2024 Disasters in Numbers
<p>In 2024, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 393 natural hazard-related disasters. These events caused 16,753 fatalities and affected 167.2 million people. Economic losses totaled US$241.95
Europe
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Plasticky!
Europe is debating a ban on PVC due to environmental and health concerns. Industry is fighting back with a high profile campaign
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North gets soft options on subsidy cuts
THERE are some in India who believe that the Dunkel Draft (DD) would lead to a reduction of subsidies paid by developed countries to their farmers and this would help agricultural produce exports
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Identity crisis
Rightwing parties provide an illusion of certainty: the one thing that many Europeans reeling under new pressures are hungrily groping for
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Kangaroos in jeopardy
The increasing demand for kangaroo meat threatens this marsupial native to Australia
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The business of environment
IN NOT too distant a future, much of the pep and zing may disappear from environmental campaigns. Business may well reduce a concern for the environment into advertisement copy to burnish its own
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Computers set to conquer language barriers
Computers are poised to make it possible for people to speak to each other in their own languages.
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AIDS drug trial leaves bitter taste behind
AIDS victims the world over are dismayed by the discovery that taking azidothymidine as soon as HIV infection is confirmed does not delay death any further than if they took it after symptoms develop.
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Playing Lego with molecules
Scientists are trying to make designer solids substances whose molecules they assemble according to a predetermined plan
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Depleting cover
Forest cover in Europe is decreasing at an alarming rate, says a new study
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Prefect power
France has 58 million people living in 22 regions, 96 departments (counties) and 36,000 municipalities, varying in population size from 100 to 2 million. Two-thirds of the municipalities have less