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Newswise – Hurricane Katrina could lead to smaller crop yields in corn and soybean fields in Indiana. How can a gulf coast hurricane effect crops so far away? It’s because these farmers have lost access to shipping routes along the Mississippi River. Agronomists are advising them to postpone harvesting their crops, if possible. There may be shortages of soy and cattle feed in Western states.

Grain-carrying ships are just now starting to move into the Gulf through New Orleans ports for again. About 75% of the nation’s corn and soybeans goes through Louisiana.
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A temporary flight restriction has been issued by the FAAfor a major North Pacific air corridor, covering air routesR-222, R-580 and A-590. The restriction covers the datesSeptember 10-15. The cloture of these major routes is highlyunusual, is said to be due to a Department of DefenseStrategic Defense Initiative, but the nature of thatinitiative has not been revealed.

The FAA has said that aircraft can fly north of the affectedroutes into Russian airspace, but Russian securityregulations limit the number of available altitudes, raisinga safety question during high-traffic periods on these majorroutes.

Extra time and fuel will be needed to fly the alternateroutes. An airline pilot comments, “I have never seen amajor international route closed like this.”read more

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E. coli bacteria is found in food that hasn’t been adequately refrigerated or has been mishandled during preparation, often by people who don’t wash their hands after visiting the bathroom. It gives most people no more than a stomach ache, but can be dangerous for the elderly or people whose immune systems are compromised. This is why health authorities are worried about a type of superbug E. coli that is rapidly spreading in the UK. In August, E. coli was found in meals that were to be served to passengers on British Airways. If this continues to happen, it is inevitable that the antibiotic-resistant version will arrive on our shores.
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Intelligence experts have intercepted recent al-Qaeda threats against Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia. Since these are transmitted between members of the terrorist group in coded images, they must be carefully analyzed for meaning. Before September 11, 2001, investigators later found that one of the terrorists had emailed another one about an image of a cake with two candles on it, referring to the date 911.
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