World Briefs

Author: Ian Schmertzler

BIRD FLU SPREADS
The World Health Organization confirmed four cases of Avian flu (H5N1) on April 3, of which two were fatal. Though the other two confirmed cases have fully recovered, a fifth patient remains hospitalized awaiting tests. Two additional persons, a 6-year-old girl and her 18-month-old sister, were hospitalized the day before, with preliminary testing by the Egyptian government detecting H5N1. The new cases bring the total number confirmed by the World Health Organization as of this printing to 190, of which 107 cases have been fatal.
-World Health
Organization, Egypt

SKINHEAD BEATING
The Russian News and Information Agency reported early Sunday morning that the culture minister of Russia's North Caucasus Republic was attacked by skinheads on Saturday. According to his lawyer, Zaur Tutov, the minister in question said he was beaten by around 15 men as he traveled to pick up his daughter from a folk dancing class. Witnesses reported that the group of attackers shouted "Russia is for Russians!" repeatedly during the beating, which continued for several minutes.
--RIA Novisti, Moscow

FRENCH RIOTS CONTINUE
Demonstrations throughout France continued on Friday with President Jacques Chirac declaring in a televised address his support for the contentious labor law that has been the cause of staunch protests since its passage by Parliament earlier this year. The law allows employees under the age of 26 to be laid off without reason at any point during their first two years of employment. Chirac asked for the law to be modified to require that the employee be provided with an explanation if fired and that the two-year period be reduced to one. Chirac signed the bill over the weekend.
-New York Times and Le Monde, Paris

GROWTH IN ASIA
The World Bank reported on Friday that East Asia's economies had surpassed Europe's as the region most open for trade. Growth was broad for the second year in a row, with growth of over 4 percent in all East Asian countries except Timor-Leste. This strong growth comes in spite of the highest oil prices in 25 years, rising interest rates, continued worries over the financing of the United States' current account deficit and the prospect of the spread of avian flu. Continued growth is projected for next year as well.
-The World Bank,
Washington