Chinese scientists rush to climate-proof potatoes
YANQING, CHINA — In a research facility in the northwest of Beijing, molecular biologist Li Jieping and his team harvest a cluster of seven unusually small potatoes, one as tiny as
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Alarm over high rate of HIV infections among young women, girls
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N.’s children’s fund raised the alarm on Friday over the high rate of new HIV infections among young women and girls, warning they lacked access to prevention
Read MoreSunFed recalls cucumbers in US, Canada due to potential salmonella
Cucumbers shipped to 13 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces have been recalled because of potential salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said this week. SunFed Produce, based in
Read MoreSome Zimbabwean farmers turn to maggots to survive drought and thrive
NYANGAMBE, ZIMBABWE — At first, the suggestion to try farming maggots spooked Mari Choumumba and other farmers in Nyangambe, a region in southeastern Zimbabwe where drought wiped out the staple crop
Read MoreWHO wants bird flu surveillance stepped up
geneva — The World Health Organization on Thursday urged countries to step up surveillance for bird flu after the first case was detected in a child in the United States. A
Read MoreKenyan clinics provide health care to truck drivers, sex workers
A clinic initiative in Kenya aims to provide health care to vulnerable mobile populations such as truck drivers and commercial sex workers. The goal is to combat the spread of
Read MoreHIV activist to use Charlize Theron’s Instagram for a day
Geneva, Switzerland — A young South African activist living with HIV will take over Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron’s Instagram account on World AIDS Day, the United Nations said Thursday. Ibanomonde Ngema,
Read MoreTrump picks vaccine skeptic to lead top US public health department
President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy disagrees with much of the scientific community
Read MoreUNAIDS: upholding human rights essential for ending AIDS
HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, the U.N. has released a report saying that upholding human rights is essential for ending the AIDS pandemic. The report
Read MoreCourt agrees with ban on medical marijuana advertising in Mississippi
JACKSON, Mississippi — Medical marijuana businesses in the southern U.S. state of Mississippi don’t have the right to advertise on billboards or other places because marijuana itself remains illegal under federal
Read More$300B COP29 climate deal sparks outrage, hope
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — Anger and frustration from developing nations vulnerable to climate impacts are likely to linger following the conclusion of the climate change summit in Azerbaijan, COP29, as nations adopted
Read MoreCountries remain divided as fifth UN plastics treaty talks begin
As delegates from 175 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, on Monday for the fifth round of talks aimed at securing an international treaty to curb plastic pollution, lingering divisions
Read MoreEarth bids farewell to its temporary ‘mini moon’ that is possibly a chunk of our actual moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Planet Earth is parting company with an asteroid that’s been tagging along as a “mini moon” for the past two months. The harmless space rock will peel
Read MoreAs fast fashion’s waste pollutes environment, Ghana designers find a solution
ACCRA, Ghana — In a sprawling secondhand clothing market in Ghana’s capital, early morning shoppers jostle as they search through piles of garments, eager to pluck a bargain or a designer
Read MorePeople on breathing machines struggle without power after weather disasters
HOUSTON — Kimberly Rubit had one priority in mind as Hurricane Beryl ripped through Houston this summer: her severely disabled daughter. The 63-year-old worked nonstop to prevent Mary, 42, from overheating
Read MoreNations at UN climate talks agree on $300B a year for poor countries
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — United Nations climate talks adopted a deal to inject at least $300 billion annually in humanity’s fight against climate change, aimed at helping poor nations cope with the
Read MoreUN talks in disarray as developing nations reject climate cash rough draft
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — As nerves frayed and the clock ticked, negotiators from rich and poor nations were huddled in one room Saturday during overtime United Nations climate talks to try to
Read MoreAt UN climate talks, ‘sewage’ beer from Singapore highlights water scarcity and innovations
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — In the sprawling pavilion section of the United Nations climate talks, where countries, nonprofits and tech companies use big, flashy signs to get the attention of the thousands
Read MoreMpox still a health emergency, says WHO
london — The mpox outbreak continues to represent a public health emergency, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The WHO first declared the emergency in August, when an outbreak of
Read MoreCOP29 climate summit enters overtime as $250 billion deal stalls
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — The COP29 climate summit ran into overtime on Friday after a draft deal that proposed developed nations take the lead in providing $250 billion per year by 2035
Read MoreKabul residents queue up for hours to collect water
Kabul residents are struggling with severe water shortages, often waiting hours at the Afghan capital’s dwindling wells for drinking water. The United Nations cautions that urbanization and climate change could
Read MoreFeds outline ‘necessary steps’ for Colorado River agreement by 2026
LAS VEGAS — Federal water officials made public on Wednesday what they called “necessary steps” for seven states and multiple tribes that use Colorado River water and hydropower to meet an
Read MoreClimate change boosted hurricane wind strength by 29 kph since 2019, study says
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Human-caused climate change made Atlantic hurricanes about 29 kilometers per hour (18 miles per hour) stronger in the last six years, a new scientific study found Wednesday. For
Read MoreDark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say
NEW YORK — Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought. Astronomers know that the universe is being
Read MoreJudge strikes down Wyoming abortion ban, including explicit ban on pills
CHEYENNE, Wyoming — A state judge on Monday struck down Wyoming’s overall ban on abortion and its first-in-the-nation explicit prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy. Since 2022, Teton
Read MoreCalifornia reports possible bird flu case in child
California’s public health department reported a possible case of bird flu in a child with mild respiratory symptoms on Tuesday, but said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of
Read MoreSlow progress on climate finance fuels anger as COP29 winds down
London — As the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan enters its final days, there are growing frustrations over the apparent lack of progress toward securing a deal on climate finance,
Read MoreUrban mosquito sparks malaria surge in East Africa
NAIROBI, KENYA — The spread of a mosquito in East Africa that thrives in urban areas and is immune to insecticide is fueling a surge in malaria that could reverse decades
Read MoreZimbabwe urged to put money into cancer treatment services
Cancer patients and advocates are urging authorities in Zimbabwe to ensure cancer centers have lifesaving equipment needed to properly treat patients. Some patients say public hospitals do not have working
Read MorePoland urges polio vaccinations for children after virus detected in sewage in Warsaw
warsaw, poland — Poland’s health authorities on Monday urged polio vaccinations for children after the virus was detected in Warsaw’s sewage during regular tests this month. The state Main Sanitary Inspectorate
Read MoreNegotiators urged to get down to business as climate talks in Baku enter second week
BAKU, Azerbaijan — United Nations climate talks resumed Monday with negotiators urged to make progress on a stalled-out deal that could see developing countries get more money to spend on clean
Read MoreNew York City children learn gardening to build healthier habits
In New York City, where some communities have limited access to fresh produce, a unique classroom program is teaching students how to grow their own food and improve their eating
Read MoreWorld Bank helps Malawi’s poorest tackle climate shocks
The World Bank is helping Malawi’s vulnerable communities address the impact of the climate-related disasters, such as cyclones and drought, that the country has been facing since 2022. Participants say
Read MoreHealth officials report first case of new form of mpox in US
NEW YORK — Health officials said Saturday they have confirmed the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo. The person had traveled
Read MoreTrump chooses oil industry executive as energy secretary
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, the founder of an oilfield services company, to lead the Energy Department, as his new administration continues to take shape. The transition
Read MoreG20 Social discusses goal of lifting 600 million people out of poverty by 2030
RIO DE JANEIRO — As Brazil prepares to welcome leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies for the Group of 20 summit, another event is taking place in Rio de Janeiro,
Read MoreProtesters gather at UN climate talks in ‘global day of action’
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — Hundreds of activists formed a human chain outside one of the main plenary halls at the United Nations climate summit on what is traditionally their biggest protest day
Read MoreUN climate chief urges G20 action to untangle COP29 talks
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — The United Nation’s climate chief urged G20 nations on Saturday to push COP29 negotiations toward a deal to raise money for developing nations, warning there was a “long
Read MoreWild deer population boom has some in England promoting venison to consumers
WINCHESTER, England — In the half-light of dusk, Martin Edwards surveys the shadows of the ancient woodland from a high seat and waits. He sits still, watching with his thermal camera.
Read MoreMany long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on
LONDON — There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic attacks and other
Read MoreShanghai, Tokyo, New York, Houston spew most greenhouse gas of world cities
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Cities in Asia and the United States emit the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change, with Shanghai the most polluting, according to new data that combines observations
Read MoreAustralia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular, problematic
MELBOURNE, Australia — How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult. The
Read MorePacific atolls face risk from rising seas
A study by the World Bank on Thursday said urgent action is needed to address rising sea levels in the Pacific atoll islands of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu,
Read MoreWHO links forced Afghan repatriation from Pakistan to polio resurgence
Islamabad — The World Health Organization has labeled a forced repatriation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan as a “major setback” for polio eradication efforts, contributing to the regional resurgence of the
Read MoreFor 3rd straight year, no improvement in Earth’s projected warming
BAKU, Azerbaijan — For the third straight year, efforts to fight climate change haven’t lowered projections for how hot the world is likely to get — and recent developments in China
Read MoreWorld’s largest coral discovered in Solomon Islands
Washington — National Geographic scientists say they’ve discovered the world’s largest coral near the remote Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean — an undersea mass that is so big, it can
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