Australian authorities have raised the level of threat due to coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef after an increased loss of corals was detected north of the reef, its most unpolluted zone.
The bleaching seen on the reef is of great concern, and this just re-emphasises how important it is that we urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Great Barrier Reef, declared a Heritage Site by Unesco, extends up to 2,300 km in northeast Australia and is the world\'s largest coral system.
Exports dipped 5.66 percent to USD 20.73 billion due to contraction in shipments of petroleum and engineering goods amid tepid global demand.
Trade deficit fell to near five-year low of USD 6.54 billion during February as imports too slowed down.
The trade deficit - difference between imports and exports - is the lowest since March 2011 when it was USD 5.6 billion.
Exports will continue to face challenging times in 2016 and improvement is expected from the last quarter of 2016.
Cairn Energy Slapped with Tax Demand Notice
The Income Tax Department has slapped on UK\'s Cairn Energy plc a tax demand notice of over Rs. 29,000 crore, including Rs. 18,800 crore in back dated interest.
It is the second firm to have received retrospective tax notice this year after Vodafone Group.
The tax demand notice came at a time when the government had insisted that it will not raise any fresh tax demand using retrospective tax legislation.
Scientists have designed new contact lenses that can adjust focus within milliseconds. The contact lens could be life-changing for people with presbyopia, a stiffening of the eye\'s lens that makes it difficult to focus on close objects.
The project requires overcoming several engineering challenges.
Senior Congress member Anand Sharma was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh.
The only candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state, which fell vacant on the expiry of BJP member Bimla Kashyap\'s term, Sharma was declared elected by the returning officer and secretary of Vidhan Sabha after the last date for withdrawal was over.
This would be fourth Rajya Sabha term of Sharma who was elected to the upper house twice from Himachal Pradesh in 1984 and 2004. In 2010, he was elected from Rajasthan.