Hong Kong to ban local ivory trade by 2021
Hong Kong, Dec. Dec 21 (IANS) Hong Kong on Wednesday announced a proposal for a three-step plan to prepare for a blanket ban on the local ivory trade by 2021. The Hong Kong government proposed…
Environment
Chimpanzees are ‘indifferent’ when it comes to helping peers
London, Dec 21 (IANS) Chimpanzees may appear ‘indifferent’, when it comes to altruistically helping a fellow chimpanzee, a study has found. The study found that chimpanzees may not be the selfless, altruistic animals previously thought….
Delhi slashes bus fares to battle pollution
New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) With a view to battle pollution by encouraging people to take public transport, the Delhi government on Wednesday significantly cut bus fares for January. Commuters will now have to pay…
Obama bans oil drilling in Arctic
Washington, Dec 21 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has permanently banned offshore drilling in areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. According to the White House, Obama’s move on Tuesday will prevent future leasing of…
Australia begins new koala breeding programme
Sydney, Dec 21 (IANS) Australia is implementing a new koala breeding programme to save fragmented populations of the tree-dwelling bear in the country’s east, a minister said on Wednesday. Queensland tourist park Dreamworld and the…
‘Chillai Kalan’ begins with coldest night in Srinagar, Jammu, Leh
Srinagar, Dec 21 (IANS) The first day of the ‘Chillai Kalan’ — the 40-day long period of extreme cold in Kashmir Valley — began on Wednesday with the coldest night of the season so far…
Clear Wednesday morning in Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) It was a pleasant and clear Wednesday morning here with the minimum temperature recorded at 11.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season’s average, the weather office said. “The sky…
6.5 quake hits Indonesia
Jakarta, Dec 21 (IANS) A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Wednesday, without authorities initially reporting casualties or issuing a tsunami warning. The hypocentre of the quake was located 158 km under the seabed of the…
6.6 magnitude quake hits Indonesia
Jakarta, Dec 21 (IANS) An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia on Wednesday, officials said. No tsunami alert was, however, issued. The quake had its epicenter at 184 km northeast of Maluku…
Obama bans drilling in Arctic, Atlantic oceans
Washington, Dec 21 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has banned future oil and gas drilling in most of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, the latest move to cement his environmental legacy before he leaves office…
Eight of 10 African youth say Climate Change impacts their lives
New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Over 80 per cent of the African youth feel that climate change has affected their everyday lives, the COP22 Steering Committee said on Tuesday. Quoting a survey held in 17…
Airlines can’t empty toilet tanks mid-air, rules NGT
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ask all the airlines not to dispose of the waste mid-air. While disposing a…
Centre asks Delhi, neighbouring states to submit plans to curb air pollution
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) While reviewing the measures being taken to improve the air quality in the national capital, the Centre on Tuesday asked Delhi and its neighbouring states to submit detailed action plans…
Delhi government wants body to clean Yamuna
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The Delhi government on Tuesday demanded a special body to clean the Yamuna river. Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said the Centre should set up a platform represented by…
Green tribunal extends stay on Bengaluru steel bridge
Chennai, Dec 20 (IANS) The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday extended the interim stay against the controversial steel flyover bridge project in Bengaluru to January 18, a petitioner said. “After hearing…
Delhi government moots special ‘Clean Yamuna’ company
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The Delhi government on Tuesday recommended to the Central government formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company, on the lines of Delhi Metro, to clean the Yamuna river. “At…
Odisha to develop 30 eco-tourism spots
Bhubaneswar, Dec 20 (IANS) The Odisha government on Tuesday approved an action plan to develop 30 eco-tourism spots in the state. The plan for 2016-17 fiscal with an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore was…
2015’s Godzilla El Nino contributed to Zika outbreak: Study
London, Dec 20 (IANS) Change in weather patterns, brought on by the ‘Godzilla’ El Nino of 2015 — one of the strongest on record, fuelled the Zika outbreak in South America, scientists have claimed. El…
Achuthanandan criticises Kerala state tourism awards
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 20 (IANS) CPI-M veteran and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday criticised the state Tourism Department for awarding two resorts which have been built in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone…
Electricity-from-water scientist seeks commercialisation of invention
By Vishal Narayan New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) A top scientist at National Physics Laboratory (NPL) here has said that industry should come forward to commercialise the concept of the hydroelectric cell as it has…