S.Korea begins culling to stop foot-and-mouth disease

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) – South Korea began culling more than 25,000 animals on Sunday in trying to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease affecting a region north-west of the capital Seoul, farm officials said.

The Gangwha county was enlisting 800 officials and soldiers to cull cattle and hogs within a 3-km (1.8-mile) radius of a farm that reported the outbreak last week, with a growing number of reports of suspected cases, a farm ministry official said.

The disease is spread by a highly contagious virus that affects cattle, hogs, sheep and other cloven-hoofed animals.

The latest case follows an outbreak in a northern region in January that led to the halt of pork and beef exports, although the country is a net importer of the meat. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Coming soon: a horror story on American Fritzl’s victim?

London, Sept 20 (ANI): Publishers and Hollywood studios have begun a multi-million dollar bidding war for the rights to sex slave Jaycee Dugard’s horrifying life story.

Fresh details of the American Fritzl’s victim have emerged, including that in the early days of her captivity, the terrified schoolgirl was so hungry she ate bugs and worms in the rambling back garden where she was held in tents and lock-up sheds, reports The Daily Express.

She had to use a garden hose to shower outside, even in winters, say detectives guarding her and her two daughters, fathered by kidnapper Phillip Garrido.

However, the public apparently is desperate for the full story of how Jaycee, now 29, survived after being snatched on her way to a school bus stop when she was only 11.

A New York literary agent, who estimates the book and film rights to be worth up to 12million dollars, said: “You couldn’t dream up a script like this. Americans can’t wait to hear the story from the girl who lived it.”

A Hollywood studio producer said: “Everyone is in the market for this story. Poor Jaycee’s life may have been hell for 18 years but she’ll never want for anything for the rest of it.”

Garrido, a registered sex offender, has been linked to six child abductions and murders stretching back years within a 400-mile radius of the ramshackle home in Antioch, California, where Jaycee was held. (ANI)