DISASTER MANAGEMENT - RUSSO DAILY

Deaths from landslides up to 10 times worse than thought

Aug 16, 2012 (AFP)

The death toll from landslides is 10 times higher than generally estimated, with most fatalities occurring in South Asia, China and Latin America, according to ...

Two African boat migrants dead, 160 rescued off Malta

Aug 16, 2012 (AFP)

Malta's navy recovered two bodies and rescued around 160 African migrants from two boats which got into trouble on the Mediterranean Sea, an armed forces spokes...

Asia 'megacities' face infrastructure timebomb: ADB

Aug 15, 2012 (AFP)

Asian nations must act quickly to protect their cities from flooding and other natural disasters as rapid urbanisation raises environmental risks, the Asian Dev...

Iran says US quake aid was not in 'good faith'

Aug 15, 2012 (AFP)

Iran said on Wednesday it rejected a US offer of aid for survivors of twin deadly earthquakes that struck villages in its northwest on the weekend because it wa...

Australia moves on offshore asylum centers

Aug 15, 2012 (UPI)

Australia aims to have asylum seeker processing centers available for use in Nauru and Papua New Guinea within a month. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard ...

Fukushima caused mutant butterflies: scientists

Aug 14, 2012 (AFP)

Genetic mutations have been found in three generations of butterflies from near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, scientists said Tuesday, raising fears...

Mutations found in Fukushima butterflies

Aug 13, 2012 (UPI)

Radioactive materials released into the environment by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan have caused mutations in butterflies, a study indicates. Scientis...

Urban disasters spotlight strain on Asian cities

Aug 12, 2012 (AFP)

Deadly floods, power blackouts and traffic gridlock -- many of Asia's biggest cities are buckling under the strain of rapid economic development, extreme weathe...

Retreat never an option: ex-Fukushima chief

Aug 12, 2012 (AFP)

The chief of Japan's Fukushima atomic plant at the time of the quake-tsunami disaster has said he never considered withdrawing from the escalating crisis despit...

Armageddon looming? Tell Bruce Willis not to bother

Aug 07, 2012 (AFP)

When Bruce Willis used a nuclear bomb to save Earth from a giant asteroid in the movie Armageddon, the scenario had little science and a lot of fiction, physici...

TEPCO video shows tensions as Fukushima crisis unfurls

Aug 06, 2012 (AFP)

Video footage released Monday shows the head of the Fukushima nuclear power plant shouting "We have a big problem, a big problem!" as a reactor exploded after l...

FEMA cell-phone alerts warn too many

Aug 03, 2012 (UPI)

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to refine its weather alert system so that cellphone users not at risk do not get scared. In Philadelphia...

Queen, politicians, Nobel winner named to UN social panel

Jul 31, 2012 (AFP)

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday named a queen, a former president, a Nobel Peace prize winner and a corporate mogul to a 26-strong panel to recommend new global...

UNHCR official to visit Rakhine state

Jul 30, 2012 (UPI)

A U.N. expert on human rights in Myanmar will visit Rakhine state this week amid concern of alleged abuses by security authorities against Muslims. Tomas Quinta...

Samurai festival returns to disaster-hit Japan

Jul 29, 2012 (AFP)

Clad in samurai armour, Ishin Takahashi was among thousands who took part in an ancient festival at the weekend in the shadow of Japan's crippled Fukushima nucl...

Sri Lanka navy urges Australia to deport boatpeople

Jul 28, 2012 (AFP)

Sri Lankan navy officials have urged Australia to deport the growing number of boatpeople arriving from their country, saying it was the "best way" to deter peo...

Disaster-hit Japan could use microfinance: Yunus

Jul 26, 2012 (AFP)

Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus said Thursday that microfinance could help disaster-struck Japan rebuild, even though the concept he pioneered is usually asso...

EU discusses new NGO law with Russia

Jul 26, 2012 (UPI)

The European Union says it has questioned Russia over a new law that brands some non-governmental organizations working in the country as "foreign agents." The ...

In Haiti, anger over slum eviction plans

Jul 25, 2012 (AFP)

Plans to evict people from slums precariously situated on the vertiginous slopes around the Haitian capital are sparking protests from many who want to stay des...

Japan probes claim workers' radiation levels faked

Jul 24, 2012 (AFP)

Japan's labour minister on Tuesday ordered an investigation into claims that subcontractors at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant told workers to lie about th...