Kashmir Earthquake stories

U.N. Warns Funds Drying Up for Quake Aid,   U.N. warns of fierce winter in Kashmir quake region

The U.N. said Friday that it would be forced to ground helicopters in a week if there were not more donations, and that opening up the de facto Kashmir border between India and Pakistan would help logistically. It also needs more supplies. More helicopters are on the way. Unusually cold weather and heavy snow is forecast for the region soon, with winter only three days away, and as many could die as died in the earthquake itself.

Makeshift Tent Schools Appear in Pakistan

The first schools for victims of the Kashmir earthquake opened in tents this week. 10,000 schools are believed to have been destroyed; many had children in. Many who were not killed were injured.

Quake region worries about shelter

Pakistani Kashmir authorities believe they can get enough food to the area before winter with the help of helicopters, but not shelter. The World Food Program believes two million people will need aid. It could take months to clear and reconstruct roads to some areas. Electricity, water and telecommunications links have been restored in parts of Muzaffarabad.

Hurricane stories

Nicaragua evacuates coast as storm Beta looms

Nicaragua was preparing for Tropical Storm Beta Friday as it was gearing up to hurricane strength. Evacuation along the isolated coast was mostly by boat. Landslides are likely.

Cuba to Let U.S. Officials Visit Country

Cuba is to let three U.S. aid officials visit the island to discuss damage from Hurricane Wilma.

Wilma May Be Mexico's Costliest Disaster

Hurricane Wilma battered Mexico's coast and islands, damaging the coral reefs, trees and the tourist industry, making it a very costly storm. Most tourists have now been able to leave. Mexican President Vicente Fox wants the tourist industry back up and running as soon as possible. Some parts have not had much aid or begun reconstruction yet.

Power Slowly Being Restored in Florida

Power has now been restored to 45 percent of the customers cut off by Hurricane Wilma, enabling gas stations to reopen and life to begin to return to normal for some.

Church, State Get Closer After Katrina

More groups are showing an interest in tapping government funds from President Bush's faith-based initiative for social service projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and states have been setting up faith-based offices.

Fed Memos Put Katrina Body Blame on Blanco

Fed Memos blame Louisiana's Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco for the delay in collecting bodies from New Orleans and taking them to morgues. Blanco blamed FEMA for the delay, saying that it sign a contract with Houston-based Kenyon International Emergency Services to do so. The company decided not to sign a contract at the time. There was disagreement about the enforcement of the mandatory evacuation order too.

La. Hospital Officials: Federal Aid Needed

Federal aid is needed urgently for Louisiana's public hospital system as it is about to run out of money to keep employing its staff. Two hospitals have been closed since Hurricane Katrina, leaving Southern Louisiana without a trauma centre.

IRS Extends Hurricane Zone Tax Deadlines

Taxpayers affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita now have until Feb. 28, 2006 to file tax returns and submit tax payments

White House Readies New Hurricane Request,   House Mulls Cuts to Subsidies, Food Stamps

The Senate approved $8 billion in emergency spending on bird flu. The Agriculture panel was looking to cut farm subsidies and food stamps. The White House was to ask Congress to redirect $17 billion in hurricane relief funds to projects like repairing highways and federal facilities damaged by the storms.

Pluto rocket in Florida damaged by Hurricane Wilma

The 200-foot (61-meter) tall plutonium-powered rocket was standing vertically inside its assembly hangar but the door failed, exposing it to slight damage. It should be able to launch on time.

Bird Flu stories

Bird flu in Africa could swamp health systems: WHO,   Risk of bird flu in Africa similar to Asia: WHO

The World Health Organization that bird flu in Africa could overwhelm health care systems and be as difficult to deal with as in Asia.

WHO urges protective clothing for poultry workers

The World Health Organization recommends protective clothing for poultry workers, cullers and veterinarians.

Please see the following message for the remaining stories.

Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums]

EPA Studies Ways to Cut Warming Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency has analysed the potential costs of the United States regulating its carbon dioxide emissions to help curb global warming. President Bush's plan would cost up to $6 billion a year to cut nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and mercury by 70% but would generate up to $143 billion in health benefits by 2020. It wouldn't regulate carbon dioxide at all.

A proposal by Tom Carper, D-Del. would cost up to $5 billion by 2013 to reduce CO2 by almost 2.5 billion tons of and cut 10 tons of mercury and 1.7 million tons of nitrogen oxides. Sulphur dioxide would be reduced by 2.25 million tons by 2016. There would be up to $161 billion a year in health benefits by 2020.

Another proposal by James Jeffords, I-Vt would cost up to $54 billion by 2010 but generate up to $211 billion a year in health benefits by 2020. 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide, 1.5 million tons of nitrogen oxides, 2.25 million tons of sulphur dioxide and 5 tons of mercury would be cut by 2010.

Green Sea Turtle Photo courtesy of FWS

Illness Threatens Turtles in Puerto Rico

A tumour-causing illness that is believed to have been caused by herpes is threatening to wipe out endangered green sea turtles on the Puerto Rican island of Culebra.

U.S. Ban on Caviar, Sturgeon Imports Grows

The USA has banned imports of beluga caviar and sturgeon originating from the Black Sea basin. It had already banned imports from the Caspian Sea. The species is endangered.

white-tailed deer Photo courtesy of FWS

Mo. Team Mounts Tiny Cameras Atop Deer

A research team has mounted small, wireless video cameras on the heads of white-tailed deer to study them.

Fla. Ag Chief: Wilma Is Worst He's Seen

The Florida agriculture commissioner says that Hurricane Wilma has caused more harm to the local agriculture than any other natural disaster in decades.

Trees Protected Some in India From Tsunami

Mangrove forests in southeast India protected coastal villages from the December 26 tsunami, according to a study along part of the Indian coast.

Carole King Opposes Idaho Wilderness Bill

Singer Carole King told the House Resources Committee that the bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, did not go far enough to protect land in the Boulder and White Cloud mountains.

Man Finds 56-Pound Mushroom in Missouri

Index of topics in this series.

[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization. External Websites are "At Your Own Risk," and no endorsement is expressed or implied.]

Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums]