Page 867 - Environment
NKorean at State of Union speech calls Kim's sister arrogant
The North Korean defector singled out by President Donald Trump as a living example of the North's atrocities says Kim Jong Un's sister was arrogant and unapologetic during her recent visit to the South. Ji Seong-ho also told reporters in an interview today that Trump set a milestone in international efforts to improve North Korea's human rights situation when he invited Ji and other defectors to his office. He said Trump's gesture raised international awareness of their fight to escape the North, as well as grim situations facing other North Koreans. Ji said he found Trump's efforts to improve human rights conditions in the North sincere. Trump introduced Ji during his State of the Union address last month, with the 35-year-old waving his crutches to the applauding audience.
US woman first to be infected with 14 eye worms
Doctors in the US have extracted 14 worms from the eyes of a woman, the first known instance in the world of a human infection, previously seen only in cattle, according to a report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Russia launches cargo spacecraft after aborted liftoff
Russia today launched an unmanned Progress cargo ship to the International Space Station after a glitch led officials to postpone the planned liftoff two days earlier. The Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress ship took off from the snow-covered Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:15 am Moscow time (0815 GMT) and reached its designated orbit several minutes later, the Russian space agency said. "We have liftoff!" the Roscosmos space agency tweeted. The cargo ship is carrying dry cargo, fuel, water, oxygen and air to the crew of the ISS. It is also carrying equipment for the experimental ICARUS project, an animal tracking system that will be installed on the outer surface of the station. The launch of the Progress was initially scheduled for Sunday but was postponed at the last minute until today due to an unspecified problem. Space industry sources told Russian news agencies that the onboard computer of the Soyuz rocket had to be replaced. Reasons for the aborted launch were being ...
How this all-female fish species continues to thrive
Bucking the prediction of imminent extinction, a small fish species which does not produce any male offspring, continues to thrive and researchers have now found why it does not share the fate of many other species that reproduce asexually.
Cigar-shaped interstellar asteroid experienced violent past: study
'Oumuamua - the first known interstellar object to visit our solar system - has experienced a violent past, causing it to tumble around chaotically for many billions of years, a study suggests The object flew through our solar system in October and was originally thought to be a comet, then it was later revealed as a cigar-shaped asteroid. Since October, researchers at the Queen's University Belfast have been analysing the brightness measurements of the object. They discovered that 'Oumuamua was not spinning periodically like most of the small asteroids and bodies that we see in our solar system. Instead, it is tumbling, or spinning chaotically, and could have been for many billions of years. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for this, it is thought that 'Oumuamua impacted with another asteroid before it was fiercely thrown out of its system and into interstellar space. "Our modelling of this body suggests the tumbling will last for many billions of years to hundreds .
NHAI to Launch Ranking System for Toll Plazas
Shri. Deepak Kumar has also said that NHAI is going to launch a ranking system of the toll plazas. Every quarter, the three best toll plazas will be identified and their names will be published on the NHAI website. He said he was confident that the competitive atmosphere created by the ranking of toll plazas will improve the amenities and overall convenience for highway users.
Wheat acreage down 4 pc in 2017-18; production may drop
Area sown to wheat has declined 4.27 per cent to 30.42 million hectare in the current rabi season of 2017-18, which may lead to fall in production from last year's record 98.38 million tonne(MT). Farmers had sown wheat in 31.78 million hectare in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June). According to official data, wheat acreage has fallen because of less area coverage in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. Maximum drop in wheat acreage by 1.1 million hectare was reported in Madhya Pradesh this year, the data showed. According to industry experts, the fall in acreage could lead to decline in the overall wheat output in 2017-18, going below the last year's level. Taking into account an average yield of 3.1 tonne wheat per hectare, total production would be in the range of 94-96 MT, they said. The agriculture ministry has kept a target of 97.50 MT wheat output in 2017-18 crop year and is hoping better production at an all ..
Lightning storms to drop as climate warms
New research forecasts a 15 per cent drop in the average number of lightning flashes worldwide by the turn of this century, if global temperatures are in the top range of forecasts.
Global sea level surging at faster rate: study
The global sea level is not rising at a steady rate, it is accelerating a little every year, according to a new assessment based on 25 years of satellite data. Researchers at University of Colorado at Boulder in the US calculate that the rate is increasing by about 0.08 millimetres per year (mm/year) - which could mean an annual rate of sea level rise of 10 mm/year, or even more, by 2100. "This acceleration, driven mainly by accelerated melting in Greenland and Antarctica, has the potential to double the total sea level rise by 2100 as compared to projections that assume a constant rate - to more than 60 cm instead of about 30," said Steve Nerem, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. "And this is almost certainly a conservative estimate," Nerem said. "Our extrapolation assumes that sea level continues to change in the future as it has over the last 25 years. Given the large changes we are seeing in the ice sheets today, that is not likely," he added. If the oceans ...
NTPC bags order to supply 300 MW electricity to Bangladesh
NTPC, India's biggest electricity producer, today said it has won a tender to supply 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh for 15 years. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had invited tenders for supply of 500 MW power from India for short term (June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019) and long term (January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2033). NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), Adani Group, PTC and Singapore-bases Sembcorp submitted bids by the scheduled date of January 11. Financial bid was opened on February 11, the company said in a statement. "NVVN, wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, emerged as successful bidder (L1), both in short term and long term for 300 MW power," it said. Without giving details of the rate at which power will be supplied, NTPC said supply of electricity is likely to commence from June 2018 after commissioning of 500 MW HVDC inter-connection project between India and Bangladesh. India currently exports approximately 600 MW electricity to ...
MP CM announces sops for farmers, incentive on MSP for crops
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several measures under the "Chief Minister Agriculture Productivity Scheme" to ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce. "Under this scheme farmers will be given Rs 200 per quintal incentive in the support price for wheat and paddy crops. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a support price of Rs 1,735 per quintal for wheat. After adding this incentive to it, it will be about Rs 2,000 per quintal," Chouhan announced while addressing a convention of farmers here yesterday. He said a bonus amount of Rs 200 per quintal would also be given on paddy next year. The CM said that e-procurement of 67.25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat on support price was made in the Rabi season of 2016- 17, and Rs 1,340 crore was paid to 7.38 lakh farmers. Similarly, the state e-procured 16.59 lakh metric tonnes of paddy on support price in Kharif 2017 and Rs 330 crore would be paid to 2.83 lakh farmers, he said. The chief ..
India to explore foreign markets for surplus power: Singh
India will explore foreign markets like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh for its surplus power generation capacity, Power Minister R K Singh said today. His comments assume significance as the average plant load factor or capacity utilisation in India is around 60 per cent. "We can run our plants at 80 per cent PLF (plant load factor) but coal is a constraint. It does not make sense to import coal when we have sufficient coal underground. We need to build more railway lines to transport coal," Singh said addressing a conference organised by NTPC. He further said: "We need to explore foreign markets like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Demand is there. We need to access that. They are short of power". He was of the view that there is need to unlock the demand by not just exploring foreign markets but also increasing power demand in the country. He also asked NTPC to explore the possibility of investments in other countries to widen their horizon in view of surplus ...
TN fishermen chased away by SL Navy in Indian waters
Nearly 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing in Indian territorial waters, a fishermen association leader said. The fishermen from this island town had put out to sea yesterday in 400 boats and were fishing in the Indian waters when the Lankan Navy transgressed the International Maritime Boundary Line and warned them against venturing near the Katchatheevu islet, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President S Emerit alleged. Following the incident, all of them returned to the shore this morning, he said and alleged that they were being prevented from exercising their traditional fishing rights in the Indian waters now. Two days back, over 3,000 fishermen from here were chased away by the island nation's naval personnel when they were allegedly fishing near the Katchatheevu islet.
Climate change speeding up sea level rise, satellites show
Climate change has accelerated sea level rise and the rate at which it is rising is increasing every year, a study citing satellite data has revealed.
Indian coast guards praised for keeping sea safe
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are doing an extraordinary job to keep the sea lanes safe, the Indian envoy here has said as he praised them for protecting offshore assets, handling distress fishermen and even protecting endangered species of turtles. Giving assessment of the ever challenging task of coast guard and the ICGS Vaibhav, Indian High Commissioner, Jawed Ashraf, said "the spectrum of activities that they perform are truly head on. The range of the duties that they are performing truly deserved our greatest gratitude and admiration." The High Commissioner highlighted and praised their efforts and ever ready spirit to keep the sea safe. "Imagine what they are doing from protecting our biggest offshore assets to protecting this endangered species, olive ridley turtles, that visits the Odisha coast from around November to May every year for nesting. "It is their wonderful compassion at hands and the duty that they perform at saving these beautiful but endangered .
Muzaffarnagar mills clear Rs 1,206 cr of cane payments
Eight sugar mills in the district have cleared sugarcane payments of Rs 1,206.91 crore out of total dues of Rs 1,645.97 crore to farmers in the current season, an official said. The mills purchased 51.5 lakh tonnes of sugarcane from farmers till February 11 this season against 46.2 lakh tonnes in the year ago period, the district cane officer said. The district administration is trying to get clear all the dues of farmers, the official added. The state government has raised the sugarcane price by Rs 10 to Rs 315 per quintal for 2017-18 season that started in October. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association, as many as 119 sugar mills in the state produced 54.48 lakh tonnes of sugar till January 31 in the current season.
EIB approves financing for Sweden's Northvolt battery plant
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Investment Bank has approved 52.5 million euros ($64 million) in financing, alongside the Swedish government, for a Swedish plan to build Europe's biggest battery cell plant, a bank executive said on Monday, part of a European Union push to compete with Asian and U.S. manufacturers.
Oxfam official quits over Haiti, Chad sex scandals
The Haiti and Chad sex scandals involving aid workers from the British charity Oxfam claimed its first high-profile casualty on Monday when the charity's deputy CEO resigned.
Loss of crops in hailstorm will be compensated: Chouhan
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the loss of crops in hailstorm will be compensated.He was addressing the farmers' convention here on Monday and distributed certificates of Bhavanter Payment Scheme."Incentive amount of 200 rupees per quintal will be given in addition to the support price on wheat and paddy in this scheme. Incentive payment plan will continue. Recently, the loss of crops affected by the hailstorm will be compensated by adding relief and crop insurance," Chouhan said.He distributed the certificates of Bhavanter Payment Scheme and transferred Rs. 620 crores online to 3,98,000 farmers.Chouhan said that the Chief Minister's Farm Productivity Scheme will be implemented to give full value to the farmers for their hard work.The Chief Minister made several important announcements in the interest of the farmers in the conference organized under the Agriculture Festival.Chouhan said the government will compensate those farmers whose crops have ..
Negligence of forest officer reason for rhino death: Minister
Negligence on the part of a forest range officer was responsible for the killing of a rhino by poachers in Kaziranga National Park, Assam Minister Pramila Rani Brahma alleged today. Brahma, who rushed to Polokata Tapur area of Kaziranga National Park where the male rhino was killed and its horn taken away, told journalists here that she has instructed the Divisional Forest Officer, Kaziranga to take action against the Range Officer of Northern Range where the killing took place. "We, the BJP-led government, had assured the public before forming government (in May 2016) for full protection to rhinos, but now we are going to fail and the reason behind this is officials," the state forest minister said. Brahma said the rhino was shot in an open area and poachers fired several rounds of bullets before the animal was killed.
