Page 345 - Environment
Giant mammal 'cousin' gave dinosaurs run for their money
Dinosaurs living more than 200 million years ago may have dominated the plains and grasslands of prehistoric Earth, but it turns out they still had some sizable competition. Scientists on Thursday unveiled the discovery of a gigantic mammal-like reptile the size of an elephant that they believe rubbed shoulders with large Triassic-era dinosaurs, including the relatives of sauropods such as Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus. Researchers from Polish and Swedish universities said the 10-tonne creatures -- a distant "cousin" to today's mammals -- challenge the idea that dinosaurs were the only large land animals around the time Earth had a single, enormous landmass known as Pangea. They unearthed fossilised remains belonging to a previously unknown species of dicynodont, herbivores whose size ranged from small burrowers to large grazers, and who were mostly toothless. All mammals, including humans, are descended from dicynodonts, despite their reptilian origins. They managed to survive the ...
International workshop on River Basin Management held in New Delhi
National Mission for Clean Ganga, in association with GIZ India, organised an International workshop in New Delhi on River Basin Management at different levels and the role of River Basin Organisations (RBOs) in support of Ganga Rejuvenation. It focused on institutional set-ups that are needed for RBOs to achieve and implement effective river basin management towards joint objective. It brought together around 60 representatives from various large river basins and River Basin Organisations around the world including India as well as of key authorities in the Ganga River Basin.This exchange between different stakeholders aimed to demonstrate how river basin management processes are coordinated in other large river basins making use of River Basin Organisations and related institutional set-ups at all implementation levels. The workshop was a combination of presentations, plenary and panel discussions as well as break-out groups in order to achieve the best possible exchange and ...
Vulnerable nations plead to raise ambition of climate targets by 2020
Leaders at the Climate Vulnerable Forum on Thursday called on world's governments to raise the ambition of their climate targets by 2020 in order to save vulnerable nations threatened by warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Jewar Airport: UP govt okays Rs 1,260 cr for land acquisition
The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a fund of Rs 1,260 crore for acquisition of land for the proposed Jewar airport in Gautam Buddh Nagar, according to an official document. The amount, released for acquisition in the first phase of airport construction, is to be spent for land acquisition and payment to the farmers concerned, the letter stated. A total of 5,000 hectare land is required for the development of the proposed Greenfield international airport and cost Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, officials said. For the first phase of theairport the second in the National Capital Region (NCR) 1,334 hectare land is required. 1,239 hectare land from six villages (Rohi, Dayanatpur, Parohi, Kishorpur, Ranhera and Banwariwas). "The Governor has approved sanction of Rs 1,259 crore for the acquisition of land for the Jewar Airport in the financial year 2018-19," Special Secretary Surya Pal Gangwar wrote in a letter to the director of state Civil Aviation Ministry. At a meeting held .
EDF, UAE's Nawah sign deal on operating Barakah nuclear plant
PARIS (Reuters) - French energy group EDF and Nawah Energy have signed a deal to operate and maintain the delayed Barakah power plant, which will be the first nuclear energy plant in the Arab world.
Over 60k HP houses to get gas through pipeline: CM
Over 60,000 households in six districts of Himachal Pradesh will be supplied liquefied petroleum gas through pipeline, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said here Thursday. Thakur stated this while participating in the function organised by Indian Oil-Adani Gas Private Limited (IOAG) on the occasion of foundation stones laying ceremony of city gas distribution projects for 65 geographical areas of 129 districts and the launch of 10th city gas bidding round for 50 GAs, covering 123 districts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, an official spokesperson said. The foundation stones were also laid for city gas distribution projects approved for six out of total 12 districts of the state by the union government. The CM said that IOAG would develop city gas distribution network in Sirmaur, Solan and Shimla districts, while Bharat Gas Resources Limited in Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una. Thakur thanked the prime minister on behalf of the people of the state for including six
PM, Adityanath lay foundation stones for city gas distribution projects in UP
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday laid the foundation stones for city gas distribution projects for Kushinagar, Sant Kabeernagar and Gorakhpur, an official said.
AIIMS, New Delhi donates one day salary towards Kerala flood relief funds
As Kerala struggles towards normalcy post devastating floods which left scores dead, AIIMS, New Delhi employees on Thursday donated their one-day salary towards Kerala Flood Relief Fund.
US tourist killed in Andaman violated norms: Source
Dismissing reports that the victim, John Allen Chau, was involved in missionary works, the source said: "There was also no confirmation that the victim was involved in any evangelical activities."It was further spelt out that the photographs which the deceased possessed indicated that he was an adventure sportsperson.However, the source underlined, "Chau violated all the norms. Moreover, he had also not informed the hotel (that he was visiting the area)."Describing the danger Chau took upon himself by entering the island which is inhabited by the world's most reclusive tribes, who reject any kind of contact with the outside world, the source said: "He was to a place which was highly sensitive and restricted from every point of view."Before entering the island, it is mandatory to clear three filters including permissions from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).Access to North Sentinel ...
UN Agency warns concentration of climate-change gases hits new record
The levels of heat-retaining greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere that are linked to climate change have reached a record high not seen in millions of years, according to a World Meteorological Organization report presented to the press on Thursday.
Air quality improves slightly, task force recommends stricter action to curb pollution
With an increased wind speed, the Delhi's air quality showed slight improvement Thursday and settled in the 'poor' category even as a task force recommended banning industrial and construction activities in major pollution "hotspots" if air quality turns severe. The task force also recommended stricter implementation of actions already in force by public agencies, municipal bodies, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, traffic police and other agencies responsible under the Graded Response Action Plan. Meanwhile, Congress led by its city president Ajay Maken took out a protest march at Rajiv Chowk against the "inaction" by the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP-ruled central government and the municipal bodies in containing pollution in Delhi and "to awaken them from their deep slumber." Delhi's overall air quality was in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday with four areas in the city recording 'severe' pollution due to low wind speed. On Thursday, the overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at
China, Brazil to launch new Earth resource satellite
China and Brazil will launch a new Earth resource satellite next year, according to an official with the China National Space Administration.
Rising sea levels threatening historic lighthouses
Lighthouses around the US and the world are being threatened by rising seas and erosion, requiring costly protective measures that not every place can afford. One is at the southern tip of New Jersey, where the East Point Lighthouse is in danger of being swallowed by the Delaware Bay. New Jersey officials want to help but caution it could cost millions to save the lighthouse. Similar calculations are being made regarding threatened lighthouses in many places. Lighthouses have been moved inland in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Florida and other places. But rising seas have also claimed lighthouses in Texas, Hawaii and Belize, among other places. Even shoring up the sand in front of lighthouses can cost millions and it often washes away with the tides or storms.
AIIMS employees contribute over Rs 1.7 cr to Kerala flood relief fund
Members of the AIIMS fraternity have contributed over Rs 1.7 crore to the Kerala Flood Relief Fund to help rebuild the lives of affected people in the state. Employees of AIIMS, including faculty members, nurses, resident doctors, and other staff, have contributed their one-day salary to the Fund. Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of AIIMS, handed over a cheque to Kerala Minister of Local Self Government AC Moideen on Thursday. "We all are aware that Kerala and its people suffered due to the unprecedented and devastating floods which caused heavy loss of life and property. It will take a lot of time, efforts and resources and support, small and big, from one and all to rebuild Kerala," an AIIMS statement said. "AIIMS, New Delhi, again solicits its full support in this effort and is ready to extend all support," the statement said.
Asia Rice: Indian rates gain for third week; markets eye Philippine order
BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices rose for a third straight week in India as the rupee gained, while an order from the Philippines did little to infuse activity in Thailand and Vietnam.
Saudi says new mining project to increase non-oil GDP by 3 percent
TURAIF, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Thursday inaugurated the Waad Al-Shamaal mining project which is expected to boost the kingdom's gross domestic product by 24 billion riyals ($6.4 billion) and its non-oil GDP by around 3 percent.
NMCG approves composite Sewerage Projects in Agra to save Taj Mahal
Namami Gange projects in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh worth Rs. 1573.28 crores have been approved by the Executive Committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in a meeting held on November 20.In the meeting, 10 projects worth Rs 1573.28 crores have been approved by the EC of the NMCG.In Uttar Pradesh, the projects in Agra, Kasganj, and Sultanpur have been approved at a total cost of Rs. 998.75.In a meeting held at the level of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, it was decided that a comprehensive solution needed to be worked out to address River Yamuna's pollution issues in Agra.Keeping this in mind, the project for Rehabilitation / Renovation of Agra Sewerage Scheme (Interception and Diversion Works) has been conceived at a total cost of Rs. 857.26 crore, including operation and maintenance cost for 15 years.Completion of the project is expected to drastically reduce pollution load from Agra city .
Diamer Bhasha Dam project in G-B draws widespread criticism
Demanding immediate arrangements for resettlement, Diamer Basha Dam Affected People Committee president, Attaullah called a press conference in Gilgit Press Club in the illegally occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.Addressing the press conference, he lambasted Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) officials of designing a ploy to disentitle Gilgit-Baltistan public of any compensation."The promises that were made earlier must be fulfilled," Attaullah declared, adding, "a lot of money has been involved in this. They (Government) are pushing us to outskirts. They say they will provide us plots. We cumulatively rejected their proposal. More than 30 representatives from affected villages are present here. We do not want to go from here. We do not want to go out of Diamer. We want to live in Gilgit-Baltistan. The agreement that was done should be followed.""Our talks are 'on'. We will protest against them. They will have to consider our demands, without it they cannot .
Russia hopes G20 will support multilateral approach to global trade
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hopes that all 20 members of the group of industrialised nations will support a multilateral approach to international trade regulation when they meet in Argentina next week, Russian G20 negotiator Svetlana Lukash said on Thursday.
US adventure sports enthusiast killed in Andamans violated laws; not a preacher: MHA officials
An American national, who was killed allegedly by members of a protected tribe in the Andamans, appeared to be more of an adventure sports enthusiast rather than an evangelist and violated local laws to reach the highly- restricted island, officials said Thursday. John Allen Chau, 27, neither informed the police as is required under the law nor did he take permission from the forest department and the local administration before reaching the North Sentinel Island, where two fishermen were also killed in 2006 by the Sentinelese tribals who are fiercely against any contact with outsiders, they said. "We even cannot carry out proper census in the island. We can only make an assessment of the number of people living in the island through aerial survey," a senior home ministry official said. Interestingly, the North Sentinel Island is one of 29 islands in Andamans where till June foreigners had to take special permission -- the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) -- before being allowed to visit .
