Health & Science

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 17:33 UTC

  A recent pause in Antarctic Peninsula warming

  

  The rapid warming of the Antarctic Peninsula, which occurred from the early-1950s to the late 1990s, has paused. Stabilisation of the ozone hole along with natural climate variability were significant in bringing about the change. Together these influences have now caused the northern part of the peninsula to enter a temporary cooling phase.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 06:07 UTC

  Brazilian army take to the streets in a display of force in anticipation of the Olympic Games

  

  Brazilian soldiers were on the streets last Saturday, checking out spots around the city that will get intense security when the Rio de Janeiro Olympics open in under four weeks. Armored vehicles and trucks carrying troops were accompanied by soldiers decked out in camouflage gear and matching helmets, with rifles slung over their shoulders. The soldiers covered the city, from Copacabana Beach to the central train station and the renovated port area.

• Saturday, July 9th 2016 - 09:57 UTC

  PAHO/WHO congratulates Uruguay for successfully defending tobacco control policies, “a model for the region”

  

  The Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) congratulated n Friday the Government of Uruguay for winning an international legal case brought by the Philip Morris tobacco company. Philip Morris challenged tobacco control regulations implemented by Uruguay in compliance with its obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the world's first international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO.

• Saturday, July 9th 2016 - 07:26 UTC

  Uruguay wins lead case against Philip Morris over strict anti-tobacco law

  

  Uruguay won on Friday an arbitration case against US tobacco giant Philip Morris, which sued the state claiming its strict anti-tobacco law harmed the cigarette maker's business, both sides said. Philip Morris argued that Uruguay had violated terms of a bilateral investment treaty with Switzerland, where it has its main headquarters.

• Saturday, July 9th 2016 - 06:15 UTC

  International anti tobacco philanthropies hail Uruguay´s legal victory against Philip Morris

  

  In a historic public health victory that will be felt around the world, Uruguay has won an international legal battle against Philip Morris International to uphold its strong laws to reduce tobacco use. The event was underlined by international philanthropies, which also supported Uruguay during the litigation.

• Saturday, July 2nd 2016 - 09:20 UTC

  Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal according to study published in Science

  

  Nearly thirty years after an international treaty banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal. By mid to late century, it should be fully recovered.

• Sunday, June 19th 2016 - 10:08 UTC

  Mate and coffee fine to drink as long as they are not hot beverages, says WHO cancer agency

  

  An international Working Group of 23 scientists convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has evaluated the carcinogenicity of drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages.

• Monday, June 13th 2016 - 17:20 UTC

  Chilean salmon industry controversy over the use of antibiotics

  

  The use of antibiotics in the Chilean salmon industry reached 557 tons in 2015, according to the latest report of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), a figure consolidating the tendency to their intensive use over the past five years.

• Monday, June 13th 2016 - 15:45 UTC

  US and Brazil studies confirm the presence of the “super bacteria” in Rio beaches and lagoons

  

  Scientists have found dangerous drug-resistant “super bacteria” off beaches in Rio de Janeiro that will host Olympic swimming events and in a lagoon where rowing and canoe athletes will compete when the Games start on August 5.

• Tuesday, May 31st 2016 - 06:16 UTC

  World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2016: Get ready for plain packaging

  

  Recent moves to introduce plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products can save lives by reducing demand for tobacco products, say the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat (WHO FCTC).