Pakistan adopts new law to tackle ‘honour killings’
New legislation mandates life imprisonment of “honour” killers – even if victim’s relatives forgive the murderers.
Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
Global life expectancy and health improving
The Global Burden of Disease study, which shows the key drivers of ill health, disability and death in individual countries, found that by 2015, the world population had gained more than a decade of life expectancy since 1980 – rising to 69.0 years in men and 74.8 years in women.
Solar road tiles get their first public test
Solar Roadways’ sunlight-gathering tiles are finding their first use in an Idaho town.
The cost of solar power has fallen 25% in only 5 months
The cost of building solar plants has declined by 25 percent in just five months, according to two recent bids in China and Dubai. The reduction in price follows a broader trend of solar affordability brought on by cheaper solar panels.
Guatemala becomes fourth country in the world to eliminate onchocerciasis, known as ‘river blindness’
Of the six countries in the Americas where transmission of the debilitating disease was present in the 1990s, Guatemala accounted for about 41% of the 568,000 people at risk.
The income gap began to narrow under Obama
In a report released Friday, the president’s Council of Economic Advisers argued that the Obama administration’s policies on taxes, health care and other issues were responsible for a historic achievement in reducing inequality.
Obama sets aside 10 million acres in California for renewable energy and conservation
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell approved Wednesday a plan to set aside 10.8 million acres of public land in the California desert for mostly conservation, with a dash of renewable energy.
Germany unveils world’s first zero emissions hydrogen-powered passenger train
French company Alstom unveiled the first-ever passenger train powered completely by hydrogen at this week’s Berlin InnoTrans trade show.
France becomes first country to ban plastic plates, cutlery
The initiative is one small part of the country’s Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, as lawmakers aim “to make France ¦ an exemplary nation in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying its energy model and increasing the deployment of renewable energy sources.”
U.S. Senate approves $270 million in funding for Flint water crisis
The Senate on Thursday approved legislation to spend $270 million to aid the residents of Flint, Mich., and other poor communities that have suffered from lead-contaminated water, attaching the funds to a broader bill authorizing $9 billion to repair ports, dams, levees and other water infrastructure in 17 states.