Asia Pacific News Blog

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

New bird species found in India

A new multicolored bird species, the first in more thna 50 years, has been found in India, a member of Mumbai's Natural History Society said Tuesday.

The brightly-colored Bugun Liocichla, was sighted in May in the remote Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh near the border with China.

Athreya, who found the bird, named it after the Bugun tribe, and the find was described by Birdlife International as "the most sensational ornithological discovery in India for more than half a century."

A Bugun Liocichla rests on the branch of a tree at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh May 25, 2006. The striking multi-coloured Bugun Liocichla was discovered in India's remote northeast, making it the first ornithological find in the country in more than half a century, experts said on Tuesday. The Bugun Liocichla, scientifically known as Liocichla bugunorum, a kind of babbler, was discovered in May at the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India's hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China. Picture taken May 25, 2006. REUTERS/Ramana Athreya

A Bugun Liocichla bird rests on the branch of a tree at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh May 25, 2006. Scientifically known as Liocichla bugunorum, a kind of babbler, was discovered in May at the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India's hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China. REUTERS/Ramana Athreya via Yahoo News.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Tongan King passes away, son crowned

King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV died at 11:34 pm, Sunday at Mercy Hospital in New Zealand, said the Tongan royal website.

The king who has been in bad health for some time was 88 years old.

Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV relaxes in the royal palace in the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa, January 2002. The king has died aged 88, bringing to a close more than four decades of his near absolute rule in the South Pacific island nation.(AFP/File/Matangi Tonga)

Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV at the royal palace in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on January 2002. AFP/File/Matangi Tonga via Yahoo News.

On Monday, the Prince Regent took the oath before the Privy Council and was sworn in as King Tupou V of Tonga.

Information of the funeral of the late king will be rleased on Tuesday according to the royal palace.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Fire's haze darkens Borneo

Dozens of uncontrolled fires continue to thicken the haze over the island of Borneo, officials said Friday.

Some eight million hectares across Indonesia have burned in the last month due mostly to illegal land-clearing and illegal logging. About 60 percent of the burnt area was farm land with the remainder forest.

"Now visibility is down to 500 metres, planes can still take off but we will have to see later," said an official speaking of Central Kalimantan.

Villagers heading home through a thick haze of smoke from forest fires in Riau, Sumatra province, August 2006. At least eight million hectares across Indonesia have been damaged by forest fires in the last month, officials have said as dozens of uncontrolled blazes continued on Borneo island.(AFP/Greenpeace/Getty Images/File/Vinai Dithajon)

Villagers heading home through a thick haze of smoke from forest fires in Riau, Sumatra province, August 2006. At least eight million hectares across Indonesia have been damaged by forest fires in the last month, officials have said as dozens of uncontrolled blazes continued on Borneo island.(AFP/Greenpeace/Getty Images/File/Vinai Dithajon)

Villagers head home through thick haze uncontrolled forest fires in Riau, Sumatra province, August 2006. AFP/Greenpeace/Getty Images/File/Vinai Dithajon via Yahoo News.