Wednesday, 25 July 2012
How Global Warming Is Impacting Stock Prices
How Global Warming Is Impacting Stock Prices: Heat waves and droughts magnified by global warming are exacting an economic tax on America's middle class through higher prices and increased health care costs. Now this global warming tax is hitting the stock valuations of American companies.
Work on $600 million Swiss Alps resort to start next year: developer
Work on $600 million Swiss Alps resort to start next year: developer: GENEVA (Reuters) - A firm backed by a Russian property tycoon will start building a $618 million luxury resort in the Swiss Alps early next year, the company said on Tuesday, in a move likely to be interpreted as a boost for Switzerland's struggling tourist sector.
Rains give mild relief to drought, grain prices tumble
Rains give mild relief to drought, grain prices tumble: CHICAGO (Reuters) - Welcome rains provided some relief to heat-stressed cities and worried farmers in the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday, but reports of failed crops, wildfires and other fallout from the worst U.S. drought in more than 50 years tempered any optimism.
China censors coverage of deadly Beijing floods
China censors coverage of deadly Beijing floods: Beijing (AFP) July 24, 2012
Beijing authorities have reportedly ordered Chinese media to stick to positive news about record weekend floods, after the death of at least 37 people sparked fierce criticism of the government.
Censors also deleted microblog posts criticising the official response to the disaster in China's rapidly modernising capital, which came at a time of heightened political sensitivity ahead of a 10-y
Beijing authorities have reportedly ordered Chinese media to stick to positive news about record weekend floods, after the death of at least 37 people sparked fierce criticism of the government.
Censors also deleted microblog posts criticising the official response to the disaster in China's rapidly modernising capital, which came at a time of heightened political sensitivity ahead of a 10-y
WWF warns against Croatia, Bosnia hydro plant plans
WWF warns against Croatia, Bosnia hydro plant plans: Zagreb (AFP) July 24, 2012
Environmental group WWF warned Tuesday against new plans to build hydro power plants in Bosnia and Croatia amid fears they could affect the Neretva river delta, one of Europe's rare wetland habitats.
The planned projects would have a "drastic impact on hydrology and ecology in the area and grave consequences for the local population in both Croatia and Bosnia", Zoran Mateljak, a WWF coordina
Environmental group WWF warned Tuesday against new plans to build hydro power plants in Bosnia and Croatia amid fears they could affect the Neretva river delta, one of Europe's rare wetland habitats.
The planned projects would have a "drastic impact on hydrology and ecology in the area and grave consequences for the local population in both Croatia and Bosnia", Zoran Mateljak, a WWF coordina
Researchers develop ginseng-fortified milk to improve cognitive function
Researchers develop ginseng-fortified milk to improve cognitive function: Amsterdam, The Netherlands (SPX) Jul 25, 2012
American ginseng is reported to have neurocognitive effects, and research has shown benefits in aging, central nervous system disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. The challenges of incorporating ginseng into food are twofold: it has a bitter taste, and food processing can eliminate its healthful benefits.
Reporting in the August issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, a group of scien
American ginseng is reported to have neurocognitive effects, and research has shown benefits in aging, central nervous system disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. The challenges of incorporating ginseng into food are twofold: it has a bitter taste, and food processing can eliminate its healthful benefits.
Reporting in the August issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, a group of scien
Manchester Airport: 11-year-old schoolboy's stowaway flight to Rome prompts Government investigation
Manchester Airport: 11-year-old schoolboy's stowaway flight to Rome prompts Government investigation: Transport Secretary launches investigation into "serious breach" of security after 11-year-old boy flies from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, ticket or boarding pass.
Traffic trouble spots due to Olympic confusion and burst water main
Traffic trouble spots due to Olympic confusion and burst water main: London 2012: gridlock as the Olympic Games Lanes came into force
Flu vaccine to be give to all children in the UK
Flu vaccine to be give to all children in the UK: Scheme will see all children aged two to 17 given vaccination via nasal spray, after experts said it could save 2,000 lives a year.
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Maps spark concern over corporate water grab
Maps spark concern over corporate water grab: LONDON, July 24 (AlertNet) - As competition for clean water grows, some of the world's biggest companies have joined forces to create unprecedented maps of the precious resource that flows beneath our feet.
Syria says could use chemical arms against foreigners
Syria says could use chemical arms against foreigners: BEIRUT (Reuters) - Western states expressed alarm after Syria acknowledged for the first time that it has chemical and biological weapons and said it could use them if foreign countries intervene.
Mexican election winners say runner-up used illegal funds
Mexican election winners say runner-up used illegal funds: MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, winner of the July 1 presidential election, on Monday accused the leftist runner-up of exceeding spending limits and using illegal funds to finance his bid.
Mexico's climate law to face challenge under new president
Mexico's climate law to face challenge under new president: SAO PAULO, July 24 (Reuters Point Carbon) - Mexico's new president is unlikely to implement much of the sweeping climate change law signed in June by outgoing President Felipe Calderon amid inevitable resistance from industry and his party's focus on accelerating economic growth and ramping-up oil and gas production, policy experts said.
Sony Launches iPod Touch Clone, Calls It A 'Walkman'
Sony Launches iPod Touch Clone, Calls It A 'Walkman': Sony (NYSE: SNE) has announced that it will release a competitor to Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) popular iPod Touch.
Google's Nexus 7: Sold Out?
Google's Nexus 7: Sold Out?: In what’s being reported as the result of overwhelming demand and shipment delays, Google has stopped taking orders for a certain version of the Nexus 7—its first tablet offering. The decision by Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is only affecting orders for the 16-gigabyte tablet, not the 8 gig one.
Anti-Vaccine Movement Causes The Worst Whooping Cough Epidemic In 70 Years
Anti-Vaccine Movement Causes The Worst Whooping Cough Epidemic In 70 Years: Washington State has its worst whooping cough epidemic in 70 years, and the U.S. as a whole has the worst outbreak in over 50 years. The anti-vaccine movement is to blame.
Vodafone Oz pulls claim of Android 4.1 emergency call problems
Vodafone Oz pulls claim of Android 4.1 emergency call problems:
Blog post down, eyebrows up
A blog post from Vodafone Australia alleging a bug in the latest version of Android has been pulled, casting doubt on its claims that emergency calls may not work on the new Jelly Bean edition of Google's mobile OS.…
Blog post down, eyebrows up
A blog post from Vodafone Australia alleging a bug in the latest version of Android has been pulled, casting doubt on its claims that emergency calls may not work on the new Jelly Bean edition of Google's mobile OS.…
Europe nears gene therapy first
Europe nears gene therapy first: Europe is on the cusp of approving a gene therapy for the first time.
Human Ancestors Were Nearly All Vegetarians
Human Ancestors Were Nearly All Vegetarians:
Paleolithic diets have become all the rage, but they are getting our ancestral diet all wrong.
Right now, one half of all Americans are on a diet. The other half just gave up on their diets and are on a binge. Collectively, we are overweight, sick and struggling. Our modern choices about what and how much to eat have gone terribly wrong. The time has come to return to a more sensible way of eating and living, but which way? An entire class of self-help books recommends a return to the diets of our ancestors. Paleolithic diets, caveman diets, primal diets and the like, urge us to eat like the ancients. Taken too literally, such diets are ridiculous. After all, sometimes our ancestors starved to death and the starving to death diet, well, it ends badly. Yet, the idea that we might take our ancestral diet into consideration when evaluating the foods on which our organs, cells and existence thrive, makes sense. But what did our ancestors eat?
[More]
Paleolithic diets have become all the rage, but they are getting our ancestral diet all wrong.
Right now, one half of all Americans are on a diet. The other half just gave up on their diets and are on a binge. Collectively, we are overweight, sick and struggling. Our modern choices about what and how much to eat have gone terribly wrong. The time has come to return to a more sensible way of eating and living, but which way? An entire class of self-help books recommends a return to the diets of our ancestors. Paleolithic diets, caveman diets, primal diets and the like, urge us to eat like the ancients. Taken too literally, such diets are ridiculous. After all, sometimes our ancestors starved to death and the starving to death diet, well, it ends badly. Yet, the idea that we might take our ancestral diet into consideration when evaluating the foods on which our organs, cells and existence thrive, makes sense. But what did our ancestors eat?
[More]
Lobstermen finding more odd colors in the catch
Lobstermen finding more odd colors in the catch:
When a 100-pound shipment of lobsters arrived at Bill Sarro's seafood shop and restaurant last month, it contained a surprise — six orange crustaceans that have been said to be a 1-in-10-million oddity.
When a 100-pound shipment of lobsters arrived at Bill Sarro's seafood shop and restaurant last month, it contained a surprise — six orange crustaceans that have been said to be a 1-in-10-million oddity.
How Old Is the Endangered Polar Bear?
How Old Is the Endangered Polar Bear?:
Polar bears may have trod the planet for millions of years, according to a new genetic analysis . That suggests the white-coated, massive bears have weathered previous natural climate changes, and may predate the Arctic ice that is their preferred--and only--habitat today, which is why the species future remains uncertain presently.
[More]
Polar bears may have trod the planet for millions of years, according to a new genetic analysis . That suggests the white-coated, massive bears have weathered previous natural climate changes, and may predate the Arctic ice that is their preferred--and only--habitat today, which is why the species future remains uncertain presently.
[More]
Bacteria outbreak in Northern Europe due to ocean warming, study says
Bacteria outbreak in Northern Europe due to ocean warming, study says: LONDON (Reuters) - Manmade climate change is the main driver behind the unexpected emergence of a group of bacteria in northern Europe which can cause gastroenteritis, new research by a group of international experts shows.
Buddha tree alive and healthy at age 2,500
Buddha tree alive and healthy at age 2,500: Bodh Gaya, India (UPI) Jul 20, 2012
The 2,500-year-old tree under which Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment is alive and healthy, Indian scientists said Thursday.
The Bodhi tree, a large Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa,) is in Bodh Gaya in India's eastern state of Bihar, about 60 miles from the state capital of Patna.
"The Bodhi tree is fully healthy," Subhash Nautiyal of the Forest Research
The 2,500-year-old tree under which Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment is alive and healthy, Indian scientists said Thursday.
The Bodhi tree, a large Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa,) is in Bodh Gaya in India's eastern state of Bihar, about 60 miles from the state capital of Patna.
"The Bodhi tree is fully healthy," Subhash Nautiyal of the Forest Research
Aquifer could supply water for centuries
Aquifer could supply water for centuries: Windhoek, Namibia (UPI) Jul 20, 2012
A newly discovered underground source could supply water to northern Namibia of the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa for hundreds of years, experts say.
The water in the aquifer dubbed Ohangwena II, which lies under the boundary between Angola and Namibia, is up to 10,000 years old but safer to drink than many modern sources, scientists say.
On the Namibian side of the border
A newly discovered underground source could supply water to northern Namibia of the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa for hundreds of years, experts say.
The water in the aquifer dubbed Ohangwena II, which lies under the boundary between Angola and Namibia, is up to 10,000 years old but safer to drink than many modern sources, scientists say.
On the Namibian side of the border
Natural Gas?
Natural Gas?: A debate has raged for years as to whether natural gas is better or worse overall than coal and oil from a global warming perspective. The back-and-forth findings have been due to length of the studied time, the details of natural gas extraction, and the electricity-generating efficiency of various fuels. A new study from Cornell addresses this question by comparing the reduction of greenhouse warming that would result from substituting gas for coal and some oil to the reduction which could be achieved by instead substituting zero carbon energy sources. It was shown that substitution of natural gas reduces global warming by 40% of that which could be attained by the substitution of zero carbon energy sources. the study does not consider secondary considerations, such as economic, political, or other environmental concerns and focuses instead on global warming only.
Team discovers how western corn rootworm resists crop rotation
Team discovers how western corn rootworm resists crop rotation: Champaign IL (SPX) Jul 24, 2012
A new study answers a question that has baffled researchers for more than 15 years: How does the western corn rootworm - an insect that thrives on corn but dies on soybeans - persist in fields that alternate between corn and soybeans? The answer, researchers say, has to do with enzyme production in the rootworm gut. Their findings are described in a paper in Ecology and Evolution.
Crop rotation declined in the middle of the 20th century as the use of insecticides and fertilizers expanded in the U.S. Then in the 1950s and '60s, when some insecticides began to fail, growers again turned to crop rotation to kill off the rootworms that fed on corn.
A new study answers a question that has baffled researchers for more than 15 years: How does the western corn rootworm - an insect that thrives on corn but dies on soybeans - persist in fields that alternate between corn and soybeans? The answer, researchers say, has to do with enzyme production in the rootworm gut. Their findings are described in a paper in Ecology and Evolution.
Crop rotation declined in the middle of the 20th century as the use of insecticides and fertilizers expanded in the U.S. Then in the 1950s and '60s, when some insecticides began to fail, growers again turned to crop rotation to kill off the rootworms that fed on corn.
Artificial jellyfish swims in a heartbeat
Artificial jellyfish swims in a heartbeat: Cambridge MA (SPX) Jul 24, 2012
Using recent advances in marine biomechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering, a team of researchers at Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have turned inanimate silicone and living cardiac muscle cells into a freely swimming "jellyfish." The finding serves as a proof of concept for reverse engineering a variety of muscular organs and simple life forms.
An expert in cell- and tissue-powered actuators, coauthor Kevin Kit Parker has previously demonstrated bioengineered constructs that can grip, pump, and even walk. The inspiration to raise the bar and mimic a jellyfish came out of his own frustration with the state of the cardiac field.
Using recent advances in marine biomechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering, a team of researchers at Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have turned inanimate silicone and living cardiac muscle cells into a freely swimming "jellyfish." The finding serves as a proof of concept for reverse engineering a variety of muscular organs and simple life forms.
An expert in cell- and tissue-powered actuators, coauthor Kevin Kit Parker has previously demonstrated bioengineered constructs that can grip, pump, and even walk. The inspiration to raise the bar and mimic a jellyfish came out of his own frustration with the state of the cardiac field.
Polar bear evolution tracked climate change
Polar bear evolution tracked climate change: Philadelphia PA (SPX) Jul 24, 2012
An analysis of newly sequenced polar bear genomes is providing important clues about the species' evolution, suggesting that climate change and genetic exchange with brown bears helped create the polar bear as we know it today. The international study, led by the Penn State University and the University at Buffalo, found evidence that the size of the polar bear population fluctuated with key cli...
An analysis of newly sequenced polar bear genomes is providing important clues about the species' evolution, suggesting that climate change and genetic exchange with brown bears helped create the polar bear as we know it today. The international study, led by the Penn State University and the University at Buffalo, found evidence that the size of the polar bear population fluctuated with key cli...
New method for associating genetic variation with crop traits
New method for associating genetic variation with crop traits: Norwich UK (SPX) Jul 24, 2012
A new technique will allow plant breeders to introduce valuable crop traits even without access to the full genome sequence of that crop. The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, links important agronomic traits in crop plants with active regions of the genome. Instead of requiring knowledge of the crop's complete genome, it identifies only expressed genes.
A new technique will allow plant breeders to introduce valuable crop traits even without access to the full genome sequence of that crop. The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, links important agronomic traits in crop plants with active regions of the genome. Instead of requiring knowledge of the crop's complete genome, it identifies only expressed genes.
La Sedena insiste en comprar avión estratégico
La Sedena insiste en comprar avión estratégico: Sería para transportar a altos mandos militares y al Presidente de la República; es la segunda vez que hace petición a Hacienda
Three Vatican 'moles' named in leaks scandal
Three Vatican figures, including two senior members of the clergy, have been named as suspected moles in a scandal that has seen the Holy See rocked by a series of damaging leaks.
The new suspects are reported to be Cardinal Paolo Sardi, a former Papal speechwriter; Bishop Josef Clemens, the Pope's former personal assistant; and the Pope's German housekeeper Ingrid Stampa.
Mr Gabriele has been blamed by Vatican investigators for passing on sensitive documents that have led to the widespread publication of reports claiming nepotism, death threats, gay smear campaigns and tax irregularities at the Holy See. One of the leaked documents suggested Pope Benedict's new ambassador in Washington was exiled in the US because he had blown the whistle on financial corruption.
The new suspects are reported to be Cardinal Paolo Sardi, a former Papal speechwriter; Bishop Josef Clemens, the Pope's former personal assistant; and the Pope's German housekeeper Ingrid Stampa.
Mr Gabriele has been blamed by Vatican investigators for passing on sensitive documents that have led to the widespread publication of reports claiming nepotism, death threats, gay smear campaigns and tax irregularities at the Holy See. One of the leaked documents suggested Pope Benedict's new ambassador in Washington was exiled in the US because he had blown the whistle on financial corruption.
Monday, 23 July 2012
South Korea's President Lee apologizes for graft scandal
South Korea's President Lee apologizes for graft scandal: SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak issued a public apology on Tuesday for what he said was "unsavory" conduct by people close to him, two weeks after his brother was arrested in a graft scandal that also sent some of his closest aides to jail.
Oracle lowers the flag on Fortress language project
Oracle lowers the flag on Fortress language project:
The latest ex-Sun effort to be felled by Larry's axe
Oracle is shuttering the long-running Fortress programming language research project, in the database giant's latest move to divest itself of the less-profitable pieces of Sun Microsystems' software portfolio.…
The latest ex-Sun effort to be felled by Larry's axe
Oracle is shuttering the long-running Fortress programming language research project, in the database giant's latest move to divest itself of the less-profitable pieces of Sun Microsystems' software portfolio.…
Buzz: iPhone 5 arrives September 21, demand 'unprecedented'
Buzz: iPhone 5 arrives September 21, demand 'unprecedented':
New connector? Check. Larger display? Well, sort of...
Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 5 – or whatever the marketeers at Cupertino choose to call it – will be released on September 21, according to the iPhone rumor du jour. In addition, a new survey shows the pent-up demand for it to be "unprecedented."…
New connector? Check. Larger display? Well, sort of...
Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 5 – or whatever the marketeers at Cupertino choose to call it – will be released on September 21, according to the iPhone rumor du jour. In addition, a new survey shows the pent-up demand for it to be "unprecedented."…
BP spill, cold water tied to dolphin deaths
BP spill, cold water tied to dolphin deaths: The 2010 BP oil spill contributed to an unusually high death rate for dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, a new study suggests.
Study: Bacteria outbreak due to ocean warming
Study: Bacteria outbreak due to ocean warming: Manmade climate change is the main driver behind the unexpected emergence of a group of bacteria in northern Europe which can cause gastroenteritis, new research by a group of international experts shows.
Reducing salt 'would cut cancer'
Reducing salt 'would cut cancer': Cutting back on salty foods such as bacon, bread and breakfast cereals could reduce people's risk of developing stomach cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).
Conservationists Use Triage to Determine which Species to Save and Not (preview)
Conservationists Use Triage to Determine which Species to Save and Not (preview):
The Ashy Storm-Petrel, a tiny, dark-gray seabird, nests on 11 rocky, isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California and Mexico. Weighing little more than a hefty greeting card and forced to contend with invasive rats, mice and cats, aggressive seagulls, oil spills and sea-level rise, it faces an outsize fight for survival. At last count, only 10,000 remained. Several other species of storm-petrels are similarly endangered.
[More]
The Ashy Storm-Petrel, a tiny, dark-gray seabird, nests on 11 rocky, isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California and Mexico. Weighing little more than a hefty greeting card and forced to contend with invasive rats, mice and cats, aggressive seagulls, oil spills and sea-level rise, it faces an outsize fight for survival. At last count, only 10,000 remained. Several other species of storm-petrels are similarly endangered.
[More]
HTML 5 gets forked up
HTML 5 gets forked up:
Judean People's Front and People's Front of Judea go their own way
Splitters! That's the cry which may well be echoing out across the web in coming days, as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG) have decided to pursue their common agenda of a marvellous new standard for the web by doing things differently.…
Judean People's Front and People's Front of Judea go their own way
Splitters! That's the cry which may well be echoing out across the web in coming days, as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG) have decided to pursue their common agenda of a marvellous new standard for the web by doing things differently.…
Now metal thieves target lampposts
Now metal thieves target lampposts: Thieves posing as legitimate contractors have been spotted trying to uproot light fittings from the streets of Birmingham to cash in on rising metal prices.
Masacra comando a 4 en Chihuahua
Masacra comando a 4 en Chihuahua: Cuatro personas asesinadas es el saldo que dejó un ataque de un comando perpetrado a una presunta familia en Chihuahua, reportaron autoridades.
Suspect a study in contrasts
Suspect a study in contrasts: The 24-year-old man police say opened fire early Friday on a movie audience was a doctoral student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora.
Drug-resistant HIV 'on increase'
Drug-resistant HIV 'on increase': Drug-resistant HIV has been increasing in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade, according to experts writing in the Lancet.
China approves troops for islands
China approves troops for islands: China has approved the formal establishment of a military garrison in Sansha city, formed to govern disputed South China Sea islands, state media reports.
USB charges up to 100 watts
USB charges up to 100 watts:
One cable to rule them all while avoiding e-waste
The USB Promoter Group has a new ambition: using the ubiquitous connectivity standard to power your laptop whilesaving the planet eliminating the need for proprietary power bricks along the way.…
One cable to rule them all while avoiding e-waste
The USB Promoter Group has a new ambition: using the ubiquitous connectivity standard to power your laptop while
Himalayan Glacier Melt Accelerating, Says Study
Himalayan Glacier Melt Accelerating, Says Study:
An overview of the glacier from Rakaposhi mountain on July 4, 2007, seen from Minapin, Hunza, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan. (Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)The Himalayan glaciers have been receding and melting more quickly, says a new study, which points out that the rise in temperatures is not the only culprit.
The study, which was published in the Nature’s Climate Change journal, analyzed more than three decades of satellite and field measurements of over 7,000 glaciers in the Himalayas. The region has the most glaciers outside of the polar regions and is often referred to as the Third Pole. These glaciers feed the Indus, Brahmaputra, and the Ganges rivers, and also supply water to around 1.4 billion people in Asia.
“The majority of the glaciers have been shrinking rapidly across the studied area in the past 30 years,” geologist Yao Tandong with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan Research in Beijing told the publication.
The study states that with the acceleration of the melting of glaciers, major rivers would have unsustainable water supplies, causing flooding and other problems for people living downstream.
Yao’s colleague, Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University, told United Nations’ news service IRIN, “for the glaciers studied, approximately 9 percent of the area of ice that was present in the early 1970s had disappeared by the early 2000s. Where we had decadal information, we could show that the rate of retreat had accelerated.”
Thompson said that the glaciers are not only losing area, but also volume.
“Thus, we expect to see the area of ice loss to accelerate in the near future if these conditions hold, so it is very hard to predict when the glacier will actually disappear,” he said.
Yao stressed that while temperature rise is important, the glaciers are also affected by monsoon and the westerlies, the prevailing winds from Europe.
In recent years, the Indian monsoon has weakened while the westerlies have strengthened. In the Karakoram and the Pamir plateau, the westerlies provide snow to the glaciers, while the central and eastern Himalayas get their snow during the monsoon season.
An overview of the glacier from Rakaposhi mountain on July 4, 2007, seen from Minapin, Hunza, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan. (Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
The study, which was published in the Nature’s Climate Change journal, analyzed more than three decades of satellite and field measurements of over 7,000 glaciers in the Himalayas. The region has the most glaciers outside of the polar regions and is often referred to as the Third Pole. These glaciers feed the Indus, Brahmaputra, and the Ganges rivers, and also supply water to around 1.4 billion people in Asia.
The study states that with the acceleration of the melting of glaciers, major rivers would have unsustainable water supplies, causing flooding and other problems for people living downstream.
Yao’s colleague, Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University, told United Nations’ news service IRIN, “for the glaciers studied, approximately 9 percent of the area of ice that was present in the early 1970s had disappeared by the early 2000s. Where we had decadal information, we could show that the rate of retreat had accelerated.”
Thompson said that the glaciers are not only losing area, but also volume.
“Thus, we expect to see the area of ice loss to accelerate in the near future if these conditions hold, so it is very hard to predict when the glacier will actually disappear,” he said.
Yao stressed that while temperature rise is important, the glaciers are also affected by monsoon and the westerlies, the prevailing winds from Europe.
In recent years, the Indian monsoon has weakened while the westerlies have strengthened. In the Karakoram and the Pamir plateau, the westerlies provide snow to the glaciers, while the central and eastern Himalayas get their snow during the monsoon season.
Israeli forces could intervene in Syria over chemical weapons
Israel yesterday issued a thinly veiled warning that military action would be used if necessary to prevent the Damascus regime's chemical weapons from falling into the hands of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Tempestades matam ao menos 37 em Pequim
Tempestades matam ao menos 37 em Pequim:
PEQUIM - Subiu para ao menos 37 o número de mortos na mais forte tempestade que atingiu Pequim em seis décadas. Dezenas de outras mortes foram registradas em outras cidades da China.
A chuva de sábado à noite derrubou árvores em Pequim. Um comunicado divulgado pelo governo na noite de domingo informou que 25 pessoas morreram afogadas, seis foram mortos em desabamentos de casas, um deles atingido por um raio, e cinco foram eletrocutados.
O jornal estatal "China Daily" noticiou nesta segunda-feira que a chuva e as enchentes causaram prejuízos de pelo menos 10 bilhões de yuanes (1,6 bilhão de dólares). Cerca de 60 mil pessoas foram retiradas de suas casas.
O jornal "Globe Times" disse nesta segunda-feira que foi a mais forte tempestade em 61 anos na capital chinesa.
Fora de Pequim, seis pessoas morreram em deslizamentos de terra na província de Sichuan, no oeste do país, informou a agência de notícias Xinhua. Quatro pessoas morreram na província de Shanxi, no norte, quando o caminhão em que estavam foi arrastado pelas águas de um rio. Na província vizinha de Shaanxi, a mídia estatal, disse que pelo menos oito pessoas morreram e 17 pessoas estão desaparecidas depois das chuvas torrenciais.
O céu de Pequim está claro nesta segunda-feira e o tráfego voltou ao normal. O principal aeroporto da cidade voltou a funcionar normalmente depois de centenas de voos terem sido cancelados ou atrasados no fim de semana.
PEQUIM - Subiu para ao menos 37 o número de mortos na mais forte tempestade que atingiu Pequim em seis décadas. Dezenas de outras mortes foram registradas em outras cidades da China.
A chuva de sábado à noite derrubou árvores em Pequim. Um comunicado divulgado pelo governo na noite de domingo informou que 25 pessoas morreram afogadas, seis foram mortos em desabamentos de casas, um deles atingido por um raio, e cinco foram eletrocutados.
O jornal estatal "China Daily" noticiou nesta segunda-feira que a chuva e as enchentes causaram prejuízos de pelo menos 10 bilhões de yuanes (1,6 bilhão de dólares). Cerca de 60 mil pessoas foram retiradas de suas casas.
O jornal "Globe Times" disse nesta segunda-feira que foi a mais forte tempestade em 61 anos na capital chinesa.
Fora de Pequim, seis pessoas morreram em deslizamentos de terra na província de Sichuan, no oeste do país, informou a agência de notícias Xinhua. Quatro pessoas morreram na província de Shanxi, no norte, quando o caminhão em que estavam foi arrastado pelas águas de um rio. Na província vizinha de Shaanxi, a mídia estatal, disse que pelo menos oito pessoas morreram e 17 pessoas estão desaparecidas depois das chuvas torrenciais.
O céu de Pequim está claro nesta segunda-feira e o tráfego voltou ao normal. O principal aeroporto da cidade voltou a funcionar normalmente depois de centenas de voos terem sido cancelados ou atrasados no fim de semana.
On Anniversary of Terror Attacks, Norway Faces Its Grief
On Anniversary of Terror Attacks, Norway Faces Its Grief:
On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Norway, survivors and relatives returned to the island of Utoya, on July 22. (Susanne Willgren/The Epoch Times)
OSLO—Norway is still grieving.
A year has passed since Norway was hit by two terrorist acts that took 77 lives and injured many more. Something Norwegians could never imagine became a horrific reality July 22, 2011: A lone man, dressed as a police officer, set off a bomb at the government headquarters and then proceeded to gun down dozens of young people in cold blood. They were attending a political summer camp at the island of Utoya—a place the campers called “the safest place on earth.”
The past year has been one of crisis, mental trauma, and grief. With a population of only 4.7 million people, so many people in Norway share some connection with the victims or survivors.
On July 22, memorial services were held all over Norway.
Survivors of the massacre at Utoya returned to the island for a memorial service, speeches, and music.
One participant at the service on Utoya was Martin Henriksen, former president of the Workers’ Youth League (AUF) and advisor at the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. He barely escaped both attacks. He was at Utoya up until July 21, 2011 and then left for Oslo to work at the government building where the bomb went off; but at the time of the bombing, he had already left, to head back to Utoya. He did not make it there until after the massacre.
“Initially, I blamed myself a lot. I could not feel happy to have survived, since so many others had died,” Henriksen told The Epoch Times. “It has been a dark year. But there has been much strength in our unity. Now, it’s getting a little brighter every day.”
On the anniversary, about 1,000 people gathered on the island. Many AUF members who participated at the camp last year were present, but also many new members. Utoya is located 24 miles west of Oslo, and has been the site for AUF summer camps for many years.
“Today has been a day of overwhelming emotions,” Henriksen said. “It was painful and sad. We remember the dead, but there were many smiles and much happiness as well. It was good to meet and be together. For me, this is proof that we won’t be broken by this.”
The Youth League is naturally affected by the July 22 events in its everyday operations, Henriksen said. At the same time, it is also very strong.
“We have suffered a heavy blow, but we are back on our feet again. AUF says it wants to reclaim Utoya, and I think that will happen. Good triumphs over evil. Let’s not forget: There is always the possibility to create something new and beautiful,” he said.
“Reclaiming” Utoya is an important symbolic act, Henriksen feels. A terrorist should not be able to claim that place.
Ann-Kristin Hagen from Gjovik in Norway went to the mainland by Utoya to show her respect. She feels proud of the way Norway has handled the events.
“I think it has been handled very well. The way things were approached after the events, the criminal proceedings, everything. Some good has also come out of it: The country is more united. People tend to think twice and care for each other more,” she said.
“This is an important day, especially for the victims and the next of kin. It’s heart-rending to imagine what they went through on that island. They lack words to describe it, themselves.”
On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Norway, survivors and relatives returned to the island of Utoya, on July 22. (Susanne Willgren/The Epoch Times)
A year has passed since Norway was hit by two terrorist acts that took 77 lives and injured many more. Something Norwegians could never imagine became a horrific reality July 22, 2011: A lone man, dressed as a police officer, set off a bomb at the government headquarters and then proceeded to gun down dozens of young people in cold blood. They were attending a political summer camp at the island of Utoya—a place the campers called “the safest place on earth.”
The past year has been one of crisis, mental trauma, and grief. With a population of only 4.7 million people, so many people in Norway share some connection with the victims or survivors.
On July 22, memorial services were held all over Norway.
Survivors of the massacre at Utoya returned to the island for a memorial service, speeches, and music.
One participant at the service on Utoya was Martin Henriksen, former president of the Workers’ Youth League (AUF) and advisor at the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. He barely escaped both attacks. He was at Utoya up until July 21, 2011 and then left for Oslo to work at the government building where the bomb went off; but at the time of the bombing, he had already left, to head back to Utoya. He did not make it there until after the massacre.
“Initially, I blamed myself a lot. I could not feel happy to have survived, since so many others had died,” Henriksen told The Epoch Times. “It has been a dark year. But there has been much strength in our unity. Now, it’s getting a little brighter every day.”
On the anniversary, about 1,000 people gathered on the island. Many AUF members who participated at the camp last year were present, but also many new members. Utoya is located 24 miles west of Oslo, and has been the site for AUF summer camps for many years.
“Today has been a day of overwhelming emotions,” Henriksen said. “It was painful and sad. We remember the dead, but there were many smiles and much happiness as well. It was good to meet and be together. For me, this is proof that we won’t be broken by this.”
The Youth League is naturally affected by the July 22 events in its everyday operations, Henriksen said. At the same time, it is also very strong.
“We have suffered a heavy blow, but we are back on our feet again. AUF says it wants to reclaim Utoya, and I think that will happen. Good triumphs over evil. Let’s not forget: There is always the possibility to create something new and beautiful,” he said.
“Reclaiming” Utoya is an important symbolic act, Henriksen feels. A terrorist should not be able to claim that place.
Ann-Kristin Hagen from Gjovik in Norway went to the mainland by Utoya to show her respect. She feels proud of the way Norway has handled the events.
“I think it has been handled very well. The way things were approached after the events, the criminal proceedings, everything. Some good has also come out of it: The country is more united. People tend to think twice and care for each other more,” she said.
“This is an important day, especially for the victims and the next of kin. It’s heart-rending to imagine what they went through on that island. They lack words to describe it, themselves.”
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