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In an Age of Environmental Scrutiny, India’s Vantara Passes a Rare Test

In international conservation, audits rarely end in applause. They exist to expose what’s hidden — illegal transfers, poor welfare standards, or quiet lapses in compliance. Which is why the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) report on India’s Vantara initiative has drawn unusual attention. Instead of reprimand, it delivers recognition — a confirmation that a vast, privately managed conservation facility can, in fact, operate within the letter and spirit of global law.

Vantara, based in Jamnagar in western India, covers hundreds...

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India Floods: Rain halts relief effort as 6,000 remain stranded

Around 6,000 people still remain stranded as heavy rain prevented rescue efforts from continuing in north India to evacuate people stranded in the flood-hit hill state of Uttarakhand.

Despite relief camps being set up, fresh landslides have prevented rescuers going by road to Badrinath where thousands of pilgrims are waiting to be rescued.

The search and rescue operation in Kedarnath has concluded, said officials today. "No survivors remain in the jungles around Kedarnath. They have all been brought out," said Ravinath Raman, an officer involved with the rescue operation to...

Study reveals significant leakage of carbon stored on land to rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal regions

When carbon is emitted by human activities into the atmosphere it is generally thought that about half remains in the atmosphere and the remainder is stored in the oceans and on land. New research suggests that human activity could be increasing the movement of carbon from land to rivers, estuaries and the coastal zone indicating that large quantities of anthropogenic carbon may be hidden in regions not previously considered.

The research, published in Nature Geoscience and led by researchers from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the University of Exeter, Laboratoire des Sciences...

Make the future cleaner, greener and brighter on World Environment Day

World Environment Day is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.

The World Environment Day celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

Through World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme...

Istanbul: At least 100 injured as police clash with protesters at Gezi Park

Hundreds of people have gathered in the street next to Taksim Gezi Park on Friday, as bulldozers reportedly move into the green space to begin the demolition.

The protest has been ongoing since the beginning of the work in defence of what is, according to protesters, the only remaining open public space in central Istanbul.

Police have used pepper spray, tear gas and water cannons, as well as setting fire to tents, to disperse the protesters over the last four days. (NewsPoint)

Austria: "Massive" fire and explosion in Graz, 3 injured

A "massive" fire and explosion has been reported in Graz, southern Austria, earlier today (Wednesday 22 May).

According to reports the blaze began in a furniture store on Annenstraße, in the centre of the city.

A total of four explosions took place during the blaze, as gas cylinders combusted.

Three people are thought to be injured, including a firefighter and two of the shop's staff. (NewsPoint)

Oklahoma: Tornado death toll reaches 91

At least 91 people, including at least 20 children, were killed by the devastating tornado that tore through suburbs of Oklahoma City on Wednesday. 120 people are reportedly being treated in hospital, and two dozen children remain missing.

The most badly affected area was Moore, south of the city, which saw houses flattened, and a school and medical centre completely devastated.

Plaza Towers Elementary school took a direct hit: the storm tore off the building's roof and knocked down walls. "The school was flattened. The walls were pancaked in," Oklahoma's Lt Gov Todd Lamb...

Day 100 of Guantanamo Bay hunger strike marked by protest in Chicago

As part of "Global Days of Action" to support Guantánamo hunger strikers, on Friday 17 May in Chicago, demonstrators marked the 100th day of another hunger strike at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, where inmates have been protesting their indefinite detention by the U.S. government on terrorism charges.

Protesters, dressed in orange overalls, went outside the Federal Plaza and began a march through the Loop and ending at Daley Plaza. Organised by The Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantánamo (World Can't Wait Chicago, White Rose, IL Coalition Against Torture, Witness Against...

Pakistan: Imran Khan sends message to the people from his hospital bed

Pakistani politican Imran Khan has sent a message to his supporters and the people of Pakistan from his hospital bed in Lahore, urging the Electoral Commission of Pakistan and Supreme Court to take the rigging complaints seriously because the future of the country as well as democracy directly depended upon free and fair elections.

The message, posted on Facebook, shows Khan in his hospital bed where he is recovering after falling some 15 feet from a forklift during a campaign rally in Lahore, just days before historical elections in Pakistan. (NewsPoint)

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First-ever music video filmed in space

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who is set lo leave the International Space Station (ISS) on 14 May, released a video of himself singing the 1969 classic Space Oddity by David Bowie.

Chris has been entertaining social media fans for months with tweets from space, and released the video on Twitter saying: "With deference to the genius of David Bowie, here's Space Oddity , recorded on Station. A last glimpse of the World." (NewsPoint)

Credit: Chris Hadfield

Coral reefs' collapse isn't inevitable, University of Exeter researchers say

Coral reefs are in decline, but their collapse can still be avoided with local and global action. That's according to findings reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on 9 May based on an analysis that combines the latest science on reef dynamics with the latest climate models.

"People benefit by reefs having a complex structure - a little like a Manhattan skyline but underwater," said Peter Mumby of The University of Queensland and University of Exeter. "Structurally-complex reefs provide nooks and crannies for thousands of species and provide the habitat needed to...

World News

In an Age of Environmental Scrutiny, India’s Vantara Passes a Rare Test

India Floods: Rain halts relief effort as 6,000 remain stranded

Study reveals significant leakage of carbon stored on land to rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal regions

Make the future cleaner, greener and brighter on World Environment Day

Istanbul: At least 100 injured as police clash with protesters at Gezi Park

Austria: "Massive" fire and explosion in Graz, 3 injured

Oklahoma: Tornado death toll reaches 91

Day 100 of Guantanamo Bay hunger strike marked by protest in Chicago

Pakistan: Imran Khan sends message to the people from his hospital bed

First-ever music video filmed in space

Coral reefs' collapse isn't inevitable, University of Exeter researchers say

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