Enterprise Rent-A-Car Adds Biodiesel Cars to Fleet
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has added five biodiesel vehicles to its Portland fleet, testing customer demand for environmentally friendly rentals. The Jeep Liberties come filled with bio-fuel and can be refilled at four local stations or with regular diesel.
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China Sees Big Drop in Carbon Emissions
China cut its carbon emissions by 5 percent in the first half of 2014 - the largest drop in years, said the country's premier, Li Keqiang. (Xinhua)
Abortion Rate at 30-Year Low
The U.S. abortion rate has reached a 30-year-low. In 2005 a survey of abortion providers showed the rate was lower than the number of abortions in 1975, which was just two years after Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. The results revealed an eight percent drop in totals from 2000 to 2005. -Alan Guttmacher Institute
No U.S. Forces Die in Afghanistan, First Month in Years
No U.S. military forces died in Afghanistan during the month of March, marking the first such month in more than seven years and the third time since the war began more than 12 years ago, according to the CNN Library, which tallies the casualties.
Iran to Appoint Female Ambassador
Iran is set to promote its Foreign Ministry spokeswoman to be the first female ambassador abroad since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. (Telegraph)
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)
Connecticut Became 14th US State to Ban Civil Forfeiture
With unanimous votes in the House and Senate, Connecticut became the 14th US state to ban civil forfeiture of cash or property without a criminal conviction. (Forbes)
Colombian Cocaine Production Plummets (Link fixed)
Production of pure cocaine in Colombia decreased by 25 percent in 2011 capping off a decade of decline during which the potential for production had dropped by 72 percent, according a U.S. government survey of drug production released yesterday. -AP
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.
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.
Signs of Coral Recovery for the Great Barrier Reef
Queensland scientists say baby corals are blooming again on the Great Barrier Reef, both in some of the shallows and also deeper areas, say scientists, which demonstrates the ability to bounce back after multiple impacts. (ABC)
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%).
Random House Ups Recycled Paper Usage
Leading U.S. publisher Random House will use more recycled paper in its books — up to 30 percent from its current 3 percent — and preserve more than 550,000 trees a year. By 2010 nearly a third of the uncoated paper used will be recycled and at least 10 percent for glossy paper within two years.
Organic Cotton Sales Double
According to the Organic Farm and Fiber Report 2007, organic cotton sales rose 53 per cent in a two-year period, driven by demand from the clothing and home product industries.
Germany Elects First Jewish Mayor Since Holocaust
For the first time since the Second World War, a Jew has been elected as mayor of a major German city. The voters of Frankfurt (a city with a 1% Jewish population) this week elected Peter Feldmann its second Jewish mayor -- the first since Ludwig Landmann was pushed out of office when Hitler rose to power in 1933.
Stunning Millenium Goal Progress on Educating Children
Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of increasing the number of children attending primary school -- adding 37 million kids to school rolls, an increase of 35 percent. - NY Times
US Helps to Relieve Afghan Hunger Caused by 2011 Draught
The U.S. is helping to alleviate hunger in Afghanistan through its Food for Peace program, a program originally started during the Eisenhower administration. A $40 million donation was used to purchase wheat from Kazakhstan for distribution in 14 affected Afghan provinces. (Food For Peace)
Smoking Falls to Lowest Level in UK Since 1940s
The proportion of adults smoking in the UK has declined to its lowest level since recording started in the 1940s. (Guardian)
Eastern Congo Rebel Group Lays Down Arms in Defeat
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the defeated M23 rebel group, whose bloody insurgency displaced 800,000 people, announced it is ending its attacks, laying down its arms and signing a peace deal with the government on Monday. - Reuters
Domestic Violence Plummets in U.S.
Domestic violence against spouses and intimate partners in the U.S. fell by nearly two-thirds in recent years, reaching a 30-year low. Government figures show the marked declines began in 1994.