NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

US/ YEARS OF HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR LOUISIANA HORSE: A horse named Molly is demonstrating years of hard work and perseverance pay off. The grey speckled horse was abandoned by her owners in September 2005, in days immediately after Hurricane Katrina slammed into Southern Louisiana. After weeks on her own, she was rescued and taken to an abandoned farm that was temporarily housing hundreds of homeless animals. Unfortunately, while Molly was there, she was critically injured in an attack by a pit bull terrier. She almost died and her badly injured right front leg became infected. Despite the severity of her injuries, vets noted that the horse made attempts to keep her right leg protected and pressure off the leg. They said she was fighting to survive, so they agreed to remove her right front leg from below the knee. She was then placed with a dedicated and hard working family, who worked with Molly on her rehab and to help her adjust to an artificial limb that was made specifically for her. According to her owners, she will let them know when she wants the leg put on and also let them know when she wants it taken off. Today, almost 6 years after Katrina, Molly still undergoes therapy and has to have periodic adjustments to her artificial limb. She is described as a very happy and trusting horse. Most importantly, Molly now has a job. She and her owner visit hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers, to help inspire and give hope to people facing the loss of limb. To many who meet her, Molly has become a symbol of survival, even when the odds were against her.

WORLD/ GERMANY E. COLI OUTBREAK TRACED TO SPROUTS: Health officials in Germany said today that bean sprouts grown in northern Germany are suspected to be the source of an E. coli outbreak that has left 22 people dead. The agriculture minister for Lower Saxony said there was a clear trail of evidence pointing to a plant nursery south of Hamburg. The nursery has been closed, and although officials say the outbreak's source cannot yet be definitively confirmed, they have advised citizens to stop eating the bean sprouts. As the outbreak unfolded, German authorities had pointed to Spanish farms as the source of the outbreak. More than 2150 people in Germany have been infected by enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) bacteria. Many have developed haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, which can be fatal. Cases have been concentrated in the northern city of Hamburg, with infections in 12 other countries linked to recent travel in Germany. 21 of the victims have died in Germany, and 1 person in Sweden. The outbreak is the deadliest known E. coli outbreak in modern history

WORLD/ SOCIALISTS TOSSED IN PORTUGAL ELECTION: Portugal's governing Socialist Party has admitted defeat in the general election. Socialist leader Jose Socrates said he accepted responsibility for the defeat and resigned as head of his party. The victorious centre right Social Democrats (PSD) led by Pedro Passos Coelho are expected to form a majority with the conservative CDS. The new government must implement a demanding austerity programme as a condition for an EU bail-out. The terms of the bail-out call for tax increases, a freeze on state pensions and salaries, and cuts in unemployment benefits. Exit polls gave the PSD between 37% and 42.5% of the vote, ahead of the Socialists who scored between 24.4% and 30%. Socialist leader Socrates resigned as prime minister in March, triggering early elections after the opposition in parliament rejected his minority government's 4th austerity package in less than a year. Since then, he has acted as caretaker prime minister. Portugal is faced with unemployment of more than 12% and an economy that is expected to contract by 2% this year and next.