Global Health

Hello,

We are writing you today in light of the unusual strain of swine influenza which has sickened at least seven people in the U.S. The CDC said that the virus is a new mixture of viruses typical among pigs, birds and humans. The World Health Organization said it was concerned about what it called 800 "influenza-like" cases in Mexico, and also about a confirmed outbreak of a new strain of swine flu in the United States. The Reuters story on this is copied below.

What LEGO and Mobile Solutions Have in Common
There has long been discussions of using the current mobile app solutions to let end-users pick and choose between available services. Something like LEGO, where you pick and choose the right pieces that work for your particular need. A real toolbox of apps that actually work together, and can be connected easily by anyone, without the need of deep technological background.

By ANDREW C. REVKIN
Published: April 16, 2009
For at least 3,000 years, a drumbeat of potent droughts, far longer and more severe than any experienced recently, have seared a belt of sub-Saharan Africa that is now home to tens of millions of the world’s poorest people, climate researchers report in a new study.

The scientists warned that more such mega-droughts are inevitable, although there is no way to predict when the next one could unfold.

By Javier Blas in Cison di Valmarino, Italy

Published: April 20 2009 14:03 | Last updated: April 20 2009 14:03
The Group of Eight leading nations called on Monday “for increasing public and private investment” in agriculture, but their communiqué after the first meeting on the subject acknowledged that efforts to tackle hunger were lagging.