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- Parent Category: Natural world
- Category: Conservation and protection
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Paris climate agreement to take effect Nov. 4
By MICHAEL ASTOR
October 5, 2016
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The landmark Paris agreement on climate change will enter into force on Nov. 4, after a coalition of the world's largest polluters and small island nations threatened by rising seas pushed it past a key threshold on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama hailed the news as "a turning point for our planet," and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the agreement's strong international support a "testament for the urgency of action." Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech, called it: "A moment of bright hope in the increasingly discouraging landscape of climate science."
By MICHAEL ASTOR
October 5, 2016
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The landmark Paris agreement on climate change will enter into force on Nov. 4, after a coalition of the world's largest polluters and small island nations threatened by rising seas pushed it past a key threshold on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama hailed the news as "a turning point for our planet," and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the agreement's strong international support a "testament for the urgency of action." Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech, called it: "A moment of bright hope in the increasingly discouraging landscape of climate science."
Read more: Paris climate agreement to take effect Nov. 4
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- Parent Category: Natural world
- Category: Animals and humans
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EU court nixes cosmetics tested on animals outside Europe
21 September 2016
Brussels (ANSA) - The European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that cosmetics tested on animals outside the EU can legitimately be banned from being imported and sold within the Union.
An EU law forbidding the cosmetics industry from engaging in animal testing, as well as the sale of such cosmetics, went into effect March 11, 2013. The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI) had petitioned the British judge sitting on the EU court to decide whether three of its members - who tested their products on animals in labs outside the EU for sale in China and Japan - are liable to sanctions if they try to put those same products on the market in Britain.
21 September 2016
Brussels (ANSA) - The European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that cosmetics tested on animals outside the EU can legitimately be banned from being imported and sold within the Union.
An EU law forbidding the cosmetics industry from engaging in animal testing, as well as the sale of such cosmetics, went into effect March 11, 2013. The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI) had petitioned the British judge sitting on the EU court to decide whether three of its members - who tested their products on animals in labs outside the EU for sale in China and Japan - are liable to sanctions if they try to put those same products on the market in Britain.
Read more: EU court nixes cosmetics tested on animals outside Europe
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- Parent Category: Entertainment
- Category: Theme parks and sports
- Hits: 117
Tokyo elects 1st female governor to lead city into Olympics
By YURI KAGEYAMA
31 July 2016
Yuriko Koike is leading the organising committee for the 2020 Olympics. (Source: Reuters)
TOKYO (AP) -- Tokyo on Sunday elected its first female governor to lead the city as it prepares to host the 2020 Olympics, as voters turned to a leader promising clean politics after two predecessors resigned over money scandals.
Yuriko Koike was announced the winner by Japanese media as soon as voting ended, based on her definitive lead in exit polls. She will take charge of a sprawling metropolis with a population of more than 13 million and an annual budget bigger than Sweden's. "I am pushing for a Tokyo where people's lives will be better, and everyone can shine - men and women, children and adults, the elderly and the disabled," Koike said, appearing at her campaign office, bowing deeply and waving to cheering supporters.
By YURI KAGEYAMA
31 July 2016
Yuriko Koike is leading the organising committee for the 2020 Olympics. (Source: Reuters)
TOKYO (AP) -- Tokyo on Sunday elected its first female governor to lead the city as it prepares to host the 2020 Olympics, as voters turned to a leader promising clean politics after two predecessors resigned over money scandals.
Yuriko Koike was announced the winner by Japanese media as soon as voting ended, based on her definitive lead in exit polls. She will take charge of a sprawling metropolis with a population of more than 13 million and an annual budget bigger than Sweden's. "I am pushing for a Tokyo where people's lives will be better, and everyone can shine - men and women, children and adults, the elderly and the disabled," Koike said, appearing at her campaign office, bowing deeply and waving to cheering supporters.
Read more: Tokyo elects 1st female governor to lead city into Olympics
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- Parent Category: Personal
- Category: Mind and body
- Hits: 103
Italian-born fencer joins Brazil to fulfill grandma's dream
By TALES AZZONI
31 July 2016
SAO PAULO (AP) -- Italian-born fencer Nathalie Moellhausen grew up hearing her Brazilian grandmother talk about Brazil.
She rejoiced every time "Grandma Marcelita" picked up the guitar and played Brazilian songs around the house. It was because of her that Moellhausen learned to love Brazil. And now, to fulfill a dream of her 82-year-old grandmother, Marcela Farotti, Moellhausen will be competing for the hosts at the Rio de Janeiro Games. "Brazil means everything to her, and she wanted me to do this for the country," Moellhausen said. "She said it would be good to do something like this for a place that we love so much. So when the opportunity came, I decided to make the switch."
By TALES AZZONI
31 July 2016
SAO PAULO (AP) -- Italian-born fencer Nathalie Moellhausen grew up hearing her Brazilian grandmother talk about Brazil.
She rejoiced every time "Grandma Marcelita" picked up the guitar and played Brazilian songs around the house. It was because of her that Moellhausen learned to love Brazil. And now, to fulfill a dream of her 82-year-old grandmother, Marcela Farotti, Moellhausen will be competing for the hosts at the Rio de Janeiro Games. "Brazil means everything to her, and she wanted me to do this for the country," Moellhausen said. "She said it would be good to do something like this for a place that we love so much. So when the opportunity came, I decided to make the switch."
Read more: Italian-born fencer joins Brazil to fulfill grandma's dream
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- Parent Category: Personal
- Category: Mind and body
- Hits: 93
Belgian decathlete overcomes cancer to get to Rio Olympics
By RAF CASERT
31 July 2016
AMSTERDAM (AP) -- At the lowest point, when chemotherapy had turned Thomas Van der Plaetsen bald and weak at 23, even his brother, coach and biggest fan, Michael, thought chances for a comeback were minuscule. Now, barely a year and a half later, he is heading to the Rio Olympics as the European decathlon champion - and with a full head of hair.
Failing to get close to the medal stand at the Olympics won't feel anything like losing gold. Just being back among the best, participating in the 10-event competition that crowns the "world's greatest athlete," is already his biggest victory of all. "It was a long road back," the Belgian said. "If I can reach and convince only one person to stay positive in such a situation, I will take that as a victory."
By RAF CASERT
31 July 2016
AMSTERDAM (AP) -- At the lowest point, when chemotherapy had turned Thomas Van der Plaetsen bald and weak at 23, even his brother, coach and biggest fan, Michael, thought chances for a comeback were minuscule. Now, barely a year and a half later, he is heading to the Rio Olympics as the European decathlon champion - and with a full head of hair.
Failing to get close to the medal stand at the Olympics won't feel anything like losing gold. Just being back among the best, participating in the 10-event competition that crowns the "world's greatest athlete," is already his biggest victory of all. "It was a long road back," the Belgian said. "If I can reach and convince only one person to stay positive in such a situation, I will take that as a victory."
Read more: Belgian decathlete overcomes cancer to get to Rio Olympics
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- Parent Category: Natural world
- Category: Conservation and protection
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The end of the rat race? New Zealand aims to become rat free
By NICK PERRY
25 July 2016
Minister Steven Joyce, Prime Minister John Key and Minister Maggie Barry get up close with the fauna at Zealandia, after announcing a target to make New Zealand pest-free by 2050. KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Their abilities to travel, multiply and spread disease have always made rats one of mankind's greatest pests.
New Zealand says it's time to wipe them out. Every last one of them. Prime Minister John Key on Monday announced an ambitious plan to completely rid the South Pacific nation of rats and some other nuisance animals, including possums and stoats, by the year 2050.
The government is hoping a rat-free countryside will give a boost to native birds, including the iconic kiwi. Many bird species are threatened with extinction because rats and other pests feast on their eggs and compete with them for food. New Zealand is hoping to build on its success in eradicating rats from several of its smaller islands.
By NICK PERRY
25 July 2016
Minister Steven Joyce, Prime Minister John Key and Minister Maggie Barry get up close with the fauna at Zealandia, after announcing a target to make New Zealand pest-free by 2050. KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Their abilities to travel, multiply and spread disease have always made rats one of mankind's greatest pests.
New Zealand says it's time to wipe them out. Every last one of them. Prime Minister John Key on Monday announced an ambitious plan to completely rid the South Pacific nation of rats and some other nuisance animals, including possums and stoats, by the year 2050.
The government is hoping a rat-free countryside will give a boost to native birds, including the iconic kiwi. Many bird species are threatened with extinction because rats and other pests feast on their eggs and compete with them for food. New Zealand is hoping to build on its success in eradicating rats from several of its smaller islands.
Read more: The end of the rat race? New Zealand aims to become rat free
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