A round-up of other world news in brief
First 'healthy' British patient dies of H1N1
LONDON – British health authorities have recorded the first death from H1N1 flu in an otherwise healthy patient.
The patient, from Essex, is the 15th to die in Britain from the virus but, unlike all the others, had no underlying health conditions. “This death underlines that, although the virus is proving generally mild in most people, it is more severe in some cases,” Britain’s chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson, said yesterday. – (Reuters)
Cameron critical of journalists
LONDON – Conservative leader David Cameron criticised journalists guilty of “unacceptable practices” yesterday but continued to back the former News of the World editor who heads his media relations team.
In an apparent reference to alleged phone tapping by investigators working for journalists employed by the group that owns the News of the World, he said newspapers did “wrong things”. He said he stood by his view that there was no need for his director of communications, Andy Coulson, to resign. – (PA)
Attempted murder charge for teacher
LONDON – A -old science teacher at a school in Nottinghamshire was charged yesterday with the attempted murder of a teenage pupil. Peter Harvey (49) will appear at Mansfield magistrates court today.
Jack Waterhouse (14) was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after an incident in a classroom at All Saints’ Catholic school in Mansfield on Wednesday. – (Reuters)
Honduras talks dead, says Chávez
CARACAS – Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez says talks in Costa Rica aimed at resolving the political crisis in Honduras were dead before they started, adding that the White house had made a “grave error” in calling for negotiations.
He said ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was planning to return to Honduras “by any means”, despite the talks. – (Reuters)
Rules on assisted suicide agreed
ZURICH – Swiss right-to- die group Exit has agreed rules to govern the practice of assisted suicide with prosecutors in the city of Zurich that it hopes might eventually form the basis of national regulation.
The rules include that assisted suicide is only allowed for those in serious suffering due to health problems, accident or disability; all other options must be exhausted; and only a deadly dose of anaesthetic sodium pentobarbital can be used. – (Reuters)
Suu Kyi trial resumes
RANGOON – The trial of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (64) resumed yesterday, a week after the country’s military rulers ignored a plea from the UN chief to drop security charges against her. – (Reuters)