106 rare crocodile eggs found in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, July 18: Conservationists in Cambodia found 106 eggs of rare Siamese crocodile species in a western Cambodian wildlife sanctuary, officials said Thursday, calling it the biggest discovery in the last 20 years, giving new hope for the world’s rarest crocodile species’ survival in the wild.
The group discovered the species eggs in Cardamom National Park in May. Between June 27 and 30, a total of 60 eggs were successfully hatched, according to a joint statement issued by the ministries of agriculture and environment along with the conservation group Fauna & Flora.
“This discovery indicates that the area is a key habitat for wild crocodiles, providing hope for the species recovery,” the statement said.
The area and the young reptiles have been under the protection of Cardamom National Park Wildlife Sanctuary rangers, it added. (AP)
Over 5,000 kg of controlled chemicals seized in Myanmar
Yangon, July 18: Myanmar authorities have seized 5,250 kg of sodium cyanide in Kachin state of northern Myanmar, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, the country’s anti-narcotics police searched a 12-wheeled vehicle in Mohnyin township of Kachin state on July 14, and confiscated the controlled substances, the CCDAC said.
The seized controlled chemicals are worth approximately 68.25 million kyats (about $32,500), it said.
The CCDAC informed that a total of seven suspects, including four onboard the vehicle and three others in Myitkyina township, were arrested for the case.
They were charged under the country’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. Additional investigation is currently in progress. Further details are awaited. (IANS)
New migrants encounter hazards of food delivery
New York City, July 18: Brad Song thought he was about to get his e-bike stolen a second time in a less than a month after delivering an order for Chinese food app Fantuan Delivery.
Seven strangers surrounded the Chinese immigrant and knocked him off the scooter. He was rescued when a nearby motorist revved his engine, scaring the assailants. His brakes were damaged and a phone used for navigation had its screen shattered, but, while the February attack in New York rattled Song, his bike and body emerged intact.
Asylum-seekers have gravitated to working food delivery in New York and other major cities, drawn by an abundance of customers and ease of getting started. But the job carries hazards, particularly thieves who target food delivery bikes. Newly arrived asylum-seekers have been easy targets. Some work without legal permission, which can make them fearful of seeking help in an emergency.
Dissatisfied with the police response, many delivery drivers have banded together. (AP)
Two Amur tiger cubs have their first public outing in Germany
Cologne, July 18: Two Amur tiger cubs had their first public outing Thursday at Cologne Zoo in Germany, one of several zoos that has sought to help keep up the numbers of the rare big cats.
The cubs – a female named Tochka and a male named Timur – were born in mid-April and now weigh about 13 kilos (28.7 pounds) each. The pair explored their enclosure together with their mother, 13-year-old Katinka.
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are found in the far east of Russia and northeastern China and are considered endangered.
“We are very happy and proud of the offspring of this highly threatened species,” zoo curator Alexander Sliwa said in a statement, which said that 240 Amur tigers in zoos are currently part of a European programme to help conserve and breed the animals.
Katinka was brought from the zoo in Nuremberg last summer in exchange for Cologne tiger Akina after the existing pairs at both zoos had long failed to produce offspring. She quickly hit it off with 9-year-old Sergan, the cubs’ father, the zoo said. (AP)
Data breach compromises health info of 12.9 million Australians
Sydney, July 18: Electronic prescription provider MediSecure has revealed that the personal data of approximately 12.9 million Australians were leaked during a cyber security incident earlier this year.
On April 13, MediSecure discovered that a database server had been encrypted by suspected ransomware, before the incident was first notified to the public on May 16.
In its latest update on the data breach investigation, the Melbourne-based company said that 6.5 TB of data was likely exfiltrated by “a malicious third-party actor,” but the server could not be examined to ascertain the information specifically accessed.
“MediSecure can confirm that approximately 12.9 million Australians who used the MediSecure prescription delivery service during the approximate period of March 2019 to November 2023 are impacted by this incident based on individuals’ healthcare identifiers,” said the company, Xinhua news agency reported. (AP)