October 5, 2010. Hungary sludge flood called 'ecological disaster' By BELA SZANDELSZKY, Associated Press Writer
DEVECSER, Hungary – Hungary declared a state of emergency in three counties Tuesday after a flood of toxic red sludge from an alumina plant engulfed several towns and burned people through their clothes. One official called it "an ecological disaster" that may threaten the Danube and other key rivers.

The toll rose to four dead, six missing and at least 120 people injured after a reservoir failed Monday at the Ajkai Timfoldgyar plant in Ajka, a town 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Budapest, the capital.

Several hundred tons of plaster were being poured into the Marcal River to bind the toxic sludge and prevent it from flowing on, the National Disaster Management Directorate said.

So far, about 35.3 million cubic feet (1 million cubic meters) of sludge has leaked from the reservoir, affecting an estimated 15.4 square miles (40 square kilometers), Environmental Affairs State Secretary Zoltan Illes told the state news wire MTI.

Illes called the flood an "ecological catastrophe" and said the sludge could reach the Raba and Danube rivers. He suspended activity at the plant and ordered the company to repair the damaged reservoir.

The disaster agency said 390 residents had to be temporarily relocated and 110 were rescued from the flooded towns, including Kolontal, Devecser and Somlovasarhely. Firefighters and soldiers swept through the region Tuesday carrying out cleanup tasks with bulldozers.

Sunday September 19, 2010. Most dangerous food ingredients
High-Fructose Corn Syrup - The Corn Refiners Association recently asked the FDA in the U.S. to allow high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to be renamed 'corn sugar' for labelling purposes. In Canada, the product is labelled as glucose/fructose and is found in an alarmingly wide array of products, from yogurt to bread to lunch meats. Some scientists say HFCS is more dangerous than regular sugar because it can affect normal appetite and can contain mercury. (Credit: Chris Devers' Flickr photostream

Gluten - Elisabeth Hasselbeck of 'The View' has recently brought widespread attention to the danger gluten can pose to human health. Sufferers of celiac disease have long avoided the substance, which is found in almost any product made from wheat, oats, barley or rye, but now many who don't test positive for the disease are identifying as 'gluten intolerant' and going 'G-Free.' Gastro-intestinal problems are the most common symptom of gluten intolerance. (Credit: aagius' Flickr photostream,)

Food Colouring - While many parents blame sugar for their child's hyperactivity, it may be the food colouring that is to blame. Recent studies suggest that artificial colouring agents found in everything from candy to sausages aggravate attention-deficit disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Several studies have even shown that academic performance increases in schools where artificial ingredients, including colourings, are banned. (Credit: Matthew Bland's Flickr photostream) Nitrates and Nitrites - Many recent studies have linked processed meats to heart disease and cancer and nitrates and nitrites may be the key. Found in hot dogs, bacon, deli meats and other prepared meats, the preservatives can form carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines when heated. These nitrosamines can contribute to the formation of brain cancers and leukemia. (Credit: TheBusyBrain's Flickr photostream)

Flour - Not all flours are bad for you, but the highly refined white flour found in many breads can be bad news for your health. Often produced using chlorine and peroxides, the product emerges without its original nutrients. The body processes the flour as sugar, contributing to the epidemics of obesity and diabetes (Credit: Joana Hard's Flickr photostream) Ractopamine - Approved for use in Canada, ractopamine is a chemical used to make pigs grow more quickly as they approach slaughter. Consequently, levels of the chemical have little time to be processed and can remain at high levels in the eventual product. Ractopamine poses particular danger to those with heart conditions. The product has already been banned by more than 100 countries. (Credit: thekevinchang's Flickr photostream)

BHA and BHT - Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and the related compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are added to foods to help preserve fats and to prevent the foaming of yeast. They are found in butter, chips and even beer. Both compounds have been linked to hyperactivity and to the formation of cancers. (Credit: Vicious Bits' Flickr photostream) Aspartame - Most commonly found in little paper packages, the artificial sweetener is also in a wide variety of other products, such as soft drinks, cereals and even ice cream. While the FDA in the U.S. has ruled the product is safe, critics have claimed its approval was marred by conflicts of interest. In 1996, controversy over the product reached fever pitch after '60 Minutes' aired a report on concerns the sweetener could cause brain tumours. (Credit: Amalthya' Flickr photostream

Monday September 13, 2010. New drug-resistant superbugs found in 3 states
By Marilynn Marchione, The Associated Press BOSTON - U.S. health officials are worried about a new gene that can turn many types of bacteria into superbugs that are able to resist nearly all antibiotics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that patients in three states — California, Massachusetts and Illinois — were infected with different types of bacteria that contain the gene. All had recently been in India, where the problem is thought to be widespread.

Two cases also have turned up in Canada. Doctors described them Monday at an infectious diseases conference in Boston

Thursday April 1, 2010. By Michelle Mcquigge, The Canadian Press TORONTO - Typical Easter weather can be as frosty as the response to a bad April Fools prank, but a senior climatologist said balmy spring forecasts for much of Canada are no joke.

David Phillips of Environment Canada said Thursday that provinces from Ontario to Nova Scotia will experience record-breaking high temperatures throughout the coming long weekend.

And the rest of the country is expected to bask in unseasonably warm and dry conditions for the next three months, he said.

The warm spell will be most pronounced in the eastern part of the country, with temperatures soaring above highs not seen in years, he said.

In Ontario and Quebec, forecasters are expecting temperatures to exceed seasonal norms by as much as 15 to 20 degrees, he added.

"Smashing the records, clobbering it, pulverizing, whatever you want to say ... These are things that you should see two, two-and-a-half months from now," Phillips said in a telephone interview .

Mother Nature will rewrite the record books in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Phillips said, adding that Saskatchewan will also experience milder-than-normal temperatures.

Sunny skies will prevail in Alberta, which Phillips said may come as unwelcome news to the province's farmers who are anxiously awaiting rain .

Temperatures will be far from balmy in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, but Phillips said the northern regions will experience slightly warmer conditions and plenty of sunshine.

Only Manitoba and British Columbia need brace for a damp weekend, Phillips said, adding the picture will soon change.

Environment Canada's early projections paint a sunny picture for the next three months, with all provinces expected to register warmer, dryer conditions from April through June.

Phillips' prognostications came as welcome news to Scot Bateman, operations manager at Toronto's Pilot Tavern which boasts a popular rooftop patio.

The forecast of 25-degree temperatures for Friday prompted the bar to decide to open its doors for the day, he said, adding a long stretch of similar conditions would be welcome news after two successive cool summers .

"Last summer we were saying 'Well, at least it can't be as bad as the summer before,' and we were wrong - it was worse," Bateman said.

But beach-worthy conditions have a dark side too, Phillips said.

"Warm and dry creates all kinds of issues, from air quality to drought to forest fires to bugs and diseases and water levels. You name it," Phillips said. "It counters drinking beer and outdoor patios.".

An ideal summer would strike a balance between sun and rain, Phillips said, adding some precipitation is necessary to ward off forest fires and ensure healthy crop growth.

Environment Canada's early spring projections come a day after it reported record-low snowfall through March. The streets in traditional Ontario snow belts such as Ottawa and London were devoid of snow last month.

Only 1.4 centimetres of snow fell in Montreal, setting a new record low, while Calgary and Edmonton posted their second and third lowest monthly snowfall numbers, respectively.

Phillips attributed the unusually dry conditions to the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.

Fri. March 31, 2010.·Saudi Arabian officials charged a man for practicing witch craft; he is to be executed by beheading.

Fri. March 12, 2010.· Tropical Storm Hubert kills 10, affects 32,000 in Madagascar, disaster officials say The Canadian Press - 45 minutes ago.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar - Madagascar's disaster officials say at least 10 people have died and 32,000 have been affected by Tropical Storm Hubert.

The storm hit the southeast coast of the Indian Ocean island nation on Wednesday. Madagascar's National Office for Disaster Preparedness said Friday that many homes have been destroyed by flooding.

Madagascar lies off the southeastern coast of Africa and is in the main storm path of the Indian Ocean basin.

It normally has three or four major cyclones each year. Fame, Ivan and Jokwe killed more than 100 in Madagascar in 2008 and affected 300,000 others.

Saturday February 27, 2010.Talka, Chile. One of the biggest earthquakes ever recorded sent tsunami across the Pacific Ocean, tore power lines, twisted roads and highways, tore buildings, and tossed vehicles all over the place. Looters hit the stores, homes, banks, and everything else they could find.