around_the_world_today_May_08

AROUND THE WORLD: MAY 1st - 20th, 2008

AROUND THE WORLD - MARCH 2008

AROUND THE WORLD - APRIL 2008

AROUND THE WORLD - MAY 21st - 28th, 2008

Subject: Around the World Today - Tuesday 20th May

CHINA: Warning panics China quake zone
People in Sichuan are jittery after dozens of aftershocks. Tens of thousands of people in China's quake-hit Sichuan province have rushed from their homes after a government warning of a possible major aftershock. People slept on the streets or drove to open ground after the warning was broadcast on television.

China Earthquake pictures and video at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7397838.stm

INDONESIA: Strong quake shakes Indonesia's Sumatra
A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake has shaken the western coast of Indonesia's North Sumatra province, the meteorology office said.
The quake struck at 21.26 (2326 AEST) at a depth of 10km in a mountainous area 35km north-east of Padang Sidempuan, meteorologists said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. A resident of Padang Sidempuan, Pardomuan Bangun, said the quake was strongly felt in town, causing people to rush out of buildings in panic, some shouting. "But so far I have not seen or heard of any serious damage or victims," Bangun said. The US Geological Survey clocked the quake at 5.9 magnitude. Indonesia was the nation worst hit by the quake-triggered Asian tsunami in December 2004, which killed 168,000 people in the country's Aceh province alone. The Indonesian archipelago sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

MYANMAR: The official death toll nearly doubled to 78,000 from Myanmar's killer cyclone as heavy rains on Friday lashed much of the area stricken two weeks ago, further hampering relief efforts. The Red Cross warned that a lack of clean water may swell the ranks of the dead. It was reported that the official death count from the May 3 cyclone was 77,738, with 55,917 others missing.

SPAIN: Two days of rain in northern Spain have brought brief relief from the crippling drought that has stricken the region, the respite will be short-lived.

ITALY: Naples nears emergency state over rubbish crisis
Could the Italian city of Naples be nearing a state of emergency due to a rubbish collection crisis that shows no signs of being resolved? That is the question many are asking after a weekend in which scores of overflowing bins have been set alight, while locals pelted firefighters with stones as they try to extinguish the blazes. With some 40,000 tonnes of uncollected garbage creating a health hazard, one man warned public patience was running out and the people were angry. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he will hold a cabinet meeting in Naples on Wednesday - his pledge to end the crisis helped return him to power in elections last month. The stench in the streets is now so bad locals say they are staying indoors. As for tourists, they are simply staying away and even the US Navy, which has a base in Naples, is reviewing matters. The problem follows years of bad management and organised crime influence.

MEXICO: At least 21 people were killed and many others injured Monday as a bus plunged off a mountain highway in San Agustin Metzquititlan municipality in the state of Hidalgo, police said. The Public Security Ministry said that the accident took place at 13:30 local time (1830 GMT). The bus from Estrella Blanca Company was heading for the Mexico City, as it tumbled off the road and plunged 150 meters into the ravine. About 50 rescue members, members of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP), firemen and a helicopter went to help the victims. The abrupt road made the rescue work difficult and it is feared that the number of deaths could rise. The police said the cause of the accident is under investigation.

Subject: Around the World Today - Monday 19th May

CHINA: Silence fell across China today as the nation marked with a 3 minute silence a week passing since the devasting earthquake hit. Olympic Torch relay suspended for 3 days.

CHINA: At least three people were killed today in a strong early-morning aftershock in quake-hit southwestern China, a local official said. More than 50 people were also injured in the 6.0-magnitude aftershock in the township of Jiangyou in Sichuan province, said the local official, Liao Boxun. "They went back to their damaged homes to pick up their things when the aftershock hit unexpectedly,'' he said. It was the first report of deaths from Sunday's aftershock, one of the strongest to rattle the region since last Monday's tremor that killed an estimated 50,000 people.

INDIA: A wall collapsed at a building site in the suburbs of New Delhi, killing at least 12 Indian construction workers and leaving more than 20 others injured, a report said today. The accident took place late yesterday in the booming suburb of Gurgaon, south of the Indian capital, which has become a hub for new condos and office buildings. Gurgaon city official Rakesh Gupta warned the toll could rise. The wall that collapsed was about 6m high, Mr Gupta told PTI, blaming shoddy construction materials for the incident.

MYANMAR: he death toll from Cyclone Nargis has risen sharply to 77,738 in Myanmar, the state television reported. A total of 55,917 people remained missing which sets the total casualty figure to 133,655, said the report. The number of reported injured people stood at 19,359.

USA: FEMA awards $5 million to Wisconsin for emergency management
A federal agency has awarded Wisconsin almost $5.4 million to strengthen the state's emergency capabilities in the event of a major catastrophe. The money comes from FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That's the Department of Homeland Security agency that oversees the emergency response for major storms and other natural disasters. FEMA says the money is part of a nationwide investment to make sure emergency personnel at the local, state and federal levels have an organized plan for prompt action.

PHILLIPINES: Storm kills 12 in Philippine north, heads for Japan
A tropical storm swirled out to sea off the northern Philippines on Monday after killing 12 people, destroying homes and flooding rice paddies, weather and disaster officials said. Halong, a tropical storm with winds of 95 km per hour at its centre, lost strength as it made landfall on Luzon's northwestern region on Sunday, and was headed to southern Japan by early Tuesday. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported 12 people had died, about half of them pinned down by fallen trees or hit by flying debris in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales. About 35,000 people were affected by the storm, most of them marooned by floods and landslides. Wide areas remained without electricity as strong winds toppled electric posts and tripped power lines

USA: Almost 33,000 acres of the Everglades National Park were burning Sunday, fire officials said, the latest in a series of wildfires that have scorched parts of Florida in May. The smoke cast a haze over parts of South Florida, including Miami, prompting a dense smoke advisory from the National Weather Service. The fire, which threatened private property as well as an endangered bird, started Friday, the the Southern Area InterAgency Management Blue Team said. By Sunday morning it was 20 percent contained, and fire crews were working to restrict it to the park while protecting the Cape Sable seaside sparrow, a federally protected species whose only habitat is in the Everglades. Windy conditions Sunday morning pushed the fire into the corner of the park closest to Miami, fire officials said. About 200 personnel battled the blaze in southern Florida Saturday night, but more crews were expected to join them Sunday. It is the latest wildfire to scorch Florida. More than 12,000 acres burned in the "Brevard Complex" fire near Palm Bay, on Florida's Atlantic Coast just south of Daytona Beach. That series of fires is about 75 percent contained and is expected to be fully contained on Tuesday, the National Interagency Fire Center said Sunday.

UKRAINE: A total of 92 people, including 87 children, were hospitalized in eastern Ukraine as of early Sunday after measles vaccination, Ukraine's emergencies ministry said. On May 13, a 17-year-old boy died after measles inoculation in the Donetsk Region. Two days later, over 60 people in eastern Ukraine were hospitalized after vaccination. A total of over 20,000 people in the region received the same vaccine. Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko said he was concerned over the teenager's death and demanded from the Ukrainian health ministry to take all measures to prevent such instances in the future. By now, measles immunization has been halted in Ukraine.

BANGLADESH: Millions of rats have infested Southern Bangladesh. Locals have been forced to eat roots from the forest since the rats have taken over their crops. Whatever is planted or grown is consumed almost instantly. On Sunday, the World Aid Food Program started its distribution of emergency food. Over 120,000 people have received food, whereas 150,000 people are expected to be affected, according to Aid workers. The Bangladesh government is also giving out aid to the local population. Every 50 to 60 years, another rat plague occurs. It coincides with the flowering of the bamboo forests, where the rats feed on the bamboo blossoms. Locals expect the plague to last three years as it was with the last infestation that occurred in 1958.

Subject: Around the World Today - Sunday 18th May

CHINA: A powerful aftershock rattled China's southwest early Sunday, hampering frantic efforts to find earthquake survivors and help nearly five million people facing the risk of disease and flood. The 6.0-magnitude tremor shook some of the worst-affected parts in Sichuan province six days after China's worst natural disaster in a generation left an estimated 50,000 people dead.

PHILIPPINES: At least one person was killed when tropical storm "Halong", locally called "Cosme", downed power and communication lines in several areas in northern Philippines Saturday night. The roofs of least 100 houses were blown off by the storm, while several electric and phone posts fell down due to strong winds in Pagansinan province in northern Luzon, said the report. The Philippine Red Cross has been organizing evacuations of hundreds of people from their homes due to flooding in northern Luzon, said the report. The National Disaster Coordinating Council said the heavy rains which accompanied "Halong" brought flooding and landslides to Western Visayas, central Philippines, affecting more than 1,000 families or at least 5,000 people. In Southern Luzon, authorities suspended trips by small sea vessels and allowed only big vessels that sought advice from the Philippine Coast Guard to sail, said the report.

USA: About 3,500 people were evacuated in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday after a derailed freight train began leaking acid, police said. Six cars of the freight train derailed early Saturday and one of them began leaking hydrochloric acid, which was believed to cause respiratory problems and skin and eye irritation. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of the acid has been spilled, and homes, business and two nursing homes in a 1.6-km radius of the accident spot with an estimated population of 3,500 people were evacuated, according to the police. The acid sent a toxic cloud over the area, and at least five people were taken to a hospital for treatment, said Craig Stansbury, an official of the Lafayette Parish sheriff's office. "We're advising them to take enough supplies for approximately 48 hours," he said. The U.S. railway administration will investigate the accident.

CANADA: Two homes were destroyed and several others damaged Friday when a wildfire broke out in western Canada's Alberta province, authorities said Saturday. All of the 150 residents were evacuated from Newbrook, an agricultural community north of provincial capital Edmonton. A state of emergency has been declared for the area. Bulldozers have been used to build fireguards around the community and four air tankers are being used to attack the fire from the skies. The wildfire is getting under control Saturday, freighters said. Newbrook is located about 110 kilometers north of Edmonton. There are several other wildfires burning in Alberta, reports say.

USA: A partial collapse of the bleachers at a baseball and softball complex in the Racine County town of Yorkville injured seven people.Assistant Fire Chief Tim Allen of the Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department says five of the injured were taken to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. Two others declined treatment at the scene.The problem was reported just after 7 p.m. Friday at Stix Sports and Recreation during a tournament for 11- and 12-year-olds for Metro Milwaukee Sports youth baseball. The top row of the five-row bleachers had a back rail that was affected.Twelve-year-old Eric Wade, who plays second base for the Boys of Summer Select from Mequon, says he heard a bang and the back of the bench and the people on it fell backwards.

BULGARIA: 25 people living in the village of Leskovets /Western Bulgaria/ were evacuated from their homes on the night of Thursday to Friday due to flood risk in the small dam, located in the village. Mayor of the town of Pernik Rositsa Yanakieva announced the news for FOCUS News Agency. Yanakieva informed that the dam wall is not stable and thus the water of the dam is now being gradually drained. Fast drainage of the water in the local dam is not preferable, as it would increase the risk of flood, mayor of Pernik commented.The controlled gradual drainage of the Leskovets dam lake is still underway. Up to present, the water level is at 1/3 of its capacity, Civil Protection Service Directorate to the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced the news for FOCUS News Agency. People living in the area near the dam lake spent the night at the local school.

CHINA: At least 14 people were killed in an explosion after a bus and a tractor collided in east China's Zhejiang Province Saturday afternoon, local police said.The collision happened at about 1:54 p.m. in Yongzhong town, Longwan District of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang. The bus blew up and 13people died at the scene, and another in hospital, said local police.Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

INDIA: At least four people were killed in a thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon in Orissa Balasore district. Three people were killed at Rasulpur village when a tree fell on them, While another person at Remuna when a wall collapsed on him. The squall was accompanied by rain and lightning and started around 2.30 pm, lasted for nearly an hour. However the extent of damages has not yet been ascertained.

Subject: Around the World Today - Saturday 17th May

BREAKING NEWS - CHINA: All aid efforts in the quake-hit city of Beichuan halt as a river bursts its banks, sparking panic among rescuers and victims.

GHANA: At least seven people were killed on Thursday when two tra ins travelling in opposite directions crashed head-on at Huni Valley in the Western Region. According to the police the death toll was set to rise as rescue work continues with a number of passengers still trapped in the wreckage of the carriages. They said 25 people are injured, several of them seriously, and have been sent t o hospital. The accident occurred when a train carrying bauxite crashed into a passenger tra in. Rail workers blame it on poor communication of the railway system. Work is continuing to save victims and clear the rail track in the west of Ghana that is used largely to cart bauxite and manganese.

INDIA: Two persons were killed and 12 injured, one of them critically, as a 60 MW generator at an hydro electric project of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) near here exploded on Friday evening.The generator at the Sabarigri Hydro Electric Project at Moozhiyar caught fire as it exploded, police said.The condition of some of those injured, including one with 95 per cent burns, admitted to the district hospital here, was stated to be serious.

MYNAMAR: Myanmar's government almost doubled the official death toll on Friday to 78,000, two weeks after a huge cyclone ravaged much of the Irrawaddy Delta and the main city, Yangon. It also nearly doubled the number of missing to 55,917, and raised the number of injured steeply to 19,359, up from 1,403. The revised toll began to approach an estimate by the United Nations of more than 100,000 dead. On Wednesday the Red Cross said the death toll could be as high as 128,000. The United Nations estimates that 1.6 million to 2.5 million survivors are in urgent need of food, water, shelter and medicine.

EU: The Community Civil Protection Mechanism will be sending a team of experts to China on 17 May to help coordinate expert and material assistance from Member States. The Chinese authorities made an official request for assistance following the massive earthquake that struck south-western China on 12 May, and help is being offered by Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Malta.
Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner responsible for Environment and Civil Protection, said: "In the immediate aftermath of this devastating earthquake in China, the Community Civil Protection Mechanism was ready to act. No country should have to face such suffering on its own, and we are doing all that we can to help people deal with the consequences of the emergency."

MEXICO: More than 200 firefighters took 29 hours to control the second major fire to rage in the Primavera Forest in less than three weeks. Civil Protection officials said the fire affected 725 hectares of the forest, located on the southwest perimeter of Guadalajara. The fire provoked a “Phase One�? smog alert in the metropolitan area for three hours. Prevailing winds allowed smoke to drift across the city, forcing local authorities to take all municipal vehicles off the streets, among other minor actions. The blaze started when a controlled fire to burn crop residue in the Ejido San Agustin got out of control.

CHINA: A forest fire broke out Thursday in the north Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, the local forestry authority has confirmed. The fire was spotted at about 2:30 p.m. in the Hudiqi, Chaoyang and Naimuhe forestry farms which are under the management of the Dayangshu Forestry Bureau in the Greater Higgnan Mountains, said a spokesman with the regional forest fire command center. The fire quickly spread to a large area. It took more than 1,400 fire fighters and police officers 20 hours to get the fire under control, the spokesman said.

INDIA: The report of Bhopal based Animal Disease Laboratory has confirmed the outbreak of bird flu at Pool Bazar Bijanbari block in Darjeeling sub division of the District. Darjeeling Magistrate Rajesh Pandey recalled various types of birds, including chicken suddenly died in the area since May 9 and said culling operation may start from tomorrow.

Subject: Around the World Today - Friday 16th May

CHINA: 5.6 Earthquake hits same region of as Mondays devastating quake (45 minutes ago).

CHINA: Survivors still being found amongst collapsed buildings, disease now a concern.China said Thursday that no major disease outbreaks had been reported in the earthquake zone but warned that a battle against epidemics was only just beginning as relief workers recovered bodies. Some 10,000 trained medical personnel were working in areas worst-hit. Chinese teams exploded the last rocks on a road into the epicentre of Monday's massive earthquake, state media said Thursday, finally allowing rescuers to bring help to survivors by land. Dams are now reported safe.

CHINA: Macao - A total of 178 enterovirus cases, including 17 EV 71 infections, were confirmed in Macao to date, the Department of Heath (SSM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) announced on Thursday. The SSM said in a press statement that 12 new enterovirus cases, comprising hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina (mouth blisters), were reported on Thursday.

USA: Two wild fires hit Sonoma County California.
10 engines, six hand crews, four bulldozers, two air tankers and a helicopter deployed to fighting the blaze. Winds of 20-25 mph are gusting to 40 mph.

NIGERIA: Red Cross officials say about 100 people died when a ruptured pipeline caught fire in Nigeria. Disaster coordinator Suleman Maikubi says road construction machinery on Thursday pierced a pipe carrying refined fuel through a village on the outskirts of Lagos. He says flames from the blaze spread through nearby homes and a school. Maikubi says about 100 people were killed and around 20 were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.

MONGOLIA: A total of 583 suspected hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases have been recorded in Mongolia, the country's General Authority for Emergency Management(GAEM) said Thursday. The cases were reported in the Mongolian capital and 10 provinces, the GAEM said, adding that there have been no deaths yet. Mongolia has set up an emergency committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn Enkhbold to take measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The first suspected HFMD case in Mongolia was reported on May 8 in the Mongolian capital. HFMD is a common illness among infants and children and characterized by fever, sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters but has been proving fatal in the recent outbreak in China.

RUSSIA: On Tuesday an oil spill was caused by a rupture of the Mayak-Osa pipeline, located in the region's Osinsky district. A Lukoil spokesperson told ITAR-TASS that 0.8 cubic meters of oil and oil products had leaked into the Tulva River and into the ground. Other sources estimate that up to 10 tonnes of oil products could have leaked into the river.

EUROPE: Cross-border flood simulation exercise "EU-ALBIS 2008" starts today
The European Commission is co-financing a simulation exercise organised by Germany and the Czech Republic that simulates the cross-border floods that occurred along the river Elbe in the 2002 and 2006. MORE AT: http://www.albis2008.eu/index_en.html

Subject: Around the World Today - Thursday 15th May

CHINA: Aftershocks still rubble on
Access to victims is proving the major challenge to responders. There are enough people and resources but they just can't get there. The threat of a dam breech has initiated an emergency repair effort by Chinese military resources. Despite whole towns being flattened in Sichuan province, burying thousands, Australian expertise was Wednesday politely declined and frustrated self activating Japanese teams were forced to turn around at the airport. The People's Liberation Army dropped food and paratroopers into quake-shattered areas of China on Wednesday, the latest in a long history of disaster-relief missions by the world's largest armed force.

CHINA: At least 37 people have died due to a landslide engulfing a tourist bus yesterday in the Chinese county of Maoxian, in the prefecture of Aba. It is not clear yet how many are local people and how many are foreigners among the victims.

MYNAMAR: UN puts affected population at 2.5 Million and state radio says death toll 34,000
The foriegn aid into Mynamar is still being restricted by the junta government, but some is getting in. Major concern is now a second disaster due to health risks. Heavy rains forecast to hit Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta over the coming days represent a nightmare scenario for the cyclone-stricken country. If it couldn't get any worse another Cyclone begins to from in the region.

CHINA: China on Wednesday confirmed the first two deaths in Beijing from hand, foot and mouth disease, bringing the national death toll to 42 children, state media reported, citing health officials.

IRAN: Iran has earmarked over $163 million for implementation of emergency plans to counter drought that is expected to impact the country this year.

RUSSIA - SAKHA REPUBLIC: Over 15 settlements of Yakutia have been totally blocked as spring waters washed out roads, damaged bridges and the evacuation of the population from the inundation zone is difficult. The situation is complicated in the area of the Amga River where the water level 75-80 centimetres exceeds the critical marks and continues to rise. A total of 21 houses with 48 dwellers have been flooded in the Amga settlement. As many as 78 people have been evacuated from the Berdigestyakh, Asyma and Yert settlements of the Gorny district where a state of emergency has been introduced. Roads have been washed out in the Khocho, Byuteidyakh, Yelechei, Sola, Teligi, Darkyulakh settlements in the Megino-Kamgalassky area. Evacuation of over 50 residents of the Myndagai settlement of the Churapchinsky district is planned for Wednesday.

PHILIPPINES: The freak storm that uprooted giant trees, blew off rooftops, bent metal signboards and left a trail of destruction in its path in northern Sarawak was caused by the "tail" of typhoon Ramasun that raged near the Philippines. The typhoon is expected to linger around in the northern Borneo region, especially Miri and Limbang, until Saturday. The typhoon carries very strong winds and creates very high waves.

Subject: Around the World Today - Wednesday 14th May

MYNAMAR: The death toll from Myanmar's devastating Cyclone Nargis has risen to 34,273, with 27,836 people missing, state radio said Tuesday. "According to to the latest information at 6pm today, 34,273 were killed, 1,403 were injured and 27,836 missing," it said in a report.

CHINA:Troops and rescue teams struggled by air, land and water to reach areas of southwestern China stricken by the huge quake that demolished schools, homes and factories. Monday's 7.8-magnitude quake in Sichuan province has killed nearly 10,000 people, according to official tolls, but the figure is expected to rise dramatically with at least 10,000 people reported buried in Mianzhu city alone. Television pictures showed shattered buildings, roads split in two, rubble littering streets and survivors fighting to free themselves from the debris, even as aftershocks continued to pummel the region. China mobilised its 2.3 million-strong armed forces to lead the search and rescue effort, but attempts to reach the worst-hit areas were badly disrupted by torrential rain and the sheer scale of the damage. Heavey rain and high winds have hampered the response. China has welcomed all offers of foriegn aid.

SPAIN: Drought hits hard
Barcelona gets emergency water supplies by boat. The "Sichem Defender" arrives at Barcelona harbour with a cargo of drinking water on May 13, 2008. Spain's regional government of Catalonia began the transfer of potable water from nearby Ebro river and water tanks in Tarragona to fight the severe drought hitting the region. A water tanker arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday as the capital of Spain's drought-stricken region of Catalonia began importing drinkable water by boat, regional authorities said.
The orange and white Sichem Defender came from the city of Tarragona in Spain's northeast with 19,000 cubic metres (just under five million gallons) of water, enough to meet the daily consumption needs of 170,000 people. In total six ships, including four water tankers which are due to arrive from the south of France, will make 63 monthly deliveries of water to Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city and a top European tourist destination.

USA: Florida wildfires ravage dozens of homes
Firefighters in Florida are battling wildfires Tuesday that have engulfed thousands of acres (hectares) along the southern state's central Atlantic coast, ravaging dozens of homes and shutting down major thoroughfares. US media reported that at least 18 separate wildfires are raging across the state, destroying more than 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares).

ITALY: Etna volcano rumbles back to life in Sicily
Sicily's volcano Mountain Etna volcano rumbled back to life on Tuesday with "seismic events" measuring up to 3.9 on the Richter scale, a vulcanologist said three days after minor eruptions shook the cone.

Subject: Around the World Today - Tuesday 13th May

CHINA: Transport, communications in chaos after China quake
Transport and communication networks around China were thrown into chaos Monday after a powerful earthquake struck the country's southwest, killing more than 8,700 people, witnesses and media said. The 7.8-magnitude quake jolted Wenchuan, a mountainous region in Sichuan province, just before 2.30pm (0630 GMT) on Monday. The death toll in Sichuan alone came to 8,533 people, according to state-run Xinhua news agency, citing the national disaster relief headquarters. First state organised aid is beginning to arive at the epicentre.

BANGLADESH: Ferry capsize kills 32
At least 32 people are feared killed after a ferry capsized during a storm in northern Bangladesh, officials say. The ferry, carrying nearly 150 passengers, sank in the Ghorautura river, nearly 180km (115 miles) from the capital, Dhaka. Reports said about 25 passengers swam ashore but others were feared trapped in the stricken boat.

USA: Wildfire sapped a Florida town's resources Monday as it damaged or destroyed at least 50 homes, according to city officials who are investigating the blaze as a possible arson. Firefighters worked to put out flames in Malabar, Florida, all day Monday. Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti said the fire was burning about three blocks from his home and he had moved his family to a safer area. There were reports that a Fire House was burned down.

CANADA: Scouts learn to "Be Prepared" with new Emergency Preparedness Badge
Scouts Canada has partnered with Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) to deliver a new Emergency Preparedness Badge Program, providing boys, girls and Scout leaders across the country with information and activities to raise their awareness of emergency preparedness. As part of Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week: May 4-10), over 600 Beavers (ages 5-7), Cubs (ages 8-10), Scouts (ages 11-14), and leaders from the Greater Toronto Area were treated to a sneak preview of the new Emergency Preparedness Badge Program. These youths have been invited to participate in an Emergency Preparedness Adventure on May 10th at Centennial Park in Toronto. Scouts Canada's new national Emergency Preparedness Program will be available to Scouting groups across the country starting in the fall 2008.

Subject: Around the World Today - Monday 12th May

CHINA: On 12/5/2008 6:28:04 AM UTC (about 13:21h local time) an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred in the very highly populated region of Sichuan in China. The earthquake happened 86km from Chengdu. The nearest populated places are: Sanjiangkou (20km), Ying-hsiu-wan (15km), Shapingguan (17km). The closest civilian airport is Chengdushuang Liu (83km)

USA: Aid rushed in after tornadoes kill 23 across US
US authorities rushed aid to disaster areas Monday after a series of tornadoes tore across the United States, killing at least 23 people and shattering homes and businesses. US President George W. Bush called it a "sad day" for devastated communities in the states of Missouri, Oklahoma and Georgia and promised emergency federal aid. A total of 14 people were reported dead in Missouri, seven in Oklahoma, and two in the southeastern state of Georgia. There were also scores of injured.

NORTH AMERICA: New Disaster Preparedness Strategy Announced
In an unprecedented initiative, US and Canadian experts have developed a comprehensive framework to optimize and manage critical care resources during times of pandemic outbreaks or other mass critical care disasters. The new proposal suggests legally protecting clinicians who follow accepted protocols for the allocation of scarce resources when providing care during mass critical care events. MORE AT: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_Disaster_Preparedness_Strategy_Announced_999.html

SPAIN: Bacteria epidemic at Madrid hospital claimed 18 lives
At least 18 people died in a bacteria epidemic that infected more than 250 patients over a period of 20 months at one of Madrid's main hospitals, a report said Sunday. The deaths at the 12th October University Hospital were caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, a highly virulent hospital-acquired infection that has strains that are resistant to most drugs, El Pais daily reported.
The situation was so bad at the hospital that the intensive care unit had to be destroyed so that a new, non-contaminated structure could be built, the report said

ITALY: Lava spews from Sicily's Mount Etna
Lava spewed Saturday from the southeastern crater of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, into an uninhabited area, the Palermo Geophysics and Vulcanology Institute said.

Subject: Around the World Today - Sunday 11th May

USA: Tornados strick Oaklahoma, Arizona and Missouri, Tornado flattens Oklahoma town
The mining town of Picher bore the brunt of the tornado. Tornadoes and severe storms have swept across the central part of the United States, causing destruction and killing at least 16 people. A tornado flattened the north-eastern Oklahoma town of Picher before hitting the Missouri town of Seneca 15 miles (24km). At least six people died in Picher and a total of 10 in Missouri. An emergencies official in Picher said a 24-street area of the town had been "virtually destroyed

GREECE: EARTHQUAKE on 10/05/2008 at 20:53 (UTC)SOUTHERN GREECE 29 km W Kainouryia khor MAGNITUDE: mb 5.0

GLOBAL: ISO publishes International Workshop Agreement on water security
With the security of drinking water a major concern worldwide, new guidelines from ISO on managing drinking water supplies during crises are particularly opportune. The ISO International Workshop Agreement* IWA 6, Guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities under crisis conditions, is the first document of its type backed by international consensus. Disruption of drinking water supplies can have grave consequences and result from both man-made and natural causes, ranging from terrorist attack to industrial pollution of rivers to hurricanes. IWA 6 provides a framework for the management of water crises and proposes tools and means for ensuring drinking water security, and models for water distribution systems security.

SCOTLAND: Fire hits Grangemouth oil plant
The Grangemouth refinery is Scotland's main fuel supplier. About 40 firefighters have attended a blaze at the giant Grangemouth oil refinery. The small fire started just after 0200 BST on Saturday when oil spilled onto piping at the plant in Stirlingshire. Firefighters with six engines and a command unit attended the blaze, which was in a part of the site called the HydroCracker Unit.

WALES: Boy sleeps on as lightning hits
Thunderstorms bring flash floods to parts of Wales and in their midst a lucky escape. A three-year-old boy has slept through a lightning strike which blew a hole in his bedroom wall. Elis Roberts's parents found him fast asleep in his room, which was covered in masonry, plaster and dust. The lightning hit Edwin Drive at about 0045 BST as many parts of Wales experienced thunder and lightning and some had flash flooding. The blast, heard throughout the neighbourhood, sent debris all over the bedroom, covered in Liverpool Football Club posters and other memorabilia. The strike at the dormer bungalow home knocked out the television, video and Sky box, and those in other homes in the street.

Subject: Around the World Today - Friday 9th May

SOUTH AMERICA: Latin Americans issue regional food emergency
Seventeen Latin American governments issued a regional food "emergency" Wednesday at the close of a one-day summit on the food crisis that underscored an ideological split among its participants. The final statement included a 100-million-dollar Venezuelan initiative to boost cereal production that Mexico said should have been omitted because it was merely a proposal. The document was signed by all but El Salvador and Costa Rica, who complained that Venezuela and its leftist allies were against free trade. The summit, convened by the Alba trade group -- Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Cuba; all leftist regimes -- called for speeding up food production in Latin America and urged the 63rd UN General Assembly to take up the world food crisis when it meets in September.

CHINA: China virus death toll hits 30 as number of infections soars
The number of children confirmed to have died as a result of a highly contagious virus in China rose to 30 on Thursday as the number of infections soared by the thousands, state media said.
Two children in the southern island province of Hainan died of hand, foot and mouth disease, boosting the grim total, Xinhua news agency reported.

PHILIPINES: Tropical storm "Rammasun" gains strength
Tropical storm "Rammasun", locally called "Butchoy", continued to gain strength Friday as it was moving northward in the high seas east to the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. As of 2:00 a.m. local time (1800 GMT), PAGASA tracked the storm east of Samar island in central Philippines and was moving north to Luzon at 11 kilometers per hour (kph).

NORTHERN IRELAND: Fire crews tackle mountain blaze
Fire crews have been dealing with an overnight fire on Northern Ireland's highest mountain. An Irish Coast Guard helicopter and an RAF helicopter helped firefighters to monitor the fire on Slieve Donard, County Down. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Commander Area Commander Jim McCallum said that they believed the gorse fire had been started deliberately.

INDIA: Many killed in Kashmir bus crash
A bus has veered off a mountain road in Indian-administered Kashmir killing at least 28 people, police say. The 50-seater bus was travelling from the state's winter capital, Jammu, to the town of Kishtwar when it skidded off the road into the Chenab river.

Subject: Around the World Today - Thursday 8th May

ARGENTINA: Ash and Fire
Argentina is feeling the fall out of the Chiliean volcano eruption as ash falls in the regions neighbouring Chile. Adding to the problem wildfires in another part of the country have destroyed up to 60,000 hectares with the smoke affecting up to 10 million people.

MYANMAR: NASA Nasa Satellite Captures Image Of Cyclone Nargis Flooding In Myanmar
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Burma coast on April 15 and May 8, 2008, showing before and after Tropical Cyclone Nargis flooded the region. Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team. The first cyclone of the 2008 season in the northern Indian Ocean was a devastating one for Myanmar (Burma). According to reports, Cyclone Nargis made landfall with sustained winds of 130 mph and gusts of 150-160 mph, which is the equivalent of a strong Category 3 or minimal Category 4 hurricane. News reports stated that over 100,000 people may have been killed, with tens of thousands more missing as of May 7. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET IT CAN BE FOUND AT: http://www.spacemart.com/reports/NASA_Nasa_Satellite_Captures_Image_Of_Cyclone_Nargis_Flooding_In_Myanmar_999.html

JAPAN: Strong earthquake rocks Tokyo region
A series of strong earthquakes including one with a magnitude of 6.7 hit the Tokyo area early Thursday, cutting off power to more than 2,000 homes and causing light injuries, officials and reports said. Japan's meteorological agency warned that more moderate aftershocks could strike, although there were no fears of a tsunami. The strongest earthquake hit at 1:45 am (1645 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean off Ibaraki prefecture, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

SOUTHERN BRAZIL (07 May 2008) An extra-tropical cyclone striking the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina has left more than 1,600 people homeless. At least eight municipalities, among 33 affected by the cyclone, have declared a state of emergency. Major roads in the state have been blocked as a result of storm damage, preventing federal and state governments from delivering aid to victims. Three people were reported to have been killed by the cyclone and some 25,000 have been forced to temporarily leave their homes. Source: Peopledaily

CHILE: Lava started to spew from the Chaitén volcano in southern Chile yesterday prompting authorities to order an immediate evacuation of all remaining residents in a nearby town. The volcano began erupting on Friday, sending a huge plume of ash into the sky that later coated the surrounding area and reached as far as Argentina. About 4,200 people had fled already from the town of Chaitén. But the evacuations are complicated by southern Chile's terrain, the land being fragmented by fjords making access difficult.

IRAN: A 5.3 magnitude earthquake damaged old rural buildings in a sparsely populated area in southern Iran. The quake did not cause any casualties when it hit six villages in Zarrin Dasht, some 1,000 km south of Tehran.

ENGLAND: What is being described as ""the worst landslide for 100 years" has happened on Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast. Video at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7388564.stm

Subject: Around the World Today - Wednesday 7th May

MYANMAR: Cyclone death toll now put at 22,000, with 41,000 missing.
We may never know the true number due to the devastation and political restrictions. USA stands ready to send assistance but is shunned by the reclusive military junta.

MYANMAR: The destruction of mangrove forests that served as a buffer from the sea is partly to blame for the massive death toll from a cyclone in Myanmar, the head of the ASEAN regional bloc said Tuesday. More than 15,000 people have died after the cyclone swept through the Irrawaddy river delta over the weekend and pounded Myanmar's main city of Yangon, the country's state media reported.

CHILE: Chile volcano erupts; evacuation ordered
A volcano in southern Chile erupted with renewed vigor Tuesday, raining ash and lava over its surroundings and forcing a total evacuation in a 30-kilometer (19-mile) radius, the National Emergency Office said. Emergency sirens sounded in the coastal region 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) south of Santiago, after the Chaiten volcano blasted out ash and cinders and generated lava and pyroclastic flows, four days after it awoke from a 300-year slumber. Two towns have had to be evacuated.

CHINA: Doctors punished for slow response to HFM outbreak that has killed at least 26 children
Ten doctors and officials in China have been punished for mishandling a virus that has killed 26 children, state media reported as the number of infected youngsters rose to more than 12,000. The punishments have been meted out in the eastern province of Anhui, where most of the deaths have occurred and local officials have been accused of being too slow to report the disease which has now reached Beijing.

AUSTRALIA: Australia 'not ready' for major disaster
Catastrophic disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, dam bursts or cyclones could leave Australia flagging because of a lack of preparedness, a new report says. A wide-ranging review of Australia's resilience to a major natural disaster says such events pose a threat to normal life across significant areas of the country, similar to security challenges. The focus on national security has obscured the potential for much greater deaths and casualties caused by extreme natural disasters and the need for an all-hazards risk approach, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) says. The report - Taking a Punch: Building a More Resilient Australia - says the country has been very lucky not to have faced the "big one".

UNITED STATES: Meteorologists were planning an aerial survey Monday of the destruction caused by at least 10 tornadoes late last week. Friday's tornadoes killed seven people, damaged or destroyed about 400 homes and knocked out electrical and telephone service in nearly 20 counties.

INDONESIA: A landslide buried a mining camp in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province, killing at least six people as 12 others were reportedly missing. The accident occurred at the remote Timika district, in the area around the Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold mine.

Subject: Around the World Today - Tuesday 6th May

MYANMAR: Agencies rush emergency aid to Myanmar cyclone victims
Aid agencies Monday rushed emergency food and water into Myanmar after a cyclone tore into the southwest of the impoverished nation, killing more than 4,000 people (Some figures are as high as 15,000 with 10,000 in 1 city) and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Despite the devastation wreaked by tropical cyclone Nargis, the ruling junta vowed to press ahead with its controversial referendum this weekend on a new constitution, which critics say will entrench military rule. Thousands of buildings were flattened as the cyclone tore power lines to shreds, uprooted trees that blocked key roads and disrupted water supplies in the main city and former capital, Yangon.

CHINA: Beijing latest victim of China virus outbreak: state media
A deadly viral outbreak that preys on children has appeared in Olympic host city Beijing, and the number of infections in China has grown to more than 9,000, state media reported Monday.
The latest reported death occurred in eastern Zhejiang province, where a person died of hand, foot and mouth disease, the state-run Zhejiang Online news site said, without giving further details. The official Xinhua news agency later identified the victim as a 5-year-old boy in Wenzhou city.Enterovirus 71, or EV71, has also been blamed for the deaths of 22 children in neighbouring Anhui province and three children in southern Guangdong province. The outbreak caused the Ministry of Health to declare a national alert over the weekend and establish a task force headed by Health Minister Chen Zhu to liaise with local-level health officials on control efforts. But Xinhua said reported cases of hand, foot and mouth disease continued to mount, hitting 9,251 as of Monday. The eastern province of Anhui has been the worst hit, with the number of children infected there rising to more than 5,151 after the addition of 622 cases on Sunday, state media said.

Subject: Around the World Today - Monday 5th May

MYANMAR: Myanmar's state-run media are reporting that more than 240 people have died from a powerful cyclone that also knocked out electricity to the main city. State-run television says at least 350 people have died from Tropical Cyclone Nargis. The UN says thousands of homes have been destroyed, mostly in the low-lying Irrawaddy delta. The military-run Myaddy television station says five regions of the country have been declared disaster zones.

BRAZIL: Ferry capsizes in Amazon region
At least 15 people have drowned and many are missing after an overcrowded ferry capsized in the Solimoes river in north-west Brazil. Navy diving teams teams searched for the missing at the scene near Manacapuru, 80km (50 miles) from the Amazonas capital Manaus. Most of those on board the boat, which went down in a sudden rainstorm, were young people returning from a party.

AUSTRALIA: Drought forces more than 10,000 Australian farmers off land.
Drought has forced more than 10,000 Australian farming families off the land in recent years, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Friday. The number of farming families dropped by 10 percent between 2001 and 2006, the national broadcaster reported, citing figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The timeframe coincides with a severe drought in Australia, commonly referred to as the "Big Dry", when crops have diminished and farm incomes have fallen to their lowest levels in 30 years. The worst drought in a century has devastated many rural communities, with not only farmers but local businesses and service providers hit hard. Drought cut 10 percent off the value of Australia's agricultural production in 2006-07, according to official figures released earlier this year.

USA: Blast of tornados kills seven in US
At least 19 tornados ripped across four US states Friday leaving seven dead in Arkansas including a teenage girl and flattening homes and businesses, local officials and media said. Van Buren County sheriff Scott Bradley told CNN that three members of the same family were killed in his area. "The house they were in sustained a direct hit, was totally destroyed." Some 28 homes had been completely destroyed and 10 others damaged when the tornados struck around 8:30 am just as people were preparing to leave for work and school in the south-central state, he said.

USA: California may face long-term drought
California officials said the state could be forced to ration water after the driest spring in at least 150 years. Water officials told the San Francisco Chronicle the state could be on the verge of a long-term drought. The Sierra Nevada snow pack is only 67 percent of normal and many reservoirs are at well-below-average levels.

Subject: Around the World Today - Sunday 4th May

SOUTH KOREA: High waves in S Korea kill eight
At least eight people are reported to have been killed on the west coast of South Korea after they were swept away by high waves. Twelve others were rescued after storms and high winds hit the Yellow Sea port of Boryeong Namdo, about 185 km (115 miles) south west of Seoul. They were taken to hospital, where five are in a critical condition, a coast guard official told Reuters. He said most of the victims were tourists or people fishing there.

BURMA: Burma declares cyclone disaster
Details are still limited because the storm damaged telecommunications. Burma has declared five regions as disaster areas, including the main city Rangoon, after a large tropical cyclone hit the country, state media report. The military-run Myaddy television station said Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen and Mon states were also hit hard by winds of about 190km/h (120mph). Cyclone Nargis is reported to have killed at least four people in Rangoon. The city is without power and water, and the streets are full of debris from fallen trees and damaged buildings. The cyclone is now moving into Thailand where storm warnings have been issued.

CHILE: Town Evacuated As Volcano Erupts
Thousands of people have fled their town in Chile after a volcano erupted for the first time in at least 2,000 years. Chaiten volcano sending out ashNearly 4,500 were forced to leave Chaiten as the volcano of the same name spewed ash. Many were sent by boat to Chiloe Island and to Puerto Montt on the mainland. Some are staying in guesthouses, while others are being housed in schools which have been turned into makeshift shelters. Only a few dozen people remained in Chaiten following the eruption, which triggered earth tremors and spewed a cloud of ash two miles into the air. Some people had never left the town before until the 3,280-foot volcano six miles away forced them to go.

Subject: Around the World Today - Saturday 3rd May

CANADA: The operation late Friday was prompted by the plight of a herd of about 150 dairy cattle in desperate need of milking on a farm in Sheffield, southeast of Fredericton. It was an unusual rescue, but a request the military turned to its advantage. Flood waters from the Saint John River engulf the community of Sheffield, N.B., Thursday. In Fredericton, the water crested at about 6.3 metres, some 30 cm below the 1973 mark. Lieutenant Robert Fleet, with 4 Engineer Support Regiment in Gagetown, said the operation dovetailed neatly with training they would have otherwise done. Soldiers built a three-section floating bridge that could be used as a barge, once the holes in the deck were plugged with sandbags, and propelled it with military tugboats.

CHILE: Hundreds leave homes as Chile volcano erupts
A snowcapped volcano in southern Chile long considered dormant has erupted, causing small tremors in the area and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The government declared a state of emergency after the 1,200-meter Chaiten volcano began belching fire and ash Thursday night. The eruption also caused more than 60 small tremors shook the Los Lagos region, with such mild seismic activity expected to continue over the next few days, the government's Emergency Bureau said. Bureau director Carmen Fernandez said up to 1,500 people were evacuated from communities near the volcano, including in the town of Chaiten about 10 kilometres away.

USA: At least eight people have been killed in Arkansas after violent storms and tornadoes swept across the central United States. Other states affected included Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. At least two dozen people have been injured in the storms, and some 350 homes are said to be affected. Some 6,000 homes and businesses lost power.

BURMA: Burma battered by tropical storm
Details are still limited because the storm damaged telecommunications but a severe tropical storm has caused extensive damage to Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon. Cyclone Nargis spared Bangl;adesh but hit the Irrawaddy Delta region with winds of about 190km/h (120mph) late on Friday. The storm brought down trees and power lines, and tore the roofs from buildings, eyewitnesses in Rangoon say. Telecommunications have been disrupted. Three people are reported to have died in the storm's early stages, but there are no details of further casualties. State TV and radio stations were off air in Rangoon on Saturday and public transport was disrupted.

BOLIVIA: Twelve dead in Bolivian bus crash
At least 12 people, including Israeli and Japanese tourists, have been killed in a road accident in southern Bolivia. The crash occurred at the Uyuni salt flats, one of Bolivia's main tourist attractions. Police say two tour buses crashed head on and burst into flames. They say the dead included five Israeli and five Japanese tourists, one of the drivers, and a Bolivian guide.

CHINA: China on alert as virus spreads
China has issued a nationwide health alert in an effort to control the outbreak of a virus which has killed 22 children in the east of the country. There is no vaccine available to treat or prevent EV17. A statement from the health ministry said it was taking urgent measures to prevent the spread of the infection, known as Enterovirus 71 (EV71). The highly contagious intestinal virus can cause fever, blisters in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.

Subject: Around the World Today - Friday 2nd May

CANADA: Eastern Canadian city flooded amid rains and spring thaw
Hundreds of homes were flooded Thursday in eastern Canada, where the rising waters of the St. John River forced power cuts and the closure of most provincial government buildings, officials said.
In Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick province, water levels reached 8.28 meters (27.1 feet), more than two meters above the flood stage and nearing a record 8.63 meters set in 1973.

BANGLADESH: Cyclone to hit Bangladesh and Myanmar coast: official
A cyclone in the Bay of Bengal is expected to slam into the coast of southeast Bangladesh and Myanmar within a day, a government meteorologist warned Thursday, as officials met for urgent talks.
The warning came less than six months after cyclone Sidr caused massive devastation in southern Bangladesh, leaving more than 3,000 people dead.

USA: Alaskan Earthquake triggers Tsunami Alert
On 5/2/2008 1:33:04 AM UTC an earthquake of magnitude 7 has struck the unpopulated region of United States in United States. Based on earthquake information alone, it is likely that a tsunami was generated. Please refer to the GDACS tsunami report for more details. ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA

GLOBAL: Developed Nations donate millions to address global food price surge as food riots break out in some developing nations.
AUS$30 Million from Australia, $770 Million from USA on top of $200 Milliuon announce 2 weeks ago. The WFP believes 100 million people are currently going short of food. It says only 62% of the $755m it needs to feed them has been pledged so far, and, of that, only $18m has actually been received.

CHINA: China virus 'hits 3,000 children'
Almost 3,000 children in eastern China have now been infected by the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71) intestinal virus, according to state-run media. A child died on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 21, and a total of 2,946 children had been infected by Friday morning, Xinhua news agency said. The virus emerged in Fuyang city in Anhui province in early March.

CHINA: At least 18 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a bus crash in Hong Kong. The accident happened at 0900 (0100 GMT) in the eastern Sai Kung district. Emergency crews took three hours to cut the passengers free. Police said the driver appeared to have lost control of the bus on a hill, causing it to crash and overturn. More than 40 other passengers were taken to hospitals, many of whom were said to have broken bones.

FRANCE: Five French die in Alps avalanche
The bodies of five French mountaineers killed by an avalanche in Italy's northwestern Alps have been found, rescuers say. The group was hit by the avalanche on Wednesday in the Gran Paradiso National Park, near the French border. The expedition was at an altitude of some 2,500m (8,000ft) when the avalanche struck. The group's French guide was pulled from the snow after being spotted by a helicopter on Wednesday night.

Subject: Around the World Today - Friday 1st May

CHINA: China Warns Deadly Intestinal Virus Could Kill More
The Chinese government on Wednesday warned that a lethal intestinal virus that killed 20 children in east China could cause more deaths. The virus, known as Enterovirus 71, or EV71, has already killed 20 children in Fuyang city in Anhui province, and has infected 1,884 kids, the state-controlled Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday. "We estimate that the hand, foot and mouth disease [caused by EV71] in Fuyang city will still continue for some time, the number of cases will continue to increase, and serious and fatal cases might still continue to happen," the Health Ministry said in a statement on its website. The World Health Organisation earlier in the week also voiced concern over the epidemic in Anhui.

SPAIN: Spain approves emergency scheme for drought-hit Barcelona
The Spanish parliament Tuesday approved a 180-million-euro (280-million-dollar) scheme to channel water from the river Ebro to combat the worst drought in decades in the region around the northeastern city of Barcelona. The ruling Socialist Party and the conservative opposition Popular Party backed the measure, which would ensure drinking water supplies for around five million people in the Barcelona region.

INDONESIS & AUSTRALIA: Jakarta hosts disaster relief exercise
A two-day disaster-relief response exercise hosted by Indonesia and Australia begins in Jakarta. The exercise aims to improve the effectiveness of response capabilities of the 27 participating countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum. The exercise will include disaster response contingencies for civil, military and multinational capabilities. The Australian defence minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, says the initiative builds on the valuable contributions Australian Defence has made in regional disaster relief efforts. He says the last few years have seen an increase in multinational responses to regional disasters, most notably the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The knowledge-based exercise is being held at the Indonesian Naval command and Staff College in the Indonesian capital.

AUSTRALIA: Sydney Harbour boat crash kills five
There were 14 people on board the boat when it collided with a trawler. Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, says the boat accident on Sydney Harbour that left six people dead is every parent's worst nightmare. Four women and a man in their late teens and early 20s, died when the small repair boat they were in collided with a fishing trawler in the early hours of the morning. Another man died of his injuries in hospital on Thursday evening.

SOUTH AFRICA: Lift plunges down gold mine shaft
Nine workers have been killed in an accident at a gold mine near the South African city of Johannesburg. The men died when the lift cage in which they were travelling fell 58m (190ft) down a shaft at the Gold Fields South Deep mine near Carletonville.

EGYPT: Tourists die in Egypt bus crash
Many of the crash victims were reported to be badly burnt. Nine people have been killed and 28 injured after a tourist bus crashed and caught fire in Egypt's Sinai peninsula. The bus was apparently rounding a sharp bend when it overturned about 40 miles (70 km) south of the city of Suez. Russians, Egyptians, Britons, Canadians, Italians, Romanians and Ukrainians are said to be among the casualties - many of them badly burned.

INDIA: Many killed in Kashmir landslide
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say they have recovered the bodies of at least eight labourers who were killed in a huge landslide. The men were trapped under rocks and earth in Kishtwar district, about 160km (100 miles) south-east of Srinagar.

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