Page 86 - Environment

Taiwan says 2 US warships sail through Taiwan Strait Taiwan

Two US warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait in the latest apparent move by Washington to challenge China's claims in the region. Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement the ships passed through from south to north on Wednesday without incident, adding they were free to sail in the Taiwan Strait. There was no immediate response from China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. Last month, Beijing complained about a French ship entering Chinese territorial waters as it passed through the strait. China maintains a more ambiguous boundary than defined by international treaty and has asserted a claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is contiguous with the Taiwan Strait. Such passages through the strait by the U.S. Navy are seen as a show of support for Taiwan, a close American ally despite their lack of formal diplomatic relations. The US has also pushed back against China's sweeping territorial claims in disputed South China Sea waters by sailing near ...

Massive water reservoir discovered on Mars

Scientists have discovered one of the largest water reservoirs on Mars, in the form of ice layers buried over a kilometre beneath the surface, a finding that may reveal whether the Red Planet was habitable in the past. The team from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona in the US estimate that if melted, the massive ice deposits discovered in this region would cover the planet in 1.5 metres of water. Researchers made the discovery using measurements gathered by the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). SHARAD emits radar waves that can penetrate up to a mile and a half beneath the surface of Mars. The findings, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, are important because the layers of ice are a record of past climate on Mars in much the same way that tree rings are a record of past climate on Earth. Studying the geometry and composition of these layers could tell scientists whether climate conditions were ...

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone to develop and operate container terminal at Yangon Port in Myanmar

The proposed container terminal at Myanmar is part of APSEZ strategy to expand its container terminal network in South-East Asia. This will also act as a network point to feed into our upcoming transshipment hub at Vizhinjam. Furthermore, the proposed container terminal will be integrated with our Ports/Terminals along the east and south coast of India, unlocking synergies by offering multiple entry/exit points for the shipping lines which wish to call on this region.

Vice President calls for equitable and people-centred sustainable development

Observing that sustainable development mandates the efficient and frugal use of available natural resources including biodiversity, the Vice President said a grave challenge we face today is the destruction of forests and the loss of species. Expressing his concern over the loss of trees at an unbelievable pace due to deforestation, urbanization, industrialization, and pollution, Shri Naidu said India's forest cover stands at 21% against global standard of 33.3%. India has lost over 1.6 million hectare of tree cover between 2001 and 2018, according to a new study released by the World Resources Institute (WRI), Shri Naidu added.

Bryan Cogman joining Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' writing team

"Game of Thrones" alum Bryan Cogman is joining Amazon's upcoming "Lord of the Rings" adaptation. Cogman, who most recently worked as a writer and co-executive producer on "Game of Thrones", has boarded the Amazon project as a series consultant, reported Variety. He will work with the writing team of Patrick McKay and JD Payne, who were announced as series developers last year. Set in Middle Earth, the television adaptation will explore new storylines preceding Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring".

Dead gray whale found on island is Alaska's third this year

A third gray whale has been found dead in Alaska. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a gray whale was spotted Tuesday on Kodiak Island. Carcasses also were found this spring near Cordova and south of Anchorage. NOAA in release says the dead whale on Kodiak was along a rocky shore below a steep cliff and inaccessible for a necropsy. The agency says it's not unusual to have two or three gray whale strandings by late May in Alaska. However, they're part of an unusually high number of gray whale deaths along the West Coast. At least 60 dead gray whales have been found dead from Mexico to Alaska. Gray whales make migrations of up to 10,000 miles (16,100 kilometers) round trip to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic.

6 Brazilian tourists die of carbon monoxide in Chile

Chilean authorities say six Brazilian tourists died of carbon monoxide poisoning while staying in an old apartment in central Santiago. Authorities said Wednesday that police had been alerted by the Brazilian Embassy, which was called by one of the victims when she became ill. Police commander Rodrigo Soto said officers found four adults and two children dead at the six-story building Wednesday. The fire department said a high concentration of carbon monoxide was measured in the apartment, which it said was completely closed. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas produced by fuel combustion in gas stoves and heating systems. A heavy accumulation can cause death. Santiago registered its coldest day of the South American autumn early Wednesday, with the temperature dropping to zero Celsius (32 Fahrenheit).

Bengaluru: Trees, electricity polls collapse on road after heavy rain

Several trees and electricity poles were uprooted after the rain lashed parts of the city late night on Wednesday.The restoration process in CV Raman Nagar to sweep away the poles and trees, which had collapsed on the road.For today, the Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted "partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers" for the city.

One billion year old fungi found is Earth's oldest

Scientists have unearthed fossilised fungi dating back up to one billion years, in a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how life on land evolved, research showed Wednesday. For decades, the earliest known fungi -- organisms such as mushrooms, mould and yeast -- was thought to have appeared on earth around half a billion years ago. But recent fossil specimens unearthed in Canada and analysed using the latest dating technology appear to push back fungi's arrival to the earliest reaches of life on land. Corentin Loron, a PhD student from the University of Liege, Belgium, and colleagues examined the microfossils to determine the chemical composition of their cells. They found the presence of chitin -- a fibrous substance that forms on fungal cell walls -- and examined the age of the rock the fossils were found in by its ratio of radioactive elements. They concluded the microfossils were between 900 million and one billion years old. Loron said the finding was significant ...

Illegal ozone-depleting gases traced to China: Study

Industries in northeastern China have spewed large quantities of an ozone-depleting gas into the atmosphere in violation of an international treaty, scientists said Wednesday. Since 2013, annual emissions from northeastern China of the banned chemical CFC-11 have increased by about 7,000 tonnes, they reported in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. "CFCs are the main culprit in depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects us from the Sun's ultra-violet radiation," said lead author Matt Rigby, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Bristol. Chlorofluorocarbon-11 was widely used in the 1970s and 1980s as a refrigerant and to make foam insulation. The 1987 Montreal Protocol banned CFCs and other industrial aerosols that chemically dissolve protective ozone 10-to-40 kilometres (6-25 miles) above Earth's surface, especially over Antarctica and Australia. Following the ban's entry into force, global concentrations of CFC-11 declined steadily until about 2012. But last year ..

J-K: Terrorist hideout busted, huge cache of arms recovered at Rajouri

Jammu and Kashmir police busted a hideout of terrorists in Chatyari forest area of the district and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition including four automatic assault rifles, 4 AK rifles and 11 pistols.The J & K police claimed to have launched an operation on late Tuesday evening, cordoning off the entire forest area, after it received specific information regarding the presence of terrorist hideout in Chatyari forest."Based upon specific information regarding the presence of a militant hideout in Chatyari forest area of Rajouri, an operation was launched on Tuesday late evening hours whereby the entire area was cordoned by teams headed by our officials," said Yougal Manhas, Senior Superintendent of Police."In the operation, which continued throughout the day, entire forest area was put to physical search during which a militant hideout was unearthed and busted by police recovering huge quantity of arms and ammunition," he added.He said one AK 56 automatic assault ...

Uttar Pradesh's power transfer capability rises to 12,850 MW

Uttar Pradesh's total transfer capability (TTC) of electricity, or the capability to bring in power from outside the state, has grown to 12,850 megawatt (MW). "The state has now increased its ability to bring power from outside the state to 12,850 MW," Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (UPPTCL) said in a statement. The TTC was 10,700 MW in June 2018, while in April 2017, it was 7,800 MW. Besides, the power transmission capacity (PTC) of the state has also reached 24,000 MW, UPPTCL said. It was 20,700 MW in June 2018 and 16,300 MW in April 2017. Currently, the peak demand in the state is about 19,000 MW, the statement added. Senthil Pandian C, managing director of UPPTCL, said the statement the government has increased the TTC to meet the demand in the ongoing summer season. "We need to cater to the industrial units, households, etc, and for that the government has increased its TTC and PTC as well so the consumers can enjoy uninterrupted power supply," he added.

Labourers die after inhaling toxic gases in flour mill's storage tank

Two workers trapped in a flour mill's storage tank in Delhi's Lawrence Road area on Tuesday night were brought out dead in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

Everyone needs to contribute to conserve biodiversity: VP Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday emphasised on the need to conserve biodiversity to achieve sustainable development goals and highlighted a UN report that said nature is in trouble because of human actions. Naidu was speaking as a chief guest at the celebration of International Day for Biodiversity in Chennai themed 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health'. Referring to the theme of the event, Naidu said the traditional food systems evolved over a period time have proved to be healthier, more balanced and nutritious. Bringing the attention of the audience, a recently released United Nations report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that nature is in trouble because of human actions, he urged everyone to "contribute to conservation of biodiversity which is critical for achieving many sustainable development goals (SDG) also". The celebrations were organised by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in coordination with the National Biodiversity ...

Ecosystems in India can't ensure sustainable development: Expert

Ecosystems across the world, particularly in India, are not conducive to ensuring sustainable development, an environment expert said here on Wednesday. At a workshop to mark International Day for Biological Diversity, Professor B R Babu said that "all our rivers, primary channels and streams are dead". "Every year, we hold conferences, have a nice dinner and talk about development without knowing that thermal power plants have been shifted to coastal areas due to unavailability of fresh water anywhere else," he said. "What sustainable development are we talking about? Ecosystems across the world, particularly in India, are not in a shape to ensure sustainable development," Prof Babu, the head of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystem, Delhi University, said. He also expressed concern over the alarming rate of land degradation.

J-K advisor to PCCF: Suspend DFO Bhadarwah, six others for failing to protect forests in Doda

Taking note of the large scale encroachment of forest land in the region, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Wednesday directed the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to order immediate suspension of seven officials, including the divisional forest officer. As per the order, the advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed PCCF to place Bhadarwah DFO Khalid Amin Mehta, Range Officer (RO) Chiralla Sunil Sharma, forester of Jaie Block Rattan Kumar and all the forest guards posted in compartments 1 to 12 of Chiralla range under suspension and attach them with the office of PCCF till further order. The PCCF has been asked to hold an enquiry and submit the report to administrative department in a maximum of 10 days time. There were media reports on unabated green felling in Tanta area of Chiralla range and encroachment of forest land. Environment activists and villagers living near forest have flayed the authorities for inaction, accusing them of conniving with ...

Climate change affecting developing nations most: UN

United Nations officials on Wednesday said developing nations were facing the brunt of climate change despite their little contribution to the problem.

Baghouse dust filters can minimise industrial emissions: BCC&I

Concerned with growing industrial air pollution, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) has suggested the industries to install 'Baghouse Dust Filters' in order to cut down industrial emissions. "While industrial growth is integral to the growth of the nation, putting right policies and norms for combating pollution by the government is absolutely imperative to the overall health of the nation," Deb A Mukherjee, Chairman, Energy Committee, BCC&I, said. "The Energy Committee have been making continuous efforts through numerous forums, platforms and conclaves to ideate, discuss and invite all solutions concerning building up of clean energy practices, effective transport choices, correct industrial practices as they all contribute to the air quality of our environment," Mukherjee said. Industries like steel, aluminium, cement and glass are now required to ensure that their emissions level meet the standard of particulate matter at below 10 mg per ...

CIAL ready to provide consultancy to member countries of ISA

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) Wednesday expressed its readiness to provide consultancy services to airports of themember countries of International Solar Alliance (ISA) . As part of ISA's initiative to find out suitable models to be incorporated to achieve its plan of massive deployment of solar energy, a delegation consisting of 40 ambassadors/ high commissioners visited Cochin International airport today, a CIAL release said. Cochin International airport, the world's first airport to be fully operated on solarenergy, has been identified by ISA as one of the models. The visitwill give a boost to CIAL's effort in taking its project to the next level, contributing globally as a consultant, the release said. "CIAL would convene an international summit for the Managing Directors of the airports of members countries to decipher possibilities of repeating the CIAL model in the global level," ISA Director General Upendra Tripathy said. The high-profile delegation

Prefer native food, not pizzas and burgers: VP Naidu

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday pitched for consumption of seasonal and local food, even as he advised people not to be carried away by advertisements that promote pizzas and burgers. Expressing concern over extinction of varieties of food crops, Naidu said about 80 per cent of food supply is based on a few crops such as rice, wheat, maize and millets. He said such loss of diversity in diet has direct link to lifestyle diseases. The vice president was here to inaugurate celebrations marking the International Day for Biological Diversity celebrations. "Indian way of life has been to eat seasonal and locally available food, a principle that is also endorsed by the traditional Indian systems of medicine," Naidu said, adding that pizzas and burgers had no connection with nature. Doing so, Naidu said, would decrease ecological footprint by reducing the energy requirements in processing, packaging, storing and transportation of food which is non-local and ...