Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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WHO changes deadline for destructing live smallpox

The World Health Organization WHO has finally shifted the date for the complete destruction of live smallpox which is known to be persisting. The organization disclosed this after its annual general meeting on Tuesday. It said that the final date has been moved to three years. The debate for this has been on for than ten years.

This issue was hotly contested at the annual general meeting that was held in Geneva. It has polarized the members over those who support the postponement of the date and those that are opposed to it. Iran one of the countries that demanded that the date should not be shifted was against US delegation which has insisted that the date must be shifted.

The United States of America and Russia had supported the shift of the day by some years forward. Iran was the country that was strongly opposed to it. They insisted the two countries must destroy their stock now.

The argument made by Iran is that it is the security to the world should a wrong hand on the product. They argued that are lots of machines and technology that can be used to produce vaccines in the shortest notice.

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Democrat win G.O.P as Republicans lose over Medicare

One of the most contentious issues in American politics today is the issue of Medicare plan and it has polarized the American society. It appears that some politicians have started to pay for their stand on the Medicare issue. One of the casualties is Jane Corwin who could not retain her seat in the special election that was conducted in New York on Tuesday.

The outcome of the result has sent a message to the Republicans that Americans did not like the party position on the issue. It is a source of worry to them because the general election will come up in 2012 and for them to have lost their traditional stronghold over the Medicare issue they may have a rethink.

Not many people would believe the outcome of that election because the winner the Democrat party member Kathy Hochul was behind the Republican loser two months ago in opinion polls. Most of the people who had earlier voted for Republic party had decided to change camp as results of the Republicans stand on the issue.

However not many republicans believed that their candidate lost the election because of the Medicare issue. Some believe the party went for the election divided. They said that Jack Davis who came third was a member of the party but had to join Tea Party after losing the Republican nomination.

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Death toll increases in Missouri following tornado

Casualties have continued to increase as a result of the tornado that struck Joplin in southwest Missouri in the United States of America. About 11 people were confirmed dead following the storm that affected the nursing home center in Joplin. The storm struck the home and destroyed the building according to the home operator.

Since the incident occurred the death toll has continued to increase, it is estimated that about 122 people had lost their lives while over 750 others sustained different forms of injury. The storm was the highest so far experienced in the city.  Even as the city residents are trying to come in terms with the disaster there is tornado warning that is issued for some parts of the state. Tornado incidents were confirmed in some parts of the country such as the Ohio which affected trees and cut off power supply.

It appears that the storm that hit Joplin early this week is the deadliest since 1950 when the National Weather Service started taking records of tornados. In the history of the United States of America it is rated as the 8th deadliest storm to hit any part of the country. The Sunday incident claimed the live of more than 100 residents and the nursing home alone had more than 10 of this figure.

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US banks report decreasing revenue

The banking sector in the United States of America has been given account of their financial position for the first quarter of 2011. This hint was dropped by the federal Insurance Deposit Corporation.

It reported that the first quarter of this year marked a new beginning in the banking sector as the banks reported the highest margin of gains since the financial crises started. It reported that the net income earned by those banks stood at $29b.

This is about 60% more than what the banks have been earning. The corporation gave a growing picture of banking industry in US saying the rate of bank failures has minimised but complaints against some personalities are on the increase.

The corporation revealed there was a drop of the interest rate income which according to the corporation dropped to about 3% to what it was in the year 2010. The situation prevailed through out last year despite so much hype of economic recovery in the United States.

This also represents the first time since 1989 there was a quarterly decline in interest rate income. The corporation threw more light on the decline in interest rate income. It said that the six biggest banks are the most affected but it cuts across all the banks.

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U.S. govt. invites Libyan rebel council

There was a morale boost for the Libyan rebels fighting to oust the government of Col Moamar Gadhafi on Tuesday when a US special envoy announced that the rebel council has been invited to open an office in the United States of America. This is a clear indication that the government of the United States is recognizing the rebel council as the legitimate government in Libya.

This development came just hours after NATO launched the heaviest offensive against Gadhafi with explosions rocking many areas of Tripoli especially the stronghold of Col Gadhafi. NATO had announced that one of the attacks was targeted at a storage vehicle within the compound and the target was caught.

This development has been confirmed by the government which announced that NATO had targeted the military reserve in the country and that about three people or more had been killed on the attack and that several people were wounded. The spokesman said that  Col Gadhafi is still alive. Journalists were taken round a hospital where the government showed people they said were injured during the attack. The people shown were in their 20s and 30s and they appear in civilian uniform.

The action of the US government is a further move to isolate Gadhafi from the rest of the international community. It has clearly indicated that the US government is comfortable working with the rebels.

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Pakistani military retook Karachi Naval Station

The Pakistani military has redeemed its image by retaking the naval base it lost to Taliban after fierce battle. The military cut shorts the 18 hours occupation of the naval base after heavy gun battle with the Taliban.

It was surprising that the Taliban forces which were not more than 6 insurgents were able to deal that deadly blow to the Pakistani military including the destruction of their surveillance planes that were donated by Americans. About 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. At the end of the counter attack 4 of the insurgents were killed.

The Taliban in Pakistan has already claimed responsibility for the attack. They said that it is part of the program to avenge the death of Osama Bin Laden by the Americans. They said that were under order to fight to death. They said that they embarked on the mission with the aim of not coming out alive saying that they have already embraced martyrdom.

It would be recalled that insurgents that were numbered about 4 to 6 stormed the naval base in the night using ladders to have access to the naval facilities causing enormous damages to some of the military equipment. They took possession of the facilities for about 18 hours before the commandos organized for a counter attack through which they were able to deal with the insurgents.

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Gadhafi Soldiers accused of raping Libyan girl in Misrata

Soldiers’ royal to Libyan leader Moamar Gadhafi were reported to have raped Misrata girls. This was revealed by two of the soldiers who were detained in the city. The two soldiers confirmed they were involved in the rape.

They confessed that they participated in the rape of four women in Misrata. The two soldiers were captured by the rebels in a battle with the Gadhafi forces two weeks ago. The soldiers confirmed that at least twenty officers of the army raped group of girls.

Getting the interview from the soldiers was not easy as the officials in the city were reluctant in allowing press men interview the soldiers over the rape issue but they later agreed after they reached agreement that the identity of the soldiers would not be revealed.

It appears that the reported rape that was carried out by pro Gadhafi forces was systematic attempt by the soldiers to humiliate the people of Misrata. However it could not be confirmed whether the soldiers were coerced into saying what they said. It is possible that they may not be saying the truth. There was widespread allegation that soldier’s royal to Col Moamar Gadhafi committed heinous crimes against the people of Misrata and worst among the crimes that were committed include rapping of girls.

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Devastating tornado causes havoc in Missouri

The authorities in the American state of Missouri said that the last tornado witnessed in the state has taken more than 89 lives and many others injured. It is likely that the death toll may be more than the announced figures as search for more casualties are continuing.

The search which is coordinated by the search and rescue mission is hampered by the damaged power system as well as the transportation problem which was severely affected by the storm. The worst is still to come as the residents were being prepared for more storms which are likely to hit Joplin. The search and rescue team had very difficult task going through the wreckages that were caused by the storm.

Apart from the 89 lives which were lost to the tornado, it was estimated that more than 2000 buildings were destroyed by the storm. The neighborhood was a ghost of its former self as the tornado ripped different structures in the area.

It is believed that lot of people may still be trapped at the debris that followed the tornado. The search and rescue team has the most difficult times of going through this debris in search of more survivors. Their efforts were hampered by the downed power line which has caused fire outbreaks. Both President Obama and the Missouri governor have expressed concern over the incident.

Devastating Tornado Cause Havoc Missouri State, Rescue Search Continues as More Storm is Likely

The authorities in the American state of Missouri said that the last tornado witnessed in the state has taken more than 89 lives and many others injured. It is likely that the death toll may be more than the announced figures as search for more casualties are continuing. The search which is coordinated by the search and rescue mission is hampered by the damaged power system as well as the transportation problem which was severely affected by the storm. The worst is still to come as the residents were being prepared for more storms which are likely to hit Joplin. The search and rescue team had very difficult task going through the wreckages that were caused by the storm.

Apart from the 89 lives which were lost to the tornado, it was estimated that more than 2000 buildings were destroyed by the storm. The neighborhood was a ghost of its former self as the tornado ripped different structures in the area.

It is believed that lot of people may still be trapped at the debris that followed the tornado. The search and rescue team has the most difficult times of going through this debris in search of more survivors. Their efforts were hampered by the downed power line which has caused fire outbreaks. Both President Obama and the Missouri governor have expressed concern over the incident.

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North, South Sudan pose to fight over Abyei

The two Sudanese countries are preparing for war over the control of the border town of Abyei. The town which is very rich in oil is contested between the two countries. The last report had it that the Northern Sudanese army has taken control of the town.

This was confirmed by the Khartoum television, a television owned by the North Sudan government. The report said that the army took the town after repelling what it called enemy forces. The development was also confirmed by the UN officials who have been monitoring development in the town before the formal declaration of independent by South Sudan in July.

The taking over of the town by the North occurred after about three days of crash between the North and South Sudan forces. The recent development is worrying the international community as it could trigger off a civil war between the two Sudanese countries.

South Sudan is set to become independent from the North in July and the border town of Abeyi is hotly contested by both sides. The international community is now worried whether the conflict is over or whether a new civil war is set to erupt between the two sides. The international community is waiting to see how the conflict would be resolved for the interests of both sides.

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Gimsvotn Volcano set to erupt Iceland

The worst and the most active volcano ever to hit the country of Iceland have started last Saturday according to report. Volcano Gimsvotn started erupting on Saturday.

The evidence of the eruptions could be seen from the southern parts of Iceland where the residents of the south could see the smokes that were coming out from many places in the country. This was confirmed by the Iceland television channel RUV. The threat of the volcanic eruption was also confirmed by the meteorological office of Iceland.

It confirmed that the eruption has started from Gimsvotn. It said that it was expected that the eruption would start from that area an indication that the authorities are aware that the volcano will erupt from that site.

However the earlier estimation from the scientist in that country is that the eruption is going to be small and that the eruption would not stimulate eruptions in other parts of Europe. However it appears that the intensity of the volcano will beat the imagination of the scientists as it may turn out not to be small after all.

Gimsvotn is the most active volcano in the Iceland. It has erupted several times in the past but the major eruptions were recorded in the year 1922, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1945, 1983, 1998, and the 2004 eruptions.