Reflection of life

Scientists often study the grim impacts of losing wildlife to hunting, habitat destruction and climate change. But what happens when endangered animals are brought back from the brink? Research has shown restoring so-called "keystone" species -- those with an outsized impact on their environment -- is vital for the health of ecosystems, and can come with unexpected benefits for humans. Here are some notable examples from North America. Wolves Few species evoke the American wild as much as wolves. Though revered by Indigenous communities, European colonists who arrived in the 1600s embarked on widespread extermination campaigns through hunting and trapping. By the mid-20th century, fewer than a thousand gray wolves were left in the contiguous United States, down from at least a quarter million before colonization. Extinction was averted in the 1970s when lawmakers passed the Endangered Species Act, helping revive the apex predator in parts of its former range. Then, … [Read more...] about How bringing back lost species revives ecosystems

The Ho Chi Minh City official applauded the establishment of a representative office of Leipzig city in the southern economic hub, expressing the hope that the office will contribute to further promoting trade and investment cooperation between the two sides. The municipal authorities will create favorable conditions for German businesses to invest and do business in  the locality, he stated, adding that Leipzig has strengths in industry, information technology and education, and these are also the areas which Ho Chi Minh City wants to develop. He thanked Leipzig’s authority for supporting Ho Chi Minh City in training, and sharing professional experience with local hospitals. He said Ho Chi Minh City is focusing on developing high-quality human resources, and has also been implementing projects related to digital transformation and development of smart cities, so the city wishes to receive more support from Germany in those fields. For his part,  Bonew affirmed the establishment … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City eyes stronger cooperation with Leipzip of Germany

The architect wanted to make this house stand out compared to other townhouses in the neighborhood, at the same time incorporating the owner’s love for camping, nature and DIY, taking inspiration from a spaceship. Because the house faces the west and absorbs heat from noon to late afternoon, combined with the urban heat island effect, the design team proposed three solutions to limit heat radiation. First was the natural solution, placing plants and greens on the walls and roof. The second solution was using technology, using XPS heat-resistant panels to cover the outside of the walls that face the sun directly to prevent heat absorption. The third solution was to set many windows and doors on the east and south side of the house to allow more wind access. All three solutions aim to limit adverse weather effects and reduce energy consumption. The owner is a nature lover so the house is surrounded by courtyards containing many green … [Read more...] about Da Nang house embraces nature in every corner

The list was revealed Tuesday at a meeting of the global body’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Cham pottery traditional was one of 56 customs reviewed by UNESCO before publishing the list. Women historically craft most customary Cham pottery, which includes household and kitchen items – jars, pots, trays and vases – as well as religious objects and art. Instead of using the pottery wheels popular in the west (also known as turntables), Cham women walk around the wet clay as they sculpt it with their hands. They then bake the pottery outdoors with firewood and straw for seven to eight hours without glazing it. It cooks at uniquely low temperatures of about 800 degrees Celsius. Other ceramicists typically glaze their pieces before cooking them over fiery temperatures of around 1,1620-1,240 degrees Celsius. The Cham tradition also entails collecting all raw materials locally rather than buying items from other regions. A … [Read more...] about Age-old Cham pottery tradition vanishing without support: UNESCO

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) forecasts that the business results of textile and garment enterprises in the fourth quarter will decline compared to the same period last year due to the impact of many geopolitical factors. Importers in the United States, EU, and Japan have been lowering prices and reducing orders. Despite this, textile and garment exports in the first 10 months of 2022 reached $37.9 billion, up 17.2 per cent over the same period last year. Textile groups at pains to regather momentum, source: shutterstock Vitas chairman Vu Duc Giang said, “Enterprises’ warehouses are full and inventories are so large that many customers are forced to stop ordering or even delay the delivery time. Businesses are missing 35-50 per cent of orders for November and December.” The outlook for apparel orders in 2023 is clouded by the effect of the inventory cycle extending from Q4. This is also an indicator that the textile and garment industry will face … [Read more...] about Textile groups at pains to regather momentum

At the event. (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Sharing experience in response to challenges arising from new trends in international trade and investment was the focus of a conference held in Can Tho city on November 30. The event, which was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the People’s Committee of Can Tho city and Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam, offered an opportunity for the local administration and businesses to take advantage of opportunities from the new trends and create momentum for the Mekong Delta to over difficulties and lay a foundation for sustainable growth in the future. In her remarks, Nguyen Bich Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of the socio-economic life and changed the way the economy and commercial model operate. This caused difficulties in production and business, … [Read more...] about Conference seeks to tackle challenges in international trade, investment

A 1000-year-old tree at Cuc Phuong National Park (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has wished that the entire society would join hands to maintain, preserve and uphold the sustainable values of Cuc Phuong National Park for later generations. In his letter recently sent to the park on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, President Phuc recalled that even in the struggle against foreign invaders six decades ago, the Government, with its strategic and contemporary vision, issued a decision naming Cuc Phuong as the first national park which is also one of the earliest-established national parks in the world. He hailed generations of officials, cadres and workers of the park for standing united and overcoming difficulties to maintain and uphold values of forest ecosystem’s natural resources and biodiversity. Cuc Phuong National Park has long been a reliable destination for the conservation of biodiversity and genes of endangered and rare species of flora … [Read more...] about President urges upholding values of Cuc Phuong National Park

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA ) – Up to 68.4% of logistics companies in Vietnam saw increases in their revenue s in the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same period of last year, a study released by Vietnam Report JSC showed. Of the 34 listed logistics companies that were surveyed, 64.7% said their revenues had maintained growth compared to the pre-pandemic period, said Vu Dang Vinh, General Director of Vietnam Report. Up to 26.5% of businesses moved from the "recovery" group in the 2019 - 2021 period to "maintaining growth momentum" in the 2019 – 2022 period, reflecting efforts of logistics enterprises in the recovery process and gaining economic growth in the post-COVID-19 period. Vietnam Report ’s survey pointed out that the biggest difficulties that logistics enterprises are facing are fluctuations in energy and input material prices; competition among businesses in the same industry; supply chain-related risks; political instability … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s logistics sector speeds up post-pandemic recovery

A resident handed over a pangolin to competent authorities after noticing the wild animal in an alley in Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Thanh Hay, 50, who works as a neighborhood security guard in Binh Hung Hoa Ward, Binh Tan District, handed over the pangolin to the municipal Department of Forest Protection on Wednesday. Nguyen Thanh Hay holds the pangolin he found in an alley in Ho Chi Minh City, November 30, 2022. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre Hay said he was patrolling along an alley early on Tuesday morning when he saw an animal looking for food in a pile of garbage. “I initially thought it was a weasel, but it was quite slow,” Hay recalled. “It curled up when I touched it with a stick.” Competent authorities receive the pangolin in Ho Chi Minh City, November 30, 2022. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre The man then took the wild animal home and reported the case to local authorities. Forest protection officers said the animal is a male Javan … [Read more...] about Pangolin found looking for food in Ho Chi Minh City alley

The sky of Ho Chi Minh City had a dull gray color with a thick layer of gloomy mist as air pollution worsened on Thursday morning, according to experts. Many buildings and skyscrapers were covered by the leaden mist around 9:00 am and 10:00 am as observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The foggy, murky weather often occurs in the southern region in the year-end season, the experts said. This image shows the gloomy sky of the eastern area of Ho Chi Minh City on December 1, 2022. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment called this phenomenon photochemical smog, a term used to describe a form of air pollution that occurs in the troposphere and is caused by sunlight acting on emissions. Compounds created from this procedure are harmful to human health and reduce visibility. This image shows the gloomy sky in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City on December 1, 2022. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City’s sky turns gray due to air pollution