The missile testing has been paused by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), India's premier agency for military R&amp;D, at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast since it is Olive Ridley sea turtles'&nbsp;mass nesting season from January to March next year, according to a report published in The Times of India. 
 
The testing was paused to ensure that the endangered species were able to survive for a long duration. Mechanised boats, missile testing and movement of people badly affect the sea turtles' mass nesting and breeding off the island. This year, nearly five lakh Olive Ridleys have nested on the island.

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The coast will be patrolled by the army and Coast Guard to keep fishing boats and trawlers from going close to the strips of sand near estuaries and bays, where the eggs have been laid by the turtles.

<h2>Missile's bright light, loud sounds affect turtles</h2>

A committee, led by Odisha chief secretary P K Jena, on Friday, announced the decision to pause missile testing at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast, 
 
People hunt the small turtles to eat them and use their oil and their unhatched eggs and shells are used as fertilisers. 
 
"The turtle nesting site is close to Wheeler Island. Since missile testing involves flashes of strong light and thunderous sound, the turtles get distracted," said Susanta Nanda, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), while speaking to The Times Of India. 
 
Nearly 6.6 lakh (0.6 million) sea turtles have nested at the Rushikulya rookery located in Ganjam district. Fishing has already been banned by the Odisha government across the coastal side from November 1 till May 31. 
 
The committee emphasised the need to issue advisories to institutions, organisations, and industrial houses which are located along the coast to follow the outdoor lighting regulations, said the chief secretary.

Watch:&nbsp;Sea turtle released into Mediterranean sea

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The director of the Integrated Testing Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore has been appealed by the wildlife division to provide them space outside Wheeler Island's periphery for setting up seasonal forest camps. 
 
The marine police will use this as a base and undertake joint sea patrolling along with the forest department, while a trawler will be provided to the mangrove forest division by the Paradip Port Authority for vigilance duties. 
 
"The DRDO will also nominate a nodal officer for better co-ordination with the forest department for the safety of the Olive Ridleys," said an official.

(With inputs from agencies)

The missile testing has been paused by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), India's premier agency for military R&D, at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast since it is Olive Ridley sea turtles' mass nesting season from January to March next year, according to a report published in The Times of India.

The missile testing has been paused by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), India's premier agency for military R&D, at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast since it is Olive Ridley sea turtles' mass nesting season from January to March next year, according to a report published in The Times of India. The testing was paused to ensure that the endangered species were able to survive for a long duration. Mechanised boats, missile testing and movement of people badly affect the sea turtles' mass nesting and breeding off the island. This year, nearly five lakh Olive Ridleys have nested on the island. Also read: World's most dangerous bird spotted taking a swim at Australian beach The coast will be patrolled by the army and Coast Guard to keep fishing boats and trawlers from going close to the strips of sand near estuaries and bays, where the eggs have been laid by the turtles. Missile's bright light, loud sounds affect turtles A committee, led by Odisha chief secretary P K Jena, on Friday, announced the decision to pause missile testing at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast, People hunt the small turtles to eat them and use their oil and their unhatched eggs and shells are used as fertilisers. "The turtle nesting site is close to Wheeler Island. Since missile testing involves flashes of strong light and thunderous sound, the turtles get distracted," said Susanta Nanda, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), while speaking to The Times Of India. Nearly 6.6 lakh (0.6 million) sea turtles have nested at the Rushikulya rookery located in Ganjam district. Fishing has already been banned by the Odisha government across the coastal side from November 1 till May 31. The committee emphasised the need to issue advisories to institutions, organisations, and industrial houses which are located along the coast to follow the outdoor lighting regulations, said the chief secretary. Watch: Sea turtle released into Mediterranean sea The director of the Integrated Testing Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore has been appealed by the wildlife division to provide them space outside Wheeler Island's periphery for setting up seasonal forest camps. The marine police will use this as a base and undertake joint sea patrolling along with the forest department, while a trawler will be provided to the mangrove forest division by the Paradip Port Authority for vigilance duties. "The DRDO will also nominate a nodal officer for better co-ordination with the forest department for the safety of the Olive Ridleys," said an official. (With inputs from agencies)

India: DRDO pauses missile testing off Odisha coast to save lives of Olive Ridley sea turtles

Australia could be a testing ground for US hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday.

US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said Australia's contribution to the three-way AUKUS agreement, which includes Britain, "doesn't always have to be dollars".

The pact was signed in late 2021 and is seen as a way of countering China's growing clout in the Asia-Pacific region.

Work under AUKUS has so far focused on supplying Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a fleet capable of travelling stealthily over vast distances and striking foes at long range.

But the pact is increasingly focused on developing advanced capabilities such as long-range precision firing, artificial intelligence and hypersonic weapons.

Wormuth said Australia could be a proving ground for these weapons.

"One thing Australia has in spades is long distances and relatively unpopulated land," she told AFP in a telephone interview from Washington.

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"A challenge for us in the United States when it comes to hypersonics or even some of our things like the precision strike missile -- which is not a hypersonic weapon but has very long ranges in some of its increments -- for us to find open spaces in the United States where we can actually test these weapons, it's a challenge."

"Australia obviously has a tremendous amount of territory where that testing is a little bit more doable -- so I think that's a unique thing, as an example, that the Australians bring to the table."

China has denounced the AUKUS pact as undermining peace in the region -- a charge that Washington, Canberra and London reject.

But critics have also asked whether it is truly cooperative, or whether the United States, because of its size and overwhelming military power, will dominate.

Wormuth said she expected the two smaller partners to pitch in and "have skin in this game -- and they do".

"The sense I got certainly from talking to senior Australian officials is they're not doing this to make us happy, they're not doing this just for fun," said the Pentagon official, who visited Australia last week for the Talisman Sabre multinational military exercise.

"They're doing this because they see it as in their own national interest in terms of being able to meet the different challenges that they see in the theatre."

<h2>'Prohibitively expensive'</h2>

Facing Russia's war in Europe, threats from North Korea and a more bellicose China, the United States has sought to bolster its defence alliances and put more advanced capabilities into the hands of allies like Australia, Ukraine and Taiwan.

For much of the Cold War, it was Washington's policy to be able to fight two major wars at once.

Wormuth admitted that today, budget constraints, US public opinion and the relative strength of Russia and China make such a doctrine impossible.

"I think there is a recognition that when you look at the size of our military, when you look at the size of the defence budget that the American taxpayer is willing to pay for, we... don't plan to fight more than one major war at a time," she said.

Instead, the United States hopes its alliance and nuclear arsenal will "discourage opportunistic aggression".

"Given the sophistication of the Russian military and the Chinese military today, to try to size our military to hypothetically handle two wars at a time would be prohibitively expensive".

&nbsp;

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Australia could be a testing ground for US hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday.

Australia could be a testing ground for US hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday. US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said Australia's contribution to the three-way AUKUS agreement, which includes Britain, "doesn't always have to be dollars". The pact was signed in late 2021 and is seen as a way of countering China's growing clout in the Asia-Pacific region. Work under AUKUS has so far focused on supplying Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a fleet capable of travelling stealthily over vast distances and striking foes at long range. But the pact is increasingly focused on developing advanced capabilities such as long-range precision firing, artificial intelligence and hypersonic weapons. Wormuth said Australia could be a proving ground for these weapons. "One thing Australia has in spades is long distances and relatively unpopulated land," she told AFP in a telephone interview from Washington. Also read: France: At least nine dead in fire at holiday home for disabled people "A challenge for us in the United States when it comes to hypersonics or even some of our things like the precision strike missile -- which is not a hypersonic weapon but has very long ranges in some of its increments -- for us to find open spaces in the United States where we can actually test these weapons, it's a challenge." "Australia obviously has a tremendous amount of territory where that testing is a little bit more doable -- so I think that's a unique thing, as an example, that the Australians bring to the table." China has denounced the AUKUS pact as undermining peace in the region -- a charge that Washington, Canberra and London reject. But critics have also asked whether it is truly cooperative, or whether the United States, because of its size and overwhelming military power, will dominate. Wormuth said she expected the two smaller partners to pitch in and "have skin in this game -- and they do". "The sense I got certainly from talking to senior Australian officials is they're not doing this to make us happy, they're not doing this just for fun," said the Pentagon official, who visited Australia last week for the Talisman Sabre multinational military exercise. "They're doing this because they see it as in their own national interest in terms of being able to meet the different challenges that they see in the theatre." 'Prohibitively expensive' Facing Russia's war in Europe, threats from North Korea and a more bellicose China, the United States has sought to bolster its defence alliances and put more advanced capabilities into the hands of allies like Australia, Ukraine and Taiwan. For much of the Cold War, it was Washington's policy to be able to fight two major wars at once. Wormuth admitted that today, budget constraints, US public opinion and the relative strength of Russia and China make such a doctrine impossible. "I think there is a recognition that when you look at the size of our military, when you look at the size of the defence budget that the American taxpayer is willing to pay for, we... don't plan to fight more than one major war at a time," she said. Instead, the United States hopes its alliance and nuclear arsenal will "discourage opportunistic aggression". "Given the sophistication of the Russian military and the Chinese military today, to try to size our military to hypothetically handle two wars at a time would be prohibitively expensive". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pentagon eyes missile testing role for Australia

North Korea is continuing its missile testing spree. Earlier today, they fired two cruise missiles towards the sea off West Coast. Pyongyang has conducted record-breaking weapons tests this year.

North Korea fires two cruise missiles towards sea off its West Coast

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