To the world’s military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasure trove of resources, long-dreamed-of sea lanes and a slew of potential conflicts.

By Arctic standards, the region is already buzzing with military activity, and experts believe that will increase significantly in the years ahead. Last month, Norway wrapped up one of the largest Arctic manoeuvres ever — Exercise Cold Response — with 16,300 troops from 14 countries training on the ice for everything from high intensity warfare to terror threats.

The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Monday committed $ 40 million grant over the next five years to support the US$ 7.6 billion health sector development programme of Bangladesh.
US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena made the announcement at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) conference room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar that marks the first grant agreement between USAID and the World Bank in Bangladesh that pools US government funds with those of other development partners.

BASF said on Thursday it will undertake trial cultivation of potatoes containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) this year on less than one hectare on sites in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.

The German chemicals group said in January it will transfer its main research into GMOs crops from Germany to the United States because of continued resistance to the crops in Europe.

But BASF said it would continue trials of crops still undergoing the lengthy European Union approvals process.

Ahmedabad: Here’s one more reason for Amdavadis to feel proud of their city. After the TOIIMRB survey ranked Ahmedabad as the most liveable city in the country recently, it has now got special mention at the recently concluded Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize (WCP).

Instituted by the Singapore Redevelopment Authority, WCP is a biennial international award recognizing individuals and organizations for outstanding contribution to creating vibrant, liveable and sustainable urban communities. The awards will be given away in the upcoming

The adaptation costs from the increased risks of cyclones and inland monsoon floods in a changing climate in Bangladesh will be approximately US$5.7 billion by 2050, says a new World Bank report.

Denmark, followed by Israel, Sweden, Finland and the US provide the best conditions today for clean technology start-up creation, with companies in the Asia Pacific region following closely behind when it comes to commercial success, the first Global Cleantech Innovation Index shows.

NEW DELHI: In response to anti-Kudankulam nuclear plant protestors threatening to sue Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government is ready to reveal records showing how foreign funds were used to give local agitators daily handouts of money, food and liquor. The government is ready to back its charge that groups opposed to the Kudankulam nuclear plant diverted donations received under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act for purposes other than stated objectives like health and education. The money helped sustain the stir at Kudankulam.

Having signed an MoU with the Delhi Government for setting up India’s first Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant to convert waste into CNG, Sweden is likely to sign similar agreements with two more cities, according to Mr Lars Olof Lindgren, Sweden’s Ambassador to India.

Mr Lindgren said the Scandinavian country may sign agreements with Visakhapatnam and Pune, and was willing to extend help to other cities.

Year after year, the world’s nations gather to find ways to reduce carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, with little meaningful progress. Frustrated by this slow pace, the United States and five other countries announced this week a modest but potentially game-changing initiative to cut three other pollutants that also contribute significantly to climate change.