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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. Global Terrorism Monitor
2. Political Risk Monitor
3. AML/CFT Monitor
4. Emerging Threat Monitor
5. Critical Infrastructure Monitor
6. Disaster Reduction Monitor
7. Recommended Reading
8. Asset Management Network News

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1. Global Terrorism Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents become a Global Terrorism Monitor subscriber. You can purchase this and other titles here:
TAMNI Publications

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GTM Africa
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"Africa After War: Paths to Forgiveness" is a special report from Christian Science Monitor reporter Abraham McLaughlin that examines how war ravaged African nations can redress past atrocities yet heal and move forward. The 3-part series reviews Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.
http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/africaForgiveness/index.html

Last Sunday night, two nearly simultaneous truck bombs targeted police stations just east of Algiers. Three people were killed and 24 injured. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) is suspected.

Central African Republic rebels claim to have captured the northeastern town of Birao, near the Sudan and Chad borders.

Chad's senior army officer General Moussa Seugui died after being shot by rebels in the east.

In Ivory Coast, residents of an Abidjan suburb surrounded two members of the Patriotic Group for Peace (GPP), a militia loyal to President Gbagbo, and killed them by necklacing. (Put tires over their heads and set them on fire.) GPP members and local youths clashed, and GPP killed two. Earlier in the week, security forces had shot dead a GPP member.

The US embassy in Kenya issued a warning that Somali extremists were targeting public landmarks in Ethiopia and Kenya for suicide bombers. The Union of Islamic Courts categorically denied the accusation and insisted that suicide bombing is counter to Somali culture.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2006-11-03T140417Z_01_L03899743_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SOMALIA.xml

Ten Somali pirates have been sentenced to seven years in prison for hijacking an Indian fishing vessel.

Nigerian militants kidnapped a UK and US national from an oil ship. The two men work for Petroleum Geo-Services.
http://www.pgs.com/Custom/templates/Page.aspx?id=44198

Sudan government-backed Janjaweed militias killed at least 63 people in displaced persons camps, at least 27 under the age of 12.

Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have signed a new truce with the government. They hope to revive stalled peace talks.

Islamist group Hizb ut Tahrir has launched a new pro-Caliphate campaign in Zanzibar.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7BF82C7F-E9E2-469D-A790-0A176F00FDA7.htm
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GTM Americas
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Canada's Justice Department has decided not to appeal a court ruling that declared significant parts of the new antiterrorism law unconstitutional.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=71c63af4-49bf-4f24-84d7-6560baf27d8e&k=7401
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/news/nr/2006/doc_31928.html
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/news/nr/2006/doc_31930.html

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels attacked a police station, killing 17 police and one civilian. Up to 11 FARC also died.

US Vice President Cheney said that increased violence in Iraq was an effort to influence next week's mid-term elections.
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GTM Asia Pacific
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Australian Foreign Minister Downer delivered a speech, "Terrorism: Winning the Battle of Ideas" to the Sydney Institute.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2006/061101_terrorism.html

Cambodian authorities arrested six men suspected of planning to bomb Phnom Penh.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1780089.htm

Indonesian police report attesting 15 Muslim men connected to attacks on Christians in recent years on the island of Sulawesi.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont addressed a gathering of about a thousand Muslim leaders. He apologized for past treatment, and promised to investigate disappearances, and to deal with corruption and abuse among government officials in the three southern provinces.
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GTM Europe
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French anti-terrorist investigator Jean-Louis Bruguiere warns that Europe's greatest terrorist threat comes from radical Islamists who fought alongside Iraqi insurgents and are now returning home.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGIRnfHVW09w

Georgia suggests that a report from South Ossetian officials, claiming their security forces killed four Georgian saboteurs planning terrorist acts, was simply misinformation.

Turkish police arrested a man who had fired shots outside the Italian consulate in Istanbul, in an apparent protest against an upcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

UK Home Secretary Reid says that about 387 people in the UK have been charged with terrorist offenses since September 2001.

Mehran Hussain and Umair Hussain were released for insufficient evidence that they were involved in an airliner bomb plot.

Sohail Anjum Qureshi was arrested under terrorism laws after allegedly attempting to board a plane with metal batons, a night-vision scope, combat manuals, large sums of cash, and other items that could be used to commit or assist in an act of terrorism.

A public inquiry into the 1997 death of Billy Wright has opened. It will investigate his murder at Northern Ireland's Maze Prison.
http://www.billywrightinquiry.org

Kevin Fulton, a former British agent, has been arrested by Northern Ireland police and will be returned to Northern Ireland for questioning in the murders of Eoin Morley and Ranger Cyril Smith at a time when relations between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the splinter Irish People's Liberation Organization were very tense.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for firebombings on three stores in Belfast.

The High Court in Edinburgh has ruled that a Lockerbie bombing appeal can be heard in Scotland rather than the Netherlands, where the original trial of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi took place.
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GTM Middle East
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Egyptian police seized 1400 kilos (over 3,000 pounds) of buried TNT in two caches.

In Gaza, Spanish aid worker Roberto Vila was kidnapped on Monday, but held only briefly. On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed two members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades during an operation to destroy what they deem terrorist infrastructure. A major Israeli operation was launched on Wednesday with three air strikes, as well as tanks and troops surrounding the town of Beit Hanoun. More than 60 people were injured, exhausting hospital blood supplies. One Israeli soldier and seven Palestinians were killed. Hamas warned that the raid would have a negative impact on negotiations to arrange a prisoner exchange. The killing resumed on Thursday, when Israeli troops killed 11 Palestinians, including a 75-year-old man who was helping his disabled son.  Subsequently a 4-year-old boy died of injuries sustained during Israeli shelling. The worst incident occurred on Friday, the third day of Israel's Beit Hanoun raid. Palestinian gunmen had taken refuge in a mosque, and were surrounded by Israeli troops. Hamas called for local women to protect the mosque and the men, and a large crowd gathered in support. Israeli troops opened fire on the crowd, killing at least 17 people. Two other people were killed in the West Bank. On Saturday, Israeli snipers killed two Palestinians, including a 12-year-old girl. Air strikes and clashes with Israeli soldiers killed six more, and 14 were injured in various incidents. Today, a Hamas militant, a Fatah security force member, and a policeman were killed.

Since "Operation Autumn Clouds" was launched on Wednesday, Israeli forces have killed 47 people, about half militants. One Israeli soldier has been killed.

The week in Iraq opened with a massive bombing in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. At least 30 people were killed and more than 60 injured. More than 50 people died in other attacks including five car bombings in Baghdad, a suicide attack in Kirkuk, shootings and numerous other incidents. On Tuesday, a car bomb outside a wedding party killed 23 people, including several infants, and another 19 were injured, many seriously. Another car bomb in Sadr City killed three and injured five. A roadside bomb killed one policeman and injured three. A blockade was imposed, but was lifted on Thursday, when another car bomb at a Sadr City marketplace killed seven and injured 45.  In the 36 hours to Friday, 83 bodies, some tortured, were found across Baghdad.

US military deaths in October reached at least 103, the highest level since January 2005.  Most of the deaths were outside Baghdad, especially in Anbar province. In the first two days of November, 11 were killed.

Israel's air force staged mock raids on Hezbollah targets in the heart of Beirut and southern Lebanon. The UN and Lebanese security forces warned that this was another violation of the ceasefire, and US officials demanded that Israel end its overflights into Lebanon.

Jordan has charged three alleged Hamas supporters with planning terrorist attacks.

The US Bush administration released a statement claiming that Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah are planning to topple the Lebanese government to prevent approval of an international tribunal to try those involved in former Prime Minister Hariri's assassination. Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah have dismissed the accusations as ridiculous, ludicrous, unfounded, etc.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061101-1.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061101-3.html

Yemen has arrested eight foreigners - recent converts to Islam - on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses. Three of the men were Australian and one Danish.
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GTM South Asia
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In Afghanistan on Monday, a roadside bomb killed two NATO soldiers and injured two more. A firefight in the southern Zabul province reported killed 55 militants and one NATO soldier. On Tuesday a roadside bomb in eastern Nuristan province killed three NATO soldiers and injured another. A suicide bomb in the southern Ghazni province killed a policeman. On Wednesday, a suicide bomber struck a NATO convoy, slightly injuring three soldiers. In Herat late Thursday night, Taleban militants attacked a police patrol. Six policemen died and three were injured.

In Pakistan's Bajaur area, near the Afghan border, a massive military strike killed some 80 people on Monday. The strike targeted a religious school that included militant training: the balance between the two is unclear. Human Rights Watch has called for an independent inquiry, and thousands have protested the deaths, alleging US involvement in the attack. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Sera ul-Haq promises to rebuild the madrassa and the mosque next door, and would continue protests against the attack.
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/30/afghan14475.htm

In Quetta, a pick-up truck loaded with explosives blew up, killing the driver and two policemen. Three policemen and a child were injured. An accident is believed to be a more likely cause than a suicide attack.

Mohammed Hanif, Mohammed Imran, Mohammed Sharib, and Hafiz Zubair have been acquitted of the 2002 bomb attack against the US consulate in Karachi, due to flawed evidence in the original trial.

Colonel Abdul Ghaffar has been released from prison after four years, following his conviction of links to al Qaeda.

The Sri Lankan air force launched air strikes against Tiger targets in the eastern town of Batticaloa. In response, Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a landmine as a troop truck passed by, killing one soldier, and injuring three in the north. Air raids continued into a second day, leaving five civilians dead.

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2. Political Risk Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents available only to subscribers of the Political Risk Monitor, visit our online store:
TAMNI Publications

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PRM Africa
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Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential run-off election last week was generally well received by election observers, although there were some disruptions. No unofficial results will be published for fear they could provoke violence.

Eritrean Christian gospel singer Helen Berhane has been released after two years of detention without charge. She was tortured to recant her faith, and the injuries sustained now confine her to a wheelchair. Eritrea systematically persecutes people on the basis of their religious beliefs.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engAFR640142006?open&of=eng-ERI

The UN Security Council unanimously voted to extend Ivory Coast's interim government for one year. The resolution increases Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny's role, and diminishes that of President Laurent Gbagbo. The UN is also helping to assess the impact of the deadly toxic waste unloaded from a ship, to see if it is affecting the food chain. 40,000 people were affected with nausea, difficulty breathing, and nosebleeds, and ten people died. A lawsuit is also in the works.

Niger's government began to expel members of the Mahamid Arab community in the east. Following protests, the government reversed its deportation policy. Now, some 5,000 people demonstrated against the Arabs, accusing them of theft. The dispute stems from disputes over land and grazing rights.

Nigeria has sworn in its first female governor, Virginia Etiaba, who was appointed as the replacement for Peter Obi following his impeachment on charges of gross misconduct. The new Sultan of Sokoto has also been appointed: Colonel Muhaddadu Sada Abubakar is the younger brother of Sultan Mohammadu Maccido, who died in last Sunday's plane crash.

Somalia's transitional government and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) placed peace talks on indefinite hold, but parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan plans to visit the capital Mogadishu for attempted negotiations.

Apartheid-era South African Prime Minister Pieter Willem (PW) Botha died on Tuesday night, aged 90.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleId=288492
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2281566.stm
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PRM Americas
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The Ibero-American summit met this weekend. Foreign ministers meeting in Uruguay expressed concern over US plans for a fence along the Mexican border.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/04/america/LA_GEN_Iberoamerican_Summit.php

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, following his victory in the run-off election, has set economic development, education, and wealth redistribution as the priorities for his second term.

Canada announced plans to tax corporate income trusts. This violates the Conservatives' election promise, and so raised political and financial controversy.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=5a65b964-be79-4f0e-bd74-734a3dd7a667&k=28343

Former Chilean junta leader Augusto Pinochet has been placed under house arrest for kidnapping, homicide and torture at a detention center in the 1970s.

"Haiti: Security and the Reintegration of the State" is an International Crisis Group policy briefing that examines security challenges such as youth gangs, drug trafficking, kidnappings, corruption, and poverty.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4475&l=1

Mexican riot police seized control of the southern city of Oaxaca on Monday, briefly ending the 5-month occupation by striking teachers and activists. The next day, thousands of protesters converged on the main square, reiterating demands that Governor Ulises Ruiz be dismissed for abuse of power.  At the end of the week, police surrounded a university to clear barricades, and fired tear gas on gasoline-bomb-throwing protesters. Twenty protesters, ten police, and three photographers were injured.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6102018.stm

Nicaraguans are voting in presidential and national assembly elections. Daniel Ortega, former President and leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, which resisted US-backed Contra rebels, is ahead in the polls. His main rival is conservative Eduardo Montealegre, and three other candidates are also running.

The US government is investigating voting machine links to Venezuela.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/washington/29ballot.html
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PRM Asia Pacific
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Australia's senior Muslim cleric, Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali remains at the center of a controversy for his remarks linking unveiled women to uncovered meat, attracting attacks. He has apologized, and asked for an ethical tribunal to consider whether his remarks incited violence against women. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC) does not have the authority to establish such a panel, but the Lebanese Muslim Association has stepped in to do so.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1781387.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1780966.htm
http://www.newstatesman.com/200611060025
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20656690-601,00.html (transcript)

China has granted permission for Hong Kong to run a customs and immigration checkpoint in Shenzhen, a southern trading center in China.

A Chinese court has overthrown the guilty verdict against Chen Guangcheng, who was sentenced to four years in prison following a conviction on public order offenses connected with publicizing forced abortions. Successful appeals are extremely rare, and this received international support.

In Taiwan, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets demanding the resignation of President Chen Shui-bian. He is protected by presidential immunity, but prosecutors have enough evidence to charge him with corruption, as they already have his wife and three former aides.

Fiji's government has failed to remove military head Commodore Frank Bainimarama, and Bainimarama has failed to force the resignation of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. The growing tensions between the government and the military raise fears of a coup. Bainimarama says he has no plans to mount a coup, but warns that Qarase's refusal to resign could lead to bloodshed. This weekend Qarase agreed to abandon a controversial amnesty for those implicated in a brief coup six years ago. This was a key demand of Bainimarama, and has helped lower the tension.

Indonesia included former President Suharto's son Tommy in prison sentence reductions marking the end of Ramadan. Tommy Suharto was granted conditional release after serving only four years of a 15-year murder sentence.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the government will review and rewrite the pacifist constitution that was written under US occupation, and renounces the country's right to wage war or maintain armed forces.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has filed to reach agreement over constitutional reforms and has remained in a political crisis for several weeks, accompanied by ongoing protests. An opposition protest began with a few hundred on Wednesday and has grown to thousands, demanding that opposition leaders be granted media access and insisting on the promised reforms. Prime Minister Kulov has now accused the opposition of planning a coup - charges they deny.
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PRM Europe
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Albania's parliament has approved a non-binding resolution to open communist-era secret police files to reveal crimes under the late communist ruler Enver Hoxha.

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin plans to strengthen existing laws against vandalism and rioting to take into account those who are involved or encourage attacks, as well as the perpetrators. The decision follows an arson attack on a bus that left a woman with burns on 70 percent of her body. Five people, including three minors, have been arrested in connection with the attack. Suburban youths continue attacks against police.

Georgia continues to suffer from Russian sanctions that include cutting off transportation, forcibly deporting hundreds of Georgian citizens, and doubling gas prices. The foreign ministers of the two countries are holding talks to reduce tensions. Russia undertook retaliatory measures following September's brief detention and expulsion of four Russian officers suspected of spying.

German magazine Stern has published a photograph that allegedly shows a Nazi symbol on a German troop vehicle en route to Afghanistan. An investigation is underway. Last week, six servicemen were suspended and 23 are under investigation for photographs of soldiers posed with human skeletal remains.
http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/:KSK-Wagen-Ministerium-Nazi-Symbolik/575472.html (in German)

Hungary quietly marked the 50th anniversary of the crushing of the popular revolution, with no repeat of the clashes that marked commemorations of the start of the 12-day uprising. The National Security Archive (US) has released newly declassified CIA documents about the revolution.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB206/index.htm

Italian justice minister Clemente Mastella plans to increase the police, and perhaps the army, presence in Naples to deal with surging violent crime. There were three murders last weekend and four this week, including the brazen daytime gangland execution of two men. Rival Camorra clans within the Mafia have been battling for control of the drug trade.

Russian President Putin hosted a meeting with Egyptian President Mubarak in which they discussed trade ties.

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned an ultra-nationalist march to avoid a repeat of last year's demonstrations. The demonstrators rallied despite the ban, but in much lower numbers than expected, at less than 2,000. Police were able to control the situation, breaking up fights, and detaining dozens of people. Some demonstrations took place in other locations. Anti-immigrant and radical right protests are increasingly common.

Serbians voted in favor of the new constitution. Elections have been scheduled for December.

In Spain, Catalans elected a new regional assembly for the first time under new devolved powers. The conservative Convergence and Union party (CIU) won the most seats, but fell short of a majority. Coalition negotiations are under way.

Britain's House of Commons debated whether to hold an inquiry into the war in Iraq. Prime Minister Blair narrowly headed off a defeat by leaving open a future investigation - when the time is right.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061031/debtext/61031-0004.htm#06103156000001

The National Audit Office reports that UK armed forces face a shortfall of 5,170 (2.8 percent) of trained personnel compared to estimated requirements.
http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/05-06/05061633.htm
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PRM Middle East
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Egypt's parliament will amend succession rules to make it easier for opposition candidates to run for president. Other constitutional changes also are planned.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit says the Egyptian government will not allow Israel to bomb the Egypt-Gaza border, and would consider any such act a violation of international agreements.

Opposition Member of Parliament Talaat Sadat has been jailed for a year on charges of disinformation and insulting the army by suggesting their involvement in the assassination of his uncle, President Anwar Sadat.

UN Secretary General Annan issued a statement that Israel Defense operations in northern Gaza were responsible for escalating violence, while a US State Department spokesman blamed Palestinian Authority attacks on Israel. Since Israel's launch on Wednesday of "Operation Autumn Clouds", a major air and ground assault focused on the town of Beit Hanun, Israeli forces have killed 47 people, about half militants. One Israeli soldier has been killed.

Iran has awarded Moroccan artist Abdollah Derkaoui the first prize in an exhibition of cartoons on the Holocaust.
http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/AntiSemi/9783.htm
http://www.ejpress.org/article/11442

Iran conducted military exercises this week. They took place in the Gulf, where the US and five other nations had just completed theirs, as well as missile tests in the desert.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been convicted of crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death by hanging. This trial was in connection with the collective punishment of Dujail, where 148 people were killed following a failed assassination attempt. He is also on trial for genocide. His half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. Former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life, three other defendants to 15 years, and Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali was acquitted. Sentences will move on to the appeals court.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/65DF985E-2A01-461E-9B78-68580F11073E.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6118590.stm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR541109.htm

A meeting to discuss Iraqi reconstruction and economic reform requirements was held this week, pointing to the need for around $200 billion over the next 4-5 years.

"Desert Crossing" was a US war game undertaken in 1999 to assess potential outcomes of an invasion of Iraq. Even with 400,000 troops, the exercise warned of ethnic fragmentation, regional instability, and many other negative consequences.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB207/index.htm

The Israeli cabinet approved continued action in Gaza, and to be prepared for but not yet to expand the current operation. In advance of Prime Minister Olmert's forthcoming visit to the US, they also approved a plan to arm and train Palestinian Authority forces loyal to Mahmoud Abbas.

A new report, "Israel/Hezbollah/Lebanon: Avoiding Renewed Conflict", from the International Crisis Group calls for these short-term objectives to help stability:
* Containing Hizbollah and Israel's military moves, the former through UNIFIL and LAF forces, the latter through pressure to halt violations of Lebanon's sovereignty;
* Bolstering the Lebanese state's sovereignty and in particular strengthening the army;
* Addressing some of Hezbollah's core justifications for maintaining its arsenal, in particular the status of Shebaa farms.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4480&l=1
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PRM South Asia
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"Countering Afghanistan's Insurgency: No Quick Fixes" is a report from the International Crisis Group that finds:
"Rising violence is a wake-up call to rethink policies. Regrouped within Pakistan, Taliban and other anti-government elements have stepped up pressure; disenfranchised, economically desperate people are responding again to extremists in a region radicalized by decades of conflict. Urgent measures are needed including substantially more international forces in the battle zones. Efforts to stabilize Afghanistan will be about containment at best until the international community puts real pressure on Pakistan to tackle militant leaderships and reverse policies that feed extremism. Promoting rule of law and ending the culture of impunity are crucial to countering the insurgency and strengthening government legitimacy."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4485&l=1

In Bangladesh, rallies of both main political parties turned violent, leaving 20 dead and 70 injured. Demonstrations on Monday remained peaceful, as caretaker President Iajuddin Ahmed reorganized the interim government in collaboration with the top four political parties. The Awami League has called for updated voter lists and a new election commission to be in place within a week.

India's capital Delhi was the scene of large demonstrations and a strike to protest efforts to close illegal businesses. On the third day f protests, Wednesday, thousands were on the streets, this time blockading roads, burning tires, throwing stones at the police, and damaging property. These actions followed a Supreme Court ruling that municipal authorities must enforce laws against illegal operations. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has petitioned to court to help the traders, and the ruling Congress party is considering additional solutions to the problem. Shutting down the businesses would affect the livelihoods of more than half a million people.

In the state of Kerala, the High Court has cancelled the election of PC Thomas to parliament because he had appealed to the electorate on religious grounds by displaying pictures of the Pope.

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, a group of prison visitors smuggled in arms. Shooting broke out, and six prisoners escaped. Two guards were killed and four injured. The incident may be linked to a smuggling ring.

Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels met in Geneva last weekend, but failed even to set a timetable for discussions. On Monday, fighting began again.

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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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Canadian Austin Etches has been sentenced in Hong Kong to 38 months for money laundering the proceeds of a shares fraud.
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Canadian_jailed_in_Hong_Kong_for_mo_11022006.html

Former Dominican Army captain Quirino Paulino has been charged with laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking.
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19246

Spanish authorities have investigated French and Portuguese banks on suspicion of money laundering.
http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/business/raids-in-bnp-and-espirito-santo--french-and-portuguese-banks-inve?itemId=B24_18513&cl=%2Feitb24%2Feconomia&idioma=en

In the English city of York, local prosecutors have handed the money laundering case of Paul Blanchard and three other businessmen to the national fraud prosecution service, which is better equipped to handle the complexity.
http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/display.var.1004397.0.experts_handling_4_3m_money_laundering_case.php

The Arizona Republican Party has filed a complaint with the US Federal Elections Commission charging the Democrats with laundering political money through another state party to circumvent campaign finance laws.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1104senate-money1104.html

Urbano Hernandez Somero, a legal US resident, was arrested in California while re-entering from Mexico. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he worked as a front for the Arellano Felix drug cartel.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20061104-9999-2m4afo.html

KNZ Check Cashing owner Kirby Ward Blackmon has been indicted for money laundering and failure to report $1 million in cashed checks.
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_307134059.html

Sam Currin, former US attorney, judge, and state Republican chairman, pleaded guilty t laundering more than $1 million through his law firm's client trust account and other tax fraud and obstruction charges.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/02/america/NA_GEN_US_Prosecutor_Tax_Fraud.php

Joel Manalang has been sentenced n Seattle, Washington, court to 18 months in prison for laundering drug money.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/291173_lawyer04.html
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AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
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The Australian Direct Property Industry Association said that the government's AML/CFT revisions would harm the Funds Management Industry.
http://www.propertyreview.com.au/index.php?id=2140
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20684877-643,00.html

China has adopted an AML law that includes bribery and corruption as designated crimes. The law comes into effect 1 January 2007.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-11/01/content_721419.htm
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/01/eng20061101_317376.html

Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos has accused celebrities of fueling the country's civil war, and singled out model Kate Moss for using cocaine. He has launched the "cocaine curse" campaign to tell Europeans that each line of cocaine is tainted in blood. Both rebel and paramilitary groups in Colombia are financed through the drug trade.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/colombia/story/0,,1938622,00.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/showbiz/tm_headline=colombia-v-kate%26method=full%26objectid=18037420%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006500837,00.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/02/nmoss02.xml

Israel Discount Bank of New York has been fined $12 million for violating state and federal AML reporting requirements.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378309729&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Kuwait's Commerce and Finance ministry inaugurated its first Mideast conference on money laundering.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=918605

The Bank of Russia revoked 49 licenses of institutions associated with laundering money.
http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20061026165306.shtml

South Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan told the legislature that the US is expected to conclude its investigation into North Korean money laundering soon.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200611/kt2006110117285010220.htm

Trinidad and Tobago's money laundering legislation is tied to drug trafficking, and needs to be expanded to other typologies and expanded to include terrorist financing.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161042575
http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,46967.html
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated seven individuals and ten entities associated with North Valle drug cartel leader Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla ("Beto Renteria").
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp148.htm

US Muslims in fear of federal prosecution have cut back on charitable donations.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/30/america/web.1030charity.php
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AML/CFT Modalities
--------------------------------------------------
The BBC reports that a senior Hezbollah official says Iran is providing funds to help reconstruction in Lebanon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6112036.stm

---

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
--------------------------------------------------
The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) is due to terminate next year, following an obscure clause slipped into a military spending bill. The SIGIR has frequently embarrassed the Bush administration with reports on corruption, excessive charges, and the impact of violence and insecurity. Legislation to counter this measure is being introduced.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/03/news/reconstruct.php
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/03/america/NA_GEN_US_Iraq_Reconstruction.php
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/03/AR2006110301585.html
http://www.sigir.mil/

Israel's High Court has ruled that President Moshe Katsav is not immune from the judicial process, and will continue examining a petition calling for his resignation for a range of serious criminal allegations.

Mexico has approved the extradition of former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo, who is wanted in connection with the alleged transfer of more than $15 million moved from the defense ministry to foreign bank accounts.

Taiwanese prosecutors have filed corruption charges against first lady Wu Shu-chen and three former presidential advisors, and say they have enough evidence to charge President Chen Shui-bian as well. Chen had presidential immunity and has refused acceding to massive protests calling for his resignation.

UK ministers have been warned to expect an increase in organized crime after Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006500619,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006500804,00.html
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/accession-states-limits

John Kirke Walker has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison in one of Scotland's largest financial frauds, related to fake insurance coverage.

Sanjay Kumar has been sentenced in US court to 12 years in prison and fined $8 million after pleading guilty to conspiracy, securities fraud, and obstruction of justice in connection with false accounting at Computer Associates.
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ETM Economies and Financial Systems
--------------------------------------------------
The World Bank's new report "Close to Home: The Development Impact of Remittances in Latin America" calls for a cautious approach to remittances. Rather than "manna from heaven", they have only a modest impact on most Latin American and Caribbean economies.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/EXTLACOFFICEOFCE/0,,contentMDK:21105202~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:870893,00.html

China hosted a trade, investment and aid summit in Beijing for leaders of 48 African countries. The meetings focus on supporting China's drive for resources and markets, but also fuels concerns over social responsibility and human rights.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleId=288506
http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8126261
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ETM Environment and Climate Change
--------------------------------------------------
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has documented another record high in the atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases.
http://www.wmo.int/web/arep/gaw/ghg/ghgbull06.html

The World Conservation Union and the Nature Conservancy have laid out a new strategy to help corals and mangroves survive climate change.
http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2006/10/31_climate.htm

The Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate launched Partnership for Action 2006. They approved eight Task Force Action Plans to address aluminum; buildings and appliances; cement; cleaner fossil energy; coal mining; power generation and transmission; renewable energy and distributed generation; and steel.
http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/ActionPlans.htm

Australian Prime Minister Howard addressed the meeting, maintaining his opposition to Kyoto and other regulations, but touting plans to build a massive solar power plant in the state of Victoria.
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/speeches/speech2218.html

The European Federation for Transport and Environment reports that three-quarters of the 20 major car brands sold in Europe last year have failed to improve fuel efficiency at the rate needed to meet EU climate targets.
http://www.transportenvironment.org/Article250.html

The Energy Saving Trust released the "Habits of a Lifetime Report" It tanks the UK the worst energy wasters in Europe, largely because they leave charges plugged in, appliances on standby, and lights on. The report compared Italy, France, Spain, and Germany (best performer).
http://www.est.org.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6075794.stm
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ETM Human Rights
--------------------------------------------------
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has been launched to defend workers' rights in an aid of globalization. It replaces the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labor (WCL), relicts of the cold war
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991225307&Language=EN
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/ilosite/ilonews.internetPage3News?p_lang=EN&p_internet_news_id=2299

China has approved a law that allows only the Supreme Court to approve death sentences.

The UK Parliament Commons International Development Committee has released its Report on Conflict and Development, finding that the cost of a single conflict in a low-income country is nearly equal to the amount spent on global aid in a year.
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/international_development/ind0506pn61.cfm

The UK Information Commissioner has said that fears the country would "sleepwalk into a surveillance society" have become reality.
http://www.ico.gov.uk//upload/documents/pressreleases/2006/waking_up_to_a_surveillance_society.pdf

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a petition urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to find the United States in violation of its universal human rights obligations by failing to protect millions of undocumented workers from exploitation and discrimination in the workplace.
http://www.aclu.org/immigrants/discrim/27235prs20061101.html
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ETM Infectious Diseases
--------------------------------------------------
Egypt has confirmed its seventh death from H5N1 avian influenza. The cumulative total of confirmed cases as of 31 October is 256, of which 152 have been fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_10_31/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_10_31/en/index.html

The World Health Organization released "Influenza research at the human and animal interface: Report of a WHO working group".
http://www.who.int/entity/csr/resources/publications/influenza/WHO_CDS_EPR_GIP_2006_3C.pdf

In Canada, an Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the provincial government cannot be held liable for the West Nile virus that struck the province in 2002.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=d6a956c2-da89-41c2-8fc1-1df4d5a1102e&k=39302

A mysterious fever in Nepal has killed at least 36 people over the past two weeks. Testing for malaria and other suspects is under way.

Britain's Health Protection Agency reports that cases of tuberculosis in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rose by 10.8 percent last year, rising to 8,113 cases recorded.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2006/061102_tb.htm
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ETM Legal Systems
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The BBC's Jonathan Miller examined children in prisons around the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6090608.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6089702.stm

The UK Home Office is ending "weekend prison" pilots to free up space for serious offenders.

The Chief Inspector of Prisoners released a review that finds systematic failures at all levels in the care of foreign national prisoners.
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/thematic-reports1/foreignnationals.pdf.pdf?view=Binary

Vietnam is abolishing a 1997 decree that allows detention without trial.
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Natural Resources
--------------------------------------------------
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) has welcomed the Stern Report on climate change. They point both to current efforts in industry, and to impediments in energy reduction products.
http://www.mining-journal.com/Breaking_News.aspx?breaking_news_article_id=980

Manufacturers also welcomed the report.
http://www.themanufacturer.com/uk/detail.html?contents_id=7050

Twelve diamond-producing African countries have formed the African Diamond Producing Countries' Association to protect prices and production and control illegal trade.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/46719EC4-567C-4E8D-A841-0CB45C104FB4.htm

Bolivia has backed away from plans to nationalize its mines due to lack of the necessary financing.
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Social Responsibility
--------------------------------------------------
Egyptian businessman Mo Ibrahim has launched an annual award of $5 million for African heads of state to compete for the best leadership and governance, and to discourage them from holding on to power.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200611010443.html

Following publication of the Stern Report on climate change, increased investment in ethical funds promoting environmentally friendly companies is anticipated.
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/investnews/article.htm?ArticleID=17887548
http://investmentweek.co.uk/public/showPage.html?page=351952
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/11/04/cmgreen04.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccinv31.xml
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ETM Technology
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The UK Department of Trade and Industry published the Research and Development Scoreboard. It finds that corporate research spending in the US rose by 8.2 percent over the past year, compared to 5.8 percent in Europe. The UK matched the US rate, and Germany was the worst performer among the larger economies, with a two percent increase.
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/detail.asp?ReleaseID=237997&NewsAreaID=2

Despite undertakings to limit animal testing, Home Office figures indicate in increase in testing on animals in Scotland.
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1619742006

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics ha launched a public consultation on the ethical issues raised by the forensic use of biological information.
http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/go/ourwork/bioinformationuse/page_848.html
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ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
--------------------------------------------------
Six party talks regarding North Korea's nuclear program are set to resume, following China's intervention - and possible application of economic or energy pressure.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has adopted a ban on nuclear weapons. China announced it would sign the treaty to establish a nuclear weapons-free zone, a largely symbolic measure.

The US government has removed a website that contained Iraqi documents captured during the war, including details on nuclear bomb manufacture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/world/middleeast/03documents.html

Handicap International has released the first global report on cluster munitions. "Fatal Footprint" analyzes all 24 countries affected by these weapons, which when fired release hundreds of bomblets that often fail to explode as they spread, creating a lethal footprint. Civilians constitute 98 percent of all recorded cluster bomblet casualties.
http://www.handicap-international.org.uk/page_597.php

Bosnia has launched a new initiative under which those handing in small arms will be entered into a lottery, with many different prizes.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/03/europe/EU_GEN_Bosnia_Illegal_Weapons.php

The US and UK military continue to use depleted uranium weapons, despite their carcinogenicity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/international/uranium_20061101.shtml

---

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
--------------------------------------------------
Global fishing stocks continue to decline and may be virtually gone within 50 years. (Links to video "Every species counts".) An international group of ecologists and economists show that the loss of biodiversity is profoundly reducing the ocean’s ability to produce seafood, resist diseases, filter pollutants, and rebound from stresses such as over-fishing and climate change.
http://www.dal.ca/news/2006/11/03/oceanstudy.html
http://www.msc.org/

An Agriculture Canada task force has recommended the federal government set up within two years a new, voluntary Canadian Wheat Board completely owned by farmers with no government subsidies.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=6bcbe3c8-ffd4-4c15-8ee2-abd4a69c38a5&k=4192
http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/index_e.php?s1=ip&page=ip60908a

British agriculture and food workers are responding to the Stern Report on climate change. Farmers believe they are part of the solution and see new business opportunities. Retailers object to taxing food miles.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccsternfood31.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccsternretail31.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccsternsnn31.xml
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CIM Banking and Finance
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Germany's central bank is investigating reports of disintegrating Euro banknotes of various denominations. They believe that chemicals encountered during circulation caused the defects.
http://www.bundesbank.de/download/presse/pressenotizen/2006/20061102.banknoten.en.php

The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has approved a final rule to add premiums to all institutions to raise the ratio of reserves to deposits to its traditional 1.25 percent benchmark, and to better address bank assessments to risk of failure.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/board/noticenov22006.html

The Wall Street Journal describes the highly visible security measures taken to secure the New York Stock Exchange, and the difficulties it presents to other tenants and visitors. Vornado Realty Trust, landlord of the adjacent building, claims the security measures are excessive, violate lease covenants, and could reduce the value of office space.
http://online.wsj.com/google_login.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB116243841282011054.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj
http://ir.nyse.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=129145&p=IROL-secToc&TOC=aHR0cDovL2NjYm4uMTBrd2l6YXJkLmNvbS94bWwvY29udGVudHMueG1sP2lwYWdlPTQ0NjU4OTgmcmVwbz10ZW5r
http://www.vno.com/i
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CIM Chemical
--------------------------------------------------
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) completed their investigation of a 2005 nitrogen asphyxiation incident that killed two workers. They released a case study and a video to better educate workers in the hazards of improperly confined space rescue actions. In the Valero Energy Corporation Refinery in Delaware, workers reinstalling a pipe elbow discovered a roll of duct tape inside a pressurized vessel and were asphyxiated while improvising a way to recover the tape, rather than following a complex procedure involving special equipment.
http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=319
http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=320

CSB continues its investigation of the BP Texas City Refinery disaster, focusing now on organizational issues, but have also called on the oil industry to eliminate atmospheric blowdown drums similar to equipment at Texas City, urge use of safer flare systems, and ensure preparedness for large-scale flammable liquid releases. They also recommended that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establish a national emphasis program to promote elimination of unsafe blowdown systems.
http://www.csb.gov/news_releases/docs/News_Conference_Statements.pdf
http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=316
http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=315
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CIM Cybersecurity
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US mid-term elections will provide a critical test of new electronic voting machines across the country, where serious problems already have arisen.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/15869924.htm
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15915891.htm
http://www.wired.com/news/evote/0,2645,69893,00.html
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=269273
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004591

The "Hacking Democracy" HBO television documentary aired to positive reviews, despite a campaign against it by e-voting machine manufacturer Diebold.
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/hackingdemocracy/index.html
http://www6.diebold.com/dieboldes/
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iu1kJn0r6mbsE3T+LOOImOQ==
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004584

Dutch officials has ruled 1,200 e-voting machines are inadequate for November elections after finding they can be intercepted from as far as 30 meters away.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/31/dutch_votingmachines_inadequate/

McAfee researchers have identified "island hopping" as a new spam trend to use domain names of small islands as web site links to disguise themselves from spam filters that catch better-known domains.
http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/press/corporate/2006/20061101_173300_s.html

Botnets are believed responsible for a significant increase in global spam volumes.
http://tqmcube.com/tide.php
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/328
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/195

A South African Broadcasting Corporation documentary aired on Tuesday revealed that identity documents, birth certificates and asylum seekers' permits could be easily purchased. An undercover reporter managed to buy five IDs, temporary IDs, birth certificates and temporary asylum seekers' permits for only R10 000 ($1,353).
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleId=288482

Terence Chalk, CEO of Compulinx, has been arrested and charged with identity theft in connection with he, and his nephew, using personal details of the staff to fraudulently obtain loans and credit cards.
http://www.informationweek.com/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193501071

The US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee issued a report that says RFID is useful for inventory management but is not suitable for human identification. Despite the finding, DHS has proceeded with RFID implementations, and has not publicly released the report.
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_advcom_rpt_rfid_draft.pdf
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,72019-0.html
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1161114866740.shtm

Proof of concept code demonstrates a mechanism to read personal data from RFID-enabled passports.
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/449926/30/0/threaded
http://www.riscure.com/2_news/passport.html

Virus writers increasingly are targeting web video using Windows file compression.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6100016.stm
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CIM Dams and Bridges
--------------------------------------------------
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza praised Portugal's transfer of control of the huge Cahora Bassa hydroelectric plant to its former colony as the end of "the final redoubt of foreign domination".
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleId=288637
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CIM Defense Industrial Base
--------------------------------------------------
War on Want has issued a new report, "Corporate Mercenaries". They reveal that private military and security companies have moved from the periphery of international politics into the corporate boardroom where they have become accepted as a normal part of the military. This has taken place without regulation. In consequence, no prosecutions have followed hundreds of accounts of personnel from private military and security firms committing abuses in Iraq.
http://www.waronwant.org/Corporate+Mercenaries+13275.twl

The UK Ministry of Defense will fully investigate concerns over safety of the air force's fleet of Nimrods, following a September crash in Afghanistan that killed 14 and raised questions regarding age and management of the fleet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/6101510.stm

A MoD Board Inquiry into the 1982 sinking of the HMS Sheffield during the Falklands War found that equipment was inadequate, and the crew poorly trained.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FreedomOfInformation/DisclosureLog/SearchDisclosureLog/LossOfHmsSheffieldDuringTheFalklandsWarIn1982.htm

The US Pentagon has a program to give away castoff military gear to government friends and allies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/business/31tagsale.html?adxnnl=1

Taiwan has commissioned into service two US-built and recently refitted naval destroyers.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2328548
http://navysite.de/ddg.htm

Bechtel has completed its work in Iraq and will seek no additional contract pending changes in the security situation.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/11/01/MNGMIM3RAG1.DTL
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CIM Energy
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OPEC's Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo says that the Stern Report on climate change has no basis in science or economics, and that OPEC opposes such research. He said, "We find some of the so-called initiatives of the rich industrialized countries who are supposed to take the lead in combating climate change rather alarming".
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-10-31T101400Z_01_L31174050_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENVIRONMENT-STERN-OPEC.xml

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released "Working Paper No. 06/247: The Magnitude and Distribution of Fuel Subsidies: Evidence from Bolivia, Ghana, Jordan, Mali, and Sri Lanka". The authors explain:
"With the recent jump in world oil prices, the issue of petroleum product pricing has become increasingly important in developing countries. Reflecting a reluctance of many governments to pass these price increases onto energy users, energy price subsidies are absorbing an increasing share of scarce public resources. This paper identifies the issues that need to be discussed when analyzing the fiscal and social costs of fuel subsidies. Using examples from analyses recently undertaken for five countries, it also identifies the magnitude of consumer subsidies and their fiscal implications. The results of the analysis show that in all of these countries energy subsidies have significant social and fiscal costs and are badly targeted.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=19912.0

Cold weather in Germany prompted a surge in demand that led to a power outage, which quickly spread to France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Millions of people were affected, and transportation was disrupted.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2225802,00.html
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-11-05T115721Z_01_L05203683_RTRIDST_0_ENERGY-GERMANY-EON.XML

Georgia has been informed that Russian energy giant Gazprom will increase gas prices from $110 per 1,000 cubic meters to $230 next year. Georgia plans to diversify its suppliers, and says it will not pay more than commercial rates, which should be $130-190. Russia uses energy supplies to apply political pressure.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-03T132730Z_01_L03916923_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ENERGY-GEORGIA-RUSSIA.xml
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1229_november_3_2006/n_1229_1.htm
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=14013
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8,00.html

Kuwait has partially shutdown the Shuaiba oil refinery following an explosion and fire. All workers were successfully evacuated and there were no casualties. Production fell from 200,000 barrels-per-day to 130,000. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway, but so far terrorism was ruled out.

Malaysia's state oil company Petronas has signed a 25-year agreement with China's Shanghai LNG under which Petronas will provide some $25 billion in liquefied natural gas to China.
http://www.petronas.com.my/internet/corp/news.nsf/24F01A9E1040218948256ABF00275C65/B6E55A673357033B482572170015F4F6?OpenDocument

Wood Mackenzie issued "Future of the Arctic". The study finds that the US can no longer consider the Arctic as a long-term strategic energy supply source. It's potential is significantly less than previous estimates had suggested, and the mix of resources have been found to contain much less oil and more gas.
http://www.woodmacresearch.com/cgi-bin/corp/portal/corp/corpPressDetail.jsp?oid=751298

The Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority on Thursday announced a 270 percent increase in power tariffs.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleId=288748
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CIM Government Facilities
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A report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service MegaCenters, which are responsible for building security and enforcement, have inadequate performance measurements to determine response efficiency.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1076
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CIM Information Technology
--------------------------------------------------
A surge in environmentally friendly IT solutions is anticipated following publication of the Stern Review on climate change.
http://www.computing.co.uk/itweek/news/2167730/stern-report-spark-surge-green

The Internet Governance Forum met this week, with a thousand delegates talking about the future of the internet. This inaugural meeting was held in Athens. The Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI) featured as a model for reforming national laws and policies to support expanded Internet access in developing countries.
http://www.igfgreece2006.gr/
http://www.intgovforum.org/
http://www.internetpolicy.net/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6090394.stm

One of the outcomes was an announcement from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Southampton. They have launched a joint research initiative focused on web science, to ensure that the worldwide web does not become a source of potential harm to humanity.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/wsri.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6108578.stm?ls
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/11/03/mit_uk_school_form_center_to_study_web/
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/calestous_juma/2006/11/post_569.html

World Semiconductor Trade Statistics projects 8.5 percent global semiconductor growth this year, driven by the Asia Pacific region.
http://www.wsts.org/plain/content/view/full/2809

Sony has disclosed that the US Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into possible anti-trust violations. The company has already been battered by a sharp fall in profits brought on by battery recalls and product delays.
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/index.html
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CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
--------------------------------------------------
Bulgaria has selected Russian firm Atomstroyexport to build a nuclear power plant by the River Danube.
http://www.seeurope.net/?q=node/1645
http://www.atomstroyexport.ru/

Russian President Putin and Egyptian President Mubarak have discussed plans for the revival of Egypt's nuclear energy program, which was abandoned after Chernobyl. Egypt plans to offer tax incentives for Russian investment, and plans to use Russian expertise to build four new nuclear energy stations.

In its report titled "A Nuclear Winter for the UK?", Wood Mackenzie looks at the impact of British Energy’s recent announcement of technical problems as several power stations, and the likely impact on UK supply this winter.
http://www.woodmacresearch.com/cgi-bin/corp/portal/corp/corpPressDetail.jsp?oid=751299
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CIM Public Health and Healthcare
--------------------------------------------------
The World Health Organization has launched three new websites:
* Global Patient Safety Challenge 2005-2006
http://www.who.int/gpsc/en/
* Knowledge Management for Public Health
http://www.who.int/km4ph/en/
* Dracunculiasis eradication
http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/

The Lancet is publishing the first-ever global study of sexual and reproductive health. It reveals declining financial support, increased political interference, and overall reluctance to address these serious health threats.
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/donateresearch.htm

UNICEF has launched the first computer game in Swahili to educate young people in HIV/AIDS prevention. More than 100 million people across east Africa speak Swahili.
http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/aids/explore_1360.html

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has decided to resume vaccination of 11 and 12 year olds with MCV4 vaccine against meningitis.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5543a5.htm?s_cid=mm5543a5_e

CDC, in a step backwards, plans to survey teenagers who are receiving several new vaccines, but will no longer gather detailed data from 22 large cities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101302.html

The National Quality Forum endorsed three consensus standards regarding serious reportable events in healthcare, safe practices for better healthcare, and national voluntary consensus standards to improve quality of care.
http://www.qualityforum.org/news/more-news.asp#appeals
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CIM Telecommunications
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UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) director David Currie delivered Ofcom's annual lecture. He discussed lower prices, more and faster broadband, spectrum liberalization, young consumers and new media, the future of public broadcasting and radio, and the implications of these on public policy. He also addressed the EU's draft Audio Visual Media Services Directive, which pertains to net neutrality.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/speeches/2006/11/annual_lecture
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/02/currie_on_neutrality/

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has classified broadband over power line-enabled internet access as an information service.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268331A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268331A2.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268331A3.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268331A4.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268331A5.pdf

FCC delayed its vote on the proposed ATT-BellSouth merger for the third time.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268326A1.pdf
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Transportation
--------------------------------------------------
The airline industry has come under particular scrutiny this week following the Stern Report and other research implicating it as a major source of greenhouse gases. "Green taxes" and other measures have already been introduced or will be in the near future.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/30/bcntra.xml
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/business/media/30fuel.html

The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) praises early adopters of greener motoring and points to their associated tax savings.
http://www.eta.co.uk/news/newsview.asp?n=650

At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France, more than 70 staff at the country's main airport have been stripped of security clearance for alleged links to groups with potential terrorist aims. Airport workers have threatened to strike over alleged bias: nearly all of those dismissed were Muslims.

The UK Commons Transport Committee published the government's response to its piracy report.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/1690/169002.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/1026/102602.htm

London Underground's maintenance organization, Tube Lines, hired Kamel Mostafa, son of imprisoned Islamic cleric Abu Hamza, who had been jailed in Yemen in 1999 for planning a bomb campaign. He has been dismissed, and police are investigating whether he had access to any sensitive areas. They are also implementing procedural changes.

China has signed an agreement with Nigeria to construct a railway line between Lagos and Kano, the two main commercial centers.

The UK Transport Committee released a report on "Passenger Rail Franchising" which finds the system a "costly muddle" and that passengers will pay the price for a fragmented and fundamentally flawed system.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/1354/1354.pdf

France is considering additional security measures following an arson attack on a bus that severely injured a young woman.

The US state of Texas is testing a website using border cameras for remote surveillance. The plan is controversial, and testing has been problematic.
http://www.texasborderwatch.com/
http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/11/03/ap3144842.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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Flooding in Ethiopia's eastern Ogaden region burst the banks of the Shabelle river and has left nearly 70 dead and 300,000 displaced.

Flooding in southeastern Turkey has killed at least 32.

In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a train hit a rickshaw on an unmanned level crossing, killing 17 people - most farm workers en route to work.

Typhoon Cimaron struck the Philippines with winds of 200 km/hr (124 mph). At least 13 people were killed on Luzon island.

An historic residential hotel in Reno, Nevada (US) caught fire, leaving six dead and more than 30 injured. Casino worker Valerie Moore has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a mattress outside the room of a resident with whom she had a dispute. The Mizpah hotel was previously listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A stampede at a Hindu temple in the eastern Indian state of Orissa left four people dead and 18 injured after authorities failed to open the gates early enough, allowing the crowd outside to expand excessively.

Four prisoners in Mozambique were killed while digging a ditch for installation of gold mining equipment in central Manica province. The digging followed heavy rains that triggered a mudslide, and was the second such incident in ten days. An inquiry into using men not yet convicted for prison labor is under way.

A cargo ship capsized and sank in the Baltic Sea. Thirteen crewmembers were airlifted safely, but one died in hospital, and a second was lost and presumed dead in the freezing waters.

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) launched an investigation into the release of ammonia at Tyson Foods in Kansas. One person died and one was injured. A broken refrigerator line is suspected.
http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=321
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DRM Response and Recovery
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Brazil is nearing the end of its investigation into the country's worst air disaster: Gol Airlines Flight 1907. This week, the flight recorder indicated that the flight controller had ordered the Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet to fly at the same altitude as the Boeing 737, in what appears to be the first of several problems contributing to the crash.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15529171/

Nigeria's aviation minister was dismissed, and the country held three days of national mourning, following last Sunday's plane crash in which 96 people died, including Muslim spiritual leader the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido. The pilot of the jet has been accused of ignoring the storm warning, in what is now called a preventable accident, and aviation regulations are under review - again.

Raymond Oyler has been charged with murder in connection with a California forest fire that killed five firefighters. Four were killed in a sudden wind change; the fifth in hospital after suffering burns on 90 percent of his body.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is continuing to investigate the 10 July collapse of a highway connector tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts, which killed a passenger and injured the driver of a car passing under it. The latest update reports that no inspections were reported. It has also been found that engineers changed the design at the last minute, and the safety margin was smaller than most others, and included none of the redundancy that is typical in ceiling design.

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) reports that BP was aware of significant safety problems, including maintenance backlogs and poor infrastructure, at the Texas City refinery well before the March 2005 explosion that killed 15 and injured 180. BP has acknowledged the accident could have been prevented, and has allocated $1.6 billion compensation. This is one of many issues, including alleged price manipulation, under the intense scrutiny of US officials and Congress.
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Risks
--------------------------------------------------
The Stern Review on climate change warns that it sudden climate shifts and damage caused by weather are likely to affect global financial markets and could have a significant impact on the insurance industry.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/30/bcnins.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccsternins31.xml

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has released new flood maps and a campaign to raise awareness of flood risks, particularly to waterfront developments and in parts of Glasgow's city center.
http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/mapping/index.htm
http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/news/index.htm
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Mitigation
--------------------------------------------------
UN emergency chief Jan Egeland laid out a 3-point blueprint for disaster reduction in his new paper, "An investment in our collective future":
* No country is immune to natural disasters and mitigating and preventive measures must be taken now.
* Last year’s Pakistani quake when 17,000 children died in collapsing schools underscored the need to build smarter and safer.
* Disaster risk reduction is fundamentally a matter of communication and education.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKEE-6V4SQX?OpenDocument

Britain's Commons International Development Committee reports that there is a global lack of will to fund preventative and protective measures to reduce natural disasters, of which two-thirds stem from climate change.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmintdev/1188/118802.htm
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/international_development/indhrnd.cfm

The UK Commons Transport Committee released "Roads Policing and Technology: Getting the right balance", which discussed casualty reduction.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/975/97502.htm

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7. Recommended Reading

Following is the condensed executive summary of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. Following the excerpt are links to the launch presentations, supporting research, press coverage and other related materials. The full report is available in sections online. Hardcopies will be available from Cambridge University Press, beginning in January.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm
http://www.cambridge.org/9780521700801


STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change
Summary of Conclusions

THERE IS STILL TIME TO AVOID THE WORST IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, IF WE TAKE STRONG ACTION NOW.

The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change is a serious global threat, and it demands an urgent global response.

This Review has assessed a wide range of evidence on the impacts of climate change and on the economic costs, and has used a number of different techniques to assess costs and risks. From all of these perspectives, the evidence gathered by the Review leads to a simple conclusion: the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh the economic costs of not acting.

Climate change will affect the basic elements of life for people around the world - access to water, food production, health, and the environment. Hundreds of millions of people could suffer hunger, water shortages and coastal flooding as the world warms.

Using the results from formal economic models, the Review estimates that if we don’t act, the overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5 percent of global GDP each year, now and forever. If a wider range of risks and impacts is taken into account, the estimates of damage could rise to 20 percent of GDP or more.

In contrast, the costs of action - reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change - can be limited to around 1 percent of global GDP each year.

The investment that takes place in the next 10-20 years will have a profound effect on the climate in the second half of this century and in the next. Our actions now and over the coming decades could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century. And it will be difficult or impossible to reverse these changes.

So prompt and strong action is clearly warranted. Because climate change is a global problem, the response to it must be international. It must be based on a shared vision of long-term goals and agreement on frameworks that will accelerate action over the next decade, and it must build on mutually reinforcing approaches at national, regional and international level.

CLIMATE CHANGE COULD HAVE VERY SERIOUS IMPACTS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

If no action is taken to reduce emissions, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could reach double its pre-industrial level as early as 2035, virtually committing us to a global average temperature rise of over 2degreesC. In the longer term, there would be more than a 50 percent chance that the temperature rise would exceed 5degreesC. This rise would be very dangerous indeed; it is equivalent to the change in average temperatures from the last ice age to today. Such a radical change in the physical geography of the world must lead to major changes in the human geography - where people live and how they live their lives.

Even at more moderate levels of warming, all the evidence - from detailed studies of regional and sectoral impacts of changing weather patterns through to economic models of the global effects - shows that climate change will have serious impacts on world output, on human life and on the environment.

All countries will be affected. The most vulnerable - the poorest countries and populations - will suffer earliest and most, even though they have contributed least to the causes of climate change. The costs of extreme weather, including floods, droughts and storms, are already rising, including for rich countries.

Adaptation to climate change - that is, taking steps to build resilience and minimize costs – is essential. It is no longer possible to prevent the climate change that will take place over the next two to three decades, but it is still possible to protect our societies and economies from its impacts to some extent – for example, by providing better information, improved planning and more climate-resilient crops and infrastructure. Adaptation will cost tens of billions of dollars a year in developing countries alone, and will put still further pressure on already scarce resources. Adaptation efforts, particularly in developing countries, should be accelerated.

THE COSTS OF STABILIZING THE CLIMATE ARE SIGNIFICANT BUT MANAGEABLE; DELAY WOULD BE DANGEROUS AND MUCH MORE COSTLY.

The risks of the worst impacts of climate change can be substantially reduced if greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere can be stabilized between 450 and 550ppm CO2 equivalent (CO2e). The current level is 430 ppm CO2e today, and it is rising at more than 2 ppm each year. Stabilization in this range would require emissions to be at least 25 percent below current levels by 2050, and perhaps much more.

Ultimately, stabilization - at whatever level - requires that annual emissions be brought down to more than 80 percent below current levels.

This is a major challenge, but sustained long-term action can achieve it at costs that are low in comparison to the risks of inaction. Central estimates of the annual costs of achieving stabilization between 500 and 550 ppm CO2e are around 1 percent of global GDP, if we start to take strong action now.

Costs could be even lower than that if there are major gains in efficiency, or if the
strong co-benefits, for example from reduced air pollution, are measured. Costs will
be higher if innovation in low-carbon technologies is slower than expected, or if
policy-makers fail to make the most of economic instruments that allow emissions to
be reduced whenever, wherever and however it is cheapest to do so.

It would already be very difficult and costly to aim to stabilize at 450 ppm CO2e. If we
delay, the opportunity to stabilize at 500-550 ppm CO2e may slip away.

ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS REQUIRED ACROSS ALL COUNTRIES, AND IT NEED NOT CAP THE ASPIRATIONS FOR GROWTH OF RICH OR POOR COUNTRIES.

The costs of taking action are not evenly distributed across sectors or around the world. Even if the rich world takes on responsibility for absolute cuts in emissions of 60-80 percent by 2050, developing countries must take significant action too. But developing countries should not be required to bear the full costs of this action alone, and they will not have to. Carbon markets in rich countries are already beginning to deliver flows of finance to support low-carbon development, including through the Clean Development Mechanism. A transformation of these flows is now required to support action on the scale required.

Action on climate change will also create significant business opportunities, as new markets are created in low-carbon energy technologies and other low-carbon goods and services. These markets could grow to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and employment in these sectors will expand accordingly.

The world does not need to choose between averting climate change and promoting growth and development. Changes in energy technologies and in the structure of economies have created opportunities to decouple growth from greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, ignoring climate change will eventually damage economic growth.

Tackling climate change is the pro-growth strategy for the longer term, and it can be done in a way that does not cap the aspirations for growth of rich or poor countries.

A RANGE OF OPTIONS EXISTS TO CUT EMISSIONS; STRONG, DELIBERATE POLICY ACTION IS REQUIRED TO MOTIVATE THEIR TAKE-UP.

Emissions can be cut through increased energy efficiency, changes in demand, and through adoption of clean power, heat and transport technologies. The power sector around the world would need to be at least 60 percent decarbonizes by 2050 for atmospheric concentrations to stabilize at or below 550ppm CO2e, and deep emissions cuts will also be required in the transport sector.

Even with very strong expansion of the use of renewable energy and other low-carbon energy sources, fossil fuels could still make up over half of global energy supply in 2050. Coal will continue to be important in the energy mix around the world, including in fast-growing economies. Extensive carbon capture and storage will be necessary to allow the continued use of fossil fuels without damage to the atmosphere.

Cuts in non-energy emissions, such as those resulting from deforestation and from agricultural and industrial processes, are also essential.

With strong, deliberate policy choices, it is possible to reduce emissions in both developed and developing economies on the scale necessary for stabilization in the required range while continuing to grow.

Climate change is the greatest market failure the world has ever seen, and it interacts with other market imperfections. Three elements of policy are required for an effective global response. The first is the pricing of carbon, implemented through tax, trading or regulation. The second is policy to support innovation and the deployment of low-carbon technologies. And the third is action to remove barriers to energy efficiency, and to inform, educate and persuade individuals about what they can do to respond to climate change.

CLIMATE CHANGE DEMANDS AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE, BASED ON A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF LONG-TERM GOALS AND AGREEMENT ON FRAMEWORKS FOR ACTION.

Many countries and regions are taking action already: the EU, California and China are among those with the most ambitious policies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol provide a basis for international co-operation, along with a range of partnerships and other approaches. But more ambitious action is now required around the world.

Countries facing diverse circumstances will use different approaches to make their contribution to tackling climate change. But action by individual countries is not enough. Each country, however large, is just a part of the problem. It is essential to create a shared international vision of long-term goals, and to build the international frameworks that will help each country to play its part in meeting these common goals.

Key elements of future international frameworks should include:
* Emissions trading:
Expanding and linking the growing number of emissions trading schemes around the world is a powerful way to promote cost-effective reductions in emissions and to bring forward action in developing countries: strong targets in rich countries could drive flows amounting to tens of billions of dollars each year to support the transition to low-carbon development paths.
* Technology cooperation:
Informal co-ordination as well as formal agreements can boost the effectiveness of investments in innovation around the world. Globally, support for energy R&D should at least double, and support for the deployment of new low-carbon technologies should increase up to five-fold. International cooperation on product standards is a powerful way to boost energy efficiency.
* Action to reduce deforestation:
The loss of natural forests around the world contributes more to global emissions each year than the transport sector. Curbing deforestation is a highly cost-effective way to reduce emissions; large-scale international pilot programs to explore the best ways to do this could get underway very quickly.
Adaptation:
The poorest countries are most vulnerable to climate change. It is essential that climate change be fully integrated into development policy, and that rich countries honor their pledges to increase support through overseas development assistance. International funding should also support improved regional information on climate change impacts, and research into new crop varieties that will be more resilient to drought and flood.

Stern's Presentation:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/987/6B/Slides_for_Launch.pdf

Stern's Speaking Notes:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/99D/3D/sternreview_speakingnotes.pdf

Background to the Review:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/sternreview_backgroundtoreview.cfm

Supporting Commissioned Research:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_supporting_documents.cfm

Press Release:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_stern_06.cfm

Remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/speeches/chancellorexchequer/speech_chx_301006.cfm

Comments by Leading Economists
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/986/EB/Stern_Review_Quotes.pdf

Press Coverage:
"Apocalypse now"
http://www.mg.co.za/articledirect.aspx?articleid=288661
"Avoiding Calamity on the Cheap"
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/opinion/03fri1.html
"Britain Warns of High Costs of Global Warming"
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/world/europe/31britain.html
"The clean green dream"
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20696551-30417,00.html
"Climate change fight 'can't wait'"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6096084.stm
"Climate change: Is Stern Report 'alarmist and incompetent'?"
http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/climate-change-stern-report-alarmist-incompetent/article-159346
"Climate change report offers opportunities for farmers"
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/11/02/99328/Climate+change+report+offers+opportunities+for+farmers.html
"OPEC call Stern Report on climate dangers 'misguided'"
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1616492006
"Climate Change May Cost World $9.6 Trillion, UK Report Says"
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aHuSMugNhnFw
"Cooking the global economy"
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/11/03/cooking_the_global_economy/
"Don't blame us, say the global gas guzzlers"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/31/ngreen331.xml
"Don't panic is message to Government"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/10/31/ccstern31.xml
"Eco-worrier: the Stern report - a leaf our of India's book"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8125-2434818,00.html
"Energy efficiency stocks 'boosted by Stern report'
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/investnews/article.htm?ArticleID=17899085
"Mark Woodall: Saving the planet all part of the job to green capitalist - a day in the life of the Chief executive of Climate Change Capital"
http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/article1953761.ece
"More needed on climate change: Stern"
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,2062,00.html
"Not stern enough"
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jeremy_leggett/2006/11/the_stern_review_pulls_its_pun.html
"OPEC says British climate change report 'unfounded'"
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-10-31T101400Z_01_L31174050_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENVIRONMENT-STERN-OPEC.xml
"Q&A: Stern report on climate change"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6100332.stm
"Stern report assesses economic impact of climate change"
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/10132.html
"Stern report has worldwide vision"
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=106637
"Stern report to spark surge in green IT"
http://www.computing.co.uk/itweek/news/2167730/stern-report-spark-surge-green
"Stern Review"
http://online.wsj.com/google_login.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB116243506287110986.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj
"Why you should care about the stern Review"
http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/faq/0,1000001997,39284493,00.htm
"World's report on global warming: 'Must try harder'"
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlebusiness.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nL30113861

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8. Asset Management Network News

Check out our new and improved Avian Influenza Special report. It provides details of past pandemics, and the emerging threat now posed by H5N1. It has advice on prevention, preparedness, and response, and includes a preparedness checklist for businesses, another for families, and one for emergency supplies, as well as guidelines for infectious disease control and food preparation. Purchase a copy here:
http://secure.netsolhost.com/573566.585211/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TP&Category_Code=SPRT0001

While you're there,  take a look at our online store for subscriptions to the Monitor series and to find out about our other Special Reports.
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