Archive for September, 2008

Sources: Man blamed for Bhutto killing is dead

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The leader of Pakistan’s Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, is dead from kidney failure, sources told CNN. The Pakistan government blamed Mehsud for the December 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

NEW ZEALAND: New rules for imported food after China scandal - (NEWSTALK ZB)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The Food Safety Authority is introducing new rules concerning imported food in the wake of China’s infant formula scandal. Since early last week, all identified consignments of products containing dairy ingredients originating in China have been stopped by Customs, pending approval from NZFSA. Importers will now be required to provide the authority ...

UK: British agency orders ports to inspect imports for contaminated milk - (guardian.co.uk)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

British ports will begin inspecting air freight and shipments of imported food from tomorrow in a major food safety operation triggered by the contaminated milk scandal in China. The Food Standards Agency put more than 80 ports and airports on alert yesterday and ordered health officials to intercept and test any ...

BARFBLOG: UK chef dies after eating ’super hot’ chili - (barfblog)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Amy and I were in Kansas City and surrounding area last weekend. We’re working with some high school kids in Olathe, Kansas, which is geographically to Kansas City what Brampton is to Toronto, except a lot nicer. Sunday we had some time, checked out the big city baby stores for ...

SPAIN: Foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis due to Norovirus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus - (Cambridge University Press)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Norovirus have been recognized as the cause of sporadic cases or outbreaks of diarrhoeal illness in association with the ingestion of raw or improperly cooked seafood. This report describes a foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by both Norovirus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus following the consumption of raw seafood ...

Analysis of the FoodNet case-control study of sporadic Salmonella serotype Enteritidis infections using persons infected with other Salmonella serotypes as the comparison group - (Cambridge University Press)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Use of well persons as the comparison group for laboratory-confirmed cases of sporadic salmonellosis may introduce ascertainment bias into case-control studies. Data from the 1996–1997 FoodNet case-control study of laboratory-confirmed Salmonella serogroups B and D infection were used to estimate the effect of specific behaviours and foods on infection with ...

IOWA: Restaurants’ health reports out in open - (Iowa City Press Citizen)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Kim Chandler said it is her job to be thorough with health inspections. An environmental health specialist with the Johnson County Department of Public Health, much of her duties revolve around conducting health inspections of the 527 restaurants and other locales that serve food in Johnson County. With the Iowa food ...

BAHRAIN: Food safety clamp vowed - (Gulf Daily News)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Bahrain has declared a “zero tolerance” crackdown on businesses which endanger public health by violating food safety laws. People are being urged to report anything suspicious about food they buy over Eid - but the crackdown will continue even after the holiday, say officials. Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer has ordered ...

What’s behind an F.D.A. stamp? - (New York Times)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The F.D.A. is everywhere these days, or so it seems. Sellers of dubious medical devices claim in late-night TV advertisements that their products are “registered with the F.D.A.” Some vitamins and homeopathic remedies, many with doubtful benefits, boast on their labels that they are “F.D.A. approved.” In the 1990s, the agency was widely ...

COLORADO: Jefferson County “Leader in Food Safety” award - (YourHub)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Jefferson County, CO — Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) Food Safety Program has selected four food establishments as recipients of the 8 th annual 2008 Leader in Food Safety Award. The Leaders in Food Safety are: Red Lobster - 4455 Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge Red Lobster - 810 S ...

HONG KONG: Melamine found in more Chinese food products - (USA Today)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

HONG KONG — Hong Kong authorities says they have found an industrial chemical in Chinese-made biscuit sticks, walnut and coconut cakes. The Center for Food Safety says in a statement issued Tuesday that it found melamine in Pocky Men’s coffee cream coated biscuit stick, which is produced by Japanese brand Ezaki ...

NZFSA NEW ZEALAND dairy testing statement - (NZFSA)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has conducted a series of tests for melamine in a range of New Zealand dairy products, with none indicating deliberate melamine adulteration, says Dr Geoff Allen, NZFSA Director (Compliance & Investigation). “Without exception, all results fall below the safety threshold set by NZFSA, and also ...

Monterey County ag officials keep close eye on MICHIGAN E. coli outbreak - (Salinas Californian)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Monterey County agricultural officials are paying close attention to a Michigan E. coli outbreak believed to be linked to iceberg lettuce. The origin of the greens has not been determined, and at this point, no California grower or processor has been named in the out-break. “We are aware of it and keeping ...

MICHIGAN: E. coli illnesses linked to Detroit lettuce hit 35 - (The Detroit News)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

DETROIT — The number of E. coli illnesses linked to a Detroit commercial distributor of iceberg lettuce has risen to 35, according to health officials in Michigan and Illinois. Four new cases were reported in Michigan on Monday by the state Department of Community Health, bringing to 30 the total confirmed ...

BARFBLOG: Handwashing rates low in hospitals: report - (barfblog)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

In 2002, Jon Stewart quipped while hosting Saturday Night Live, “If you think the 10 commandments being posted in a school is going to change behavior of children, then you think “Employees Must Wash Hands” is keeping the piss out of your happy meals. It’s not.” Apparently the signs aren’t working in ...

Zimbabwe: Sides fail to agree on Cabinet

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

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U.S. freezes assets of FARC members

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday froze the U.S. assets of eight members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which it has deemed a narco-terrorist organization.

‘Shots fired’ on ship hijacked by pirates

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Gunfire broke out Tuesday aboard a cargo ship carrying tanks and other heavy weapons that was hijacked last week by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan maritime official said.

Car bomb strikes Baghdad restaurant

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

A car bomb detonated Tuesday near a crowded restaurant at lunchtime in central Baghdad, killing at least three civilians and wounding eight others, an Interior Ministry official said.

Giant recalls melamine tainted tea

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Unilever is recalling four batches of Lipton Milk Tea sold in Hong Kong and Macau after finding traces of the chemical melamine in the product, the company said Tuesday.

U.S. stocks rebound after bailout failure

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

U.S. stocks bounced back Tuesday after Congressional lawmakers rejected a $700 billion bailout plan aimed at stabilizing the financial system, triggering economic turmoil around the world.

Police arrest suspects in Mafia killings

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Italian authorities Tuesday arrested two suspects believed to be responsible for the September 18 killing of six African immigrants in Castelvolturno, a small town of 20,000 residents north of Naples.

Historic ship blaze blamed on vacuum cleaner

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

An industrial vacuum cleaner left switched on inside the historic Cutty Sark ship was the most likely cause of the fire last year that gutted the 19th-century tea clipper, police said Tuesday.

147 worshippers die in temple stampede

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

A stampede at a hill-top temple in western India killed more than 147 people and wounded 50 others who had gathered to celebrate the start of a religious holiday on Tuesday, police said.

Freed hostages return from Egypt

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Five German tourists held hostage in Egypt for 10 days arrived back in Germany on Tuesday, the German government announced.

130 worshippers die in temple stampede

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

A stampede at a hill-top temple in western India killed more than 130 people and wounded 50 others who had gathered to celebrate the start of a religious holiday on Tuesday, police said.

U.S. bailout failure sparks markets turmoil

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Investors continued to dump shares Tuesday after U.S. lawmakers unexpectedly rejected a Wall Street bailout plan, triggering the largest point drop in U.S. market history.

Pirates party on hijacked weapons ship

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

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Pakistan’s spy agency gets new chief

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

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Asian markets fall on U.S. bailout failure

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Asian and Pacific stock markets tumbled in early trading on Tuesday after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to adopt a Wall Street bailout measure, triggering the largest point drop in U.S. market history.

ONTARIO: Ont. hospitals need to improve hand hygiene tactics, audit finds - (Canwest News Service)

Monday, September 29th, 2008

TORONTO — Ontario hospitals “have a lot more to do” to prevent and control the spread of infections among patients, the province’s auditor general said Monday as he released his report on infections acquired in hospitals. Jim McCarter said a study of three hospitals revealed some good initiatives to manage the ...

Iraq works to reverse doctor brain drain

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Iraq announced Monday it will let doctors carry firearms, one of several measures aimed at trying to keep medical workers from leaving the war-torn country.

‘Decision day’ for U.S. bailout plan

Monday, September 29th, 2008

U.S. lawmakers are set to vote shortly on the biggest proposed government intervention in the U.S. economy since the Great Depression after government officials, Treasury chiefs and political leaders agreed details of a $700 billion rescue plan to prop up the nation’s ailing financial system. ...

US: New “country of origin labeling” law requires stores to tell you where your food comes from - (Mercury News)

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Starting today, new federal rules take effect requiring all U.S. supermarkets and large food retailers provide labels telling consumers which country a wide variety of food came from. Covered by the new rules: ground beef, chicken, pork, veal, steak, lamb and goat, along with fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, macadamia ...

CALIFORNIA: 6 year old E.coli victim returns home - (CBS 12 Action News)

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Hospitalized from a recent E.coli outbreak, 6-year-old Olyvia Titus is back home in Forest Ranch. Olyvia contracted E.coli after attending a firefighting fundraiser in Forest Ranch on September 6. She was taken by helicopter to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with acute renal failure. After spending ten days in the ...

Ecuadoran president cheers ‘crushing’ win

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Zimbabweans fill streets to withdraw cash

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Iran urged to end ’secretive’ nuclear ways

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Observers: Belarus vote ‘flawed’

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Egypt: Kidnapped European tourists freed

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Eleven European tourists and their Egyptian guides, who were kidnapped 10 days ago in southern Egypt, have been released unharmed, a government official said Monday.

Pirates lower ransom demand for weapons ship

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Pirates who seized a Ukrainian cargo ship off the coast of Africa loaded with tanks and weapons reportedly lowered their ransom demand Monday from $35 million to $20 million.

Right-wing parties make big gains in Austria

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Deadly blast rocks Lebanese city

Monday, September 29th, 2008

A blast went off at one of the entrances to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Monday, a high-ranking member of the country’s security forces told CNN.

Explosion rocks Lebanese city

Monday, September 29th, 2008

A blast went off at one of the entrances to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Monday, a high-ranking member of the country’s security forces told CNN.

Weakened Kyle batters Nova Scotia

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Hurricane Kyle got stronger Sunday morning as it headed toward Maine and Canada, forecasters said.

Afghan woman police director gunned down

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Chavez interested in Russian nuke help

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday said he was interested in working with Russia to develop a civilian nuclear power program.

Ecuador’s Correa heads toward charter win

Monday, September 29th, 2008

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Official: Hijacking off Somalia led to death

Monday, September 29th, 2008

The captain of a Ukrainian vessel loaded with tanks and weapons that was seized off the African coast says one crew member has died.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/28/somalia.piracy.ukraine/index.html

Monday, September 29th, 2008

The captain of a Ukrainian vessel loaded with tanks and weapons that was seized off the African coast says one crew member has died.