Uzbekistan

Infections quadruple in Thailand. China and India report 196 and 23 cases respectively. Now the virus is spreading beyond tourist destinations with local hotbeds of infection.

In Russia the 9th SCO summit is under way and the 1st between Brazil, Russia, India and China. The creation of a free trade zone, transport corridors and reserve currency will dominate talks. Beijing wants to increase its economic role, even through a series of bilateral relationships.

The feast of Corpus Domini confirms in Christ “love exists and because it exists things can change for the better and we can hope”. It also has cosmic dimensions in recalling the abundance of the summer harvest. He augurs the UN will face the economic crisis in solidarity with poor nations and rid the world of hunger. A prayer for the Year for Priests that begins this Friday June 19th, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Some sources of infection cannot be traced and are of local origin. But the WHO claims the country is “well prepared” to contain the epidemic. So far there are 141 infections.

The WHO decision does not refer to virulence or severity but only to the geographic spread. The virus is present in 74 nations and cannot be stopped. Calls for a vaccine; only be available in September. Greatest concerns for poorer nations in Southern Hemisphere, as winter arrives. The last pandemic dates to ’68 and led to the deaths of 1 million people. But the WHO is fearful of a scene similar to the Spanish flu of 1926 that led to the deaths of 50 million people.

For years, Russia’s state-owned energy company held a quasi-monopoly position. During this time it failed to invest in technology and innovation, restricting itself to signing high price contracts to maintain its stranglehold over the market. Now it is backing away from contracts it signed with Central Asian nations whilst its pipeline network is aging and becoming increasingly dangerous.

Eleven children are infected and in hospital. Fears of a repeat of the SARS outbreak. In China 111 people are infected. The epidemic has spread to 74 countries and has infected a total of 27737 people. The World Health Organisation gears up to declare a maximum state of emergency for a pandemic.

The raising of alert levels due to an increase in infections in Australia and the strong spread of the virus among Canada’s Inuit. WHO fears panic and over reaction. So far 26500 infections and 140 deaths, no different to a normal flu.

The 42 page special edition gives a day-by-day account of Benedict XVI’s pilgrimage to Jordan, Israel and Palestine. It is the most important but also most misunderstood journey to date. Criticism tends to destroy any hopes that peace is possible, preparing the ground instead for war. But the pope’s message of pace and coexsistence is the most realistic.

The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) will meet next week in Russia to discuss the global crisis, currencies and climate change. They aim to find a common ground to bring greater weight to September summit of the world’s 20 largest economies in the USA.

Bonds worth US$ 134.5 billion are seized. This is the largest financial smuggling case in history. But are they real? Concern over ‘funny money’ or counterfeit securities is spreading in Asia. The international press is silent.

An analysis of the US President’s speech by an expert on Islam and the Arab world. In general there is a lot of honesty and justified mea culpa. But there is also too much rhetoric on Islam’s contributions; historical falsehoods on the Cordoba Caliphate and the birth of Israel; ambiguity on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories; religious freedom is more than tolerance; forgetfulness on the everyday rights of women. The Pope said more in the Middle East.