Snippets

• Scientists delayed the start of 2006 by a second through the first "leap second" in seven years -- to keep the clocks within 0.9 second of the Earth's rotational time, which can speed up or slow down because of many factors.

• The US senate recently temporarily withdrew oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while discussing the military spending bill.

• Shell faces contempt of court proceeding in Nigeria for violating the Benin High Court's order to stop gas flaring from its oil wells.

• Bamboo will be used to generate electricity in two power projects to begin soon in Assam's Jagiroad and Silchar towns -- a use developed by scientists of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

• China's criminal law has been revised: people assisting foetal gender selection leading to abortion will now be jailed.