Cannabis drug thumbs-up
Canada has become the first country in the world to approve a cannabis-derived drug. On Tuesday, UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals announced that its product, Sativex, has been given the go-ahead by Health Canada for pain relief in adults with multiple sclerosis (see New 杏吧原创, 5 February, p 38).
Emergency biotech ban
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European Union officials voted on 15 April to slap emergency restrictions on US exports of animal feed suspected of containing Bt10, an unauthorised transgenic maize. No corn gluten or 鈥渂rewers grain鈥� can now be imported unless accompanied by accredited laboratory tests demonstrating it is free of the offending material.
Flamingo peril
Millions of flamingos and pelicans could die as lakes in Kenya鈥檚 Rift Valley dry up. Changing weather patterns, damming of rivers and deforestation are all threatening the habitats of these birds, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Lake Nakuru, home to the world鈥檚 largest flock of flamingos, has shrunk by about 15.5 square kilometres since the 1970s.
Marburg claims more lives
The death toll from the Marburg virus outbreak in Angola continues to grow. As of 17 April, 257 cases and 235 deaths had been reported, and 500 potential cases are under surveillance. On Monday, Angolan officials claimed the outbreak is under control, but a World Health Organization spokesman in the northern province of Uige said there is a danger of the outbreak becoming much larger.
Too independent?
NASA鈥檚 first completely autonomous mission to locate a satellite in space had more of a mind of its own than expected. The DART spacecraft was sent up to find and fly to within 5 metres of a military satellite, but DART decided it was low on fuel and aborted the mission when still 92 metres away.