Docudharma Times Thursday October 22

Despite H1N1 fears, many worry about vaccination



By Rob Stein and Jennifer Agiesta

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Americans have become increasingly alarmed about the swine flu, but many are wary about getting vaccinated against the disease, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

As the H1N1 virus continues to spread nationwide, a majority of those surveyed — 52 percent — now say they are “a great deal” or “somewhat” worried that they or someone in their household will be infected with it, up from 39 percent of those polled in August. Concern is rising fastest among young adults, one of the groups most vulnerable to the virus. In August, just 26 percent of those ages 18 to 29 said they were concerned; now 47 percent are worried.

U.S. pressures Japan on military package

Washington concerned as new leaders in Tokyo look to redefine alliance

By John Pomfret and Blaine Harden

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Worried about a new direction in Japan’s foreign policy, the Obama administration warned the Tokyo government Wednesday of serious consequences if it reneges on a military realignment plan formulated to deal with a rising China.

The comments from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates underscored increasing concern among U.S. officials as Japan moves to redefine its alliance with the United States and its place in Asia.

USA

South Carolina embarrassed by politicians behaving badly

Gov. Mark Sanford and Rep. Joe Wilson are just the latest examples. Late-night jokes aside, some fear the shenanigans are paralyzing state government and causing visitors and businesses to stay away.

By Mark Z. Barabak

October 22, 2009

Reporting from Columbia, S.C. – It’s tough these days being from South Carolina. Ask Dick Harpootlian.

He was in Peru, on a train from Cusco to Machu Picchu, when he and his wife began chatting with another couple. Where, Harpootlian asked, are you from? Rio, came the response, and you? South Carolina, Harpootlian replied. Mark Sanford! the couple exclaimed. Argentina!

Later that night Harpootlian returned to his hotel room, flipped on the TV and picked out two words in a stream of Spanish: Joe Wilson. (As in, “You lie!”)

“Thousands of miles from home,” Harpootlian said with a sigh. “In the middle of nowhere.”

Lead lawyer in Stevens prosecution resigns senior post



By Erika Bolstad | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The lead lawyer who oversaw the botched prosecution of former Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska will step down from his role as the head of the Justice Department’s public integrity section, the department confirmed Wednesday.

William Welch II will remain with the Justice Department but will return to a post in Massachusetts, said his attorney, William Taylor.

“While the ultimate result in the Stevens case has been highly disappointing professionally and personally, Bill knows that his management decisions, where permitted, comported with his own and the department’s highest ethical standards,” Taylor said.

Middle East

Goods Flood Gaza’s Tunnels, Turning Border Area Into a Shopping Mecca



By TAGHREED EL-KHODARY

Published: October 21, 2009

RAFAH, Gaza – Dusty sacks filled with cans of Coca-Cola were being loaded onto trucks by young boys, headed for supermarkets in Gaza City. Thousands of motorcycles were lined up on display in a nearby stadium, ranging in price from $2,000 to $10,000.

At Nijma market, refrigerators, flat-screen televisions, microwaves, air-conditioners, generators and ovens filled the tents, all at inflated prices, having been spirited into this town on the border with Egypt through tunnels under the sand. Some Gazans have even purchased cars smuggled in parts into the isolated Palestinian enclave.

Hopes rise of end to impasse as Iran gets two days to back nuclear deal

Enriched uranium would be processed in Russia

Julian Borger in Vienna

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 21 October 2009 19.37 BST

Iran has been given two days to approve a uranium deal that the United Nations says could defuse the long-running crisis over the country’s nuclear programme.

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog organisation, Mohamed ElBaradei, said the draft agreement to ship out 75% of Iran’s enriched uranium for processing abroad “could open the way for a complete normalisation of relations between Iran and the international community”.

The Iranian delegation to the talks in Vienna cautiously welcomed the deal as being “on the right track”, but said it would be up to Tehran to approve the deal.

Asia

Afghan run-off may force US hand on troops

Obama ponders reinforcements as Kabul authorities face struggle to ensure fair vote

By Julius Cavendish in Kabul and David Usborne in New York

 Thursday, 22 October 2009

The White House signalled last night that Hamid Karzai’s decision to accept a run-off vote in Afghanistan could expedite a verdict on whether to increase US troop numbers there.

But as Barack Obama’s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, told reporters that it was “certainly possible” the crucial answer on troop levels would come before the November ballot, election experts in Kabul warned too little is being done to ensure the run-off is any more credible than the first, fraud-ridden round.

Chinese GDP ‘set’ to hit target

Figures just published suggest the country exceeded its target for economic growth for the first time this year in the third quarter.

By Chris Hogg

BBC News, Shanghai

The Chinese government figures show year on year GDP growth was up 8.9% from 7.9% in the previous quarter.

It is the fastest GDP growth since the third quarter last year.

Chinese officials have also said they are sure they will reach their full year target – of 8% – for economic growth.

The economy grew by 7.7% in the nine months to September.

The government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on a massive package of infrastructure projects to create jobs and boost demand.

The effects of that stimulus are now evident in the real economy.

Europe

Hurling: Ireland stunned by gay star

Sportsman shatters sporting taboo by deciding to come out

By Peter Popham

 Thursday, 22 October 2009

Donal Og Cusack, 32, is a solid gold star in the macho world of Irish hurling. Cork’s goalkeeper for more than a decade, this son of a crane driver from the small town of Cloyne has rewritten the way the game is played, to the fury of many traditionalists.

But this week the headlines had nothing to do with his prowess with the hurley. From the Irish Times to Twitter, the media were throbbing with the revelation that he had come out as gay – the first elite sportsperson in Ireland to do so.

The news broke in the Irish Mail on Sunday. “This is who I am,” he told the paper.

Berlusconi ‘snubs King of Jordan in favour of Vladimir Putin birthday party’

From The Times

October 22, 2009

Tony Halpin and Richard Owen

Silvio Berlusconi was accused of spurning a chance to help the Middle East peace process last night after apparently snubbing the King of Jordan in favour of a party with his old friend Vladimir Putin.

Opposition politicians in Rome demanded to know why the Prime Minister had cancelled a meeting with King Abdullah, choosing instead to fly to St Petersburg to discuss energy projects between Russia and the EU – and, it was alleged, to attend a private party in honour of Mr Putin’s 57th birthday on October 7. La Repubblica newspaper reported that Mr Berlusconi would “carry fine wines” as a gift for Mr Putin.

The Russian Prime Minister’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, said that it was “a private visit but with working content”.

Africa

Four-year drought pushes 23 million Africans to brink of starvation

From The Times

October 22, 2009

Tristan McConnell in Mwingi

“The last time I had a good harvest was 2003 – there has been nothing at all for the last three years,” said Mutindi Maithya, 36, a widow who lives with her six children on a four- acre plot of sun-baked land.

Sitting beneath a thorny acacia tree, she picks up ochre lumps of dried mud from the ground and crushes them to dust between her fingers. “It is hard to cope,” she said.

A four-year drought has pushed as many as 23 million people to the brink of starvation across East Africa, making it the worst in a decade or more. Close to four million of those at risk are in Kenya, where one person in ten survives on emergency rations.

Last week clouds gathered over much of the country, but the rains have come too late to bring much relief. Aid agencies have warned that with them will come flooding, cholera, malaria and hypothermia.

Will Vatican lure Africa’s Anglican anti-gay bishops to Catholic church?

Despite fierce opposition to homosexuality, African bishops say the Vatican’s effort to bring more Anglicans to the Catholic church will falter, largely because of the autonomy that they enjoy.

By Scott Baldauf | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the October 21, 2009 edition

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Since the Vatican launched its bold bid Tuesday to make it easier for Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church, the question on everyone’s mind has been: How many will convert?

Will the much ballyhooed Anglican divide over the Church’s moves to accept openly gay and female clerics now cause hundreds of thousands of conservative Anglicans – mostly in Africa and parts of the US – to flock to Catholicism?

Early indications from African bishops are that most Anglicans, despite their fierce opposition to homosexuality, will be saying “thanks but no thanks” to Rome’s new offer, largely because of the autonomy that they enjoy within the Anglican church.