This breaking diary started when Rudi was taken to hospital but in the meantime right next door near Gisbourne, New Zealand, they have had a 6.8 quake as well (see more on quake underneath Rudi story)
Giuliani taken to hospital with flu-like symptoms
(CNN) -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani was taken to a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, with flu-like symptoms and is spending the night there, a Giuliani spokesman confirmed to CNN early Thursday.
The CNN breaking statement goes on to add that Giuliani "had been campaigning in Missouri on Wednesday -- became ill and then felt worse after his plane took off to return to New York".
It then continues that Giuliani "decided to return to the airport, consulted his personal physician, and then went to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where he was admitted."
LINK
Updates as story unfolds.
Update 1: About an hour into the story there have been no new updates but CNN does provide additional background material about Giuliani's health,
Giuliani, who was treated for prostate cancer in 2000, told CNN in April that all of his subsequent medical screenings have been negative and that "for all intents and purposes, the cancer is cured."
Update 2: Giuliani OK
From AP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican Rudy Giuliani planned to head home to New York City on Thursday after spending the night in a St. Louis hospital getting checked out for flu-like symptoms, his campaign said.
"After precautionary tests the doctors found nothing of concern at this time and Rudy will be going back to New York later today," communications director Katie Levinson said in a statement issued before dawn Thursday. "He is in high spirits and is grateful to the doctors and nurses who checked him out."
It was not immediately clear when he would leave the hospital.
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NEW ZEALAND 6.8 EARTHQUAKE HITS EAST COAST OF NORTH ISLAND (GISBOURNE AREA)
Quake 6.8 magnitude hits east coast
Dec 20, 2007 9:30 PM
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has hit the east coast of the North Island.
Most reports have come from Hawke's Bay, but the tremor was felt as far south as Christchurch.
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Warwick Smith from GNS Science says the earthquake struck at 8:55pm and was centred below the ocean 50 kilometres south-east of Gisbourne, at an equidistance between Gisbourne and Mahia.
He says although it was a large magnitude, it was located offshore at a depth of 40km and the effects are not as significant as they could have been.
The GNS Science convened tsunami expert panel has assessed the data received and there is no evidence of a tsunami having been generated.
The Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, John Hamilton, says that the National Crisis Management Centre has been activated to monitor the situation in Gisborne and assess if government assistance is required.
Police say there are reports of damage in the CBD with roofs caving in but there are no known casualties so far.
They are continuing to ascertain the extent of damage.
We are following the radio and NZ News One here in Sydney, and it sounds like Gisbourne has 3 buildings collapsed in the CBD, but no known injuries, and police are saying these buildings were likely vacant. Gisbourne hospital has some flooding from burst pipes. Lots of minor damage throughout the CBD. But the Gisbourne area is no stranger to quakes, but it looks like they were lucky this time. It is reported that power throughout much of the affected area has already been restored.