The 25th anniversary of the first reported cases of HIV/AIDS infection is reported in emerging threats, where it joins avian influenza; public health where the latest UNAIDS report and related issues are summarized; and Recommended Reading, where the early years are recalled, painfully. Major terrorist raids in Canada and the UK are covered, as well as the political ramifications. News summaries also include such tidbits as Japan's record low and Australia's record high fertility rates, the tropical past of the Arctic, and the irrepressible.info campaign for freedom of information.

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3. AML/CFT Monitor

The AML/CFT Monitor is a monthly 16-page print publication. News highlights from the past week are provided in this free email update, but detailed analysis, background information and source documents are only available to subscribers. Purchase a subscription at our online store:
TAMNI Publications

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AML/CFT Incidents/Cases
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UK anti-terrorism raids have uncovered a network that allegedly links the Sanabel Relief Agency to the financing of attacks in Iraq. The charity is designated in the US as a front for sending money to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/214/214832_police_smash_terror_plot.html
http://www.thisishertfordshire.co.uk/news/roundup/display.var.779612.0.raids_reveal_terrorism_links_to_charity.php
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2209957,00.html
http://www.sanabel.org.uk/sanabelmain.html

Michael Hirsh and Jeffrey Bartholet describe US support for Somalia's militias. "Fighting in the Shadows" reports on a controversial program of supporting local warlords and perhaps creating an anti-US Islamic backlash. Xan Rice suggests these claims may obscure the commercial realities of the conflict. Meanwhile, a massive anti-US protest in Mogadishu focused on charges that US support of secular warlords is financing a genocide in the country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13008291/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1786644,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5042672.stm

The Bank of England has introduced financial sanctions against persons designated by the UN as impeding the peace process in Sudan.
http://www.amlcftmonitor.com/2006/06/AML0402.shtml

US President Bush has designated three individuals and two entities as Foreign Narcotics Kingpins. Those designated are: Dawood Ibrahim (India); Fahd Jamil Georges (Brazil); Ali Naway (Iran); Dawood Ibrahim Organization (India/Pakistan/UAE); and Amezcua Contreras Organization (Mexico).
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060601-9.html

Israel accused the Birmingham, England charity Islamic Relief of being a Hamas front organization. Islamic Relief is a major charity that receives millions in funding from the British government. This allegation follows the detention, questioning, release, and deportation of a charity worker. Islamic Relief explained that it " does not transfer funds to any organisation in the Palestinian Territories. All its financial transactions are externally audited and also go through rigorous checks both internally and externally by the UK Charities Commission and agencies such as the European Commission who fund Islamic Relief’s work in the Palestinian Territories".
http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/About%20Us/visits/article.asp?id=103
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1786266,00.html
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218894/114900544628.htm
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AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
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The UN Security Council's anti-terrorism committees met last week, focusing on cooperation, consultation, and the balance between human rights and security. Many participants expressed concern over the Consolidated List of al Qaeda and Taleban, including the need for an independent review mechanism to oversee listing and delisting, ensure transparency, and the need to address the lack of adequate identifiers.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8730.doc.htm

The EU has added the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), "Tamil Tigers", to the list of banned terrorist groups.

The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCen) issued supplementary guidance for insurance companies to implement an AML program and provide suspicious activity reports. For easy reference, the original guidance, issued on 31 October 2005, and the supplement issued 31 May 2006, are combined here:
http://www.amlcftmonitor.com/2006/06/AML0401.shtml

Two recent reports evaluate FINCen's analytical and reporting systems. Contact us to purchase our new Special Report, "It's All In The Data", which summarizes those findings as well as comparative data about similar systems.

The China Anti-money Laundering Monitoring and Analysis Center (CAMLMAC)  and Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK)  have signed an AML cooperation agreement under which they will exchange financial intelligence and assist each other with training and technology development.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailbusiness.asp?fileid=20060530.M01

Japan plans to introduce strengthened AML legislation to the Diet in 2007.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20060529TDY01001.htm
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AML/CFT Modalities
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Hedge fund vulnerability to money laundering, fraud and terrorist financing is discussed here:
http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1013665

This 2-part story from Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper describes their investigation into the illegal lumber trade, which is facilitated by chiefs, district officers, forest officers and other senior government officials.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=74047
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=74117

The American Forest and Paper Association reports that as much as 10 percent of global timber production could be illegal, depressing the prices of legal products by as much as 16 percent.
http://www.afandpa.org/Template.cfm?Section=International2&template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=6&OriginalID=294&InterestCategoryID=404&ExpList=294
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Sectors/Environment/asset_upload_file749_9264.pdf

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4. Emerging Threat Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents consider subscribing. Subscriptions to Emerging Threat Monitor can be purchased at our online store:
TAMNI Publications

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ETM Corruption and Transnational Crime
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41 Bulgarians have been arrested in Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Italy. The Italian-led investigation has broken up a continent-wide child trafficking gang. The children, aged between eight and 13, were sold or rented to the gang by their parents then trained for petty crime that garnered EU 1,000 per child per day. This and other instances of serious organized crime are having an adverse effect on Bulgaria's efforts to join the EU.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=64192
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5026920.stm

Kim Woo-choong has been jailed for ten years and ordered to forfeit 21.4 trillion won ($22 billion). The South Korean court held the founder of the failed Daewoo Group guilty of charges including embezzlement and accounting fraud, and took into account the impact of the fraud on the country's overall economy.

In South Africa, corruption under apartheid involved officials at the highest levels. This is the key finding of Hennie van Vuuren's investigation into the unsolved 1977 murder of member of parliament Robert Smit and his wife, perhaps to prevent his revealing a financial scandal involving then President Nico Diederichs. The "Apartheid Grand Corruption Report" is being reviewed to see if criminal actions can be taken.
http://www.issafrica.org/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/APARTHEIDGRANDC2.PDF?link_id=&slink_id=2747&link_type=&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3
http://www.issafrica.org/index.php?link_id=&slink_id=2754&link_type=&slink_type=12&tmpl_id=3

Russian President Putin has dismissed public prosecutor Vladimir Ustinov, who was leading the anti-corruption drive Putin announced in his state of the nation address. Explanations for his removal have included internal politics, a power struggle, ineffectiveness, personal corruption, ill health, etc.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/06/02/ustinovresigned.shtml
http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20060602/48977473.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aPNzoaTGi1d4

Kenya's chapter of Transparency International has named the country's worst bribe-takers, leading with the police and government. Bribery had fallen in 2003 and 2004 but has now risen to the same level it was when President Kibaki took office three years ago, but with higher sums involved.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=74080

An investigation by Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper has found the government officials are facilitating the illegal lumber trade.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=74047
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=74117

The Standard, another Kenyan newspaper, reveals how members of parliament spend their salaries:
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143953196
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ETM Economies and Financial Systems
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The World Bank released "Global Development Finance 2006: The Development Potential of Surging Capital Flows". The new report sites a record high in net private capital flows to developing countries, which reached $491 billion in 2005. This trend has been driven by increased credit, and global liquidity, and record levels of bank lending and bond issuance. It is underpinned by greater confidence in several developing countries. Last year low- and middle-income countries increased GDP by 6.4 percent. Developed countries achieved less than half of this growth in GDP, at 2.8 percent.
http://www.worldbank.org/gdf2006

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board concluded its first review of the low-income country debt sustainability framework for low-income countries (DSF), which tries to ensure that external financing does not lead to unsustainable debt burdens. In general, they found the framework appropriate, but noted dependencies on country-specific policies, institutions, risks and capacities, that require a balanced and calibrated approach to risk assessment.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2006/pn0661.htm

The Investment Climate Facility (ICF) was launched last week. The unique fund is designed to drive investment in Africa, removing real and perceived obstacles to domestic and foreign investment, and preparing and promoting the continent as an investment destination.
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0403.shtml

India's Central Statistical Organization reports annual growth of 9.3 percent from January-March. This rapid growth has raised fears of increasing interest rates, which has fueled a falling stock market.
http://mospi.nic.in/
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=aJ35glab3GkE&refer=home
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/31/business/rupee.php

Vietnam has agreed to reduce tariffs and list restrictions on most US imports, paving the way for it to join the World Trade Organization. The US Congress must first ratify the agreements.
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ETM Environment and Climate Change
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The Arctic Coring Expedition has analyzed sediment core from the Arctic seabed to reveal that 55 million years ago the North Pole was a tropical environment.
http://www.rcom.marum.de/English/Arctic_Coring_Expedition_2004.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/science/earth/01climate.html?ex=1149480000&en=cc8161ed3ca27243&ei=5087%0A
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-05/iodp-osc052606.php

The European Commission has launched the "You Control Climate Change" campaign, providing tips to consumers to help convince people to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and play an active and effective role in affecting climate change.
http://www.climatechange.eu.com/
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ETM Human Rights
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In a 5-4 vote, the US Supreme Court has ruled that government employees are not protected under First Amendment freedom of speech provisions when blowing the whistle in the course of their duties. The decision could discourage whistleblowers.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-473.pdf
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053000463.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-whistleblower1jun01,1,5493947.story
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16965

Amnesty International UK has launched a campaign against internet repression:
http://www.irrepressible.info

A US court in California has ruled that online journalists have the same rights as traditional reporters. Read the court decision here:
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0401.shtml
Get information on the court case here:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=170
http://www.eff.org/Censorship/Apple_v_Does/

The International Day of Peacekeepers was observed on 1 June.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18709
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ETM Infectious Diseases
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The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has concluded a 2-day meeting on avian influenza. OIE coordinator Dr Christianne Bruschke said that Africa, China and Indonesia are under-reporting incidences, for reasons that include logistical issues, inadequate compensation, and other problems. At the conclusion of the meeting, attendees had confirmed that "Migrating wild birds have played and will likely continue to play a role in transporting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, or bird flu, over long distances". However, the legal and illegal poultry trade is responsible for most of the spread of the disease.
http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_060602.htm
http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/

The World Health Assembly has agreed to the immediate but voluntary implementation of the 2005 International Health Regulations related to influenza.

On June 5, 1981, the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published case reports of five healthy young men who died of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and other diseases associated with severely compromised immune systems. This was the first report on what has come to be known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Read the MMWR report here:
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0402.shtml

Refer to CIM below for coverage of public health and policy issues in the new UNAIDS report, as well as links to prior Newsletter coverage, and refer to Recommended Reading for additional resources.
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ETM Legal Systems
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Responding to an Observer investigation that found convictions for the most serious crimes had fallen to an historically low rate below ten percent under the Labor government, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith acknowledged it was a problem, but one that the government is tackling. Home Secretary John Reid hit back after the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Phillips, said that too many minor offenders are being imprisoned.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1784623,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5025924.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/31/nreid31.xml
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ETM Populations
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Japan's fertility rate has fallen to a record low of 1.25 in 2005, down from 1.29 the year before. The falling population threatens to have a major impact on the economy and society. The accelerated downward trend has led the government to consider widespread actions to reverse the trend.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20060603TDY03005.htm
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-06-01T111328Z_01_SP297885_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-JAPAN-POPULATION-DC.XML

Australia's efforts to encourage higher levels of childbirth have borne fruit. Last year, there were 261,400 births, the highest level since 1992. In addition to Treasurer Peter Costello encouraging families to have "one for mum, one for dad and one for the country", the government introduced tax benefits and other incentive payments.
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mf/3101.0?OpenDocument
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/the-new-generation-of-baby-boomers/2006/06/02/1148956544271.html
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,19344908%255E2862,00.html

Spain's Canary Islands have seen a five-fold increase in the number of African migrants compared to last year. Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal and the UK have agreed to provide additional boats, helicopters, and planes to assist Spain in ending this dangerous practice, in which many of the migrants die during the perilous crossing. Spain has suspended repatriation of Senegalese migrants following complaints of mistreatment.

In 2000, Niger had established a mandatory retirement age of 55. Six years later the retirement age has been raised to 60 (pending parliamentary approval). The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank support this measure as a way to stop the dramatic loss of experienced workers. Average life expectancy is 44 years.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/NIGEREXTN/0,,menuPK:382456~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:382450,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5029060.stm
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ETM Social Responsibility
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A survey by the National Consumers League and Fleishman-Hillard finds that more than three-quarters of American consumers say that for a corporation to be socially responsible means putting their employees first. Only about a fifth of those surveyed believe that US corporations perform well in acting socially responsible, and most see little or no progress.
http://www.nclnet.org/news/2006/csr_05312006.htm

Exxon Mobil shareholders approved a resolution that directors should be chosen by majority vote, defying the company's board and demonstrating investor anger over the $400 million retirement package for the former chairman and CEO, Lee Raymond.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/31/news/companies/exxon_shareholder_meeting/
http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/05/31/ap2785251.html
http://www.wnct.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WNCT/MGArticle/NCT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137836435358
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/benchconference/2006/06/exxon_mobil_should_pay_up_and.html
http://rdu.news14.com/content/business/?AC=&ArID=85228&SecID=83
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=115024&eventID=1317134
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ETM Technology
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The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has decided to issue a license for a drug, ATryn, produced from the milk of transgenicly altered goats that carried a human gene involved in blood clotting. This is the first product of transgenic biotechnology to be approved for human use.
http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/general/direct/pr/20316306en.pdf
http://www.transgenics.com/news.html
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ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
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In a major reversal of US policy towards Iran that has lasted for more than a quarter century, US Secretary of State Rice has offered direct talks with Iran. It has a condition - that Iran suspends uranium enrichment - but has opened a door that was long closed. Here is her announcement and links to additional information and commentary:
http://www.politicalriskmonitor.com/2006/06/PRM0403.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5045214.stm
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1789870,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2209871,00.html
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0606018487194337.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1787075,00.html)
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_15949.shtml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SLKVKOVZS1QVNQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2006/06/01/uiran.xml)
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article622733.ece)

Regarding North Korea, the US and Japan have reported that it is preparing for a new missile test, while North Korea has called on the US to follow through its prior commitment to talk by sending the chief negotiator to Pyongyang.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC) was launched by the Swedish government in Stockholm in December 2003 to respond to the profoundly worrying developments in international security, and to investigate ways to reduce the dangers from nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons. The Commission, chaired by Dr Hans Blix, presented their report "Weapons of Terror" to the UN. The report includes 60 proposals to end the use and proliferation of WMD.  
http://www.wmdcommission.org/
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2064

The UN Security Council' extended to 27 April 2008 the mandate of the committee established under resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, recognizing the need for a sustained effort. All three UN anti-terrorism committees met last week, focusing on cooperation, consultation, and the balance between human rights and security. During discussion of nuclear proliferation, there were heated exchanges between Israel, Iran, and Syria.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8730.doc.htm

Historical documents show that the Japanese Army destroyed evidence of biological weapons development in China when it surrendered in 1945,
http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/world/userobject1ai2074167.html

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) held regional meetings for Eastern Europe as well as for Latin America and the Caribbean.
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR33_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR32_2006.html

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5. Critical Infrastructure Monitor

Critical Infrastructure Monitor gives you the background and analysis missing from these news briefings. Subscriptions can be purchased from our online store:
TAMNI Publications

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CIM Banking and Finance
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Britain's Financial Services Authority (FSA) issued a consultation paper on new Integrated Regulatory Reporting (IRR) requirements for banks, building societies and investment firms, to help FSA use regulatory reporting more effectively monitor and mitigate risks to the FSA's statutory objectives.
http://www.criticalinfrastructuremonitor.com/2006/06/CIM0402.shtml

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission has begun an investigation into possible collusion in setting consumer fees at 11 banks.
banks, building societies and investment firms

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released "OCC Preemption Rules: OCC Should Further Clarify the Applicability of State Consumer Protection Laws to National Banks". This report considers the federal banking regulator, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the applicability of state laws to national banks, and related issues.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-387

Standard and Poor's Ratings Services has updated and enhanced their enterprise risk management criteria for insurers
http://www.riskandinsurance.com/060501_specreport_1.asp
http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=56268&issue=05232006
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CIM Chemical
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Investigations are under way following the explosion of a Terra Nitrogen (UK) Ltd. ammonia plant involving a fire with mixed gases including ammonia, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Two people were treated for minor injuries.
http://www.terranitrogen.co.uk/billingham_incident__statement.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/billingham/index.htm
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/06/01/95034/Terra+explosion+won%E2%80%99t+affect+nitrogen+supplies.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tees/5040202.stm
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=6375
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CIM Cybersecurity
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The US Veteran's Administration announced yesterday that the stolen computer containing personal information on up to 26.5 million veterans also contains information on up to 20,000 active duty National Guard and Reserve personnel and up to 30,000 active Navy personnel.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1131

The epidemic in compromising personal data by stealing a machine continued apace. A Hummingbird employee lost a computer containing personal data of the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation. An Electronic Data Systems employee lost a laptop containing personal data of former and retired employees of Royal Ahold NV subsidiaries. Another stolen laptop case, this involving an Ernst and Young employee's machine that contained confidential data on 243,000 hotels.com customers, is reported by The Register:
http://www.hummingbird.com/press/2006/texas_guaranteed.html?cks=y
http://www.tgslc.org/newsroom/news/2006/press060530.cfm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/02/AR2006060201629.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/01/ey_hotels_laptop/

Sacred Heart University reports a breach of their computer system, and have notified those potentially affected in a letter, sent by mail.
http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/13456_computer_security_alert.cfm

Symantec has issued a patch to fix a serious vulnerability in its corporate antivirus software.
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/2006.05.25.html

The Archiveus virus is the latest example of a Trojan that tries to hold data for ransom, however the password to unlock the hijacked files is inside the virus code. Also note the story of a victim of this virus.
http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.archiveus.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/5034384.stm

Kaspersky Labs reports on a proof-of-concept macro virus that for the first time would attack StarOffice or OpenOffice documents.
http://www.viruslist.com/en/weblog
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/218

Los Angeles Times reporter Lynn Doan reports that " Computer systems at universities across the nation are becoming favorite targets of hackers, and rising numbers of security breaches have exposed the personal information of thousands of students, alumni, employees and even college applicants."
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e3Nu0IwG8z0G2B0HZcy0ER

Swedish police raided locations connected to an illegal file-sharing system. In return, a denial of service attack was launched against the national police website. Both The Pirate Bay and the police are back online.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5045974.stm

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has launched the SpamMATTERS button that with one mouse click can simultaneously delete spam and report it to ACMA.
http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.65640:STANDARD:468552120:pc=PC_100598

The European Commission reports that "Businesses, individuals and public administrations in Europe still underestimate the risks of insufficiently protecting networks and information. Security presently represents only around 5-13 percent of IT expenditure, which is alarmingly low". The Commission has adopted a new IT Security Strategy for Europe, intended to lead to more trustworthy, secure and reliable information and communication technologies.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/doc/com2006251.pdf
http://www.enisa.eu.int/

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) reviewed the draft Framework Decision on Member States' organisation and exchange of information in criminal records. Although satisfied with the general approach EDPS suggested:
"* The appropriate solution with a central authority, which ensures clear responsibilities in terms of handling the information as well as in terms of supervision by the national data protection authority.
* The recommendation to make it even more clear that the convicting Member State shall be considered as the "owner" of the personal data and that the Member State of the convicted person stores the data on the former's behalf.
* That more precise criteria for transferring personal information to a third Member State for other purposes than criminal proceedings are developed.
* That a workable language regime is needed, and that a standardised format for exchange of information is developed and implemented within less than a year."
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=EDPS/06/7&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

The US Department of Homeland Security's Emerging Applications and Technology subcommittee has advised that Remove Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) is useful for some tasks but undesirable for applications associated with people. They recommend alternatives less open to privacy abuses.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0512.xml
http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/2360/

Amnesty International UK has launched a campaign against internet repression:
http://www.irrepressible.info
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CIM Energy
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Ecuador and Venezuela have signed cooperation agreements related to oil refining and supply, the first in what is expected to be a series of collaborations in many areas.
http://www.presidencia.gov.ec/noticias.asp?noid=6701 (in Spanish)
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B44C4F9DC-D20C-4F61-8743-0EDECB1BA397%7D)&language=EN
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CIM Information Technology
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The Danish parliament has agreed to begin issuing its electronic documents in open standard formats, replacing the requirement that people need Microsoft Word or Excel to read the material they produce.
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CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
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Ireland is concerned over pollution from the UK nuclear reprocessing plant in Sellafield. In 2001 they claimed pollution from the site broke the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The European Commission appealed to the European Court of Justice, which found that the case should be settled within the EU.
http://www.curia.eu.int/en/actu/communiques/cp06/aff/cp060045en.pdf

The UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation  (UNSCEAR) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Formed in the aftermath of the US atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the proliferation of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, the organization was established to assess the lingering, deadly impact of nuclear weapons. It's remit expanded to include gauging effects of radiation from all medical, natural or industrial sources. UNSCEAR is the world authority on ionizing radiation and led efforts to establish international radiation protection standards.
http://www.unscear.org/unscear/index.html
http://www.unscear.org/docs/UNIS_PressRelease_BLIX_2006-05-31.pdf
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sgsm10486.doc.htm

Russia plans to have repatriated all highly enriched uranium from research reactors in the former Soviet states by 2013.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/05/30/russiaremoveenrichuranium.shtml
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CIM Public Health and Healthcare
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On June 5, 1981, the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published case reports of five healthy young men who died of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and other diseases associated with severely compromised immune systems. This was the first report on what has come to be known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Read the MMWR report here:
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0402.shtml

This week marks 25 years since the uncovering pandemic was first indicated. For the first time, it appears that new infections may have peaked. UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic
http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/

The World Health Organization warns of serious complications during childbirth associated with the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). These include an increase in caesarean sections as high as 30 percent, postpartum hemorrhage a 70 percent increase, a 66 percent increase in the need to resuscitate babies; and other complications that significantly increase the infant mortality rate.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr30/en/index.html

World No Tobacco Day was marked on 31 May. The World Health Organization, which manages the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, calls for broad and immediate regulation of the leading preventable cause of death around the world: use of tobacco products. The focus of this year's campaign is "Tobacco - deadly in any disguise". It calls for regulation of smokeless tobacco products and any other product containing tobacco.
http://www.wntd.com/about_index.cfm
http://www.who.int/tobacco/framework/en/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr28/en/index.html"

A Eurobarometer survey released to mark World No Tobacco Day found:
* The percentage of people smoking in the EU was 33 percent in 2002, and 27 percent in 2005.
* The number of people saying they have never smoked has risen from 42 percent to 47 percent since 2002. 57 percent of women have never smoked, compared to 35 percent of men.
*  The number of people who have given up smoking has risen from 19 percent to 22 percent.
* Women and young people smoke the least. The drop in smoking is most marked among these groups too, although there are considerable variations among Member States.
*  Tobacco consumption varies considerably from one Member State to another.
*  75 percent of people are aware that tobacco smoke can be dangerous for non-smokers.
* Young people are the most bothered by smoke, due to its unpleasant aspects, such as smell.
*  56 percent of people are in favour of a smoking ban in restaurants.
* Support for smoking restrictions is highest in the smoke-free Member States – suggesting that approval for smoke-free policies tends to increase following their implementation.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/694&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala used the occasion to quit smoking.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=75284

Kenya's ban on smoking in public places came into force on Monday, but was then suspended for 30 days to consider the health minister's authority to issue the rule and to provide tobacco companies enough time to print health warnings on cigarette packages..
http://allafrica.com/stories/200605220630.html
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=74216
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5034108.stm
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CIM Telecommunications
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A US court in California has ruled that online journalists have the same rights as traditional reporters. Telecommunications companies may find the analysis of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the analysis used regarding its applicability, the interests of service providers, and safe harbor provisions. Read the court decision here:
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0401.shtml
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CIM Transportation
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The European Court of Justice has ruled that an agreement to require airlines to transfer airline passenger data to US authorities used an inappropriate legal basis, and a different approach would have to be found. Current EU data protection law covers commercial use of data but not security use, and US data protection cannot be assured.
http://curia.eu.int/jurisp/cgi-bin/form.pl?lang=EN&Submit=Rechercher$docrequire=alldocs&numaff=C-318/04&datefs=&datefe=&nomusuel=&domaine=&mots=&resmax=100
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/us/intro/pnr.htm

During the fourth Asia Security Conference, India offered to help safeguard the Malacca Straits. Both this and an earlier offer from the US have raised concerns that the larger armed forces could dominate the region.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLASH060420068089_3.htm
http://www.iiss.org/conferences/the-shangri-la-dialogue

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs is concerned about the fate of 20 Filipino sailors being held hostage by Somali pirates. The sailors are short of food and water.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/06/04/20.pinoy.captives.in.somalia.running.out.of.food.html

Britain's Minister for Roads, Stephen Ladyman, announced theft-resistant number plates that deter car theft.
http://www.criticalinfrastructuremonitor.com/2006/06/CIM0401.shtml

The European Commission has adopted a proposed regulation introducing biometrics in the Visa Information System.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/717&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/227&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued "Observations on Efforts to Implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on the U.S. Border with Canada".
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-741R
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CIM Water
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China's water supplies are threatened by a booming economy, drought, and pollution.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/the-yangtze-rivers-journey-from-heaven-to-hell/2006/06/02/1148956544068.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4754519.stm
http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/97887.htm

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6. Disaster Reduction Monitor

News highlights from the past week are provided in this free email update, but detailed analysis, background information and source documents are only available to subscribers. Disaster Reduction Monitor subscriptions and other titles can be purchased here:
TAMNI Publications

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DRM Incidents
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More than 6,200 people have now been confirmed dead from the 27 May earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java. In addition, some 30,000 people have been injured, and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. The casualty numbers are likely to continue to rise as rescue efforts and damage assessments continue, particularly in remote areas.

As of 23 May Angola has reported 38,897 cases and 1,437 deaths from the cholera epidemic.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_05_25/en/index.html
http://www.msf.org/

A cholera outbreak in southern Sudan has infected 14,000 people and killed 424 since January. It has spread to seven states in Sudan, and is approaching both Kenya and Uganda.
http://www.msf.org/

The death toll from last week's gas tanker explosion in Benin has climbed to 75. About 100 small children have been orphaned. 24 people are still being treated, but the hospital has no facilities for dealing with serious burn injuries.
http://www.disasterreductionmonitor.com/2006/06/DRM0402.shtml

In a Turkish coal mine, a gas explosion caused a shaft to collapse, killing at least 17.

An accident in India has led to significant political repercussions. On 30 May a group of students and teachers from a private primary school asked Naval Marine Commandos deployed at Wular Lake in Kashmir for a boat ride. They crowded in to an assault boat equipped to handle two crew and 16 combat troops. After about 50 meters, the boat capsized. One teacher and 21 children were killed. One teacher and 11 children were rescued. Inquiries into the incident are underway. Meanwhile, protests that followed the incident grew violent, and led to the deaths of two protesters.  
c.in/release/release.asp?relid=18134
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=1_6_2006&ItemID=43&cat=1
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=1_6_2006&ItemID=41&cat=1

Floods in Gujarat, India, have killed 12 people in three days.
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DRM Response and Recovery
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The UN has begun a 6-month relief operation to address the short-term needs of the Java earthquake survivors. Organizations accepting relief contributions include:
Care
http://www.care.org/
Caritas
http://www.caritas.org
Oxfam
http://www.oxfam.org
Red Cross/Red Crescent (General)
http://www.redcross.org/
Red Cross/Red Crescent Indonesia (Indonesian)
http://www.palangmerah.org/
Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org/
World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org/

Earthquake survivors have been warned against taking shelter in chicken sheds, as some have done, for fear of avian influenza infection.

A description of the health kits provided by the World Health Organization is here:
http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/standardkits/en/index.html

DHL and the UN have partnered to establish the DHL Disaster Response Team (DRT) Americas, to cover emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is similar to the Asia-Pacific operation launched in April.
http://www.dhl.com/publish/g0/en/press/release/2006/310506.low.html

Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced special funds associated with the Beaconsfield mine. An A$1 million education scholarship has been established in honor of the miner who was killed, Larry Knight. An A$8 million fund will support community needs, including adjustment to any mine closure.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued several reports addressing disaster response:
"Foreign Assistance: USAID Completed Many Caribbean Disaster Recovery Activities, but Several Challenges Hampered Efforts".
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-645
"Disaster Relief: Reimbursement to American Red Cross for Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne"
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-518
"United States Coast Guard: Improvements Needed in Management and Oversight of Rescue System Acquisition"
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-623
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DRM Risks
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Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has a large head of lava. Near the epicenter of the Java earthquake, it is believed that an eruption is imminent.

Comoros Islands' Mount Kathala, one of the world's largest active volcanoes, has spewed ash and lava, but after a contained eruption on Thursday, all seismic activity ceased.

Risk Management Solutions (RMS) has launched a comprehensive windstorm model for 12 European countries, using an innovative combination of numeric and parametric models.
http://www.rms.com/NewsPress/PR_052606_EUWS.asp

The US Army Corps of Engineers says it has reached a pre-Katrina level of protection for New Orleans in time for the beginning of the 2006 hurricane season.
http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/corpspoints/corpspoints.htm

University of Miami researchers warn that parts of New Orleans is subsiding faster than previously understood.
http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2593-1;47388-3,00.html

Speaking at the WorldBoston forum, Lloyd's America president Wendy Baker said that as long as insurers underwrite appropriately, a national catastrophe fund is unnecessary. On the other hand, A.M. Best Company warned that major storms could cause $100 billion in propoerty losses and wipe out 20 to 40 insurers.
http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/Briefings_and_speeches/Insuring_against_the_next_big_one.htm
http://www3.ambest.com/frames/frameserver.asp?site=press&tab=1&altsrc=14&altnum=&refnum=60497348625266506955
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DRM Mitigation
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The Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce (IPET) has issued its draft final report on the performance of the New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana Hurricane Protection System during Hurricane Katrina. The US Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged their responsibility for the engineering and design problems that led to the failure of levees and floodwalls. The overall findings include:
* The system did not perform as a system.
* The storm exceeded design criteria, but the performance was less than the design intent.
* The flooding and the consequences of the flooding were pervasive, but also concentrated.
Lessons learned cover resilience, system performance, and risk, as well as knowledge, technology and expertise.
http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/releases/Interagency_Eval.htm
https://ipet.wes.army.mil/

Aon has responded to a US Treasury request for comment on terrorism insurance with a call for a permanent solution, essential since few carriers can insure risks that cannot be quantified.
http://www.aon.com/about/news/press_release/pr_007B337D.jsp

The American Bankers Association (ABA) Emergency Preparedness Task Force has issued policy recommendations based on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, as well as the ABA Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, which covers a range of potential catastrophes, as well as preparation, response, and recovery.
http://www.disasterreductionmonitor.com/2006/06/DRM0401.shtml

US National Guard units are also preparing for hurricane season, including both their work to respond in a disaster and for the protection of themselves and their families. They list six basic preparation steps:
* Forecast insurance needs: Any substantial change in the value of a home or possessions, such as a major remodeling project or new appliances, might mean increased policy limits are needed. With recent increases in property values, a home could cost more to rebuild than when it was first insured. It is important to make sure the policy covers the cost to rebuild.
* Seek shelter from the storm: "Additional Living Expense" coverage will take care of temporary living expenses, such as reasonable hotel bills and meals, while a home is being restored.
* Plan for high tide: Get flood insurance. If residence is near a body of water, levee or dam, or the property experiences significant standing water after a rain, talk with an insurance company or agent to find out whether a separate flood insurance policy is needed.
* Think about strong gusts: A windstorm policy might be needed.
* Put possessions on camera: Create a written inventory of personal possessions that includes the cost of major items, such as furniture, clothing, electronics and jewelry. Taking digital pictures or a video of belongings can help make the claims process go more smoothly.
* Fireproof and waterproof paperwork and records: Store important insurance and financial papers, and home inventory, in a secure place, such as a safe-deposit box. It's wise to keep copies in a more accessible location as well. Consider storing copies in a fireproof box, or send a copy to a trusted family member outside of the area.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060601_5309.html

The Times-Picayune, a leading New Orleans newspaper, has posted "Are We Ready?" to provide information on "the status of levees and pumps, evacuation plans, resources and more".
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/areweready2006/

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7. Recommended Reading

On June 5, 1981, the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published case reports of five healthy young men who died of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and other diseases associated with severely compromised immune systems. This was the first report on what has come to be known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Read the MMWR report here:
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/06/ETM0402.shtml

There is now a generation of people unaware of what it was like to see healthy people suddenly turned into skeletons covered with disfiguring lesions and fungal infections run amok, with no knowledge of what caused the horrendous symptoms, or the rapid progression and certain death of the associated diseases. Today, anti-retroviral therapies have brought the most horrific autoimmune effects of HIV under control. These advanced therapies are too expensive for most of the infected populations in the world, where rapid deaths are still most common.

These events and programs help to remind us of what the past 25 years have encompassed:
AVERT history, pictures and posters
http://www.avert.org/historyi.htm
Jerry Feuer interview
http://www.here-now.org/shows/2006/05/20060531_9.asp
GLAAD
http://www.glaad.org/media/AIDS/index.php
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/aidsat25.cfm
Stop AIDS Project
http://www.stopaids.org/
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=3336
Talk of the Nation
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5439596
Telling Our Stories
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/162011.php

As HIV/AIDS has traveled the world, there has been a common pattern of denial and stigmatization that precedes acceptance and response. The groundbreaking book, "And The Band Played On" by Randy Shilts was seminal in bringing the reality of the plague to public attention. (Penguin)
http://www.fumento.com/shilts.html

This book was made into a movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106273/

The impact of HIV/AIDS is also movingly shared in the musical Rent, also subsequently made into a movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_(musical)

This week marks 25 years since the uncovering pandemic was first indicated. For the first time, it appears that new infections may have peaked. UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic is available here:
http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/

For prior coverage in this Newsletter on the impact of HIV/AIDS on national security, read these features:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/120405.html#FeatureArticle
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2004/120504.html#FeatureArticle
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2003/112303.html#FeatureArticle
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2002/120102.html#FeatureArticle

HIV/AIDS is one example of an emerging infectious disease associated with the social and environmental changes of globalization. To better understand this phenomenon and the growing threat it represents, we recommend:
* "AIDS in the Twenty-First Century: Disease and Globalization" by Tony Barnett and Alan Whiteside (Palgrave Macmillan)
http://www.palgrave.com/products/Catalogue.aspx?is=1403997683
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/348/10/967
* "The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance" by Laurie Garrett (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/extract/333/5/327

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8. Asset Management Network News

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