Ebola: Spanish missionary infected with virus in Liberia flown to Spain

Arrival of Miguel Pajares in Madrid met with concerns about Spain's ability to guarantee the virus would be contained

                         Paramedics wearing biological isolation suits carry Miguel Pajares in to hospital in Madrid

A Spanish missionary who contracted the Ebola virus in Liberia is in stable condition after arriving in Madrid on Thursday, health officials said.

Miguel Pajares, 75, arrived shortly after 8am local time (0700 BST) on a specially-equipped Airbus plane. He is the first Ebola patient of the current outbreak to be brought to Europe for treatment.

The hospital had been emptied of patients in preparation for Pajares's arrival, health union officials said. The 30 or so patients in the hospital were either sent home or to another hospital in the city. Pajares arrived with Juliana Bohi, a nun born in Equatorial Guinea and who holds Spanish nationality. Bohi is not thought to be infected.

After a medical examination on the tarmac at the Torrejón air base, the pair were taken to Madrid's Carlos III hospital in ambulances equipped as biological isolation units. Police cars and motorcycles escorted the vehicles, and a helicopter monitored the situation from above.

Amana facility will offer education to chronically ill children

          AL AIN , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Aug 8 , 2014 : Sayeed Al Amiri with his daughter Alia Al Amiri

AL AIN // Imagine for a minute you are a child with a chronic life-limiting disorder. You may never walk or even talk again, but mentally you are as alert as any of your peers.

This means you will be reliant on life-long care and not only can you never ride a bike or kick a football but you do not even have access to an education. You have, in effect, been abandoned in a hospital bed.

Amana Healthcare is trying to counteract such a situation by launching a special education programme at its Al Ain facility. The centre, a sort of nursing home, will offer specialised intensive care to chronically-ill patients.

The programme aims to teach some of its long-stay residents – many of whom have chronic diseases but are cognitively intact – subjects such as maths, English and science with the hope they can go on and contribute to society.

Zuma: Agoa renewal has immense benefits for SA

Washington - A commitment for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) was secured at the US-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

"We successfully conveyed the message that South Africa's graduation from Agoa would damage the African Union's regional integration initiatives, as well as industries in neighbouring countries that benefit from South Africa's manufacturing capability," he said in a statement.

"Benefits to South Africa are immense, we can only trust that this matter will be concluded successfully and to mutual benefit."Zuma left Washington on Wednesday, just after the conclusion of discussions between more than 40 African leaders and the US.

State ignoring crucial matters - Oscar defence

 

                                  Oscar Pistorius is seen in court before final arguments in his murder trial are heard

Pretoria - Final arguments will be heard at the North Gauteng High Court on Friday by murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius's defence team. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel completed his closing arguments on Thursday.

He described Pistorius as a deceitful and dishonest person, who would rather hide behind untruths than admit he murdered his girlfriend in cold blood.

Nel said Pistorius was an appalling witness who tailored his evidence to avoid prosecution. He dismissed several points of Pistorius's testimony as improbable and untruthful.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux spent the last half hour of Thursday's proceedings dismissing Nel's arguments. He accused the State of being selective in the evidence it chose to accept and consider for its case and of ignoring crucial matters raised in the trial.

Center of Iselle lashes Hawaii's Big Island with wind, rain

Hurricane Iselle and Hurricane Julio (R) are pictured en route to Hawaii in this August 5, 2014 NASA handout satellite image.

The center of Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall on Hawaii's Big Island on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, knocking down trees and causing power outages ahead of a more powerful storm gathering strength behind it.

While Iselle weakened into a tropical storm before reaching the islands, it was being closely followed by Julio, a Category 3 hurricane set to reach the area as early as Sunday morning - although the latest forecasts showed it tracking just north of the archipelago.

As Iselle bore down, more than 1,200 people flocked to evacuation shelters across the Big Island, according to County of Hawaii Civil Defense, as heavy rains and strong winds pummeled eastern areas of the island from Puna to Hilo.