Over 115 Million Widows Around the World Live in Poverty

Afghan widows wait in line next to a barbed wire fence to receive their food rations.

At least 245 million women around the world have been widowed and more than 115 million of them live in devastating poverty, according to a new study launched Tuesday night by Cherie Blair, wife of the former British prime minister. The most dire consequences are faced by 2 million Afghan widows and at least 740,000 Iraqi widows who lost their husbands as a result of the ongoing conflicts; by widows and their children evicted from their family homes in sub-Saharan Africa; by elderly widows caring for grandchildren orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis, and by child widows aged 7 to 17 in developing countries, the report said.

10 Amazing Land Art Pieces

“Ancient Language,” Atacama Desert, Chile

From high plains to deep gorges, deserts to rural fields, sculptor Andrew Rogers uses rock walls to outline the forms of symbols important to cultures around the world. Over the past decade, his massive land art pieces have spanned five continents.
The world’s largest land art exhibit he debuted in Turkey’s Cappadocia region is just part of his ambitious “Rhythms of Life” project. Here are 10 of his awe-inspiring artworks.

The World’s Most Dangerous Operating Bridge

The world’s most dangerous bridge is located between two Pakistani cities Passu and Husaini.

People living in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan were cut off from the rest of Pakistan until 1978 due to the mountainous terrain and lack of roads. You could take a small airplane, but that was reserved for only the richest citizens.

Remarkable Photos of Special Forces Teams Around the World

In this compilation of photos you can see  Special Forces teams from around the world in action. Spectacular photographs.

Incredible Sinkholes Around the World

Taichung, Taiwan, 1999: earthquake-opened sinkhole filled with molasses spilled from nearby storage tanks.

Sinkholes tend to appear suddenly, and while particular regions are famously prone to sinkholes they happen all over the world.  Sinkholes form when the bedrock or soil underneath subsides, forcing the topsoil (or in many cases concrete) to collapse. They can be exceptionally large (several hundred meters in diameter and depth) and can swallow everything directly above.  They’ve been known to “swallow” cars, homes, businesses, and other structures.

World’s Supply of Diamonds is Running Out

In what appears to be a blatant attempt at market manipulation, De Beers says it will reduce its production to extend the life of its mines. Taking into account the moderated output diamond prices could rise by at least 5 per cent a year for the next five years, according to Des Kilalea, a diamond analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

‘Door to Hell’ Accidentally Opened by Geologists

In the darkness of night, flames dance and lick the air, casting an ominous glow that can be seen from miles around in the desert of Turkmenistan. The source of all this light and heat is a massive crater, in which blazes an unceasing inferno, dubbed by locals the “Door to Hell.” For decades, the fires within the pit have been burning without end, fed by a seemingly unlimited pocket of natural gas. The “Door to Hell” might easily be placed among the world’s most incredible natural wonder–that is, if it wasn’t man-made. So, what manner of mortal man cast open this gaping chasm and set alight its endless fire, seeming so much like an apocalyptical vision? Well, they were geologists, actually.

World’s Most Dangerous Roads

Most drivers encounter unsafe driving conditions at one time or another.  Hazards appear in many forms, for instance, bad weather, drunk drivers or human error can complicate an otherwise uneventful trip.  On the other hand, sometimes the condition of the road can put your life in jeopardy.  Here is a list dedicated to all the white-knuckled drivers who have to brave the dangerous roads and to all of the crazy people who navigate them for fun.

Chile Earthquake Moves Concepcion More Than 10 Feet to the West

According to a recent study done by Chilean and American researchers at the Ohio State University, the magnitude-8.8 earthquake that rocked the west coast of Chile on February 27th was strong enough to move the city of Concepcion at least 10 feet/3.04m to the west and the capital, Santiago, about 11 inches/28cm to the west-southwest. The quake also shifted other parts of South America, as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil.

World’s Cheapest Electric Car

India’s Tata Nano EV, world’s cheapest car, transformed into the world’s cheapest electric car, went on display at the Geneva Motor Show.  The Tata Nano EV seats four, has a predicted range of about 80 miles and will go from zero to about 35 miles per hour in a blistering 10 seconds. The car has super-polymer lithium-ion batteries, which Tata says provide superior energy retention.

Mega-Cities in Earthquake Zones Await Disaster

As Mustafa Erdik, the director of an earthquake engineering institute in Istanbul, surveys the streets of this sprawling mega-city, he says he sometimes feels like a doctor scanning a crowded hospital ward.

Internet Freedom in Jeopardy After Google Ruling

Three(3) Google executives were convicted on Wednesday of violating privacy laws by allowing disturbing footage of a disabled Italian boy being bullied to be posted on the internet.  The ruling was the first of its kind in history and was condemned by critics as “the biggest threat to internet freedom we have seen”.

Women Are Smarter Than Men, Says Research

Women are cleverer than men, according to a recent report.  The conclusion was drawn following a five month online contest between the sexes conducted in nine languages and based on the popular board game Trivial Pursuit.

13 Story Building In China Toppled Over Almost Intact

In June of 2009 a truly bizarre news story surfaced. A nearly finished, newly constructed building in Shanghai toppled over, killing one worker. As can be seen in the photos, the 13-story apartment building collapsed with just enough room to escape what would have been a far more destructive domino effect involving other structures in the 11-building complex.

18 of the World’s Strangest Airports

Engineers tasked with building an airport are faced with countless challenges: The ideal location needs ample space, endless flat ground, favorable winds and great visibility. But spots in the real world are rarely ideal, and engineers are forced to work with what they have, making sure that the end product is the safest possible structure for pilots. A survey of airports around the world turns up a mixed bag, ranging from dangerous and rugged landing strips to mega-size facilities that operate like small cities. Here, PM explores the world’s most remarkableairports and why they stand out.

Great White Sharks Now One of the Most Endangered Creatures on Earth

They are known as one of the deadliest creatures on Earth.  But according to a shocking new study, great white sharks are also one of the most endangered.
 Wildlife experts say there are now fewer than 3,500 great whites left in the oceans, making them rarer than tigers.

Amazing Snow Sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival 2010

This year’s Sapporo Snow Festival kicked off last weekend, bringing hundreds of massive snow sculptures into the streets of Japan’s northern capital. Here’s a look at some of the works on display at the event, which runs until February 11.

Hackers Screw Our Planet By Stealing Millions in Carbon Credits

Credit card numbers are so passe. Today’s hackers know the real powerhouse data to steal is emission certificates.
That’s exactly what hackers went after last week when they obtained unauthorized access to online accounts where companies maintain their carbon credits, according to the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

Ancient Tribal Language Becomes Extinct As Last Speaker Dies

The last speaker of an ancient tribal language has died in the Andaman Islands, breaking a 65,000-year link to one of the world’s oldest cultures.

Zero Rupee Banknotes Issued In India

Special zero rupee banknotes have been issued by an anti-corruption campaign to challenge India’s bribe culture.  Campaigners from the Fifth Pillar charity, which confronts corrupt officials using freedom of information legislation, have issued notes bearing the image of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of its freedom struggle.