Virus threatNEW YORK (Aug. 24 — Reuters): At least 40 U.S. states have reported some West Nile Virus activity this year, with 171 cases and eight deaths in Louisiana alone. Crashes and landslides kill at least 128 KATMANDU (尼泊尔首都加德满都) (Aug. 23 — AP): A small plane crash, a bus accident and a landslide that swept away dozens of houses have left at least 128 people feared dead in Nepal in the past two days, including 15 foreign tourists. Iraq confirms Palestinian terrorist committed suicide BAGHDAD (Aug. 22 — AP), Iraq — Iraq Tuesday confirmed Abu Nidal’s death, saying the feared Palestinian terrorist leader had committed suicide. Iraq confirms Palestinian terrorist committed suicide BAGHDAD (Aug. 22 — AP), Iraq — Iraq Tuesday confirmed Abu Nidal’s death, saying the feared Palestinian terrorist leader had committed suicide. Baghdad’s first official confirmation of his death came amid claims that Abu Nidal recently held talks with Saudi and Kuwaiti (科威特的) agents and that plans for an American attack on Iraq were found in his Baghdad apartment. Russia mourns servicemen killed inhelicopter crash MOSCOW (Aug. 22 — AP): Flags flew at half-staff across Russia as the country mourned (悼念) 116 people killed in a helicopter crash in Chechnya (车臣), while President Vladimir Putin blamed the military for the massive loss of life, saying it ignored an order barring the Mi-26 craft from use as a troop transporter(军用运输机).