Page 41 - Environment

Seoul: 2 North Korean fishermen defect to South Korea

South Korea says two of four North Korean fishermen who were rescued off a boat drifting in South Korean waters will remain in the country after expressing their desire to defect. Seoul's Unification Ministry on Tuesday said the two other fishermen were sent back to North Korea through an inter-Korean village. The defections by the two fishermen come at a delicate time in bilateral relations between the Koreas. North Korea has significantly reduced its dialogue and engagement with South Korea since February, when a high-stakes nuclear summit between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump collapsed over disagreements on exchanging sanctions relief for disarmament.

Sun's history hidden in Moon's crust: NASA

The Moon contains clues to the ancient mysteries of the Sun, which are crucial to understanding the development of life, according to NASA scientists, including one of Indian origin. Around four billion years ago, the Sun went through violent outbursts of intense radiation, spewing scorching, high-energy clouds and particles across the solar system. These growing pains helped seed life on early Earth by igniting chemical reactions that kept Earth warm and wet, said researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the US. These solar tantrums also may have prevented life from emerging on other worlds by stripping them of atmospheres and zapping nourishing chemicals, they said. Just how destructive these primordial outbursts were to other worlds would have depended on how quickly the early Sun rotated on its axis. The faster the Sun turned, the quicker it would have destroyed conditions for habitability. This critical piece of the Sun's history has bedeviled scientists, said Prabal .

Diversifying crops will mitigate climate impact in India: Study

Diversifying the crops in India can be an effective way to adapt its food-production systems to the growing influence of extreme climate change, said US researchers including Indian-origin.

Climate change affects major crops in India: Study

India's grain production is vulnerable to climate change, say scientist who have found that the yield of the country's rice crop can significantly decline during extreme weather conditions. Researchers from Columbia University in the US studied the effects of climate on five major crops in India: finger millet, maize, pearl millet, sorghum and rice. These crops make up the vast majority of grain production during the June-to-September monsoon season -- India's main grain production period -- with rice contributing three-quarters of the supply for the season. Taken together, the five grains are essential for meeting India's nutritional needs, researchers said. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that the yields from grains such as millet, sorghum, and maize are more resilient to extreme weather. Their yields vary significantly less due to year-to-year changes in climate and generally experience smaller declines during droughts. However, yields from

EU grants FAO 15m euro for farmers in northern Iraq

Rome, June 18 (IANS/AKI) A 15 million euro European Union grant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation will aid farmers in northern Iraq's Nineveh province - once the country's 'breadbasket' - recover from the damage to their livelihoods caused by devastating conflict and displacement, FAO said in a statement on Monday.

Proper test conducted on fish, no need to panic: Rane

Allaying fears about fish that is imported in the state, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday night said proper tests are conducted on the fish to ensure that no chemical, including formalin, is used to preserve it. His statement came hours after NCP Goa MLA Churchill Alemao addressed a press conference in South Goa, urging people not to eat fish for next three months. Alemao had claimed that formalin laced fish was being imported in the state which can cause disease like cancer. Rane said there was no need to panic as proper tests were conducted on the fish that is imported in the state to ensure that no chemical, including formalin, is used to preserve it. He issued a statement informing about the steps taken by the state government. "With all seriousness, I would like to inform the people of Goa that the fish imported in the state is been thoroughly checked, not only by the state government but also via the central government agencies," he said. "Chief Minister Pramod ...

India accounts for 6.3% of global fish production: Fisheries dept

India is the second largest fish producing country in the world as it accounts for 6.3 per cent of the global fish production, a release by the Fisheries Department said Monday. It also said the fisheries sector in the country is growing at the rate of 7 per cent, sustaining 14.5 million fishermen. The release quoted Rajni Sekhri Sibal, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, as saying that there is a huge potential in harnessing tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In her inaugural address at the 23rd session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Sibal said 30 per cent of the Indian EEZ is spread across the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, but only 1 per cent comprises production of tuna fish. Emphasising the need for regional cooperation between IOTC member countries, the official said there is a need for responsible and sustainable management of tuna. The IOTC has to ensure that there is a level playing field between developed and ...

60 tourist vehicles stranded as cloudburst brings torrential rain in North Sikkim

As many as 60 tourist vehicles have been stranded in North Sikkim after a cloudburst triggered torrential rain in several areas of the district on Monday, an official said. The vehicles got stuck between Lachen and Zema 3 due to the rain, North Sikkim District Collector Raj Yadav said. Efforts are underway to evacuate the stranded tourists first to Lachen and then to Gangtok possibly by Tuesday if the weather becomes clear, the official said without mentioning the number of visitors. Chief Minister P S Golay directed the authorities to clear the road as soon as possible for passage of the vehicles carrying tourists to their respective destinations. Golay also directed the authorities to extend all help to the tourists and the general public who are suffering because of the calamity, an official release said here. The North Sikkim district collector said it has been decided not to issue tourist permit for the time for Dzongu, Lachen and Lachung due to the inclement weather ...

3000 police personnel search for 40 Maoists in eastern Telangana

Bhadradri Kothagudem district Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt on Monday said close to 40 Maoists are roaming in villages of eastern Telangana to spread propaganda."Almost 40 Maoists are roaming in villages like Karakagudem, Edulla Bayyaram, Gundala, Manuguru and are engaged in spreading malicious propaganda about lands. They are led by Haribhushan, Damodar, Lacchanna, Reena, Rajireddy alias Venkanna, Bhadru, Mangu, and Manglu," Dutt told ANI here.He informed that a combing operation by the state police is ongoing and close to 3000 personnel are searching the entire forest area to nab the Maoists."Close to 3000 policemen are searching the entire forest area. Since almost one week, wall posters with photos of Maoists are being spread in the area."The SP further added that those who give specific and accurate information about the Maoists will be rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs. "The details of the informers will be kept a secret," Dutt said.

Only BS-6 vehicles to be available from next year: Javadekar

Only BS-6 vehicles will be available from next year onwards, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Monday, noting that vehicles contribute 20-22 per cent of pollution in the country. "In Delhi, BS-6 fuel was started. Vehicles that will be available from next year will support BS-6 fuel only. The small part of the peripheral way is left and the bypass that was not made in 20 years was completed. Today, 60,000 trucks, which do not have any work in Delhi, now don't enter Delhi," he tweeted. The minister said pollution is a problem not just in the national capital, but in other parts of the world too. "Pollution is not just in Delhi. There are many types of pollution in different countries of the world. Today vehicles contribute 20-22% of pollution," he said in a series of tweets. The minister said fighting pollution is an everyday task but the country is in a direction of improvement. "Fighting pollution is an everyday work. There is a reduction in crop burning in Punjab and ...

DDA's planning body approves signal-free integrated transit corridor project

The DDA's planning body Monday approved a proposal for a signal-free integrated transit corridor between two traffic light junctions as part of a national highway in Delhi, officials said. A PWD project, the proposed corridor spans between Jwala Heri Market traffic light junction and Jwalapuri traffic light junction and forms a section of the NH10. The corridor connects various residential areas such as Punjabi Bagh, Mundka, Paschim Vihar, Nangloi and other important areas, they said. The decision was approved by Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) in its 60th Governing Body Meeting, held under the chairmanship of Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal. The UTTIPEC approved the integrated transit corridor development project and street network and connectivity plan for the corridor of Rohtak Road, NH-10, with the condition to incorporate provisions for adequate space for safe movement of pedestrians in the stretch, the DDA said in a ..

Centre should encourage concept of land leasing, land pooling: SBI Report

The Centre should encourage the concept of land leasing and land pooling as is being currently practised in states such as UP and Haryana to ensure availability of land for industrial and infrastructure projects, according to a report. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, is governing land acquisition in India currently. An amendment bill in 2015 was passed in the Lok Sabha, however the same was blocked in Rajya Sabha and is still with the Parliamentary Committee, SBI Ecowrap report said. "While we await the recommendations, we strongly believe that the bill should clarity some aspects including public purpose," it said. Besides, it should set the consent threshold at no more than 60 per cent for both public-private partnership (PPP) and private projects and the time taken for acquisition must be set at not more than 12 months from existing limit of 42 months. Compensation must be reasonable and linked to market value accounting for market imperfections or .

No scope for cargo vessels in Goa projects under 'Sagarmala'

The Goa Port department Monday said there was no scope for cargo vessels in various projects to be undertaken in the state under the Centre's ambitious 'Sagarmala' programme. Sagarmala aims to modernise ports in the country so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute growth. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Monday reviewed the projects to be undertaken in the coastal state under the Central programme. "The captain of Ports department giving a power point presentation on the status of the projects to be taken up in the state underscored the importance of development of various projects as they are passenger-centric. The Port Administration made it clear to the chief minister that there is no scope for cargo vessels in these projects," an official release said.

New hedgehog sign to warn UK drivers of small wildlife hazards

The UK will introduce new road signs featuring a picture of a hedgehog to warn drivers of potential hazards caused by the spiny creatures and other small wildlife, a media report said Monday. The new signs will be placed in areas with large numbers of animals such as hedgehogs, otters, squirrels and badgers. Current signs focus on smaller species such as toads, or deer and livestock. The Department for Transport (DfT) says it hopes to help prevent accidents and reverse a decline in wildlife numbers, the BBC reported. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling called on local authorities and animal welfare groups to identify accident and wildlife hotspots where the new signs should be located. Recent estimates put the hedgehog population in England, Wales and Scotland at about one million, compared with 30 million in the 1950s. Research suggests hedgehogs are disappearing more rapidly in the countryside, as hedgerows and field margins are lost to intensive farming, and the DfT says the sign is

2 college students drown in river in AP

Two college students drowned in a river in a deep forest area in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh Monday, police said. The victims along with another friend had gone to the forest area in Maredumillai Mandal on a picnic and entered the Pamuleru Vagu for a swim when the tragedy struck them. The two, aged 22 and 23, drowned even as their friend tried in vain to save them, police said. On information, police reached the place and recovered the bodies.

Squids could survive under climate change: Study

While climate change and increasing pollution continues to haunt human beings, squids have nothing to worry about.According to a recent study, squids will survive and may even flourish under even the worst-case ocean acidification scenarios.According to the research team, squids live on the edge of their environmental oxygen limitations due to their energy-taxing swimming technique."Their blood is highly sensitive to changes in acidity, so we expected that future ocean acidification would negatively affect their aerobic performance," said Blake Spady, lead researcher of the study published in the Journal of Conservation Physiology.Researchers suggested that atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased from 280 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial revolution to more than 400 ppm today. Scientists project atmospheric CO2--and by extension CO2in the oceans--may exceed 900 ppm by the end of this century unless current CO2 emissions are curtailed.But when the team tested ...

Heavy rain after cloudburst in North Sikkim

Several areas of North Sikkim experienced heavy rain on Monday following a cloudburst in the upper reaches of Teesta river, an official said. The Teesta III hydro power project authorities have released 600 cusecs of water from the Chungathang dam following inundation of the area, North Sikkim District Collector Raj Yadav said. The people of Lachen and Chungthang are alerted about the situation, he said. A heavy inflow of muddy water and logs was reported to be coming towards Dickchu Teesta V dam from 2.30 pm onwards due to the cloudburst, the district collector said. Residents of Singtam and Rangpo have been alerted about the sudden spate in Teesta river through its downstream which flows downwards through East Sikkim.

UN human rights rapporteur for N Korea to visit Seoul

Tomás Ojea Quintana, UN special rapporteur on the human rights in North Korea, on Monday began his sixth South Korea visit, aimed at meeting government representatives, defectors and activists.

Rescued bear cub goes missing in southwest France

A malnourished bear cub found wandering alone through a French village last week has escaped from the home of its appointed carer, triggering a major search, local authorities said Monday. The cub, believed to be about five months old, has very little chance of survival unless found in the coming hours, according to authorities in Tarn, a southwestern region in the French Pyrenees. Weighing a mere eight kilogrammes (18 pounds), it presents "no danger to humans," officials said in a statement. The little bear, which was separated from its mother before being weaned, was very weak when found in Couflens, a village on the French-Spanish border. After being caught by agents from France's national hunting and wildlife agency ONCFS, it was taken in by a person licensed to keep wild animals in Saint-Pierre-de-Trivisy, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Toulouse. No details about how the cub escaped were immediately available. A team of 12, including three ONCFS wildlife experts, were ...

Prohibitory orders in Bihar's Gaya due to heat wave

In an unprecedented move, authorities in Bihar's Gaya district on Monday imposed prohibitory orders as a preventive measure in view of the severe heat wave that claimed 31 lives so far, officials said.