Category: Guides

Risk of Greek default jumps to 98 percent

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – The chance the Greece will default on its debts within the next five years has soared to 98 percent as Prime Minister George Papandreou failed to reassure the world that his country can survive the euro-region debt crisis.

Fears of a Greek default sent stock markets tumbling all across the globe. Worries have mounted that Greece’s trouble may be contagious and that other European countries are poised for a similar fate. Eyes are carefully focused on Italy and Portugal for any signs of imminent financial dangers.

Greece’s government expects the country’s economy to shrink more than 5 percent in 2011, more than the 3.8 percent previously predicted by the European Commission.

The risk of contagion beyond Greece pushed credit default swaps on Portugal, Italy and France to records. The euro fell to its lowest point against the Japanese yen since 2001. The U.S. dollar strengthened, but American equities fell in sympathy.

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Dove hunting legal in Iowa for first time in nearly a century

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Des Moines, IA, United States (AHN Sports) – After a 93 years following the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with Canada and Mexico, dove hunters unpacked their hunting gear last Thursday for the opening day of Iowa’s first mourning dove season.

For 70 days, starting Sept. 1 to Nov. 9, dove hunters will be training their sights on the small but swift targets which are now legal prey in the state for the first time since 1918.

The law legalizing the hunt of this bird, also called the Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, was signed this year. It made Iowa the 41st state with legal dove hunting.

Shooting hours open a half hour before dawn each morning up to sunset and covers the entire state.

Though dove hunters are not required to pay the state or federal migratory bird fee, they must still register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) like other hunters of other migratory birds in Iowa, as required under federal regulations.

Small game license and habitat fee is also required in dove hunting but landowners who are only going to hunt on their on land or hunters who belong to the category of 16 and under who do not need a license do not need to register for HIP.

Although there is still no way to ascertain the exact total number of Iowa dove hunters this season, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources analysis anticipates 20,000 dove hunters this season.

Since mid-August this year, the DNR has made tabs on 3,496 licensed hunters who have registered to hunt doves.

According to the DNR analysis, the expected 20,000 dove hunters would result in $6.9 million in spending. It would also generate an additional $462,000 in state and local sales tax, as well as 90 more jobs.

Meanwhile, hunters will have a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 30.

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Nepal’s parties extend term of Assembly for three months

Anil Giri – AHN News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – Nepal’s political parties on Monday, in a nearly unanimous vole, extended the term of the Constituent Assembly (CA) by three months two days before the expiration of its current term.

The term of the national legislative body has already been extended twice. Its current term was set to expire on Wednesday.

Nepal elected a new prime minister on Sunday.

The Constituent Assembly was elected in 2008, tasked to draft a new federal, secular constitution within two years. After repeatedly failing to do so, it has twice extended its term, giving rise to speculation whether it will reach its goal.

“The endorsement of the term extension was painless this time because we felt there was no need for putting any conditions to it,” said Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel.

Some 537 votes were cast in favor of extending the CA’s term until Nov. 30. Only four RPP-Nepal lawmakers stood against the extension.

“We still believe that the next three months will be insufficient,” said Maoist Chief Whip Dev Gurung. “But, a new extension can be sought if required in future.”

The President’s office last week asked for the extension.

The move was immediately welcomed by the international community including the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

In a joint statement, the group said “we hope the new government and the opposition parties will now give high priority to issuing a draft of a new Constitution, which commits Nepal to democracy and upholding its citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms in line with Nepal’s international obligations. We underline the importance and the urgency of showing flexibility, mutual respect and careful forethought.”

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Vita Food Products Issues Voluntary Recall of 4 oz. Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon Packages with “SELL BY DEC 15 2011 01

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Vita Food Products, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois is notifying the public that 8,088 individual retail packages of 4 oz. Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon are being voluntarily recalled due to the potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. To date, no confirmed illnesses or complaints have been reported by customers, although the Company is closely monitoring the situation.

7,260 of the individual retail packages were sold at Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Safeway stores in California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and District of Columbia, Meijer stores in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, Vons stores in California, Genuardi’s stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Winn Dixie stores in Florida, and the Edgewater Produce store in Chicago, IL on or after July 25 of this year may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, 828 individual retail packages of this same product have either possibly been sold or are being offered for sale at various grocery stores in the Buffalo, NY and Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan areas and Northeast Ohio.

The product that is the subject of this public announcement and recall are packages (black in color) of smoked Atlantic salmon that bear the Vita logo centered at the bottom of the package that is immediately visible to the consumer. Each package contains 4-5 slices (total 4 oz.) of smoked salmon; the slices are contained in a vacuum sealed package that is 7¾” wide by 7¼” in height by ¼” in thickness. IMPORTANT: The SELL BY Date and Code of DEC 15 2011 01961B is centered in the window on the front of each package. This announcement and recall only applies to packages that bear that SELL BY Date and Code.

If any consumer purchased a product with that SELL BY Date and Code from a retail store on or after July 25, 2011 he or she should not consume any of the Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon product. Then, the Company asks that it be sealed in plastic bag or placed in some similar container and returned to the retailer from which it was purchased.

The Company is asking that any person who has purchased the product with this SELL BY Date and Code call this telephone number 1-800-989-8482 during the hours of 8am to 5pm (Central Time Zone) Monday through Friday. If you are experiencing any unusual or severe symptoms such as those described above, go to an emergency room immediately or contact your physician for immediate advice.

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Martha’s Vineyard welcomes President Obama, First Family

Diane Alter – AHN News Trivia Writer

Martha’s Vineyard, MA, United States (AHN) – Martha’s Vineyard welcomed President Obama and the first family Thursday for their third vacation on the idyllic island.

Obama, wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Milia will once again spend their days on the Vineyard at Blue Heron Farm, a luxury retreat located up-island on Tisbury Great Pond in Chilmark.

While the president and his family will try to keep a low profile on the island, hundreds of White House support staff, security personnel and a slew of reporters are not so discreet. Television vans, newspaper reporters, photographers and paparazzi have been spotted all over the island. Low-flying helicopters were heard overhead all day Thursday.

For city leaders, the Obamas’ visit is a sign of status. For others, the First Family is a tourist attraction.

Nancy Gardella, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commence said, “Martha’s Vineyard is honored and delighted the president and his family have chosen Martha’s Vineyard as their vacation destination for the third year in a row. We are very excited.”

Commemorative Obama T-shirts have been “flying off the shelf,” said Richard White, owner of the popular retail store Soft As A Grape.

“We the people of Martha’s Vineyard love having the president here,” White said. “It brings attention to the island and we love attention. While some people are upset over Obama taking a vacation with all the turmoil going in the nation, we here on the island don’t begrudge the president a vacation, and he and his family are very welcome here.”

Islanders and Vineyarders take this and past presidential visits in stride. If they happen to run into the President or the First Family they simply nod, say hi and respect their privacy. “Wash-a-shores” (also known as tourists) do not share the same decorum and are a bit more zealous in their reactions.

Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the First Family might spot them at the 150th Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Fair taking place this weekend. Or a lucky few might snag a glimpse of the Obama girls playing mini golf at Island Cove Adventures in West Tisbury. “I am not a name dropper, and we like to keep the names of our quests private, but I could mention that Sasha and Malia played a round of mini golf here last year,” Ray Gosselin, owner of Island Cove Adventures noted.

The weather is warm, the sun is shining and the water is tepid on Martha’s Vineyard. That warmth and sunny atmosphere is exactly the image Martha’s Vineyard aspires to portray to President Obama, his family and all of America.

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Canadian Firm Recalls Bacon Products for Possible Listeria Contamination

Cornwall, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – Aliments Prince, S.E.C., an establishment from Ontario, Canada, is recalling approximately 380,000 pounds of diced bacon products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Through routine testing on July 19, 2011, FSIS found a sample of cooked diced bacon imported from Aliments Prince, S.E.C. to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The initial product represented by that sample was refused entry. An in-depth investigation by the firm and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency into the root cause of the Listeria monocytogenes finding resulted in a recall of all precooked bacon products from the Canadian firm. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

The following product(s) are subject to recall:

  • 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Napoli Cooked Bacon Topping” that bear the case code 83600
  • 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Stefano Brand Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83601
  • 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Bellissimo Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83602
  • 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Olymel Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83603
  • 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Assoluti Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83608

All production dates prior to August 10, 2011, are subject to recall. The labels on the shipping containers have “EST No. 169A” and “Product of Canada.” The products were shipped to distribution centers in the U.S. for further distribution to food service institutions.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Media questions about the recall should contact Richard Vigneault at (514) 497-1385. Consumers with questions about the recall should call Aliments Prince, S.E.C. at 1-800-361-5800.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. “Ask Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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U.S. calls for transparency as China readies first aircraft carrier

Matthew Borghese – AHN News Contributor

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States is calling on China to increase transparency and expand its bilateral dialog as Beijing prepares to test its first domestically refitted aircraft carrier. During a press conference in Washington, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland called on China to play a more open role in global affairs.

“We have had concerns for some time, and we’ve been quite open about them with regard to the lack of transparency from China regarding its power projection and its lack of access and denial capabilities,” Nuland said. “So we want to see more transparency. We would welcome any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing this kind of equipment. And as you know, President Obama and President Hu have stated together that they want a healthy and reliable military-to-military relationship.”

“This is part of our larger concern that China is not as transparent as other countries. It’s not as transparent as the United States about its military acquisitions, about its military budget. And this causes concern, and we’d like to have the kind of open, transparent relationship in military-to-military affairs,” Nuland explained.

“We are prepared to be extremely transparent with regard to U.S. military positions and equipment, and we’d like to have a reciprocal relationship with China, and that’s what our presidents have said we ought to aspire to. So it’s in that context that we make these comments today with regard to this particular acquisition,” Nuland added.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been working to expand its naval air presence for decades, purchasing four former Soviet Union-built aircraft carries, including the Admiral Kuznetsov class ‘Varyag.’ China has refitted the Varyag and on August 10 announced the ship will soon undergo seatrials.

The refitted aircraft carrier will presumably fly Chinese j-15 ‘Flying Shark’ jet fighters, modeled on the Sukhoi SU-33 ‘Naval Flankers.’

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Time Warner rakes in Q2 profits in all divisions

Linda Young – AHN News Writer

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Time Warner Inc. (TWX) beat market expectations with second-quarter earnings that were 14 percent higher than a year earlier.

New York-based Time Warner saw its revenues grow at the fastest pace in nearly four years. On Wednesday, the company reported Q2 net income of $638 million, or 59 cents per share from $562 million and 49 cents per share a year earlier.

Time Warner is the parent company of CNNMoney.com, Fortune and Warner Bros. film studios. The Time Warner network cable channels division includes the HBO, TBS, TNT and the Cartoon Network channels. That division also saw business rise. It went up by 8.9 percent to $3.45 billion.

All of its divisions were profitable, including movies and publishing.

The company saw filmed entertainment division revenue soar by 13 percent to $2.85 billion during the second quarter.

In its publishing division, revenue rose 2.9 percent to $946 million for the second quarter. Time Warner publishes 21 domestic magazines including Fortune, People and Time and has announced it will offer all of them on tablet devices by year’s end.

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New Jersey Gov. Christie to return to work after hospital visit

Kris Alingod – AHN News Contributor

Trenton, NJ, United States (AHN) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was released from a hospital Thursday night after suffering an asthma attack. The Republican, who has repeatedly said he will not run for the White House next year, was set to return to work on Friday.

In a brief press conference outside Somerset Medical Center, the 49-year-old governor said he had trouble breathing early that morning despite using his inhaler. He was on his way to a bill signing when he again became out of breath and used a rescue inhaler but began to feel lightheaded.

Christie said the last time he was in a hospital due to asthma was when he was in law school. The former U.S. Attorney also spoke about his struggle with his weight.

Christie spent the day at Somerset’s emergency department undergoing tests. “[They] ran a whole battery of tests on me, took a whole lot of blood. Everything came back normal,” he said.

The governor is said to have been asked by Iowa Republicans to seek the presidency, despite his repeated Shermanesque responses about his plans and the relative dissatisfaction among voters with the current field of candidates. He has not ruled out running for the White House in 2016.

Christie is closing out his first year in office with falling poll numbers, a slightly negative 44 – 47 percent job approval rating in the latest Quinnipiac survey, a contrast to his popularity as the anti-establishment candidate last year. He was under fire early this month for making cuts to the budget, including $8 million in AIDS funding and $5 million for legal services, without discussing them with the Democrat-controlled legislature as he had pledged.

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Somali PM charges aid agencies with not properly helping drought hit people

Abdi Hajji Hussein – AHN News Correspondent

Mogadishu, Somalia (AHN) – The prime minister of Somalia’s transitional federal government on Tuesday charged international aid agencies, including those of the United Nations, with not properly assisting his drought-displaced citizens.

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali made the comments during a fleeting visit to the several camps for drought-displaced people in the districts of Wadajir, Waberi, and Hamarweyne of the capital Mogadishu.

Accompanied by members of his cabinet, the mayor of Mogadishu and police, Ali walked through the camps to observe the situation of the displaced residents.

“We will launch full and tough accountability measures to trace how the aid agencies are assisting those who are in desperate need for help,” the prime minister told reporters at a camp near Mogadishu’s international airport where 1,800 drought-affected people are encamped.

“They [aid agencies] are given money claiming they will help Somalia, despite that the people who arrived at Mogadishu are dying of hunger and that is unacceptable absolutely,” he explained, citing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations in Mogadishu as examples.

The prime minister’s statement comes a day after Mogadishu Mayor Mohamoud Ahmed Nur disclosed that more than 85,000 people, who had fled from drought-hit regions, had reached the capital in search of food and water.

After al Shabaab banned aid agencies from operating in the areas they control, some UN and local organizations moved into the government controlled areas in Mogadishu.

The prime minister said the government, with the collaboration of Arab nations such as Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, has managed to relocate and help thousands of drought-hit people in the capital. Aid is delivered to the camps but Ali noted UN agencies, which the prime minister said have some aid stored in Mogadishu, have yet to distribute it.

No comments were immediately available from aid agencies.

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