LONDON: Britain will extend a drone exclusion zone five-fold and give police new powers against lawbreaking operators, the government said on Monday, after sightings last month paralyzed the nation’s second busiest airport.
The changes announced in parliament by the transport minister, Chris Grayling, followed pre-Christmas disruption at Gatwick airport where drone flyovers led to 1,000 flight cancelations affecting 140,000 passengers.
The military was drafted in to help.
“The disruption caused by drones to flights at Gatwick airport last month was deliberate, irresponsible and calculated, as well as illegal,” Grayling told parliament.
The Ministry of Defense remained on standby to deal with any further problems at Gatwick or any other airport, he added.
The government said the drone exclusion zone around airports would be extended to about 5 km (3 miles) — with additional extensions at runway ends — from 1 km now.
Grayling said the government would also begin testing the use of counter-drone technology as part of its response to a consultation begun before December’s disruption.
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Britain to expand drone exclusion zone after Gatwick chaos
Britain to expand drone exclusion zone after Gatwick chaos
Brazil suspends dredging of Amazon river after Indigenous protests
SAO PAULO: Brazil announced on Friday the suspension of dredging operations on a major Amazon tributary, after Indigenous communities protested the work on rivers they see as vital to their way of life.
Hundreds of Indigenous people have been protesting for two weeks outside the port terminal of US agribusiness giant Cargill in northern Brazil to draw the attention of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government.
They have been angered over the dredging and development of Amazon’s rivers for grain exports.
The government said in a statement that it suspended the process of contracting a company for annual dredging work on the Tapajos River in the state of Para “as a gesture of negotiation.”
Protesters have demanded the cancelation of a decree signed by leftist leader Lula in August which designated major Amazonian rivers as priorities for cargo navigation and private port expansion.
They also want the cancelation of a federal tender issued in December worth 74.8 million reais ($14.2 million) to manage and dredge the Tapajos River.
In addition to suspending the dredging process, the government promised on Friday to consult with local communities before proceeding with any work.
Hundreds of Indigenous people have been protesting for two weeks outside the port terminal of US agribusiness giant Cargill in northern Brazil to draw the attention of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government.
They have been angered over the dredging and development of Amazon’s rivers for grain exports.
The government said in a statement that it suspended the process of contracting a company for annual dredging work on the Tapajos River in the state of Para “as a gesture of negotiation.”
Protesters have demanded the cancelation of a decree signed by leftist leader Lula in August which designated major Amazonian rivers as priorities for cargo navigation and private port expansion.
They also want the cancelation of a federal tender issued in December worth 74.8 million reais ($14.2 million) to manage and dredge the Tapajos River.
In addition to suspending the dredging process, the government promised on Friday to consult with local communities before proceeding with any work.
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