-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Localized air pollution, posing an environmental and health challenge, has been linked to the presence of 'heat islands' in Delhi - pockets which are significantly warmer than their surroundings. A study of these localized 'hot spots', compiled after a controversy over a Delhi versus Beijing pollution scare, revealed that vehicular congestion in conjunction with highly built-up areas is creating worrying levels of pollution, affecting a significant...

-Down to Earth Four-day world congress on agroforestry in Delhi pushes for accelerating growing trees on farms for sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change impacts In what is seen as a ground-breaking move, India has become the first nation in the world to adopt an agroforestry policy. The National Agroforestry Policy, which deals with the practice of integrating trees, crops and livestock on the same plot of land, was launched February 10,...

-The Hindu Ryots can use it at all bank ATMs to withdraw cash to buy fertilizer or seed TIRUPATI (Andhra Pradesh): ‘RuPay', the multipurpose smart card envisaged to enable payments from various financial institutions to beneficiaries through an impressive network of ATMs, is all set to benefit the farming community more than ever before, said National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala. Speaking after releasing and distributing the...

-Outlook Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government today said that 43 people, who were part of the urban network of the Maoists, were arrested in the state during past five years. In a written reply to a question from senior Congress legislator Bhupesh Baghel in the state Assembly, Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra informed the House that as many as 43 people, including women, were arrested from 2009 till January 20 this year on charges...

-Down to Earth Activists demand its early passage to check discrimination against affected people in education, healthcare, employment, travel and insurance A much-awaited Bill, meant to protect people living with HIV/AIDS from all types of discrimination, was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Bill, drafted in 2006, was introduced by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill or the HIV/AIDS Bill,...