News Briefs 12/4/08

Fairfield
University takes part in AIDS Awareness Week

The FACE AIDS chapter of Fairfield University participated in the global AIDS Awareness Week, which took place from Dec. 1-Dec. 5. The chapter planned a series of events throughout the week in order to spread a consciousness of the global impact of HIV and AIDS.

In addition to selling pins which show AIDS awareness and a Thursday night showing of AIDS documentary ‘A Closer Walk,: FACE AIDS hosted Fairfield alumus Marco Ambrosio ’07 Wednesday night. According to a University press release, Ambrosio planned a public lecture and slide presentation on ‘Rwanda: From Genocide to Hope,’ documenting his own studies of the AIDS epidemic.

National

Government panel predicts biological terrorist attack by 2013

A blue-ribbon panel compiled by Congress recently announced its conclusion that a terrorist attack with the use of a weapon of mass destruction will occur sometime in the next five years, according to a CNN report. The panel believes the weapons used will be biological rather than nuclear.

The report states that not only would a biological attack would consequence in ten times more casualties than a nuclear attack, it is also easier to carry out because of the availability of biological weapons. However, the panel also said that the development of nuclear weapons is increasing worldwide, so there is still a threat of a nuclear terrorist attack.

International

New details emerge on Mumbai terrorist attacks

As investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks in India last week continue, the New York Times reported that Indian police have said the attackers all came by ship from the Pakistani port of Karachi. This is the first direct link of the attacks to Pakistan.

The attacks, which left 173 people dead, were carried out by 10 attackers, all of whom are thought to be linked to the militant Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to the article, one of the captured gunmen admitted to being a member of the group; no mastermind behind the attacks has been determined thus far.’