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The article discusses the risk for a pandemic influenza and how to combat the virus. The avian influenza virus (H5N1) can be transmitted between humans through transmission during the H5N1 reproduction process and being infected simultaneously. World Health Organization conducted a research into the nature and the spreading of the virus as well as provided technical assistance through diagnostics, vaccination and training. INSET: Influenza Pandemics: 'They are Natural Disasters'.

The article focuses on the changing role of women as active participants in the United Nations' (UN) peacekeeping operations. UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations Chief of Engineering Unit Dubravka Marijavonic-Prolic claims that she had seen an increase in the number of female civilian personnel employed by the agency since the adoption of resolution 1325. Since then, the agency has employed full-time gender advisers in ten of 17 UN missions. INSET: WOMEN AT THE UN AND IN PEACEKEEPING.

The article focuses on the concern of the existence of new disease as a result of environmental change in various countries. The author cites an example of deforestation in Malaysia that destroyed the natural habitat of fruit bats that carry pathogenic Nipah virus and another is three cyclones that hit Mozambique that resulted in an increase in malaria. Globalization also played a role in the impact of the ecosystem with the diseases introduced through international trade in plants and animals.

Information about several papers discussed at the event of the United Nations (UN) commemorating the 100th birthday of its second Secretary-General Dag Hammersöold is presented. The event explored the importance of spirituality in the works of the UN system. It was attended by several leaders including President of the sixtieth General Assembly Jan Eliasson of Sweden, UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor, and Co-Chair of the Spiritual Council for Global Challenges Audrey Kitagawa.

The article reflects on hurricanes in relation to climate change and global warming. The author informs that Kerry Emmanuel, a hurricane specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published a paper a month before Hurricane Katrina hit citing that a rise in sea temperature was responsible for stronger and powerful tropical storms than those decades before. She describes actions taken by the UN acknowledging the potential danger of global warming.

The article discusses on a proposal for establishing a standing civilian police capacity and military strategic reserve force for the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The author informs that the proposal is in the process of actualization after UN Member States approved a clause in the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document for its establishment. INSET: Defining Terrorism..