Free Republic

NEW YORK (AP) -- Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, a veteran diplomat known as a potent and personable voice for his country's interests as he sparred with his Western counterparts, died suddenly after falling ill Monday in his office at the mission. Vitaly Churkin, 64, was taken to a hospital in New York, where he died, Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, told The Associated Press. His cause of death wasn't immediately known..............................

Pravda is reporting this blazing,exploding munitions dump as an accident. (?)

I check a website called ProMed, which discusses human and animal disease outbreaks from all over the world, and was surprised to see this one from Alabama. 2 blind alligators were trapped last month near Ocean Springs, Alabama, in response to citizen reports of "nuisance" alligators. Both gators had a small cavity eaten away-through flesh and bone-and the left eye of one was almost completely eaten away.Tox reports from US Fish&Wildlife service are pending. Some 54 blind gators have been trapped in this area in the past year.In addition, there have been at least 12 pelican deaths, according to the...