Street 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 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 Ho Chi Minh City International Music Festival 2022 (HOZO 2022) combined with Hot Air Balloon Festival 2022 will create the biggest outdoor music festival ever held in the southern city. It will take place for four days and span 55,000 square metres in two locations: Nguyen Hue Walking Street (District 1) and Thu Thiem 2 Bridge Park (Thu Duc city). Impression of HOZO 2022 in Nguyen Hue Street. Photo: HOZO 2022 The event will receive support from Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, and Thu Duc People's Committee. From magnificent settings to extensive entertainment line-ups, it will create a unique experience for festival-goers and help to stimulate tourism in the city. The festival will run from 8am to 11pm daily. HOZO 2022 and Ho Chi Minh City Hot Air Balloon Festival boasts the model of a "festival within a festival," with the opening led by the largest Hot Air Balloon demonstration on December 8. … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City to hold its biggest outdoor music festival

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

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

Vietnam’s 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in Hanoi on Wednesday night sparked both joy and ire on social media, with fans happy for the win but upset and embarrassed over a goalpost malfunction. The Black and Yellows, who finished second in Germany’s Bundesliga for the 2021-22 season, took the lead in the 13th minute thanks to a goal by Dutch forward Donyell Malen. Vietnam equalized the match when Nguyen Tien Linh found the net in the 36th minute. The Golden Stars then took the lead when Pham Tuan Hai converted a penalty in the last official minute of play after Soumaïla Coulibaly fouled Vu Van Thanh inside the box. Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper Alexander Meyer tries to fix the crossbar during their friendly game with Vietnam at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, November 30, 2022. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The game, which was part of the German runner-ups' 10-day tour in Southeast Asia, took place at My Dinh National Stadium, which has a capacity of … [Read more...] about Vietnam criticized for goal post malfunction in friendly win over Dortmund