Students wearing mask listen to teacher at a pre-school facility in Hong Kong Thursday, June 11, 2009. Hong Kong's government has ordered all kindergartens and primary schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for the swine flu in the territory's first local cluster of cases on Thursday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)WHO: Swine Flu Pandemic Has Begun, 1st In 41 Years -- Yahoo News/AP
GENEVA – Swine flu is now formally a pandemic, a declaration by U.N. health officials that will speed vaccine production and spur government spending to combat the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. Thursday's announcement by the World Health Organization doesn't mean the virus is any more lethal — only that its spread is considered unstoppable.
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MIDDLE EAST
Iraqis attack police after bombing. Iraq says U.S. contractors to be released.
Iraq warns attacks will intensify before election.
Egypt's Mubarak says Obama has new approach to Islam.
Israel sets conditions for Palestinian state.
ASIA
5 world powers agree on North Korea sanctions.
Defense ministers discuss Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka targets Tamil Tigers' overseas support network.
UN concern over Sri Lanka camps.
China faces criticism over new software censor.
AFRICA
U.S. Navy hands over 17 pirates to Kenya.
Body of late president returns to Gabon from Spain.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister looking for aid in US.
Nigerian militants attack Chevron facility.
EUROPE
Bosnian TV airs 'Mladic pictures'.
NATO decides to scale down troops in Kosovo.
EU argues over banking watchdogs.
Judge assassinated in Russia's Caucasus; 2nd killing in a week.
Qaddafi pays a business call on Berlusconi.
AMERICAS
To quell protests, Peru suspends Amazon investment laws.
Cartels eye Houston banks for moving drug profits.
Canada sees big deficit, coy on return to surplus.
Washington couple ordered on charges of spying for Cuba.
US cuts aid to Nicaragua.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
4 Chinese Muslims freed from Guantanamo to Bermuda. More news here.
'Shoe-bomber' Richard Reid on hunger strike in US prison.
Kremlin wants closer US-Russian anti-terror ties.
Italian police arrest 6 in anti-terror raids.
U.S. nears Yemeni detainee deal.
Malian al-Qaeda hunter shot dead.
ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS
May U.S. foreclosures third highest on record.
Oil price leaps to year's high.