Climate change
Big oil gives Trump record donations, but not the $1bn he expected
Donald Trump has raised more money from the oil and gas industry than at any point during his previous presidential campaigns. A surge in fossil fuel funding occurred in the six months since he directly requested $1 billion from oil executives and then promised to repeal environmental regulations if elected. While the Republican nominee hasn't quite reached the $1 billion mark, he has earned $14.1 million from the oil and gas business through August 31, according to donation filings. This is more than he received from the sector over the same period of his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
Hurricane Milton damages Florida with tornadoes and flooding
Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc in Florida, spawning tornadoes, torrential rains, and furious winds that damaged homes and knocked out electricity to millions of people. While the National Hurricane Center said on Thursday that the storm, which had landed on the state's western coast hours earlier, had fallen to a Category 1 hurricane, it was still moving over Florida at 150 km/h (93 mph). On Wednesday, Milton landed as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, Florida, at about 8:30 pm (00:30 GMT). It had maximum sustained winds of 195km/h (121mph).
First-time US voters face a high-stakes option
For millions of Americans, November 5 will be their first time voting for president in a US election. With polling data indicating a close race, first-time voters say they are under enormous pressure to pick between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris despite a sharp ideological split. Seven people from various political parties were interviewed about their first experience participating in a US election.
Floods and landslides kill 16 people in Bosnia
Flash floods and landslides in central Bosnia-Herzegovina have killed at least 16 people, cutting off towns and villages and submerging homes in some areas. Some of the worst incidents occurred at Jablanica, a town on the main route between Mostar and Sarajevo, roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) to the northeast. Several other persons have been reported missing, and a state of emergency has been issued.
Indigenous ‘Watchmen’ Protecting Peru’s Isolated Tribes
On a cloudy afternoon in April, Nolasco Torres and Freddy Capitan glide their canoe through a dense, jungle-covered ravine. Along their path, they search for footprints and broken branches – signs of the possible return of isolated tribes in this remote region. After navigating a curve, they steer towards Nueva Vida, a small Indigenous village hidden in Peru’s eastern Amazon, around 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Brazil border. “When this ravine dries, they’ll return here,” Torres says. “Summer is coming. We need to ensure our communities are ready.” Torres, 47, and Capitan, 33, are Indigenous Huni Kuin leaders. They are also friends and neighbors of Nueva Vida’s 30 villagers. But their visit isn’t social. Clad in khaki vests marked “PIACI” (Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact), they’re part of a group of 50 Indigenous protection agents employed by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. Their mission has brought them to the Curanjillo Ravine, where contact is increasing.
Deadly Floods and Landslides Kill 148 in Nepal, Rescue Efforts Ongoing
Severe floods and landslides have claimed at least 148 lives in Nepal, with more than 100 others injured, according to police reports. The disasters follow two days of torrential rainfall that overwhelmed the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas, leaving over 50 people still missing as of Sunday. Rescue teams have saved approximately 3,600 people. Residents described leaping "from one roof to another" to escape rising floodwaters that have inundated thousands of homes. Rescue operations, using helicopters and inflatable rafts, are still underway, despite predictions of continued rain through Tuesday. Some flood victims were able to return to their homes on Sunday, but many remain stranded due to blocked roads between towns and villages.
What’s the UN’s new ‘Pact for the Future’, and why did Russia oppose it?
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted an ambitious pact aiming to make the organization more relevant and effective on the global stage in the 21st century, amid growing criticism over its failures to prevent wars and hold accountable those who violate its charter. Russia and Iran were among seven nations that opposed the "Pact for the Future," but they were unsuccessful in stopping the document from moving forward during the summit held on Sunday and Monday.
Typhoon Yagi killed at least 59 people in Vietnam
Typhoon Yagi has wreaked havoc across the country, leaving dozens of people missing, a bridge damaged, and a bus carried away by water. At least 59 people have perished in Vietnam when the most violent cyclone in decades made landfall. According to Vietnam's disaster management office, dozens of individuals have gone missing, largely because of landslides and flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Harris defends policy adjustments on major areas in his first interview
In her first interview since entering the presidential campaign, US Vice President Kamala Harris defended her decision to shift her position on essential subjects. The Democratic nominee was pressed on whether her immigration and climate policies have changed since she ran for president in 2019. "I think the most crucial and fundamental component of my policy view and actions is my beliefs have not altered," she stated to CNN's Dana Bash."
Climate change may prompt earlier cicada emergence, US prepares
According to experts, climate change may be gradually modifying the range and behaviour of cicadas, as billions of these insects are projected to invade the United States. Beginning later this month, broods of 13-year and 17-year cicadas will emerge simultaneously for the first time since 1803, marking one of the largest emergences in living memory.
Tasmania to build 32ft monolith documenting climate change actions
To answer this query, Australian scientists are constructing Earth's Black Box, a 32-foot-long steel monolith that collects data regarding our planet. It will be populated with hard drives that continuously record climate change, thereby providing an "unbiased account of the events" that culminate in the demise of the Earth.
Coastal living faces accelerated aging due to climate change
Coastal living faces accelerated aging due to climate change