International

"Four times in the past century, a new strain of flu has emerged that can spread quickly in humans. One of those strains, which emerged in 1918, killed an estimated 50 million people."

"Athletes completing their final pre-Olympics training, and members of the public gathering in London for the final stages of the Olympic torchrelay, have been warned of high levels of pollution in the UK capital on Thursday, ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday night."

"Radioactive strontium-90 from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has been detected for the first time in 10 prefectures outside Miyagi and Fukushima, the science ministry said July 24."

"Secret files reveal the German maker of thalidomide ignored and covered up repeated warnings that its drug could damage unborn babies."

"Cutting soot and other air pollutants could help 'buy time' in the fight against climate change, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday as seven nations joined a Washington-led plan."

"Three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe - and that make clear who the real enemy is."

"The surface of Greenland's massive ice sheet has melted this month over an unusually large area, NASA has said."

"OSAKA — The central government-sponsored public hearings on Japan's energy future moved to west Japan on Sunday, with the majority of designated speakers and attendees favoring either a complete withdrawal from nuclear power by 2030 or a near halving of the nation's reliance on it."

The Summer Olympics which begins Friday, July 27, 2012, in London proudly aims to be the greenest Olympics ever. It's a lofty goal. But critics challenge whether it will succeed, or whether any Olympics can avoid negative environmental impacts.

Researchers are studying whether the chytrid fungus -- which has decimated frog and salamander populations around the world -- is being spread among wild amphibians by the release of infected animals bought at pet stores. The fungus has devastated some 200 species globally, and may be responsible for the greatest known disease-caused loss of biodiversity in recorded history.