Wednesday, January 28, 2004

* China is the latest country to be hit by the avian virus, and
confirmed an outbreak of the lethal H5N1 flu strain among ducks in
Guangxi, with suspected cases reported in two other provinces, Hubei
and Hunan. The rapid spread of the avian flu – which has killed eight
people and led to the culling of 20 million chicken in 10 hot spots
across Asia – prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and
Agriculture Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal
yesterday to issue a joint appeal for money and expertise to fight an
all-out war against the disease. Their chief concern: the looming
threat of a human and animal pandemic. The fear is that with the
resources of stricken countries buckling under the strain, there will
be more infections among poultry and humans. And as more people become
infected, the higher the possibility that the flu – now passed on from
contact with sick birds and their droppings – will mutate into a
virulent version transmittable between humans. Concerns are especially
high because the bird flu virus caught by humans appears resistant to
the cheaper anti-viral drugs used to treat regular influenza.

* At least 10 people have died in winter storms that battered parts
of Europe, causing highway closures, bringing train services to a
standstill and grounding many flights. Blizzards in Romania were the
worst in 40 years, according to meteorologists, while Britain and
France are braced for heavy snow and potentially chaotic transport
conditions. British Airways cancelled at least 20 flights bound for
continental Europe and the United States from Heathrow and Gatwick
airports in London as high winds and snow showers swept south from
Northern Ireland and Scotland, sending temperatures plummeting. The
temperature was expected to drop to minus 6 deg C in parts of Northern
Ireland overnight on Monday. Snow to a depth of 17cm has fallen in
northern Scotland and more is predicted. In France, cold weather and
sleet led to delays of up to two hours at two main airports in Paris,
Charles de Gaulle and Orly, while train service was disrupted between
the western city of Rennes and the capital. In Switzerland, heavy snow
disrupted travel around Geneva and Lausanne.

* Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s grandnephew was
thrown from a speeding train and killed after trying to stop drunken
youths from harassing women passengers. Mr Manish Mishra, 21, the
grandson of Mr Vajpayee’s sister, Vimla, died of injuries sustained
from the fall at the northern Indian town of Kosi Kalan near the famous
Hindu pilgrimage spot of Mathura. Mr Mishra and two other college
students were beaten unconscious before being tossed out of the train,
police said. The other two victims suffered serious injuries and were
in hospital. The incident occurred on Saturday night when the three
intervened to stop a group of drunken youths from talking obscenely to
female college students. Mr Mishra’s body was later cremated after a
post-mortem examination. Mr Vajpayee attended the funeral.

* In last night’s Democratic presidential primary, John Kerry
emerged victorious with 39 percent of the vote, with 83 percent of
precincts reporting. “I make this pledge to you tonight,” Kerry
announced, “I have spent my whole life fighting for what I think is
right and against powerful special interests, and I have only just
begun to fight.” Former Vermont Governor Howard dean earned second
place, carrying 26 percent of the vote, while Wesley Clark and John
Edwards trailed at third and fourth place respectively.

*****

Sustained Dialogue Meeting
Scheuer Room, 7:00 p.m.

Breakthrough Information Session (sponsored by Career Services)
Bond, 7:00 p.m.

Film Society Screening
Science Center 101, 10 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

Today:
Women’s Basketball at Haverford, 6:00 p.m.
Men’s Basketball at Haverford, 8:00 p.m.

Tomorrow:
Badminton hosts Bryn Athyn, 7:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Honesty may be the best policy, but it’s important to remember that
apparently, by process of elimination, dishonesty is the second-best
policy.”
–George Carlin

*****

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