RIA Novosti

China's capital practically closed down due to sandstorm

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:28:00 GMT

A huge dust and sandstorm has closed down the streets of China's capital of Beijing, bringing the visibility level to practically nil, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Herd of elephants takes over Indonesian village, residents flee

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:30:00 GMT

A large herd of hungry elephants has taken over part of the Indonesian village of Petani on the island of Sumatra, forcing villagers to flee their homes, the country's Antara news agency reported on Friday.

China suffers longest drought in 100 years, drinking water sparse

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:54:00 GMT

Some 20 million Chinese are have been hit by the longest drought in a century, with drinking water in residential homes being turned on for only a few hours per day, Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

Sochi public council to discuss environmental issues of 2014 Games

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:32:00 GMT

The Public Council which oversees preparations for 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games will gather on Tuesday to address environmental issues.

Dead pigs dumped in river threaten health of 3 mln Chinese

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:18:00 GMT

More than 100 rotting pig carcasses discarded in the Qiantang River in China are threatening the health of 3 million locals, Chinese Global Times said on Monday.

Dozen of rare Amur tigers starve to death in Chinese zoo

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:39:00 GMT

A total of 13 rare Amur tigers have died of hunger in the past three months in a northeastern Chinese zoo, Xinhua said on Friday.

French activists block train with radioactive waste for Russia

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:26:00 GMT

French Greenpeace activists blocked a train carrying some 650 metric tons of radioactive waste in protest against the export of nuclear waste to Russia, the Greenpeace Russia website said.

Russian ecologists organize coalition to cancel Putin's resolution on Baikal mill

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Russian ecologists organized a coalition to stop Lake Baikal pollution by a pulp and paper mill which was reopened after being suspended for 16 months due to ecological concerns, a statement on the Greenpeace Russia website said.

Yellow snow falls in Russia's Far East

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:25:00 GMT

The Amur region in Russia's Far East was hit by yellow snow, Elena Pechkina, a regional meteorologist, told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Chinese pandas gnaw bones over bamboo forest destruction

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:31:00 GMT

Some Chinese pandas have started eating animal bones instead of their traditionally-preferred diet of bamboo, state-run China Central Television said on Monday.

Industrial whaling has no effect on carbon dioxide levels

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:56:00 GMT

Killing whales has not affected the level of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, a WWF Russia official said on Friday

Lynx caught in northwest Moscow

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:30:00 GMT

A lynx hiding in a waste bin was found at a plant in northwest Moscow, the head of the city's wild animal rehabilitation center said on Friday.

China makes rain by 'bombing clouds'

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:08:00 GMT

China has begun "bombing clouds" to prevent the risk of forest fires by inducing precipitations amid the worst drought in 60 years, Xinhua reported on Thursday, citing local meteorological authorities.

Medvedev calls for green overhaul of Russian economy

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:08:00 GMT

Russia's economy needs fundamental reform to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday, saying the country could then meet its target of a 25% cut by 2020.

Sochi Olympic work not damaging environment - state corporation

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:56:00 GMT

Construction work for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games is not harming the environment, state building corporation Olympstroy said on Tuesday

Over 50,000 people left without water in Russia's Urals

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:55:00 GMT

Over 50,000 people in Russia's Perm Region are without water for a second day on Tuesday after a tributary of the Volga was contaminated with an unidentified substance.

Pulp mill near Lake Baikal to reopen in late February despite public protests

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:59:00 GMT

A pulp mill near Lake Baikal will go in full production, which has been suspended for 16 months due to ecological concerns, in late February, despite large-scale public protests, a spokesman for the mill said on Monday.

Pet leopard from disputed Moscow village moves to Sochi

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:10:00 GMT

A pet leopard from a disputed rural settlement in Moscow will move to a wildlife sanctuary near Sochi, a south Russian resort on the Black Sea, a local environmental official said on Friday

Russia to stick to Kyoto Protocol pledges

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:22:00 GMT

Russia will fulfill its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the presidential advisor on climate issues said on Friday.

Oil leaks from recently launched Pacific oil pipeline

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:00:00 GMT

An unknown amount of oil leaked from the East-Siberia - Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline, launched about a month ago, a source in the regional emergencies service said on Thursday.

Saving Russia's cedar forests 'key to Amur tiger conservation'

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:06:00 GMT

The government should reintroduce a law banning the cutting down of cedar forests in Russia's Far East to save the rare Amur tiger, World Wildlife Fund Russia head Igor Chestin said on Tuesday.

U.A.E. camel beauties challenge economic recession

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:46:00 GMT

The ongoing Al Dhafra Festival camel beauty pageant in the United Arab Emirates challenges the global financial recession with camel sales reaching almost $16.5 million in the first three days.

'Tiger' countries salute Russia's idea to host world tiger forum

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:57:00 GMT

Ministers from 13 countries still inhabited by wild tigers approved on Friday Russia's idea to host an international forum on tiger conservation in 2010, WWF Russia said.

Russia to host tiger conservation forum

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:24:00 GMT

An international forum to discuss tiger conservation efforts will be held on September 9-12 in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, the Russian government said on Wednesday.

Mongolian antelope invasion causes alarm in Russia

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:19:00 GMT

An influx of wild antelopes from Mongolia has led to authorities in a Russian region to consider imposing a state of emergency.