Page 902 - Environment
Not humans, but dogs protest for animal rights at UN HQs
In an unusual scenario, eight dogs in New York were made to protest infront of the United Nations headquarters against cosmetic testing on animals, as part of a campaign by The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International, which works to end animal experiments. In the world's first animal protest, eight dogs of different breeds were trained to stand outside the UN headquarters with miniature banners around their neck displaying messages such as 'Ban Animal Testing' and 'Down With Cruel Cosmetics'. As per a Humane Society International report, that works across issues of inhumane practices against animals, cosmetic testing harms about 2 lakh animals every year with majority of them losing lives due to adverse effects of chemicals. "We designed the campaign in June 2017 with a target of 8 million signatures to be presented to the United Nations and about 4.1 million signatures have been gathered so far," The Body Shop India Marketing Head Aradhika Mehta told PTI. The campaign .
Record jump in 2014-16 global temperatures largest since 1900
Global surface temperatures surged by a record amount from 2014 to 2016, boosting the total warming since the start of the last century by over 25 per cent in just three years, according to a study. The Earth's average surface temperature climbed about 0.9 degrees Celsius from 1900 to 2013. By analysing global temperature records, researchers found that by the end of 2016, the global surface temperature had climbed an additional 0.43 degrees Celsius. "Our paper is the first one to quantify this jump and identify the fundamental reason for this jump," said Jianjun Yin, associate professor at University of Arizona (UA) in the US. "As a climate scientist, it was just remarkable to think that the atmosphere of the planet could warm that much that fast," said Yin, lead author of the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The spike in warming from 2014 to 2016 coincided with extreme weather events worldwide, including heat waves, droughts, floods, ...
Hitachi to help Maharashtra on waste management
The Hitachi company has assured Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of exploring possible technological solution for solid and liquid waste management in the state. "Hitachi assured that they will explore possible technological solution for solid and liquid waste management and use for pilot projects in Maharashtra," the Chief Minister's Office said in a tweet. Fadnavis met senior officials of Hitachi and German engineering major Siemens on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He also discussed solutions for carbon neutrality in smart cities with a senior official of Siemens. Fadnavis met Bharat Kaushal, the managing director for Hitachi India, and discussed "predictive technology" to help Maharashtra with forecasting crop productivity and also on having a research and development centre in the state. The CM also met Cedrik Neike, the member of the Managing Board at Siemens, and both the leaders explored the possibilities of providing the company .
Goa forms team to monitor work in Mhadei basin
Goa on Thursday formed a special team to monitor whether Karnataka or Maharashtra were continuing to build and operate canals along the Mhadei basin for diverting its waters.
Farming terraces from Inca era found in Peru
A long-buried group of enclosures and agricultural terraces belonging to the Incas have been discovered at an archaeological park in Peru's Cusco region.
K.P. Energy signs Power Purchase Agreement
With Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam
Spike in 2014-16 temperatures largest since 1900
Global surface temperatures increased by a record amount from 2014 to 2016, boosting the total amount of warming since 1900 by more than 25 per cent in just three years, new research has found.
Four new frog species identified in Peru
Four new frog species have been discovered in a nature park in Peru's Amazon basin region, officials said today. The new types were found a few weeks ago during a wildlife survey in the San Martin region. They all belong to the genus Phrynopus. Experts say park boasts about 2,000 species of flora and fauna. In addition, 36 archaeological sites have been recorded in this protected area, including ruins from the Chachapoyas culture (400 to 1470 AD). They are a semicircular fortress made of stone and decorated with divinities in human form.
NASA to launch GOLD mission to study Earth's boundary with space
NASA is set to launch on Thursday Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, mission to to study the dynamic region where space and Earth's uppermost atmosphere meet.
K'Taka bandh: Protest in Attibelle Mahadayi River dispute
Protest was held in Attibelle during state-wide bandh in Karnataka against the "Centre's apathy" towards the Mahadayi River water dispute.However, no effect of bandh has been seen yet in Kalaburagi.A holiday has been declared for all the schools and colleges in Ballari district on Thursday."Schools and colleges in Ballari district of Karnataka will remain closed tomorrow in the light of the state-wide bandh called by the pro-Kannada organisations and farmers' welfare associations", Deputy Commissioner Ramprasath Manohar said.The protesting groups called for the bandh seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the long-standing Mahadayi River water dispute between Goa and Karnataka.However, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have decided to operate buses as usual.Karnataka and neighbouring Goa have conflicting interests on the issue of sharing Mahadayi River water. While the river originates in ...
Eight TN fishermen arrested by SL Navy
Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu. Assistant Director of Fisheries, Pudukottai, Kumaresan said the fishers belonging to Jagadapattinam in Pududottai district were arrested while fishing off Neduntheevu by the Lankan naval men and taken to Kangesanthurai port there. Two boats were also seized, he said. In another incident, the island nation authorities snapped the fishing nets of over 50 boats and chased away more than 1,500 fishermen from Rameswaram, who were fishing near Katchatheevu islet, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, S Emerit said.
Japan displays documents to defend claims to disputed isles
The Japanese government opened a small museum today displaying maps and documents to defend its territorial claims against neighbors South Korea and China. The Japanese minister in charge of territorial issues, Tetsuma Esaki, said it was important for Japan to improve how information about disputed islands "is transmitted both internally and externally, so as to ensure as widely as possible that our claims are understood correctly. The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty displays replicas of historic documents that Japan says show its ownership of two sets of uninhabited islands, one also claimed by China and the other by South Korea. The dispute with China has heated up in recent years, with Chinese coast guard ships sailing near the islands and their Japanese counterparts trying to chase them away. The islands, which are near Taiwan, are known as the Senkaku in Japan and as the Diaoyu in China. Taiwan also claims them. Japan has long feuded with South Korea ...
Wipro declares holiday in view of Karnataka shutdown
In the wake of a shutdown called by various pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka, Wipro has declared a holiday in its offices across the state on Thursday.In a statement, the IT giant stated that it was declaring holiday as a 'precautionary measure' to avoid any kind of disruption."On account of the shutdown called by various organizations, as a precautionary measure, Wipro Limited has declared a holiday for employees in Karnataka today. Business Continuity Plans have been invoked to avoid disruption to a mission-critical project," Wipro said in a statement.Meanwhile, a holiday has also been declared for all the schools and colleges in Ballari district on Thursday.The protesting groups called for the bandh seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the long-standing Mahadayi River water dispute between Goa and Karnataka.
On UP Day, Ghaziabad, Noida get dev projects worth over Rs 500
Development projects, including multi-level parking and underpasses, worth over Rs 500 crore were today dedicated to the public in Ghaziabad and Noida, on occasion of the Uttar Pradesh diwas. Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and UP minister Jai Prakash dedicated eleven development projects worth Rs 350 crore to the public. The projects include a multi-level car parking and two underpasses. At Sector 18, the Noida Authority has developed multi- level parking at cost of Rs 243 crore which has a capacity of parking of 3,000 cars. An underpass at Sector 60, 61, 66 and 71 was constructed by the Noida authority with project cost of Rs 64.80 crore, while another underpass is constructed on the MP road number 3 between sector 94 and 95 at a cost of Rs 40.72 crore, according to a release. In Ghaziabad, developmental schemes worth Rs 157 crore were lunched by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh. He laid down foundation stones of total 40 schemes for the development of ...
Fine print in Trump solar tariff holds some good news for Tesla
(This version of the Jan. 23 story corrects to remove incorrect reference to First Solar benefiting from solar cell exemption)
Saudi Falih says exit from oil cuts to be gradual and smooth
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - OPEC and its non-OPEC allies will exit from oil production cuts very gradually and smoothly in order not to shock markets in the early part of 2019, when demand will seasonally slow, the Saudi energy minister said on Wednesday.
Two held at Patna station with 13 sacks full of turtles
Two persons, including a woman, were arrested at the Patna railway station with more than a dozen sacks full of turtles this evening, police said. A man and a woman, both in their 20s were arrested from the Howrah-bound Kumbh Express with 13 sacks full of turtles, Inspector in-charge of GRP police station at Patna railway station, Shakuntala Kisku told PTI. She said the exact number of turtles were not known since counting would be done by the officials of the forest department. The forest department officials have been informed about the recovery, she said. A case has been registered against the two arrested persons, Kisku said. Both of them are residents of Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh and they said that they wanted to sell the turtles in West Bengal, she added.
Gallant Ispat to expand plants' capacity
Board of Gallant Ispat today approved plan to expand capacity of its various plants at an estimated cost of Rs 510 crore, the company said today. The decision to further expand capacity of various plants was taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors today, Gallant Ispat said in a BSE filing. As per the plan, the company will expand its captive power plants, steel melting shop, DRI (directly reduced iron) and pellets plant. "A total of approximately Rs 510 crore of capital expenditure has been projected for the...expansion," the company said in the filing. In order to achieve projected sales and profitability targets, the company's installed capacity of the existing plants is bound to be expanded, it added.
Environment Ministry takes up new strategy for river rejuvenation
The Environment Ministry has taken up a new strategy for conservation and rejuvenation of major river water systems, which takes into account the entire river basin.
Italian PM takes issue with Trump on trade, climate, migration
Davos, Jan 24 (IANS/AKI) Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday he respected US President Donald Trump and understood his 'America First' policy but didn't agree with his protectionist stance on trade or his views on migration and climate change.
