Bird flu pandemic feared
Bird flu pandemic feared — The first possible human-to-human transmission of bird flu between two unrelated people has raised the specter the lethal virus could be changing to become more easily spread between humans, a Canadian influenza expert warns. A 26-year-old male nurse from northern Vietnam who provided bedside care for a 21-year-old bird flu patient now in critical condition has himself tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, according to media reports from the region.
2004 was safest year to fly in a generation — Last year was the safest since World War Two for commercial air transport, both in terms of passengers killed and aircraft destroyed or irreparably damaged, the industry’s global body IATA said on Monday. IATA data showed the chances of dying in an airline accident in 2004 were one in every 10 million people flying against nearly three in 2002 and more than seven in 1996.
Fuel prices jump — The price of gasoline jumped a hefty 7.1 cents a gallon the past week to a nationwide average $1.999 for regular grade, the highest in four months, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Monday. That’s the biggest one-week leap since a 7.6-cent increase in May during the run-up to a nominal record average $2.064 and was significantly more than the 4-cent rise EIA expected.
Airlines look for new fee opportunities — With most airlines, you pay as much as $10 if you want to talk to a human being when you buy a ticket. Free airline meals? They’re going fast, replaced by box lunches for a fee. Northwest Airlines is yanking pillows from most of its planes, following the lead of rival American Airlines, which estimates it will pocket some $675,000 in annual savings from the move.
Boeing chief ousted in sex scandal — Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher, who made ethics his calling card, took a round trip back to retirement yesterday after the board learned of an affair he was having with a female executive. The 68-year-old Stonecipher, who sources told the Daily News was separated from his wife, Joan, for several months before the affair began, resigned after the board discovered the consensual relationship that began this year.
‘Days’ star busted at Des Moines airport — Soap opera star Jason Cook was arrested Monday after he allegedly became argumentative with airport officials who found a pipe with marijuana debris in his luggage. The Days of Our Lives actor was arrested at the Des Moines International Airport at about 6 a.m. Monday on charges of public intoxication and drug paraphernalia.