-The United Nations Some 3.5 billion people, half the world's population, lack crucial waste management services, significantly harming environment, health and economies, the United Nations reported today, stressing that recycling and proper treatment can be a literal and metaphorical gold mine. "Open dumping, the most prevalent waste disposal method in many countries, can lead to acute health impacts for those living closest to dumping sites, most often the urban poor," the UN...

-The Hindu After a long and painful period of neglect, India promises to devote attention to the issue of preparing all children for primary schooling. The draft National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy aims to end the "current laissez faire situation" that has led to the mushrooming of expensive crèches, play schools, nursery schools and so on that adhere to no particular standard. On the other hand, there is...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Centre wants states reporting large number of road fatalities, injuries and accidents to focus on road safety to improve the country's performance as the United Nations has set a target of reducing deaths by 50% during this decade. Five states - Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - accounted for over 50% of the country's road deaths in 2012. The number...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Cabinet committee on economic affairs on Thursday approved Rs 8,632.77 crore for implementation of the National AIDS Control Programme Phase-IV by the health ministry's department of AIDS control. The main objective of NACP IV is to reduce new infections by 50% (2007 baseline of NACP III) and provide comprehensive care and support to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and treatment services for all those who...

-The Hindu     Toll from foot-and-mouth disease reaches 1,485, mostly in south Karnataka Bangalore: The steep death toll among cattle from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) could have been exacerbated by an unusually heavy rainfall this monsoon, even as an inefficient vaccination programme left thousands of animals vulnerable to the disease. While FMD (a viral infection affecting animals with ‘cloven hooves' such as cattle, deer and wild boar) is not fatal by itself, a secondary infection...