HIV Drops in India
The prevalence of new H.I.V. infections has fallen significantly in southern India, the region most heavily infected. The decline by more than a third from 2000 through 2004 was attributed to increasing use of condoms. — Lancet, 06/3/31
NY Subway Crime Dips to Lowest Rate in 37 Years
New York subway crime has plummeted more than 37 percent in 2006. That's on top of the decrease in 2005 of about 5.5 percent. Robberies were down 21 percent in 2006. Grand larcenies declined 46 percent and assaults fell 55 percent, NYPD data showed.
EU Pledges $1.2 Billion to Fight Ebola
European leaders agreed to a $1.26 Billion funding boost for the fight against Ebola in West Africa. (VOA)
Coral More Resilient Than First Thought, Australian Scientists Find
Australian scientists studying the ocean have found that coral is more resilient than first thought, and has the ability to deal with increasing temperature. - ABC News
Decrease of American Women Smoking
For the first time in 40 years, less than 20 percent of women smoke (one third of women smoked in 1965). Wanna quit? Free help line (800) 784-8669.
Antibiotic Use in Children has Dropped
The number of children taking antibiotics has decreased over the past decade with fewer unnecessary prescriptions being written in every age group, according to a study in the March 2014 Pediatrics that examined the years 2000-2010. - American Academy of Pediatrics
Tunnel To Towers Run Celebrates Heroes Of 9/11 (Video)
In celebration of the heroes from September 11, 2001, "The Tunnel To Towers Run" follows the path Stephen Siller and other first responders took on 9/11 as they raced toward Ground Zero. What started in 2002 with 2,500 runners has grown to 15,000 participators, raising more than $4 million for charity.
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Rainforest destruction cut by 25%
Destruction of the world's rain forests has declined by 25 percent in the three most important regions -- the Amazon, the Congo and the Borneo Mekong -- during the last decade, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
US Gun Crime Plunges Over Last Two Decades
Mirroring the fall generally in violent crime, gun homicides and crimes involving guns have fallen sharply over the last two decades in the United States -- down 39 percent since 1993, reports the Justice Department. (Reuters)
Encouraging Rise in UK Paper Collections
A new study revealed that the UK collected over 8.6 million tons of recovered paper last year, a big jump over the previous year and an increase of 7.5%. The rise mirrors the growth reported in both 2005 (8.7%) and 2004 (12.8%).
AIDS Deaths Down in 2007
The number of AIDS deaths worldwide dropped 10 percent in 2007, as did the number of new infections in children, because of increasing access to treatment, the United Nations reported. Prevention efforts like condom use and education tripled in some countries. (2008/07/29)
Coral Reef Discovered
A new coral reef was discovered off the Thai coast, which is home to over 30 types of hard corals and at least 112 species of fish, including a parrot fish never seen in Thailand until now — and as a rare species of sweet lips. It's an area of 1.4 square miles, 270 hectares, and scientists call it "spectacular."
Underage and Binge Drinking in US is Drying Up
Today’s youth are smarter about alcohol, says a 2017 study of 30,000 American high school students annually. The number who reported drinking in the last 30 days declined by 18%; while binge drinking dropped by 14% over a 15-year period.
Salmon Rebound on Columbia River Results in Record Fall Run
The 2013 chinook salmon run on the Columbia River is the largest ever, and could hit 1 million fish, following years of court-ordered actions to make the 14 dams in the Columbia Basin less lethal to fish. -AP
Canadian Smoking Rate is Lowest Ever
A national survey has found that the smoking rate among Canadians is at an all-time low, at 15 percent of the population. (The Star)
Gamestop Raises $2.8Mil for St. Jude’s Hospital Charity Drive
During Gamestop's 3rd annual fundraiser for children suffering from extreme illnesses at St. Jude's hospital, customers donated $2.8 million dollars in December, exceeding the gaming store’s original goal of $1 million. (Gamestop)
U.K. Renewable Electricity Generation Rose 28 Percent in 2013
According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, renewable power generation in the U.K. rose 28 percent in 2013 as more wind farms and solar plants came online. (Bloomberg)
Shanghai Carbon Emission Market Cut 5Mil Tons of CO2
200 firms in Shanghai's carbon emissions trading scheme cut their CO2 output by 5.3 million tons in 2013, according to state-owned media in China.
Chesapeake Bay’s Grasses are Renewing
Grasses in the Chesapeake Bay are rebounding, covering double the acreage they did in 1984. In 2005, grasses, a key component of the bay's health, inhabited 78,260 acres, 7 percent more coverage than in 2004. Efforts to control Nitrogen must be redoubled to reach scientists' goals of 185,000 acres in 2010.
Atlantic Hurricane Season Quietest in 45 years
So far, the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season has been one of the weakest since modern record-keeping began about half a century ago, marking the first time in 45 years that the strongest storm to form was just a minor Category 1 hurricane. -Global Post