Sahel at risk of famine - EU
MILLIONS in West Africa’s arid Sahel belt could face famine this year unless the world acts quickly to help, the European Union’s humanitarian aid arm said recently.

The warning came as Niger confirmed the veracity of a leaked government forecast that half its population will face food shortages this year after a dive in grain production, but said it had enough food stocks to care for the most needy.

Lack of rain contributed to a 26% fall in Niger's 2009/2010 cereal harvest compared to the year before, official data showed. Grains at some local markets are already trading at nearly double their usual levels.

Brian O’Neill, the regional director of EU aid department ECHO, said there are signs of food shortages in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and northern Nigeria as well. Niger confirmed that about half of its population could face severe or moderate malnutrition this year.

US in for global warming control
The US, the world’s top industrial emitter of greenhouse gases, recenty joined other countries in support of the Copenhagen Accord on combating climate change.

Governments were meant to tell the UN by January 31, if they want to be associated with the accord and submit their plans for curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

The accord, falling far short of many countries’ hopes, seeks to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times, with the prospect of an annual $100b in climate aid for the poor from 2020.

Worked out by big emitters led by China and the US, the deal was not formally adopted by the UN summit on December 19 after objections by a few developing nations.

Stonehege sites may vanishTravellers yearning to explore prehistoric Stonehenge or Machu Piccu’s Inca ruins better start packing, as both are on a list of endangered destinations, according to British travel magazine. They have identified eight top travel picks that have been over-exploited.

Most, including the haunting Jordan desert valley of Wadi Rum, which are plagued by tourists, poor planning and shoddy security, the magazine said.

Travellers should avoid Stonehenge, perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric site and a centre for British pagan celebration, unless they wish to see a car park and glimpse the stone monoliths from a disappointingly remote viewing area.

The other sites are Timbuktu in northern Mali, the river town of Yangshuo in China, beachside Tulum in Mexico and Jaisalmer of India.