EPA cuts soot level allowable daily in air. The Bush administration imposed stricter standards on the nation's air quality yesterday for the first time in nearly a decade, ruling that communities across the country must cut back on the amount of soot in the air on any given day. [News Source]

Barge carrying oil sludge departs Guimaras. The barge that carries the first batch of oil sludge collected from the shorelines of Guimaras left Thursday as Malacañang reported that the sunken oil tanker continues to leak bunker oil. [News Source]

South Korea air pollution worst among OECD nations. The air pollution of South Korean cities was considered the worst among OECD countries as the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in Korea increased 98 percent between 1990 and 2003. [News Source]

Thirsty Africa must dig deeper for water. New water sources are desperately needed in Africa where some 300 million people lack access to safe drinking water, the head of World Water Council said on Thursday. [News Source]

Africa urged to press for environment funds to boost urban life. The UN Environment Program Thursday urged cities across Africa to push harder to access a growing range of global environment funds. [News Source]

New Eddie the Engine on right track to deliver for environment. Transport giant Eddie Stobart is set to make massive fuel and environmental savings after launching its first rail freight service in the UK. [News Source]

Backer raises Prop. 87 pledge to $40 million. Movie producer Steve Bing, appearing at former President Clinton's Global Initiative conference in New York on Thursday, said he would up his total contributions to a clean-energy ballot initiative in California to an unprecedented $40 million. [News Source]

PUC clears way for liquefied gas imports. California utility regulators approved sweeping rules Thursday for the state's natural gas industry, clearing the way for the importation of liquefied natural gas over objections from air quality officials, environmentalists and community groups. [News Source]

Branson to invest billions to combat global warming. Iconoclastic British billionaire Richard Branson pledged to invest all profit from his Virgin Group airline and train businesses over the next decade -- an estimated $3 billion -- to fight global warming and promote alternative energy. [News Source]

Branson will invest Virgin profits in a green future. Sir Richard Branson yesterday announced he would invest £1.6 billion over the next decade to help tackle global warming and promote alternative energy. [News Source]

‘High pollution levels increases stroke risk’.

High pollution levels can make people more susceptible to stroke, with risk more than doubling with every hour per day of exposure to pollution, according to a new study by Japanese scientists.

[News Source]