China's Xinhua news agency reported today that the Qinghia-Tibet plateau glaciers are melting by 7 percent annually because of global warming.
The region, known as the roof of the world has been monitored by 681 weather stations over four decades.
Scientists are worried that the meltdown will intensify problems with desertification in China which is responisible for increasingly severe sandstorms.
Although Beijing has tried to stem the problem with revegetation of grasslands, it may be a drop in the bucket if nothing is done to stop global warming.
In other news, researchers from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday that greenhouse gases were continuing to accumulate in the atmosphere. Most of the increase came from carbon dioxide which accounts for the bulk of greenhouse gas warming.
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Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Nepal parliament reconvenes after four years
The Nepal parliament, or at least one accepted by the majority of the people, reconvened today in Katmandu.
Ministers promised to hold elections aimed at cutting the power of the monarchy after King Gyanendra toppled the government in 2002.
Gyanendra claimed that the sitting parliament was unable to deal with the Maoist insurgency at the time, and has held autocratic power for the last four years. The king tried to deflect opposition by holding elections in which his hand-picked candidates always won.
If anything, the Maoist attacks only increased during the king's reign at the top.
The new Parliament leader Girija Prasad Koirala, 84, did not attend the session due to a bout with bronchitis.
Maoist rebels, apparently satisfied with the new situation, declared a three-month ceasefire Thursday.
With the protests over and the new ceasefire, the important tourism industry may begin to return to normal. The Himalayan nation is a magnet to trekkers and mountain climbers boasting the highest peaks in the world.
Ministers promised to hold elections aimed at cutting the power of the monarchy after King Gyanendra toppled the government in 2002.
Gyanendra claimed that the sitting parliament was unable to deal with the Maoist insurgency at the time, and has held autocratic power for the last four years. The king tried to deflect opposition by holding elections in which his hand-picked candidates always won.
If anything, the Maoist attacks only increased during the king's reign at the top.
The new Parliament leader Girija Prasad Koirala, 84, did not attend the session due to a bout with bronchitis.
Maoist rebels, apparently satisfied with the new situation, declared a three-month ceasefire Thursday.
With the protests over and the new ceasefire, the important tourism industry may begin to return to normal. The Himalayan nation is a magnet to trekkers and mountain climbers boasting the highest peaks in the world.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Sri Lanka bombing kills nine, 27 wounded
A bomber appearing as a pregnant woman blew herself up near military headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka killing at least nine people.
Sri Lanka forces stand watch as helicopters fly overhead in Colombo (Feb. 4, 2006). Reuters photo from Yahoo News
The blast further brought a 2002 ceasefire near the brink as government aircraft attacked rebel positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Violence escalated recently in the most serious challenge to the Norway-mediated truce.
The Tamil Tigers are fighting for a homeland in Tamil-dominated areas. They claim that the original inhabitants of the country, the Naga kingdom, were related to present-day Tamils.
Many Sinhalis, the majority population, claim that Tamils came only in relatively recent times, mostly during the medieval period.
Sri Lanka defends strikes against Tigers
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Sri Lanka forces stand watch as helicopters fly overhead in Colombo (Feb. 4, 2006). Reuters photo from Yahoo News
The blast further brought a 2002 ceasefire near the brink as government aircraft attacked rebel positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Violence escalated recently in the most serious challenge to the Norway-mediated truce.
The Tamil Tigers are fighting for a homeland in Tamil-dominated areas. They claim that the original inhabitants of the country, the Naga kingdom, were related to present-day Tamils.
Many Sinhalis, the majority population, claim that Tamils came only in relatively recent times, mostly during the medieval period.
Sri Lanka defends strikes against Tigers
Get headlines, entertainment, culture and friends at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!
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