over | Common News Update

Apr142023 by adminNo Comments

Environment Agency workers strike over pay

Science

Press AssociationBy Esme StallardClimate and Science Reporter, BBC NewsThousands of Environment Agency workers began a three day strike on Friday over claims of "endemic low pay".The latest action from the Unison trade union will see staff working on flood defences, river pollution and fires walk out.These emergency response teams say they are too thinly stretched, making it difficult to protect communities and keep the environment safe.The government said representatives are meeting with the unions to discuss pay. Environment Agency staff on strike in pay disputeStrike action: What do rail workers, nurses and others want?Environment Agency clean-up under way after 200-barrel leakThe strike began at 19:00 and will end at 07:00 Monday morning,It follows months of industrial action by Enviro...

Mar32023 by adminNo Comments

Airlines sue Dutch government over flight cuts

Science

Getty ImagesBy Georgina RannardBBC climate and science reporterFive airlines are suing the Dutch government over plans to cut the number of flights operating from Europe's third-busiest airport.The government cited local concerns at Amsterdam Schiphol about the impact of flying on noise pollution and climate in its decision.Airlines KLM, Easyjet, Delta, Tui and Corenden say the plans are in breach of EU and international law.The cap would reduce the annual number of flights from 500,000 to 440,000.The government says it wants to strike a balance between the economic benefits of a large airport and a healthy living environment, prioritising tackling noise pollution.Global aviation is responsible for 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These gases warm the atmosphere, contributing to gl...

Feb32023 by adminNo Comments

Bird flu ‘spills over’ to otters and foxes in UK

Science

BBC/Tim NicholsonBy Claire Marshall & Malcolm PriorBBC News Rural Affairs teamThe largest ever outbreak of bird flu is spilling over into mammals, including otters and foxes in the UK.Figures released to the BBC show the virus has led to the death of about 208 million birds around the world and at least 200 recorded cases in mammals.Public health bosses warn the mutation in mammals could see a jump to humans but the risk to the public is very low.There will now be more targeted surveillance and testing of animals and humans exposed to the virus in the UK.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) still advises that avian flu is primarily a disease of birds, but experts across the globe are looking at the risks of it spilling over into other species.Worldwide, the virus has been found in a r...

Aug232021 by adminNo Comments

NASA faces new criticism, possible congressional hearing over spacesuit delays

Science

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- NASA is facing new criticism over a recent agency watchdog report that disclosed spacesuit development is so far behind schedule that a return to the moon would be delayed beyond a 2024 target. Coupled with the high cost, estimated to hit $ 1 billion eventually, the development issues are serious enough to prompt a congressional hearing, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., told UPI. "I almost certainly think we have to schedule a hearing before the end of the year," said Beyer, who chairs the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. "We already spent $ 420 million, and we don't know where we're going. We need to really make sure [Congress] is providing the oversight and the accountability necessary." The report from the NASA Office of Inspector Genera...

Apr92021 by adminNo Comments

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sues federal government over cruise industry shutdown

Business

April 8 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday a lawsuit against the federal government over the cruise industry shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of thousands of Floridians depend on the cruise industry for their jobs, DeSantis said at a news conference at the Port of Miami, where he announced the lawsuit while flanked by cruise employees. Advertisement "So, today's a day for us to fight for them, to fight for our friends and our neighbors, who just want to go back to work," DeSantis said at the press conference. Monica Sebata, a former employee of Cruiseport Destinations in Miami, said cruises were initially ordered to shut down for two weeks in March 2020. At that point, they were able to connect through Zoom, and they had hope things would improve, she said, b...