world in brief
New science could help solve climate crisis
A new science that seeks to fight climate change using methods like
giant space mirrors might not work on its own, but when combined with
cuts in greenhouse gases it may help reverse global warming, a research
report said.
In the report published on Wednesday, researchers at Britain’s
University of East Anglia assessed the climate cooling potential of
“geoengineering” schemes that also include pumping aerosol into the
atmosphere and fertilising the oceans with nutrients.
LONDON, Reuters
China to provide clean water for 60 mln in 2009
China plans to provide clean water for 60 million people in 2009,
addressing one of the main public health issues facing the vast nation,
state media said Wednesday.
Currently, more than 200 million Chinese do not have access to safe
drinking water, down from 379 million in late 2000, the Xinhua news
agency reported, citing government data.
Rapid economic growth has severely curtailed the availability of
clean water, as industry consumes a large share of the scarce resource
while also being a major source of pollution.
The World Bank urged China earlier this month to raise water prices
to encourage people to use less water and to promote efficiency in a bid
to prevent a “severe water scarcity crisis.” BEIJING, Wednesday, AFP
14-year-old fools Chicago cops and goes on patrol
A 14-year-old boy who fooled Chicago police and spent five hours in a
squad car alongside another police officer who was on traffic patrol has
tried impersonating a cop before, local media said Monday.
Police acknowledged it was a serious security breach and said they
are investigating how the boy managed to check out a radio and ticket
book and how he managed to spend five hours on patrol while escaping
suspicion. They said the boy “looks older than 14” and was wearing a
complete Chicago police uniform except for the badge and gun.
He was discovered when he returned to the station to fill out
paperwork and a sergeant noticed the missing star-shaped badge. “The
senior officer was in full control of the squad car at all times and the
14-year-old never interacted with the public,” assistant superintendent
James Jackson said at a press conference. CHICAGO,
Wednesday, AFP
|
