Knowledge Update

Beijing, April 12 (IANS) Over 80 percent of groundwater in China is polluted and not fit for human consumption.

In its most recent monthly report, published on Monday, the water resources ministry said that of 2,103 monitored wells, water from 691, or 32.9 percent, was defined as Class

Dubai, April 11 (IANS) India-UAE trade has increased phenomenally in the last half century and at $60 billion per annum currently, has made the Gulf nation India's third largest trading partner since the last couple of years, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday.

​Beijing, April 11 (IANS) China will invest around $1.5 billion to upgrade Beijing's Zhongguancun district or the "Silicon Valley of China", an area with a strong presence of technology companies.

​Nairobi, April 11 (IANS) Kenya is fast tracking the development of disease free zones in order to boost livestock exports, an official said on Sunday.

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Principal Secretary Dr Andrew Tuimur told Xinhua in Nairobi that two disease free zones will be operational by the end of the year.

Tehran, April 10 (IANS) Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh has said Tehran mulls joining refinery projects in India, the country's Petro-Energy Information Network, SHANA, reported on Sunday.

​Tokyo, April 5 (IANS) Japanese carmaker Toyota on Tuesday announced it will collaborate with US tech giant Microsoft to improve services for cars connected to the internet in the future.

​Hong Kong, April 6 (IANS) A rare blue diamond bucked the recent downturn in the auction market when it was sold for $30.8 million at Sotheby's, setting a new record.

The "De Beers Millennium Jewel 4", a 10.10-carat oval-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond, fetched more money than any other jewel at an auction in Asia ever, Efe news agency

​Tokyo, April 4 (IANS/WAM) Kuwait's crude oil exports to Japan jumped 12.2 percent in February from a year earlier to 8.13 million barrels, or 280,000 barrels per day (bpd) -- up for the second month in a row, government data showed.

Sydney, April 3 (IANS) India's Adani Enterprises may soon start work on the mega Carmichael coal project in Australia after securing leases following the final environmental clearance by the government.

​Hyderabad, March 29 (IANS) German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday launched the S400, a new variant of its flagship luxury model, the S-Class.

It also plans to launch nine more models in India during the current year.