57 Killed After Heavy Rains In Brazil, Dozens Still Missing
The death count from rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul rose to 57, local authorities said on Saturday afternoon, while dozens still have not been accounted for. In Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba lake broke its banks, flooding streets. Rio Grande do Sul is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rains and others of drought. Heavy rains had already hit Rio Grande do Sul last September, as an extratropical cyclone caused floods that killed more than 50 people. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2024 20:16 UTC
Climate change is a worse health threat than we think
Climate change is a worse health threat than we thinkOpinionBy Manica Balasegaram, exclusive to the Sunday Times, Sri LankaGENEVA – It is widely believed that climate change is the single biggest threat to human health. But the situation may in fact be far worse, because the current forecasts fail to account for the inevitable increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Climate change could have a profound effect on AMR, as evidence increasingly indicates that adverse weather and rising temperatures can facilitate the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. For example, the latest Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change makes no mention of AMR, drug resistance, or antibiotics. The international community is severely underestimating the impact of climate change on people’s health and our ability to treat them.
Source:Sunday Times
May 04, 2024 11:48 UTC
Are carbon-capture models effective?
Source: phys.orgReforestation efforts to restock depleted forests are important for addressing climate change and for both capturing and restoring carbon from the Earth's atmosphere. These types of solutions to mitigate carbon emissions are critical after 2023 proved to be the warmest year on record. However, some models have been found to be inaccurate.
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2024 11:36 UTC
My Red Comrade: Beyond the glorification of the left
My Red Comrade: Beyond the glorification of the leftOpinionBy Professor Theodore Warnakulasuriya"The lead actor in my film “My Red Comrade” suffered violent years in a concentration camp, lived very much with tormented memories, and yet dedicated his life to a worthy cause, taking pride in his limited bookish knowledge. The movie "RED COMRADE" is about a person who belongs to a left-wing political group leading a hidden life. The title of Sugath Mahadivulwewa's latest film, "My Red Comrade," connotes so-called bookish lefties who have knowledge but are limited to books. Sugath acknowledges that the film "Red Comrade" was made in four days on a shoestring budget with only two main characters. The words and various long and close shots in the dialogue of the film "Red Comrade" are carefully picked.
Source:Sunday Times
May 04, 2024 08:40 UTC
Forty four Lankans in UAE prisons receive pardon
Forty four Lankans in UAE prisons receive pardonNewsForty four Sri Lankans who were in different prisons across the United Arab Emirates have been pardoned by a Royal order. These forty four Sri Lankans who have received the Royal pardon will be repatriated to Sri Lanka by the Government of the United Arab Emirates in due course. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi will collaboratively coordinate with the United Arab Emirates Government authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka to ensure their safe repatriation. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi Udaya Indrarathne wishes to extend his deep appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates, and its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior for making arrangements to pardon these Sri Lankans. “The Embassy of Sri Lanka appreciates the empathy and generosity shown by the leadership of the UAE in this regard”, the Press release said.
Source:Sunday Times
May 03, 2024 12:44 UTC
Sri Lanka Veterinary Association celebrates World Veterinary Day under the theme of “Veterinarians are essential health workers’’
Sri Lanka Veterinary Association celebrates World Veterinary Day under the theme of “Veterinarians are essential health workers’’HealthThe Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) marked World Veterinary Day on April 27, 2024, with a social media campaign emphasising the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding public health. “Veterinarians are often unseen activists in safeguarding public health,” stated Dr. Mohamed Ijas, President of Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. The human-animal bond was another key area addressed by the Sri Lanka Veterinary Associations. They also advocate for responsible antimicrobial use in animals to minimise drug resistance, which has public health implications for humans. Established in 1940, the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) stands as the professional body dedicated to serving and representing the interests of the veterinary profession in Sri Lanka.
Source:Sunday Times
May 03, 2024 04:45 UTC
Twisting and binding matter waves with photons in a cavity
Source: phys.orgPrecisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom "recoils" in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the position and momentum of the atom precisely. This recoil can have big implications for quantum sensing, which detects minute changes in parameters, for example, using changes in gravitational waves to determine the shape of the Earth or even detect dark matter.
Source:The Nation
May 02, 2024 18:17 UTC
Move to outsource on-arrival visas at BIA led to controversy
Move to outsource on-arrival visas at BIA led to controversyNewsPlans to hand over the issue of on-arrival visas through a private company at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have run into a controversy forcing the Immigration Department to take over the duties again. However, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka was quick to deny reports that an Indian company has taken over visa issuance at the BIA. “Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted,” a Press release from the High Commission said. With the revision, the online visa fee, previously set at $52, has now been increased to $75. Consequently, the total visa fee now stands at $100.77.
Source:Sunday Times
May 02, 2024 15:22 UTC
Scientists find five new hydrothermal vents in Pacific Ocean
Source: phys.orgThe pace of discovery in the oceans leaped forward thanks to teamwork between a deep-sea robot and a human occupied submarine leading to the recent discovery of five new hydrothermal vents in the eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean.
Source:The Nation
May 02, 2024 01:39 UTC
Satellite images of plants' fluorescence can predict crop yields
Source: phys.orgCornell researchers and collaborators have developed a new framework that allows scientists to predict crop yield without the need for enormous amounts of high-quality data—which is often scarce in developing countries, especially those facing heightened food insecurity and climate risk.
Source:The Nation
May 02, 2024 01:04 UTC
Improved AI process could better predict water supplies
Source: phys.orgA new computer model uses a better artificial intelligence process to measure snow and water availability more accurately across vast distances in the West, information that could someday be used to better predict water availability for farmers and others.
Source:The Nation
May 01, 2024 17:34 UTC
Political parties use May Day rallies as launching pad for election campaigns
Political parties use May Day rallies as launching pad for election campaignsNewsMain political parties today marked their May Day celebrations in Sri Lanka, unofficially launching their election campaigns with upcoming polls in mind. Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing the May Day rally in Matara said this was the final May Day rally held under a corrupt regime and the next would be under a NPP Government. A colourful May Day rally was held today with the participation of thousands of party supporters at Malligawatte in front of P. de Sirisena grounds to mark May Day celebrations. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena speaking at SLPP’s May Day rally, lauded the enormous contribution that the workforce makes to the economy. National Peoples' PowerAddressing the Colombo rally of the National People's Movement (NPP), Party Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said “This is no longer a party...
Source:Sunday Times
May 01, 2024 16:50 UTC
Big names miss out as Australia reveal squad for T20 World Cup
Big names miss out as Australia reveal squad for T20 World CupSportA host of big names have missed selection as Australia announced their 15-player group for next month's ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Veteran batter Steve Smith, young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk, experienced seamer Jason Behrendorff and all-rounder Matt Short all miss the cut as the 2021 T20 World Cup champions sprung some surprises when revealing their squad for the four-week tournament in the West Indies and the USA. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side, with his promotion to full-time T20I confirmed by Australia alongside the squad announcement. Selection chair George Bailey believes Australia have a well-balanced squad and is confident of a strong showing in the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup. Australia open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, before Group B fixtures against England, Namibia and Scotland.
Source:Sunday Times
May 01, 2024 04:22 UTC
Darwin's Galapagos island species, protected yet still at risk
Source: phys.orgIndustrial fishing boats hover menacingly on the edges of Ecuador's Galapagos Marine Reserve, where schools of multicolored fish and hammerhead sharks frolic in the protected Pacific waters.
Source:The Nation
March 16, 2024 22:32 UTC
Lottery Officials Reveal Who Won $1.75 BILLION Jackpot
SOPA Images/GettyThe California lottery has revealed who won a $1.75 billion Powerball jackpot in October—and it’s more than one person. In a press release on Friday, officials said a man named Theodorus Struyck is the representative of a group of winners who took the second-biggest prize in lottery history. It appears that personal details about Struyck have been largely scrubbed from the internet and social media. Read more at The Daily Beast. Source: www.thedailybeast.com
Source:The Nation
March 16, 2024 17:58 UTC