Health & Science

• Thursday, April 5th 2012 - 14:48 UTC

  Global deal and tracking system to stem illegal tobacco trade

  

  Negotiators from 135 nations sealed Wednesday a global deal to stem the illegal tobacco trade that could net governments 50 billion dollars more annually in tax revenues, the World Health Organisation said.

• Tuesday, March 27th 2012 - 12:45 UTC

  Foot and mouth disease outbreak in Egypt with new virus strain

  

  FAO warned that urgent action is required to control a major outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and prevent its spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East, which could have serious implications for food security in the region.

• Monday, March 26th 2012 - 09:13 UTC

  Cameron and his “Deepsea Challenger” reach the deepest place in the ocean: 11km

  

  Hollywood director James Cameron has plunged nearly 11km down to the deepest place in the ocean, the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific. He made the descent alone in a prototype submarine called “Deepsea Challenger”, taking around two hours to reach the bottom.

• Sunday, March 25th 2012 - 22:34 UTC

  African swine fever out of control in areas of Russia, admit officials

  

  The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has recently been reported at a hunting farm in Zamurovskoe, Volgograd region in the south of Russia, according to the representatives of the Regional Office of Rosselkhoznadzor.

• Sunday, March 25th 2012 - 10:17 UTC

  Expedition will try to recreate 1916 Shackleton epic in replica of the James Caird

  

  Two Royal Navy servicemen, Warrant Officer Barry 'Baz' Gray of the Royal Marines and Royal Naval Petty Officer Seb Coulthard will form part of a crew of Antarctic adventurers recreating Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1916 epic and extraordinary double mission.

• Thursday, March 22nd 2012 - 21:48 UTC

  World health organization supports Australia in its clash with the tobacco industry

  

  The World Health Organization, WHO, Director-General Margaret Chan urged the world to “stand shoulder to shoulder” against the tobacco industry’s attempts to overturn Australia’s new path breaking tobacco control law.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2012 - 06:57 UTC

  Schmallenberg disease outbreak in Europe: Uruguay bans import of genetic material

  

  Uruguay’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has imposed a transitory ban on all genetic material imports from Europe following the outbreak of the disease Schmallenberg which attacks bovines, sheep, goats and buffalos.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 23:23 UTC

  Philip Morris sues Uruguay cigarette-labeling claiming violation of investment treaty

  

  Measures taken by Uruguay to deter smokers have drawn a legal challenge by one of the world’s largest tobacco companies under a treaty designed to protect foreign investors, according to the Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 22:56 UTC

  US court confirms graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging

  

  United States federal law requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising does not violate the free speech rights of tobacco companies, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 14:42 UTC

  HMS Protector dares ice pack to pick up scientists in remote Antarctic island

  

  The Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol ship HMS Protector had to punch her way through ice to first deliver, then pick up a team of scientists as the pack ice threatened to trap them – and the ship.