Health & Science

Wednesday, March 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Dengue panic in Brazil: 19.169 cases and 30 deaths in 2008

Six children have died of the mosquito transmitted disease in the last 24 hours reported Brazilian health authorities from Rio do Janeiro, totaling 30 fatal cases so far this year which is almost the 31registered in the twelve months of 2007.
Thursday, March 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US tightens smog forming ozone pollution controls

The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced this week it was tightening the amount of smog-forming ozone that will be allowed, declaring that the air in hundreds of U.S. counties is too dirty to breathe. But the new lower level, 75 parts per billion (from 80 parts per billion), still is significantly higher than what the agency's scientific advisers had urged.
Wednesday, March 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK battered again as storms return

Areas of Britain that escaped the worst of the storms earlier this week woke up to a battering on Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Yellow fever: first possible death reported in Argentina

A logger is suspected to be the first fatal case of yellow fever in Argentina since the 2007 outbreak in neighboring Paraguay. The man, 39, together with a crew was logging in the northern province of Misiones and according to local sanitary officials had all the symptoms of the mosquito transmitted viral disease.
Monday, March 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
More powerful storms forecasted along west-south England

A powerful storm has hit the western and southern coasts of England and Wales over the weekend, with forecasters warning of more to come. There has been widespread disruption to roads, rail and air travel, while almost 12,000 homes are without power.
Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Andean Indians coca leaves chewing habit in UN controversy

Bolivia and Peru have defended the continued, traditional use of coca leaves which have been chewed by indigenous populations for centuries, after they were criticized by a UN drugs agency report.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina confirms first case of yellow fever in 40 years

A farm worker has become the first person diagnosed in Argentina with yellow fever in forty years since the recent outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease in neighboring Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia, confirmed Argentine Health ministry authorities.
Sunday, March 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK government pledges crackdown on plastic bags

The agency in charge of UK government marketing announced this week that it would stop buying plastic bags for use in promotional campaigns. The announcement followed the publication of figures in The Guardian showing that the government bought nearly 1million plastic bags last year for promotion and marketing purposes.
Friday, February 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Seism shakes north east Brazil causing panic but no victims

A slight tremor with 3.9 Ritcher scale degree intensity, lasting a few seconds, followed by over a hundred low intensity replicas was felt in the Brazilian northeastern state of Ceará, according to Brazilian Civil Defence.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Several Chilean regions facing worst drought in a century

Chile's Agricultural Ministry added this week 46 districts to the growing list of agricultural zones under a state of emergency. The news comes as farmers in small towns in south-central Chile continue to loose crops and livestock due to severe drought, prompting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to call an emergency meeting in order to address the situation.