In the News; July 19th, 2008

China and The Olympics Update

A shopper looks at fake foreign brand handbags at a stall in Beijing May 8, 2008. China, where fake...

• A shopper looks at fake foreign brand handbags at a stall in Beijing, China, where fake goods from software to designer handbags are sold on street corners, in markets and in upscale shopping districts, has been struggling to tackle intellectual property piracy and is especially keen to clean up Beijing ahead of the Olympics in August.
  

(Claro Cortes IV/Reuters )

• The site of the Olympic sailing competition is "basically" free of the bright-green algae bloom that recently carpeted the sea off the Chinese city of Qingdao, an official said Tuesday. Chinese fishmen remove green algae from the sea in Qingdao, China.

Passengers walk at a subway station in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 10, 2008. Extraordinary security measures such as X-ray scanners and bomb detecting devices have been deployed in key public areas ahead of the summer Olympic Games. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

• Beijing opened two new subway lines just in time to carry passengers banned from their cars as the capital tries to clean up its skies before next month's Olympics
  
  
• Dog meat has been taken off of the menus of officially designated Olympic restaurants, and Beijing tourism officials are telling other outlets to discourage consumers from ordering dishes made from dogs, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
  

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New York Restaurants Posting Calories

It's an anti-obesity campaign that has also included a recent citywide ban on artificial trans fats in restaurant food. In New York City city health inspectors can begin issuing citations that carry fines to restaurants that do not have calorie information posted with their prices.

The fines for not posting will range from $200 to $2,000.


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Roo Attack

An elderly Australian woman was attacked by a large kangaroo on a farm in Australia but, was saved as her pet dog jumped to her aid. According to the woman's son, she had been knocked over and savaged by the large kangaroo .
The male kangaroo was estimated to be up to two meters (six feet, six inches) tall and weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) .

"The kangaroo has just jumped up and launched straight at her. He hit her once and she just dropped and rolled," according to her son.

"My dog heard her screaming and bolted down and chased him off. If it wasn't for the dog she'd probably be dead. Her face has been ripped apart, her hand has been mauled, and she's got scratches all over her back and concussion," "

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San Franciscans Honor President Bush

In the city by the bay, there is a measure seeking to commemorate President Bush's years in office by naming a sewage plant after him will appear on the November ballot. The measure is to rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, which treats waste water from San Francisco's west side, the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.