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Pea-sized frog in pitcher plant

One of the world’s smallest frogs has been discovered in a national park in Malaysia’s Sarawak state on Borneo island. Male adults of the new species, Microhyla nepenthicola, range in size from 10.6 and 12.8 millimeters. In females, the frog’s maximum length is 16 millimeters. The amphibian lives in a flask-shaped pitcher-plant.

An cholera outbreak has struck Africa. Nigerian health ministry said 350 people have died since June. In neighboring Cameroon, the diarrhoea-causing infection killed 300 people, and 41 in Chad. Heavy rains and flooding in rural areas caused the epidemic. Niger, Ivory Coast, Benin and Liberia are also affected by the water-borne disease.

The Amazon river hit its lowest level in more than 40 years near its source in north-eastern Peru. Officials say the level has fallen to 4 meters due to lack of rain and high temperatures. Towns in Peru’s rainforest region depend on the Amazon and its tributaries for travelling.

China and Russia have signed an agreement to build a cross-border protection zone for Siberian tigers. Both the nations will enforce anti-poaching measures. Only 500 Siberian tigers are left in the wild.

US regulators have cleared genetically modified salmon as fit for eating. Green groups say the GM fish is not safe for consumption and would breed with the wild fish and wipe out other species.

Turkey has signed a UNbacked treaty promoting less hazardous recycling of ships. The agreement will ensure that ships do not pose risk to human health and the environment. France, Italy, the Netherlands, Saint Kitts and Nevis are the other major ship recycling nations.

Malaysia is planning to release 2,000-3,000 genetically modified mosquitoes in two states to fight dengue. The disease has killed 100 people in the country this year so far. In the trial, male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would be released. Critics say the engineered mosquitoes could fail to fight dengue and have unintended consequences.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has extended the ban on wheat exports into late 2011. The restriction aims to keep the domestic market well supplied after Russia suffered a drought. The announcement sparked fears of a global food crisis. Seven people were killed in riots after food, water and electricity prices were increased in Mozambique.

Brazil government has allowed construction of a hydroelectric dam on an Amazon tributary. Officials claim the 11,233 MW dam would provide electricity to 23 million homes. Protestors say the project will displace 50,000 indigenous people and damage the ecosystem.

The Californian Senate has rejected legislation banning use of bisphenol A in children’s products, including baby bottles. Industry groups backed the move while protestors claimed trade interests were placed above children’s health. The chemical can affect neural development and cause cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration has declared bisphenol A safe.

Cold air from Antarctica brought chilling temperatures to Bolivia, killing millions of aquatic animals. Water temperatures that normally register 15°C during the day dipped to 4°C. Around six million fish and thousands of alligators, turtles and river dolphins have perished. Carcasses have poisoned some rivers, forcing officials to find alternative water sources for nearby towns.

Chinese government says restrictions on the rare earth industry will protect the environment. Export quotas for rare earth elements were slashed by 72 per cent for the second half of this year. Japanese officials said the policy will raise global prices of the metals, a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements used in cellphones and hybrid cars. China controls more than 95 per cent of recoverable reserves.

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