Environment

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) India is the world's largest emitter of anthropogenic sulphur dioxide, which is produced from coal burning, and greatly contributes to air pollution, a study claimed on Monday.

According to an analysis of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) data released by environmental NGO Greenpeace on Monday, India has more than 15 per cent of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) hotspots in the world detected by the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite.

CANBERRA, Australia, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack’s recent comments on climate change, was denounced by the opposition party as “ignorant.”

“These are ignorant comments from the acting prime minister, as he should know better,” said Richard Marles, opposition Australian Labour Party leader.

McCormack said, Pacific island nations will survive climate change, “because many of their workers come here to pick our fruits.”

TOKYO, Japan, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Japan has been hit by heavy rain, as the country braces for a severe tropical storm, with hundreds of flights cancelled and large areas evacuated.

Storm Krosa is expected to make landfall Thursday afternoon, on the southern island of Shikoku.

More than 400,000 people have been evacuated from the region, while many trains were halted and highways closed.

Almost 700 flights have been cancelled, affecting travel during the summer holiday season.

KANPUR: So far we used to notice garbage stuffed lanes, spots and defiled places where rainwater enters and creates havoc. But the waterlogging into the garbage disposal plant at Bhau Singh area has created devastation. Pandu river's water has entered the plant thereby stopping the manure making process.

In the absence of proper drainage, the stagnant water causes an unbearable stench to the villagers of Sarai Meeta, Baduapur, Bhau Singh and other adjoining areas. They were facing much trouble in bearing the putrefying garbage stench reac hing their nose.  

ATLANTA (AP) — Stifling heat smothered states from Texas to South Carolina on Tuesday with temperatures that felt like 120 degrees (49 Celsius), making it difficult to be outside for long, much less work or play.

As the entire Southeast baked amid heat warnings and advisories that reached from central Texas to coastal Georgia, construction workers toiled under a blazing sun in Louisiana. Alabama’s largest city opened its auditorium as a refuge for anyone needing to cool down.

New Delhi, Aug 11 (PTI) The country's coal imports increased by 28.7 per cent to 24.14 million tonnes in June on the back of softening of non-coking coal prices in the international markets.

The country had imported 18.75 million tonnes of coal in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal, according to a provisional compilation by mjunction services, based on monitoring of vessels' positions and data received from shipping companies.

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (PTI) The death toll in the monsoon fury in Kerala rose to 59 on Sunday with two bodies being recovered while there was a slight let up in the rains in some regions in the state, officials said.

According to official sources, one body each was recovered this morning from Kozhikode and Alapuzha districts, which are among the badly hit by the torrential rains since last week.

Bengaluru, Aug 11 (PTI) Nine more people have died in rain related incidents in Karnataka, taking the toll to 40 as the flood situation remained grim in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted an aerial survey of flood affected areas in Belagavi district and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa joined him in the exercise.

Bengaluru, Aug 11 (PTI) Four more people have died in rain-related incidents in Karnataka, taking the toll to 31 on Sunday as the flood situation remained grim in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will conduct an aerial survey of flood affected areas in Belagavi district and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will join him in the exercise.

MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/: An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude has rocked the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East, US Geological Survey reported on Saturday.

The earthquake's epicenter lay in 50 km to the south-west of the Ust-Kamchatsk settlement (population of around 4,000 people) at the depth of 43 km.

No injuries or damages were reported.