Fresh rains complicate flooding relief efforts in Pakistan

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Flooding in Pakistan has sparked the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, AFP reported. At least 20 million people, or 1 in 5 Pakistanis, have been affected by the floods, including 3.5 million children who may be at risk from water-borne diseases, the United Nations warned today. the floods have also killed at least 1,600 people and destroyed villages, crops, roads and bridges throughout the country. the scale of the disaster has raised concerns that it could destabilize the country, The associated Press reported. and the situation is likely to be exacerbated by fresh rains that began falling today. Already the massive international relief effort has run into infrastructure snags and protests on the local level."They are throwing packets of food to us like we are dogs. They are making people fight for these packets," protester Kalu Mangiani said.the U.N. has appealed for an initial $460 million to provide relief supplies, but to date, only 60 percent has been donated. once the flood waters recede, billions more will be needed to fund reconstruction. How to help:* Donate $10 to Pakistan flood relief by texting "SWAT" to 50555. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the funds will be used to provide food, water, medicine, tents and clothing to affected families. Standard messaging fees apply.* Donate to UNICEF's disaster relief efforts for children in Pakistan.* Donate to Save the Children's Pakistan emergency fund.* Donate to Oxfam's Pakistan flood response fund.

In other newsBorder Patrol agents are reportedly committing suicide in greater numbers, The AP reported. After nearly four years without a single suicide in their ranks, records show that at least 15 have taken their own lives since February 2008, the largest spike in at least 20 years. In response, administrators have quietly launched suicide-prevention initiatives, including special training for supervisors and the distribution of educational videos and programs.an increase in the number of elderly inmates with expensive medical conditions is putting a strain on state budgets, The AP reported. the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that the number of men and women in state and federal prisons age 55 and older grew 76 percent between 1999 and 2008, the latest year available, from 43,300 to 76,400. the ACLU says elderly prisoners cost $72,000 a year to house compared to $24,000 for a younger prisoner.Lastly, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols became the first player in Major League history to register at least 30 home runs in his first 10 seasons, Reuters reported. Pujols reached the milestone on Sunday when he hit his 30th homer during a 9-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Most read overnightDid 57 young and healthy Irish immigrants die of cholera in 1832 while working on the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad, or were they murdered? A research team from Immaculata University is trying to unravel the 178-year-old mystery.Readers were also interested in this AP article about repair work being done on the International Space Station. two hundred and 20 miles above the earth, astronauts Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson conducted a third spacewalk to replace an ammonia coolant pump that failed on July 31. If the repair work succeeds, NASA expects to have the disabled cooling loop back in action by Thursday.

Public opinionToday's poll: Should sperm donation continue to be anonymous? Click here to share your thoughts.Friday's poll: Should videotaping the police in a public setting be a crime? Ninety-six percent of respondents said no, that such recordings can reveal police misconduct. only 4 percent said yes because doing so violates wiretap laws.

Looking aheadLouisiana shrimping season begins today; however, some areas of the coast will remain closed amid concerns over the impact of the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill on the food.

Today in historyIn 1954, Sports Illustrated was first published by Time inc.Birthdays* Actress Rumer Willis, 22.* Singer Vanessa Carlton, 30.* Musician Emily Robinson (The Dixie Chicks), 38.* Actor Andy Milder, 42.* Actor/singer Donovan Leitch, 43.* Actor/comedian Steve Carell, 47.* Actor Timothy Hutton, 50.* Actress/director Laura Innes, 51.* Singer Madonna, 52.* Actress Angela Bassett, 52.* Musician Tim Farriss (INXS), 53.* Director James Cameron, 56.* Joshua Bolten, former White House chief of staff, 56.* TV host Kathie Lee Gifford, 57.* former Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.), 63.* Actress Lesley Ann Warren, 64.* Director Bruce Beresford, 70.* Actress Julie Newmar, 77.* Singer Eydie Gorme, 79.* Tennis Hall of Famer Tony Trabert, 80.* Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford, 80.* Israeli politician Shimon Peres, 87.Notable deaths * Baseball player Babe Ruth died in 1948 at the age of 53.* Author Margaret Mitchell died in 1949 at the age of 48.* Actor Bela Lugosi died in 1956 at the age of 73. * Singer/actor Elvis Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42.* Ugandan dictator Idi Amin died in 2003 at the age of 77 or 78.* Photographer Carl Mydans died in 2004 at the age of 97. * Animator Joe Ranft died in 2005 at the age of 45.* Drummer Max Roach died in 2007 at the age of 83.

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–Jade Walker is the overnight editor of Yahoo! News. she can be reached by e-mail at jadew@yahoo-inc.com.

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