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The World Today - August 29
Thailand’s prime minister Samak threatens to declare a state of emergency. Three airports closed in tourist areas.
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Protesters burn Mongolia ruling party offices
Government declares state of emergency after protest about election fraud turns violent
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President Bush declares state of emergency
Whats your take?
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Storms Rock Midwest
The Midwest sustained harsh floods and tornadoes forcing many people from their homes. The torrential rainfall has led to several power outages, erosion and the overflowing rivers, levees and dams. Emergency teams have been mobilized on a state and federal level in an attempt to quell further damage. The Midwest sustained harsh floods and tornadoes forcing many people from their homes. The torrential rainfall has led to several powe... more
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Evolution Of Flu Strains Point To Higher Risk Of Pandemic: Study
Some strains of bird flu are coming ever closer to developing the traits they need to cause a human pandemic, a study released Monday said.
Researchers who analysed samples of recent avian flu viruses found that a few H7 strains of the virus that have caused minor, untransmissible infections in people in North America between 2002 and 2004 have increased their affinity for the sugars found on human tracheal cells.
Subsequent tests in ferrets suggested that these viral strains were not readily transmissible.
But one strain of the H7N2 virus, a low pathogenic avian flu strain isolated from a man in New York in 2003, replicated in the ferret's respiratory tract and was passed between infected and uninfected ferrets suggesting it could be transmissible in humans.
The investigators said the evidence suggests that the virus could be evolving toward the same strong sugar-binding properties of the three worldwide viral pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968.
"These findings suggest that the H7 class of viruses are partially adapted to recognize the receptors that are preferred by the human influenza virus," said Terrence Tumpey, a senior microbiologist with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
The authors said that if the viruses continue to evolve in this direction, the avian flu viruses could travel more easily between other animals and humans. They called for strict surveillance of avian flu viruses and continuing federal preparations for a possible future pandemic.
The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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At this point I don't consider it a question of "if" a pandemic will strike the world, but "when." Especially now with the current state of our environment. China being one example of what environmental factors (climate change) can do to exacerbate strains like Avian flu. It seems that historically a pandemic strikes us globally about every 100 or so years. The Spanish Flu that hit us in North America in 1918 wiped out millions... Are we due? After all the hype about Avian Flu in 2003 it has died down now and you don't hear anything about it. I think it is something we need to keep in our minds, especially considering how easy it would be to spread such a virus if it got into the wrong hands. Some strains of bird flu are coming ever closer to developing the traits they need to cause a human pandemic, a study released Monday ... more -
Egypt: Two more years of 'state of emergency'
he Egyptian parliament on Monday renewed the 27-year-old state of emergency for two more years, dashing the hopes of the nation's human rights activists.
In all, 305 of the Parliament's 454 members voted in favor of the renewal after President Hosni Mubarak issued a decree a day earlier calling on the nation’s representatives to extend the notorious state of emergency. One hundred three MPs did not heed Mubarak's call.
Under the emergency law, the police are authorized to detain people indefinitely without charges, refer civilians to military courts, close dissident publications and thwart demonstrations. he Egyptian parliament on Monday renewed the 27-year-old state of emergency for two more years, dashing the hopes of the nation's... more -
London Hospital Fire Breaks Out
Firefighters are battling a major blaze that has forced patients to be evacuated from Europe's largest cancer hospital.
The fire brigade said the blaze, on the top floor of the Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea, south-west London, was "extremely serious". Firefighters are battling a major blaze that has forced patients to be evacuated from Europe's largest cancer hospital. ... more -
Ice Storm Causes Blackouts and 15 Deaths
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A wintry storm caked the center of the nation with a thick layer of ice Monday, blacking out more than 600,000 homes and businesses, and more icy weather was on the way. At least 15 deaths in Oklahoma and Missouri were blamed on the conditions, with 13 of them killed on slick highways.
A state of emergency was declared for the entire state of Oklahoma, where the sound of branches snapping under the weight of the ice echoed through Oklahoma City.
''You can hear them falling everywhere,'' Lonnie Compton said Monday as he shoveled ice off his driveway. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A wintry storm caked the center of the nation with a thick layer of ice Monday, blacking out more than 600,000 h... more -
Pakistan in Turmoil
The Emergency government is still in control, the media is still shutdown. The protesters are still fighting the moves by Pervez Musharraf, and the police are still using batons and mass arrests to stop the opposition. And, no new date yet for elections, though Benazir Bhutto says she understands from inside sources (that she doesn't not provide or name) that elections won't happen for at least a year, while officials still say they will be delayed by 3 months max if at all. The Emergency government is still in control, the media is still shutdown. The protesters are still fighting the moves by Pervez Mush... more
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US aid to Pakistan in review
Rice, speaking to reporters on a Mideast trip, said the U.S. will review aid to Pakistan, but indicated it would not suspend aid wholesale.
The U.S. has provided about $11 billion to Pakistan since 2001, when Musharraf allied his presidency with Washington after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
"Some of the aid that goes to Pakistan is directly related to the counterterrorism mission," Rice said. "We just have to review the situation. But I would be very surprised if anyone wants the president to ignore or set aside our concerns about terrorism."
The secretary, who said she had not spoken directly with Musharraf since the crackdown, denied charges that the Bush administration has "put all its chips" on Musharraf.
She also decried Musharraf's "extraconstitutional moves," including suspending the constitution, ousting the country's top judge and deploying troops to fight what he called rising Islamic extremists.
"I'm disappointed in his decision, sure," Rice said. "I think his decision sets Pakistan back in the considerable progress it made toward democratic change." Rice, speaking to reporters on a Mideast trip, said the U.S. will review aid to Pakistan, but indicated it would not suspend aid whole... more -
Pakistani police storm television station
...Police say they had orders "from the highest authority" to take equipment
...News director: Police said "We'll do it the nice way or the other way"
...During the confrontation, two AAJ journalists were able to drive the news van away from the station, Hussain said.
...Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf: Media have "added insult to injury" ...Police say they had orders "from the highest authority" to take equipment ... more
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