found dead". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, June 25, 2007

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Death_of_Nancy_Benoit_rumour_posted_on_Wikipedia_hours_prior_to_body_being_found"

Your Summer Ride is a Jeep

For you, summer is all about having no responsibilities. You prefer to hang with old friends - and make some new ones.

What's Your Summer Ride?

Soldiers Raid Rebel Houses, Free Iraqis

U.S. soldiers saw a blindfolded Iraqi man running toward them in the West Rashid area of Baghdad on Monday. The man said he had been kidnapped, taken to an empty house, and beaten. He escaped when the kidnappers left.

The soldiers found two car bombs in the area.

People in the neighborhood had told soldiers that rebels were also using another house. In that house, a man was found handcuffed to a pipe in the bathroom. Two people were arrested.

Source: "Soldiers Save Iraqis, Discover Insurgent Safe Houses", American Forces Press Service

Blair Gets New Job

On Wednesday, we told you Tony Blair had resigned as Prime Minister of Britain. On the same day, he took a new job. He will represent the Quartet on the Middle East.

The Quartet is made up of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, and the U.S. As its representative, Blair will work to help Palestinians. He will try to help them get what they need, enforce their laws, and improve their economy.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

"Blair appointed Middle East envoy". BBC News Online, June 27, 2007

"Full text: Quartet statement". BBC News Online, June 27, 2007

Adam Entous "Blair named Mideast envoy, Israel kills 12 in Gaza". Reuters, June 27, 2007

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Tony_Blair_becomes_the_Quartet%27s_envoy_to_the_Middle_East"

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars Buy From Art.com

Wanted: People to Pretend They're Going to Mars

The European Space Agency is looking for volunteers to take a simulated (imitation) trip to Mars.

The ESA wants to find out what a long spaceflight will do to people's minds. So the volunteers will stay in a model spaceship for up to 520 days. Their only contact with the outside world will be by radio, with a 40-minute delay.

The experiment is planned for 2008. The ESA is looking for two crew members and two backups. They must come from countries that belong to the ESA. They can apply at the ESA website.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Press Release: "ESA seeks candidates for simulated 'Missions to Mars' in 2008/2009". European Space Agency, June 19, 2007

AFP "Space pioneers wanted for 520-day Mars experiment". Yahoo news, June 19, 2007

Press Release: "Mars500 Call for Candidates". European Space Agency, June 19, 2007 ((PDF))

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/European_Space_Agency_seeks_volunteers_for_Mars_simulation"