Sri Lanka counts seven million crop-busting monkeys
Agrarian Research and Training Institute (ARTI) Chief Executive A. L. Sandika said that the refined data was in line with a previous survey "a few years ago", but did not elaborate.
"Initially, we had some issues with the data on monkeys. We had to check again to arrive at the final result," Sandika told reporters in Colombo.
Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakodi announced last week that the census conducted on 15 March -- the first of its kind -- had turned up "unbelievable" data that required verification.
Authorities suggested that some enraged farmers might have exaggerated the numbers to suggest that the problem was even bigger in the nation of 21 million people.
Residents across the island were asked to count wild boar, peacocks, monkeys, and lorises—a small, largely nocturnal primate—spotted near farms and homes during a five-minute period.
The move was aimed at drawing up a national plan to deal with nuisance wildlife.
Opposition legislator Nalin Bandara had said the survey was "a complete failure, a waste of money".
Officials say more than a third of crops are destroyed by wild animals, including elephants, which are protected by law because they are considered sacred.
While elephants are major raiders of rice farms and fruit plantations, but they were not included in the March count.
The then-agricultural minister proposed in 2023 exporting some 100,000 macaques to Chinese zoos, but the plan was abandoned following protests from environmentalists.
Sri Lanka removed several species from its protected list in 2023, including all three of its monkey species as well as peacocks and wild boars, allowing farmers to kill them.
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US adversaries fuel disinformation about LA protests
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Euronews
11 hours ago
- Euronews
What has Israel hit in Iran and what has it not attacked yet?
In the early hours on Friday, Israel launched a large-scale military operation against at least 100 targets in Iran, including the Tehran regime's military leadership and strategic sites of the Iranian nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel targeted Iran's nuclear enrichment and nuclear weaponisation facilities, ballistic missile programme sites, as well as individual Iranian nuclear scientists. About a dozen different sites appear to have been targeted, including those in Tehran, Shiraz and Tabriz, as well as reportedly in Isfahan and Kermanshah. According to the IDF, Israel used 200 fighter jets and around 330 'various munitions' to strike more than 100 targets across the country. Israel and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the strikes at the Natanz nuclear site, around 250km from Tehran. Iran's most significant nuclear enrichment site and its underground centrifuge facilities are protected by heavy concrete walls. Construction work was under way to expand the site. It is unclear how much damage was done during the attack, but video footage posted online appeared to show the aftermath of massive explosions. According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the list of targets in Tehran includes the neighbourhoods of Farahzad, Amir Abad and Andarzgou, the Lavizan district and the Asatid-e Sarv complex. Targets were also hit on the Nobonyad, Langari and Patrice Lulumba streets in Tehran. The Jahan Koudak Tower was also struck. The ISW says unverified images have been circulating on social media showing specific buildings impacted by the airstrikes, suggesting that Israel conducted targeted killings in Tehran. Israeli Army Radio also reported that Israel targeted Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to the supreme leader. Iranian authorities told UN atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi that Israel's strikes had not hit the country's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan and Bushehr. The Fordow facility is located some 100 km southwest of Tehran. It also hosts centrifuge cascades, but it is smaller than the Natanz facility. Iran is using Fordow to produce most of the near-weapons-grade uranium it has amassed since 2021. The site is reportedly designed to withstand airstrikes as it is protected by anti-aircraft batteries. It is a heavily protected enrichment site built into a mountainside, which sits an estimated 80 metres under rock and soil. Military experts previously said that it would require a weapon like a 'bunker-buster' bomb known as the 'Massive Ordnance Penetrator'. This is the aspect where Israel might need US help and support in providing this type of weapon. Another nuclear facility not targeted by Israel is the one in Isfahan. Located around 350 km southeast of Tehran, Isfahan employs thousands of nuclear scientists. It is also home to three Chinese research reactors and laboratories associated with the country's atomic program. Isfahan is considered Iran's largest nuclear research complex. The Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Persian Gulf, around 750 km south of Tehran, is Iran's only commercial nuclear power plant. Construction on the plant began under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the plant was repeatedly targeted in the Iran-Iraq War. Russia later completed construction of the facility. Iran is building two other reactors like it at the site. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran, and is monitored by the IAEA. Israel's massive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and top military commanders overnight on Friday ignited not only regional tensions but also placed the regional media on high alert. Israel's main outlets were divided in their coverage of the event between the technical and military aspects and political and strategic analysis, amid a realisation that what happened is not just a military operation, but a turning point that may redraw the map of clashes in the region. Meanwhile, the media outlets across the Arab world took into account their domestic political context and international relations, particularly with the US, leading to some mixed positions on the event. Here is an overview of how the region's main news outlets covered the Israel-Iran conflict, as it continued to develop on Friday. Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya and Al Hadath relied on headlines such as "Israeli attack on Iranian facilities" or "Israel bombs Iran". The coverage was swift and intense, with events reported according to Western and US sources, particularly emphasising the political positions as stated by Saudi Arabian officials. Sky News Arabia's coverage was characterised by a balanced tone, using headlines such as: "Israel strikes Iran". The channel focused on documenting the facts and reporting international reactions, while also cautiously reporting official Iranian statements. It also included in-depth analyses from political and security analysts, reviewing possible scenarios of escalation in the region, while being careful not to overestimate the impact of the strike or pre-emptive reactions. The online newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat took an independent approach to the event, using headlines such as: "Israel attacks Iran. Tehran vows to retaliate". The Saudi newspaper relied on reports from multiple sources, including official Iranian statements and Western analyses, focusing on the political and military dimensions of the strike, its impact on the nuclear negotiations and the balance of power in the region. In contrast, the Qatari channel Al Jazeera led its coverage with phrases such as "Israel attacks Iran". The channel also provided extensive analytical coverage, hosting military and strategic experts to discuss the repercussions of the escalation on the Iranian nuclear file and the situation in Gaza, where the Israel-Hamas war has been raging for around 20 months. The Lebanese press seemed divided in its coverage, reflecting the internal divide. An-Nahar newspaper headlined: "Unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran, killing the commander of the Revolutionary Guard and nuclear energy scientists." At the same time, news close to Hezbollah covered the news of Israel's attack on Iran, focusing on the statements of Iranian officials. Egyptian websites merely reported the news from international agencies under straightforward news headlines. Most of them did not analyse or adopt clear positions, which seems to be in line with the editorial policy that tends to avoid taking sides in complex regional conflicts. Haaretz, known for its critical attitude towards the security and political establishment, chose a cautious analytical angle. In its editorial, it steered clear of the "tactical victory" narrative and raised questions about the feasibility of the strike and its future dimensions. The newspaper's analysts questioned whether this operation is a prelude to a broader war that Israel may not be able to contain, or whether it is merely a tactical move to deter Iran from advancing its nuclear programme. The newspaper also linked the strike to internal tensions in Israel, arguing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "fighting his biggest battle abroad while his legitimacy is eroding at home." Yedioth Ahronoth, the most widely circulated newspaper, adopted a tone that tended to focus on the operational aspects. It published extensive details about the nature of the strikes, the types of weapons used, and the army's estimates of the losses inflicted on Iran's military infrastructure. But it also did not fail to mention the challenges ahead. Its coverage included analyses of the possibility of opening fronts in the north with Hezbollah, or in the Red Sea by the Houthis, noting "the biggest security alert since the 1973 war". In its coverage, the English-language Jerusalem Post focused on the "precision of intelligence coordination", describing the operation as "more complex than the assassination of (Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen) Fakhrizadeh", stressing that the attack was carried out after months of monitoring and gradual implementation. But it also warned that "Israel may have opened a door that cannot be easily closed," and recalled how fragile the home front is, especially in light of the declining readiness of the reserve forces and the crisis associated with compulsory military service for ultraorthodox Jews. The Times of Israel took a more comprehensive approach to news coverage. It quoted statements from Israeli and US sources, most notably the assertion that "the US was aware of the strike, but did not actually participate". It also suggested that the operation "may have a domestic electoral impact", in light of Netanyahu's attempts to regain political momentum in the face of escalating protests related to the Gaza hostage issue and accusations from the opposition that the country is embroiled in open confrontations for political purposes. Most Israeli media outlets agreed to characterise the event as a "pivotal moment", but they differed in reading the price that the Hebrew state might pay. While some newspapers cheered the security achievement, others did not hide their concern about the repercussions of the strike, whether on the Iranian front or at home. In Iran, no traditional newspapers are published on Friday. Saturday is also a public holiday, marking a major Shiite religious celebration, with not many outlets printing newspapers. The digital outlets, all controlled by the Tehran regime, have thus far disseminated only propaganda.
France 24
18 hours ago
- France 24
'Avoid escalation': World reacts to Israel strike on Iran
Here is a roundup of key reactions: 'Cannot have nuclear bomb': United States US President Donald Trump, told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before it happened and said: "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see." Fox News also reported that "Trump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates." 'Maximum restraint': UN UN chief Antonio Guterres asked "both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford," according to a spokesperson. Guterres was "particularly concerned" by Israel's strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. 'Deeply worried' : China "The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling "on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions". - 'Reasonable reaction': Czech Republic - Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Iran "is supporting so many players, including the Hezbollah and Hamas movements, with the intention to destroy the state of Israel, and also seeking a nuclear bomb", that "I see that this was a reasonable reaction from the state of Israel towards a possible threat of a nuclear bomb". 'Avoid any escalation' : France "We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability," France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. 'Dangerous escalation': Hamas "This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war. No 'battleground': Jordan "Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace. 'Dangerous approach' : Oman Nuclear talks mediator Oman said "calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardise the security and stability of the region". 'Strong condemnation': Qatar Gaza mediator Qatar expressed "its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said, adding that the "dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions". 'Aggressive actions': Turkey "Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. 'Reduce tensions urgently': UK British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region." Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said on Telegram they backed "Iran's full and legitimate right to... develop its nuclear programme" and that "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means". burs-djt/yad © 2025 AFP
