The United Nations warned of a possible major resurgence of bird flu and said a mutant strain of the H5N1 virus was spreading in Asia and elsewhere.

Italy's economy minister announced plans on Thursday to set up a supervisory authority for the water sector, which the government is reforming via public tenders of water service concessions.

To boost competition and draw private investors to the water sector, which needs at least 60 billion euros ($89 billion), Italy is obliging local authorities to tender water service concessions from 2011.