Ramadan begins Saturday in Algeria

ALGIERS- The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadhan of 1430 Hegira year will begin on Saturday 22 August 2009, as Ramadan crescent moon that determines the beginning of a lunar month was not sighted yesterday (Thursday), announced the National Moon-Sighting Committee in session on Tuesday evening at the Religious Affairs and Waqf Ministry's headquarters. The National Moon-Sighting Committee, including sub-committees throughout 48 provinces nationwide, comprises Ulamas (religious scholars) and experts from the Research Centre in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics (CRAAG).

WHO urges international community to prepare for new swine flu wave

Beijing (China)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged on Friday the international community to prepare for a likely second wave of swine flu. "We can not say for certain whether the worst is over or the worst is yet to come," said WHO Head Margaret Chan in a videotaped address at the opening of the three-day meeting on flu in the Asia-Pacific region. "We need to prepare for whatever surprises this capricious new virus delivers next (...) constant random mutation is the survival mechanism of the microbial world," she said.