Fw: Tracking the flu; Brazil defends biofuels

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Tracking the flu; Brazil defends biofuels

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April 17, 2008 | News covering the UN and the world

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Scientists: Flu viruses born in Asia, die in South America

Researchers reported Wednesday they have charted how seasonal flu viruses journey around the globe. All these viruses start in Eastern or Southeastern Asia, then move on to Australia and later to Western Asia, Europe and North America, before they make their last stop in South America, where the viruses die, said the scientists who analyzed 13,000 virus samples collected on six continents over five years. The Washington Post (4/17)

At UN, harsh words for Zimbabwe Report: Little African progress on infant mortality Brazil steadfast supporter of biofuels DR Congo sexual attack victims face many traumas Ban expresses frustration over lack of Darfur progress

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If we want to know what will be happening in a year, we really need to pay attention to what is happening in East and Southeast Asia.

J. , a biologist at the University of Cambridge, on the global movement of influenza viruses. Get the full story.

UN DISPATCH: President and Nobel laureate Ramos-Horta returned home yesterday following more than two months of treatment in Australia for injuries sustained in an assassination attempt by those loyal to rebel leader Alfredo Reinado. Ramos-Horta was greeted by a military parade and thousands of supporters...

UN Dispatch

At UN, harsh words for ZimbabweUnited Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led a chorus of criticism by international diplomats at the UN Wednesday over Zimbabwe's delayed election results. "The credibility of the democratic process in Africa could be at stake here," Ban told the Security Council and urged that international monitors observe a second round of voting if that takes place. The New York Times (4/17)

Opposition dismisses accusation of treason: Zimbabwean opposition leaders on Thursday blasted a state-controlled newspaper report claiming they had colluded with Britain to remove President Mugabe from power, calling the allegation of treason a typical propaganda tactic. Bloomberg (4/17)

Ban says encouraged by South Korea's backing of UNSouth Korea's new president on Wednesday visited the United Nations, where Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the leader for his show of support for the UN's efforts on peacekeeping and poverty fighting. Ban, also of South Korea, said he "was very much encouraged" by Lee Myung-bak's "strong commitment" to the UN's activities, and added that the two also discussed North Korea's nuclear program and how to improve relations between the two Koreas. Google/Associated Press (4/16)

Advance Peace WorldwideRotary is accepting applications for a fellowship that teaches peace-making and conflict resolution to professionals committed to international understanding. This three-month program provides an intensive English-language study opportunity at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Learn more.

Report: Little African progress on infant mortalitySub-Saharan African countries have made scant progress on the United Nations' goal to significantly reduce infant death rates, and in some countries the mortality rate is actually increasing because of problems such as HIV, an umbrella organization consisting of UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other groups reported Wednesday. The 2008 Countdown report urges an extra $10 billion in aid to help reduce the number of deaths of infants as well as mothers. Reuters (4/16)

Frequent electricity outages hurt Africa's developmentAfrica's poor are long used to having little or no access to reliable electricity, but because of high energy prices and other problems, frequent electricity outages are now also affecting mines, shops and other commercial sectors throughout the continent. Some 35 of sub-Sahara's 53 countries suffer from frequent loss of power, seriously stifling their economies, the World Bank has said. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (4/17)

Other News

Ghana looks to boost rice productionBBC (4/17)

Mexicans spend more on bribes, survey saysUSA TODAY/Associated Press (4/16)

Brazil steadfast supporter of biofuelsBrazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday defended the biofuels industry against criticisms that it is adding to the global food crisis. "Food is expensive because the world wasn't prepared to see millions of Chinese, Indians, Africans, Brazilians and Latin Americans eat," Lula said, adding he was "shocked" that some biofuel critics have excluded mentioning high oil prices as a big factor driving up food costs. BBC (4/17) , The Guardian (London) (4/17)

Bush announces greenhouse gas targets for U.S.

U.S. President W. Bush said Wednesday the U.S. should halt the growth of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and called on other countries to set their own goals. Critics shrugged off the announcement over a lack of a specific plan to meet the goal and the short time frame Bush has to implement any plans before he leaves the White House in January. ClipSyndicate/Associated Press (4/15) , The New York Times (4/17)

Stern revises economic toll of climate changeA massive report on climate change that was released in 2006 did not sufficiently warn of all the looming dangers, the report's author told the Financial Times Wednesday. Stern, a former chief economist at the World Bank, said recent data have caused him to conclude that climate change will take a bigger toll on global economies than he previously foresaw. Financial Times (4/16)

Australia drought takes toll on worldYears of persistent drought have virtually destroyed Australia's rice industry and contributed to a growing food crisis that is sweeping the globe. The ripple effects are causing scientists to worry how severely global warming will affect food production. The New York Times (4/17)

DR Congo sexual attack victims face many traumasFor victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the horror does not end with the attack itself. The search for justice, The Toronto Star reports, involves facing down threats and intimidation, social stigma and weak implementation of anti-violence laws. The Toronto Star (4/17)

Olympic torch protests reach India

Under the watchful eye of security officers, Tibetan activists began protests in the streets of New Delhi ahead of the Olympic torch's official Indian appearance Thursday morning. Indian authorities have authorized demonstrations in the city but warned that any disruption of the torch's route would not be tolerated. ClipSyndicate/Associated Press (4/17) , The New York Times (4/17)

Other News

Chinese walk fine line online on rightsThe Washington Post (4/17)

Ban expresses frustration over lack of Darfur progressBoth sides of the Darfur conflict continue to display a decided lack of political will for resolving the crisis, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report released Wednesday on efforts to fully roll out the new UN-African Union peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region. "I am extremely disappointed at the lack of progress on all fronts," Ban said. AlertNet.org/Reuters (4/16)

Hamas founder: What's required for Mideast peaceA legitimate Israeli-Palestinian peace process cannot take hold until actions are taken such as Israel withdrawing to within the borders it had before the 1967 war, Mahmoud al-Zahar, who founded Hamas and is part of the Gaza Strip leadership, writes in The Washington Post. Other actions that would "provide the starting point for just negotiations" include Israel removing all soldiers from Gaza and the West Bank and releasing all Palestinian prisoners, al-Zahar says. The Washington Post (4/17)

Russia to give stronger backing to Georgia separatistsRussian authorities expressly stated their support for two separatist regions in neighboring Georgia Wednesday and said they would establish formal relations with the areas' unofficial governments. The authorities said they want to expand trade, education and diplomatic ties between Russia and the two regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The New York Times (4/17)

Other News

East Timor's recovering president returns home to warm welcomeAlertNet.org/Reuters (4/17)

Explosion in Spain injures seven police officersGoogle/Associated Press (4/17)

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