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Quake toll tops 20,000 in stricken Pakistan, India, Â Survivors Sought in South Asia Earthquake,
India Quake Survivors Complain of Slow Aid, Â S. Asia Quake Damages 'Peace Bridge',
World rushes to help Asian quake nations, Â U.N. Deploys Emergency Team to Pakistan,
Bush: U.S. Sends Assistance to Pakistan, Â Rice Offers U.S. Aid to Pakistan, India,
S. Asia Quake Hits Area Where Osama Hides, Â Major Earthquakes Over the Past 80 Years
Rescuers are searching frantically in the rubble for survivors of a magnitude-7.7 earthquake which killed at least 30,000 people in India and northern Pakistan on Sunday. It was felt from central Afghanistan to western Bangladesh. Many children were buried in their schools, and some had been heard crying afterwards. Offers of help poured in, but it was not easy to get to remote areas, and there were many complaints at the lack of aid.
A "Peace Bridge" recently reopened between the Indian and Pakistani portions of disputed Kashmir was close to collapse
The United Nations sent an emergency coordination team to Pakistan. President Bush announced Sunday that the U.S. would be sending cash and eight helicopters and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered help. Osama is believed to be hiding in the area; it is not known what happened to him if he was.
The strongest and, because of the tsunami, the most deadly earthquake in the past 80 years was last December 26 in the Indian Ocean.
Other stories
617 Killed in Central America Rain, Floods, Â Guatemala may declare mudslide Mayan mass grave
Mayan Indians continued to search for bodies f people killed by mudslides or flooding n Guatemala; the death toll in the region has risen to 617 throughout Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, with many more likely to be found.
One Guatemalan village was totally buried and may be declared a Mayan mass grave. Guatemalan law limits searches for the dead to 72 hours for health reasons.
Tropical Storm Vince Forms in Atlantic
Tropical Storm Vince's formation in the far eastern Atlantic makes this hurricane season the second busiest on record. It is no threat to land, as it has formed in unusually cool waters (73 to 75 degrees compared to the 80 degrees usually needed) and is expected not to last long.
Turkey, Romania kill poultry to stop bird flu spread, Â Turkey culls poultry to stem spread of bird flu-TV
Thousands of birds have been culled in Turkey and Romania and quarantines ordered as a precaution against bird flu after nearly 2,000 turkeys died. It was not yet known which strain the birds died from.
Myanmar -- the world's bird flu black hole?
If bird flu should occur in Myanmar, it will be difficult to deal with as a lot of territory is in rebel hands and the military government is not known for producing reliable information. Myanmar's neighbours China, Thailand and Laos have all had outbreaks.
Indonesia says bird flu found in boy
Indonesia has its 6th bird flu case, a 4-year-old boy. Samples have been sent to a laboratory in Hong Kong for confirmation. The boy was not seriously ill.
Feds Prepare for Super-Flu Disaster, Â Scientist says flu drug stockpiles inadequate
U.S. officials are drawing up a plan for a super-flu that could kill up to 1.9 million Americans and make many more sick. Hospitals would be overwhelmed. There are enough stocks of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu to treat 4.3 million people, but much more would be required. Millions of doses of a bird flu vaccine would also be needed, and manufacturing has only just begun.
Scientists say that the U.S. stockpiles of drugs are woefully inadequate, saying there are enough stocks of Tamiflu to treat about 2.3 million people now and expects to have enough for 4.3 million by the end of the year, whereas 90 million people would need medication.
Please see the following message for the remaining stories. Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums] | 
