The Gateway to the South

The Gateway to the South

BY SHONA ADHIKARI New Delhi This is about Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, the gateway to the southern part of India. Like other cities in India Chennai too has had to change but interestingly, this large and undoubtedly splendid city, despite its ever growing population, it always seems to have room for more. Its […]

Festivities at Rajasthan’s Cattle Fair

Festivities at Rajasthan’s Cattle Fair

BY SHONA ADHIKARI New Delhi Dotted with majestic forts and palaces, deserts and colourful people, Rajasthan is famous for a great many fascinating and interesting festivals. Each festival has its own significance and legends – tales that can keep you entertained forever! Coming up at the end of this month is Rajasthan’s 2nd largest Cattle […]

Community Languages Multicultural Grants Stream Two Now  Open  

Community Languages Multicultural Grants Stream Two Now  Open  

The grants are part of the Australian Government’s commitment to provide $10 million over  two years to community language schools to help young Australians learn another language. Through stream two, community language schools can apply for funding of up to $25,000  for projects that build the capacity of the community language sector across Australia, such  as the development of teaching resources and professional development programs. Community language schools are encouraged to partner with language associations or  organisations, such as universities, institutes and consultants to deliver these projects. Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan  Tudge said learning a language other than English helps prepare students for a workforce  which is increasingly global and competitive. “Community language schools play an important role in helping to build strong communities  and strengthen our social cohesion,” Mr Tudge said. “We want more children and students learning a second or third language, which will in turn  have positive impacts well into the future.”     About 1000 community language schools across Australia may be eligible for the  grants. These schools specialise in 69 different languages and teach more than 100,000  school‐aged children. Applications for stream two close on 6 March 2020. Applications for stream one opened in December 2019, and close 17 February 2020. Under  stream one, eligible language schools that apply for funding will receive a base payment of $1,500, as well as a per capita amount of funding based on student enrolment numbers,  capped at a maximum of $30,000 per school per year. For more information about the Community Languages Multicultural Grants Program and  how to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub website at www.communitygrants.gov.au.

Ozone-depleting substances behind half of Arctic warming

Ozone-depleting substances caused half of Arctic warming and sea ice loss from 1955 to 2005, causing about a third of all global warming during that period, reveals a significant study. A scientific paper published in 1985 was the first to report a burgeoning hole in Earth’s stratospheric ozone over Antarctica. The discovery left scientists into […]

Australia’s platypus ‘on brink of extinction’

Australia’s platypus ‘on brink of extinction’

The platypus, an iconic Australian mammal with a duck bill and a beaver-like tail, is on the brink of extinction because of climate change and the loss of its habitat due to human development, according to a study published on Monday. The severe drought that has plagued the country since last year and has been […]