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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Jul-2013
15-Jul-13 World View -- WHO meets to discuss MERS virus pandemic threat

Web Log - July, 2013

15-Jul-13 World View -- WHO meets to discuss MERS virus pandemic threat

Pakistan Taliban sends hundreds of fighters to Syria

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

WHO emergency meetings discuss MERS virus pandemic threat
Pakistan Taliban sends hundreds of fighters to Syria
Islamic State of Iraq launches multiple attacks in Ramadan

WHO emergency meetings discuss MERS virus pandemic threat

The Hajj, to take place in October, is considered a serious danger for triggering a MERS pandemic

The Hajj, to take place in October, is considered a serious danger for triggering a MERS pandemic

The World Health Association (WHO) is meeting in emergency session last week and this week over concerns that the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been showing increased signs of spreading from human to human, and because there are apparently a large but unknown number of relatively mild cases of MERS that are going undetected. There have been a total of 80 lab-confirmed cases, with 44 deaths, almost all in Saudi Arabia. A particular concern is the long incubation period -- about 12 days -- which means that someone could contract the disease and spread it to other people for 12 days without showing any symptoms.

The Muslim world is currently celebrating Ramadan, which brings a small number of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Of greater concern is the Hajj, which will bring millions of Muslims from around the world to Saudi Arabia in October for their once in a lifetime pilgrimage. It's possible that MERS will spread among these huge crowds of people, without the victims even realizing it until several days after they've returned home and possibly infected other family members. Saudi officials are advising everyone who visits their country to wear masks, and are discussing with WHO what measures should be taken to cope with this global threat. Dubai Chronicle and Recombinomics

Pakistan Taliban sends hundreds of fighters to Syria

Thanks to the stupid policies of Russia's president Vladimir Putin in prolonging the Syria war by providing an unlimited supply of heavy weapons to the regime of the psychopathic president Bashar al-Assad, Syria has become a magnet for radical Sunni jihadists, anxious to fight against al-Assad and his supply of Russian weapons. We've reported how jihadists from Russia's southern (North Caucasus) provinces have been going to Syria to get training and experience that they can take back to Russia and use to attack Putin's government. Now, new reports indicate that Pakistan's Taliban are doing the same thing. They've set up training camps and sent hundreds of men to Syria to join the Islamist rebels fighting against al-Assad, in a strategy aimed at cementing ties with al-Qaeda's central leadership. A Taliban commander says that they'll soon issue videos to describe their victories in Syria. Reuters

Islamic State of Iraq launches multiple attacks in Ramadan

In the southern city of Nasriya, two car bombs left one dead and 12 injured (Reuters)

In the southern city of Nasriya, two car bombs left one dead and 12 injured (Reuters)

Ramadan only began on Wednesday, but since then dozens of people have been killed in deadly attacks across Iraq. On Sunday alone, three roadside bombs near markets in Basra killed at least 28 and left 98 others. Almost 30 more people were killed in attacks in other Iraq cities on Sunday. There were 25 killed on Saturday. The attacks have been launched by Sunni terrorists in the Islamic State of Iraq. Sectarian tensions have been inflamed by the sectarian proxy war in neighboring Syria, as sectarian Sunni vs Shia conflict spreads around the entire Mideast. Iraq is getting closer to sectarian collapse. Al-Jazeera

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 15-Jul-13 World View -- WHO meets to discuss MERS virus pandemic threat thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (15-Jul-2013) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Jul-2013 15-Jul-13 World View -- WHO meets to discuss MERS virus pandemic threat

WHO emergency meetings discuss MERS virus pandemic threat

Pakistan Taliban sends hundreds of fighters to Syria

Islamic State of Iraq launches multiple attacks in Ramadan

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Jul-2013
15-Jul-13 World View -- WHO meets to discuss MERS virus pandemic threat