Environment

20 June 2019; DW: Satellite images demonstrate that the Himalayan glaciers are melting at twice the speed they were before the turn of the century.

The Asian mountain range has been losing ice at a rate of about 1% a year since 2000, according to a study published Wednesday in Science Advances.

That equates to a decrease in size by more than a foot-and-a-half (50 centimeters) each year — double the rate of the previous 25 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on an environmental rule covering coal-fired power plants (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

The Trump administration has ordered a sweeping about-face on Obama-era efforts to fight climate change, easing restrictions on coal-fired power plants.

Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler signed a measure Wednesday that scraps one of President Barack Obama’s key initiatives to rein in fossil fuel emissions. The replacement rule gives states more leeway in deciding whether to require plants to make limited efficiency upgrades.

19 June 2019; AFP: In the forest undergrowth of northern Corsica, two wildlife rangers open a cage to reveal a striped, tawny-coated animal, one of 16 felines known as "cat-foxes" in the area and thought to be a new species.

"We believe that it's a wild natural species which was known but not scientifically identified because it's an extremely inconspicuous animal with nocturnal habits," says Pierre Benedetti, chief environmental technician of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office (ONCFS).

MOSCOW, June 19. /TASS/: Over 40 forest fires are blazing on the territory of 8,800 hectares in Russia, the press service of the Aerial Forest Protection Service said on Wednesday.

"As of 12am on 19 June 2019, 43 forest fires are reported on the territory of over 8,811 hectares, with active firefighting efforts underway," the press service said.

The largest forest fires are reported in Kamchatka (3,400 hectares), Irkutsk, Amur and Yakutia regions.

A total of 1,300 people and 267 units of equipment are involved in extinguishing forest fires.

TOKYO, June 19. /TASS/: At least 21 were injured in the earthquake of 6.7 magnitude that rocked Japan's Yamagata prefecture late Tuesday, NHK TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Earlier reports said that 15 people were injured in the earthquake.

The epicenter of the Tuesday's earthquake lay at the depth of around 14 km under the seabed off the coast of the Yamagata prefecture. The magnitude was initially estimated at 6.8 but later lowered to 6.7. Ten aftershocks of up to 4.1 magnitude followed after the earthquake. A tsunami alert was issued but was later recalled.

Kanpur: Cleaning of nullahs has not completed by June 15 and this has led the Nagar Swasthya Adhikari Dr Ajay Kumar to seek clarification from officials concerned about the incomplete work. 

According to the reports only eighty percent nullahs has been cleaned. All the sanitary inspectors of the six zones  were asked to submit report but they did not comply. The deadline has been passed and the monsoon also is supposed to come soon. In such a precarious situation the possibility of water-logging looms large in city areas. 

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/: Over 40 forest fires are blazing on the territory of 4,800 hectares in Russia, the press service of the Aerial Forest Protection Service said on Tuesady.

"As of 12am on 18 June 2019, 42 forest fires are reported on the territory of over 4,800 hectares, with active firefighting efforts underway," the press service said.

BEIJING (AP) — Rescue efforts are underway after an earthquake in southwestern China that has left 12 people dead and 134 others injured.

The Yibin city press office said on its social media account that 73 houses had collapsed.

The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said hundreds of firefighters arrived early Tuesday and had rescued eight trapped people.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake and a 5.1 magnitude aftershock struck the area in Sichuan province late Monday night. Aftershocks continued into Tuesday morning.

BERLIN (AP) — Diplomats and climate experts gathered Monday in Germany for U.N.-hosted talks on climate change amid growing public pressure for governments to act faster against global warming.

Officials meeting in the western city of Bonn for the June 17-27 talks are focusing on resolving issues that couldn’t be agreed upon at last December’s climate summit in Poland . This includes the rules governing the international trade in carbon certificates, which allow countries or companies to offset greenhouse gas emissions by paying for projects in poor nations.

BERLIN (AP) — Experts are meeting in Germany for U.N.-hosted talks on climate change amid growing pressure for governments to act faster against global warming.

Diplomats meeting in the western city of Bonn starting Monday will focus on resolving issues that couldn’t be agreed upon at last December’s climate summit in Poland. This includes the rules governing the international trade in carbon certificates, which allow rich countries to offset emissions by paying for projects in poor nations.