Author: News Desk

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Delhi experienced the worst air quality in the month of October since 2020 this year, with meteorologists attributing the alarming levels of pollution to the significant lack of rainfall during the month.According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi reported an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 210 in October 2023. This was consistent with the AQI recorded in October 2022 but significantly worse than the AQI of 173 recorded in October 2021. One of the key contributing factors to this deteriorating air quality was the paucity of rainfall. In October 2023,…

New York, Oct 31 (IANS) Humans are disrupting the natural “salt cycle” on a global scale, and the influx of salt in streams and rivers is causing an “existential threat”, according to an alarming study, led by an Indian-origin researcher.Geologic and hydrologic processes bring salts to Earth’s surface over time, but human activities such as mining and land development are rapidly accelerating the natural salt cycle. Agriculture, construction, water and road treatment, and other industrial activities can also intensify salinisation, which harms biodiversity and makes drinking water unsafe in extreme cases.”If you think of the planet as a living organism,…

Sydney, Oct 31 (IANS) Immune confusion — disruption in the immune system — is responsible for severe dengue fever in children, finds a study. Most people infected with dengue virus have no symptoms, or a fever that quickly passes. However, 5 per cent of people progress to severe dengue, which can mean organ failure and even death within days of symptoms appearing.The risk is particularly high for children, who experience the most severe reactions to dengue virus.Until now, there was little understanding of why some patients have mild dengue, while others progress to serious disease.The study, published in the journal…

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Amid increasing cases of heart attacks in India post Covid, doctors on Tuesday cautioned people to avoid over-exercise, citing lingering physical stress and complications.This comes after several people collapsed at Garba events during Navratri in Gujarat, and at least 10 people reportedly died of heart attacks. The youngest of the victims was just 17 years old. “Severe Covid-19 survivors often experience lingering physical stress and complications that can significantly impact their overall health and well-being,” Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director & HOD, Cardiologist, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, told IANS. These effects may vary from person to…

Sydney, Nov 1 (IANS) The bushfire danger period is now in place across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), after the remaining nine local government areas on the southern border entered the statutory phase on Wednesday.According to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), the period normally runs from October 1 to March 31, during which residents are required to obtain a fire permit if they plan to conduct burning activities on their properties, reports Xinhua news agency.After weeks of unseasonable heatwave, this year saw the official start of the 2023-24 bushfire season fall on October 1.But the NSW…

Phnom Penh, Nov 1 (IANS) Cambodia’s famed Angkor Archeological Park received 602,570 foreign visitors during the first 10 months of 2023, a year-on-year increase of 256 per cent, an official statement said on Wednesday.The ancient site made $27.88 million in revenue from ticket sales during the January-October period this year, a year-on-year rise of 312 per cent, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement issued by the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.In October alone, the park welcomed 63,009 foreigners, earning $2.92 million in revenue from ticket sales, the statement added.The Ministry of Tourism’s Secretary of State and Spokesperson Top Sopheak expressed confidence that…

Sydney, Nov 1 (IANS) Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed the death of a 10-year-old boy on Wednesday, after he was trapped under an elevator at a school in Sydney.At about 2 p.m., emergency services were called to the school on Cleveland Street in Wahroonga, a suburb in Sydney’s north shore, reports Xinhua news agency.Upon arrival, officers found a 10-year-old boy trapped under a lift.Despite attempts to remove the boy, he died at the scene.NSW Police Force said that a crime scene has been established and a recovery operation is continuing.The incident occurred in a…

Dhaka, Nov 1 (IANS) Bangladesh on Wednesday launched a local currency card, Taka Pay, the first of its kind in the country, as part of its efforts to build a cashless society.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated Taka Pay from her official residence Ganabhaban in capital Dhaka, reports Xinhua news agency.The card will be issued by the state-owned Sonali Bank and the privately-owned City Bank and Brac Bank in collaboration with the central bank of Bangladesh.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hasina said this card will be a groundbreaking step for building a cashless society in Bangladesh.She said as an…

Brisbane, Nov 1 (IANS) Australian police have launched investigation over four bushfires in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland over the past two weeks, as the cause is believed to be suspicious.In a statement, Queensland Police said that a fire at Beerwah was deliberately lit near Stokes Road at around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.Another fire in the Beerwah – Landsborough area is under investigation as well, which broke out on October 28 near a forestry clearing on Dianella Road and Roys Road .This rapidly advancing blaze caused police to issue an emergency declaration under the Public…

Colombo, Nov 1 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government has called for bids from interested parties for the divestiture of state-owned flag carrier SriLankan Airlines, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said on Wednesday.The Minister told the media that the Invitation to Tender (ITT) has already been published at local and foreign media and websites, reports Xinhua news agency.The divestiture is to be completed in a two-stage competitive bidding process, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.Local media reported that SriLankan Airlines’s total debt amounts to $1.2 billion, and the government intends to retain 51…