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GENEVA: The World Health Organization’s Epidemic
and Pandemic Alert and Response Department spokesperson Gregory
Hartl spoke to Xinhua on Thursday about effective prevention and
cure measures for hand-foot-mouth disease. Measures that can be
taken to avoid getting infected with the virus include frequent
hand-washing and laundry, and covering one’s mouth while coughing
and sneezing, Hartl said. Young patients with such symptoms must
drink a lot of water and stay well nourished, Hartl advised.
--Xinhua
BOGOTA: Colombian police have
arrested Gustavo Alvarez, a senior member of the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the Pacific port of Buenaventura,
police said Thursday. Alvarez, known as “Santiago,” was one of
the commanders of the Manuel Cepeda front of FARC. According to the
police, he and six others were arrested Thursday at an entertainment
center in Buenaventura. Alvarez is accused of terrorism, rebellion
and homicide. The Manuel Cepeda front is blamed for kidnapping 12
representatives of a regional assembly in 2002.
--Xinhua
BEIJING: Beijing is implementing
a range of new security measures in its transportation systems, as
the city tightened up against perceived threats to the August
Olympics a day after a top Olympic security official was quoted
saying the nation’s military would be involved in efforts to guard
against terror attacks or other disruptions to the Games. The police
have begun random night checks of motorists’ documents in some
parts of the capital, and made inspections of subway and bus
passengers for flammable liquids.
--AFP
TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka: A heavy
security blanket was thrown over eastern Sri Lanka ahead of
Saturday’s local polls, seen as a key test for the hawkish
government as it escalates the war against Tamil rebels. President
Mahinda Rajapakse is hoping the east’s first provincial council
elections in 20 years will deliver a show of public support despite
concerns about the human and economic costs of the latest round of
fighting.
--AFP
BEIRUT: Hezbollah fighters seized
control of rival pro-government strongholds in Beirut on Friday as
gunbattles rocked the Lebanese capital for a third day, propelling
the nation dangerously close to all-out civil war. Gunfire and the
thump of exploding rocket-propelled grenades echoed across mainly
Muslim west Beirut, where the fighting was concentrated between
Sunni militants loyal to the Western-backed government and Shiite
opposition gunmen. At least 11 people been killed and dozens more
wounded in the street battles that erupted Thursday.
--AFP
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert, once again in the hot seat over alleged kickbacks, is a
political survivor who has weathered a string of scandals and
massive unpopularity. The question now is whether he can fight off
growing demands that he quit over the latest corruption claims. He
put his job on the line, saying he would step down if indicted over
allegations he received illegal funds from a US businessman while he
was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003.
--AFP
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