The outbreak of West Nile Virus in the United States continues to set records as infections reported to the CDC skyrocket.
Arkansas health officials have reported that 5 people have died from the virus this year. In addition, officials confirm that 43 people have been infected by the virus this year in the state. By comparison, there was only one case of West Nile Virus in Arkansas last year and no deaths. Continue reading
The charity “Save The Children” is reporting cases of horrific abuse of children by the Syrian government as the civil war in the nation continues to rage.
The group has called on the United Nations to step in and increase its presence on the ground in hopes it would quell the violence. Continue reading
Pakistan’s Railways Minister has offered $100,000 for the death of the American filmmaker who produced a film critical of Islam.
The US state department issued a strong condemnation of the minister’s actions calling it “inflammatory and inappropriate.” Minster Ghulam Ahmad Bilour offered the bounty in response to the worldwide protests against the film. The alleged producer of the film’s trailer, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, has been forced into hiding. Continue reading
Three children from one family are among the eight dead in air strikes in the city of Aleppo, Syria. Activists are reporting that the government is engaging in a bombardment campaign against civilian areas of the city.
The UN has listed the death toll as more than 20,000 in Syria since March 2011. Activists have put the death toll at near 30,000 adding that 40 people died on Monday from government assaults. Continue reading
A 17-year-old started foaming at the mouth, slamming his head on the floor and convulsing at a McDonald’s. Two hours later, he was dead. His 18-year-old friend has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
In another part of the same town the night before, an 18-year-old was found dead, face down on a sidewalk.
Both had been killed by an overdose of a drug with a street name of “smiles.” Continue reading
An illness similar to the SARS virus that killed hundreds in 2003 has been discovered in a man being treated in London.
The 49-year-old man was rushed from Qatar to London after being the second person confirmed with the coronavirus. The first case was a Saudi Arabian who died from the disease. Continue reading
Flooding in northern India has killed at least 21 people in the north-eastern states of Sikkim and Assam. A state minister has called it the “worst flooding in the state since 1998.” Continue reading
Belize, a nation located on the Caribbean Sea bordering Mexico and Guatemala, won a 60 day reprieve after making a bond payment, holding a full national default on debt at bay.
The nation paid $11.7 million to their creditors which fell short of the total $23 million due on debt interest that was due on Wednesday. The bondholders accepted the partial payment and said that they would delay taking legal action. Continue reading
The second biggest lender in Spain is reporting that it could take up to 60 billion euros ($78 billion US) to bail out the country’s banks.
The results of independent stress tests of the Spanish banking system aren’t due to be released until September 28th but BBVA apparently obtained access to the information in advance. Continue reading
At least 30 Syrian civilians who had been lined up to put gas in their cars were killed when a government aircraft bombed the gas station.
Rebel forces told the BBC that civilians had been lined up for gas and diesel fuel when the aircraft dropped a barrel of explosives. The station, 20 miles from the Syria/Turkey border, was the only operating gas station in the region. Continue reading