IndiaNarrative

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Pune villagers reunite 15-day-old leopard cub with mother

A 15-day-old leopard cub found in the sugarcane field by Kailash Nagar villagers in Pune was reunited with mother in less than 24 hours

With sugarcane fields spread out in Maharashtra’s Junnar division in Pune district, it is not unusual for farmers to come across newly born leopard cubs. This is what happened in Kailash Nagar village when the residents came across a cub while harvesting sugarcane crops.

Familiar with such situations, the farmers immediately reported to the Forest Department who along with a three-member from Wildlife SOS rushed to the location to help secure the young cub.

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Pune villagers reunite 15-day-old leopard cub with mother

A 15-day-old leopard cub found in the sugarcane field by Kailash Nagar villagers in Pune was reunited with mother in less than 24 hours

The Sethusamudram Canal Project has been at the center of a contention since the time it was first proposed. Various sections of the population have been wary of the proposed construction of a 83 km long canal on the 50 km limestone trail, popularly called Ram Sethu, citing ecological and religious reasons. The building of this canal will require deep sea excavation by dredging and, or blasting the Ram Sethu, resulting in unprecedented ecological disturbance in the area, it is argued. As is the case with most ancient structures, not much is known about the composition of the trail.

Experts suggest that there is inconsistent sedimentation in different parts of the trail and the entire palk bay area, making the ecological repercussions of such large-scale construction on it, impossible to predict. The area is also cyclone prone, with storms in the past having changed sedimentation patterns in the area, further adding to its volatility. There are also fears that such a structure will irrevocably alter the habitat of the vibrant marine life in the area.

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Short Selfie Video & Writing Contest | Entries Open Till 12 August | Happy 75th Independence Day

As part of India's 75th Independence day to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, India Narrative is organising a short selfie video and a writing contest. Send your selfie video a maximum of 90 seconds or a small write-up on one of the following topics: 

Unsung heroes of India's freedom struggle 

Rare stories of India's Freedom Struggle 

Your favourite woman freedom fighter 

India of my dreams 

You can send your video/write-up until 12 August at [email protected]. You can also tag your video/write up on India Narrative's handles given below!

Facebook: TheIndiaNarrative Twitter: india_narrative Instagram: indianarrative

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Scientists discover chimpanzees in Uganda’s rainforest digging wells to drink water

Water is not only a precious and scarce resource but also an essential one without which nothing can survive on the planet. This life giver and saver can be accessed from rivers, springs, natural pools, etc and so digging on part of animals to access water is relatively a rare conduct as per a report in the sci-news.com and this has been recorded among a few species.

Now scientists belonging to the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Uganda have studied East African chimpanzees or Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii in Uganda’s Waibira community and observed habitual well-digging in rainforest by them.

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Open Court With KK Muhammed E7 | India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites & Criteria To Be In UNESCO List

With Dholavira being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, India entered the elite ‘Super 40’ Heritage Club in July 2021. Super 40 refers to a group of countries with 40 or more World Heritage sites. India is the 6th country in the world with the most World Heritage Sites. In this episode India's renowned archaeologist KK Muhammed talks about how can India increase the number of UNESCO world heritage sites and places that need to be excavated. Watch the video to know more

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Has a super-volcano begun to stir beneath the placid Lake Taupo in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s Lake Taupo with its azure serene waters and surrounding mountains and peaks reflects peace and serenity which people visiting the area can immediately feel. Yet, deep below these calm waters, as per a sciencealert.com report there is a geological unrest.

This is what has been stated by a new paper published in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.

The lake, which is situated in the centre of New Zealand’s north island, enjoys the distinction of being the largest freshwater lake in Australasia.

The past of this lake has been violent. It is in the lap of a prehistoric caldera which has derived from the Spanish word for cauldron or boiling pot and came into being during Earth’s last super-eruption which took place 25,400 years ago – the Oruanui eruption.

During the release of magma during a supervolcano occurring in an eruption like the Oruanui one, the depleted magma vents cave in, the surface of the earth sinks resulting in a permanent change in the landscape by creating a caldera.

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Dutch Farmers' Protests Spread Across European Countries | German, Italian & Polish Farmers Support

Dutch farmers' protests have spread to more European countries. Now, in a show of solidarity, German, Italian, Spanish & Polish farmers have launched protests. The farmers are protesting about rising costs and govt restrictions put on livestock numbers and fertiliser use in a bid to cut carbon emissions. Watch the video to know more

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“Winter is Coming” but without Russia’s help can Germany brave the cold ?

“The winter is coming” may have become an overplayed phrase from the fantasy series Game of Thrones. But, with the spectre of gas shortages looming on account of the Ukraine-Russia war, Europe, particularly Germany should be bracing for  real-life difficulties, especially when a harsh winter is closing in.  A host of factors have contributed to a grim energy situation, used for heating , transportation and electricity in Europe.

When the rest of Europe was reeling under energy related pressure, Germany was relatively well positioned because of established and uninterrupted channels of energy imports from Russia as well as the size of its economy which allowed it to sustain large energy imports unlike other European economies. However, rapidly changing metrics of global security, the lingering impact of the pandemic leading to disrupted supplies, a pent-up demand, climate policies of countries to shift away from traditional sources of energy and above all, the Russia-Ukraine war have all contributed to a rapidly changing energy situation in Europe.

Currently, Germany only produces about 40 percent of its electricity putting massive strain on other sources. For Germany, while its Energiewende has been a relatively successful experiment with rapid transitions to renewables, the Russia-Ukraine war has thrown a gauntlet for the country.

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Artificial Intelligence-based software detects encroachments on defence land using satellite imagery

The Centre of Excellence on Satellite and Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative (CoE-SURVEI) has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based software which can automatically detect change on ground, including unauthorised constructions and encroachments in a time series using satellite imagery.

The CoE-SURVEI, inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in December 2021, leverages latest technologies in survey, including satellite imagery, drone imagery and geo-spatial tools, for effective land management and urban planning.

Established by Directorate General Defence Estates at National Institute of Defence Estates Management, the CoE-SURVEI developed the Change Detection Software in collaboration with knowledge partner Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Visakhapatnam.

Presently, the tool uses National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Cartosat-3 imagery with trained software. The changes are detected by analysing satellite imagery of different time periods.

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Karnataka Sini Shetty Crowned Femina Miss India 2022

21-year-old Sini Shetty has won Miss India 2022 title. Sini, who was born in Mumbai represented the state of Karnataka. Rajasthan's Rubal Shekhawat was named first runner-up and Uttar Pradesh's Shinata Chauhan was declared the second runner-up. Watch the video to know more

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No timeline to end conflict, Russian military operation in Ukraine going as per plan — Putin

The liberation of Donbass region in southeastern Ukraine remains the "ultimate goal" of Moscow's ongoing 'special military operation', Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Ashgabat Wednesday evening.

After wrapping up his visit to Tajikistan, Putin travelled to Turkmenistan's capital city to participate in the 6th Caspian Summit. The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan also took part in the meeting of the heads of state of the Caspian Five. On the sidelines of the event, Putin told reporters that everything was going "according to plan" in Ukraine. "The ultimate goal I have outlined is the liberation of Donbass, the protection of these people and the creation of conditions that would guarantee the security of Russia itself. That's all. The work is going smoothly, rhythmically. As you can see, the troops are moving and reaching those lines that are set as a task at a certain stage of this combat work," he said.

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Open Court With Dr. KK Muhammed Ep 2: Bringing Home India's Lost Heritage And Artifacts

India is pushing hard for the retrieval of the country's lost heritage and its artifacts. Recently, during the India-Australia 2nd virtual summit, India got 28 artifacts back home. After the Taliban takeover of Kabul, India brought back ancient religious books of Hindus and Sikhs. Nearly 200 antiquities have also been repatriated to India by the US. However, there are numerous ancient antiquities that remain in other countries which need to be brought back to India. Dr. Muhammed, a renowned Indian Archeologist throws light on the subject. Watch the video to know more!

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IAF is planning to acquire 114 fighter jets of which 96 would be built in India

Read to know full details: India Narrative

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In setback to Amazon, NCLT upholds CCI decision to suspend US retailer’s $200 million deal to buy stake in Future Group

Amazon.com Inc's the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Monday rejected its appeal against the Competition Commission of India (CCI) decision suspending its $200 million investment deal to acquire a 49% stake in Future Group and asked US retail giant to pay the Rs 200 crore fine.

CCI had issued the suspension in December, stating that Amazon suppressed the actual scope of the 2019 investment and made false and incorrect statements. The regulator had also slapped a Rs 200 crore fine on the US retailer. Amazon challenged the decision, arguing that it had not concealed information.

The NCLT- comprising a two-member bench of Justice M Venugopal and Ashok Kumar Mishra, upheld the CCI findings and directed Amazon to pay the penalty of Rs 200 crore imposed by the fair trade regulator within 45 days from Monday.

"This appellate tribunal is in complete agreement" with the CCI, the two-member bench said.

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Russia-led CSTO prepares for challenges after Ukraine war

Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has decided to prepare in advance for security challenges likely to emerge after the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign ministers of the CSTO member countries Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia - which chairs the organisation currently - met in Yerevan on Friday to discuss the state of international and regional security and its impact on the security, especially in the Central Asian region. Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is also the Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council, received the participants in the Ministerial Council meeting, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.  

As CSTO celebrates the 30th anniversary of the signing of the collective security treaty and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the security organisation, Pashinyan said that it was not only an occasion to analyse the path travelled, mention the achievements but also to talk about the shortcomings.

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India being a power, largest democracy and neighbour should support the Baloch: BNM chairman Dr Naseem Baloch

On 29th April, 10th Council Session of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) was held which resulted in election of a new Cabinet and members of the Central Committee. Elections also resulted in appointment of Dr Naseem Baloch as the new chairman.

India Narrative speaks to Chairman Naseem in an online interview with Mark Kinra. The BNM chairman speaks about his journey in the field of politics, BNM’s election process, biases of the Gulf countries and the Western media against the Baloch, Shari Baloch, expectations from India and much more.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: How did you start on your political journey?

NB: I belong to Mashkay area of Balochistan. It is an extremely underdeveloped area which has been enduring Pakistani military barbarism since the 1970s. This military barbarism, marginalization and the violence manifested in the daily behaviour of the colonizing Pakistani armed forces against us - the Baloch people, and this has brought us to political thinking. Hence, I like many other youths of Balochistan found organized politics against Pakistani occupation as the only way for our national salvation.

The Baloch Student Organization (BSO) played an important role in this regard. It provided me with the opportunity to learn and participate in its political activities in various ranks and leadership roles. I was also one of the founding members and central committee member of BSO-Azad from 2002 onwards. After my student years, I joined the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and worked at different ranks. I was forced to leave Balochistan after I was kidnapped by the Pakistan Army in 2010, tortured and then released. I was doing my MCPS Psychiatry specialisation but I had to leave specialisation and move abroad. However, I continued my activities as a European Organizer and later Organizer of the BNM Diaspora Committee.

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Uganda’s trademark ‘Rolex’ chapati becomes smaller as food shortages caused by the Russian-Ukraine war mount

The reverberations of the Russia-Ukraine war which started on February 20 can be felt as far away as Uganda which is about 8,000 kilometres away! This is evident from the fact that the African nation’s favourite and popular food Rolex -- short for rolled eggs – which is a freshly prepared chapati wrapping a vegetable and egg omelette is neither filling nor nourishing any more.

Reporting this in qz.com, the article quoted a street vendor, Farouk Kiyaga, who informed that several of his customers had expressed their dismay over how Uganda’s darling diet has reduced both in size and taste due to increase in the price of cooking oil and wheat.

Ubiquitous is what best describes the Rolex sellers in Uganda. It is a common sight in this landlocked East African country’s markets and streets to have at least one seller of these rotis. Ready with the hot plate fired with firewood or charcoal, the vendor makes them using ingredients like onion, tomatoes and cabbage. They are priced between 1,000 and 2,000 Ugandan shillings or Rs.10 to 40.

The raging Russia-Ukraine conflict has brought exports by these warring nations to a halt. Both account for 26 per cent of wheat and 80 per cent sunflower oil exports in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. That’s not all as consumption and cost of grains, dairy products and meat too have jumped – making them dearer for the economically weaker sections of the society.

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