Health & Science
Health & ScienceBan challenge with stark new warning on climate change
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has challenged the world's policymakers to start devising a comprehensive deal for tackling climate change at next month's summit in Bali, Indonesia, after a United Nations report released today found that global warming is unequivocal and could cause irreversible damage to the planet.
Major 7.7 quake rocks North Chile and is felt in Peru and Bolivia
A major earthquake struck northern Chile on Wednesday, toppling power lines, closing roads and sending terrified residents into the streets. The first reports from the area indicate that two people were killed and dozens injured. However copper smelting in the world's largest mining area resumed a few hours later. The quake was also felt in the capital Santiago as well as neighboring Peru and Bolivia.
UN sponsored climate change conference takes off in Valencia
Government officials and scientists from around the world are gathered in Valencia, Spain, for a United Nations conference that will culminate with the release later this week of a seminal report on addressing the impacts of climate change.
EU approves plan to cut airlines greenhouse gases
The European Parliament voted Tuesday to include airlines in the EU strategy to cut greenhouse gases, giving all carriers flying within or into the 27-nation bloc until 2011 to offset some of their emissions by buying carbon dioxide allowances on the open market.
Latest UK avian flu outbreak is virulent H5N1 strain
The type of bird flu found in turkeys on an English farm is the virulent H5N1 strain, according to UK government veterinarians. The virus was discovered on Sunday at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, Suffolk where all 6,500 birds, most of them turkeys, are being slaughtered.
UN urges basic sanitation for 40% of world population
In anticipation of the International Year of Sanitation in 2008 and with more than 2.6 billion people – 40% of the world's population – lacking access to toilets and other sanitation facilities, the head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme has urged governments to adopt low-cost technology to ensure adequate sanitation for all.
High ozone levels over Santiago linked to pneumonia rates
Recent Chilean Health Ministry study found ozone levels in the northeast parts of greater Santiago higher than normal during 180 days this year. The study also linked the high levels of ozone in Santiago's atmosphere with increased rates of pneumonia.
Citizens willing to accept sacrifices to curb climate change
Canadians are among the world's leaders in being prepared to accept potential lifestyle changes and higher taxes in order to address climate change, according to a new poll released Monday.
Heated controversy in Chile over the “morning after pill”
Chile's National Association of Pharmaceutical Chains (Anacaf) met with Chile's Health Ministry (Minsal) this week to discuss fines imposed on those pharmacies that have refused to dispense emergency contraceptives to customers.
Week of rain leaves a million homeless in Southern Mexico
Massive flooding from a week of rain has forced hundreds of thousands of people in the Mexican state of Tabasco to abandon their homes and seek shelter from the muddy waters that on Friday covered an estimated 80% of this southeast Gulf state.
