Dhaka, July 22–Due to strong monsoon steep pressure gradient persisting over North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh squally weather may affect the maritime ports and coastal areas said special Met office bulletin on Saturday.
Category: Environment
Residents, tourists in Greece sleep outdoors after quake
Kos, Jul 22 (AP/UNB) — Hundreds of people on the eastern Greek island of Kos have spent the night sleeping outdoors after a powerful earthquake killed two tourists and injured nearly 500 others across the Aegean Sea region in Greece…
Dhaka can reclaim its lost canals ‘as Seoul did’
Abdur Rahman Jahangir, UNB Staff Writer Dhaka, July 22 – Though it looks to be a daunting task to recover the capital’s 43 lost canals and many other wetlands to restore its natural drainage network, green activists think well-thought-out plans,…
English shoppers shun plastic bags with 5p levy
London — The number of plastic carrier bags handed out by large stores in England fell by 83% since they started charging a levy for their use, government data showed on Friday.
Dubai Municipality offers new drone survey service
Dubai – Dubai Municipality has announced the launch of a new aerial survey service using drones to provide orthophotos and topographic maps. The organisation said maps provided through this method would offer 200 times better clarity and 88 per cent…
UK farmers will get subsidies if they protect environment
Farm subsidies will have to be earned rather than just handed out in future, UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said in a speech. Farmers will only get payouts if they agree to protect the environment and enhance rural life,…
Researchers in Cambodia find rare riverine bird in its nest
Phnom Penh, Jul 21 (AP/UNB)- Wildlife researchers in Cambodia have found a breeding location for the masked finfoot, one of the world’s most endangered birds, raising hopes of its continuing survival.
Climate vulnerable nations must get support: BD
UN, Jul 21 – Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said the developed nations must support the climate vulnerable nations like Bangladesh, particularly in the forms of financing, innovative solutions and technology transfer, to combat the perils of climate change.
2359 Medeterranean migrants die in 2017
IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 111,148 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2017 through 16 July, with almost 85 per cent arriving in Italy and the remainder divided between Greece, Cyprus and Spain. This compares with…
1,326 Bangladeshis held in Malaysia immigration raid
Malaysian Immigration Department has rounded up 3,874 illegal immigrants, including 1,326 Bangladeshis, during its nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants carried out since July 1.Besides, 84 employers were arrested by the Immigration Department during the drive, ‘Ops Mega’, Malaysian sate news…
Experts for massive tree plantation to improve environment
Experts at a post-rally discussion here have put emphasis on massive tree plantation to improve environment, ecology and bio-diversity amid frightening climate change threat. They came up with the view in the discussion at launching ceremony of a fortnight-long ‘Divisional…
Toilets as the path to health and dignity
Guangzhe CHEN Mollar Bosti is a crowded slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh, home to 10,000 people: garment workers, rickshaw drivers, and small traders, all living side-by-side in tiny rooms sandwiched along narrow passageways.
UK varsity event Thursday on how climate change taught in BD
A major international event aimed at transforming how environmental and conservation issues are tackled in Bangladesh will be held in the UK Thursday, July 20.
BD community leader Helal A Sheikh contests New York City polls
New York Correspondent NY – Most popular Bangladeshi community leader Helal A Sheikh candidate for Council Member of New York City. He officially starts his work to become the next New York City Council Member from District 32.
Twenty initiatives saving seeds for future generations
Danielle Nierenberg By saving, exchanging, and re-using seeds over thousands of years, farmers and gardeners carefully selected crops for various traits adapted to many growing conditions and climates, creating a rich genetic plant heritage that formed the base of the…
Zakir Naik turns stateless as passport revoked
The government has revoked the passport of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik following a recommendation from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has already booked him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his terror links. The revocation of the passport…
Dhaka’s average traffic speed kmph
The average traffic speed in the capital has dropped from 21 kms per hour to 7 kms, slightly above the average walking speed, in the last 10 years, according to a new World Bank analysis. The traffic congestion in Dhaka…
Australian state preparing for drought after driest June
The Victorian government is preparing for the state to enter into drought after an unusually dry winter, it was revealed on Wednesday. A new threshold introduced by Premier Daniel Andrews means that Victoria begins preparations for drought when dams sink…
Halting sexual exploitation of children in tourism
By Baher Kamal Rome, Jul 18 (IPS) – While the business sector jumps for joy as the number of tourists grew in 2016 for the seventh consecutive year to reach 1.2 billion, and as the first four months of 2017…
Water scarcity hotspots shifting
New York – Reservoirs, dams and irrigation systems have shifted global patterns of water scarcity over three decades, “causing a distinct pattern of beneficiaries and losers”, according to recent research.
World’s northernmost coral reef in Japan bleached
Bleaching has damaged the world’s northernmost coral reef in Japan, a researcher said Tuesday, the latest example of a global phenomenon scientists have attributed to high ocean temperatures. Healthy coral reefs protect shores from storms and offer habitats for fish…
India’s Northeast have floods disaster for man-made causes
Since May 2017, several flood related incidents have taken place in the North East showing how our shortsightedness in understanding the rivers, how our thoughtless construction along the rivers in the name of flood control and how our careless operation…
Dhaka South City suspends staff holidays to fight mosquitoes
Dhaka, July – Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has cancelled holidays of its officials and employees next week as part of initiative to strengthen its ongoing ‘crash programme’ to eliminate Chikungunya.
Building resilience amidst “imbalances” and “inequality”
Geneva (D. Ravi Kanth) – The leaders of the Group of 20 developed and developing countries on Saturday (8 July) delivered a blueprint for “Building Resilience” in the world, but without addressing the grave “imbalances” between capital surplus and deficit…
Confronting Africa’s water challenge
Akinwumi Adesina Abidjan – Water is essential for life, and yet it is scarce in many parts of the world. Owing to the effects of climate change, Africa is experiencing its worst drought since 1945, especially in Southern Sudan, Somalia,…
Dhaka North Mayor says ‘sorry’ for his comment on chukungunya
Amid huge criticisms, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq on Saturday apologised for his remarks over the responsibility of his city corporation in preventing Chikungunya.While speaking at a press briefing at Nagar Bhaban on Friday, Annisul Huq claimed…
ADB warns climate change ‘disastrous’ for Asia
A business-as-usual approach to climate change will be “disastrous” for Asia, undoing much of the phenomenal economic growth that has helped it make vast inroads against poverty, the Asian Development Bank said in a report released Friday. A continued reliance…
2 billion people don’t have access to clean water
By Roshni Majumdar UN, Jul 13 (IPS) – More than two billion people lack access to clean and safe drinking water, according to a new report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Cargo vessel hits oil tanker: Oil spills in Kirtankhola
Barisal, July – A huge quantity of oil spilled in the Kirtankhola River as an oil-laden vessel collided with another vessel at Charkaua point of the river in Barisal on Friday.
Dhaka Mayors deny responsibility for Chikungunya epidemic
Dhaka, July 14 – While Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq has claimed that the DNCC is not responsible for the Chikungunya epidemic in the area under his jurisdiction, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon has said…