Page 449 - Environment
Cut use of chemicals, diversify crops: FAO chief
Rome, Oct 2 (IANS/AKI) Attaining sustainable development means shifting away from high-input and resource-intensive farming and food systems towards more sustainable practices, FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said.
Plastic ban comes into effect in six Odisha cities
The Odisha government enforced a ban on the use of plastic in six cities of the state on Tuesday, coinciding with the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Chinese military opposes US 'provocation' in South China Sea
The Chinese military on Tuesday voiced firm opposition to a US Navy warship's entry into waters around China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
NASA completes 60 years of space research
US space agency NASA has completed 60 years of human space exploration, discovering the world beyond Earth and developing new technologies.
China's large amphibious aircraft conducts high-speed taxiing trials on water
China's indigenously-developed large amphibious aircraft has successfully conducted high-speed water taxiing trials on the Zhanghe reservoir. The test of the AG600 seaplane was conducted on Monday at a speed of 145 kms in the city of Jingmen of central China's Hubei Province, according to China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co Ltd (CAIGA). CAIGA, headquartered in the southern province of Guangdong, said on Tuesday that the AG600, codenamed Kunlong, was in stable condition and functioned normally during the test. Designed to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600 is powered by four domestically built turboprop engines and has a range of 12 hours. It will be mainly used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The aircraft has passed a series of tests since its maiden flight last December. It successfully finished eight taxiing tests on water at a speed of 80 km per hour and 120 km per hour.
'Spacesuits' may protect microbes destined to live in space
Scientists have developed "spacesuits" for bacteria that may allow the microbes to survive space environments that would otherwise kill them. The protective suits pair live bacteria with light-absorbing semiconductors in order to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into chemicals that can be used by industry or, someday, in space colonies. The system, developed by researchers at the University of California (UC) Berkeley in the US, mimics photosynthesis in plants. However, while plants capture carbon dioxide and, with the energy from sunlight, convert it to carbohydrates that we often eat, the hybrid system captures CO2 and light to make a variety of carbon compounds, depending on the type of bacteria. The bacteria used in the experiment are anaerobic, which means they are adapted to live in environments without oxygen. The suit -- a patchwork of mesh-like pieces called a metal-organic framework, or MOF -- is impermeable to oxygen and reactive oxygen molecules, like peroxide, which .
German government agrees to plan to cut diesel pollution
Germany's government says it has come up with a plan to help reduce pollution from diesel vehicles while easing the burden on consumers worried about costly upgrades. The issue is complicated politically in a country in love with its cars and where diesels are favoured by commuters and small businesses for their generally better efficiency and lower fuel costs. At the same time the government doesn't want to damage the country's automobile industry including manufacturers Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW by saddling it with too many upgrade costs. Its hand has been forced, however, after several cities began instituting piecemeal bans on older diesels to comply with European Union clean air rules on nitrogen oxide levels. Details on the plan were to be announced later Tuesday.
21 Asiatic lions dead in one month in Gir forest
At least 10 more lions have died in Gujarat's Gir forest, taking the overall death toll to 21 since September 11, the forest department officials confirmed on Tuesday.An official from the Gir forest department revealed that 11 lion deaths were reported between September 11 and September 19, while 10 more big cats died in the next 10 days which means one death daily.Unidentified infection in liver and kidney and internal fights between the lions are stated to be the main cause of death of the lions.Junagadh chief conservator (wildlife) Dushyant Vasavda said, "The death cases are being looked into at the National Institute of Virology and Veterinary College, Junagadh. Scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Uttar Pradesh, have been called to look into the matter. Moreover, the Gujarat government is making arrangements for required medicines and vaccinations from America."He further said, "The deaths have been reported from Sarasiya area in Dalkhaniya range. Over 2000 ..
Around 1,000 TN fishermen chased away by SL Navy, fishing nets
Nearly 1,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy for poaching fish off Katchatheevu and fishing nets of around 10 mechanised boats were snapped, a fishermen association leader said Tuesday. The fishermen from this island town had ventured into the sea in 200 boats Monday morning and were fishing in the island nation's waters when the Lankan naval personnel reached the spot and cut off the fishing nets of ten boats, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President S Emerit alleged. The fisherfolk were forced to return to the shore without a catch, last evening, he said. Around 1,500 fishermen from here were allegedly driven away by naval personnel near Katchatheevu Sunday.
Renault offers trade-in incentives for German diesel owners
BERLIN (Reuters) - France's Renault said it was offering owners of older diesel vehicles in Germany incentives to trade in their cars for newer, cleaner ones, becoming the first foreign carmaker to give in to pressure to play a role in Germany's anti-pollution efforts.
New species of hummingbird identified in Ecuador
A team of ornithologists in Ecuador has identified a new species of hummingbird: a lovely blue-green creature that lives in a cold, barren highland area and is danger of extinction. Team leader Francisco Sornoza saw one of the birds through binoculars a year ago and had a hunch that it was a previously unknown species. The bird is about 11 cm (four inches) long and has a stunning, deep blue neck, a white breast with a black stripe and greenish-blue head and body feathers. It has been given the name Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus, or blue-throated star. The discovery was announced Thursday in a journal called The Auk: Ornithological Advances. The bird lives at an altitude of 3,000 to 3,700 meters (10,000 to 12,000 feet) in an area near the Pacific coast that straddles the provinces of Loja and El Oro. Researchers estimate there are only 300 of these birds and say its habitat is shrinking dramatically. Mining in the area also threatens it. "It is a species that is in severe danger," Sornoza,
Seoul: North Korea estimated to have 20-60 nuclear weapons
South Korea says North Korea is estimated to have up to 60 nuclear weapons. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon told parliament the estimates on the size of North Korea's nuclear arsenal range from 20 bombs to as many as 60. His comment Monday was the first time a senior Seoul official publicly talked about the size of the North's secretive weapons arsenal. Cho was responding to a question by a lawmaker, saying the information came from the intelligence authorities. Cho's ministry said Tuesday his comments didn't mean that South Korea would accept North Korea as a nuclear state, suggesting Seoul's diplomatic efforts to rid the North of its nuclear program would continue. The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's main spy agency, couldn't immediately comment on his comments.
Thousands of farmers march towards Delhi
Thousands of farmers Tuesday marched towards Delhi over demands ranging from farm loan waiver to cut in fuel prices, blocking traffic movement on arterial roads leading to the national capital. National Highways leading to the national capital were swamped with farmers who came in from places as far as Gonda, Basti and Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as the sugarcane belt of western Uttar Pradesh. Police picketed the border with Uttar Pradesh, imposing prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people and holding of any public meeting, usage of any amplifier, loudspeaker, and similar instruments. The Kisan Kranti Yatra, which began from Tikait Ghat in Haridwar on September 23, was joined by farmers from various parts of Uttar Pradesh. They came on foot, in buses and tractor trolleys. They carried banners of Bhartiya Kisan Union, which gave the call for the march to press for a series of demands. "We are not seeking any alms from the government. We want our right," .
180 butterfly species recorded in Arunachal district
Around 180 species of butterflies were recorded in Seijosa area of Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng district during an annual event that encourages research and conservation of the colourful insects, officials said. Important species of butterflies, including the 'Creteus Cyrina', 'Arhopala Oenea' and 'Chersonesia Intermedia' were recorded at the three-day North East Butterfly Meet that concluded on Monday, they said. The fifth edition of the event, organised by the Butterflies of Northeast India Group, was held at the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. The meet provides a common platform for butterfly enthusiasts, wildlife researchers and staff of forest department to interact on butterfly diversity, distribution and conservation, and explore their rich diversity in the region, the officials said. Around 50 participants from different states participated in the event, including butterfly lovers from Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana,
German parties agree diesel costs deal - but keep it secret
BERLIN/HAMBURG (Reuters) - Bleary-eyed leaders of Germany's coalition parties emerged in the small hours of Tuesday morning to say they had agreed on a way of cutting pollution in cities while avoiding unpopular driving bans.
China Hebei sets strict new emissions standards for steel mills
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's Hebei province, the country's biggest steel producer, will force all its mills to comply with strict new emissions standards by 2020 as part of its campaign against air pollution, according to newly published industry guidelines.
Punjab: Administrative secretaries to monitor paddy residue burning
A high-level meeting over paddy straw burning in Punjab was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh.In the meeting, it was decided that Senior Administrative Secretaries of Punjab shall be allotted districts for monitoring of activities related to stopping of crop residue burning across the state.The Chief Secretary asked all the officers to take all possible measures to ensure that there is no burning of paddy residue in Punjab. Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board has been asked to ensure that all the incidents of paddy residue burning are properly recorded through satellite and the report of burning incidents should be shared with concerned Administrative Secretaries, DCs and other related officers. "A mechanism of 24X7 receipts of complaints from public regarding paddy straw burning will be setup," read an official statement."All the youth clubs in the State shall be geared up to spread the awareness amongst farmers against burning of .
French minister Brune Poirson to visit India on Tuesday to attend inaugural General Assembly of ISA
French Minister Brune Poirson will embark on a two-day visit to India from Tuesday on the occasion of the inaugural General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and hold talks with Indian ministers. The inaugural General Assembly of the ISA will be inaugurated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. The Founding Conference of the ISA was jointly hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron here in March this year. The ISA, formation of which was initiated by India and France, aims to bring all countries together for cooperation on solar energy. According to an official statement, "On Wednesday, Poirson along with Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh will co-chair the First Assembly of the ISA." Giving an impetus to the alliance, over 40 countries will be represented at the ISA Assembly, including 26 at the ministerial level, it said, adding all ISA ...
UN must support India's climate leadership, development efforts: Guterres
The United Nations Secretyary-General said on Monday that the world body must fully support India's leadership on climate change and its development plans.
India not in favour of reopening some clauses of Paris agreement: Official
India is not in favour of reopening some clauses of the Paris agreement on climate change and this has been largely accepted, a top Environment Ministry official said Monday. Environment Secretary C K Mishra said India will not be adversely impacted in the wake of the Trump administration pulling out of the historic climate agreement. The Paris agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. "In all our negotiations, that we are having today or we are going to have tomorrow, the US is part of it. There has been a talk of reopening of some of the clauses of Paris agreement. "India is not in favour and that has been largely accepted. So as of now, if the the US is with us, it strengthens the climate change negotiations, but I dont think we are having an ...