Here is the Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 edition of interesting reads and news from around the world.
Australia Most Obese
Australia has overtaken the US as the world’s most obese nation, according to a study published in Melbourne yesterday. The Baker Heart Institute’s study, entitled Australia’s Future Fat Bomb, found that 26% of adult Australians, or close to 4m people, were obese. Twenty-five percent of Americans are obese. More from the Financial Times.
Most Britons Doubt Humans Cause Climate Change
The majority of the British public is still not convinced that climate change is caused by humans – and many others believe scientists are exaggerating the problem, according to an exclusive poll for The Observer.
Tehran Backing Taliban
The UK Guardian reports that British special forces operating on the border between Afghanistan and Iran have uncovered fresh evidence that Tehran is actively backing insurgents fighting UK troops. The likelihood of an attack on Iran is growing.
Protests in Turkey Ahead of Court Decision on Islamic Party
On Saturday evening, a diverse crowd of several thousand people marched in central Istanbul, blowing whistles, banging drums and carrying round, pink signs that read, “Make Noise Against Coups.” More from the New York Times.
Timor-Leste’s Police Not Ready
Asia Sentinel reports that the United Nations, called in two years ago in the wake of a breakdown of East Timor’s security forces that led to dozens of deaths, appears set to end its training of local police, many of whom are still unfit to be in uniform, leading to fears that carnage will begin again in a country ill-prepared for it.
Flooding in India
Major flooding is devastating large areas of Orissa, Assam and West Bengal in eastern India. More from The Hindu.