Haiti cholera 'like Asian type'

Nepalese peacekeepers have been blamed from the outbreak, allegations they deny

US health authorities have said that the cholera strain which has killed more than 330 people in Haiti most closely resembles a South Asian strain.

The US Centers for Disease Control found that Haitian cholera patients had all been infected with the same strain.

Haiti's health minister said the outbreak was unlikely to have originated in the country.

The UN is investigating allegations that excrement from Nepalese peacekeepers caused the epidemic.

But Health Minister Dr Alex Larsen said it was unlikely the outbreak's origin would ever be known.

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"Although these results indicate that the strain is non-Haitian, cholera strains may move between different areas due to global travel and trade," he said, according to Agence France-Presse.

He added that the strain was probably transmitted by contaminated food or water, or an infected person.

The Nepalese camp had become the object of local suspicion partly because cholera is very rare in Haiti but endemic in Nepal.

The UN had said last week that tests taken from the peacekeepers' camp and adjacent waters were found to be negative but, following the announcement, a spokesman said the agency was looking into the matter.

The US federal health agency said that cholera does not normally spread widely within a country if drinking water and sewage treatment are adequate.

Poor sanitary conditions make the camps and slums where many are living after the country's January earthquake vulnerable to cholera, which is caused by bacteria transmitted through contaminated water or food.

Some 1.3 million survivors of the devastating quake are living in tent camps in and around the capital.

Health experts say they expect the outbreak will soon lessen but the disease will eventually join malaria and tuberculosis in becoming endemic in Haiti.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-latin-america-11669079

Randell Blechinger Mireya Jacquay Enrique Whysong Jackeline Cucchiara

India launches South Pole mission

The scientists will look at the impact of global warming on the continent

India is to begin its first scientific expedition to the South Pole.

The head of India's National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Rasik Ravindra, will lead a team of eight scientists on the journey, departing next week from an Indian research base.

The trip to the pole and back is expected to last around 40 days.

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It is hoped their mission will shed light on how environmental conditions have changed in Antarctica over the past 1,000 years.

Mr Ravindra says the scientists will fly via South Africa to India's Maitri research base, situated in an ice-free area known as the Schirmacher Oasis.

From there they will travel to the pole - a journey of more than 2,000km - in specially designed vehicles, carrying out a range of experiments on the way.

"We will conduct meteorological experiments, [and] record humidity, temperatures, wind speed and atmospheric pressures during the 20-day trip to the South Pole, and other experiments will be conducted on our way back," Mr Ravindra said.

"Everything is now linked to global warming," he added.

Other experiments will look at the movement of tectonic plates and how the Antarctic landmass has evolved over millions of years.

Correspondents say India is keen to draw international attention to its scientific presence in the region, and is building its third Antarctic research station. The first was abandoned in 1990.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-11670634

Malik Simplot Apolonia Loera Noah Brunjes Faustina Stults

Lily Allen suffers miscarriage

The singer loses her second baby with spokesperson appealing for privacy in a "deeply distressing time".

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/newsbeat/11667280

Lucia Gollogly Margarito Kimak Augustine Hengl Mitchell Turkus

AIG raises $37bn to repay bailout

AIA's shares were listed in Hong Kong last week

AIG, the US insurer bailed out by the US government at the height of the credit crisis, has raised almost $37bn (£23bn) to repay its $100bn debt.

It raised $20.51 bn by floating AIA on the Hong Kong stock market.

British insurer Prudential was on the verge of buying AIA for $35.5bn earlier this year, but backed away after shareholder opposition.

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AIA's stock market value rose to $35.7bn last week, shortly after its shares were listed in Hong Kong.

AIG also announced it had sold American Life Insurance Co (Alico) to insurance company MetLife for $16.2bn.

In March, Tidjane Thiam, the then recently-appointed chief executive of the Pru, said the company planned to buy AIA for $35.5bn, and raise $21bn through a rights issue to fund the deal.

“We promised the American taxpayers we would repay them ”

Robert Benmosche, AIG chief executive

The Pru wanted greater exposure to fast-growing economies, and AIA operates in 15 different markets in Asia.

However, after pressure from shareholders, the Pru then cut its offer price to $30.5bn, which was turned down by AIG.

The American insurer, rescued by the US government as it was deemed "too big to fail", will repay part of the aid it received from the government during the financial crisis with the cash raised through the two deals.

It will use the $9bn in MetLife shares it received as part of the Alico deal to pay back more of the debt later.

In 2008, around the time Lehman Brothers collapsed, AIG teetered on the verge of disaster as its credit ratings were downgraded.

Instead of focusing on its key insurance and property businesses, AIG had dabbled in complicated derivatives and securities.

It was rescued by the government because it was linked to hundreds of financial institutions throughout the world, and might have brought down other companies with it if it had been allowed to collapse.

The US government rescued it with a bailout package enabling it to tap as much as $180bn in aid, in return for an 80% stake in the company.

The US Treasury plans to sell off this stake over time.

Robert Benmosche, chief executive of AIG, said: "We promised the American taxpayers we would repay them and the initial public offering of AIA last week and the completion of the Alico transaction move us closer to delivering on our promise."

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-11668461

Houston File Corinne Leinen Angel Magat Kayleen Paskin

'I should really be dead'

Ali was fit and healthy when she developed the disease

In 90% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the disease is spotted so late that it is inoperable.

Only 3% of those diagnosed survive the five-year mark.

They are dismal figures. But what makes Ali angry is that these statistics have changed little over the last 40 years.

Specialists say if they can get people early enough they can help, but that referrals happen too late.

Patients are slow to spot the deadly symptoms and then when they do, doctors fail to act.

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Ali, 45, from Surrey, presented early, but delays meant that when she eventually saw a specialist she was only just suitable for surgery.

Initially, doctors did not suspect cancer and Ali was told she would have to wait a month for a scan. But she decided to go private, and it was discovered she had a mass on her pancreas.

"I was very lucky. My surgeon has said had I waited four weeks for that scan I probably would not be here today," she said.

"It is quite sobering. I didn't know how bad the figures were and had not heard of the disease - and I have a degree and considered myself well educated."

A third of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are under 65. Smoking, drinking, obesity and family history increase the risk.

More than three years later, Ali she is still mystified about why she became ill.

“They don't know why I got it”

Ali Stunt

"For me it was relatively fast," she said.

"Up until about a month before I did not have any symptoms I was aware of and was really fit and healthy for a 41-year-old.

"I was not overweight or a heavy drinker and I was generally living a healthy lifestyle.

"At the end of July 2007 I started to get mid-upper back pain, which meant it was very difficult to get comfortable and pain radiated to the front.

"I started getting significant pain after eating and I went to the doctor. They thought it was dyspepsia and prescribed an over-the-counter remedy but the pain continued and got worse."

Various doctors wrongly suspected indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and pancreatitis

This lack of awareness she encountered worried Ali so much, that she set up a charity - Pancreatic Cancer Action - to try and improve knowledge.

"The index of suspicion needs to be raised among the primary clinicians," she said.

"The general population need to know about it, the symptoms and the risk factors - smoking cigarettes, obesity and hereditary link

"They don't know why I got it. It was just bad luck. But if they can catch the more obvious ones, that would be a start."

Her charity, with the help of specialists, has already started giving training.

Now it is working on a web-based resource to ensure all medics are up-to-date.

SymptomsDiscomfort or pain around the stomach areaSickness, bowel disturbances and loss of appetiteDiabetes and unexplained weight lossJaundice, low mood and depressionItchy skin and back pain

Mr Neville Menezes, consultant pancreatic surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford and St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, said it is only by catching cases earlier that statistics will change.

''We have come a long way in the treatment of pancreatic cancer," he said.

"It is one of the cancers that is diagnosed quite late and one of the reasons we can not do much is because people present so late and it is too late to take the cancer out.

"Most of them die within six to eight months of being diagnosed.

"The only thing that gives the patient a chance of a cure is taking the cancer out - that is brilliant."

He said those who did get treatment should be sent to specialist centres.

Pancreatic Cancer Action is also developing a series of educational programmes aimed at both the public and medical communities, tackling issues such as the inequalities of survival rates and access to services around the country and will campaign to increase levels of funding in the disease.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-11646219

Mika Nemer Burt Moneypenny Leone Espert Russel Wally

Liverpool 'grit' pleases Hodgson

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson hopes the 1-0 win at Bolton, which moved the Reds up to 12th, will kick-start their season.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9143668.stm

An Huisinga Randell Blechinger Mireya Jacquay Enrique Whysong

Cameron talks with German leader

The leaders discussed Europe, trade and security

David Cameron has held "substantive" talks with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, about Europe, security and trade, Downing Street says.

A spokesman said "there was absolute agreement between the leaders that restraint needed to be shown in EU spending" at the Chequers talks.

Both leaders want the 2011 EU budget to increase by no more than 2.9%.

Mr Cameron updated Mrs Merkel on the cargo bomb plot; they agreed to go on co-operating against terrorism.

The pair also discussed the state of the global economy in advance of the Seoul G20 summit.

It was also agreed that Britain, Germany, Turkey and Indonesia would set up a working group to look into ways of boosting global trade.

They group has been tasked to report early in the New Year with recommondations on how to liberalise trade.

It will be led by Peter Sutherland, a former head of the World Trade Organisation, and Jagdish Bhagwati, a trade expert and professor at New York's Columbia University.

Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel also discussed foreign policy and in particular Afghanistan.

The Downing Street spokesman said they were both "steadfast" in their commitment to the Afghan mission.

The two leaders also called on Iran to return to the negotiating table on its nuclear programme and urged Israel and the Palestinians to commit to peace talks.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-11662355

Adele Fventes Ali Dasinger Ofelia Rosenthall Steven Wicks