Much of this week's news focuses on policy failures and debates over alternatives, ranging from Afghanistan and Iraq to veils and torture. There is also coverage of the recent FATF meeting, new reports on maritime security and electricity supplies, and many other topics. Recommended reading focuses on the story behind the Military Commissions Act signed into law this week.

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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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Malaysia has charged Ong Kheng Hoe, his wife and sister, with multiple counts of money laundering and fraud related to forging security documents.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20061018094946/Article/local1_html

Russia claims to have uncovered a Georgian money laundering ring connected to organized crime leveraging international transfers.
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13883
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/10/BEE1FF1E-CCAF-42D1-B3D4-ECF43B398C99.html

Simon Fisher was found guilty in UK court for conspiracy to import cannabis and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Thomas Little was sentenced to 51 weeks suspended and 250 hours of community service for money laundering; and Paul Phipps to five years and 36 months run consecutively for conspiracy to import cannabis and money laundering. GBP815,000 was seized.
http://media.netpr.pl/notatka_65549.html

UK officials have arrested 11 people in England and Northern Ireland in connection with a GBP10 million duty fraud associated with fuel laundering.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced the coordinated takedown of an international money laundering investigation targeting Colombia's Black Market Peso Exchange. "Operation Plata Sucia" led to the arrest of 26 people.
http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/pr101806.html

Florida officials have arrested Daniel L. Prewett, an accountant, on a federal money laundering charge.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061020/NEWS/610200309/1060

In Oregon, day trader James Mast has been indicted on fraud and money laundering charges connected to investment fraud.
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-17/11613948098590.xml&storylist=orlocal

Stephen Plowman pleaded guilty in US District Court in Washington for his role in a money laundering scam in which the attorney helped his client, a cocaine trafficker, purchase a laundry using more than $100,000 in unreported cash payments.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288876_laundering16ww.html
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AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held its Vancouver Plenary, 9-13 October 2006. During the meeting the Plenary:
* Welcomed the Republic of Korea as an observer
* Adopted FATF reports assessing Portugal’s and Iceland's AML/CFT systems for compliance with global standards
* Myanmar was removed from the list of non-cooperative countries and territories
* Issued two reports on money laundering methods and vulnerabilities in new payment technologies and corporate vehicles.
http://www.fatf-gafi.org

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) held an information session on AML/CFT that addressed insurance typologies and issues; AML risk management and anti-terrorist financing; terrorist listing; correspondent banking and trade finance; upper range and quality; and challenged practices.
http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/app/DocRepository/1/eng/speeches/AMLATF06_e.pdf

Hong Kong Monetary Authority Director Simon Topping discussed AML/CFT in the 19 October Viewpoint article.
http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/eng/viewpt/index.htm

Hong Kong's Narcotics Division has requested comment to lower the reporting threshold for remittance and foreign exchange agents from $20,000 to $8,000.
http://www.nd.gov.hk/Consultation_Paper_20061020.doc

The Central Bank of Kuwait is developing stricter anti-money laundering regulations under which all financial services must verify the sender and receiver of transactions, maintain records, investigate suspicious activities, and train employees. Money laundering risks have limited investment and employment opportunities in Kuwait.
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/kuwait/Viewdet.asp?ID=8762&cat=a

The UN Security Council has voted to continue the ban on Liberian diamond exports pending implementation of the necessary measures to join the Kimberley Process. A ban on logs and timber had previously been lifted.

The Bank of Namibia has launched a money laundering awareness campaign, including technical training.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200610170038.html

New Zealand is working on an AML/CFT framework that works closely with industry in stages to leverage existing regulatory arrangements and thereby reduce the costs.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=27435
http://www.justice.govt.nz/fatf/index.html

North Korea is facing a broader degree of financial sanctions from countries including China, following its nuclear test.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/19/asia/web.1019defect.php
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/20/business/AS_FIN_China_NKorea_Banks.php
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1548858,00.html

Switzerland's Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Hanspeter Thuer, said that Swiss banks broke data protection laws when failing to inform customers that their bank information has been transferred, through the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), to US authorities. Swiss Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz believes the actions did not violate bank secrecy rules.
http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=16041
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/14/world/europe/14swift.html

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Treasury held the first national conference on financial capability.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_78_06.cfm

The US state of Arizona is being sued for seizing or blocking wire transfers from immigrants.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1019immigrant-suit.html
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AML/CFT Modalities
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FATF released two reports on money laundering and terrorist financing methods. The first report, on new payment technologies, looked at prepaid cards, internet payment systems, mobile payments, and digital precious metals. They found that there is legitimate market demand as well as AML/CFT vulnerabilities. Cross-border providers of new payment methods may pose more risk than those operating within a jurisdiction.  Continued vigilance to further assess the impact of evolving technologies on cross-border and domestic regulatory frameworks is recommended. The second report studied corporate vehicles and identified a number of risk factors. Misuse could be significantly reduced if governments have access to information about the beneficial owner, the source of assets, and the business objective of the company or trust. These reports will be available on the FATF website in the coming weeks. Studies on real estate, terrorist financing, value-added-tax fraud and drug trafficking are underway and will be updated during a joint meeting of typologies experts with the Eurasian Group on combating money laundering and terrorist financing (EAG) in Shanghai, China in November 2006.
http://www.fatf-gafi.org

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports a 29 percent fall in opium poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle (Burma, Laos, and Thailand).
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/press_release_2006_10_16.html

Center for Research on Globalization's Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya writes about the nexus between laundering drug money and financial systems in this article:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=NAZ20061017&articleId=3516

BusinessWeek describes a Dubai-based money laundering ring that exploited hawala.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2006/gb20061019_484344.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business

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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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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for public comment on the Revised Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2006/pr06223.htm

Improved governance, better quality of regulation and infrastructure are the key factors cited by the Asian Development Bank in helping South Asia grow.
http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2006/10816-South-Asia-report/default.asp

French oil firm Total executives Christophe de Margerie and Bernard de Combret are under investigation over bribery allegations related to the oil for food program in Iraq.

An indictment against Israeli President Moshe Katsav will include charges of multiple rapes, sexual harassment, and wire-tapping.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777218.html

Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state in Nigeria, has been impeached after parliament found him and his deputy governor, Biodun Olujimi, guilty of corruption. He is believed to have fled the country. A senior judge and other high-ranking officials have called the impeachment unconstitutional, and are joining remaining governors to say they will not accept his replacement, Friday Aderemi.

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) executive chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu called for Nigerians to watch out for corrupt public officials, and told the BBC that more than $380 billon has been either stolen or wasted by corrupt officials.
http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1082&Itemid=2
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6069230.stm

Russian President Putin has praised the virility of Israeli President Katsav.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1927726,00.html

Fourteen current and former members of parliament with South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party pleaded guilty to fraud and theft stemming from abuse of parliamentary travel vouchers. They were fined and sentenced to suspended prison terms. Further civil charges are likely to follow.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=286865

"Corporate Governance in Turkey: A Pilot Study" is the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) first such evaluation in an OECD member country. It evaluates Turkish corporate governance standards and practices in light of recommendations in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, and finds a strong regulatory framework, but the need to address issues with family-controlled groups of companies.
http://www.oecd.org/document/24/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37548440_1_1_1_1,00.html

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has sanctioned Norwegian oil company Statoil for bribes to Iranian government officials.
http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006/2006-174.htm

A US district judge has ruled that the conviction of former Enron leader Kenneth Lay should be wiped out as he died before his appeal was heard. US prosecutors now must compete with other litigants to try to recover the proceeds of fraud and conspiracy of which he had been convicted.
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ETM Economies and Financial Systems
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The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) new World Investment Report confirms that foreign direct investment from developing countries has become a major factor in the world economy. In 1990, developing countries has $148 billion in foreign assets. Now they own $1.4 trillion.
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=3968&lang=1

The World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development agreed that a successful outcome from the currently suspended Doha Development round of trade negotiations is possible, but agriculture remains a key area of difficulty.
http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37544433_1_1_1_1,00.html

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia , predicting continued strong growth.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2006/pr06219.htm

The US Congressional Joint Economic Committee is investigating taxation and intellectual property rights associated with online gaming and the associated virtual economies.
http://www.house.gov/jec/news/news2006/pr109-98.pdf
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ETM Environment and Climate Change
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The UN Environment Program released "State of the Marine Environment" in connection with an international conference in Beijing, China, on marine pollution. The report warns that nearly 90 percent of Asia's sewage is discharged without treatment, increasingly stressing the region's marine environment, including economically vital coastal areas.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=486&ArticleID=5387&l=en
http://www.gpa.unep.org/bin/php/igr/igr2/supporting.php

Climate change threatens water supplies for millions of people. "Feeling the Heat" is a new report from Tearfund that calls for urgent action, asking governments to address these areas at the November climate change conference:
* Produce a timetable for agreeing the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol, and focus on setting tougher targets
* Provide urgent funding to help poor countries adapt to climate change
* Make management of water resources an urgent priority within efforts to adapt to climate change
http://www.tearfund.org/News/World+news/Climate+change+will+create+millions+more+refugees.htm

The World Wildlife Fund's Global Forest and Trade Network has developed two manuals to keep illegally harvested timber out of the supply chain. One addresses logging, and the other purchasing.
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/keep_it_legal_final_no_fsc.pdf
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/rpg_nopapercredit12sept2006.pdf

Iceland has broken a 21-year old international ban on commercial whaling. Norway is the only other country that allows commercial whaling, and Japan hunts for scientific research.
http://eng.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/news-and-articles/nr/1301

For the past four months, a steady flow of hot toxic mud has swamped East Java, Indonesia, inundating villages, factories and rice paddies More than 13,000 people have been evacuated A criminal investigation into the causes of the disaster has made slow progress, and companies involved may escape prosecution.
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8001836
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=152853

The British Standards Institution (BSI) reports that a third of UK businesses still are not tackling environmental issues.
http://www.bsi-global.com/News/Releases/2006/October/n45333f40e1830.xalter

The UK government is committed to a 60 percent reduction in Britain's carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, but the Aviation White Paper sets a policy of major aviation expansion, which would seriously hinder meeting this goal.
http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/predictanddecide.pdf

The Blacksmith Institute has documented the world's top ten pollution hotspots: Chernobyl, Ukraine; Dzerzhinsk, Russia; Haina, Dominican Republic;  Kabwe, Zambia; La Oroya, Peru; Linfen, China; Maiuu Suu, Kyrgyzstan; Norilsk, Russia; Ranipet, India; and Rudnaya Pristan/Dalnegorsk, Russia.
http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/ten.php
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ETM Human Rights
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A Globescan/BBC poll finds that 59 percent of world citizens are unwilling to ever justify torture even in the "ticking bomb" case. There was significant support for torture in countries that perceive they are engaged in fighting terrorism. 43 percent of people  in Israel, 42 percent in Iraq, 37 percent in China, 36 percent in the US, and 32 percent in India would support some degree of torture if it saved innocent lives.
http://199.202.238.2/news_archives/bbctorture06/

World Food Day was marked on Monday, 16 October. The theme was investing in agriculture for food security.
http://www.fao.org/wfd/2006/index.asp?lang=en
World Food Day quiz
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/in_depth/6054876.stm

The IFPRI Global Hunger Index, released for World Food Day by IFPRI and German Agro Action, reveals hunger hotspots, shows which regions have improved over time, and demonstrates the links between hunger and war, HIV/AIDS, and gross national income. Burundi, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone rank as the worst hunger hotspots, and are all either emerging from long-running civil wars or are still involved in conflict with neighboring countries.
http://www.ifpri.org/media/20061013GHI.asp

"Cartooning for Peace" is the fifth seminar series in the UN program Unlearning Intolerance. The anger and divisiveness engendered by the publication of the caricatures of Prophet Mohammed and the recent controversial exhibit on the Holocaust suggest both a sense of the power and of the necessity of responsibility in the art of cartooning. Secretary General Annan explained, "...cartoonists have a big influence on the way different groups of people look at each other. They can encourage us to look critically at ourselves, and increase our empathy for the sufferings and frustrations of others. But, they can also do the opposite. They have, in short, a big responsibility. Cartoons make us laugh. Without them, our lives would be much sadder. But they are no laughing matter: they have the power to inform, and also to offend. Short of physical pain, few things can hurt you more directly than a caricature of yourself, of a group you belong to, or - perhaps worst - of a person you deeply respect. Cartoons, in other words, can both express and encourage intolerance, and also provoke it. And the sad truth is that they often do all three.
http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/e_alert/100506_cartooning2.htm
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10685.doc.htm
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ETM Infectious Diseases
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Indonesia has confirmed three additional human infections with H5N1 avian influenza, all fatal. Through 16 October, there have been 72 confirmed cases in Indonesia, of which 55 have been fatal. Of cumulative confirmed cases since 2003, 151 of 256 have proven fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_10_16/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_10_16/en/index.html

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reviewed 45 national pandemic influenza plans from developed and developing countries. A third of countries engaged in pandemic planning have not established priorities for who should get vaccinations and antiviral medications.
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2006/uscher_fluprep.html


Kenya has reported its first case of polio in 22 years, found in a 3-year-old Somali refugee.
http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/Outbreak_UpdatesKEN.asp
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ETM Legal Systems
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The Asian Development Bank is providing an $800,000 grant to support reform of the Philippines judicial system.
http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2006/10817-Philippines-judicial-independence/

A British study found that handling of prisoners in solitary confinement has improved but much more needs to be done in terms of activities for those in long-term solitary confinement; clinical management of those with severe mental problems; and using solitary for indefinite periods without thorough monitoring of each individual case. Floating jails are also being implemented.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/close-supervision
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6072454.stm

There are concerns that the UK's Operation Safeguard to transfer offenders from prisons to police cells or lower security detention facilities could increase re-offending. Conservatives have called it a short-term and costly measure. The University and College Union called for a strategic plan that unites criminal justice, prisoner education, and rehabilitation. The Police Federation expressed grave fears about the practical implications.
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Natural Resources
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Violence in Bolivia last weekend has strengthened President Morales' intention to nationalize the country's mines.
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061016.wboliviamines1016/GIStory/

Brazil's Zikrin Indians left an iron mine following a brief occupation to demand greater community investment.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-10-19T225424Z_01_N19279739_RTRIDST_0_MINERALS-BRAZIL-CVRD-UPDATE-1-PICTURE.XML

An oil company exploring for oil in the Peruvian Amazon has announced that it will not enter the territory of isolated Indians, even though the land was inside its concession. The concession follows demonstrations from a group of native Amazonians, including seizure of local facilities accused of polluting the water.
http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=1962
http://www.livinginperu.com/news/2567
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ETM Populations
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China is offering new financial incentives to control population growth. If a rural family has one child or two girls they will receive an annual payment after the age of 60.

France has the second highest fertility rate in Europe, after Ireland, bolstered by heavy maternal and child subsidies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701652.html

The population of the US now exceeds 300 million. The main source of population growth is migration. The US population reached 100 million in 1915, 200 million in 1967, and is expected to reach 400 million by 2043.
http://www.census.gov
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ETM Social Responsibility
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Ergon has released a new version of the Equator Principles, a voluntary framework to address social and environmental risk in project finance.
http://www.ergononline.net/images/stories/Downloads/labour issues and the equator principles.pdf

The British Standards Institution (BSI) describes the benefits companies have when they go green. Their survey shows that:
* 94 percent recognize it can improve environmental performance
* 54 percent believe it can enhance corporate reputation
* 10 percent believe it enhances competitive advantage and achieves cost savings
* 76 percent believe customers will be more interested in companies with an Environmental Management System in the next ten years
http://www.bsi-global.com/News/Releases/2006/October/n45333f40e1830.xalter

Meanwhile, Guardian reporter Mark Curtis points out: "Addressing overseas development without discussing the regulation of big business is like talking about malaria without mentioning mosquitoes".
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1924892,00.html
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ETM Technology
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The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released its annual report. Among the key findings:
* The number of patent applications has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, an average increase of nearly five percent per year
* Some 5.4 million patents were in force in 2004
* Almost one in two of new applications were filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty
* Five patent offices account for three-quarters of all patents filed or granted: the US, Japan, South Korea, China, and the European Patent Office
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2006/wipo_pr_2006_463.html

China's Information Office published a new white paper, "China's Space Activities in 2006". It lays out six goals: transparency, leapfrogging development, emphasizing independent innovation, serving the needs of the people, ranking development of various space activities, and implementing key space science and technological projects.
http://english.people.com.cn//200610/16/eng20061016_312212.html

US President Bush has launched a new National Space Policy that rejects proposals to ban weapons in space and claims that "freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power".
http://www.ostp.gov/html/US National Space Policy.pdf
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article1902195.ece

Duke University researchers have demonstrated a working "invisibility cloak" that uses deflected microwave beams to hide an object.
http://dukenews.duke.edu/2006/10/cloakdemo.html
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ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
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Analysis of radioactive debris from air samples confirms that North Korea did carry out a nuclear test last week.
http://www.dni.gov/ announcements/20061016_release.pdf
http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2006_11/NKTestAnalysis.asp
http://www.isis-online.org/publications/dprk/dprktestbrief17october2006.pdf

The Center for Nonproliferation Studies held a panel discussion on the regional and international implications of North Korea's nuclear test. The comprehensive report on the proceedings is here:
http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/pdf/061016_dprk_forum_report.pdf

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at its International Safeguards conference, called for greater technological, regulatory and financial resources to tackle the new challenges of increased nuclear power generation, the temptation of develop nuclear weapons, and the possibility that such weapons could fall into terrorist hands.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2006/ebsp2006n018.html

The US plans to repair or replace a new stockpile of up to 2,200 deployed nuclear weapons.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901863.html
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/future_of_the_nuclear_weapons_complex.htm

The US military plans to reintroduce mandatory anthrax vaccination.
http://www.military-biodefensevaccines.org
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-10-17T132406Z_01_N16365545_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-SECURITY-PENTAGON-ANTHRAX-DC.XML

A newly identified antibody may be capable of neutralizing inhalation anthrax, suggesting alternative treatments in humans.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018151159.htm

A preliminary primate trial demonstrated 100 percent protection against human smallpox virus.
http://www.siga.com/press/101806.html

A new trial suggests that prompt surveillance and containment would be sufficient to prevent an epidemic in the event of a large-scale bioterrorist smallpox attack.
http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2006/10/16/smallpox.html

A California appeals court has blocked a new biological weapons detection research session pending an environmental review of the consequences of a terrorist attack.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/17/LIVERMORE.TMP

Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited the US. He met Assistant Secretary of State John. Rood, head of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and addressed the UN General Assembly
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR71_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR70_2006.html

African Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) national authorities held their fourth regional meeting in Tanzania.
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR69_2006.html

Lockheed Martin has successfully demonstrated a "bunker buster" warhead.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=17977&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400

The Control Arms Campaign reports that despite a strict UN arms embargo, rebel groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are using arms and munitions from China, Greece, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, and the US.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL300512006

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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

--------------------------------------------------
CIM Agriculture and Food
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Investing in agriculture for food security was the theme of World Food Day. Most of the world's farmers are small-scale farmers that as a group are the biggest investors in agriculture but also tend to have inadequate or precarious access to food themselves. If they can make a profit with their farming, they can feed their families throughout the year and reinvest in their farms by purchasing fertilizer, better quality seed and basic equipment. A new model for public/private cooperation in rural development is evolving new ways to bring together producers and agribusiness; establish and enforce grades and standards; improve the investment climate for agriculture; and provide essential public goods such as rural infrastructure. Investment in infrastructure in rural areas, especially in water, roads, power and communications, kindles agricultural growth and can provide dramatic benefits to agriculture and poor rural households.
http://www.fao.org/wfd/2006/index.asp?lang=en

Two recent studies find beneficial results from eating fish, though in differing degrees.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/releases/press10172006.html
http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/23788/37679.aspx

Australian Prime Minister Howard announced additional assistance for farmers facing drought, and rejected a suggestion that farms could be closed due to climate change.
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview2184.html

Canadian officials insist that the US is overstating the risks of pest, disease, and bioterrorism, and insists that user fees for travelers and commercial shipments should be dropped.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id=8ff65292-a1d3-4cb9-9450-1902962d9d6d&k=67840

Republic of Congo has set up a national committee to ensure food in the country meets minimum international safety standards under the Codex Alimentarius.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55965
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CIM Banking and Finance
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The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has raised $19 billion in the world's largest stock market floatation, listed in China and Hong Kong.
http://www.icbc.com.cn/
http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/10/20/icbc-ipo-pricing-markets-emerge-cx_vk_1020icbc.html

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and other officials met with the High-Level City Group to discuss substantive proposals to maintain and enhance competitiveness, including regulation, modernization, professional skills, and global markets.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_77_06.cfm

Financial Service Authority Asset Management Secret Leader Dan Waters spoke about regulation and hedge funds:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/Speeches/2006/1019_dw.shtml
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CIM Chemical
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The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a report on the 2005 BP refinery fire in Texas. CSB reports that this fire was caused by a pipe replacement with a similar material that had different characteristics, letting the piping wear away in just a few months. Workers need to be trained in differences in materials and devices. Manufacturers should more clearly identify different products and their parts.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4260430.html
http://www.csb.gov
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CIM Cybersecurity
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Microsoft has released version 7 of Internet Explorer, which includes several security improvements, such as anti-phishing featured and better support for web standards. The first bug has already been uncovered.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie
http://secunia.com/advisories/22477

Microsoft also released "Privacy Guidelines for Software Products and Services", which lays out guidelines for customer privacy.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c48cf80f-6e87-48f5-83ec-a18d1ad2fc1f&displaylang=en

Oracle released its October Critical Patch Update that includes 101 patches.
http://www.oracle.com/technology/deploy/security/critical-patch-updates/cpuoct2006.html

A small number of Apple's video iPods shipped with the RavMonE virus that can affect Windows computers.
http://www.apple.com/support/windowsvirus/

VoMM (eVade o’ Matic Module) is a new hacking exploit that uses various techniques to mix up known exploit code, making it unrecognizable to some antivirus software.
http://blog.info-pull.com/2006/10/13/vml-exploit-and-idsantivirus-engines-evasion-doom-or-vomm/
http://aviv.raffon.net/2006/10/15/VoMMTakingBrowserExploitsToTheNextLevel.aspx

McDonalds Japan has launched a recall after discovering that MP3 players it offered as a prize were loaded with a variant of the QQpass spyware Trojan
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-031213-1641-99
http://www.mcd-holdings.co.jp/news/2006/release-061013.html

UK Crimestoppers has launched the second annual National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, 16-22 October.
http://www.stop-idfraud.co.uk/

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff spoke of the use of the internet for terrorism training in a speech to the International Association of the Chiefs of Police.
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/speeches/sp_1161184338115.shtm

HBO television is screening an electronic voting documentary, Hacking Democracy, on
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/hackingdemocracy/index.html

The EU continues to review a common policy for RFID privacy and security, and to understand the impact the technology could have on people's lives.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/597&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.rfidconsultation.eu

The International Chamber of Commerce submitted to the European Commission a proposal to standardize and speed up transfers of international data worldwide.
http://www.iccwbo.org/iccjbjb/index.html

The Liberty Alliance announced the final version of its Identity Web Services Framework (ID-WSF). http://www.projectliberty.org/liberty/news_events/press_releases/liberty_alliance_releases_final_version_of_id_wsf_2_0_web_services_standards

W3C has launched the Web Security Context Working Group, whose mission is to enable a secure and usable interface so web users can make safe trust decisions online.
http://www.w3.org/2006/10/security-pressrelease
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Dams and Bridges
--------------------------------------------------
The Muslim Mindanao Association Council appealed to Philippines President Arroyo to address the destruction to Lake Lanao and the farming community that depended on it, following construction of a dam and power plants.
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2006102377794.html

Thai conservationists have rejected revival of the Kang Sue Ten dam project as a poor investment that does not solve problems of flooding.

The California Division of Safety of Dams reminds dam owners that they determine the level of security required. There is no state or federal legislation regulating security.
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2006/10/22/news/damsafety.txt

A Massachusetts state oversight committee has set a 15 December deadline for the Division of Dam Safety to address dam safety.
http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17358646&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
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CIM Defense Industrial Base
--------------------------------------------------
Switzerland has launched an initiative to address the behavior of military and security companies hired by governments to undertake tasks on their behalf during conflicts. The Department of Foreign Affairs has taken steps to promote respect for international law, and start a dialog among states regarding the responsibilities of both outsourcing firms and the governments that employ them.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/privatisation-war-interview-191006

UK and US defense departments have established technology contests to spur research projects. The US has sponsored a robot race. The UK will provide details next month.
http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/index.asp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6059162.stm

British Prime Minister Blair has announced a dedicated hospital facility for injured military personnel.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news2.shtml
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Emergency Services
--------------------------------------------------
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center researchers report that in the event of a large-scale bioterrorist smallpox attack, mass vaccination would be unnecessary because the current policy of prompt containment of victims, with vaccination of healthcare workers and close contacts would be sufficient to prevent an epidemic.
http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2006/10/16/smallpox.html

South Australia's state Security and Emergency Management Office (SEMO) was created post 9/11 as part of a national terrorism emergency response plan. Budget cuts have now closed the unit.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,2061,00.html

Norway held a large 2-day terrorism exercise that revealed serious communication problems between emergency responders, including an 8-hour delay in getting a message to the appropriate National Guard unit.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1500212.ece

The American Highway Users Alliance released an evaluation of the 37 largest urban areas in the country to identify evacuation challenges. Of these, they identified 25 with greater challenges than New Orleans experienced after hurricane Katrina, primarily due to over reliance on private cars without public highways offering sufficient capacity. Only Kansas City was rated "A" for its evacuation capability. Columbus, Memphis and Pittsburgh were rated B. C grades were given to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Orlando, San Antonio, St Louis, and Dallas-Fort Worth. New Orleans, Austin, Providence, Milwaukee, Baltimore and Sacramento received grades of D. Failing grades were given to Denver, Tampa-St Petersburg, Virginia Beach, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Portland, Minneapolis-St Paul, Las Vegas, Detroit, Washington, Phoenix, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco-San Jose, Miami, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
http://www.highways.org/pdfs/evacuation_report_card2006.pdf.

The American College of Emergency Physicians held its annual meeting in New Orleans.
http://meetings.acep.org/scientificassembly

A report presented at the meeting found that emergency room physicians in Chicago had little knowledge of the types of chemical weapons or biological agents that could be used in terrorist attacks.
http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl101606kherdocs.4320e39c.html

9/11 responders in New York have been given the go ahead to proceed with lawsuits related to respiratory injuries resulting from the toxic dust.
http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/rulings/21mc100_smast_order_101706.pdf

"Homeland Security: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Collaboration at 24/7 Operations Centers Staffed by Multiple DHS Agencies" is a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO explains that because terrorists do not operate on a 9-to-5 schedule, Department of Homeland Security agencies have established centers that are continuously staffed. This report described the multi-agency operations and recommends key practices to enhance and sustain collaboration.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-89
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Energy
--------------------------------------------------
OPEC has approved a reduction in crude oil output from 1 November.
http://www.opec.org/opecna/Press%20Releases/2006/pr172006.htm

Australia and East Timor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding security in the Joint Petroleum Development Area.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa112_06.html

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) released a reliability estimate that warns electricity supplies will be less adequate unless companies build more power plants and lines as soon as possible. Demand over the next ten years is expected to increase by 19 percent, but confirmed capacity will rise only by six percent.
ftp://www.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/pressrel/LTRARelease-10-2006.pdf
ftp://www.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/pubs/LTRA2006.pdf

In Canada's Ontario province, seven new power projects have been approved.
http://www.powerauthority.on.ca/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3866&SiteNodeID=134&BL_ExpandID=

PricewaterhouseCoopers released its 2006 Canadian Energy Survey. Gross revenues grew an average of 13.3% from $1.13 billion in 2004 to $1.28 billion in 2005 while average assets grew 11.4% from $1.75 billion to $1.95 billion. The report also suggests that Canada and other G7 countries must take the lead to tackle climate change, and suggests oil sands could play a key role.
http://www.pwcglobal.com/extweb/ncpressrelease.nsf/docid/D104E7587F95A9B28525718D0070284E

The European Commission released its Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, with the goal of cutting consumption by 20 percent by 2020.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1434&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg and British Prime Minister Blair launched the Langeled gas pipeline, the longest subsea pipe that will bring fuel from Norway to the UK.
http://www.hydro.com/en/press_room/news/archive/2006_10/langeled_pm_opening_en.html

Organized crime police in Russia seized documents related to the Sakhalin-2 energy project and recent trips from the Natural Resources Ministry.
http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=19201

Uganda's power crisis has limited information and communications technology to less than one percent.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/business/bus10202.php

British Energy warned that it will have to purchase electricity supplies following the discovery of cracks at its Hinkely Point nuclear power station.
http://ww7.investorrelations.co.uk/britishenergy/regnews_item.jsp?pos=31&month=&cat=&year=&search=&ref=11291

INEOS Enterprises has announced plans to build a major biodiesel plant in Scotland, the first step of a pan European plan.
http://www.ineos.com/new_item.php?id_press=143
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Information Technology
--------------------------------------------------
Hewlett Packard has overtaken Dell to become the world's largest seller of personal computers, with 16.3 percent market share, compared to 16.1 percent.

The European Information Technology Observatory (EITO) reports that the European market for information and communications technology will grow by more than three percent this year, and continue a positive trend next year.
http://eito.com/download/Press%20release%20EITO%20Update%2012%2010%202006%20engl.pdf

The European Union is debating a proposed Audiovisual Media Services directive, which would increase regulation of video content online.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/reg/tvwf/modernisation/proposal_2005/index_en.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6055060.stm

Sharp has recalled 28,000 laptop battery packs in Japan. Fujitjs has expanded a recall of Sony batteries to worldwide markets. Sony has even recalled its own laptops, and has reviewed its full year earnings, reducing its profit forecast by more than 50 percent.

Uganda's power crisis has limited information and communications technology to less than one percent.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/business/bus10202.php

A US District Court has declined as too broad a request that the spamhaus.org domain be suspended.
http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-1-19oct06.htm

Stanford University School of Medicine researchers report that more than one in eight adults in the US show signs of internet addiction.
http://mednews.stanford.edu/releases/2006/october/internet.html
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
--------------------------------------------------
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has opened the international symposium of world authorities on nuclear safeguards. They will address broader implementation of safeguards agreements and additional protocols, review of experiences, and the procurement and supply networks concerning nuclear technologies and information.
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=148

Speaking at a conference in Australia, World Nuclear Association Director General john Ritch called for a 20-fold expansion in nuclear energy to prevent global climate change.
http://www.world-nuclear.org/dgspeeches/sydney161006.pdf

IAEA has launched a project in Baku, Azerbaijan to clean up radioactive coal left lying in the open air.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2006/azerbaijan.html

British Energy has closed two nuclear reactors after finding cracks, and has disclosed problems with others.
http://ww7.investorrelations.co.uk/britishenergy/regnews_item.jsp?pos=31&month=&cat=&year=&search=&ref=11291
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5-2407005,00.html
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1535632006

The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has converted the 1-megawatt TRIGA research reactor at Texas AandM University and a second reactor from the University of Florida from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU). Under the 2005 North American Security and Prosperity Partnership, the US, Mexico, and Canada agreed to convert civilian HEU reactors in North America to LEU fuel by 2011, where LEU fuel is available. The US will convert four more.  Mexico will convert its one research reactor in Mexico City, and Canada will convert three.
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/docs/newsreleases/2006/PR_2006-10-13_NA-06-36.htm
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/docs/newsreleases/2006/PR_2006-10-18_NA-06-37.htm
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CIM Postal and Shipping
--------------------------------------------------
The European Commission has proposed opening postal markets to full competition by 2009.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1419&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/383&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Public Health and Healthcare
--------------------------------------------------
The World Health Organization's Global Task Force on extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has outlined a series of measures to combat this serious threat to public health worldwide.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2006/np29/en/index.html

Iran has launched strict anti-smoking policies.

Leading international agencies have called for a shake-up of the Swiss health system, saying costs are too high and there is not enough spending on prevention work.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Study_says_health_system_needs_intensive_care.html?siteSect=105&sid=7172438&cKey=1161158794000
http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37562223_1_1_1_1,00.html

US researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, report that accidental overdoses and allergic reactions to medicines send more than 700,000 people to emergency rooms each year, with the elderly at greatest risk.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/296/15/1858

One clinic in the US state of Maryland offered drive-through flu shots, an exercise that doubled as a preparedness drill in case of a pandemic or bioterrorism emergency.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-md.ho.flu16oct16,0,2884936.story
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CIM Telecommunications
--------------------------------------------------
A number of new services have been launched to make it easier for the hearing-impaired better to participate in calls and meetings.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6056526.stm

UK mobile operator O2 is reducing roaming charges. The EU continues to press for larger reductions among all member countries.
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Transportation
--------------------------------------------------
The European Council adopted a decision authorizing an interim agreement with the US for continued use of passenger name record data by air carriers.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/06/288&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Air cargo security holes are described in a BBC investigation:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6059742.stm

Safety threats to in-flight fires are described in this Washington Post report:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601412.html

Australia has announced a ban against any North Korean ship entering an Australian port.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/north-korea-port-ban.html

French security officials at Charles de Gaulle airport have banned four Muslim baggage handlers as a terrorist risk. The men are appealing the decision. Subsequently, it has been revealed that 43 baggage handlers were denied security clearance.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/20/europe/EU_GEN_France_Airport_Terrorism.php http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/21/europe/EU_GEN_France_Airport_Terrorism.php

"Transportation Security: DHS Should Address Key Challenges before Implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program" is a new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). The program, known as TWIC, is meant to determine that workers do not pose a terrorist threat. GAO identified major challenges in enrollment, technology, and security. They recommend extensive testing before implementing it in the maritime sector.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-982

Rand's Center for Terrorism Risk Management Policy released "Maritime Terrorism: Risk and Liability". The report emphasizes the need to focus not only on containers, but also to better protect cruise ships and ferry boats where large numbers of passengers could be targets.
http://www.rand.org/news/press.06/10.16.html

Denmark is finalizing details of a major renovation of the country's rail network.
http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,610566&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&ic_itemid=932343
http://www.bane.dk/

Mines and unexploded ordnance has been cleared from Mozambique's Sena Railway, which had been unusable for two decades.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/b/74070.htm

The International Labor Organization reports that increasing demand for international road transport has created new and difficult challenges including excessive border delays, inefficient or corrupt border control officers and drivers' vulnerability to diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/features/06/int_drivers.htm

The American Trucking Association has petitioned the Department of Transportation to limit truck speeds to 68 miles per hour to improve safety.
http://www.truckline.com/NR/exeres/A40FF83B-447D-4107-9101-CD5287359A76.htm
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Water
--------------------------------------------------
Proctor and Gamble with government and non-government organizations is working in developing countries on a complementary approach to providing piped-treated water through treatment of drinking water directly in people's homes, at the point of use, which has the advantages of cost, availability and distribution.
http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&ObjectId=Mjc2NA

Dhaka, Bangladesh, faces an alarming depletion of ground water that is likely to cause land subsidence and a crisis in output.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/23/d610232506121.htm

China is looking for a way to treat tons of floating debris at the Three Gorges Reservoir. The water storage plan has been postponed.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-10/22/content_713882.htm
http://english.people.com.cn/200610/21/eng20061021_313977.html

Fighting between farmers and police broke out in Rajasthan state, India. Farmers demanded more water for irrigation. Sixty were arrested for breaches of the peace. Two dozen farmers and six policemen were injured, and a curfew was imposed. The government has not implemented promised relief.

Syria needs billions of dollars of investment in the near future to avert a water crisis.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=76291

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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

--------------------------------------------------
DRM Incidents
--------------------------------------------------
India's dengue fever outbreak now exceeds 100 fatalities, among nearly 6,000 infections.

56 people died when a passenger bus in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh hit a tree and plunged into a lake, following an apparent brake failure. Nine passengers were rescued.

A Sudanese military vessel collided with a passenger ferry on the River Nile. 34 soldiers - former Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) rebels - are safe, 24 are confirmed dead, and 51 are missing. UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh are assisting in recovery.

Insufficient water and poor hygiene is associated with an outbreak of hepatitis E at displaced person camps in three locations in Darfur, and throughout Equateur Province. Dozens have died and three-quarters of a million people are at risk.
http://www.plusnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55991
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=8849910D-671A-4615-8DC989C7EB501D7E&method=full_html

A Bolivian bus plunged into a ravine, killing at least 29 people and injuring 25. Reckless driving is blames for the accident.

A single-engine plane lost control and crash-landed in Uzbekistan. Thirteen soldiers and two crewmembers were killed. An inquiry is underway, and bad weather is suspected.

A dengue fever outbreak in Pakistan has killed 12 people since mid-September.

A tanker explosion in Mexico has killed eight, injured nine, and forced the evacuation of 400 workers. The explosion was caused when repair work on a crane caused a spark that ignited residual gasoline.

Two underground trains collided in Rome during morning rush hour. One person was killed and 110 were injured, five seriously. This is the first fatal accident in the Italian metro system, and an inquiry has been opened.
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Response and Recovery
--------------------------------------------------
Following the May earthquake in Java, Indonesia, some 50,000 families still lack shelter. Immediate assistance is necessary to provide sufficient shelter during the upcoming rainy season.

A US federal appeals court has upheld both an April 2004 jury verdict that the 9/11 attacks were one event and a December 2004 verdict that they were two events. Since the different policies yielded different results, the respective insurance companies will face different claims.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAqS483QMIPY

In New York, Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that the city, its private contractors, and the Port Authority were only partially immune from lawsuits, and that emergency workers made ill from the toxic dust at ground zero can pursue their claims. Claims against private companies were dismissed since they did not have legal control over the area.
http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/rulings/21mc100_smast_order_101706.pdf
http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/rulings/21mc100_sj_order_101706.pdf

US district court officials are managing more than 1,100 Hurricane Katrina lawsuits, with cases beginning in 2007 and continuing at least through 2008.
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/15793814.htm

The Alabama Department of Insurance reports a 90 percent success rate in its Hurricane Katrina mediation program.
http://www.aldoi.gov/currentnewsitem.aspx?ID=645

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a report on the 2005 BP refinery fire in Texas. CSB reports that this fire was caused by a pipe replacement with a similar material that had different characteristics, letting the piping wear away in just a few months. Better training and clearer identification were recommended. CSB also found that BP and its subcontractor, JV Industrial Companies, allowed systemic problems to continue at various plants. This and other incidents have harmed BP's reputation, and could harm future performance.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4260430.html
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/16/8388595/index.htm
http://www.csb.gov

Hawaiian officials report that property damage in last week's 6.7 magnitude earthquake has caused property damage of more than $40 million.
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Risks
--------------------------------------------------
Lord Levene, chairman of Lloyds, spoke of climate change and its impact on disasters as a major change in risk exposure, and in a Financial Times article discussed the need for risk management in every industry.
http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/Briefings_and_speeches/Lloyds_ILLCA_Dinner.htm
http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/Features_from_Lloyds/Risk_management_is_essential_to_every_business.htm

The American Highway Users Alliance released an evaluation of the 37 largest urban areas in the country to identify evacuation challenges. Of these, they identified 25 with greater challenges than New Orleans experienced after hurricane Katrina, primarily due to over reliance on private cars without public highways offering sufficient capacity.
http://www.highways.org/Press_Releases/release10-12-06.htm
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Mitigation
--------------------------------------------------
On October 17, 1989, at 5:04:15 p.m. PDT, a magnitude 6.9) earthquake severely shook the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions. 62 people were killed, and there was nearly $7 billion in damage. The US Geological Survey and California Geological Survey used the anniversary to discuss lessons learned and release three new seismic maps. Research and analysis has made communities safer and more resilient from the liquefaction and landslides seen in Loma Prieta.
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1572
http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-29/

Paul Nunn, head of Lloyds Exposure Management, calls for the industry to develop an open source model of risk to address the uncertainties of major catastrophes and rapid change.
http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/Features_from_Lloyds/Modelling_in_Uncertain_Times.htm

---

7. Recommended Reading

Following US President Bush's signing into law the Military Commissions Act, this week's recommendations focus on books that describe the practices of indefinite detention without access to the legal system, charges or trial; the use of secret prisons; torture and degrading treatment of prisoners; and other gross violations of US domestic and international law that led to action by the Supreme Court, and new legislation, which the Supreme Court will eventually consider as well.

Public revelation of abuse in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison first brought these matters to public attention. In  "The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib" (Cambridge University Press), Karen Greenberg and Joshua Dratel lifted the lid on the memoranda and reports that government officials used to prepare the way for and document coercive interrogation and torture in Afghanistan, Guantanamo, and Abu Ghraib.
http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521853249

This book was followed by "The Torture Debate in America" (Cambridge University Press), also edited by Greenberg. This seminal work provides the definitive record of the arguments on torture put forth by legislators, human rights activists, and many other contributors who cover each facet of the discussion, from absolute prohibition to an option of choice in the "war on terror".
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521857929

Reviews:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051226/greenberg
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/books/08kaku.html
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/greenberg0606.htm

Interviews
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4617297

A very recent addition to this discussion is Sanford Levinson's "Torture: A Collection", which has been updated through the McCain amendment that explicitly bars the use of torture and other cruel methods of interrogation. This collection, designed for college students, reviews the ways in which torture is used as well as legal, philosophical, and other considerations.
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Law/PublicInternationalLaw/InternationalHumanRights/?view=usa&ci=9780195306460

Abu Ghraib was the wedge that began to force open further revelations, including the CIA's program of extraordinary renditions, in which suspects were moved to secret prisons in locations where abusive practices and torture are acceptable.

Steven Grey's "Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program" is hot off the press (St. Martin's Press). This book uses government sources, flight records, and other material to tell the inside story of US and other governments that mastered or turned a blind eye to the kidnapping of individuals who were sent around the world on CIA planes to be interrogated and tortured.
http://www.holtzbrinckpublishers.com/stmartins/search/SearchBookDisplay.asp?BookKey=4518074
http://www.time.com/time/nation/printout/0,8816,1546119,00.html
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/12/07/1519249
http://view.nowpublic.com/?src=http%3A%2F%2Fobiakpere.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Finside-cias-secret-prisons-program.html

Trevor Paglen and AC Thompson wrote "Torture Taxi: On the Trail of the CIA's Rendition Flights" (Melville House), which was published shortly before Bush confirmed the network of secret prisons. The clandestine military expert and journalist examined the company that supplied the planes, the pilots that flew them, and recently released detainees, revealing that the program continues and constantly evolves to remain in operation, in secret.
http://www.mhpbooks.com/tt.html
http://www.torturetaxi.com/
http://www.truthdig.com/interview/item/20060919_tracking_torture_taxi/
http://villagevoice.com/news/0642,torturetaxi,74732,2.html
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2006/09/2395_planespotting.html
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/15/1342250

Fourteen of the "highest-value" prisoners now in Guantanamo Bay had been held in these secret prisons before they were moved to the US military base in Cuba, where they now face military proceedings under the new tribunal law. We have learned much from observers and visitors at Guantanamo, and, in particular, from the people held there for years prior to their release. Hear them in person:
http://www.witness.org/index.php?option=com_rightsalert&Itemid=178&task=view&alert_id=49
http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/gen/26157prs20060714.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/04/60minutes/main678155.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2006/04/04/moazzam_begg.shtml

Also note the source links in this feature from the Prison Activist Resource Center.
http://www.prisonactivist.org/?q=taxonomy_menu/9/59/92

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