Animals, travelling more risk spreading diseases
Late last year, thousands of cattle, sheep and goats in Yemen began to suffer from fevers, vomiting and reduced milk yields. Within weeks 1,800 animals had died, while 7,800 female animals aborted their fetuses. The affliction, Rift Valley Fever, had never been seen outside Africa before.
Uranium waste site provokes anger in New England town
A furor has been sweeping through Europe in recent weeks over fears that exposure to weapons made from depleted uranium metal may have put civilians and soldiers at risk of leukemia and other illnesses. Unknown to many, similar concerns are shaking residents of this historic New England community.
Green California development sees success after long battle
Tom Gray and his partners have taken 8,000 hectares of former ranchlands in the verdant hills above Carmel and are transforming them into what even some hard-core environmentalists are hailing as in inordinately green housing project. Called the Santa Lucia Preserve, only 350 homes are planned for development in the …
Tough law in EU on tobacco nears passage
The European Union, whose 15 member nations make up one of the world's biggest tobacco markets, agreed on a law that will significantly enlarge health warnings on cigarette packs and make them more explicit.
Malaysia to build Borneo power dam
Malaysia has revived plans to build a massive hydroelectric dam in the remote jungles of Borneo, a $2.4 billion project that was shelved during the height of East Asia's economic crisis three years ago. The government decided to build the Bakun dam to its original specifications.
Disease spreads to Northern Ireland
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease spread beyond mainland Britain, as sheep at a farm in Northern Ireland close to the border with the Republic of Ireland was confirmed as having developed the virus.
U.S. Agency backs new diesel curbs
The Bush Administration has decided to let stand regulations that were imposed by President Bill Clinton in an effort to substantially reduce the pollution caused by diesel fuel and engines.
Quake damage was limited by preventive measures, Seattle says
The damage inflicted by the powerful earthquake that struck southwest of Seattle will cost more than $1 billion to repair, officials said, but they marvelled that the millions of dollars put earlier into stabilizing buildings and bridges apparently paid off.
Malaysia to build Borneo power dam
Malaysia has revived plans to build a massive hydroelectric dam in the remote jungles of Borneo, a $2.4 billion project that was shelved during the height of East Asia's economic crisis three years ago. The government decided to build the Bakun dam to its original specifications.
The ultimate surveillance system?
AT&T scientists have developed a constantly updated map that can track people with ultrasound signals as they move through the building of AT&T in Cambridge. It pinpoints their locations within inches, as long as they are wearing a transmitter the size of a key chain.