Washington DC (UPI) Jun 7, 2021 The U.S. Department of Defense said Monday that the Ghost Fleet Overlord program’s second unmanned surface vessel recently completed its trip to the Pacific. The Unmanned Surface Vessel named NOMAD traveled 4,421 nautical miles, 98% in autonomous mode, from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, the DOD said in a statement Monday. GFO vessel RANGER finished a similar … Continue reading Second Ghost Fleet Overlord USV finishes trip to Pacific

Lisbon, Portugal (SPX) Jun 09, 2021 An international team of seaweed experts launched on Tuesday a group to globally coordinate and develop the novel ‘green gravel’ technique to restore kelp forests, in an effort to scale up and accelerate projects to recover these vital ecosystems worldwide. Restoring kelp is becoming increasingly urgent as water warming, pollution and other factors destroy kelp forests around the world. … Continue reading Seaweed experts launch global group to restore kelp forests with new technique

Everyone loves a deal, and e-commerce shoppers are no different. Coupons, discounts, and other offers can draw in new customers and build loyalty with existing ones. In fact, according to recent survey by Vericast, 83 percent of consumers bought at least one item in the last six months — and 62 percent shopped with a brand for the first time — because of a coupon … Continue reading Coupon and Discount Advice to Encourage Online Sales

Taipei (AFP) June 6, 2021 A bipartisan delegation of three United States senators landed in Taiwan on Sunday and announced that Washington would donate 750,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to its ally. The high profile delegation and gift comes as Taiwan accuses China of hampering its efforts to secure enough doses as part of Beijing’s ongoing campaign to keep the island isolated. Senators Tammy Duckworth, Christophhttp://dlvr.it/S1HYF6 Continue reading US senators in Taiwan and announce vaccine donation

Colombo (AFP) June 6, 2021 Monsoon rains triggered floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka killing at least 16 people and leaving more than a quarter of a million homeless, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said Sunday. Heavy downpours in 10 out of the country’s 25 districts since Friday buried most of the victims alive, the DMC said. In the central Kegalle district, a pet dog … Continue reading Sri Lanka floods, mudslides kill 16

Colombo (AFP) June 6, 2021 A black box from a container ship sinking off Sri Lanka was recovered but a dive Sunday to check for oil leaks had to be aborted, the navy said. The Voyage Data Recorder, also known as a maritime “black box”, was found intact and is expected to help investigators review procedures and instructions ahead of an accident. The navy said … Continue reading Sri Lanka recovers black box from sinking ship, aborts dive

Zurich (AFP) June 6, 2021 The idyllic image of peaceful Swiss Alpine pastures is being shattered by upcoming votes on pesticides which have sharply divided opinion in rural Switzerland. The Swiss will vote on June 13 on a proposal which, if it passes, would make Switzerland the first country in the world to ban synthetic pesticides. Proponents seek to ban pesticides with non-naturally occurring chemicals … Continue reading Swiss mired in poisonous row over pesticides

Qsaybeh, Lebanon (AFP) June 4, 2021 The scenic region of Mount Lebanon has long produced pine seed, a regional delicacy, but harvests have collapsed amid an exotic insect infestation experts say is accelerated by climate change. Lebanon, wedged between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, is best known for the iconic cedar tree depicted on its national flag – but it also has pine trees … Continue reading Insect pest eats into Lebanon’s ‘white gold’ pine nut trade

Cape Town (AFP) June 2, 2021 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday welcomed the World Health Organisation’s approval of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, hoping it will mean more vaccines for his population and those in poorer countries. The emergency approval for the Beijing-based firm Sinovac’s two-dose vaccine CoronaVac, announced Tuesday, opens the door for the jabs to be included in the Chttp://dlvr.it/S19SXQ Continue reading South Africa hails WHO approval of Chinese Sinovac jab

Goma, Dr Congo (AFP) June 4, 2021 DR Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo has ceased to rumble and Goma, the city that lives in its shadow, is in recovery mode. But hundreds of parents are still frantically searching for children who became separated from them during the panicky flight to safer ground. In Ndosho, one of Goma’s poorer districts, relief that the threat from Nyiragongo appears to … Continue reading Searching for the lost children after DR Congo volcanic eruption