The Bay of Bengal (BoB) region is emerging as an important focal point for climate security risks. This is largely due to a multi-layered interplay of geopolitical, geostrategic, and climate-related regional dynamics. It forms the final leg between West and East Asia. The region is one of the most climate-vulnerable …
Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to approve commercial cultivation of transgenic Bt brinjal. National Committee on Biosafety (NCB), the highest regulatory body for GM crops in Bangladesh, officially approved the Bt brinjal varieties on 31 October. With this step, Bangladesh becomes the 29th country in the world …
A consortium of Indian environmental activists has expressed fears that genetically modified brinjal, not yet approved for cultivation in India, may slip into the country from Bangladesh where it is under assessment for possible commercial release. The Coalition for a GM-free India, a group of non-government organisations, has asked Delhi …
Nearly one in four people on earth live in the countries that border the Bay of Bengal. The region is strategically vital to Asia’s rising powers. Its low-lying littoral — including coastal regions of eastern India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra — is home to over half …
NEARLY one in four people on earth live in the countries that border the Bay of Bengal. The region is strategically vital to Asia's rising powers. Its low-lying littoral - including coastal regions of eastern India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra - is home to over half …
The World Bank's board on Tuesday approved a $140 million interest-free loan to fund a more efficient power plant in Myanmar, as the bank seeks to support reforms in the Southeast Asian country. The World Bank has stepped up its engagement with Myanmar, which is rich in resources but underdeveloped …
Sundarban, the world's largest mangrove forest, has become unsafe for wild animals like deer, tiger and crocodiles following rampant and indiscriminate poaching during the last few years. The reasons behind poaching can be attributed to high demand for skin and other organs of wild animals in domestic markets as well …
Seeks answers from Petroleum Ministry on IPI, TAPI and India-Bangladesh-Myanmar gas pipeline. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has sought answers from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry over the inadequate progress made in execution of transnational pipeline projects including the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline, the TAPI gas pipeline and the …
The objective of this study was to demonstrate a new, cost-effective method to define the sustainable amounts of harvested wood products in Southeast Asian countries case studies, while avoiding degradation (net loss) of total wood carbon stocks. Satellite remote sensing from the MODIS sensor was used in the CASA (Carnegie …
The commissioning of the 210 MW capacity Tuivai hydro–electric project in Mizoram, a much–anticipated event, would begin soon as the Union Finance Ministry has approved funds for it, an official said here on Wednesday. “The Union Finance Ministry last month gave its endorsement to provide necessary funding for the 210 …
AIZAWL : Work on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project (KMMTP), that aims to link India with Myanmar’s Sittwe port through the Kolodyne river, has been halted, senior state officials said. Senior government officials told The Indian Express that the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) halted work as clearance has not …
UNFPA-IPPF initiative to fill gap in health care infrastructure. A new initiative to boost family planning services in 13 countries including India, focussing on vulnerable groups, particularly in areas affected by natural disasters and conflict, was launched on the concluding day on Thursday of the Women Deliver conference. The initiative …
In a bid to bring transparency in the water sector, the Centre has decided to put in the public domain all water data maintained by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board. The data, including river water levels, river discharge, siltation, reservoir levels, ground water levels …
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified anti- malarial resistance in four countries of South East Asia and launched an emergency response to prevent resistant strains of the malarial parasites from spreading further. On the occasion of World Malaria Day today, the WHO has also cited concerns over resistance emerging …
About 1.3 billion people in South-East Asia continue to be at risk of malaria, even though substantial progress has been made in controlling the disease. The region bears 15 per cent of the global burden, second only to Africa. Malaria is endemic in 10 of the 11 WHO member-states in …
A moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Myanmar today, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake hit at a shallow depth of 3.5 kilometres, with its epicentre about 65 kilometres southwest of the capital Naypyidaw at 1516 GMT. Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar. The USGS said six strong earthquakes, …
Dengue poses a substantial economic and disease burden in Southeast Asia (SEA). Quantifying this burden is critical to set policy priorities and disease-control strategies.
Calls conclusion of negotiations on FTA a milestone After tying up the loose ends of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) just before the start of the first-ever India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit on Indian soil on Thursday, New Delhi sought a deeper engagement with the 10-country bloc …
Activists warn food insecurity in southeastern Bangladesh may worsen over the next decade as a result of unfettered deforestation. Abdul Mannan of local NGO Society for Health Extension & Development works with communities in Cox's Bazar District where, by the group's estimate, some 400,000 depend on the forest to survive. …
Migratory bird watchers are in for a feast this winter as endangered Jerdon Babbler Scindicum has been spotted for the first time ever in the country at the world-famous Harike wetland here. Found in certain wetlands of Pakistan and Myanmar, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed Jerdon …
According to a new UN report, incidence of new HIV infections has fallen by half across 25 countries The rate of new HIV infections in India has dropped by an encouraging 57% over the last decade thanks to increased domestic spending towards the AIDS response. According to a new UN …
