Thousands protest against mining in New Zealand

WELLINGTON – An estimated 50,000 people marched through central Auckland Saturday in a mass protest against the government’s proposal to open up some national parks for mining minerals.

Conservationists claim the move would ruin the “100-per-cent Pure” slogan New Zealand uses to promote its scenery and foodstuffs in advertisements to tourists and consumers around the world. [..] Read the original article: here.

Blood test could identify lung cancer patients likely to respond to drug erlotinib

WASHINGTON – A simple blood test could identify lung cancer patients who will respond positively to the drug erlotinib, reveals a new study.

The researchers found that testing for the presence of specific cancer protein ‘fingerprints’ in the blood of lung cancer patients may be a useful means of identifying a subgroup whose tumours are more … Read more : Blood test could identify lung cancer patients likely to respond to drug erlotinib.

World’s first prostate cancer ‘vaccine’ to be used in patients

LONDON – Provenge, the world’s first prostate cancer ‘vaccine’ which works by boosting the body’s immune system to fight tumours, is to be used in patients.

The vaccine helps those already in an advanced stage of the disease.

According to medical tests, it can prolong the life of terminal patients by around four months, one month longer …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : World’s first prostate cancer ‘vaccine’ to be used in patients.

Seamounts are treasure troves of marine biodiversity

WASHINGTON – Seamounts, mountains that rise from the seafloor, rank as some of the most common ocean habitats in the world, scientists have found.

The finding by scientists from NOAA and Texas A and M University-Corpus Christi is published in a new study and reverse previous beliefs about the prevalence of seamounts, which are treasure troves … Original article on : Seamounts are treasure troves of marine biodiversity.

Explorers stand by Noah’s Ark Turkey claim

WASHINGTON – Some of the members of the search team that claims to have found Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat in Turkey rebutted skepticism over their claims of locating the fabled biblical boat.

According to many Christians, Noah’s ark came to rest somewhere in Turkey. In the Bible, the ark protected Noah, his family, and a … Read more »».

Himachal hills turn into tinderbox

SHIMLA – Summer fires in the wooded areas and grasslands of Himachal Pradesh are nothing new, but long dry spells often turn the hills into a tinderbox. This year priceless forest wealth has been destroyed in more than 400 fire incidents in April alone.

Officials of the forest department say the prolonged dry summer, particularly in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Light showers in store for Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites are likely to experience a slightly cooler day Saturday with the possibility of light showers towards the evening, a weather official said.

“The national capital can expect a partly cloudy sky with possibility of thunderstorm in some areas in the city. Rainfall of around 1.4 mm is expected,” said an official of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Light showers in store for Delhi.

Chinese electric car company BYD will locate North American headquarters in Los Angeles

China carmaker puts N. American headquarters in LA

LOS ANGELES – A rapidly expanding manufacturer of all-electric cars, solar panels and other green products from China announced Friday it will open a North American headquarters in Los Angeles, with plans to begin selling autos in the U.S. by the end of the year.
City officials said the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chinese electric car company BYD will locate North American headquarters in Los Angeles.

APNewsBreak: GE says Hudson River PCB dredging has cost $561 million through end of phase 1

APNewsBreak: GE says Hudson dredging cost $561M

ALBANY, N.Y. – General Electric Co. estimated the first phase of its PCB dredging project on the Hudson River cost $561 million, providing first-time cost details of the massive cleanup.
The company provided the planning and performance cost estimate to a panel of experts reviewing the project in response to …. Read the original article  : here.

Balloons with a view: Army tests of high-tech dirigibles in Utah to use drones, jets, missiles

Tests of Army dirigibles to use drones, missiles

SALT LAKE CITY – Proving the capability of high-tech military balloons will require buzzing drones, jets and an occasional unarmed surface-to-air missile.
Most of the tests will be conducted in military air space above the Snake Valley in Utah during the next several years. Some test flights are scheduled … Read : Balloons with a view: Army tests of high-tech dirigibles in Utah to use drones, jets, missiles.

Lion cub triplets born at NYC zoo are king and queens of cuteness but so far nameless

Lion cub triplets at NYC zoo are cuteness royalty

NEW YORK – The newest lion king and queens of New York City won’t be found on Broadway. You can find them at the Bronx Zoo.
The Wildlife Conservation Society introduced the spirited triplet cubs Friday at its African Plains habitat. Favorite activities include wrestling with one another … Read : Lion cub triplets born at NYC zoo are king and queens of cuteness but so far nameless.

EPA proposes new limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants from boilers, incinerators

New federal rule targets harmful mercury emissions

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration says 5,000 deaths could be prevented each year under new rules announced Friday to limit the amount of mercury and other harmful pollutants released by industrial boilers and solid waste incinerators.
The planned rules would reduce mercury emissions more than 50 percent by requiring steep …. Original source  : EPA proposes new limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants from boilers, incinerators.

More rain expected in Delhi Saturday (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Light showers Friday evening brought respite to Delhiites from intense heat and the weatherman forecast cloudy sky and a possibility of rain in some areas of the national capital Saturday.

“The national capital can expect a partly cloudy sky with possibility of thunderstorm in some areas on Saturday,” said an official … Read more >>.

Halted development projects creating hazards for waterways as runoff clogs streams with silt

Halted construction filling US waterways with silt

INDIAN LAND, S.C. – Residents in a subdivision of two-story brick homes near the North Carolina state line say they were promised roads and ball fields and tennis courts. But the developer has vanished and the neighbors never came so, when the rains do, the ground crumbles.
The potholes at … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Halted development projects creating hazards for waterways as runoff clogs streams with silt.

Some New England fishermen see hope, others ruin in switch to new catch regulations

New catch rules to shake up NE fishing industry

BOSTON – New England’s centuries-old fishing industry is going to change dramatically under new rules that promise autonomy for fishermen and better protection for fish but have so far mainly inspired uncertainty.
The new regulations go into effect Saturday. They replace a system that was broadly unpopular and …. Source article  : Some New England fishermen see hope, others ruin in switch to new catch regulations.

Rain expected in Delhi Saturday

NEW DELHI – A cloudy sky is expected in Delhi Saturday with a possibility of thunderstorm in some areas, the weather office said Friday.

“The national capital can expect a partly cloudy sky with possibility of thunderstorm in some areas on Saturday,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The maximum temperature is expected … Read more »».

Documentary films violate animals’ right to privacy

Washington, April 30 (ANI): Wildlife documentary filmmakers may be denying animals their right to privacy, claims a new research.

Dr Brett Mills from the University of East Anglia in his study ‘Television wildlife documentaries and animals’ right to privacy’ analyses the ‘making of’ documentaries that accompanied the BBC wildlife series … Read : Documentary films violate animals’ right to privacy.

Soon, laser ‘tractor beams’ to clear up space junk

London, Apr 30 (ANI): Now a tractor beam could prevent the accumulation of space debris-including all the dead satellites, discarded rocket boosters and other junk-in the Earth’s orbit, suggests an expert.

Space-flight engineer John Sinko of Nagoya University, Japan, has put forward his idea … Read more »»».

China’s growing cyberculture doesn’t guarantee political freedom

WASHINGTON – China’s rapidly growing cyberculture doesn’t guarantee political freedom and open speech, conclude researchers from an American university.

The study, conducted by communication researchers at the University of Buffalo (UB), responds to claims that widespread use of blogs threatens Chinese government control over democratic discourse, free speech and civil rights in China’s traditionally closed society. … Read : China’s growing cyberculture doesn’t guarantee political freedom.

World leaders ‘fail to stem biodiversity loss’

LONDON – A major study has confirmed that the world’s governments will not be able to meet their internationally agreed target of curbing the loss of species and nature by 2010.

The 2010 target had been adopted … Read : World leaders ‘fail to stem biodiversity loss’.