NPR 2009-4-26

The World Health Organization is closely monitoring the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and the US, saying they have pandemic potential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are now 11 confirmed cases of swine flu in the US: seven in California, two in Texas and two / reported today in Kansas. In addition, New York City's health commissioner 1 Doctor Thomas Frieden says eight students at a high school in Queens probably have swine flu. 

Last evening before kids went home, and in one local doctor's office we were able to obtain specimens 2 from nine students at the school. We sent those to our public health laboratory. Today, we are confirming that that laboratory has identified those specimens, eight of those nine specimens, has probable human swine influenza 3.

Frieden says further tests are being done to see if the students definitely have the new type of swine flu that's being blamed for at least 20 deaths and hundreds of illnesses in Mexico. Authorities there have stepped up efforts to halt the spread of the disease. Jennifer Schmidt reports from Mexico City.

Mexico City has been virtually shut down the public events this weekend. The government has canceled more than 550 cultural and sporting events including a rock concert at the national auditorium 4. Museum has been shuttered and residents are being warned to stay away from restaurants, bars and movie theaters. The government says people who do venture out onto the streets should wear surgical 5 masks, which are being handed out for free in the city's subways.  Meanwhile, parents are awaiting word on when schools may reopen. On Friday, all of the city's 30, 000 public and private schools were shut indefinitely. In one bright note, two major soccer matches scheduled for Sunday are still on. But the matches will be played in empty stadiums. Fans will not be allowed to watch except on TV. For NPR News, I am Jennifer Schmidt in Mexico City.

Member nations of the International Monetary 6 Fund are pledging to bolster 7 banks and to take steps to restore economic growth and the World Bank says it will provide poor countries with more than 55 billion dollars for public works projects. The announcements came as the bank and the IMF held the spring meeting in Washington. On the streets near the meeting site, protestors clashed with police. As NPR's Allison Keyes reports.

"Go down the World Bank! Go down the IMF!"

Windows were smashed at two banks and some cars parked nearby were spray-painted before a rally this morning. Marching demonstrators tried to block two intersections 8 including one near the hotels where delegates are thought to be staying. Some carried signs reading "capitalism 9 do not resuscitate 10". Others tried to surge through the police line surrounding them. Police push the demonstrators back onto the sidewalk and some ended up on the ground after trying to march onto a street police were blocking. Protestors accused the IMF of contributing to the worldwide economic downturn and of creating policies that hurt people in impoverished 11 countries.

This is NPR News from Washington.

In Pakistan top civilian 12 and military leaders are uniting against charges that the government has not done enough to halt the resurgent Taliban, which in recent weeks has pressed closer to the capital. From Islamabad NPR's Julie McCarthy reports.

In the most direct declaration yet on the Taliban's spread, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani issued a strongly-worded statement, dispelling 13 doubts about military's capacity and willingness to combat the Taliban. US officials have pressed Pakistan for more forceful action against the Islamic extremists who pose a growing threat to the stability of this nuclear armed state. But Kayani said victory against the militants 14 "will be achieved at all costs". Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani meanwhile, said that the government will not compromise its authority or allow militants to establish a parallel authority through force. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari will have the chance to explain to an anxious Obama administration how his government plans to do that when he sits down for talks at the White House in two weeks. Julie McCarthy, NPR News, Islamabad.

The National Football League Draft is under way in New York City. The Detroit Lions used the top pick to take Georgia quarterback Mat Stafford. The New York Jets got the other top-ranked quarterback, Mark Sanchez of Southern Cal by trading with Cleveland to get the fifth overall pick. The second pick was Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith who went to the St Louis Rams 15. Kansas City Chiefs chose LSU defensive 16 end Tyson Jackson and Seattle with the No.4 pick took Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry 17.

Tony Award winning actress Bea Arthur has died at her home in Los Angeles. She was 86. Arthur starred in the hit TV shows “Maude” and “The Golden Girls”.