Source: Reuters.com
The scientists at the Beijing Genomics Institute, who are collaborating with Germany's University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, completed sequencing the genome of the bacterium in three days after receiving its DNA samples.
"This E. coli is a new strain of bacteria that is highly infectious and toxic," said the scientists at the Beijing Genomics Institute in Shenzhen city in southern China.
They said in a press release on Thursday the bacterium was closely related to another E. coli strain, called EAEC 55989, which was previously isolated in central Africa and known to cause serious diarrhea.
Authorities are still hunting for the source of the new bacteria, which is believed to have contaminated raw vegetables. The E.coli outbreak has so far killed at least 17 people and made more than 1,500 others ill in eight European countries.
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, one of the largest hospitals in Hamburg, treated many of the infected patients from northGermany and found they did not respond to some of the antibiotics used, the Chinese scientists said.
"The analysis further showed that this deadly bacterium carries several antibiotic resistant genes, including resistance to aminoglycoside, macrolides and Beta-lactam antibiotics: all of which makes antibiotic treatment extremely difficult," the scientists said.
This new strain of also bore the hallmarks of other E. coli strains that are known to cause symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, or hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys.
E.coli can be passed from person to person but experts say there was no evidence this was happening in any significant numbers in this outbreak.
Health experts are recommending strict hygiene measures such as hand washing and thorough cleaning and cooking of food.
The sequences of this new E. coli strain have been uploaded to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (SRA No: SRA037315.1) and are also available for download at:
ftp://ftp.genomics.org.cn/pub/Ecoli_TY-2482.
Source: smh.com.au
SPACE shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts have returned to Earth, completing the penultimate mission in NASA's 30-year program with a safe middle-of-the-night landing.
Endeavour touched down on the runway a final time under the cover of darkness yesterday just as Atlantis, the last shuttle bound for space, arrived at the launch pad for the grand finale in five weeks.
Commander Mark Kelly brought Endeavour to a stop before hundreds of onlookers that included the four Atlantis astronauts who will take flight in July.
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''One hundred and twenty-two million miles flown during 25 challenging space flights,'' Mission Control told Kelly and his crew, who finished US construction at the International Space Station.
''Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered. Welcome home, Endeavour.''
Kelly replied: ''It's sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy.'' He thanked all those who worked on Endeavour over the years.
Kelly's wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, remained at her rehabilitation centre in Houston, where she is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. A considerably bigger crowd gathered a few hours earlier to see Atlantis make its way to the launch pad, the last such trek ever by a shuttle.
Thousands of Kennedy Space Centre workers and their families lined the route as Atlantis crept out of the Vehicle Assembly Building a little after Florida's Tuesday sunset.
''The show pretty much tells itself,'' Atlantis's commander, Christopher Ferguson, said as he waved towards his ship.
''We're going to look upon this final mission as a celebration of all that the space shuttle has accomplished over its 30-year life span.''
Endeavour's flight lasted 16 days and completed NASA's role in the space station construction that began 12 years ago. AP
SPACE shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts have returned to Earth, completing the penultimate mission in NASA's 30-year program with a safe middle-of-the-night landing.Endeavour touched down on the runway a final time under the cover of darkness yesterday just as Atlantis, the last shuttle bound for space, arrived at the launch pad for the grand finale in five weeks.
Commander Mark Kelly brought Endeavour to a stop before hundreds of onlookers that included the four Atlantis astronauts who will take flight in July.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''One hundred and twenty-two million miles flown during 25 challenging space flights,'' Mission Control told Kelly and his crew, who finished US construction at the International Space Station.
''Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered. Welcome home, Endeavour.''
Kelly replied: ''It's sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy.'' He thanked all those who worked on Endeavour over the years.
Kelly's wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, remained at her rehabilitation centre in Houston, where she is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. A considerably bigger crowd gathered a few hours earlier to see Atlantis make its way to the launch pad, the last such trek ever by a shuttle.
Thousands of Kennedy Space Centre workers and their families lined the route as Atlantis crept out of the Vehicle Assembly Building a little after Florida's Tuesday sunset.
''The show pretty much tells itself,'' Atlantis's commander, Christopher Ferguson, said as he waved towards his ship.
''We're going to look upon this final mission as a celebration of all that the space shuttle has accomplished over its 30-year life span.''
Endeavour's flight lasted 16 days and completed NASA's role in the space station construction that began 12 years ago. AP
AMRITSAR, India — Three Indian men sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates for murder returned home on Tuesday after a businessman paid “blood money” to save their lives.
The prisoners were freed in Sharjah after Dubai-based Indian businessman S.P. Singh Oberoi paid 1.8 million rupees ($40,000) as compensation to relatives of an Indian who was killed by the three men in October 2008.
Kashmiri Lal, Trilochan Singh and Pradeep Kumar, sentenced to death in 2009, told reporters in the northern Indian city of Amritsar that they were innocent.
“I paid the blood money to save these men,” Oberoi told AFP at Amritsar airport where the men were welcomed home by their families.
By Deepa Babington – Mon May 30, 1:58 pm ET
ROME (Reuters) – Eight high-ranking Libyan army officers appeared in Rome on Monday saying they were part of a group of as many as 120 military officials and soldiers who had defected from Muammar Gaddafi's side in recent days.
The eight officers -- five generals, two colonels and a major -- spoke at a hastily-called news conference organised by the Italian government, which is one of a handful of countries that has recognized the Libyan rebel movement fighting Gaddafi as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
"What is happening to our people has frightened us," said one officer, who identified himself as General Oun Ali Oun.
"There is a lot of killing, genocide ... violence against women. No wise, rational person with the minimum of dignity can do what we saw with our eyes and what he asked us to do."
Another officer, General Salah Giuma Yahmed, said Gaddafi's army was weakening day by day, with the force reduced to 20 percent of its original capacity.
"Gaddafi's days are numbered," said Yahmed.
Libyan U.N. ambassador Abdurrahman Shalgam, who has also defected from Gaddafi, said all 120 military personnel were outside Libya now but did not say where they were.
Earlier, Al Arabiya television said 120 Libyan officers had arrived in Rome. The Libyan ambassador to Rome, yet another defector, said only the eight present at the news conference were in the Italian capital.
The defectors said they escaped Libya over its western border into Tunisia via crossings controlled by the rebels.
"This will create its own momentum against Gaddafi, increasing the pressure on him," British-based Libyan opposition activist and editor Ashour Shamis said on the defections.
Each defection was the result of a combination of factors, said Noman Benotman, another opposition activist who works as an analyst for Britain's Quilliam Foundation think tank.
But the latest group had been spurred largely by tensions, Benotman said, arising from the appointment of what he called newcomers to senior positions in the security services.
The behavior of these men, many of them relatively youthful Gaddafi loyalists in their mid-30s, had stirred anger and dismay among the army's officer ranks, who regarded their actions as overbearing and brutal, Benotman said.
"The army officers feel they are being watched all the time. They feel uncomfortable because they feel a lack of trust. So at the first chance of defection they took it," he said.
He added that many of the newly appointed senior security officials were Gaddafi relatives.
ROME (Reuters) – Eight high-ranking Libyan army officers appeared in Rome on Monday saying they were part of a group of as many as 120 military officials and soldiers who had defected from Muammar Gaddafi's side in recent days.The eight officers -- five generals, two colonels and a major -- spoke at a hastily-called news conference organised by the Italian government, which is one of a handful of countries that has recognized the Libyan rebel movement fighting Gaddafi as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
"What is happening to our people has frightened us," said one officer, who identified himself as General Oun Ali Oun.
"There is a lot of killing, genocide ... violence against women. No wise, rational person with the minimum of dignity can do what we saw with our eyes and what he asked us to do."
Another officer, General Salah Giuma Yahmed, said Gaddafi's army was weakening day by day, with the force reduced to 20 percent of its original capacity.
"Gaddafi's days are numbered," said Yahmed.
Libyan U.N. ambassador Abdurrahman Shalgam, who has also defected from Gaddafi, said all 120 military personnel were outside Libya now but did not say where they were.
Earlier, Al Arabiya television said 120 Libyan officers had arrived in Rome. The Libyan ambassador to Rome, yet another defector, said only the eight present at the news conference were in the Italian capital.
The defectors said they escaped Libya over its western border into Tunisia via crossings controlled by the rebels.
"This will create its own momentum against Gaddafi, increasing the pressure on him," British-based Libyan opposition activist and editor Ashour Shamis said on the defections.
Each defection was the result of a combination of factors, said Noman Benotman, another opposition activist who works as an analyst for Britain's Quilliam Foundation think tank.
But the latest group had been spurred largely by tensions, Benotman said, arising from the appointment of what he called newcomers to senior positions in the security services.
The behavior of these men, many of them relatively youthful Gaddafi loyalists in their mid-30s, had stirred anger and dismay among the army's officer ranks, who regarded their actions as overbearing and brutal, Benotman said.
"The army officers feel they are being watched all the time. They feel uncomfortable because they feel a lack of trust. So at the first chance of defection they took it," he said.
He added that many of the newly appointed senior security officials were Gaddafi relatives.
"Hangover," debuting last Thursday on the eve of the long Memorial Day weekend, earned $137.4 million through Monday. That beats the $134.3 million earned by Warner's "The Matrix Reloaded" in its first five days.
The movie's performance marks a milestone for Hollywood, proving that comedies can become summer event pics, and do as well as superhero franchises. In addition to breaking several key records, "Hangover" also nabbed the fourth-best opening ever for Memorial Day.
KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan paused Monday to remember the fallen in Memorial Day services, as a war nearly a decade old trudges on.Some prayed and held flag-raising ceremonies at dawn to recognize the more than 1,400 killed in combat here since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that triggered the war.
"We reflect on those who have gone before us. We reflect on their service and their sacrifice on behalf of our great nation," said Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, who commands a Marine division in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. "We should also remember those serving today who embody that same commitment of service and sacrifice. They are committed to something greater than themselves and they muster the physical and moral courage to accomplish extraordinary feats in battle."
In Iraq, an estimated 46,000 U.S. troops remain stationed there though officials say combat operations are over in a nation that saw more than 4,400 American troops die in combat. Under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad, the troops still in Iraq must leave by Dec. 31.
Black Hawk helicopters churned through the night sky Sunday as a strong wind coming over Kabul's surrounding mountains blew against the flickering candles that cast an orange glow on those gathered for a remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' headquarters.
Earlier in the day, those working there enjoyed one of their five days off a year from building police stations, dams and other projects in a nation torn by decades of war. Col. Thomas Magness, 47, of Los Angeles, California urged the more than 100 corps employees and U.S. troops gathered there to remember the meaning of Memorial Day — advice that could carry home to America.
"While we were playing volleyball today, no doubt some soldier gave the ultimate sacrifice," the corps commander said.
Memorial Day, instituted to honor America's war dead, will be observed Monday with a public holiday. This Memorial Day comes before the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, which ultimately brought U.S. troops into Afghanistan to unseat the Taliban government and hunt terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
"Our country got attacked, and we're here to fight the war on it," said Roger Nowicki of the corps.
While Navy SEALs shot and killed bin Laden earlier this month in neighboring Pakistan, the U.S.-led war here continues. President Barack Obama plans to draw down U.S. troops beginning in July, while NATO has committed to handing over control of security in the country to Afghans by 2014.
In the meantime, the war grinds on toward its 10th year. The sharp pangs of loss are visible on some attending the event, like Maj. Erica Iverson, 33, of Vermillion, South Dakota. She spoke of serving as a casualty assistance officer after the 2010 death of Staff Sgt. Adam Dickmyer of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who once served as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.
Iverson's voice choked as she recounted how Dickmyer's mother fell off her chair in grief when her son's body returned to the U.S. His widow chased after the casket, screaming: "Don't leave me!"
"His wife has an empty house," Iverson said. "His entire unit came home today, and he didn't come with them."
Iverson said speechwriters for Obama called her in recent days, saying the president may honor Dickmyer in remarks on Memorial Day.
Increasingly skeptical American and Afghan publics question why U.S. and NATO forces remain there. The Taliban recently begun its spring offensive, as suicide bombings, roadside explosions and attacks in remote posts have returned with a frightening regularity.
"You don't get used to it because you're in a war zone," said civilian corps worker George S. Triggs, 54, of Louisville, Kentucky. "You learn to tolerate it and do the best you can."
Yet the worst stress, some acknowledged, is that of family members waiting at home for their loved ones to return. Lt. Col. Jon Chytka, 44, of Tabor, South Dakota recounted having to explain to his 5-year-old daughter why he had to leave.
He gave this answer: "I told her that before she was born, there were 19 people who killed 3,000."
Sing it with me: The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!
Thousands might have dusted off that old-school hit at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night as it appeared that the roof literally was on fire in the right-field upper deck. Smoke began billowing into the seating area of the ballpark during the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-1 loss to the Florida Marlins.
Thousands of fans were moved from the affected sections and relocated to another part of the stadium. (As L.A. Times reporter Steve Dilbeck pointed out, there were plenty of empty sections to move to, with an announced crowd of 29,971 on hand.)
No one was evacuated from the park, but some reportedly suffered from smoke irritation. The smoke wafted from the upper tiers of the ballpark down to the lower levels, and eventually reached center field. Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan(notes) definitely noticed something wrong in the air.
From the Palm Beach Post:
"I could smell that smoke and I was like, 'That ain't a hot-dog stand.' Then I saw this huge puff and I said, 'Oh, my God, this place is on fire and we're still playing,' " [he] said.
No, it wasn't a hot dog stand ablaze.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire originated from a small warehouse below the reserved level. Officials on the scene said a small fire of paper products was the cause of the smoke, and was put out by firefighters in 20 minutes.
The stadium's public address announcer informed the crowd of the situation during the sixth inning, assuring them that the fire was under control and there was no need to evacuate the ballpark.
Ultimately, it was yet another bizarre incident in a season full of off-the-field embarrassment for the Dodgers.
Thousands might have dusted off that old-school hit at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night as it appeared that the roof literally was on fire in the right-field upper deck. Smoke began billowing into the seating area of the ballpark during the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-1 loss to the Florida Marlins.
Thousands of fans were moved from the affected sections and relocated to another part of the stadium. (As L.A. Times reporter Steve Dilbeck pointed out, there were plenty of empty sections to move to, with an announced crowd of 29,971 on hand.)
No one was evacuated from the park, but some reportedly suffered from smoke irritation. The smoke wafted from the upper tiers of the ballpark down to the lower levels, and eventually reached center field. Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan(notes) definitely noticed something wrong in the air.
From the Palm Beach Post:
"I could smell that smoke and I was like, 'That ain't a hot-dog stand.' Then I saw this huge puff and I said, 'Oh, my God, this place is on fire and we're still playing,' " [he] said.
No, it wasn't a hot dog stand ablaze.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire originated from a small warehouse below the reserved level. Officials on the scene said a small fire of paper products was the cause of the smoke, and was put out by firefighters in 20 minutes.
The stadium's public address announcer informed the crowd of the situation during the sixth inning, assuring them that the fire was under control and there was no need to evacuate the ballpark.
Ultimately, it was yet another bizarre incident in a season full of off-the-field embarrassment for the Dodgers.
