The Pacific nation of Tuvalu — long seen as a prime candidate to disappear as climate change forces up sea levels — is actually growing in size, new research shows. A University of Auckland study examined changes in the geography…
Category: Environment
Cover of ‘Theosophy’ unveiled at National Library auditorium
Dhaka, 07 Jan – The cover unveiling ceremony of a book ’Theosophy’ was held at the National Public Library auditorium on late Wednesday afternoon.
PM Hasina for quick repatriation of Rohingyas
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she wants quick repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people living in Bangladesh in a deplorable condition.
Red pandas rescued in Laos stir fears over exotic pet trade
The rescue in Laos of three endangered red pandas trafficked from China has raised fears the rare animals are increasingly being coveted by exotic pet owners. Landlocked Laos, which borders China and Vietnam, is a key transit hub in the…
Testing a low-tech pesticide alternative: Flowers
To make sure more beneficial bugs come to their fields to feed on pests, farmers are planting them homes in the middle of their fields. (Extra bonus: It looks beautiful.) By Adele Peters On a farm near the town of…
Climate change hurting children most: How to protect them
By Esther Ngumbi and Sam Dindi Feb (IPS) – In the United States, the 21 young people who are plaintiffs in the case Juliana v. United States will soon make their case against the government for failing to take action…
Blaming Immigrants For Economic Troubles
Immigration has always been a prominent issue in American politics. It has become even more salient with the presidency of Donald Trump. A major debate at the moment concerns the economic impact of immigration—low-skilled immigration, in particular. It is argued…
Cape Town now faces dry taps by May 11
Residents of drought-stricken Cape Town received rare good news Monday when city officials said they now face losing piped water to their homes on May 11 — a month later than previously forecast. But Capetonians are not yet out of…
Roots and solution of Rohingya lie in Myanmar: PM Hasina
Stating that the root of Rohingya problem lies in Myanmar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the international community, including Switzerland, to keep up pressure on Myanmar for an early peaceful solution to the crisis.
Swiss President for safe and voluntary migration of Rohingyas
Swiss President Alain Berset, now in Dhaka on a four-day official visit, on Monday said the situation of Rohingyas is of great concern to his country and laid emphasis on their safe and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar. He appreciated Bangladesh…
Heavy snowstorm keeps 217 flights cancelled at Moscow airports
A snowstorm that is unusually protracted and intense even by the standards of Moscow winter compelled the delays of 217 flights and cancellations of another 17 flights at Moscow’s three major airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo – on Sunday…
Create ‘sponge cities’ to tackle worsening floods
Penang, Malaysia (Martin Khor) – With floods now causing more damage more frequently around the world, it is time to counter their effects by turning our towns into “Sponge Cities”, a recent trend popularised by China to absorb rainwater through…
Swiss President in Dhaka for Rohingya talks
A red carpet was rolled out as the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset arrived here on a four-day official visit on Sunday, the first official visit by any Swiss president to Bangladesh.
Every country needs to involve for Rohingya solution: Miyavi
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Japanese singer Miyavi has said every single country needs to get involved in a conclusive way to end Rohingya crisis and give Rohingya people a safe and bright future.
Sea ice alert continues in China’s Liaodong Bay
China has maintained a sea ice alert for Liaodong Bay in northeast China’s Bohai Sea as the ice grew by nearly 5,000 square km daily.
Libyan navy rescues 362 migrants off western coast
The Libyan coast guard has rescued 362 illegal migrants in three separate operations in western Libya, the Navy’s spokesman said Friday.
Polar bears can’t catch enough seals to stay fed
Polar bears are struggling to find enough seals to eat, and the problem will get worse as the planet warms because their metabolisms are much faster than previously thought, researchers said Thursday. The report in the journal Science tracked nine…
Antibiotic resistance to serious infections high: WHO
Geneva (Kanaga Raja) – Surveillance data on antibiotic resistance released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week has found high levels of resistance to several serious bacterial infections across a number of countries. In a new report highlighting the…
Respect your elders—plants!
Danielle Nierenberg I had a very unique opportunity this week to join a group of entrepreneurs, chefs, scientists, advocates, writers, policymakers (including the very inspiring President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib), and other food and agriculture experts to attend a luncheon…
Swiss President due Sunday for solidarity with Rohingya
The President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset will pay an official visit to Bangladesh on February 4-7, the first official visit by any Swiss president to Bangladesh.
Galapagos hosts nursery for new species of giant tortoise
Crowded under a rock in the Galapagos archipelago, the baby tortoises wait for the sun to go down to leave their shelter. Nothing disturbs these eastern Santa Cruz tortoises (scientific name Chelondis donfaustoi), which were determined just two years ago…
5 previously unreported Myanmar mass graves confirmed
Balukhali Refugee Camp, Feb 1 (AP/UNB) — The faces of the men half-buried in the mass graves had been burned away by acid or blasted by bullets. Noor Kadir finally recognized his friends only by the colors of their shorts.
Climate-related disasters cost nearly $400 billion in 2017
By Amina J. Mohammed UN, Jan 31 (IPS) – I am pleased to be with you at this important and timely summit on climate risk and to discuss the opportunities that are there for us to seize through decisive climate…
‘Remove Ithai Barrage on Loktak Lake’ in Manipur
Manipur – Loktak lake is the largest freshwater lake near Moirang in Manipur state. In local language Loktak means end of stream. The lake is referred as the “lifeline of Manipur” as it is highly productive and provides habitat to…
Tempers flare at Cape Town water collection point
Tensions are mounting at a natural spring in Cape Town that is popular with residents forced to contend with water restrictions due to severe drought, the city council said Wednesday.
19 innovations to increase food output without draining earth
Brittany Scalise Whenever you bite into a piece of food, do you think about where it comes from? How did it get from the ground to your table? Who are the farmers and entrepreneurs who cultivated and sourced it? It’s…
Experts for popularising climate resilient farming
Experts have stressed the need for popularising the climate resilient farming among the small and marginal farmers to increase crop production in the northern region.
Inefficient air-conditioning leaves Asean freezing in the tropics
A new whitepaper on cooling in Southeast Asia finds low public awareness around the importance of energy-efficient cooling for reducing pollution and fighting climate change, and its implications for a more sustainable future for the region.
Two dead, dozens saved in latest migrant boat rescue
Two women died and many others are presumed drowned after a migrant boat carrying dozens of people sank in the Mediterranean, rescue services in Italy said.
Four jar-water producing factories sealed off
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) sealed off four jar-water producing factories apart from slapping a Tk 2 lakh fine on them in the city’s Mohammadpur area on Sunday.