What if it's a tie?
A candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes, but McCain and Obama could end up with 269 each.
OJ jurors relied on tapes
Jurors who convicted former football star OJ Simpson say they did not trust witness testimony.
Search News24
     World : News Get News24 on your mobile Terms & conditions 
Homepage
World
News
US Elections
South Africa
Africa
Sport
Entertainment
Sci-Tech
Finance
Health
Galleries
 
News24 turns 10
US Elections
Zimbabwe
Xenophobia
Aids Focus
Power Crisis
More...
 
MyNews24
Columnists
Sports Columnists
Feedback
 
National Lottery
UK Lottery
Travel
Competitions
Horoscopes
TV Guides
Classifieds
Currie Cup game
 
Sudoku
Aces High
Silly Solitaire
Word Cube
Make 24
Golf Solitaire
Battleship
 
Stidy
The Biggish Five
Treknet
 
Newsletters
Weather

Cape Town:
15-19°C

Durban:
18-28°C

Johannesburg:
11-27°C

Weather Page

Traffic
Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Eastern Cape Western Cape
All regions
Indicators
Rand/$ 8.9200
Rand/£ 15.5900
Rand/€ 12.1300
Gold/oz $886.85
Gold Mining 1583.76
+0.00%
All-share index 21560.99
+0.00%
 
House prices getting you down?
Register with Property24 today and buy an affordable online Sold Price Index (SPI) report to find out what other houses in your area have sold for.

 
Afrikaans
English

UN headquarters 'a firetrap'
28/08/2006 09:48  - (SA)  

Want to know more?
Answerit can help.
  • UN calls for cease-fire in DRC
  • UN calls for cease-fire in DRC
  • Stay out of Somalia, says UN
  • Stay out of Somalia, says UN
  • Hezbollah hits UN post
  • 'Martyrs' claim they hit UN HQ
  • Red Aids ribbon lights up UN HQ
  • New York - The United Nations is a disaster waiting to happen - a potential towering inferno that could be as devastating for workers, staff and visitors as the terror attacks on the World Trade Centre's twin towers, a US senator said on Sunday.

    Calling the 39-story, glass-walled Secretariat building on the East River a "firetrap" that violates many sections of New York City's building code, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and US ambassador John Bolton should "make it a priority" to force through a $1.6bn renovation programme.

    "The United Nations' grave state of disrepair may be hidden, but it is putting the health and safety of thousands who work within the building and in the area in a real degree of danger," Schumer told a news conference on the street in front of the landmark complex.

    No sprinklers

    Schumer painted a dire picture of what would happen if the complex, a world-famous landmark since 1952 that has 6 000 workers and has averaged 400 000 visitors a year by the UN's own count, were to be hit by a major fire.

    He said the glass tower, the first "international style" skyscraper built in New York City, has no internal sprinkler system, is full of dangerous asbestos, and its driveway, above an underground garage, probably would collapse from the weight of fire trucks and other emergency equipment.

    Not subject to city safety codes

    He cited UN undersecretary Christopher Burnham's testimony to Congress in July 2005 that a fire could engulf the skyscraper, "in minutes," and that even a broken steam pipe could be calamitous by spewing asbestos through a large area.

    The 7.3-hectare site, donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr, is officially international territory, therefore not subject to city code enforcement. But because the city responds to emergencies there, the UN edifices should meet local health and safety standards, Schumer said.

    - AP



    What is this?
    Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
     
    News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile News24 on mobile  


    VEHICLE SEARCH
    VOLKSWAGEN
    1997
    Polo Classic 1.4 MY96
    R100000
    FORD
    2005
    Territory 4.0 Ghia AT
    R219600
    PEUGEOT
    2005
    407 ST Executive 3.0 V6 Tiptronic
    R159900
    VOLKSWAGEN
    2006
    Kombi T5 SWB 1.9 TDi MPV Dsl
    R229990
    MERCEDES-BENZ
    2007
    C200K AVANTGARDE AT
    R309950
    FORD
    2007
    Focus 1.6 Si 5-dr MY05
    R134990
    HONDA
    1996
    Ballade 160i Luxline AT
    R40400
    BMW
    2003
    318i AT
    R124900
    KIA
    2001
    Sportage 4x4
    R69990

     

    About us | Advertise | Contact us | Job opportunities | Press Releases | Site map

    Back to top
     Sponsored links
    Life Insurance
    Car Insurance
    UK Lottery
    First for Women
    Your Homeloan
    Bid or Buy
    Medical Aid
    Education
    SA TV Online
    Best Car Deals
    Loans & Credit Cards
    Compare Quotes
    Life Insurance for Women
    Car Servicing & Repair
    Piggs Peak Casino