Spam Call Filter Firm Is Rare Beneficiary of Fukushima Furor
China’s fury over Tokyo’s decision to discharge treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant is producing a rare
2023-09-01 13:16
Qantas Pursued for Record Fine for Alleged Bogus Seat Sales
The regulator suing Qantas Airways Ltd. for allegedly selling seats on thousands of cancelled flights is seeking a
2023-09-01 10:49
Hong Kong Shuts Stock Market, Schools as Super Typhoon Nears
Hong Kong is bracing for what may be the strongest storm to hit the city in at least
2023-09-01 09:47
Lululemon Raises Outlook, Sidesteps Broader Retail Weakness
Lululemon Athletica Inc. lifted its full-year outlook as it takes business from competitors and defies the broader retail
2023-09-01 06:22
Taylor Swift Announces an ‘Eras Tour’ Film and AMC Shares Soar
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. shares rise after pop star Taylor Swift announced that her recent “Eras Tour” will
2023-08-31 23:23
Anne Hathaway 'thrilled' to work with Shiseido
Anne Hathaway has revealed that she's looking forward to working with Shiseido.
2023-08-31 22:25
Alabama attorney general says he has right to prosecute people who facilitate travel for out-of-state abortions
Alabama's Republican attorney general said in a court filing that he has the right to prosecute people who make travel arrangements for pregnant women to have out-of-state abortions.
2023-08-31 19:49
Hong Kong to Shut Down City Before Super Typhoon Saola Hits
Hong Kong is making preparations for a possible direct hit by Super Typhoon Saola, which is shaping up
2023-08-31 18:24
The future of Prosecco is at risk
Some of the world’s most celebrated wines – and the historic cultures of the communities which produce them – are under threat, scientists have warned. The harvesting of grapes on steep slopes is known as “heroic” viticulture – named so for the difficulty in producing fruitful harvests on such challenging terrain, typically without the use of mechanised tools, and many such vineyards across Europe have been designated Unesco world heritage sites. But researchers have warned that farmers and scientists must work together to protect this centuries-old tradition in the likes of Italy, Spain and Portugal, where climate change is threatening to disrupt the delicate equilibrium cultivated and maintained for generations. Scientists set out their concerns in a paper last month published in the journal iScience, warning that soil degradation and drought – such as those which devastated swathes of Europe last year – are the most worrying risks posed by climate change. Furthermore, the researchers from the University of Padova warned of a simultaneous threat posed by the “rural exodus and a gradual abandonment of mountain landscapes” which have “characterised” the past 50 years. “The new generation is not attracted to continue working under extreme conditions if economic benefits are insignificant,” they wrote, and warned that the technological modernisation of society is “degrading” the rural cultural background of previous generations. “The risk is not only losing an agricultural product or seeing a landscape change, negatively impacting the local economy,” said lead author Dr Paolo Tarolli and his co-writers. “The risk is losing entire communities’ history and their cultural roots.” Vineyards are considered “heroic viticulture” sites if they have a slope steeper than 30 percent, are located on small islands or at an altitude higher than 500 metres above sea level, or if they incorporate vines grown on terraces – conditions key to developing the wines’ prized flavours. Some of the most famous examples include the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, Portugal’s Alto Douro region, and the Spanish Canary Islands. The increased frequency of weather extremes driven by climate change accelerates soil degradation, the researchers warned, pointing to the ability of intense rainfall to “quickly trigger slope failures” without optimum water conservation processes. Meanwhile, prolonged droughts can threaten already difficult and costly irrigation processes on such slopes. “The key to success lies in combining the traditional knowledge of winemakers with innovation and scientific rigor,” the researchers said. “In this way, farms can work closely with scientists to optimise investments for a more functional, sustainable, and safe agricultural landscape – a winning alliance to face these diverse natural and anthropogenic challenges.” The warning came just days after researchers at the University of East Anglia and London School of Economics suggested that climate change is likely to increase the potential for UK wine production over the next two decades. Wine growing conditions in parts of the UK could grow to resemble those in famous growing regions of France and Germany, they suggested, with new areas in England and Wales finding they are able to grow varieties rarely found at present, including still pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and riesling. But, the study published in the journal OENO One also warned that British weather will remain unpredictable, and that producers will therefore need to remain “agile”. Read More Why climate change could be good news for UK wine ‘A new way of looking at whisky’: The rise of English distilleries Independent Wine Club fair weather friends: Wines for summer sipping Follow your tastebuds to find the hidden Algarve, a foodie’s paradise far from the madding crowd
2023-08-31 16:49
China’s Top Carriers Trim Losses on Domestic Travel Rebound
China’s three largest airline companies reported significantly narrower losses for the first half of 2023 as Beijing’s lifting
2023-08-31 12:47
Bargain Airfares Disappear in India as Rivals Get Squeezed
As India’s airline market transforms into a duopoly, ticket prices that have long known to be dirt-cheap are
2023-08-31 09:21
Qantas Sued for Allegedly Selling Seats on Cancelled Flights
Qantas Airways Ltd. was sued by Australia’s competition watchdog for allegedly selling tickets for thousands of flights it
2023-08-31 08:30