UN highlights risk reduction, mitigation to combat El Niño’s impact in Central America’s Dry Corridor

The international community must take urgent action to help build resilience, food security, and restore livelihoods in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which are impacted by drought and other extreme-weather effects of the El Niño phenomenon, senior United Nations officials today said.

EgyptAir crash: Black box confirms smoke on board

Data recovered from one of the black boxes from the EgyptAir plane that crashed last month showed smoke alarms had sounded on board, while soot was found on the wreckage, an Egyptian-led investigative committee has said.

Video: NASA Tests Mars Rocket Booster. Manned trips to Mars could start sometime in the 2030's

A powerful new rocket booster intended one day to take humans to Mars was successfully test fired Tuesday at a facility in Utah, NASA said.

Crashed Egyptian flight data files sent back to Egypt: investigation committee

The data files from the crashed EgyptAir flight MS804 were sent back to Egypt on Tuesday, after one of the flight data recorder was fixed in France, the Egyptian investigation committee said in a statement.

Russia ready to construct South Stream gas pipeline in case of guaranteed demand in Europe

Russia is ready to implement the South Stream natural gas pipeline project in case of Europe’s guaranteed demand, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel on Tuesday.

Scientists Test Bamboo as Building Material

Bamboo is not just for pandas anymore. One of the most sustainable natural materials may finally be on track to be accepted as a building material in the developed world.

Curiosity rover analysis suggests Mars has oxygen-rich history

Analysis of rocks and sand by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity suggests Mars was once much more like Earth than previously thought.

China enters new space era. New generation of rockets to boost space ambition

A re-entry module that was aboard the new Long March-7 rocket touched down successfully on Sunday afternoon in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The rocket blasted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in South China's Hainan Province on Saturday. Photo: CFP

Panama canal expansion officially opens Sunday

The Panama Canal looks to shore up its "relevancy" on June 26, with the official opening of a new set of locks that will allow super-sized cargo ships to use the passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The Panama Canal Authority welcomes the first super-sized ship through the $5.4 billion deeper, wider set of locks on Sunday, which are expected to double the cargo capacity of the canal of the 100-year-old manmade shipping route.

The nine-year project to expand the canal is expected to shift and improve trade both to the United States and around the world, because larger ships will now be able to more easily travel between the Atlantic and Pacific, and was considered essential to keeping the canal relevant, representatives of the authority said...
  [upi.com]
25/6/16
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Related:

•  Panama Canal expansion set for 2016 finish

• Panama Canal Turns 100 Amid Growing Pains, Competition  

• Deal reached resolving Panama Canal row 

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• Ξαφνικό «στοπ» στην επέκταση της Διώρυγας του Παναμά. -Λόγω διαφωνιών με την κοινοπραξία που έχει αναλάβει το έργο 

•  El Canal de Panamá y Sacyr acercan posturas para retomar las obras...

• Los responsables del Canal denuncian que Sacyr ya ha paralizado las obras....

• Talks break down in Panama Canal contract dispute...

• Un nouveau canal pourrait bientôt concurrencer celui de Panama

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• Spanish minister in Panama to end US$1.6b canal row

• Panama: conflit sur un surcoût des travaux d'agrandissement du canal.... 
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• Sacyr rechaza la oferta de Panamá y pide 159 millones más.....

• Un nouveau canal pourrait bientôt concurrencer celui de Panama

  

Cypriot Licensing Round and "data" regarding Greece

When we see how the third Cypriot licensing round is progressing, the making of comparisons with the associated data regarding Greece it's unavoidable, even though it would be a huge mistake, due to the difference of government points of view, which are so radical that the whole context is determined by the Greek side.

China renews yellow alert for heat wave

China's national observatory on Saturday morning renewed its yellow alert for a heat wave in some southern and northern areas, where temperatures of between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius are predicted for the daytime.

At least 14 dead in flooding in West Virginia

At least 14 people including an eight-year-old boy died in sudden flooding in eastern U.S. state of West Virginia, state governor Earl Ray Tomblin said Friday, calling the flooding "among the worst in a century for some parts of the state."

Κύπρος: Έρχονται τα «οικόπεδα» 6, 8 και 10.- Η Κύπρος εξετάζει την ηλεκτρική της διασύνδεση με την Ιορδανία και το Λίβανο.

Στον τρίτο γύρο διαπραγματεύσεων για τους υδρογονάνθρακες εισέρχεται η Κύπρος.

China's Jiangsu Province : 78 dead, dozens injured in extreme weather

Death toll from extreme weather in east China's Jiangsu Province has climbed to 78, the ministry of civil affairs said. Nearly 500 people were injured, 200 critically.

Fire squadron of the IDF completed the mission in Cyprus

4 aircraft fire squadron of the Israel defense forces, created after the tragedy at mount Carmel, returned to base after taking part in extinguishing the massive fires in Cyprus.

Experts contest recent earthquake study, expect larger magnitude quake in Istanbul

In response to a recent claim by Boğaziçi University’s Kandilli Observatory that any potential earthquake in Istanbul and the greater Marmara Sea region would not exceed 7.0 magnitude, several geological experts have contested the statements, saying a potential quake could be even larger.

US cargo ship completes 5th space station resupply mission

A U.S. commercial cargo ship filled with trash from the International Space Station on Wednesday reentered Earth's atmosphere and burned up as planned over the Pacific Ocean.

Lightning Strikes Kill 66 in India. Authorities say the death tolls are likely to rise

At least 66 people were killed by lightning in India in a 24 hour period Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forty-six deaths were in the northern state of Bihar, where 22 more were left injured. Twenty more were killed in the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh.

India successfully launched Wednesday a rocket carrying a record 20 satellites. The 20 satellites weighed 1,288 kg.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the ISRO for the successful launch of a record 20 satellites in a single Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission.

Southern China: 35 die in severe flooding. High alert for possible El Niño disasters

China would be able to withstand a flood disaster as overwhelming as that in 1998, memories of which have been aroused as rainstorms and floods continued to rage in southern China, experts said.

Russian scientists develop rare-earth metal recovery technology

Researchers from MISiS National Research Technology University developed a technology of rare-earth metals recovery from mineral fertilizer waste, press service of the university said on Monday.

Two fires sweep over Angeles National Forest in LA, forcing evacuation

Two fast-moving brush fires tore through vegetation on Monday in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills above Duarte and Azusa in Los Angeles, burning more than 2,000 acres within three hours amid blistering heat wave.

Weekend storms cause 22 deaths in south China

Heavy rains have left 22 people dead and 15 others missing in south China since Saturday, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH) said on Monday.

Tropical Storm Danielle ready to hit eastern Mexico

Tropical Storm Danielle was 100 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, at 8 a.m. Monday morning and is expected to hit land Monday evening.

Egypt tests black box recorders of EgyptAir flight

The Egyptian Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee is running electrical tests on the recovered black box recorders of crashed EgyptAir Flight MS804, the committee said in a statement Sunday.

Indonésie: plus de 30 morts dans des inondations et glissements de terrain

Des inondations et des glissements de terrain ont fait plus de 30 morts sur l'île indonésienne de Java, dont de nombreux habitants ont été piégés à leur domicile par des coulées de boue, a annoncé dimanche un responsable gouvernemental.

49 degrees C : Excessive Heat Warning Issued for Phoenix Area

The heat is on for Father's Day in the southwestern U.S., and it is just plain dangerous.

Potentially deadly heat threatens Southwest U.S., could reach 120 degrees

Dangerous and potentially life-threatening heat is expected to spread across the Southwestern United States and occasionally reach the Plains states.

Germany supports Russia's initiative on Nord Stream-2 — Russian Energy Minister

Germany supports Russia's initiative on the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.

ISS Crew Lands in Kazakhstan

A Soyuz capsule, carrying a crew from the International Space Station, made a successful parachute landing Saturday in Kazakhstan.

Floods in western Indonesia leave 1 dead, 3 missing

Floods have left one person dead and three missing in western Indonesia, with about 500 others evacuated, an official at the local disaster agency said on Friday.

Southern California wildfire: Officials declare emergency; nearly 300 structures at risk

Government officials in California's Santa Barbara County declared an emergency Friday, stemming from a fast-moving wildfire that grew by nearly 3,000 acres in just a few hours.

Russian Energy Minister sees no reasons for oil production freeze at current price

No reasons are in place to contract or freeze oil production at its current price, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Friday in an interview at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Ecuador renews state of emergency for another 30 days

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced Thursday that his government has renewed a state of emergency which was declared following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 16 for another 30 days.

ExoMars sends first image of Red Planet — European Space Agency

The camera of the Russian-European inter-planetary space probe ExoMars has captured the first image of the Red Planet, where it is scheduled to arrive in October, the European Space Agency said.

France ratifies Paris agreement on climate change

President Francois Hollande on Wednesday ratified the Paris climate agreement to curb green gas emissions, making France the first industrialized nation to ratify the accord.

Γενετικά τροποποιημένοι αρουραίοι για τη διάσωση της βιοποικιλότητας στα Νησιά Γκαλαπάγκος

Η μοναδική βιοποικιλότητα των Νησιών Γκαλαπάγκος βρίσκεται σε κίνδυνο, καθώς χωροκατακτητικά είδη αρουραίων, τα οποία έχουν φτάσει στα νησιά μέσω πλοίων, τρέφονται μαζικά με αυγά και νεοσσούς από απειλούμενα είδη.

Hawaii’s big island gets snow in June

An unusual combination of conditions brought snow to the peaks of Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s big island, forecasters said.

Japan urged to give true picture of Fukushima nuclear leak

China has again urged the Japanese government to give an honest explanation of the Fukushima nuclear leak incident and its impact on the environment as soon as possible.

Shell, Gazprom to sign Baltic LNG plant agreement on June 16

Shell and Gazprom will sign an agreement on the Baltic LNG Plant on June 16, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday.

Egypt reopens pharaonic sites to win back tourists

The tombs of Queen Nefertari and King Seti I in the ancient Upper Egyptian city of Luxor, dating back to the New Kingdom era, will reopen to tourists after being closed for several years, Egyptian antiquities officials said last week.

Cuban fishing competition to be attended by record US boats

The United States, with 90 vessels, will have the largest representation at the 66th Hemingway International Billfishing Tournament on June 13-18 in Cuba, organizers confirmed on Sunday.

Air quality alert issued for Ontario, Canada

Canadian government officials said Saturday there were high levels of pollution in the air in parts of southwestern Ontario.

Τα πάθη του τοπικισμού και η απορρόφηση της καθυστέρησης σε σχέση με τα άλλα κράτη των Βαλκανίων

Με τον ελληνικό ζεόλιθο αποκαλύπτονται όλο και περισσότερα θέματα που ανήκουν στο παράλογο. Πριν χρόνια παλεύαμε για να γίνει για πρώτη φορά εξόρυξη στην Ελλάδα, και ειδικά στη Θράκη, για ν’ αναπτυχθεί η περιοχή μ’ ένα στοιχείο που έχει εθνική εμβέλεια.

First Russian ice-breaker in 45 years floated out

The Russian navy's first new icebreaker in decades, the Ilya Muromets, was floated out during a ceremony Friday in St. Petersburg, the Tass news agency reports.

Earthquake shakes California desert area (104 km NE of San Diego, local time: 01:04)

A moderate earthquake hit the Palm Springs area early Friday and was felt across parts of Southern California, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Scientists turn CO2 into rock in climate change fight

Injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) deep underground and turning it into rock may be a potentially viable way to tackle increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change, an international team of scientists said Thursday.

Shell Canada Surrenders Oil-drilling Rights in Arctic for Marine Park

Oil giant Shell Canada on Wednesday gave up its offshore oil drilling rights in the Canadian Arctic to add to a nationally protected marine park for whales and numerous other mammals and birds.

On World Day, UN urges meaningful action to protect future health of oceans

On World Day, UN urges meaningful action to protect future health of oceans Healthy oceans are critical to sustaining life on Earth, by regulating the climate and providing a wide range of services, including natural resources, nutritious food and jobs that benefit billions of people, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today, as the UN kicked off its celebrations to mark World Oceans Day.