Monday, September 6th, 2010
DER SPIEGEL – When natural disasters, like floods in Pakistan or earthquakes in Haiti, strike, Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurance company, ends up paying part of the bill. Munich Re offers capitalism a safety net, and no other company is more familiar with life’s risks. Read More
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
INDEPENDENT UK – The microscopic plants that support all life in the oceans are dying off at a dramatic rate, according to a study that has documented for the first time a disturbing and unprecedented change at the base of the marine food web. Scientists have discovered that the phytoplankton of the oceans has declined by about
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
The Turkish land registration and cadastre works were carried out in analog format until 1985. After that, the cadastre works have been performed in a digital environment, while the land registriescontinued to be sustained in analog format. The subsequent developments in geographical informationsystem technologies and increasing user demands suggested the need to combine land registry
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
The development objective of the Backbone Transmission Investment Project is to increase the availability, reliability, and quality of grid based power supply to the northern regions of Tanzania. There are two components to the project. The first component of the project is the construction of one of three sections of a transmission line that will run
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
The Cadastre Modernization Project for Turkey is to contribute to government agenda to improve quality and effectiveness of public services through spreading and making effective e-government applications. The specific objective of the project is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the land registry and cadastre services. This objective will be achieved through: (i) renovating
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has been given the responsibility for setting up a new, full-spectrum monitoring and information system for the Northern sea and coastal areas (“BarentsWatch”). The work will be headed up by the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA). The Norwegian Mapping Authority, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and many other specialist bodies will
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
LE MONDE FRANCE – The Conference has on the climate of Cancun, Mexico in early December, could lead to the creation of a “green fund” that could finance adaptation to climate change in poor countries. According to the Swiss Minister of Environment, Moritz Leuenberger, a consensus around the need for long-term financing in the field of climate”. Read
Saturday, September 4th, 2010
UPI – Turkey will be connected to European electricity networks via U.S. firm General Electric’s “smart grid technology.” According to GE, the system will be running this month. GE’s “smart grid technology” will enable Turkey’s electrical distribution system to draw upon EU electrical networks from across Europe, ensuring Turkey’s growing access to European energy, a critical component
Saturday, September 4th, 2010
JAKARTA POST – Indonesia has nominated veteran natural resources scientist Indroyono Soesilo to run for the top post at the UN’s Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah confirmed the government had selected Indroyono as the country’s candidate to replace current FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, who will retire at the end of his
Saturday, September 4th, 2010
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN – Wind turbines function best in wide-open spaces where they can capture airflow unobstructed by buildings or mountains. Unfortunately, these same conditions are also optimal for aircraft takeoffs and landings, creating tension between wind energy utilities and airports in a number of locations worldwide. Utility-scale wind turbines, many of which stand more than 100
