Rare Fish Rediscovered In Cambodia After Disappearance For Nearly Two Decades

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by Shambhu Datta Mishra

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The unusual fish, a carp with a hooked jaw and salmon-shaped body, had not been documented since 2005

As a result of the rediscovery, the Cambodian Fisheries Administration has added the giant salmon carp to its list of protected species

Phnom Penh, Oct 23: The 'Mekong ghost' fish has resurfaced in Cambodia after nearly two decades without a trace.

According to the news release, the elusive giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus) was spotted once again Tuesday in Cambodian waters by a team of international scientists led by the Fisheries Administration under the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The unusual fish, a carp with a hooked jaw and salmon-shaped body, had not been documented since 2005.

An international team of scientists has confirmed the existence of three giant salmon carp caught between 2020 and 2023, a significant finding for a fish previously feared extinct, reports Xinhua, quoting the news release.

"The rediscovery of the giant salmon carp is a reason for hope, not just for this species but for the entire Mekong ecosystem," said Bunyeth Chan, lead researcher from Svay Rieng University in Cambodia.

"The Mekong ecosystem is the most productive river on Earth, producing over 2 million tonnes of fish per year worth over $10 billion," he added.

As a result of the rediscovery, the Cambodian Fisheries Administration has added the giant salmon carp to its list of protected species.

(IANS)

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Over 30 Countries Willing To Join BRICS As Process For Forming Multipolar World Underway: Putin

by Hemanta Pande

Kazan (Russia), Oct 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that more than 30 countries have expressed a desire to join the BRICS alliance, an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa which had added four new members - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates - in January, this year.

"It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries of the Global South and East in strengthening contacts with BRICS. In one form or another, more than 30 states have already expressed such a desire. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a balance and not allow a decrease in the effectiveness of BRICS," said Putin while making his opening statement at the 16th BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

Besides Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Luis Ecker Vieira held the day's first engagement - a summit meeting in a restricted format.

Also present at the meeting were Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and several other key BRICS officials.

Before the start of the meeting, a joint photo session of the heads of delegations of the BRICS countries took place.

In his opening remarks, the Russian President highlighted that it was for the first time that the BRICS Summit is also being held in an expanded format as it was the Russian presidency 's motto to strengthen multilateralism for equitable global development and security.

"We sought to strengthen the authority of BRICS, enhance its role in world affairs, in solving urgent, global and regional problems, and in every way contributed to the deepening of multifaceted cooperation between our states in three main areas: politics and security, economics and finance, cultural and humanitarian contacts. And, naturally, we did everything to ensure the smooth and most complete integration of new member countries into the work of the association," he said.

During the narrow format meeting, the leaders held discussions on more pressing aspects of the global agenda, including cooperation between BRICS states in the international arena and settlement of acute regional conflicts.

The Russian President maintained that the leaders will also discuss the implementation of two important decisions of the previous summit in Johannesburg - the deepening of financial cooperation within BRICS and the further expansion of the organisation.

"We are all witnesses to the dynamic development of BRICS, the strengthening of its authority and influence in world affairs. The member states of our association possess truly enormous political, economic, scientific, technological and human potential. At the same time, we are united by common values and worldview," he said.

Putin stated that it would be fair to say that BRICS includes like-minded people – sovereign countries representing different continents, development models, religions, original civilizations and cultures with all member states advocating equality, good neighbourliness and mutual respect.

"This is the essence of the strategy of the BRICS course on the global stage, which meets the aspirations of the main part of the international community, the so-called global majority, and it is precisely this course that is especially in demand in the current conditions, when truly fundamental changes are taking place in the world, and the process of forming a multipolar world is underway," he concluded.

--IANS

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Cyclone Dana: Odisha Civil Service Prelims Exam Postponed In View Of Impending Cyclone Dana

by Utkalika Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: Keeping in view of impending Cyclone Dana, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) postponed the Odisha Civil Service(OCS) Preliminary Examination-2023.

The preliminary exam was scheduled to be held on October 27, 2024.

The commission further stated next date of Odisha Civil Service (OCS) Preliminary Exam-2023 will be notified after seven days.

OPSC advised candidates to visit the commission’s website - https://www.opsc.gov.in for further information.

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Cyclone Dana Likely To Bring Rainfall In Assam, Other Northeastern States

by Utkalika Mohanty

Guwahati, Oct 23: Cyclone Dana was likely to bring rainfall to Assam and other northeastern states over the next few days.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati, moderate rain was very likely to occur at many places over Mizoram and Tripura while light to moderate rain was very likely to occur at a few places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh was very likely to witness light rain at isolated places over the next few days, said Sanjay Shaw, Director of RMC in Guwahati.

According to a Weather Department bulletin, the well-marked low-pressure area over the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression which will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal by Thursday.

The official said heavy rain was likely to occur at isolated places in Assam and other northeastern states on Thursday. Thunderstorms and lightning will also occur in several places in the northeast.

"Weather will improve from October 27 in the majority of northeastern states except Tripura," the official added.

The governments in both states increased security measures in anticipation of Cyclone Dana, which was likely to make landfall on the shores of West Bengal and Odisha between Puri and Sagar Island on Thursday.

As the cyclone was expected to bring heavy rain in Odisha and Bengal, the Indian Coast Guard said it was on high alert and had kept its ships and planes to react quickly to any emergency.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has requested all MLAs to work with the government on rescue and relief efforts in Odisha, which is expected to be hardest hit by the storm.