Strawberries, basil and lettuce are flourishing in a new biosphere farm anchored to the floor of the Mediterranean Sea off Italy’s Ligurian coast. Nemo’s Garden, which grows without soil or pesticides, sprouted from an idea by Sergio Gamberini, a scuba diver who also has a passion for gardening, according to the project’s website. Gamberini is also the founder of diving equipment company Ocean Reef Group, and brought the idea to his team. The self-sustainable farm has six clear plastic pods filled with air and held to the sea floor by chains and screws. The biosphere, off the coast of Noli,…
Author: zenger.news
NEW DELHI — Kusum Seth was all of 10 when she heard from her father that India had got its independence. The day was Aug. 15, 1947—the end of the 200-year British rule in India. The then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, had made a speech the night before: “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom…” “I will never forget the day —…
LONDON — Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Nobel laureate, expressed her fear for Afghan women girls after the Taliban took control of the war-torn country after two decades of US military operations. “In the last two decades, millions of Afghan women and girls received an education,” Malala wrote in an op-ed published in a reputed media outlet on Aug. 17. “Now, the future they were promised is dangerously close to slipping away. Until losing power 20 years ago, the Taliban barred nearly all girls and women from attending school and doled out harsh punishment to those who defied them — are back…
NEW DELHI — With the Taliban seizing control in Afghanistan, prices of dry fruits in India’s capital Delhi have started witnessing a surge as imports from the country has been disrupted. “Almonds from Afghanistan have become expensive,” a trader in Delhi said. “Their prices have increased from INR 500 ($6.72) to INR 1,000 ($13.44) per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Pista and fig prices have also increased. Incoming supplies have been stopped.” A second trader said 20 to 25 percent of his business had been affected. “The goods coming from Kabul are affected badly,” the second trader said. “The festive season is…
NEW DELHI — The approval for ratifying the Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete Ozone Layer for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons by India has been approved by the Union Cabinet of India. The parties adopted to Montreal Protocol in October 2016. “National strategy for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons as per the applicable phasedown schedule for India will be developed after required consultation with all the industry stakeholders by 2023,” the Central government said. Further, talking of its implementation strategy, the government said, “Amendments to the existing legislation framework, the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules to allow appropriate control of the production…
WASHINGTON — Afghanistan’s access to an emergency reserve worth $460 million is to be blocked by the International Monetary Fund, as announced after the Taliban’s control over the country has drawn uncertainty for the country’s future. “As is always the case, the International Monetary Fund is guided by the views of the international community,” said Gerry Rice, spokesperson for the International Monetary Fund in a statement. “There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan, as a consequence of which the country cannot access the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) or other International…
DOHA, Qatar — Zaki Anwari, a former Afghan national youth team footballer, died after falling from a US aircraft while escaping Kabul. After falling from a US military aircraft, the 19-year-old footballer died on Aug.16, announced a Facebook page about the Afghan national football team. The news was confirmed by the General Directorate of Physical Education & Sports in Afghanistan. The teenager had been called up to the national youth team as a 16-year-old. People have been paying tributes to the young footballer on social media since the news of his death. Desperate Afghans trying to flee the Taliban hanging on to US…
GENEVA — The International Air Transport Association on Aug. 19 urged governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate close to nearly one billion dollars in blocked funds from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities. “Governments are preventing nearly one billion dollars of airline revenues from being repatriated,” said Willie Walsh, International Air Transport Association’s Director-General, in a press release. “This contravenes international conventions and could slow the recovery of travel and tourism in affected markets as the airline industry struggles to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.” Airlines will not provide reliable connectivity if they…
WASHINGTON — The national public health agency of the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Aug. 17 alerted of an expected outbreak of the polio-like disease Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in the next four months. AFM is an uncommon but serious neurologic condition. It causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak. “Parents and doctors should suspect AFM in patients with sudden limb weakness, especially during August through November,” it said, repeating a warning in the agency’s latest “Vital Signs” reports. “Recent respiratory illness or fever and the presence of neck or back pain or any neurologic…
NEW DELHI — Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee has done several films in a career spanning over 25 years, but he still feels nervous before he starts shooting for any new project. “The script plays an important role in every film,” said Bajpayee. “I follow my script very seriously. I keep reading it. I keep making notes just to remind myself about all the scenes. I am fascinated with scripts that I agree to work on. I keep going through it till I know it backwards and know each and every scene. I always get nervous before the shoot… so to get…