Afghanistan: Three killed in unexploded ordnance blast

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has consulted a range of ecologists and biologists and identified 10 species as at serious risk of extinction, the organisation said in a media release.

They are Tasmania's Maugean skate, the swift parrot, the regent honeyeater, a small wallaby called the Top End nabarlek, the Baw Baw frog, Victoria's grassland earless dragon, the central rock-rat, the Kangaroo Island assassin spider and two plants, the Tunbridge leek-orchid and the Coffs Harbour Fontainea, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Without the full reform of Australia's unfit-for-purpose nature law and no sign of an independent agency to enforce the law, these 10 highly imperilled plants and animals are staring down the barrel of extinction," ACF nature campaigner Darcie Carruthers was quoted as saying.

"Some are threatened by particular industries. For example, Tasmania's Maugean skate is under direct threat from intensive salmon farming in its home of Macquarie Harbour," Carruthers said. "The survival of the swift parrot is dependent on the species having suitable nesting and food trees, but commercial logging is destroying its essential breeding trees."

"In virtually every case, destruction of the species' habitat is the defining problem," she said.

As of September 2024, there are a total of 2,245 species on the national list of flora, fauna and ecological communities that are threatened with extinction, according to the ACF's Extinction Roulette report.

(IANS)

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"As the youngest freedom fighter in Odisha, Baji Raut's dedication, sacrifice, and struggle have not been honoured at the official level. Therefore, in the coming days, the birth anniversary of Shaheed Baji Raut will be officially celebrated as a state-level ceremony. The government will celebrate it widely with all care. If this programme is implemented successfully, it will be a fitting tribute to Baji Raut," the Chief Minister at Baji Raut Birth Anniversary Event organised at Jayadev Bhavan by the Sanskrutika Parishada, Dhenkanal. 

Attending the programme Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj announced that a life-size statue of Martyered Baji Raut would be erected in his village Nilakhanthapur under the Bhuban block in Dhenkanal district soon. 

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid rich tributes to Raut, who was gunned down by British police during the freedom struggle. Baji Raut was the youngest one among the freedom strugglers who was martyred. 

Pradhan urged the Mohan Majhi government to provide formal honour to all legendary persons of Odisha. 
 

The three tests of the Very Short Range Air Defence System were carried out by the DRDO in the Pokhran range of Rajasthan as part of development trials.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry involved in the successful development trials and stated this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces against aerial threats.

"The DRDO India has successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation, technically advanced miniaturised weapon system VSHORADS, from Pokhran. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry involved in the successful development," posted the Defence Minister's office on Saturday.

The missiles have been under development for the last few years and are expected to meet the critical requirements of the forces to tackle enemy aircraft, drones and other aerial targets at short ranges.

The forces rely on the Russian Igla missiles for their requirements but have felt the need to modernise their inventory for over a decade now.

The development cum production partners in the VSHORADS project are two private companies.

Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2024 in New Delhi, expressed India's support for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific.

"India has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on the centrality of ASEAN in fostering regional dialogue, stability, and collective growth," he said.

Rajnath Singh underscored India's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the vital international maritime routes. He further said that the engagement with regional partners, including joint exercises and information-sharing initiatives, is aimed at strengthening the collective maritime security framework.

He underlined that the Indian Armed Forces, particularly the Navy, have been at the forefront of cooperative endeavours with countries of the region, and are continuously working towards building their capacity and capabilities, the Ministry of Defence stated.

"While India's endeavour for maritime cooperation continues, its interests are not in conflict with any other country. At the same time, the interests of any other nation should not come in conflict with those of other nations. This is the spirit in which we must work together," Singh further said.

Highlighting India's vision for the Indo-Pacific he said, "India's vision for the Indo-Pacific is based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) as we believe in fostering partnerships that prioritise sustainable development, economic growth and mutual security."

The Defence Minister added that India's engagement with its partners is guided by the understanding that true progress can only be achieved through collective action and synergy. He stated that due to these efforts, India is considered a "credible and preferred security partner and first responder" in the region.

(ANI)

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