health: Lincoln Tribune

السبت، 25 فبراير 2012

Lincoln Tribune

Doctors: Dutch Prince Friso in coma, may never regain consciousness
Indonesia to reduce poverty rate to 4 or 5 percent by 2025
Serbia closer to EU after latest Kosovo agreements
Nepal police detain 13 Tibetan demonstrators outside UN building
Bus plunges into ditch in Bangladesh, killing 15

Doctors: Dutch Prince Friso in coma, may never regain consciousness

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 05:46 PM PST

INNSBRUCK, Austria (BNO NEWS) -- Dutch Prince Johan Friso, who was injured in an avalanche in western Austria last week, is in a coma and may never regain consciousness, doctors said on Friday. He will soon be transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Friso, 43, was skiing in the town of Lech on February 17 when he was hit by an avalanche and buried under the snow for about 25 minutes before he was rescued and resuscitated at the scene. Other members of the royal family, who often visit the town, were not involved in the accident.

The condition of the prince, who is the second son of Queen Beatrix but is not in line for the throne since marrying in 2004 without the government's permission, had remained unclear for a week until a press conference by Dr Wolfgang Koller on Friday.

"Prince Friso was brought to Innsbruck University Hospital by rescue helicopter at about 2 p.m. on February 17 after being buried by an avalanche in Lech," said Koller, who is head of the trauma unit at the hospital. "He was covered [by snow] for approximately 25 minutes. At the hospital, after receiving initial treatment in the reanimation unit, he was taken straight to the intensive care trauma unit."

The doctor said Friso's brain had been deprived of oxygen due to the length of time he was covered under the snow. "The result was cardiac arrest, which lasted approximately 50 minutes," Koller said. "The patient had to be reanimated during this entire period. Fifty minutes is a very long time. One could say, too long."

Koller said doctors initially hoped that Friso's mild hypothermic state had sufficiently protected his brain from excessive damage, but tests on Thursday showed this was not the case. "Unfortunately, our hope was in vain," he said. "Yesterday, a first MRI-scan was possible without bringing the patient into danger. Since this examination and the latest neurological tests yesterday evening it is clear that the oxygen deprivation has caused extensive damage to the patient's brain."

The doctor, who did not take questions about Friso's condition from journalists, said it remains unclear whether the prince will ever regain consciousness. "At present it is not certain whether he will ever regain consciousness. In any event, rehabilitation will take months, if not years. Prince Friso's family will now look for an appropriate rehabilitation facility," he said.

A brief statement from the Dutch government said the royal family asks for privacy from the media. "The family of His Royal Highness Prince Friso needs space to learn how to deal with the medical condition of Prince Friso," the statement said. "That is why the family requests the media to respect the needed privacy of the family."

Indonesia to reduce poverty rate to 4 or 5 percent by 2025

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:50 PM PST

JAKARTA, Indonesia (BNO NEWS) -- The government of Indonesia on Friday said it plans to reduce its nationwide poverty rate down to four or five percent in less than 15 years, local media reported.

Indonesia's National Development Planning Minister/National Planning Board chief Armida S Alisjahbana said that the implementation of the Accelerated Poverty Eradication Program Master Plan (MP3KI) will bring the poverty rate to lower levels with systematic planning.

Armida told the Antara news agency that by 2015, Indonesia is looking to increase its per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to Rp 15,000 ($1.66) and eventually reducing its poverty rate to 4 to 5 percent or lower.

Specifically, the minister said the poverty rate target for 2012 is 10.5 to 11.5 percent; for 2015, 8 to 10 percent; for 2020 from 6 to 7 percent or lower if the economy grows fast enough; and by 2025 the country is pushing for a maximum poverty rate of 4 to 5 percent.

With the Southeast Asian country already gradually bringing down its poverty rate, Armida underlined that the goals are realistic. However, she pointed out there are still a number of issues, such as the large prosperity gap that exists from Jakarta to other parts of Indonesia.

One of the plans goals is the implementation of the Law on the Social Security Executive Body (BPJS), which would integrate the entire social security and cover insurance as well as bring welfare benefits to the poor.

Serbia closer to EU after latest Kosovo agreements

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:44 PM PST

BRUSSELS, Belgium (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday announced that the latest agreements reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue bring Serbia and Kosovo closer to the EU. The implementation of the integrated management for crossing points (IBM) were described as a 'major step forward,' important for the stability of the region and for the EU.

As Serbia has constantly refused to recognize Kosovo's independence, which was declared in 2008, the agreements will now allow Kosovo to be able to participate in regional meetings and not be represented by the United Nations (UN) mission in Pristina. In addition, details regarding the management of Serbia and Kosovo's shared borders as well as border crossing were agreed on.

EU High Representative/Vice President Ashton congratulated both parties on these two agreements, adding that one puts into operational form the agreement on integrated management of crossing points, while the other consolidates regional cooperation and ensures that everyone is properly represented.

All EU Member States have supported to the United Nations General Assembly resolution of September 2010 launching the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which targets aiding both parties achieve progress on their path to Europe.

The EU said that for Serbia, these agreements on regional cooperation and IBM are particularly significant in view of the deliberations in next week's Council regarding candidate status for the country.

As for Kosovo, this is important as it makes Kosovo a full participant in its own right in regional meetings and events and will allow for further progress to contractual relations with the EU.

The EU added that Kosovo will now follow the same European course as all others in the Western Balkans, in line with its European perspective. As a result, the Commission is proposing the launch of a feasibility study for a Stabilization and Association Agreement between Kosovo and the EU.

"The deal demonstrates a commitment on both sides to their common European future," Commissioner Füle stated. "Today's agreement also reinforces regional cooperation, good neighbourly relations and the Enlargement agenda in the Western Balkans region."

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commended both governments for their 'flexibility and hard work,' and said that the agreements are consistent with Kosovo's independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, signaling that they also move Kosovo closer toward full European integration.

As the United States has expressed continued support for a complete integration of Europe, Clinton said the agreements will open the door to Serbia's EU candidacy.

"Serbia's progress toward European integration is good for Serbia, good for Kosovo, and good for the future of the entire region," Clinton said. "We look forward to the continuation of the EU-facilitated Dialogue on other issues that impact the daily lives of the citizens of both countries."

Nepal police detain 13 Tibetan demonstrators outside UN building

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:42 PM PST

KATHMANDU, Nepal (BNO NEWS) -- Nepal police on Friday detained more than a dozen Tibetan exiles who were attempting to storm the United Nations office in Kathmandu, media reports said.

Demonstrators tried to climb the gates of the UN office to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. Eleven male and two women from the Tibetan community were detained during the protest, according to police.

The Buddhist refugees, who aimed to show solidarity with Tibetans, shouted, "Wake up UN, Tibet is burning", "restore human rights" and "stop killing in Tibet". As soon as the UN guards stopped them, the riot police which were deployed at the gate forced them into a police van, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

A minor scuffle took place between the Tibetans and the security personnel, PTI reported. In the past, Nepal police have released detained Tibetan protesters after few hours.

The Nepal government officially follows the one-China policy that views Tibet as an integral part of China. Nepal is home to around 20,000 Tibetans and the exiled community has carried out anti-China protests in the last few years, amid increasing pressure from Beijing to halt such activities.

Chinese authorities have stepped up security in Tibet amid a spate of suicides among Buddhist monks and nuns in protest against the Chinese rule. Since March last year, a total of 22 monks and nuns have self-immolated.

The Dalai Lama has resided in the Indian city of Dharamsala, which is now the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, since 1960 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule of Tibet. Dharamsala is also referred to as 'Little Lhasa', referring to the capital of Tibet.

Bus plunges into ditch in Bangladesh, killing 15

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:38 PM PST

DHAKA, Bangladesh (BNO NEWS) -- At least fifteen people were killed on Friday when a bus plunged into a water-filled ditch in central Bangladesh, police said. Dozens more were injured.

The accident happened when the overcrowded bus was crossing a diversion road built for temporary use during the construction of a bridge on the highway. The bus went out of control due to the dilapidated condition of the road and plunged into a ditch, leaving 15 dead and 50 others injured.

Witnesses told the Daily Star newspaper that fourteen people died on the spot of the accident while another succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The injured were transferred to a nearby hospital, including six in critical condition.

The bus was heading to the southern Barisal district and was carrying more than 100 passengers who were due to attend a congregation. Many also got onto the top of the bus, witnesses said.

Road accidents are common in Bangladesh and many are blamed on reckless driving, poor road conditions and old vehicles. It is estimated that road accidents claim at least 13,000 lives a year and leave hundreds of thousands injured in the Asian country.

In July 2011, at least 53 people were killed when the driver of a truck lost control and plunged into a pond in the southeastern region of Bangladesh. The truck was carrying around 80 school children who were returning home after winning a district inter-school football championship.

health

السبت، 25 فبراير 2012

Lincoln Tribune

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