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NHK
10 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- NHK
June 3 NEWSROOM TOKYO Bangkok Live
Lineup: 1. Philippines, EU to set up security dialogue 2. Singapore aiming for net-zero emissions 3. Pride Month kicks off in Thailand
Daily Express
22-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Kudat coral planting enters record book
Published on: Thursday, May 22, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 22, 2025 Text Size: Kudat coral planting enters record book KUDAT: Sabah Parks along with WWF-Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, local communities, enforcement agencies, volunteers, and the private sector, reached a milestone in conservation efforts through the recognition by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for planting 12,000 coral fragments on the seafloor within Tun Mustapha Park (TTM) at Simpang Mengayau (Tip of Borneo) close to Pulau Kalampunian. State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew officiated the Recognition Ceremony in conjunction with the 9th Anniversary of the Gazettement of Tun Mustapha Park at Dewan Tun Mustapha Kudat on Monday. 'Congratulations to the Director of Sabah Parks (Dr Maklarin Lakim) and his team, all collaborative partners and implementing agencies that turned this vision into reality. 'To the local communities – you are the true guardians of the sea. This collaboration strengthens an inclusive and effective conservation network. 'The figure 12,000 (coral fragments) reflects our determination and unity. This activity was accomplished in just four days with the participation of over 500 individuals.' The participants comprised certified divers, non-divers, local communities from Kg Tajau Laut and Simpang Mengayau, and various stakeholders, including tourism players. Advertisement Liew said the mammoth project was made possible through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from various entities, including the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). She asserted that these contributions reflect broad confidence in marine conservation efforts in Sabah and serve as proof that public-private collaboration can drive sustainable environmental restoration initiatives. 'The spirit of togetherness shown by participants – divers, communities, students, and volunteers – is the true backbone of this event's success. This is the 'Unite for the Ocean' spirit we aim to cultivate,' Liew said. From another perspective, the Minister noted that this significant project not only contributes to the implementation of biodiversity policies at the state, national, and global levels but also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Additionally, she said, it reflects Malaysia's commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, especially the '30 by 30' principle. 'My hope is that this initiative does not end as a symbolic event, but is followed through with action plans such as scientific monitoring, community education, and regular reporting so it may serve as a national and global reference,' Liew added. Liew said gazetting of Tun Mustapha Park pioneered the management of marine protected areas in Sabah. Spanning over 898,000 hectares of sea and coastline, it is Malaysia's largest multi-use marine park and one of the most expansive in the region. 'Today, Tun Mustapha Park is home to over 528 species of fish, 250 species of coral, three endangered sea turtle species, dugongs, dolphins, and iconic species such as whale sharks and whales. 'These achievements result from science-based conservation, including marine biological monitoring and coral restoration techniques, underscoring the importance of scientific data in decision-making and evaluating management effectiveness,' Liew pointed out. 'Admittedly, preserving such a vast area is no easy task. The decision to gazette Tun Mustapha Park was based on years of scientific research, including biodiversity mapping, critical habitat analysis, and data-driven zoning. 'This area encompasses more than 50 islands, such as Banggi, Balambangan, Malawali, Tigabu, and Maliangin, with over 80,000 residents living in 53 coastal and island villages.' This initiative (gazettement) requires unwavering dedication, multi-stakeholder coordination, and patience in facing legal challenges, economic pressures, and climate change, Liew added. Acknowledging the equally important role played by villages like Tajau Laut, Marang Parang, Bavang Jamal, and the Banggi Island community, she commended them for having been key contributors to conservation efforts ranging from joint monitoring and coral reef restoration to community-based ecotourism. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the MBR Certificate of Recognition to the Chairman of Sabah Parks, Peter Lintar by MBR official Edwin Yeoh who represented MBR, witnessed by Liew. Also present were Tanjong Kapor Assemblyman Datuk Ben Chong, the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Dr Maklarin and Kudat District Officer Charles William Dabbi. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
India Today
21-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
India, Taiwan team up on solar tech to turn carbon emissions into green energy
In a promising development in the fight against climate change, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, has created a photocatalytic system that uses sunlight to convert harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable renewable fuels. The research, done in collaboration with National Taiwan University, is published in the respected journal Nano Energy and marks a significant step forward in green Indrajit Shown and his team, along with Dr Li-Chyong Chen's group, engineered a novel material called ZnS/ZnInS (ZIS) heterostructure material uses solar energy to efficiently transform CO into hydrocarbons, specifically acetaldehyde -- a useful chemical for producing sustainable fuels. HITS Professor in collaboration 200x EFFICIENCY BOOST IN CO2 CONVERSION The researchers developed this ZnS/ZIS composite through a simple one-pot hydrothermal method, introducing a new mechanism called the strain-induced direct major development has boosted the efficiency of CO2 conversion by 200 times compared to older ZnS-based systems.'Our work aims to go beyond scientific curiosity,' said Professor Shown. 'It focuses on practical solutions to reduce CO2, a major greenhouse gas, and turn it into something valuable. This research highlights the strength of international teamwork between HITS and National Taiwan University in addressing global environmental challenges.'advertisementOne of the key achievements is that the system uses visible light to produce acetaldehyde selectively, a critical feature for developing green fuel testing using isotope-labeled CO2 confirmed that the hydrocarbons generated come directly from CO2, ruling out innovation supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Industry Innovation, and Responsible team now plans to further develop this technology for real-world applications, potentially transforming how we tackle carbon emissions and energy Watch
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Two Ayr school pupils earn place at London final of fashion competition
Sophie and Eva impressed judges with their sustainable design. Two pupils at Ayr's Wellington School have earned a place in the London Final of Junk Kouture, a nationwide competition that celebrates creativity and sustainability. The challenge encourages students to design and construct high-fashion outfits entirely from recycled materials, blending artistic expression with environmental consciousness. This year, Sophie and Eva, impressed judges with their imaginative and thoughtful design: a striking ensemble comprising a corset, skirt, and accessories made from discarded materials. Their outfit incorporates repurposed ribbons from old horse-riding rosettes, CDs, feathers, magazines, and newspaper, all creatively transformed into a cohesive and eye-catching design. Inspired by Global Goal 13: Climate Action, their work highlights the devastating impact of deforestation on wildlife, particularly birds, and the urgent need to protect natural habitats. The centrepiece is a corset formed from layered newspaper and expertly paper-mâchéd over a tinfoil mould. It combines structure with an organic aesthetic and has been vividly painted and adorned with handcrafted details to create a unique visual effect. Now finalists in London, Sophie and Eva are in the running to be selected among the top 10 UK designs that will go on to represent the country at the 2025 Junk Kouture World Final. Mrs Joyce Morton, Head of Art, commented: "We are so proud of Eva and Sophie making the London UK final of Junk Kouture. "The competition is open to students aged 12 to 18 from schools across the country so making the UK final when only S2 is an amazing achievement. "Junk Kouture is an incredible opportunity for schools to engage students in sustainability, creativity and innovation. It challenges young people to think differently, work collaboratively and express themselves through fashion all while highlighting the importance of environmental responsibility."
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
New drama Leaving Cert course 'something to be embraced'
This coming September will see two new Leaving Certificate subjects introduced for 5th year students in an initial 100 post-primary schools across the country. The subjects are Drama, Theatre and Film Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development. Both promise to be highly practical subjects, with between 40% and 50% of students' final marks awarded for projects submitted for marking in students' final year of study. St Anne's Community College in Co Clare is among the first 57 schools to offer Drama, Theatre and Film Studies. A further 43 will offer the second new subject. Around 20 students currently in Transition Year at the Killaloe school hope to study the new subject. This week, they were throwing their energy into final preparations for an arts festival they are running in the school tomorrow. The school hall and an interior courtyard were buzzing as TY students erecting bunting, painted signs, and set up stalls. Students were also getting last-minute tips on running a festival or learning DJ skills from visiting industry experts. This festival, supported by the Arts Council's Creative Schools Project, is the kind of highly creative, hands-on learning experience that is usually confined to Transition Year. However, the new subject of Drama, Theatre and Film Studies aims to allow learning like this to continue on into Senior Cycle, and count when it comes to accreditation and CAO points. The course promises to be intensely practical. Half of all marks will be awarded for a creative project made by students in response to a specific brief set out by the State Examinations Commission. Students will devise or develop a short creative piece for either theatre or film. They will perform it before a live audience and then explain and evaluate their work. The other 50% of marks will be awarded for a more traditional written exam. "This is a highly practical and applied subject where students get the opportunity not only to learn about theatre and film but to get involved in it as well," Mary-Elaine Tynan, Education Officer with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, explained. The course is aimed at a wide variety of students who may wish to learn about many different aspects of theatre and filmmaking, with a view to working in the industry, or simply as a hobby. "It's not just about students who want to be in front of camera or on the stage," Ms Tynan said. "[The industry] also has a huge need for people behind the camera, people who want to do filmmaking or directing, also students who maybe want to work behind the [theatre] set. So it's not just about the performers," she said. At St Anne's, TY students said they were very excited at the thought of the new subject. "For the last four years, we've been such a creative school, with musicals and the festival. Before we would leave it in TY whereas now with this new subject we get to continue it on," said Maria Kennedy. She and Abbie McLeish were busy tying rainbow coloured ribbons to a central exhibit in the school courtyard. "I've always loved drama and film and this area has always been looked at as kind of a hobby. But now that it is a subject it is looked at as a more serious thing. It's going to really open up people's minds to doing this as a career successfully," Abbie said. Max McKenna and Emma Andrews were with another group of students painting pottery that they made themselves, also in preparation for tomorrow's arts fair. Max will study both music and the new drama subject and he says he feels really lucky. "This, and music, two really creative subjects and I love doing creative stuff", he said. "It's the perfect subject for creative people. There's lots of project work and so you get to do all sorts of stuff," he said. "I love acting and I did the school musical I got to act in that, and I love English as well and I think there's a lot of English involved, so I just can't wait," Emma said. However, parents may wonder about the subject. Does it have academic rigour? "It absolutely does," Mary-Elaine Tynan said. She has been key to designing the new subject within the NCCA. "This is a Leaving Certificate subject as valuable and as important as any other and you can get just as many CAO points," she said. Teachers Clare O'Brien and Maree Murphy will teach the new subject. They feel like pioneers. "We do feel like we are charting new territory," said Maree. She has been teaching drama as an extracurricular subject at the school. "I feel excited. As someone who's been teaching drama here for 20 years and putting on shows, I feel it's really, really great to see that this is going to be accredited in the classroom and with the points system. "Before, it was always something that was more a hobby that we were doing with the students on an extracurricular level," she said. The two teachers have had five days of training to date, coming together with teachers from other pilot schools to gain practical skills in both theatre and film-making. They describe the training as "really fun" and "really active" and speak highly of collaboration with teachers in other nearby schools, a collaboration they expect will continue as the new subject beds down. Their next training will be online and will focus on sample examination papers. "We will be getting into the nitty gritty of what the term will look like," Clare O'Brien said "and how to blend the theory with the practice". However, what about resources, and funding? Practical subjects can cost more. Visits to the theatre and to see films must surely feature. "We will be given equipment, so that is reassuring," said Ms O'Brien. As for trips to the theatre, she is confident the school will manage. "We are well placed. We are very close to Limerick with its Lime Tree and Belltable theatres," she said. She muses about potential cooperation with one other school not far away, also offering the subject, to make the hiring of buses for such trips more affordable. "This subject is for everybody, and that is the beauty of it," she added. "You can see where the practical learner will really thrive because it is project-based, 50% is project-based, all the way up to the people who will be really interested in the academic side of things, you know, the theory of drama or film productions. It is really very open," Ms O'Brien said. The sense of excitement among students and teachers at the school about the new subject felt infectious. They all seem overjoyed to have this opportunity. "It is new. It is innovative. That is not some to be afraid of," said Maree Murphy. "It is something to be embraced," she added.
