Bird Flu Re-Emerges in Thai Fowl, Spreads in Vietnam

By Jason Gale and Karima Anjani

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Bird flu resurfaced in Thailand and spread to a seventh Vietnamese province in a fresh wave of poultry outbreaks across Asia.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza killed ducks in a northern Thai province, the first outbreak reported in more than five months in the world's fourth-largest poultry-exporting country. The virus also infected ducks in Vietnam's southern Soc Trang province, after re-emerging in fowl in Japan last week.

The new infections signal a resurgence of outbreaks similar to last year, when the virus spread to more than 30... more

January 11, 2007:

HANOI (XFN-ASIA) - Vietnam today became the 150th member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The country hopes its new status as a signed-up member of the international trading system will accelerate economic growth, an official said.

'It is a very important turning point,' said Le Dang Doanh, a senior economist at the ministry of planning and investment.

'Joining the WTO will mean for Vietnam the start of a new phase of reform. It should lead to very dynamic and hopeful development.... more

This article appeared in the Chicago Tribune yesterday, January 10, 2007.

Foreign-adoption boom is ending

By David Crary, Associated Press; AP writer Audra Ang in Beijing contributed to this report Published January 10, 2007

NEW YORK -- After tripling over the past 15 years, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans dropped sharply in 2006.

The consequences could be profound for the ever-growing numbers of Americans interested in adopting abroad. Already, the hopes of some have been quashed by tightened eligibility rules in China.

Declines were recorded last year in nearly all countries that recently have been the top sources... more