Brazilian president declares war on mosquitoes carrying Zika virus
President Dilma Rousseff declared war on the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the Zika virus, mobilizing thousands of soldiers and other state personnel to eradicate mosquitoes in residential and business areas. The mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries, with confirmed cases in Australia, Ireland and the U.S. as of Feb. 3. In the U.S., the Centers of Disease Control said a patient in Dallas, Texas, contracted a rare case of the virus through sexual contact. The Zika virus is linked to a rare paralyzing neurological condition, Guillain-Barré syndrome, as well as microcephaly, which causes abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains in infants. Brazil, where the outbreak originated, is the worst-hit country. It is investigating nearly 4,000 cases of infant microcephaly possibly linked to Zika. On Feb. 1, the World Health Organization declared microcephaly an international public health emergency, the same level of concern as the Ebola virus.
Europol says 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children may be missing
The European Union’s police agency said approximately 10,000 unaccompanied children who migrated to Europe may be missing and unaccounted for, based on reports from EU member states, nongovernmental groups and other international groups, according to Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen. Some of the missing minors may be susceptible to exploitation, as the agency’s human trafficking database has flagged the names of suspected migrant smugglers. More than one million migrants from places in the Middle East and North Africa fled to Europe in 2015.
Australian lawmakers allowed to breastfeed in parliament chamber
After recommendation from a parliamentary committee, Australia’s House of Representatives changed a rule to allow Members of Parliament to both bottle feed and breastfeed in the chamber. The new rules state that babies are no longer banned from entering the lower house chamber. Previously, lawmakers had to take their babies into the public galleries or offices in the building to feed them. House Leader Christopher Pyne said, “No member, male or female, will ever be prevented from participating fully in the operation of the parliament by reason of having the care of a baby.” More than a fourth of the 150 members of the House of Representatives are women, and three have had children since March 2015. In addition, four members are expecting children.
Eurozone unemployment lowest in 4 years
Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical agency, reported that the unemployment rate in the eurozone dropped to 10.4 percent in December 2015 from 10.5 percent in November 2015, the lowest rate since September 2011. The Eurozone consists of 19 of the 28 members of the EU: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The number of jobless people in the eurozone decreased by 49,000 to 16.75 million. Youth unemployment decreased 1 percent, as well, to 22 percent. Both Germany and the Czech Republic had the lowest rate at 4.5 percent; however, German authorities said the rate for December 2015 was 6.3 percent, which they calculated using a different method.
Deal reached to protect Canada Great Bear Rainforest
An agreement banning logging in 85 percent of the 12,000-square-mile Great Bear Rainforest, a temperate rainforest located on the Pacific coast of British Columbia, will protect the flora and fauna of the area. The forest is a richly biodiverse region and is home to a rare subspecies of black bear with white fur, called the spirit bear, and the grizzly bear. First Nations, a group of 26 aboriginal tribes, also inhabit the forest. The 26 tribes, five timber firms and several environmental groups agreed on the deal, which protects one of the world’s last and largest temperate forests. The deal also prohibits hunting of grizzly bears within First Nations territory.
France becomes first country to ban food waste in supermarkets
Supermarkets in France are now required to donate unsold food approaching its best-before date to charities and food banks rather than throwing it away or destroying it. The legislation also bans supermarkets from purposefully spoiling food to prevent people from foraging in their garbage bins. The French senate passed the law unanimously after a petition and campaign against food waste, and campaigners are working to implement the legislation across the European Union.
