AP Network News. I’m Bryant Thomas.
Despite the recent vaccine shortage, health officials in some parts of the country have been reporting plenty of extra flu shots. Some are now relaxing their distribution to get rid of the vaccine. Health officials hope demand is dropping because the shots have reached those most in need: babies, the elderly, and the chronically ill. But other factors might be at work, including apathy and a slow start to the flu season.
More violence today at the Egypt-Gaza border as a tunnel full of explosives rips apart an Israeli checkpoint. Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin said the blast was followed by gunfire.
--- The explosive charge was coupled also with an attack on the ground against the outpost there.
So far, at least four Israelis are dead, 10 are injured.
Just where is Osama bin Laden? Afghan President Hamid Karzai says bin Laden is probably still in Afghanistan somewhere and will eventually be caught.
--- No fugitive can run forever. We will get him sooner or later. And trust me on that. We will do it.
Karzai appeared on CNN’s Late Edition. American military types think bin Laden’s trail has gone cold.
In Iraq today, a big power outage apparently caused by a fire in a generating station. In Baghdad, correspondent Nick Wadhams reports the extended loss of power is just making life worse for Iraqi citizens who are already facing many hurdles.
--- These power outages do happen fairly regularly, but something to this extent is pretty abnormal. And in a country that is so violent, and where insurgents launch attacks at will, power outages are deeply unsettling.
The power outage does not appear to be the handiwork of insurgents, however, this time.
Some of Iraq’s high-profile detainees have gone on hunger strike in protest to their detentions. The US military official confirms that some have been turning back their main meals, but continue to snack on GI food. Saddam Hussein is not among those who’s on a hunger strike.
This is AP Network News.
In the southern Philippines today, a powerful explosion ripped through a market packed with Christmas shoppers, killing at least 15 people and injuring 58. A Red Cross official is blasting police noting they had intelligence information suggesting the attack was near.
A government official now confirms that NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe is soon to leave the space agency. There’s a newspaper report indicating that O’Keefe will become the president of Louisiana State University. Charles Zewe of the LSU Board of Supervisors says the school welcomes his interest in the chancellor’s job.
--- We’re excited to have Sean O’Keefe apply for the job. He’s been someone who LSU has had its eye on for quite some time. We’ve followed his academic and government career, and we’re thrilled that he has chosen to continue his career with LSU. Works out that way.
The LSU job would pay $500,000 a year.
John McCain’s tough talk about baseball and steroids is fueling the rumor mill about his running for president again in 2008, but he’d have plenty of company among other Republican candidates.