Executive Summary

Typhoon Bopha hits Philippines banana harvest hard

About one quarter of the banana crop in the Philippines, a major food export for that country, has been destroyed by Typhoon Bopha, according to early damage assessments. Furthermore, banana growers fear the storm may have served to spread “Panama Disease,” which has been described by some researchers as “one of the most destructive plant diseases in modern times.”

NEW DELHI, Dec 31 (KUNA) -- As many as 69 persons have died in Uttar Pradesh state alone due to an intense cold wave that swept across most of north-Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, it was reported here Monday.

According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report, people, particularly the poor, could be seen sitting around bonfires in order to fight the Delhi's chill. Meteorological department has predicted intense cold and foggy conditions for the next few days.

Despite legislative improvements in the protection of children in India, young refugees continue to be particularly vulnerable to neglect and abuse.

TNN | Dec 28, 2012, 02.03 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The death toll from cold snap in north India has mounted to at least 40 with the maximum deaths due to it — 13 — reported from Uttar Pradesh since Wednesday.

Police said three people died in Barabanki, while two each in Bijnore, Sultanpur and Chandauli. One death was reported from Gazipur, Baghpat, Banda and Sonebhadra.

The largest riverine island in the world, once covering 1,226 square kilometres, Majuli has declined to a mere 576 square km in a little under thirty years due to massive erosion caused by the annual monsoon that hits this island hard. The populations has dire needs in terms of shelter and hygiene, and has also lost its crops, which represent their main livelihood.

At least 25 people have died in a cold snap sweeping across northern India, state-run broadcaster All India Radio has said.

Read the full report on the BBC.

By Sana Altaf

SRINAGAR , Dec 23 2012 (IPS) - Seventeen-year-old Afzal is an unusual orphan. Though his father died many years ago, his mother is still alive and living with Afzal’s grandparents and younger siblings in a house not far from the orphanage where the boy has spent most of his teenage years.

December 21, 2012

CDC Continues to Support the Global Polio Eradication Effort

The eradication of polio is an important priority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The world is not on track to eradicate polio by the end of 2012. Yet, we are closer than we have ever been to eradicating polio and it is critical that we take advantage of this opportunity.