India and South Africa have finally signed a long-pending agreement to translocate 12 cheetahs to India, the Environment Ministry said in a statement on Friday. The cheetahs will be transported to India by February-end and reintroduced at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where eight such cats were brought …
Read More »245 deaths in 14 months: Delhi zoo orders analysis
Single document detailing deaths to be prepared for more effective corrective measures The National Zoological Park, better known as Delhi zoo, has undertaken an analysis into deaths of 245 animals over 14 months from April 2018 to June 2019. “We were also surprised by the high number of deaths and …
Read More »Singapore editor charged with defaming government
Editor in Singapore charged with defamation The editor of a website in Singapore was charged with defamation late on Thursday for publishing a letter alleging corruption among the city-state’s leaders. Rights groups in Singapore denounced the “heavy-handed” response from the authorities. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/singapore-editor-charged-with-defaming-government/article25737890.ece
Read More »Monsoon to bring rain to coastal areas first
‘Few places in coastal T.N. may experience heavy rainfall’ As the northeast monsoon inches closer to coastal areas, several areas in Chennai received intermittent spells of rainfall since Wednesday morning. The onset of monsoon is likely to be announced on Thursday initially in the coastal areas and rain would then …
Read More »Upgraded MiG-29 adds to air power
The fighter plane now has the capability to take off vertically, giving a shot in the arm for the IAF The Indian Air Force’s beast — MiG-29 — has gained in strength and ferocity after an upgrade, giving the force, battling a shortage of fighter aircraft, a much-needed boost, according …
Read More »For Kumbh, Ganga gets a Swachh ‘army’
Task force of ex-servicemen will help in crowd management, keep river clean In January 2019, when the Uttar Pradesh government organises the Kumbh Mela, it will have a special unit to help: a volunteer force of ex-servicemen.The Ganga Task Force (GTF), specially trained by the Ministry of Defence will help …
Read More »Berhampur launches drive to ‘cure’ trees
Several organisations roll out traditional methods to save trees affected by human activities in the city Using the knowledge of senior botanists, nature lovers initiated an experimental effort in Odisha’s Berhampur on Sunday to cure trees affected by human activities by using traditional ingredients. Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) chairperson Subash …
Read More »Dutch to turn diapers into furniture
Fed-up with a growing mountain of stinking disposable nappies, a Dutch firm on Tuesday started building the country’s first recycling plant to turn poo into profit. Plastic from the nappies extracted by the facility in the central Dutch town of Weurt near Nijmegen will have a second life as household …
Read More »To Sri Lanka, with love for an old jumbo still in chains
Petitioners, including Maneka Gandhi, seek better care for Bandula A campaign for the freedom of an old and feeble elephant chained in Colombo’s Dehiwala Zoo for the past 66 years has garnered support from New Delhi. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, who is known for her activism for animal rights, has …
Read More »Norms for sand extraction in non-CRZ areas may be relaxed
Poor response to tenders called for on two earlier occasions As there is poor response to taking up extraction of sand in the non-Coastal Regulatory Zone areas, the district administration is considering relaxing norms and allowing people from outside the district to extract sand, said Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada …
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