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Newmont Exec Denies Polluting Waters, U.S. Executive On Trial in Indonesia

The president director of Newmont Minahasa Raya, the Indonesian subsidiary of gold miner Newmont Mining, is on trial in Indonesia. The charge is polluting a bay on Sulawesi Island, causing villagers to sicken and fish stocks to crash. The company dumped millions of tons of pollutants containing mercury and arsenic. It says that they are all still at the bottom of the bay, undisturbed.

Indian Ocean nations agree to share tsunami data

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System has held its inaugural meeting in Perth, Western Australia. The participating nations agreed to share real-time seismic data and set up seven regional tsunami warning centres, in Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand.

Wildfires Close Montana's Interstate 90

A 90-mile stretch of Interstate 90 in western Montana was closed because of wildfires, which were not started naturally.

Fla. Inmate Gets Life for Anthrax Threat

A Florida inmate who threatened President Bush, Governor Bush and other officials with anthrax has been given a federal life sentence. He also threatened the prosecutor and his own lawyer.

Giant Ocean Waves More Common Than Thought

New instruments on the ocean floor were able to measure waves generated by the wind as hurricane Ivan passed by, and one was 91 feet high - the biggest wave ever measured. It did not reach shore. The scientists believe that giant waves are more common than realized.

Large Calif. Farms Get $244M in Subsidies

Some large farms in California are not only being subsidized to grow crops, but also getting subsidized water to grow them - a practice called "double dipping". "Triple dipping" also occurs - using the crop to feed subsidized cattle.

Bird flu spreads in Russia, may be in Kazakhstan

Russia has confirmed outbreaks of bird flu deadly to humans in the Novosibirsk region. Four other regions have some kind of bird flu.

September: 'Code Red' for West Nile Virus

Take care when going out in September; the mosquitoes that bite may be carrying West Nile and other viruses that humans can catch. Crows are not the only birds that carry the disease; American Robins do too.

WHO Recommends More Pig Disease Tests

The World Health Organization wants China to carry out more tests on the pig-borne disease killing pigs and people in Sichuan province.

Researchers Study Human, Pig Genomes

Researchers are comparing the DNA of humans and pigs, and have produced a comparative map. There are a lot of similarities. There are further stages to go through, however, before they can for example study genetic diseases which are common to both.

UPS Deliveryman Discovers Python in Truck

A United Parcel Service deliveryman was surprised to find a 9-foot 31-pound albino python in his truck. He does not know how it got there. It is being looked after.

Australia looks for ways to end cane toad menace

Australia has earmarked A$3.6 million ($2.7 million) for finding a biological way to deal with the poisonous cane toads problem.

Trees Are Killed to Save Rare Woodpecker

Hoping to provide the supply of beetles for the ivory-billed woodpecker, conservationists are taking the unusual - for them - step of killing trees. The beetle larvae that the birds feed on live beneath the bark of dead trees.

Pa. Family Finds Alligator in Fish Pond

A 2 1/2-foot alligator was found in a family's fish pond. It was likely released into the wild by its owner. It will be taken to a zoo.

Indian task force says tigers under siege

India's tigers are said to be under threat both from poaching, mining and from villagers living in the same areas as them. A special task force looking into the tiger's chances has called for thousands of villagers to be relocated outside the reserves.

If a company is degrading an area by drilling, is it OK for it to make up for it by improving the environment elsewhere?

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