Page 900 - Environment

Samsung Electronics to close one of two assembly plants in Slovakia

BRATISLAVA/SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung Electronics said on Saturday that it would consolidate its TV production plants in Slovakia, closing one of the two facilities in the European country.

China opposes Japan's Diaoyu claim

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday reiterated China's position on the Diaoyu Islands, expressing "strong dissatisfaction" with Japan's latest move to claim the islands.

Grow crops that are profitable, Gadkari tells farmers

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today asked farmers to grow crops which are profitable and use the latest techniques to boost farm yields and income. Gadkari was addressing farmers this evening here at the ongoing National Agriculture Fair. "Farmers have to come forward for cultivation of crops which are more profitable, leaving behind farming of traditional crops. They have to adopt new techniques for the purpose," he said. He said that India was now self-reliant as far as production of rice, wheat and other grains was concerned and, therefore, farmers should now focus on cultivation of pulses, oil seeds and those crops which are being imported. He added that the minimum support prices of main crops had increased in the past couple of years but, despite that, farmers were not getting good returns. "Prices of rice, wheat and sugar are fixed by the international market. Prices of crops are based on the principle of demand and supply. The entire world has become an open ...

CPWD tableau decked out with flowers, earthen lamps

Adorned with flowers and earthen lamps, the tableau of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) displayed the theme of one of the country's biggest festivals, Diwali. It displayed the ancient architecture of India and the celebration of the festival. The front portion of the tableau had traditional 'diyas' and a 'rangoli' made of flowers. The back and top of the tableau were decorated with earthen diyas. The department said that around three lakh loose flowers and 400 dozen cut flowers were used to prepare the tableau, for which over 500 men were engaged. It said that the flowers were selected on the basis of their size, colour and fragrance, keeping in mind the concept. The decorations were done with different varieties of flowers, some of them were exotic and brought from other cities, the department said. The flowers used included Oriental Lilly, Asiatic Lilly, Gerbera, Orchids, Hybrid Roses Anthurium Palms and ferns. The CPWD tableau was among the 23 on display at ...

China discloses plans for Arctic, 'Polar Silk Road' on the way

China said it would encourage plans to build polar silk roads across Arctic extending Belt and Road project, which India opposes

Tanzania to auction 3 tons of hippo teeth, despite criticism

Authorities in Tanzania plan an auction of 3.5 tons of hippo teeth next week, drawing criticism from conservation groups who say the sale could encourage increased killing of the vulnerable species for its body parts. Licensed dealers on Monday can bid for the 12,500 pieces of hippo teeth at the tourism and natural resources ministry in the East African nation's commercial hub of Dar es Salaam, according to Tanzanian wildlife authorities. Buyers will receive documents confirming ownership. Many hippo populations across Africa face intense pressure from hunting for their ivory and meat, the WWF conservation group said. "Therefore, even though some countries still have healthy populations, WWF discourages the consumption of hippopotamus ivory and are disappointed to see auctions such as this taking place," said Colman O'Criodain, a WWF expert in wildlife trade. Another conservation group, Born Free, said it was concerned there could be more demand for hippo ivory as ...

How human modifications of natural landscapes affects mammals

As humans have modified natural landscapes in a variety of ways -- such as roads, buildings, bridges and fences -- mammal species are finding difficulty in moving normally as it creates physical barriers for them, researchers said.

Plastic trash sickening corals: Study

Scientists have found that contact with plastic waste -- ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans -- massively increases the chance of disease in corals.

WEF gets certification for sustainable planning of annual meet

The World Economic Forum (WEF) today said it has received certification for sustainable planning and operation of its annual meeting here. The forum has been given the ISO 20121:2012 certification by external certification body DNV GL. WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said the forum's philosophy has always been to answer global challenges in the context of its own meetings. "I am proud that we have achieved certification to ISO 20121 because of the rigorous and comprehensive process involved," he added. ISO 20121 provides a framework for identifying and managing the key social, economic and environmental impacts of events. Carbon compensation for all air travel by staff, media and participants, efforts to promote sustainable transport in Davos and energy-efficiency efforts, such as use of LED lights and sourcing of renewable electricity, are among the sustainable steps undertaken by the WEF for the annual meet. "For us, it is essential that we have ...

Chinese volunteers spend 200 days on virtual 'moon base'

Chinese students spent 200 continuous days in a "lunar lab" in Beijing, state media said today, as the country prepares for its long-term goal of putting people on the moon. Four students crammed into a 160-square-metre cabin called "Yuegong-1" -- Lunar Palace -- on the campus of Beihang University, testing the limits of humans' ability to live in a self-contained space, the official Xinhua news agency said. The volunteers lived in the sealed lab to simulate a long-term space mission with no input from the outside world. The experience tested them to the limit, the module's chief designer Liu Hong told Xinhua, especially on three occasions when the lab experienced unexpected blackouts. The experience "challenged the system as well as the psychological status of the volunteers, but they withstood the test," Liu said. The facility treats human waste with a bio-fermentation process, and volunteers grew experimental crops and vegetables with the help of food and waste ...

Scientists move Doomsday Clock ahead to 2 minutes to midnight

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Thursday moved the hands of the symbolic "Doomsday Clock" ahead to two minutes to midnight, the closest since the 1950s, amid increasing worries over nuclear weapons and climate change.According to Rachel Bronson, the president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, "Because of the extraordinary danger of the current moment, The clock is now two minutes to midnight. The minute hand has been moved by 30 seconds ahead of a global catastrophe. This is the closest the Clock has ever been to Doomsday, and as close as it was in 1953, at the height of the Cold War."Scientists blamed a cocktail of threats, ranging from dangerous political rhetoric to the potential of a nuclear threat, as the catalysts for moving the clock closer toward doomsday, according to the CNN."North Korea's nuclear weapons program made remarkable progress in 2017, increasing risks to North Korea itself, other countries in the region, and the United States. Hyperbolic ...

Blame air pollution for irregular menstrual cycles

The growing level of pollution in the air raises the chances of irregular menstrual cycles among teenage girls, a new study led by an Indian-origin researcher has warned.

Air pollution may affect your menstrual cycle: study

The air your teenage daughter breathes may be causing irregular menstrual cycles, according to a study which has found that negative health effects from air pollution exposure are infertility, metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome. The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, is the first to show that exposure to air pollution among teen girls (ages 14-18) is associated with slightly increased chances of menstrual irregularity. "While air pollution exposures have been linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, this study suggests there may be other systems, such as the reproductive endocrine system, that are affected as well," said Shruthi Mahalingaiah, from the Boston University School of Medicine in the US. The menstrual cycle is responsive to hormonal regulation. Particulate matter air pollution has demonstrated hormonal activity. However, it was not known if air pollution was associated with menstrual cycle regularity, until now. The ...

No problems with Tripura government, except for minor irritants: Governor

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday unfurled the Tricolour at a Republic Day function here and remarked that during his three years as head of the northeast state there had been "no problem" in working with the Manik Sarkar government, "except for some minor irritants".

Female leopard dies due to lung infection in UP: Official

An adult female leopard died due to lung infection in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh, a forest department official said today. "According to the post-mortem report, the female leopard found dead in the jungles of Manikpur died due to lung infection. The leopard was an adult," District Forest Officer R K Tripathi said. The leopard died 2-3 days ago. A team of three veterinary doctors conducted the post-mortem examination last evening.

Rs 1,500 crore project to handle flood, erosion: Assam Guv

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi today said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem. Hoisting the tri-colour on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day function here, Mukhi said: "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore." The state government is making all efforts for protection measures against flood and erosion problem, he added. "During the last year, four major flood waves devastated the state and there were 26 breaches to the embankment system. In order to restore the damage, 96 schemes under SDRF are recommended at a cost of Rs 232 crore," Mukhi said. Besides, the Water Resource Department has also received approval for execution of 49 schemes under NABARD at a cost of Rs 199 crore and these are under execution, he added. In his speech, Mukhi also spoke of ..

China says its activities in Arctic will bring opportunities

A top Chinese diplomat sought Friday to allay concerns about his country's increasingly prominent activities in the Arctic, saying Beijing won't interfere in the interests of nations in the region. Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou (SHWEN'-yo) said China is interested in participating in scientific studies and the exploitation of new sea routes that have opened up with the receding of sea ice. The involvement and contributions of the Chinese government and companies would "bring opportunities to the Arctic," Kong said at a news conference called to introduce the government's first comprehensive report on its Arctic policy. "Regarding the role China will play in the Arctic affairs, I want to emphasize two points. One is that we will not interfere; second is that we will not to be absent," Kong said. "Not being an Arctic country, China will not interfere the affairs that are exclusive to the Arctic countries and inside Arctic region." China's presence in the Arctic has ..

NASA's GOLD mission continues despite launch anomaly

Commercial aerospace company Arianespace which launched the SES-14 satellite carrying NASA's GOLD mission on Friday confirmed that despite an anomaly during the mission's ride into orbit, the probe is continuing.

ADB eyes more cooperation with AIIB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects more cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in future co-financed projects and other related areas to boost development in the Asia-Pacific region, a top ADB official said here.

Lotus stages comeback in Kashmir's Dal Lake

If the lotus stem, an expensive delicacy much loved in Kashmir, is abundantly available in local vegetable markets these days, it is because of the sheer hard work of farmers who cultivate it in the Dal Lake here.