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Torrential rain triggered floods in the Indonesian capital on Friday, blocking roads and trapping residents in their homes as torrents of muddy water reached a depth of 2 metres (6.7 ft), police and witnesses said. Floods during the rainy season in Indonesia are common, but the heavy rains this week have caused chaos on roads and shut some train lines around Jakarta, police said. "There is waist deep water outside my building," said Rhea Chand, who works in the development sector and lives in South Jakarta. There had been no reports of deaths so far, but a string of major roads and fly-overs in the city were closed, police said. Some residents in southern Jakarta had moved to higher ground, Krisna, a police official at the city's traffic information desk, said. The official said local authorities had been warned beforehand to prepare for the deluge. "Usually local authorities have already prepared shelter, food, medical teams and clothing," he said. More than 80 city buses were stranded in traffic jams or due to lack of fuel, Antara news agency reported. Many office workers could not make it into work, while children in parts of the city took advantage of the extreme wet weather to play and swim in the flooded streets. Outside the capital, train and road lines were cut in the Tangerang district west of Jakarta, Antara said. The rain was affecting a large swath of West Java including the capital, Tangerang and the city of Bogor, home to famed botanical gardens, said Kukuh Ribudianto of the Meteorology agency. He said the intensity of rain had weakened slightly from overnight, but was likely to continue until the evening.

Small Changes in 1918 Pandemic Virus Knocks Out Transmission Research Provides Clues for Assessing Pandemic Potential of New Influenza Viruses.

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that a molecular change in the 1918 pandemic influenza virus stops its transmission in ferrets that were in close proximity, shedding light on the properties that allowed the 1918 pandemic virus to spread so quickly and potentially providing important clues that could help scientists assess emerging influenza viruses, such as H5N1.

The study, which is published in the Feb. 5 issue of Science, showed that a modest change of two amino acids in the main protein found on the surface of the 1918 virus did not change the virus's ability to cause disease, but stopped respiratory droplet transmission of the virus between ferrets placed in close proximity. The experiments were conducted with ferrets because their reaction to influenza viruses closely mimics how the disease affects humans.

"With this vital research, we are learning more about what may have contributed to the spread and deadliness of the 1918 pandemic," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "By better understanding how this virus spreads, we can be better positioned to slow down or stop the spread of the pandemic virus and hence be better prepared for the next pandemic."

To spread and cause illness, the influenza virus must first bind to host cells found in humans and animals. The Science study suggests that the hemagglutinin (HA), a type of protein found on the surface of influenza viruses, plays an important role in the 1918 virus's ability to transmit from one host to another efficiently. This research suggests that, for an influenza virus to spread efficiently, the virus's HA must prefer attaching to cells that are found predominately in the human upper airway instead of cells found predominately in the gastrointestinal tracts of birds. Other changes may be necessary as well. Current H5N1 viruses prefer attaching to avian cells, suggesting the virus would need to make genetic changes before it could pass easily between humans.

"Work on the 1918 virus is providing clues that are helping us evaluate other influenza viruses with pandemic potential, such as H5N1, that may emerge," said Dr. Terrence Tumpey, lead author of the paper and a CDC senior microbiologist. "Though we still don't know what changes might be necessary for H5N1 to transmit easily among people, it's likely that changes in more than one virus protein would be required for the H5N1 virus to be transmitted among humans."

Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain emerges to which people have little or no immunity. Most experts believe another pandemic will occur, but it is impossible to predict which strain will emerge as the next pandemic strain, when it will occur or how severe it will be.

The 1918 pandemic caused an estimated 675,000 deaths in the United States and up to 50 million worldwide, in the worst pandemic of the past century.

The research was done in collaboration with Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. All laboratory work with 1918 virus was conducted at CDC in a high containment Biosafety Level 3 laboratory with enhancements, using stringent biosecurity precautions to protect both laboratory workers and the public from exposure to the virus. Currently available antiviral drugs have been shown to be effective against the 1918 influenza virus and similar viruses.

ZEFConsult is a unit at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn dealing with evidence-based policy advice. It presents a study on “Information and communication technology for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sub-Saharan Africa” to the development committee of the German Bundestag in Berlin today. The study was conducted in cooperation with the German software company SAP. Two hundred NGOs in South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia have been interviewed between September and October 2006.

“One of the most surprising results of the study is that promoting ICT is of equal importance in Sub-Saharan Africa as promoting basic needs”, says Dr. Hartmut Ihne, director of ZEFConsult. “We can conclude, therefore, that personal computers, internet, and mobile phones are crucial in fulfilling basic needs and building up a civil society. The study shows that ICT plays an important mediatory role in processes of societal change and democratic development”, adds Dr. Ihne.

Another remarkable outcome of the study is that the media forms such as internet, personal computers, and mobile phones are the main sources of information and information technologies for NGOs in developing countries. In fact, they have leapfrogged classical means of communication like radio, TV and even printmedia.

“We endorsed in our recommendations that the educative function of NGOs in setting up democratic societies in Sub-Saharan Africa is of crucial importance”, explains Dr. Ihne. “However, NGOs can only play this pivotal role effectively if a) they can make use of a well-functioning ICT-infrastructure; b) they have well-trained staff who are able to use the ICT structures, and c) a sustainable and adequate funding is guaranteed. We therefore strongly recommend German development politics to engage in efforts of establishing an international NGO fund to support the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with developing their ICT potential. Also, ICT can play an exemplary role in implementing private-public-partnership programs for NGOs and private companies. All in all the German government needs a comprehensive development strategy for ICT in Africa in which ICT as a promoting tool for democracy play a primary role”, concludes Dr. Ihne.

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One of the main Oslo traffic arteries was closed on Wednesday after a series of accidents linked to unusually slippery roads. The conditions were so hazardous that authorities closed a stretch of main highway E18, in both directions between Vinterbro and Mastemyr on the outskirts of Oslo, after at least five accidents. "It is too slippery," Follo police operation leader Jan Eivind Myklatun told Aftenposten.no. "The road will be closed until it is salted and highway authorities have approved the job," Myklatun said. Follo police were receiving a steady stream of accident reports. "We are logging the accidents now. We have had reports of two involving personal injury but we have no overview of how serious these injuries are. On top of this several have driven off the road. We know of five accidents due to slippery conditions," Myklatun said. The traffic halt will have a major impact on commuters and capital traffic. "We don't know how long we will have to close the E18 but we have to use the time it takes. There will be a major impact on motorists, with long queues. If this takes time we will also have to close the Nordby Tunnel so that people are not stuck waiting in there," said Kai Gundersen of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The conditions have been caused by freezing rain. "The air is so warm that snow melts on the way down, but when it hits the ground it freezes instantly. This gives unusually slippery roads," meteorologist Kristen Gislefoss at the Meteorological Institute told newspaper Romerikes Blad's web site. Gislefoss predicted that the situation would clear up but that slippery conditions would persist many places. There were several reports of accidents and collisions within the Oslo area on Wednesday morning, and in the Romerike district northeast of Oslo a bus slid into a passenger car, injuring the motorist.

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and for the photo fans

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Wedding bells were ringing at Elmendorf Jan. 26 when an officer from the 611th Air Intelligence Squadron and his fiancee tied the knot in the 611th AIS conference room after he received news of a short-notice deployment to Iraq.
Maj. Greg Soukup's notification came only 32 days before the large out-of-town ceremony his fiancee Kristen Owens and him had been planning. Among the numerous deployment checklist items was, "marry my love," he said.
After finding out about the deployment, the bride and groom made numerous phone calls telling 50 loved ones and many businesses the planned wedding would not happen.
They were both astonished when the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas and Alaska and Delta Airlines refunded all hotel and airline commitments after finding out about the deployment.
"These businesses have been nothing but supportive and understanding with no questions asked," Kristen said. "We are so lucky they are supportive of the military."
By Jan. 24, new plans were in motion. The bride and groom asked Lt. Col. Christine Morris, 611th AIS commander, to be their marriage commissioner and marry them at the squadron.
"I never imagined presiding over a ceremony like this. I am truly honored and privileged to help make this day happen for them," she said.
From there, the plans snowballed as the 611th Air Operations Group and 611th AIS banded together to organize a wedding.
By noon Jan. 26 there was a wedding cake, decorations, flowers, champagne, rings and a room full of supportive Air Force family members dressed in blues with cameras in hand. As Pachelbel's Canon in D played and the lights were dimmed, Kristen Owens walked down the hallway to her groom.
After the ceremony and cheers from the teary eyed crowd, Major Soukup said his thanks.
"A month from now we would have been with our biological family. Today, we are with our Air Force family," he said. "Thank you for going above and beyond making today unforgettable."
Major Soukup wasn't expecting to deploy until his Air Expeditionary Force rotation in January 2008. Since his career field is undermanned, the Air Force attached him to another AEF. Next week, he will venture to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq and return to his bride in about six months.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser, Alaskan Command commander, had a chance to congratulate the couple.
"We are very proud of them both and thank them for their dedication to our nation and our Air Force," the general said. "I'm grateful that our nation is blessed with men and women willing to make these types of sacrifices to defend our freedom."
After all the cake was gone, the bride and groom made their way to a decorated car, but not before walking through a row of Airmen tossing shredded paper like confetti. As the happy couple's wedding day ended, they enjoyed a wedding gift from the 611th Air Operations Group a stay at a hotel downtown as part of what Kristen refers to as their "mini moon."

The Air Force plans to develop a next generation love bomber

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Managers have suspended visiting hours at a St. John's hospital struck by an outbreak of the Norwalk virus. The Eastern Health regional authority has temporarily halted all visits to in-patient rooms at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital. Clinic visits, blood work and diagnostic testing will continue as usual. Patients, the authority advised, should be visited only in extreme circumstances. Eastern Health said there are a high number of people suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms in the St. John's area. It said residents should not visit any hospital or long-term care facility unless absolutely necessary, especially if they've experienced symptoms in the past 48 hours. Norwalk virus the best-known of the norovirus group of viruses has been prompting similar restrictions at several hospitals and healthcare centres across Canada this winter.

Australia's famed Great Barrier Reef, treasured as the world's largest living organism, could be killed within decades by global warming, scientists warn in a new report. The World Heritage site, stretching over more than 345,000 square kilometers (133,000 sq miles) off Australia's east coast, will become "functionally extinct", the scientists are quoted as saying in The Age newspaper. The assessment is contained in a leaked draft of a major international report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be released later this year, the newspaper said. A chapter on Australia in the report on global impacts of climate change warns that coral bleaching in the Barrier Reef is likely to become an annual occurrence by as early as 2030 due to warmer, more acidic seas. Bleaching occurs when the plant-like organisms that make up coral die and leave behind the white limestone skeleton of the reef. Some 500 experts are meeting in Paris this week ahead of the release on Friday of the IPCC's first report since 2001 on the state of scientific knowledge on global warming. The report will be followed in April by volumes focusing on the impacts of climate change and on the social-economic costs of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
The panel is highly regarded for its neutrality and caution, and wields a big influence over government policies and corporate strategies. Earlier warnings that climate change was damaging the reef, a major tourist attraction, prompted the Australian government to announce late last year that it was considering using vast sunshades to protect the coral. Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said the government was looking at funding the use of shade cloths to protect vulnerable parts of the giant reef off the coast of Queensland state, after a promising two-year trial. The cloth, which is being developing by marine researchers in Queensland, would be held in place by floating pontoons. Marine biologist Russell Hore, from Reef Biosearch in Port Douglas, said while the idea had at first seemed laughable, everything had to be considered to protect the reef.

Due to strong winds in Istanbul, ferry boat and sea bus expeditions were cancelled on Monday. Strong wind has caused formation of giant waves in the Marmara Sea. Expeditions from Yenikapı to Bandırma, Armutlu and Yalova and ferry boat expeditions between Eminönü and Harem were cancelled early Monday morning. Transit ships were anchored in Istanbul strait. Small fishing boats could not set out to sea.

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In Afghanistan Jan. 27, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force troops in contact with enemy forces near Moqor and Worzhanah Kalay. An F-15 expended a guided bomb unit-39 on enemy positions.

A B1-B Lancer provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Jalalabad. The B1-B expended GBU-38s on enemy positions.

A B-1B and Royal Air Force M-2000 provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Carlson.

In total, 27 close-air support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, eight Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, F-16 Fighting Falcons conducted a strike against anti-Iraqi forces near Taji. The F-16s expended GBU-31s on enemy targets.

Navy F-18s also conducted a strike against anti-Iraqi forces near Fallujah. The F-18s expended rockets on enemy targets.

F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad, Tikrit and Diyala.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Additionally, 15 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. An Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with electro-optical and infrared sensors.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew more than 160 airlift sorties, delivered more than 470 tons of cargo and transported more than 4,200 passengers. This included about 24,000 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Canada flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On Jan. 26, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French Air Force tankers flew 29 sorties and off-loaded more than 1.7 million pounds of fuel.

"The air refuelers are critical to mission success. They provide us with a great deal of flexibility. They also complete their missions with a high degree of professionalism and tenacity," said Navy Capt. Stephen Foley, Combined Air Operation Center battle director.

Winds gusting to 110 km/h and more snow continued to lash northern coastal areas of Cape Breton on Saturday, with at least two traffic deaths blamed on the storm. A storm surge warning was in effect in northern Nova Scotia, prompting concerns of shoreline erosion, forecasters said. Part of Cape Breton received about 30 centimetres of snow on Friday and the snow was continuing to fall on Saturday. (CBC) Parts of the island received about 30 centimetres of snow on Friday and police said whiteout conditions made driving dangerous. Two people were killed early Friday on Highway 16 near Halfway Cove when the car they were in drove off a wooden bridge. By midday Saturday, the snow had tapered off, but was still blowing, reducing visibility. "Some of the streets that have been plowed are starting to fill back in," said Sgt. Mike Kennedy of Cape Breton Regional Police.