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Coming soon: Harry Potter theme park

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 16 (ANI): Harry Potter fans can soon experience the thrills of the adventures of the hugely popular boy wizard, for a new theme park based on the hit franchise is set to open next year.

The theme park, called ‘The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter’, is set to open in spring 2010 at Universal Studios, the Orlando resort has announced.he park is being developed in coordination with J.K. Rowling, the author of the immensely successful books, which have been adapted into films.

Recreating the fabled Hogwarts school that Potter and his friends attend, as well as the nearby village of Hogsmeade, the theme park promises a “completely immersive environment” for visitors.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” the Telegraph quoted Tom Williams, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, as saying.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth,” he added.

In fact, visitors at a replica of the Three Broomsticks, one of Hogsmeade’s popular pubs, will be treated to traditional British fare and have the chance to sip on Butterbeer – Potter’s tipple of choice.

The park will also feature theme rides, including the ‘Flight of the Hippogriff’, which will simulate a training flight on the magical, quick-to-offend creature.

Those who lobed the fast-paced wizard sport Quidditch, will also have a chance to participate in a simulated Triwizard Tournament, as well as examine Quidditch equipment and even the elusive Golden Snitch at several Hogsmeade shops.

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imaginations of fans of all ages and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. (ANI)

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World’s largest bats on the verge of extinction in Peninsular Malaysia due to hunting

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, August 26 (ANI): The world’s largest species of fruit bat, Pteropus vampyrus, could be driven to extinction in Peninsular Malaysia at the current hunting rate, scientists have warned.

They say that around 22,000 of these bats, also known as “large flying fox”, are legally hunted each year in Peninsular Malaysia, a level that is unsustainable based on their estimates of the number of bats in the country.

Dr Jonathan Epstein, a veterinary epidemiologist at Wildlife Trust, surveyed 33 roost sites across Peninsular Malaysia and repeatedly counted the numbers of bats at eight sites between 2003 and 2007.

Writing about their work in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology, he and his colleagues revealed that they compared this data along with the number of hunting licenses issued by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks using computer models to see whether the number of bats hunted each year was sustainable.

The researchers also used satellite transmitters attached to bats to see how far the species migrated, and found that they travelled from Malaysia to Indonesia and Thailand.

The Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, which regulates the hunting of flying foxes, also participated in the current study because there was interest in generating data to help assess the impact of current hunting rates.

It was observed that, based on the average number of licenses issued each year, around 22,000 flying foxes per year were allowed to be killed in Peninsular Malaysia, yet this rate was unsustainable even with the most optimistic population level of 500,000 assumed by their model.

The researchers reckon that this level of hunting will drive the species to extinction in between six and 81 years.

Epstein says: “Our models suggest that hunting activity over the period between 2002 and 2005 in Peninsular Malaysia is not sustainable, and that local populations of Pteropus vampyrus are vulnerable to extinction. Now that we know that these bats migrate between Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, coordinated assessments of their status throughout their range will be important for developing effective management strategies. Any additional hunting pressure on this species that occurs in Thailand or Indonesia may hasten the population’s decline.”

Epstein and his colleagues suggest that a temporary ban be imposed on hunting flying foxes so that their population can recover, and the species can be saved from local extinction.

“Our study illustrates that bats, like other migratory species, require comprehensive protection by regional management plans across their range,” says Epstein.

The study’s findings have prompted the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to review their policy on bat hunting. (ANI)

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‘Free sex shows’ turn NY hotel tourist attraction

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New York, Aug 25 (ANI): The plush Standard hotel in New York has become a tourist attraction as randy guests are performing sex acts in front of the floor-to-ceiling hotel windows.

Guests at the hotel have been spotted romping, drying off and even pleasuring themselves in full view of onlookers.

People strolling in the newly opened High Line urban park near the hotel are witnessing a free peep show and now more people are flocking to the area to catch a glimpse.

Andre Landeros Michel, 34, a Chelsea designer, who regularly ventures over to view randy Standard guests having sex in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows in full view of the park, said that it’s a

“It’s a little peep show-but instead of being on 42nd Street, it’s down here at the High Line,” the New York Post quoted Landeros Michel as saying.

A Parks Department worker said that plenty of people come to the park specifically to watch the erotic exhibitionism.

Harlem resident Aaron Lipman, 34, a media research analyst who works near the park, said: “I think it’s healthy and fun — it’s flirtatious. It’s like ‘Wild Kingdom.’ (ANI)

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Anna Faris ties the knot with actor beau

August 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Aug 13 (ANI): Scary Movie star Anna Faris has confirmed that she has married actor Chris Pratt.

“Anna Faris and Chris Pratt were married in a small ceremony in Bali on July 9,” People magazine quoted her representative as saying.

The newly wed couple was spotted at the summer party celebrating the Malibu Reef Check Partnership.

Faris, who was the host, flashed her engagement ring, while Pratt had his gold wedding band on.

The ‘House Bunny’ star is apparently very glad of her beau.

She said: “He’s awesome. He’s a great, great guy. I feel really lucky.”

The pair had earlier dismissed reports of a Hawaiian wedding.

In their future projects Anna, will be using her voice in an animation’Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’, while Chris stars in the show Parks and Recreation. (ANI)

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121 breeding tigers in Nepal spells new ray of hope for the species

July 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 28 (ANI): Conservationists worrying about the fate of the majestic tiger can now breathe a sign of relief as about 121 breeding tigers are estimated to have been found in Nepal.

The figures announced by the Nepal Government’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) shows the presence of 121 (100 – 194) breeding tigers in the wild within the four protected areas of Nepal.

The 2008 tiger population estimate was jointly implemented by the DNPWC, Department of Forests (DOF), WWF, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) with support from Save The Tiger Fund (STF), WWF-US, WWF-UK, WWF International and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

“To obtain reliable population estimates of wide ranging species like the tiger, it is important to undertake the survey simultaneously in all potential habitats,” said Dr. Rinjan Shrestha, Conservation Biologist with WWF Nepal.

Previous studies had been undertaken in different time periods and at different spatial scales.

“To derive information on both abundance and distribution of tigers, the current survey employed two methods – Camera Trapping method inside the protected areas and Habitat Occupancy survey both inside and outside the protected areas,” said Dr. Shrestha.

“The tiger numbers have increased in Chitwan but decreased in Bardia and Shuklaphanta,” said Anil Manandhar, Country Representative, WWF Nepal.

“In spite of the decade long insurgency, encroachment, poaching and illegal trade, the present numbers is a positive sign, but we can’t remain unworried.

The declining numbers in western Nepal has posed more challenges, needing a concerted effort to save this charismatic endangered species focusing on anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trade,” he added.

The Government of Nepal has approved and launched the ‘Tiger conservation Action Plan 2008- 2012′.

A comprehensive management plan has been devised in which the target is to increase the population of tigers by 10 per cent within the first 5 year period of the plan implementation.

“Tigers can not be saved by the effort of a single individual or a single organization,” said Gopal Prasad Upadhyay, Director General, DNPWC.

“The transboundary relation with India needs to be strengthened further and all organizations should work together to conserve tigers,” he added. (ANI)

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Like humans, birds too avoid inbreeding

June 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 30 (ANI): Scientists have found that a strictly monogamous species of bird has the ability to choose partners with a different genetic profile.

The researchers, led by Richard Wagner from the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, said avoidance of inbreeding is evident among humans, and has been demonstrated in some shorebirds, mice and sand lizards. Now the black-legged kittiwake bird has been added to that list.

The scientists said they tracked 10 genetic markers to investigate whether kittiwakes avoid inbreeding by pairing with genetically distant mates, and whether inbreeding reduces the number of chicks they raised.

They found most pairs avoid inbreeding more often than expected by chance, suggesting kittiwakes can somehow tell who their relatives are in a large anonymous population.

The researchers said their study provides the first evidence of inbreeding avoidance in a strictly monogamous species, in which both parents contribute to rearing offspring.

Wagner conducted the study in collaboration with Etienne Danchin from Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France, as well as researchers from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Parks, the Alaska Science Center and the University of Bern.

The study appears in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. (ANI)

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Roemer nominated as US envoy to India

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 28 (ANI): President Barack Obama has announced his intent to nominate Timothy J. Roemer as the new U.S. Ambassador to India.

Announcing nominations to several key administration posts on May 27, the President said “I am grateful that these distinguished Americans have agreed to help represent the United States and strengthen our partnerships abroad at this critical time for our nation and the world. I am confident they will advance American diplomacy as we work to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I look forward to working with them in the years and months ahead.”

A statement issued by the US Embassy in New Delhi said Roemer is President of the Center for National Policy (CNP) in Washington, D.C.

Before joining the CNP, he represented the 3rd District of Indiana for six terms as a U.S. Congressman, from 1991 to 2003.

Congressman Roemer served as a member of the 9/11 Commission, as well as the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism. He currently serves on the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Presidential Task Force on Combating the Ideology of Radical Extremism, and the National Parks Second Century Commission.

As a distinguished scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Congressman Roemer works with Members of Congress and staff to improve public policy outcomes by teaching on the legislative branch and policy analysis.

Congressman Roemer holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego and a M.A. and PhD. from the University of Notre Dame.(ANI)

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Tim Roemer likely to be US Ambassador to India

April 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Tim Roemer, the former Democrat Congressman from Indiana and an ex-member of 9/11 Commission, will be the next US Ambassador to India, a prestigious US foreign policy magazine has said on its web post.

Roemer is currently the president of Centre for National Policy (CNP), a Washington-based think tank.

Besides heading the CNP, Roemer serves on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, according to his bio-data posted on the CNP website. The Commission is a bipartisan one created by Congress in 2007 as an outgrowth of the reforms put forth by the 9/11 Commission to examine how the US can best address this threat to its national security.

In addition, he serves on the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Presidential Task Force on Combating the Ideology of Radical Extremism, and the National Parks Second Century Commission.

Roemer, 52, who represented Indiana’s Third District from 1991 to 2003, was among the one who had endorsed Obama in his early electoral campaign phase. It is said that his support was a prime reason for Obama’s victory in Indiana.

Roemer’s name was earlier in circulation for the post of CIA Director, which ultimately went to Leon Panetta.

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NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres

April 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – A pair of series premieres Thursday night gave NBC hope for an eleventh-hour comeback this season.

The 10 p.m. debut of the network’s new cop drama “Southland” was narrowly topped by the premiere of CBS’ mystery-thriller “Harper’s Island,” while Amy Poehler’s comedy “Parks and Recreation” opened to a solid number.

“Southland” (9.9 million viewers), from “ER” producer John Wells, built solidly on its “30 Rock” lead-in (6.7 million).

“Harper’s Island” pulled in more viewers (10.2 million), but it lost a big chunk of its “CSI” lead-in (16.7 million), and lost viewers during the telecast. ABC aired repeats.

NBC surrounded 8:30 p.m.’s “Parks” (6.9 million) with two original episodes of “The Office” (7.3 million and (8 million). It replaced “Kath and Kim,” which premiered to 7.5 million viewers last October and went on to average 4.9 million during its 17-episode run.

Neither of NBC’s premieres posted numbers the fourth-ranked network would have celebrated last fall. But coming near the end of another difficult season, they’re refreshing in the wake of dismal performances by the likes of “Kings” and “Chopping Block.”

“Clearly it’s a marathon and not a sprint, but we’re really invested in these shows, and they are really super-high quality, and last night gives us some space and belief that they’ll continue to perform,” NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman said.

“Southland” and “Parks” demonstrated what could be described as “inconclusive potential” Thursday night, and the network hopes that when heavy-hitting ABC returns to originals in two weeks, the new shows will hold their own.

(Editing by Dean Gooodman at Reuters)

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Canada’s caribou face growing risk

April 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s 36,000-strong population of woodland caribou will shrink over the next century and those animals that live in areas heavy in energy production and logging are at greatest risk, according to a major report released on Thursday.

The Conservative government — which received the report last June but has only made it public now — angered conservationists by saying the document was not detailed enough and called for more studies.

Ottawa denied it had sat on the report, saying it needed time to study a complex topic. Environmental critics regularly accuse the government of not caring about green issues and of being too close to the energy industry.

Unlike the other more common types of caribou, which migrate across Canada’s northern tundra and Arctic in huge herds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the woodland caribou live further south in the boreal forests that stretch across the entire country. There are 57 herds in all.

The study, compiled by a group of 18 caribou experts, said 29 of the herds were not self-sustaining. Many of the herds most at risk were in the energy-producing western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“The inherent risks associated with a small population size warrant a cautious approach when considering potential resilience to any additional disturbance,” it concluded.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, which has long campaigned to protect the woodland caribou, said the report showed the animals were in more trouble than anyone realized.

“We are calling for an immediate pause to logging and new development activity in critical caribou habitat,” said the society’s Aran O’Carroll.

The federal environment ministry said the report needed to look further into the effect of human activity on the caribou.

“It does not provide enough detail about the habitat disturbance that can be tolerated by caribou populations and still maintain long-term persistence,” said a spokeswoman.

She said the ministry would produce a strategy in mid-2011 to protect the animals.

“We completely disagree with that. We think it is the most scientifically conclusive report ever produced on the species,” O’Carroll told Reuters.

In early 2007, specialists said they were worried by the falling population of barren-ground caribou in Canada’s vast Northwest Territories. They blamed factors such varying climate, insect levels, the amount of food available, and the number of predators.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren)

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Monkey menace, a poll issue in Shimla

April 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Shimla, Apr 9 (ANI): The general elections approaching, the monkey menace in Shimla has become a major poll issue.

Among the worst hit areas are Hamirpur, Sirmour, Solan, Kangra, Mandi andhimla districts covering almost all four parliamentary seats of Himachalradesh.

Most of the farmers grow fruits and crops such as maize and wheat. But monkeys are destroying the crop. They want to elect a candidate who can assure them riddance from the monkeys.

As a farmer, Shyamlal from Pantegli village said, “The monkeys destroy whatever we sow in the fields. The monkeys are shifting from the city to the villages. We used to sow maize but that was completely destroyed by the monkeys.”

The farmers believe that the politicians promise to find a permanent solution to the monkey problem during elections, only to forget afterward.

In the 11th Assembly elections too, farmers had made it a poll issue. After the elections, the State Government tried to open Primate Protection Parks but these proved to be a complete failure.

Sterilization of the monkeys is a solution but not much has been done in this regard.

“As per the Wildlife Institution of India, until 70 per cent of any species is sterilized, the population of the species cannot be controlled. But over the years, the BJP and the Congress Governments are saying that they will establish sterilization centres in Shimla, Una and Hamirpur districts to curb the monkey menace and spend 20 million for the purpose. But till today, all they could do was sterilize 4000 monkeys and that too of all age groups,” said Kuldeep Tanvar, a social worker and a Communist party of India leader.

An amendment in the Wildlife Protection Act is needed to tackle the problem. There is also a need to reintroduce the export policy, for exporting monkeys for biomedical research, which was in practice before 1978. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)

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Russell Crowe-starrer Robin Hood to be shot in Wales, not Sherwood

March 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Mar 30 (ANI): The new version of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and Vanessa Redgrave, will be shot not in Sherwood Forest but in Wales.

Around 600 people and up to 100 horses will descend upon Pembrokeshire in West Wales in the National Parks Authority of Freshwater West from August to film Sir Ridley Scott’s project.

According to project’s bosses, the real Sherwood Forest is thought to be unsuitable for filming because of strict conservation laws, which would not permit a large scale “invasion” by film crew and their vehicles, reports The Telegraph.

Bob White, chairman of the World Wide Robin Hood Society, says: “It is a shame that the film is unable to be shot in its traditional location.

“Sherwood Forest today bears little resemblance to the huge expanses of woodland that existed in Robin Hood’s day and those remaining parts of the ancient forest are protected within an important heritage conservation site.” (ANI)

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Kids living in greener neighbourhoods are more active

March 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Mar 13 (ANI): A new study has found that kids living in greener neighbourhoods are more active.

Researchers from Universite de Montreal, Canada have shown that the presence of nearby parks was strongly associated with girls walking to school and boys engaging in leisure walking.

For every additional park located within a half mile of their home, researchers found, the likelihood of walking to school more than doubled among girls and leisure walking by boys increased by 60 percent.

“There was a strong association between walking and the number of nearby public open recreational spaces, including neighborhood parks, playgrounds and sports fields,” said Tracie A. Barnett, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a researcher at Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center and Universit de Montral in Montreal, Canada.

“We were able to relate the proximity and number of parks to how often children aged 8-10 years walked. This is important because active transportation is a promising public health strategy for increasing overall physical activity, and for helping to curb the obesity epidemic.

“We know that walking to school has been decreasing steadily for the past 30 years; concurrent increases in overweight and obesity suggest that these two phenomena may be linked,” she added.

For the analysis, the researchers looked at 600 kids enrolled into the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth (QUALITY) study.

Researchers examined the relationship between park availability and proximity, and walking. All the children were considered at high risk for future obesity because at least one of their parents was obese.

“Obesity in children and adolescents has tripled in the past 20 or so years,” Barnett said.

“Although obesity has many causes, this relatively sudden and steep increase suggests that the drivers of the obesity epidemic are largely environmental rather than biological or genetic in nature.

“Parks may benefit girls and boys differently, but are associated with increased overall walking for both.

“In the past few decades we have become more sedentary due to the increased use of labor-saving devices, motorized transportation, television and computers.

“In addition, children are spending more time inside, yet we know that spending time outdoors is an important determinant of activity,” she added.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s Conference on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism. (ANI)

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Australia pitches in to help fight bush fires in Victoria; death toll climbs to 84

February 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Feb.8 (ANI): With the death toll from bush fires in Victoria reaching at least 84 by 9.30 p.m. Australian time, the other five states, the federal government and authorities in New Zealand have offered personnel and other assistance.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pledged that the Australian army would join efforts to overcome the bushfires, on top of special welfare payments to those in need.

From the Australian Capital Territories, 90 firefighters and support personnel planned to set out on Sunday night for the northeast Victorian town of Beechworth to help battle deadly bushfires in the region, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesman said they would begin their first shifts on Monday morning, backed by 10 light and heavy tankers, while ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope offered his sympathies to the people of Victoria.

“Every Canberran that was touched by the 2003 ACT bushfires has some idea of what the many Victorian families and communities are going through during this difficult time, and our hearts go out to them,” he said in a statement.

“In particular, we offer our condolences and deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones in this terrible natural disaster.”

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) was to dispatch personnel, including 16 disaster victim identification (DVI) officers to help locate, recover and identify Victorian bushfire victims.

Tasmania Police also offered to deploy a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team on Monday, while a team of specialist firefighters from the Tasmania Fire Service, Forestry Tasmania, and Parks and Wildlife Service were also expected in Melbourne on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday, South Australian Premier Mike Rann said special crews from the Department for Environment and Heritage, who specialise in fighting deep forest fires, would head to Victoria while also pledging the assistance of Department for Families and Communities staff who would “help with the rebuilding of lives”.

Following talks with Victorian Premier John Brumby early on Sunday, NSW Premier Nathan Rees committed personnel and resources to Victoria, including up to 250 firefighters, 50 tankers, search and rescue personnel, identification experts and paramedics, while also denying the allocation would leave NSW’s bushfires under-resourced.

Across the Tasman, the New Zealand government said it was considering sending help to Australian states ravaged by bushfires.

“We are concerned at the devastation taking place in Australia. If we can help our friends in Australia we will do, so I have asked for some advice on that,” New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said earlier on Sunday.

“Australians are always certain to help us out if we need it.” (ANI)

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Punjab holds big potential for the IT sector

January 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mohali, Jan.27 (ANI): The northern State of Punjab promises a huge business potential for those willing to invest in the Information Technology (IT) sector.

The State is fast emerging as an information technology destination.

Thanks to pro-IT policies of the State government, Punjab is globally competitive and a leading State in the field of information technology.

Availability of needed infrastructure and skilled manpower has attracted multinationals to invest in Punjab.

Chandigarh-based Seasia Consulting is an ISO-Certified premier software development company, providing its customers with the most modern and competitive IT solutions.

Established in 1997, Seasia Consulting has annual sales around one million dollars and caters to clients in USA, Europe and Africa.

Col.(Retd.) Anil Khanna, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seasia Consulting, said: “PTU (Punjab Technical University) at Jalandhar has about 142 colleges under it. These colleges are producing enough technical manpower to work in these companies. So the smallest amount required for a particular area to develop is already there.

“Previously, individuals used to go to south India-Hyderabad, Bangalore-to find jobs. Now they don’t have to go. So that the critical mass has already been achieved now if anybody (businessman) is willing to come here, he has ready manpower. In about six months time, Chandigarh is going to have an international airport. All the customers from around the globe can land directly at Chandigarh and do business,” Khanna added.

Ajay Tewari, the Chief Executive Officer, Smart Data, says: ” We don’t belong to this region originally. We are not from Punjab or Chandigarh area. We came here for the reason, we picked up strictly due to the similarity between Chandigarh region with, to large extent with what we see in the Silicon Valley-in open mindedness high network income people, a very strong focus on education exposure, and, I would say, a very good support from the Govt. agencies.”

Already 260 companies have registered with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and 135 out of these are exporting their services actively.

In fact, in 2007-08, the software exports from Chandigarh and Mohali region were a staggering 117 million USD.

Ajay Srivastava, Asst.Director, STPI in Mohali, says: “We already have big investments like INFOSYS, DHEL, QUARK. An echo system has been developed so, there is always a good road map for new bigger investment to come into this region. The best thing that I can see is, presently, if you see there is a slowdown in a economy, so it’s a very good time for us to gear up for attracting the next investment in this region.”

Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula have been able to attract IT bigwigs like Infosys and Dell. And, the opportunities are there for others as well.

Challenger cities like Ahmedabad and Chandigarh have done well to become a part of the challengers’ list according to a recent survey by AT Kearney. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

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New York City to sell 700 cars to cut costs

January 2, 2009 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

New York – The gloomy financial picture has prompted New York City to put 700 vehicles in its car fleet up for sale by the end of March, the New York Times reported Friday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued the order as part of a New Year’s message, announcing that the city’s fleet of 6,800 cars must lose some weight. The order affects everyone from police to parks administrators and health officials.

The move will not only save the city 20 million dollars but also contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions, Bloomberg said. Emergency and rescue vehicles were exempted from the order. (dpa)

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