In short

 
Published: Saturday 30 June 2007

>> In the latest plan to stem the flow of the mud volcano that erupted last year in East Java, Indonesia, a US $69 million-proposal has been chalked out. A concrete dam will be built to check the mud flow, which has already displaced around 15,000 people (see 'Plugging the mud flow', March 31, 2007).

>> Ecuadorians affected by the controversial spraying of herbicide by Colombia (see 'Toxic dispute', January 15, 2007) will now be compensated by the latter.

>> General Motors Corporation has just completed the test run of two new environment-friendly hydrogen-powered vehicles. The around 480-km test run is said to be the longest by a fuel-cell vehicle on public roads on one tank of fuel.

>> Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan has claimed he received death threats from Saudi Arabia after he took steps to check illegal encroachments in Munnar in the Idduki district

>> The powerful tropical cyclone Gonu, which hit Oman on June 5-6 killed 32 people as on June 8, with many more missing. It has also forced thousands to leave their homes and has led to the closure of the main oil and gas export terminals, pushing up oil prices.

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