Li's visit yields little on Brahmaputra

Andhra to file review petition in Supreme Court on Babli barrage

At an all-party meeting convened by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in Hyderabad on May 20, it was decided that the government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking clarifications in the court’s verdict on the controversial Babli barrage.

Jaffna erupts over land acquisition by Sri Lankan government

People in the former war-torn Northern Province of Sri Lanka are out on the streets, protesting the government move to forcibly acquire 6,381 acres (one acre equals 0.4 ha) of private land in Valikaman area in the Jaffna penisula. Government claimed that the land is being acquired for public purpose, but activists and citizens see the move as a ploy to change the demographic composition of the region by bringing in settlers from outside in the run up to the elections scheduled later this year.  

UN praises Bangladesh for evacuation ahead of cyclone Mahasen

The government of Bangladesh has received praise from the United Nations for its timely evacuation of about one million people before tropical cyclone Mahasen hit its coastline on May 16. In a statement released on May 20, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says, “While tropical storm Mahasen reached the coastline of Bangladesh on Thursday weaker than anticipated, the preparedness work undertaken by the government and humanitarian partners saved countless lives.” Prepared for disaster

International Day for Biological Diversity

Demolish illegal structures on Yamuna, Hindon flood plains, says green tribunal

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered demolition of all illegal structures on riverbed and flood plains of Yamuna and Hindon in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Vidarbha experiment with desi cotton to be extended to 10 states

Nagpur municipality proposes action against private water supplier

After a spate of complaints regarding water supply, contamination and corruption, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has at last decided to take action against private water supplier Orange City Water Limited (OCWL).

India bans use of dolphins for commercial entertainment

Pawar's daughter on panel that will examine biotechnology Bill

By a strange coincidence, daughter of agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, has been appointed member of the very panel to which the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill has been referred.