The first invocation of Article 5

Article 5 is the core clause of the Washington Treaty, NATOs founding charter, which states that an
armed attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against them all. In response to an
invocation of Article 5, each Ally determines, in consultation with other Allies, how it can best
contribute to any action deemed necessary to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic
area, including the use of armed force. Article 5 was first invoked on 12 September 2001 in the
wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks against the United States. The invocation was initially
provisional, pending determination that the attacks were directed from abroad. This was confirmed
on 2 October 2001, after US officials presented findings on investigations into the attacks to the
North Atlantic Council. On 4 October, the Allies agreed a series of measures to assist the US-led
campaign against terrorism. These included enhanced intelligence sharing and cooperation, blanket
over-flight clearances and access to ports and airfields for US and other Allied craft for operation
against terrorism, and the deployment of part of NATOs standing naval forces to the Eastern
Mediterranean and of the Alliances airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft to the
United States. Allies have contributed according to resources and capabilities, in response to US
requests. Assistance has included military support, as well as legal and financial measures to cut the
flow of revenue to terrorist organisations.
Power it up!
Every computer needs a power supply to take electricity from your house and convert it into a
current that works for your computer. The electrical cord that comes out of your computer comes
out of the power supply. When it is plugged into the wall, electricity travels from the electrical wires
in your house into the computers power supply. When your computer is turned on, the power
supply allows the converted electricity to travel to other components inside the computer.
Seizure disorders
Seizures and epilepsy have always afflicted humans, but our knowledge about epilepsy grows
exponentially, and the past decade has shed new light on this timeless disorder. A seizure is a brief,
excessive discharge of electrical activity in the brain that alters behavior. Seizure-induced
behavioral changes are numerous and varied indescribable bodily sensations, pins and
needlessensations, smells and sounds, fears and depression, hallucinations distortions of sensory
stimuli (illusions), momentary jerks or head nods, starting with loss of awareness of and convulsive
movements lasting minutes or hours. Seizures are manifestations of many brain disorders and may
be caused by fever, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, cocaine use, alcohol withdrawal, and hypoxia.
Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by two or more seizures without clear precipitating factor (e.g.
alcohol withdrawal or hypoglycemia). Epilepsy can also result from inherited traits or acquired
factors. Head injury, stroke, brain tumor, and infection are common causes of both isolated seizures
and epilepsy.
Rising sea levels
Antarctica is an island continent which has straddled the South Pole for 25 million years or so
without much changing its position. The ocean current running round it has kept it relatively
isolated from changes elsewhere, so that most of its ice covering is of great antiquity. From it juts
out like a claw the Antarctic peninsula, once a continuation of the Andes, and beyond that, a ring of
islands, some ferociously volcanic as the surrounding plate moves eastward.