BBC 2009-05-01
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BBC News with Nick Kelly.
The World Health Organization says the outbreak of swine flu is stable less than a week after the first death was confirmed in Mexico. The agency says there is no reason to raise the alerts to the highest level. On Wednesday, the WHO urged governments to prepare for an imminent pandemic. The European Union health commissioner says that although a pandemic is likely, it may not cause widespread deaths. From Geneva, Imogen Foulkes reports.
A jump in swine flu cases from 148 yesterday to 236 today appears alarming. "In fact", says the World Health Organization, "the new cases are mainly from Mexico where there has been a backlog of suspected cases waiting for analysis." In the United States, the situation is fairly stable. "So no reason to raise the pandemic alert level yet again", says the WHO. Phase 6 would mean a pandemic is actually underway, the organization doesn't think that's the case.
The WHO says it will now refer to the virus as influenza instead of swine flu because there is no evidence that it can be contracted from pigs or pork.
President Obama has announced that the carmaker Chrysler is applying for bankruptcy so it will be protected from creditors while it restructures. Mr. Obama said it would form a partnership with the Italian manufacturer Fiat in an effort to save it from collapse. He said the process would be quick and efficient and was intended to put one of America's top three car companies back on the path to success.
It’s a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive but to thrive in a global auto industry. Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry; and as part of this agreement, Fiat has already agreed to transfer billions of dollars and cutting-edge technology to Chrysler to help them do the same. Fiat's also committed to working with Chrysler to build new fuel-efficient cars and engines right here in America.
The United States has described Iran as the most active and most significant State Sponsor of Terrorism. In its annual report on global terrorism, the State Department accused Iran of planning and financing attacks throughout the Middle-East, Europe as well as central Asia. From Washington, here is Kim Ghattas.
The new US administration may be trying to engage Tehran. But just like last year, Iran is still described as the most active State Sponsor of Terrorism.. Al-Qaeda, however, remains the biggest danger to the US and the West according to the State Department. Its yearly report charges that Iran's involvement in the planning and financing of terrorist-related activities in countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the Palestinian territories threatens efforts to promote peace, economic stability in the Gulf and democracy. Of equal concern is the advance of Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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The authorities in Tanzania are investigating the cause of a series of explosions in an army ammunition depot on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. At least 11 people were killed and more than 1000 injured by the blasts which took place close to a number of schools. Pupils fled the area, leaving parents searching for their children, many of whom have not been accounted for.
A report's been submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on UN facilities that were destroyed during the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip earlier this year. Laura Trevelyan reports from New York.
During the 22 days Israeli offensive in Gaza, at least 40 people were killed when Israeli shells landed outside the UN school; and the UN's food warehouse was destroyed by Israeli fire. Now the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has the findings of report into the attacks on UN premises and he is deciding how much of it can be made public. UN officials say one issue is that some of Israel's evidence to the enquiry was confidential. So there are questions about how much of the report's findings can be published without revealing what Israel said.
Officials in the Netherlands say a fifth person has died after a car apparently ploughed deliberately into crowds of people at a Royal Parade. About a dozen others were injured, some of them seriously. Police say the driver who's also critically injured told them he'd been targeting the royal family. Queen Beatrix and her family were traveling in an open bus through the town of Apeldoorn to celebrate a national holiday. They weren't hurt.(www.hXen.com)
And a study of 4 million African gene samples has indicated that the first members of our modern human species evolved in Southern Africa, probably near what's now South Africa's border with Namibia. Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say modern humans then migrated northwards to the Red Sea region. The study confirmed that Africa has more genetic variation than any other continent.
That's the latest BBC News.
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