-The Hindu Crop in 10,000 ha damaged due to poor rainfall and lack of irrigational facility PERAMBALUR: Maize cultivated in about 10,000 hectares in the district, especially in Veppanthatti taluk, has withered away due to failure of monsoon and absence of irrigational facility. As the 120-day duration crop, raised during the Adi Pattam, has suffered damage even before reaching the flowering stage, farmers are forced to use it as feed for livestock. Pinning...

-The Indian Express Death toll mounts to 25; government describes situation in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as "critical" Gopalpur/Srikakulam/Bhubaneswar: The death toll in calamity-ravaged Odisha on Monday mounted to 25 with four more persons perishing in several areas of the State in the aftermath of cyclone Phailin that triggered heavy rains and floods in some districts. The government described the situation in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as "critical". Relief and rescue operations have been...

-The Times of India GOPALPUR/CHATRAPUR: With meteorological warning systems working efficiently and swift reaction by the Odisha government and the Centre, the strongest cyclone to strike the country in the last 14 years began dissipating on Sunday, thwarted from its destructive potential by the mass evacuation of close to nine lakh people into cyclone shelters in a matter of hours and days. Roaring at more than 200 kmph, winds ripped through homes...

-FAO Direct economic costs of $750 billion annually - Better policies required, and "success stories" need to be scaled up and replicated Rome: The waste of a staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food per year is not only causing major economic losses but also wreaking significant harm on the natural resources that humanity relies upon to feed itself, says a new FAO report. Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources is the first...

-The Hindustan Times When it comes to wasting food items, India is ahead of China, says a UN report on food waste and its impact on natural resources. The grim news comes at a time when prices of most vegetables and fruits are high. The waste also takes a high toll on the country's natural resources because many of these items, rice for example, consume large quantities of water. It is estimated more...