News this week covers global topics such as the 2006 International AIDS Conference emissions trading, as well as reports that begin locally but have international implications. These include the latest reports on airport security following the recently revealed transatlantic bomb plots, Holocaust cartoons on display in Iran, and organized crime trends in Canada. Make sure you take a look at section 8 to read our news of an upcoming seminar in which we are participating.

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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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Nicolas Otalvaro-Ortiz and his brother Gabriel have been sentenced to 98 months in prison for helping launder up to $1 million in Colombian drug money through peso brokers.
http://justice.gov/usao/nys/Press Releases/August06/Otalvaro Sentencing PR.pdf

Toronto attorney and Conservative insider Peter Shoniker has pleaded guilty to money laundering and theft for moving Royal Canadian Mounted Police sting money to a New York bank. Sentencing is scheduled for 6 September.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/08/18/shoniker-plea.html
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155937811256&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has imposed a Rs 1-crore penalty on Citigroup Global Markets (Mauritius) Ltd, for violating the regulator’s circular on issuing off-shore derivatives instruments (ODIs) to an overseas corporate body.
http://www.sebi.gov.in/adjorder/citycorp.html

IT recruitment company director and Apprentice star Syed Ahmed has been questioned by British police in a money laundering investigation connected with transferring funds from a disputed loan out of a joint account.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=400486&in_page_id=1773

Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix, a most wanted drug fugitive, has been arrested off the coast of Mexico.
http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/pr081606.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mexico/etc/arellano.html

Terrorist financing and other terrorism charges against Osama Abulhassan and Ali Houssaiky have been dropped. The two Michigan students were arrested in Ohio after purchasing hundreds of mobile phones. The investigation remains open, but remaining charges stem from giving false or misleading information to police officers. Allegations of racial profiling linger.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/NEWS05/608160312/-1/BUSINESS07
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/METRO/608160353
http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new33_816200683906.asp

Former Yukos President Steven Theede has been charged in Russia with embezzlement and money laundering.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/08/17/theedy.shtml

Disaster-recovery charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa denies alleged links to the UK airline bombings plot.
http://www.jamatdawah.org/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401196.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2319633,00.html
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/08/16/d60816014325.htm
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AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
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Fiji's lower house has passed the Real Estate Agents Bill, which has moved on to the Senate. Provisions in the bill include establishing a licensing board, licensing agents, granting permits, approving personnel, and adding disciplinary provisions. The bill has become important due to real estate fraud, including money laundering. State Minister Losena Salabula warned that f the issue is allowed to go unchecked, a sustainable part of the ratepayers, by property ownership and municipal boundaries will be affiliated to international crime syndicates.
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_7215.shtml
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/printer_6947.shtml

The Irish government has accepted Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell's proposals to establish a Casino Regulation Committee to report on regulation of casino-style regulations. The Committee will report by the end of October on:
* The possibilities for a legislative basis for the strict regulation of casino-style operations in the State;
* The form of regulation, the functions and powers of any regulatory body, the licensing system, codes of practice, investigation of complaints, entry and inspection, appeals against decisions, the nature and type of offences, internet gambling etc.;
* The role of local authorities;
* The requirements of the Financial Action Task Force.
http://justice.ie/80256E01003A02CF/vWeb/pcJUSQ6SNLX3-en
http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C463785B-899A-4ABC-BD05-1D4FAA093DB7/0/Gambling2006_draftRIA.pdf

The Jersey Financial Services Commission has added the Cayman Islands to the list of countries having an equivalent AML framework.
http://www.cimoney.com.ky/section/mediacentre/default.aspx?id=1064
http://www.jerseyfsc.org/

The Central Bank of Nigeria has released a circular emphasizing the need to report any suspicious or unusual transactions involving terrorism to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)
http://www.cenbank.org /OUT/CIRCULARS/TED/2006/TED-AD-112-2006.PDF

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Executive Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed that $5 billion in assets have been recovered and over 5,000 people arrested and investigated in the three years since EFCC was established.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/business/august06/14082006/b514082006.html

The US Treasury named Syrian officials  Major General Hisham Ikhtiyar and  Brigadier General Jama'a Jama'a Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) of Syria for contributing to Syria's support for designated terrorist groups including Hezbollah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). This designation freezes all US assets and prohibits US entities from engaging in transactions with them.
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp60.htm
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AML/CFT Modalities
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Criminal Intelligence Service Canada released its 2006 Annual Report on Organized Crime in Canada. It addresses illicit drugs, firearms, financial crime, intellectual property theft, human smuggling and trafficking, and vehicle theft. It covers the dynamics, characteristics and methods of organized crime, and has a special feature on Street Gangs in Canada.
http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2006/frontpage_2006_e.htm

A fake Spanish lottery scam is being used to launder money.
http://www.thisisessex.co.uk/display.var.885689.0.spanish_money_laundering_con.php

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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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Australia's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will investigate New South Wales Energy and Ports Minister Joe Tripodi for business interests in 2002.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tripodi-did-not-request-investigation-icac/2006/08/16/1155407845134.html

Israeli army chief Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz has resigned, denying any wrongdoing in his sale of shares hours after Hezbollah captured two Israeli troops. An investigation is under way, including an internal bank inquiry. Justice Minister Haim Ramon has announced his resignation as he faces charges of misconduct towards an employee. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Tzachi Hanegbi has been indicted on charges of fraud, bribery, and perjury when he was environment minister.

India's Supreme Court has overturned a decision that the Central Bureau of Investigation has no jurisdiction over state courts, instead upholding the CBI's powers to investigate corruption cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika had suspended Anti-Corruption Bureau head Gustave Kaliwo on unexplained disciplinary grounds last month. He has now resigned.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=qw1155373020233R131&sf=

US federal prosecutors have asked that former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling's fine is raised from $139 million to $183 million, to include the sum originally demanded by the late Enron founder, Ken Lay.
http://www.txs.uscourts.gov/notablecases/
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ETM Economies and Financial Systems
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China's National Bureau of Statistics reports industrial output increased by 16.7 percent in July compared to a year before. Growth in June was 19.5 percent, and this decline suggests efforts to tighten economic growth are beginning to show results.

India's new ambassador to Ivory Coast has announced an investment of as much as $1 billion in oil exploration and mining over the next five years.
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2006-08-14T194146Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-263592-1.xml
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=1045
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ETM Environment and Climate Change
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The World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Program released the "UNEP/WMO Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2006". The updated review of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer finds that recovery should occur by 2065, 15 years later than anticipated in the previous assessment, released in 2002.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=484&ArticleID=5335&l=en

The US rice supply has been contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption. This news follows a federal court ruling that the Agriculture Department broke the law by allowing companies to plant genetically engineered crops in open air tests in Hawaii.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0307.xml
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/15/AR2006081501053.html?referrer=email

Although the major oil spill in Lebanon is the most visible environmental damage, chemicals and dust from buildings hit during air strikes have led to highly toxic air. This contamination is reminiscent of that described post-9/11, and is likely to have similar long-term health consequences. Meanwhile, the UN Environment Program and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have drawn up an action plan to begin clean-up of the coast.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55151
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=484&ArticleID=5334&l=en

The Philippines has appealed to Indonesia and Japan for help in cleaning up its worst ever oil spill. A tanker sank in heavy rains and strong winds, releasing two million liters of oil around Guimaras island, where there are important fishing grounds, and a national marine reserve and diving locations important to the tourism industry. It could take up to three years to clean up.

Australian state and territory leaders released a discussion paper that introduces a "cap and trade" plan to set emission targets on greenhouse gases. Low polluters can exchange emissions credits for money, and there would be fines for companies that exceed targets. They also released modeling reports describing the impacts of national emissions trading on electricity markets and on the economy. Prime Minister John Howard, who has rejected the Kyoto protocol, says the state plans would harm the economy and increase fuel prices.
http://www.emissionstrading.net.au/
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release2081.html
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ETM Human Rights
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"Uncounted and Discounted" is a new report by the UN Development Fund for Women that looks at women in Afghanistan. The report finds endemic domestic violence and attacks against them made with impunity. Male family members commit 80 percent of violent acts, ten percent are by a woman, and the rest by a man usually known by the woman. Violence occurs regardless of marital status, education or employment. Because the family is both the traditional support structure and the source of the violence, better access to public services is the best means to get them help.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19512&Cr=afghan&Cr1=

The UK Information Commissioner finds that the Freedom of Information Act is increasing people's confidence in public authorities. New research shows that 76 percent of individuals believe the Act has increased their knowledge of public authorities, and 82 percent of public authorities believe the Act is needed.
http://www.ico.gov.uk/cms/DocumentUploads/Freedom_of_information_creates_more_confidence_research_reveals.pdf

"Human Trafficking: Better Data, Strategy, and Reporting Needed to Enhance U.S. Antitrafficking Efforts Abroad" is a new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). Hundreds of thousands of women, children, and men are bought and sold across international borders each year. GAO looked at how the US estimates the extent of human trafficking, its strategy for combating the problem abroad, and the State Department's process for evaluating foreign government's anti-trafficking efforts. They find serious credibility problems with the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which GAO found inconsistent and incomplete, reducing its use as a diplomatic tool or a guide for focusing government resources.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-825

The US Department of Justice launched a web site that outlines the basic civil rights servicemembers have under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
http://www.servicemembers.gov
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ETM Infectious Diseases
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The 16th International AIDS conference was held this week, under the theme "Time to Deliver". Since there is no end in sight to the pandemic, it is time to move global response beyond the current crisis management model into a sustainable response plan to address the nest 25 years and beyond.
http://www.unaids.org/en/Conferences/AIDS2006/default.asp
http://data.unaids.org/pub/Speech/2006/20060813_SP_Annan_en.pdf

Both endemic and new avian influenza strains have become endemic in parts of Asia. Vigorous control measures are essential to control this threat. H5N1 has become endemic in Thailand's Pichit province, while new strains have spread from China to other areas of Thailand and to Laos. Two more districts n Cambodia have also been hit.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000377/index.html

Regarding human cases of H5N1 infections, China has confirmed its 31st case (14 fatal) and Indonesia its 58th case (45 fatal). Dozens of suspected cases in Thailand have led to efforts to improve diagnosis and funds have been allocated for 100 quarantine wards.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_08_14/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_08_17/en/index.html
http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=24168

Here is a summary of the current status of new candidate H5N1 vaccines:
http://www.who.int/entity/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/recommendationvaccine.pdf

US states, with the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, have begun monitoring wild migratory birds for avian influenza. Cases tested in Michigan show two wild mute swans are free of H5N1 but had a less pathogenic strain of the virus.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0287.xml
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0294.xml
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ETM Legal Systems
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Canada's Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Beverley McLachlin, called on Canadian Bar Association members to considering changing fees to address the problem that as many as 40 percent of people appearing in some courts have no attorneys. She warned that judicial vacancies and this "epidemic of lack of representation" severely handicap the legal system and make it inaccessible to too many Canadians.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=41173565-6774-43c1-8a71-c46b56facb1f&k=33002
http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2006/08/13/1752112-sun.html

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada reports that incarcerating members of street gangs does little to disrupt criminal activities but instead promotes their power and influence both inside and out of prison, contributing to more violence within the correctional system.
http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2006/street_gang_map_2006_e.htm

The Iraqi Lawyers Association (ILA) reports that since October 2005, 38 lawyers have been murdered and hundreds attacked for defending cases which do not follow Sharia law.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55146

Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform released the 3rd, 4th and 5th reports of the Morris Tribunal, an inquiry into complaints concerning some Gardai of the Donegal Division. The reports document egregious cases of insubordination and indiscipline among a small number of the 12,000 police on the force. Despite the damning criticisms, there are no criminal charges, although civil proceedings are proceeding. Detective Sergeant John White, suspended since June 2001 and at the center of the inquiry, has resigned.
http://www.justice.ie/80256E01003A02CF/vWeb/pcJUSQ6SRLFB-en
http://www.morristribunal.ie/

The UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast issued a scathing report on the country's penitentiary system, saying people were being held in overcrowded, unsanitary, crumbling prisons, with severe malnutrition a leading cause of death.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55168E

Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) warns of judicial irregularities that are likely to lead to a miscarriage of justice in the treason trial of Caprivi secessionists. Among the issues they raise is the absence of the accused and their lawyers, contrary to Namibia's constitution.
http://www.nshr.org.na/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=630&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&POSTNUKESID=1a0c6b10fc47263bb7c5e79a9d7568c5

The UK plans to release as many as 50,000 prisoners early to help reduce prison overcrowding.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006370734,00.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1219484.ece
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ETM Natural Resources
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Der Spiegel highlights a New Cold War focused on competition for natural resources. As they become scarcer and more expensive, new alliances and conflicts emerge.
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,429968,00.html

Indigenous Santals in northwestern Bangladesh are concerned over their fate and the fate of the environment following plans to begin open pit mining.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/08/18/d608181802104.htm

Chilean miners at the world's largest privately-held copper mine have been on strike over a pay dispute that is well into its third week. Talks are going on through the weekend.

Environmental and business groups in Indonesia's Papua province have joined in opposition to a Chinese forestry plan that could accelerate the destruction of remaining forests and harm revenues from furniture exports.

China denies that its demands for wood menace global forest resources or fuels illegal logging.
http://english.people.com.cn/200608/18/eng20060818_294406.html
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3866
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-08-15T133840Z_01_PEK85729_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-ENVIRONMENT-CHINA-DC.XML
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ETM Populations
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Australia's Aborigines live in some of the world's worst housing, according to UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari, who recently completed a 2-week tour evaluating the situation at the request of the government. He warned that new laws on land rights in the Northern Territory are unwise and unworkable.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20142290-1702,00.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Land-rights-overhaul-unworkable-UN/2006/08/15/1155407803877.html
http://bendigo.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_id=501726&category=General&m=8&y=2006

Germany's birth rate has fallen again by 2.8 percent, the lowest in Europe. Declining population in Europe threatens economic damage for decades to come.
http://www.destatis.de/presse/deutsch/pm2006/p3300023.htm (in German)

The US Census Bureau shows key demographic and social changes in cities across the country, including rising median ages and increased numbers of minority groups.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/007287.html

Demographics have a major impact on "The Future of Economic Development in Rural America", which is the subject of a new publication from the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago. Articles include an overview of agriculture and rural development issues; rural depopulation; the role of community banks, rural infrastructure and how it influences quality of life and economic opportunities, and issues related to energy and telecommunications.
http://tracker.ease.lsoft.com/trk/click?ref=znwrbbrs9_1-19cfx1255dx&
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ETM Social Responsibility
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MTN Nigeria, a cellular telecommunications company, has established a foundation through which it implements ifs Corporate Social Responsibility program, which recently funded the SCHOOLSconnect program.
http://www.mtnonline.com/corporate/press.asp?NewsID=123
http://allafrica.com/stories/200608100036.html

Columnist Mallen Baker argues that asking what is the business case for corporate social responsibility merely demonstrates the immaturity of the movement. He says, " In truth, there is no business case for CSR. Any more than there is a business case for innovation. Or for marketing. Or for outsourcing. Each of these processes describe a range of possible activities - and any one of those activities may be beneficial or detrimental to the business. It all depends on the judgement in selection of which actions to take, and the skill and energy applied to achieving results.
http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4433
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ETM Technology
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Guy Carpenter, the risk and reinsurance division of Marsh and McLennan, published "Nanotechnology - The Plastics of the 21st Century?" The report n overview of nanotechnology, its benefits to the global economy, associated risks, regulation and the likely evolution of insurance coverage.
http://www.guycarp.com/portal/extranet/popup/pdf/GCPub/NANO paper 7_11.pdf

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used a beam of electrons to move a single atom in a small molecule back and forth between two positions on a crystal surface. This is a significant step toward learning how to build an "atomic switch" that turns electrical signals on and off in nanoscale devices.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/atomic_switch.htm

Australian Prime Minister Howard has agreed that if a bill is introduced to allow therapeutic cloning he will permit a conscience vote after finding a depth of feeling on expanding stem-cell research.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warns that the UK science base is being eroded because the education system is failing thousands of potential scientists. Over the last 20 years, a stripped-down science curriculum, lack of specialist teachers and uninspiring careers advice have led to a 56 percent decline in A level pupils studying physics and a 37 percent decline in those studying A level chemistry. This is happening at a time when new international competitors are emerging and traditional rivals are getting stronger,
http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/dc0699d2e716fbc1802571be003c5b78?OpenDocument
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ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
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The Arms Control Association has posted five previously unpublished Iranian proposals to resolve international concerns about its nuclear program.
http://www.armscontrol.org/country/iran/

Iran, feeling powerful following the outcome of the Hezbollah/Israel conflict, has shown increasing flexibility on its nuclear enrichment activities, while insisting that it's rights to nuclear energy are absolute and that the threat of UN sanctions will have no effect.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh maintains that the US and its congress will not influence Indian energy policy, including the terms of collaboration between the two countries. Singh has assured leading politicians and nuclear scientists that India will not bow to any pressure the US could exert to limit its atomic weapons program.

China and Pakistan, meanwhile, have moved closer to their own bilateral agreement on energy cooperation.

The Indian government has devised three Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with terrorist attacks involving use of radiological or nuclear Materials, biological agents and chemical weapons. These address identification of potential targets, and the formation and training of specialist response teams,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1767822,001302420000.htm

Details of the Soviet Union's research in biological warfare has emerged following the death of lead scientist Lev S. Sandakhchiev
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-jmiller13aug13,0,1225730.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

Swiss scientists have found a molecule unique to anthrax that can be used for a faster and simpler way to detect the bacteria.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112752113/ABSTRACT

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have discovered the structure of a key enzyme from plague bacterium, which can shed light on how it kills and on fundamental cell signaling processes.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2006_0817.htm#structure

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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 Agriculture and Food
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US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that the US rice supply has been contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0307.xml
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0306.xml
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/18/AR2006081801043.html

The US state of Illinois has announced a program to help agricultural fertilizer dealers protect their product from theft, including illegal production of methamphetamine.
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=5195
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CIM Banking and Finance
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US financial regulators issued "Authentication in an Internet Banking Environment" to address frequently asked questions regarding implementation of the guidance issued 12 October 2005.
http://www.ots.treas.gov/docs/r.cfm?480258.pdf

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued guidance on disclosure and marketing issues associated with gift cards. The OCC expects national banks that issue gift cards not only to inform purchasers about material terms and conditions, but to take appropriate steps so that critical information is likely to be available to recipients as well. Disclosures should generally tell consumers the expiration date; the amount or the existence of any monthly maintenance, dormancy, usage or similar fees; and how to obtain additional information. The guidance has divided the gift card industry between those welcoming the guidance and those declaring it an unwanted burden. Because the guidance includes no mention of compliance with state laws, it is also observed that this could be another instance in which OCC preempts state regulations.
http://www.occ.gov/ftp/bulletin/2006-34.txt
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2006/08/cracking_down_on_gift_cards.html
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/REPOSITORY/608030346

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is seeking public comment on a issues relating to Industrial Loan Companies (ILCs). On 28 July 28 FDIC imposed a six-month moratorium on ILC deposit insurance applications and change in control notices. The public comment process is meant to go beyond individual applications to address such issues as the current legal and business framework of ILCs and the possible benefits, risks, and supervisory issues associated with ILCs. http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/2006/06noticeILCcomments.html

Ahead of Zimbabwe's change to a new currency, counterfeit money has already come into circulation.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=281008
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CIM Commercial Facilities
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Bangladesh has decided that private security agency staff will not be permitted to carry firearms.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/08/16/d60816012112.htm
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CIM Cybersecurity
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The U.S. Survey: Confidential Data at Risk from the Ponemon Institute and Vontu finds:
* 81 percent of companies surveyed reported the loss of one or more laptop computers containing sensitive information during the previous 12 months.
* Loss of confidential data, such as intellectual property, business documents, customer data and employee records, is a pervasive problem.
* PDAs and laptops ranked highest among storage devices posing the greatest risk for sensitive corporate data, followed by USB memory sticks, desktop systems, and shared file servers.
* 64 percent of companies surveyed reported never having conducted an inventory of sensitive consumer information.  64 percent also reported never having inventoried employee data.
* When asked how long it would take to determine what actual sensitive data was on a lost or stolen laptop, desktop, file server, or mobile device, the most frequent answer was "never" -- ranging from 24% for a file server to 62% for an employee's home computer.
* 81 percent of respondents report that protecting sensitive "data at rest" is a priority this year, and 89 percent anticipate that it will be a priority next year.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-15-2006/0004416275&EDATE=

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned its members about the threat of company identity fraud, following reports of bogus calls from people pretending to be Companies House officials.
http://www.fsb.org.uk/news.asp?REC=3498
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/coIdFraud.shtml

BBC News Real Story reports that bank account details and other personal information is being sold in Third World second-hand computer markets. Bank account details are being sold for less than GBP 20 each. Real Story recommends four rules for safe PC recycling:
* If possible, remove hard drives from PCs before recycling
* Use commercial erasing software, Examples include McAfee QuickClean, Acronis Drive Cleanser or ISafeguard Freeware
* Sign-up for a recycling service run by your PC manufacturer
* Some hard drive manufacturers also offer separate recycling programs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_story/4791167.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4790293.stm

Note to Macintosh users: your computer comes with a "Safe Erase" option. Use it.

Web redirection scripts are being exploited to make phishing scams more realistic.
http://www.millersmiles.co.uk/report/2784

China's Ministry of Public security reports that viruses attacked nearly three-quarters of computers in the past year, representing a six percent reduction from the prior year. Lack of maintenance or software patches presented the main vulnerabilities, as well as use of the internet and portable storage devices.
http://english.people.com.cn//200608/14/eng20060814_292943.html
http://www.millersmiles.co.uk/report/3228

University of Pennsylvania researchers warn that peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, or microphones, can be physically bugged to steal data. These "jitterbugs" are similar to keyloggers.
http://www.upenn.edu/researchatpenn/article.php?1089&tch

Responding to a demonstration of cloning electronic passport chips, the Smart Card Alliance points to multiple layers of security as protection, while others point out the likelihood of new threats emerging through the 10-year lifespan of a passport, and other possible risks. Meanwhile, the US Department of State has started issuing RFID passports.
http://www.smartcardalliance.org/industry_news/industry_news_item.cfm?itemID=1582
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/04/cloning_epassports
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/08/hackers_clone_r.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/70433.htm

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate America Online privacy practices following the exposure of personal information of more than half a million customers.
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_08.php#004876

The use of the internet to support terrorism is discussed in these articles:
"Digitizing Terror: High-Res Executions and Bloody DVDs"
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,432122,00.html
"Terror police find 'martyr tapes'"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5265182.stm

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is looking for comments on new guidelines aimed at helping end-users, in particular telecommuting federal employees, improve the security of their personally owned desktop and laptop computers that run Windows XP Home Edition in a small office or home office environment. Like their larger office counterparts, home computers increasingly are the target of attackers looking to damage or disrupt files, steal identities or commit fraud.
http://csrc.nist.gov/itsec/guidance_WinXP_Home.html
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CIM Dams
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China's Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics in Sichuan says that record high temperatures and drought are the most severe since recording began in 1951. Global climate change, not the Three Gorges Project, are blamed for the drought.
http://english.people.com.cn/200608/19/print20060819_294608.html

In northern Sudan, the Merowe/Hamadab dam on the River Nile floodgates were opened on 7 August to start filling the reservoir. Advance notice was not given to local residents, and the flooding has displaced more than 2,200 families.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17096
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55139
http://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2005/05/sudan-merowehamadab-dam-project.html
http://www.irn.org/
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CIM Energy
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Australian Prime Minister Howard spoke to parliament to describe new energy initiatives to help motorists copy with high gas prices.
http://www.dpmc.gov.au/initiatives/energy.cfm#aug2006

Flexible fuel vehicles that run on any combination of ethanol and gasoline now make up 77 percent of the Brazilian market, reaching the two-million vehicle mark.
http://www.anfavea.com.br/Index.html (in Portuguese)
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-08-17T211252Z_01_N17314600_RTRIDST_0_AUTOS-BRAZIL-FLEXFUEL.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

A blackout struck the Japanese capital, Tokyo, causing major disruption for several hours. The power cut hit during rush hour, and severely affected transportation, traffic, foreign exchange trading and other critical sectors. 1.4 million homes were also affected. The outage was caused when a crane being transported on a river touched high-voltage lines.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-08-14T063358Z_01_T160321_RTRUKOC_0_US-JAPAN-POWER.xml
http://www.easybourse.com/Website/dynamic/News.php?NewsID=41371
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20060814p2g00m0bu002000c.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20060815TDY01005.htm
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CIM Government Facilities
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The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Office of National Assessments will be inviting design proposals for a purpose-built building.
http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/MinisterRuddockHome.nsf/Page/Media_Releases_2006_Third_Quarter_1572006_-_16_August_2006_-_Designers_sought_for_intelligence_facility

Canada's National Capital Commission's advisory committee is reviewing a new design proposed for Parliament Hill that would include an underground visitor center and a side entrance for visitors.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a946896f-5f67-4558-a1b2-d562960b61c2
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CIM Information Technology
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Dell, the world's largest manufacturer of personal computers, is recalling more than four million notebook computer batteries because of a risk they can overheat or catch fire. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says this is the largest recall of electrical products in its history. It has also launched an investigation into other batteries produced by Sony, which is sharing the cost of the recall.
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2006/2006_08_14_rr_002?c=us&l=en&s=corp
https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/Default.aspx
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06231.html
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33682
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CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
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Legislative changes required to support a private nuclear industry in India are discussed in this article:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=137298

The UK's Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) has reported 39 lapses in security against terrorism in the past year, including laptop thefts, internet misuse, a power cut and lightning strikes.
http://www.sundayherald.com/57240
http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/environment/soviet-nuclear-legacy/programme/nuclear-security/index.html
http://www.nda.gov.uk/News--News_(1780).aspx?pg=1780
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CIM Public Health and Healthcare
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Public health efforts to manage HIV/AIDS were addressed at the 2006 International AIDS Conference last week, including discussions of microbicides for women and girls, and male circumcision.
http://www.actionaid.org/index.asp?page_id=1254
http://www.mrc.ac.za/pressreleases/2006/6pres2006.htm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/115581288068.htm
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/hiv061004pkg.cfm

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have devised a strategy to expand access to child-focused formulations and improve the medicines and prescribing guidelines for the entire range of infant and child care needs.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr42/en/index.html
http://www.unicef.org

In Chile, strict anti-smoking measures have come into force. These include a ban on sales to minors, health warnings, limited advertising. Smoking on public transportation, and in schools and health centers is banned, while in other public areas smoking is allowed only in designated areas.
http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=8516

China's Ministry of Health conducted an investigation last year into hospital deaths. They found that about a third of deaths are not reported, and about a quarter give the wrong cause of death. China is already under fire for poor health surveillance related to their handling of HIV, SARS, and avian influenza outbreaks.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2006-08/17/content_666609.htm

Coke has enlisted UK experts to demonstrate that their drinks are safe for Indian consumption. Reports that the soft drinks sold in India contain harmful levels of pesticides have led six states to impose partial or full bans on their sale.
http://www.coca-colaindia.com/media/View_News_Release.asp?ReleaseId=177
http://www.coca-colaindia.com/quality/fact_sheet.asp#products
http://www.cseindia.org/misc/cola-indepth/cola2006/cola_press2006.htm
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CIM Telecommunications
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The US Department of Commerce has extended for five years the contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to continue managing technical functions of the domain name system.
http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-15aug06.htm

UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has proposed changes to make it easier for customers to sign up to and switch between broadband providers.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/08/nr_20060817
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CIM Transportation
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Reviews of airport security and additional regulations have been put in place or planned in locations worldwide following the plot uncovered against transatlantic jets. However, the most rigid carry-on baggage requirements have been slightly eased. There have been multiple incidents of false alarms. Recent events reinforce inconsistencies in airport security measures even within the same jurisdiction or airport.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060819/airport_heathrow_060819/20060819
http://www.tsa.gov/
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_aviation/documents/sectionhomepage/dft_aviation_page.hcsp

Some airports are implementing passenger profiling. Rather than relying on data analysis from largely inaccurate databases, these initiatives increasingly focus on behavioral analysis. Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, remembering a long history of terrorists in all shapes, colors, and sizes, pointed out that beliefs are not visible and that ethnic profiling would merely create a new offense of "travelling whilst Asian".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2320784,00.html
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.profile18aug18,0,20820.story
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_4207110
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6026906,00.html
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1196202006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4666132.stm
http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/profiling.html
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2004/12/airline_passeng.html
http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/02-27-02/02-27-02memo.html

Budget airlines have been particularly hard-hit by new airline restrictions, and run counter to their current business models. Ryanair is among the most vocal, warning that if the UK government does not return airport security measures to normal within a week it will be sued for compensation. Other airlines are also discussing shared responsibility for additional security costs. Ryanair has also launched the "Keep Britain Flying" counterterrorism campaign offering tickets for 99 pence. CEO Michael O'Leary said, "The goal of these terrorists and extremists is not just to kill but also to disrupt the economic life of Britain. The UK Government, by insisting on these heavy handed security measures, is allowing the extremists to achieve many of their objectives".
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=06&month=aug&story=gen-en-130806
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=06&month=aug&story=gen-en-140806
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=06&month=aug&story=gen-en-180806
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/15/news/cost.php

Many passengers have been seriously inconvenienced, including the Telegraph's Alice Thomson, whose pregnancy bump looked suspicious.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/08/15/fthell15.xml

Trains and ships are not following the new security practices implemented on airlines.
http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGB6NLC1QQE.html

Australia has reminded port, ship, and offshore oil and gas facility workers of the August deadline for Maritime Security Identification Card applications.
http://www.dotars.gov.au/transport/security/maritime/msic.aspx
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20193211-953,00.html

Nigerian President Obasanjo laid out a 25-year plan for expanding rail transportation throughout the country, reducing dependence on vehicles while making it easier to move about. Rail systems in Nigeria have deteriorated to the point of collapse, and this modernization effort will be key to development.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200608100385.html
http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=08/14/2006&qrTitle=Stakeholders%20want%20FG%20to%20establish%20Rail%20Maintenance%20Agency
http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/
http://www.bpeng.org/10/0317731656532b.asp?DocID=177&MenuID=42

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that safer vehicles, not better drivers or improved roads, have maintained declining death rates per vehicle.
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr081006.html

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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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Ethiopia's River Omo burst its banks, increasing flooding and affecting thousands of people. More than 900 are confirmed dead to date, with two weeks more rain expected.

China is undertaking recovery efforts from typhoon Saomai, including recovering more bodies, raising the death toll to 441.

Following heavy rains in eastern Ethiopia that killed 250, flash floods in the south burst the banks of the Omo river, killing at least 125.

Vietnam has evacuated thousands of people in central and northern regions, but 27 people have died in flash floods and landslides.

Storms and heavy rains killed at least 25 people in Karachi, Pakistan, most electrocuted by fallen power cables.

Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador's Andes mountains erupted. It destroyed three villages. One man is confirmed dead, and more than 60 people are missing. Another eruption is anticipated.

Floods in poor farming communities in Burkina Faso have washed away the homes of 6,000 people as well as their crops.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55111
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DRM Response and Recovery
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The embankment built to retain hot mud flooding from the Lapindo Brantas gas mine through East Java has collapsed. Thousands more homes were inundated, and the entire Porong district is sinking under the toxic mud. The local economy has been devastated, and criminal proceedings are being evaluated. In another effort to control the flooding, water will be extracted from the mud and dumped in the Madura Strait. The mud flow has been unstoppable since it began nearly three months ago.

The US Environmental Protection Association (EPA) completed analysis of sediment samples, finding that most areas of clear of chemical contamination in soil and water following Hurricane Katrina.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/68b5f2d54f3eefd28525701500517fbf/77b84148c0d18039852571cd00616cb3!OpenDocument

An Earth Policy Institute study finds that Gulf evacuees from the last hurricane season are often not returning, leading to a decline in the coastal population.
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update57.htm
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DRM Risks
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University of Bristol researchers predict that if global temperatures rise by an average of three degrees or more by the end of the century, more than half of the world's biggest forests will be lost, and extreme floods, forest fires and droughts will become more common. In the case of a two-degree rise, Europe, Asia, Canada, Central America, and Amazonia could lose up to a third of forests. Less fresh water in parts of west Africa, Central America, southern Europe and the eastern US raises the probability of drought, while tree loss in tropical regions of Africa and South America will increase flooding risk.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2006/1053.html

In the wake of the 7/7 London bombings, a recent survey finds that major hospitals remain poorly prepared to cope with a major incident.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4795651.stm
http://emj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/23/9/666
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DRM Mitigation
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TowerGroup new report urges the insurance industry and the government to rethink approaches to catastrophe management in a more holistic fashion.
http://www.towergroup.com/research/content/news_view.jsp?newsId=1340

Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Dr. Rakesh Mohan spoke at an International Monetary Fund (IMF) seminar regarding Avian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness within the Financial Sector.
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_SpeechesView.aspx?Id=295

Philippines metropolitan and commercial centers of neighboring Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela are testing flood pumps intended to reduce the flooding seen in the area for decades.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200608196301.htm

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7. Recommended Reading

The International AIDS conference took place in Toronto this week. As this year marks 25 years since the first AIDS infections were reported, it is worth revisiting the status of this pandemic.
http://www.aids2006.org/

Key reports prepared for the meeting include:
* 2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic: May 2006
http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/default.asp
* Changing Course: Alternative Approaches to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals and Fight HIV/AIDS.
http://www.actionaidusa.org/pdf/Changing Course Report.pdf
* Circle of Hope
http://www.plan-international.org/action/hiv/approach/
* Compromised Intentions
http://hrw.org/backgrounder/hivaids/ungass0806/
* Faith Untapped
http://www.tearfund.org/News/Latest+news/African+churches+are+hidden+weapon+in+AIDS+war.htm
* Global HIV Prevention Working Group
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/hiv061004pkg.cfm
* Progress on Global Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy: A Report on "3 by 5" and Beyond
http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news57/en/index.html
* MMWR: The Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic, 2006
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5531a1.htm?s_cid=mm5531a1_e
* Tools for Planning and Developing Human Resources for HIV/AIDS and Other Health Services
http://www.msh.org/resources/publications/ebookstore/product.cfm?p=225

Note special coverage from Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&c=Page&cid=1155031315217

And prior coverage in this Newsletter, focused on HIV and global security issues:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2006/060406.html#FeatureArticle#7
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

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8. Asset Management Network News

We will be attending "Connected Health -Empowering Care through Communications Technologies". At this symposium on 18-19 September, we will be providing information on lessons learned and shared experiences between the financial services and healthcare industries, such as issues regarding payment systems, security, identity management, data normalization, and outsourcing. The symposium "is bringing together thought leaders from each aspect of healthcare and technology, to discuss the innovative applications of new healthcare communications technologies. Interactive sessions, workshops and panel discussions will focus on the application of these technologies and the impact on providing quality patient care, the management of telemedicine programs in healthcare settings and strategies for integrating connected health throughout the healthcare system".
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=f72fe396-bcfc-4e8b-bd21-15f2e83d5673

Don't forget to take a look at our online store for subscriptions to the Monitor series and our Special Reports, ranging from avian influenza to "Trends in Terrorism: 2005".

Email info@tamni.com for details about the new products, publications, and information about services, including custom research.