Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

On July 22, 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was criticised when he invited now-former Syrian President  Bashar al Assad to visit Ankara to discuss the Turkey-Syria normalisation process.  · The relationship, fractured by opposing views on Syria’s long and bloody civil war, saw Assad quickly reject the invitation by putting in unrealistic preconditions.  · Erdogan’s conservative supporters domestically and many Syrian activists were…

On the 11 December 1931, the British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster, granting complete autonomy to its six Dominions. Australia and New Zealand held back from adopting this status, but in 1947 New Zealand became the last of the Dominions to do so. · Although this country had moved from being a colony to a Dominion in 1907, few New Zealanders then wanted greater independence from the United Kingdom. Racial affinity, language,…

Ultraviolette’s forthcoming electric superbike, the F99 has achieved a new Indian quarter-mile record of 10.712 seconds. It sets the stage for the brand’s global ambitions as Ultraviolette begins retail sales in Europe – and a US release might not be too far off either. · Indian electric bikemaker Ultraviolette can’t seem to fall off the headlines … and for a good reason, too. Having just released the all-new US$10k F99 that promises a top…

Using data from twin studies conducted over many years, researchers have found a link between levels of depression and the amount of fruit and vegetables people eat each day. · Twin studies are powerful tools for untangling the roles that genetics and environment play in various traits, behaviors and conditions. Because identical twins share essentially 100% of their genes and fraternal twins share, on average, 50%, most of the differences…

Recent polling commissioned by Hobson’s Pledge shows 62% of New Zealanders support honouring the Treaty of Waitangi, provided it upholds fundamental human rights, with only 12% disagreeing. · However, the poll also found low support (13%) for the belief that the Treaty mandates 50% Māori representation in Parliament, with only Te Pāti Māori voters expressing overall agreement. · Spokesperson Don Brash argues media coverage of Te Pāti Māori’s…

In 1890, a remarkable photograph was taken. It captured the scars of a little-known American man. He was a survivor of an unimaginable ordeal in American frontier history. · The picture would continue to pass down through the ages. It was a reminder of not only a distant time in American history but of the individual it depicted – Robert McGee. · The story of Robert McGee, a young orphan who embarked on a westward migration in search of a…

Nearly three years after his last visit to India in December 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in New Delhi for the forthcoming reciprocal 23rd annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pending the announcement of specific dates. Putin’s visit will be at Modi’s invitation extended during their bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the October 2024 Kazan BRICS summit. · The two leaders had earlier met at the…

Soil health is a critical global issue. World Soil Day reminds us that degraded soils affect food security, water quality and ecosystems. Among the threats to soil ecology, micro-nano-plastics or MNPs have emerged as a significant new one. Studies suggest that the presence of MNPs in soil hampers seed germination and seedling growth. The vital physiological processes of plants are disturbed, impacting the yield and quality of produce. Plants'…