segunda-feira, 16 de agosto de 2010

Health fears rife in flood camps


Sukkur, Pakistan (CNN) -- Little Sabia Mirani's body resembles a skeleton compared to other children her age. The tiny one-year-old is perched on her father's knee fishing out the last few bits of puffed rice in a small plastic bowl.
Her arms and legs are stick thin. Her slender neck doesn't seem like it can hold up her large head. She is one of the estimated 20 million people affected by the worst floods in Pakistan's history.
Sabia has had health issues since she was born and since the floods she has been getting weaker by the day.
Her father, Amir Mirani prays nothing will happen to her but there is little clean water to drink and she has a bad case of diarrhea. For a child in her condition diarrhea can be deadly.
Up to 3.5 million children are at risk of contracting water-borne diseases, according to said Maurizio Giuliano from the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Mirani, a laborer has six children, and his wife is pregnant with his seventh. They lost everything in the floods except a handful of things piled up on the windowsill behind them.
They, along with dozens of other large families, are huddled together in what was a high school classroom. It has been turned into a free clinic.
The makeshift clinic is dark, dingy, and stifling due to the humidity and heat. CNN

Pentagon report: China extending military reach


Washington (CNN) -- The Chinese military continues to expand its reach and capabilities beyond its immediate geographical area, a new report from the U.S. Department of Defense concludes.
The report, an annual assessment sent to Congress, notes that some of those capabilities have been positive, like humanitarian and anti-piracy efforts, but others are meant to give China "extended-range power projection".
While China's continued effort to be able to sustain military operations far from its shore are concerning to the U.S. military, "China's ability to sustain military power at a distance, today, remains limited," the report says.
As in the past, the U.S. program to sell military equipment to Taiwan continues to create tension with China and has led to cessation at times of military relations between the two countries. CNN

Permanent fix on hold for ruptured Gulf oil well


(CNN) -- The permanent stifling of the ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well won't start until the latest potential problem is evaluated, Thad Allen, the government's point man in the Gulf, said Monday.
The "timelines won't be known until we get a recommendation on the course of action," he said.
Allen told reporters that when it comes to giving a green light to the "bottom kill" of the well through the nearby relief well, "nobody wants to make that declaration any more than I do," but the process "will not start until we figure out how to manage the risk of pressure in the annulus".
The annulus is a ring that surrounds the casing pipe, which sits in the center of the well shaft. Unless the annulus is breached, it should be accessible only from the bottom of the well.
Scientists began new pressure tests last week to gauge the effects of the mud and cement poured into the well from above during the static kill procedure that started August 3 and ended a few days later. From those pressure readings, they believe that either some of the cement breached the casing pipe and leaked into the annulus or cement came up into the annulus from the bottom. CNN

Turkey detains freelance journalist for alleged ties to Kurdish rebels


Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkish authorities have detained American activist and freelance journalist Jake Hess in the southeastern, predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir.
At a court appearance Sunday, a prosecutor charged Hess with "taking orders from a terrorist organization" and called for his immediate deportation from Turkey, witnesses said.
Turkish officialdom regularly refers to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, as a terrorist organization.
U.S. diplomats say Hess rejected their offer of assistance after he was taken into custody.
"We have spoken with him on the phone regarding his situation, and he specifically asked us not to share any information on his case," said Deborah Guido, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. "He did not sign a privacy waiver. We can take an oral privacy waiver [by phone], and it was his choice. He did not want to be helped".
Asked why he rejected the American offer, Hess answered that "the U.S. is an imperialist country, and I disagree with U.S. policy towards Turkey and the Kurds. It would be hypocritical to support an American journalist who is persecuted for human rights journalism while at the same time supporting the Turkish policy of criminalizing Kurdish political activists".
Hess spoke with CNN by telephone on Monday from the detention center in Diyarbakir. He said he was initially detained by a Turkish anti-terrorist police unit on August 11. CNN

Airport strike averted after preliminary settlement reached


London, England (CNN) -- The immediate threat of strikes at Britain's main airports was averted late Monday after a preliminary settlement was reached by British airport operator BAA and the union that represents the operator's employees, according to airport and union officials.
The two sides have been locked in a dispute over pay and the Unite union voted Thursday to strike. A seven-day notice is required before a strike can begin.
Six major British airports, including London's Heathrow, were in danger of being shut down amid the possible strikes.
"We are very pleased to be able to reassure the traveling public that we for our side have worked tirelessly to achieve a settlement," said Brendan Gold, the national secretary for the BAA's union, Unite.
Details of the agreement are expected to be released Tuesday, Gold said. CNN

Ponting: Australia can whitewash England in the Ashes


(CNN) -- Australia captain Ricky Ponting insists it is "absolutely possible" that his side can regain the Ashes by thrashing England 5-0.
Ponting's side surrendered the famous urn to their bitter rivals last year when England won the Test series 2-1 on home soil.
But the last time England travelled to Australia as holders, in 2006, they were beaten in all five Test matches.
And Ponting, 35, now believes his new-look side -- who have won eight of their last ten Test matches -- are capable of a repeat performance when the series gets underway in November.
Asked if Australia could whitewash England Ponting told reporters: "It's absolutely possible. There's no reason why not. We've learnt from a lot of the mistakes that we've made.
"There's no doubt we made some mistakes in the last Ashes series in England that cost us the series. But we know now that we're a more experienced and probably a better team now than we were then". CNN

French officials condemn activists' alleged vine destruction


Paris, France (CNN) -- The head of a government laboratory studying genetically modified plants said Monday that activists caused major damage during their weekend attack on a research facility in eastern France.
Before dawn Sunday, about 70 masked activists associated with the European protest movement Faucheurs Volontaires -- or Voluntary Reapers -- pulled 70 experimental grape vines by their roots and chopped them to pieces, said Jean Masson, president of the National Agricultural Research Institute, or INRA, in eastern France.
He estimated the total damage at 1 million euros ($1.28 million).
Police detained about 60 people, questioned them and then released them pending charges.
The vines were part of a transgenic experiment to develop disease-resistant plants at the INRA research station and had been attacked once before by a lone activist.
In a communique, the Faucheurs Volontaires said the grape vines were "neutralized" because "this experimental field was a first step toward imposing this type of agriculture, which is currently forbidden". CNN

Police: Mel Gibson was 'a gentleman' after Malibu crash


Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Mel Gibson crashed his 2008 Maserati into a rocky Malibu hillside Sunday night, but the actor was unhurt, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
Alcohol is not suspected in the wreck on Malibu Canyon Road, which the investigator concluded was "non-intentional," CHP Officer Leland Tang said.
"At that location and on that road, it could have happened to anybody," Tang said.
"For unknown reasons, Mr. Gibson steered his car to the right and struck the rock hillside," the police news release said.
Gibson, who is in a bitter child custody dispute with his ex-girlfriend, is the target of celeb photographers. Gibson publicist Alan Nierob, asked if the paparazzi might have been a factor in the accident, said, "Not that I'm aware of".
The CHP spokesman said the actor made it out of the crash with "no injuries, not even a scratch." He theorized Gibson must have been wearing his seat belt.
"He's OK," Nierob said.
When Gibson was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in Malibu four years ago, he became belligerent with Los Angeles sheriff's deputies. He was given three years probation after entering a no-contest plea to a charge of drunken driving. CNN

Judge: State ban on protests at military funerals unconstitutional


Washington (CNN) -- Missouri's tight restrictions on protests and picketing outside military funerals were tossed out by a federal judge Monday, over free speech concerns.
A small Kansas church had brought suit over its claimed right to loudly march outside the burials and memorial services of those killed in overseas conflicts. The state legislature had passed a law to keep members of the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church from demonstrating within 300 feet of such private services.
Church members, led by pastor Fred Phelps, believe God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" through events including soldiers' deaths. Members have traveled the country, shouting at grieving family members at funerals and displaying such signs as "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Blew Up the Troops" and "AIDS Cures Fags".
The Supreme Court last year had granted a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of the law until it could be challenged. The justices will hear a similar challenge this fall involving the same church.
Judge Fernando Gaitan in a 19-page order, dismissed the state legislation.
The laws, said the Kansas City-based judge, "could have the effect of criminalizing speech the mourners want to hear, including speech from counter-protesters to plaintiffs' [the Westboro Church's] message. As the law burdens substantially more speech than is necessary to further the government's interest, [the law] violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment". CNN

President of El Salvador to visit Cuba

Mauricio Funes, the president of El Salvador, will pay an official visit to Cuba for the first time since diplomatic ties between the two states were restored about a year ago.
El Salvador severed diplomatic ties with Havana in 1961, but ties resumed when Funes took office in summer 2009.
"El Salvador's foreign minister, Hugo Martinez, was instructed to prepare the visit in early September. Taking into consideration my hectic schedule, we plan to visit Cuba on September 3-9," the leader of El Salvador said.
He said he would discuss ways to boost bilateral relations, mainly in trade and economics, with Cuban leader Raul Castro.
During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to sign a deal on the resumption of direct flights from San Salvador to Havana. RIA Novosti

Doctors find tumor in Michael Douglas' throat


Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with a tumor in his throat, his representative said Monday.
Douglas, 65, will begin eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment, Allen Burry said.
His doctors expect the actor to make a full recovery, he said. CNN

Russia may hand documents on presidential plane crash to Poland

During his visit to Moscow on Tuesday, Poland's Chief Military Prosecutor Col. Krzysztof Parulski may receive documents on Russia's investigation into the April crash of a Polish presidential plane.
Russian and Polish experts are jointly probing the causes of the deadly crash, while Polish military prosecutors are conducting their own investigation.
Parulski is expected to receive documents on the case, including eyewitnesses' statements, photographs and autopsy reports, during his scheduled meeting with Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika.
"The chief military prosecutor will receive 11 volumes with documents on the case. Negotiations on transferring more documents to the Polish side will also be held," Polish prosecutors' spokesman Jerzy Artymiak told journalists in Warsaw.
Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika told his Polish counterpart Andrzej Seremet in early May that Russia is prepared to transfer to Poland about 500 documents on the crash of the presidential Tu-154 plane.
Chaika also expressed hope that Russia would receive from Poland all documents it needed to investigate the crash. RIA Novosti

S. Africa's Aspen to buy Sigma drugs arm for $804 mln

By Sonali Paul and Tiisetso Motsoeneng
MELBOURNE/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare will buy the drugs unit of Australia's Sigma Pharmaceuticals for $804 million in cash, having sweetened its offer to gain about a quarter of Australia's generic market.
The bid from Aspen likely ends a three-month tussle between the two companies over the price of debt-laden Sigma.
Aspen, 19 percent owned by Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, said it would pay A$900 million for the unit, well above the A$648 million it previously offered for the entire company.
Sigma, whose shares have been trading at about half what they were a year ago, had pressed Aspen to up that offer.
Instead of a full takeover, Aspen opted for the drugs manufacturing arm, the asset it coveted most, leaving Sigma with its drug distribution and pharmacy business.
Sigma's shares jumped as much as 7 percent on the bid, before trimming some gains, as the deal moved it closer to resolving long-standing debt problems. Reuters Africa

French govt urged to pay back Haiti's 'independence debt'

Leading international academics and authors have written an open letter to France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, urging him to repay a €17 billion "independence debt" imposed on Haiti two centuries ago.


In an open letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday, a group of international academics called on France to pay back the €17 billion of “independence debt” it extorted from the former colony some 200 years ago.

A total of 130 signatories have endorsed the letter (which appeared in French daily "Libération"), including American linguist Noam Chomsky, Canadian activist Naomi Klein, and several renowned French philosophers.

The appeal comes weeks after a hoax group called CRIME (Committee for the Reimbursement of the Indemnity Money Extorted from Haiti) falsely announced on July 14, the French national day, that France would pay back this “debt” to Haiti. The announcement, which was published on the government's website after it was hacked, was supposed to draw attention on France’s refusal to pay back the money. The French government said it was considering legal action against the group.

Concerning the potential legal action against the hoax group, the signatories of the open letter wrote: “We believe the ideals of equality, fraternity and liberty would be far better served if, instead of pouring public resources into the prosecution of these pranksters, France were to start paying Haiti back for the 90 million gold francs that were extorted following Haitian independence”.

Haiti, the world’s first black republic, declared independence from France in 1804, thirteen years after a successful slave revolt. But French slave owners soon demanded compensation for the loss of revenue from what had been France’s most profitable colony.

In 1825, French King Charles X demanded Haiti pay 150 million gold francs, a sum which was later reduced to 90 million gold francs, the equivalent of €17 billion. Faced with the prospect of a French blockade, Haiti was powerless to refuse. It took the fledgling nation almost 125 years to pay the full sum. France24

Laetitia Casta "Knew" about Johnny Depp's Visit to Bulgaria

Speculations that Johnny Depp is on an incognito visit to Bulgaria's southern coastal city ofBurgas received a much awaited boost on Monday after they were confirmed by a member of the movie team working here with French top model Laetitia Casta.
“Laetitia Casta knew about Johnny Depp's arrival in Burgas and where he would stay,” Adriana Mihaylova from the team of the Bulgarian director Kamen Kalev told journalists inBurgas.
Even though reports about a meeting between the two stars on Bulgarian ground were not officially confirmed, it is very likely that it has taken place on Sunday, according to Mihaylova.
The two actors are said to have arranged the meeting in Bulgaria prior to their arrival here.
Rumors that celebrity actor Johnny Depp has been spotted in Bulgaria's southern coastal city of Burgas were fanned after a purported footage of his stay at a local hotel and a couple of photos surfaced in the media.
A man, shockingly resembling Johnny Depp, first appeared in a video footage on the video sharing site Vbox7.com.
Meanwhile a viewer of Bulgaria's biggest private TV channel bTV, who adopted the role of a paparazzi photographer, managed to take pictures of the man, believed to be Johnny Depp.
There is no official information about the Bulgarian visit of the actor, who is undoubtedly the numero uno amongst the fairer sex, but speculations abound. Novinite

Report: Michael Douglas treated for cancer

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Michael Douglas' publicist says the Hollywood actor is to undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy to treat a tumor in his throat.

The 65-year-old actor's representative told People.com exclusively Douglas is expected to make a full recovery.

"I am very optimistic," Douglas added in a statement.

The star of "Wonder Boys," "The Game," "Basic Instinct," "Wall Street," "Romancing the Stone" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," has two young children with his current wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. He also has an adult son, Cameron, from a previous marriage. UPI

King orders fundraiser for Pakistan flood relief


JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia launched a nationwide fundraising campaign on Monday for Pakistan's flood victims, on the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif said.
"We have instructed all regional governors to set up subsidiary committees to collect donations and encourage businessmen and other citizens to participate actively in the campaign, which is named after King Abdullah," Prince Naif told the Saudi Press Agency.
He said potential donors could deposit their money in account No. SA8710000020162400000107 at National Commercial Bank or transfer their money using NCB's telebanking service or ATMs or Al-Ahli online service.
In response to the king's call, Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan identified locations in the region to collect donations. They include the headquarters of the King Abdul Aziz Charitable Society and Prince Fahd bin Sultan Social Program. The governor also set up a committee to organize the fundraising.
Saudi Arabia has already sent 16 planeloads of relief supplies to Pakistan after the country was hit by the worst floods in its history. On Sunday, the 15th and 16th cargo flights arrived in Pakistani airports with Saudi supplies.
Saudi Finance Ministry officials Abdullah Al-Muhaisen, Abdul Aziz Al-Fayad and Abdullah Al-Dossary handed over the relief supplies to Pakistani authorities. The Saudi Embassy in Islamabad is supervising the distribution of Saudi aid among the victims.
The Kingdom has pledged $100 million relief for Pakistan. "We are coordinating with UN agencies to distribute the humanitarian and emergency relief supplies," an official statement said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who surveyed the devastation caused by the torrential floods on Sunday, said he had never seen anything like it in his life. He urged foreign donors to speed up assistance to the 20 million people affected. Arab News

Senator seeks Lockerbie bomber whistleblowers


A US Senator investigating the 2009 release of the Lockerbie bomber has asked whistleblowers to step forward.
Sen Robert Menendez issued a public plea for people with inside knowledge of talks between BP and Libyan and British authorities to speak up.
Some US lawmakers suspect that BP had lobbied for the bomber's release, suggesting that it aided the energy giant's oil exploration in Libya.
The inquiry comes amid US anger over the BP oil spill in Louisiana.
Assuring confidentiality for sources, Mr Menendez asked also for behind-the-scenes information regarding Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's medical condition.
Scottish authorities released Megrahi in August 2009 on compassionate grounds, citing terminal cancer which had left him just three months to live. Megrahi is still alive almost a year later. BBC News

NASA astronauts install pump module during third spacewalk

NASA astronauts installed a spare cooling pump module on the International Space Station (ISS)during their third contingency spacewalk which lasted more than seven hours, NASA said on its website.
The spacewalk, conducted by Flight Engineers Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson lasted about an hour longer than expected. It took astronauts 7 hours, 20 minutes to install the 780-pound spare pump module.
"The module was successfully installed on the S1 Truss after Wheelock attached four bolts and Caldwell Dyson mated five electrical connectors," NASA said.
"Ground controllers confirmed the module was in healthy condition when it began receiving power. After a pressure check and more fluid cable connections, the module was filled with ammonia," the statement reads.
One of two cooling systems serving the ISS broke down late on July 31, and the crew had shut down several pieces of equipment, including two of the station's four gyroscopes, to cut the heat generated on board. RIA Novosti

Egypt increases grain production, plans cut on bread consumption

Egypt, the world's biggest grain importer, plans to take measures to cut back on bread consumption and increase domestic grain production following Russia's embargo on grain exports, the country's agriculture minister said on Monday.
"Egypt will follow a strategy of reducing bread consumption and increasing [grain] production," Amin Abaza said, adding that the country plans to produce 70-75 percent of its domestic grain consumption needs.
To achieve this, the country plans to increase productivity in old cultivated areas and irrigate new fields.
The government will also attempt to cut back on grain losses during transportation and storage and encourage the use of corn flour in bread production. The use of bread as cattle feed may also face a ban.
Some 90 percent of Egyptians consume bread made from flour that is subsidized by the government, and 60 percent, mainly poor families with numerous mouths to feed, rely on it as a main food source.
Russia imposed a ban on the export of grain, including wheat, barley, rye and maize, from August 15 until at least the end of the year, following a drought and wildfires that have destroyed 10.8 million hectares of crops. Forecasts for this year's harvest have fallen as low as 60 million tons, 38% less than last year. RIA Novosti

luishipolito@outlook.com

Carregando...