Kashmir Quake stories
Quake Docs Warn of Shortage for Vaccines
Doctors working to immunize all the approximately 1.2 million children affected by the October 8 Kashmir earthquake say that they may not have enough money to do it. $4 million is urgently needed. Snow has already begun to fall in the hills.
A fourth crossing point between India and Pakistan was opened Monday, with more to come. So far only aid has crossed; not local people.
U.N. ramps up airlift for Pakistan quake survivors
The United Nations is launching a major air operation in a frantic effort to get aid to the earthquake survivors up in the mountains before winter tightens its grip. Britain has lent three Chinook transport helicopters for 5 days from Tuesday.
More funds are desperately needed. There will be a donors' conference on November 19. Sickness is spreading; mostly diarrhoea.
Bird flu stories
WHO Experts Study Bird Flu in China, Â Bird flu claims rising toll among people,
China probes another possible human bird flu case, Â China Reports Ninth Outbreak of Bird Flu,
Japan announces plan to tackle birdflu outbreak, Â Roche sees no raised behavior risk with Tamiflu
World Health Organization experts are studying a bird flu outbreak in poultry in central China. One girl died in the area. China has reported a ninth bird flu outbreak, in poultry in Huainan.
Indonesia says it cannot afford mass culls. Experts say that culling is the best way to deal with an outbreak. A 20-year-old woman died there of bird flu on Monday, and it has another suspected case.
China says it has developed its own version of Tamiflu. It has a possible human case of bird flu in a northeastern province.
21 Pacific Rim leaders will be meeting at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan, South Korea this week and are expected to call for increased cooperation on fighting bird flu.
Vietnam, the country most severely affected by the disease, plans to close two wild bird sanctuaries in the southern Mekong Delta. More people are suspected to have contracted the disease.
Four hens have died in Romania of an H5 subtype of bird flu; the exact strain is not yet known.
Japan has unveiled its action plan for a possible human bird flu outbreak. It will increase its stocks of Tamiflu, and if necessary declare a state of emergency, shut down schools and ban large gatherings. It will also help other Asian countries.
Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG is talking with the World Health Organization (WHO) about creating a stockpile of Tamiflu for poorer countries, to be paid for by developed nations. Roche says that those taking Tamiflu are no more likely to show abnormal behaviour than untreated flu patients. Japan had reported 2 cases where patients died after acting abnormally.
Hurricane stories
Tropical Depression Forms in Caribbean
A tropical depression was forming in the southeast Caribbean Sea Monday. If it develops into Tropical Storm Gamma as expected it will become the 24th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The previous record was 21 named storms i n a season, which happened in 1933.
Other stories
US atomic expert doubts report of Iran weapons work
David Albright, head of the U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security think-tank and a former UN arms inspector, doubts a report of new U.S. intelligence tht is said to suggest that Iran was planning to build a nuclear warhead.
Iowans Recovering From Rare Nov. Tornadoes
Iowans are clearing up after two F-2 tornadoes that killed one person Saturday and destroyed 40 homes.
Va. Fire Chief Found Dead in Brush Fire
A volunteer Virginia fire department chief has been found dead after he tried to battle a brush fire near his home alone.
Explosions Rock Chinese Chemical Plant
Five people were killed, one was missing and dozens were injured after a series of blasts at a chemical plant in China's northeast. More than 10,000 people evacuated. The fire occurred in a tower that processed benzene. Human error was blamed.
Please see the following message for the remaining stories. Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums] | 
