New PMTCT Drug Regimen Catching On in South Africa

HIV-positive mothers in South Africa will have a better chance of not passing the virus to their babies, after the government announced it was switching to a more effective drug regimen, which can reduce the risk of transmission to as little as five percent. Read more

Iraq to Give $8 Million to Jordan for Hosting Refugees

The Iraqi government will give Jordan US$8 million to help host the estimated 500,000 Iraqi refugees now living in the country. The Iraqi ambassador to Jordan, Saad Hayani, said the money was to support education and health institutions which have come under financial pressure owing to the influx of Iraqi refugees since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Read more

Ebola Outbreak Kills 16 in Uganda

An outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the western Uganda district of Bundibugyo has killed 16 of 51 people infected over the past three weeks, a senior health official said. Read more

Coastguards Remind Boat Owners to Maintain Their Vessels

Coastguards are encouraging boat owners to maintain their vessels properly after they were called to assist a 20 ft boat which broke down inside Holyhead harbour.

U.K. Holyhead Coastguard received a call from a friend of the skipper at 4.00pm this afternoon reporting that he needed assistance. The Coastguard requested Holyhead inshore lifeboat to launch. The lifeboat towed the vessel back to its mooring and gave the two crew some advice regarding the state of repair of their vessel. The lifeboat crew reported back to the Coastguard that the vessel was in a bad condition and that there was only one lifejacket on board.

Mike Oates, Holyhead Coastguard says:

We are always available to help any vessel in distress at sea and would encourage skippers to call us in the first instance should their vessel get into difficulty either using DSC distress alert, vhf channel 16 or via 999 on the mobile phone. However, I would like to point out that the first two methods are far preferable since the mobile phone signal around the coast is very variable and certainly should not be relied upon. It is imperative that we are called as quickly as possible, should a vessel be in distress, since minutes can often save lives.

I would also like to encourage leisure sailors to ensure that their boat is in good working order. This is the responsibility of the skipper and should be taken seriously since lives can be at risk.

Finally, please do carry and wear a lifejacket whilst at sea. Last year, according to MCA provisional statistics, 14 people may not have lost their lives had they been wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

Net News Publisher

Israel’s Supreme Court Upholds Fuel Cuts to Gaza

Israel will continue to tighten sanctions on the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip after getting a green light from the nation’s top court. As Robert Berger reports from VOA’s Jerusalem bureau, Palestinians say the measures are counterproductive. Read more

Hugo Chavez Helps South Bronx Youth ‘Rock the Boat’

An area of New York City is enjoying the benefits of a foreign leader’s charity. The South Bronx is home to New York State’s poorest congressional district. The foreign leader is a socialist who once called U.S. President George Bush “the devil”. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited the South Bronx in 2005, and now he is handing out money to this American community in need. VOA’s Paige Kollock reports. Read more

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