Funds for Malaria Prevention

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has decided to donate roughly $258 for work done to prevent and help people with Malaria. Malaria causes many people, including children, to die in places such as Africa. The funds from this foundation will provide for experiments to find a Malaria vaccine, help treat people with Malaria, and for research on pesticides and bed nets.

This news report was found through MSNBC

Luxembourg: Country Report

Just a little about Luxembourg:

- Location: Western Europe

- Population: 468,571

- Language: Luxembourgish is the national language, German and French are used for administrative use

- Religion: Majority Roman Catholic, then Protestants, Jews, and Muslims

- Ethnic Groups: Celtic, Portugese, Italian, Slavic, and European

- Literacy: 100%

- Climate/Terrain: moderate winters, cool summers; hills and mountains

This information is from The World Factbook

Chile: Country Report

Just a little about Chile:

- Location: Southern South America

- Population: 15,980,912

- Language: Spanish

- Religion: 89% Roman Catholic, 11% Protestant

- Ethnic Groups: Mainly white and white-Amerindian

- Literacy: 96.2%

- Climate/Terrain: temperate, northern desert; mountainous

This information is from The World Factbook

Galapagos Islands: Volcano Erupts

The Galapagos Islands, which are off the coast of Ecuador, are known for their volcanic activity, and the Sierra Negra volcano has erupted this weekend. Magma has been flowing on the northeastern side of the volcano. No people or wildlife have become endangered as a result of the eruption, but authorities are prepared to evacuate if necessary.

This news report was found through ABC News

Lebanon: Progress in Assassination Case

On February 14, Lebanon's Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, was assassinated. Two brothers, Mahmud and Ahmed Abdel-Al, now have charges pressed against them for participation with the assassination; they are both in custody. Along with Hariri, 20 other people were killed when the bomb exploded. The bomb contained 2,200 pounds or more of explosives. There is also evidence of Syria being involved in the assassination.

This news report was found through CNN

Angola: Country Report

Just a little about Angola:

- Location: Southern Africa

- Population: 11,190,786

- Language: Portuguese is official, other African languages

- Religion: 47% Indigenous, 38% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant

- Ethnic Groups: Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, Bakongo, some European, and other

- Literacy: 66.8%

- Climate/Terrain: Dry and rainy seasons; coastal plains and high plateaus

This information is from The World Factbook

Bangladesh: Country Report

Just a little about Bangladesh:

- Location: South Asia

- Population: 144,319,628

- Language: Bengali (official), English

- Religion: 83% Muslim, 16% Hindu, 1% other

- Ethnic Groups: Mostly Bengali, then other tribal groups and Muslims

- Literacy: 43.1%

- Climate/Terrain: tropical; mild winters, hot humid summers, monsoon season

This information is from The World Factbook

Spain: Country Report

Just a little about Spain:

- Location: Southwest Europe

- Population: 40,341,462

- Language: Mostly Castilian Spanish, other regional languages

- Religion: 94% Roman Catholic, 6% other

- Ethnic Groups: Mediterranean and Nordic

- Literacy: 97.9%

- Climate/Terrain: temperate, plateaus and hills

This information is from The World Factbook

Nepal: Country Report

Just a little about Nepal:

- Location: South Asia

- Population: 27,676,547

- Language: Nepali is most common, used by almost half the population; Maithali, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Magar, Awadhi, and other languages are spoken; English may be used in government and business areas also

- Religion: 80.6% Hindu, 10.7% Buddhist, and others include Muslim, Kirant, and others; Nepal is the only country that is officially Hindu

- Ethnic Groups: Chhettri, Brahman-Hill, Magar, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Muslim, Kami, and others

- Literacy: 45.2%

- Climate/Terrain: North is cooler, south is warmer; plains, hills, mountains (Himalayas)

This information is from The World Factbook

Nepal: Monarchy to Democracy?

It has recently been announced that there will be government elections across the country of Nepal on February 8, 2006.

For almost 10 years Maoist rebels have tried to move Nepal's monarchy to a communist republic. Thousands of people have been killed during this time.

Currently, King Gyanendra is ruling the country. Most of the king's support is in the urban areas of Nepal, even though human rights groups claim the country has worsened since King Gyanendra took power. The king has international pressure to establish democracy in Nepal once again.

This news report was found through BBC News

Togo: Country Report

Just a little about Togo:

- Location: West Africa

- Population: 5,681,519

- Language: French is official, some African languages

- Religion: 51% Indigenous, 29% Christian, 20% Muslim

- Ethnic Groups: Most Native Africans, small percentage European or Syrian-Lebanese

- Literacy: 60.9%

- Climate/Terrain: Tropical/hills and plains

This information is from The World Factbook

Ghana: Country Report

Just a little about Ghana:

- Location: West Africa

- Population: 21,029,853

- Language: English is official, various African dialects

- Religion: Over half is Christian, also present are indigenous religions and Islam

- Ethnic Groups: Mostly Black African, small percentage European or other

- Literacy: 74.8%

- Climate/Terrain: Tropical/plains

The information is from The World Factbook

South Asian Earthquake

On October 8, 2005, there was an earthquake of a 7.6 magnitude in South Asia. The epicenter was in northern Pakistan. There have been at least 23,000 deaths and 50,000 injuries. The four million people affected by the earthquake are in great need. Several countries including Kuwait, the United States, China, Canada, Austrailia, and Japan have all pledged financial help.

This news report was found through BBC News

Fiji: Country Review

Just a little about Figi:

- Location: South Pacific Ocean

- Population: 893,354

- Language: English is official

- Religion: 52% Christian, 38% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 2% other

- Ethnic Groups: 51% Fijian, 44% Indian, others include European, Pacific Islanders, Chinese, and other

- Literacy: 93.7%

- Climate/Terrain: Tropical marine; mountains

This information is from The World Factbook

Yemen: Country Review

Just a little about Yemen:

- Location: Middle East

- Population: 20,727,063

- Language: Arabic

- Religion: Most Muslim, some Jews, Christians, Hindus

- Ethnic Groups: Most Arab, some Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

- Literacy: 50.2%

- Climate/Terrain: Desert; coast, hills, mountains

This information is from The World Factbook

Breaking Ulcer Research

Latest research on ulcers conducted by two Australians won men a Nobel prize in Physiology. For years doctors have believed ulcers were a result of spicy food or emotional stress, and have treated patients for this. However, researchers, Dr. J. Robin Warren and Prof. Barry J. Marshall discovered that ulcers are actually caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. The results of the years of research are that over 90% of stomach ulcers and 80% of upper intestinal ulcers are caused by this bacteria, and the rest is due to too much aspirin or drugs like aspirin.

This news report was found through the Star Tribune

China Celebrates 56 Years of Communist Government

On October 2, Chinese filled Tiananmen Square in Beijing to kick off the weeklong holiday of China's 56 years of Communism in their country. China has been experiencing improvement in their economy for the past 20 years, but some Chinese are gaining much wealth while others are still working hard labor. The government hopes to decrease the gap between these two groups of rich and poor. China only has plans to move forward and hopes to keep getting better.

This news report was found through MSNBC

Haiti: Country Review

Just a little about Haiti:

- Location: Caribbean Sea

- Climate: Tropical

- Terrain: Mountains

- Ethnic Groups: Black (95%), Mulatto and White (5%)

- Religions: Roman Catholic (80%), Protestant (16%), None (1%), Other (3%) *Around half the population uses Voodoo

- Official Languages: French and Creole

- Literacy: 52.9% of the population

- Fertility Rate: 5.02 children per woman

This information is from The World Factbook

Afghanistan: Help for Women

In Kabul, Farzana Samimi hopes to help Afghan women who need to talk out their problems with someone. She is a psychiatrist and has teamed up with another psychiatrist, Dr. Babrak, in hopes to develop a tv show to discuss problems Afghan women face. For the most part, these women cannot open up to anyone to discuss issues weighing on their minds. The women have little freedom to do as they please, and even if a woman visits a psychiatrist she is not able to have long-term treatment. This is a dangerous undertaking for Ms. Samimi, but she presses on to help her fellow women.

This news report was found through BBC News