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12Oct

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Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction – Times of India

Kyrgyzstan has opened a criminal probe into the destruction of glacial ice by a private company, a rare move pointing to concerns over water shortages in the Central Asian country.Glaciers are thick masses of ice that form on land from centuries of compressed snow.They provide a vital source of freshwater in Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country home to thousands of them, but rising temperatures due to climate change and mining operations are putting them at risk.The glacial ice in the southern Osh region was destroyed when a private company "illegally built a road to a coal mine" in the area, allegedly in collusion with a state-owned firm, prosecutors said on Thursday."As a result of the illegal actions of the private company, glaciers and soil spanning an area of 9,392 square metres were dest...

11Oct

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Off Argentina’s Patagonian coast, whales and their calves dive deep for food – Times of India

PUERTO MADRYN: In the icy seas off Argentina's southern Patagonian coast, an important breeding ground for whales, scientists are studying the huge marine mammals to better understand how they mate, feed and look after their young.They have learned some surprising facts. Southern right whales in the Valdes Peninsula unexpectedly dive to the ocean floor to feed, often along with their young calves, researchers told Reuters near the Patagonian port city of Puerto Madryn."We went to examine the surface and sub-surface feeding behavior, and what we saw was many whales were diving, and when they returned to the surface they had mud on their heads," said Valeria D'Agostino, a researcher at state science body CONICET. "That gave us evidence the whales were diving close to the bottom," added D'Ago...

10Oct

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Climate change made deadly Hurricane Helene more intense: study – Times of India

WASHINGTON: Hurricane Helene's torrential rain and powerful winds were made about 10 percent more intense due to climate change, according to a study published Wednesday by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.Although a 10 percent increase "might seem relatively small... that small change in the hazard really leads to big change in impacts and damage," said climate scientist Friederike Otto, who heads the research organization.The study also found that fossil fuels -- the primary cause of climate change -- have made hurricanes like Helene 2.5 times more likely to occur.In other words, storms of Helene's magnitude were formerly anticipated once every 130 years, but now the probability is closer to once every 53 years, on average.To conduct the study, researchers focused on three aspec...

9Oct

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COP29: Billions of climate finance at stake – Times of India

The UN COP29 conference, which is scheduled to be held, from 11 November to 22 November in Baku, might pressurize rich countries to increase their contribution to ‘climate finance’ for poor countries by hundreds of billions of dollars.Climate finance is likely to be the top agenda at the conference amid disagreements on how much is needed, who should pay and what should be covered in it.Climate financeThough there is no universally agreed upon definition of climate finance, as per the Paris agreement, it refers to the money spent in a manner "consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development." It includes government or private money to promote clean energy like solar and wind, technology like electric vehicles, or adaptation measures like dyke...

7Oct

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Environment takes centre stage as global summits loom – Times of India

Representative AI image (Pic credit: Lexica) Global warming. Disappearing plant and animal species. Fertile land turning to desert. Plastic in the oceans, on land, and the air we breathe.These urgent environmental challenges will be in the spotlight over the next few months as the United Nations hosts four major sessions to address key threats to the planet.- Biodiversity -First up is a "Conference of the Parties" -- a COP -- dedicated to biodiversity being held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1.These are called every two years to debate how the world can cooperate to better protect the rich variety of plant and animal life in the natural world.The COP16 isn't expected to break new ground but will take stock of progress since the last summit secured historic assurances for b...

7Oct

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Human-caused bird extinctions reduced diversity in functions, unique history, study finds – Times of India

Representative AI image (Pic credit: Lexica) NEW DELHI: Extinction of bird species caused by humans over the last 1,30,000 years have substantially reduced functional diversity of birds in the environment, a new study has found. The extinction also resulted in a loss of three billion years of unique evolutionary history, it found. At least 600 bird species, including the 'Dodo' and songbird 'Kaua'i 'o'o', have become extinct because of humans, since the Late Pleistocene -- the era between 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago -- when modern humans started to spread throughout the world, researchers, led by those at the University of Birmingham, UK, said. Dodo, related to the pigeon family, was a heavy flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius, while Kaua'i 'o'o was native to th...

5Oct

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Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc on historic Biltmore Estate in North Carolina – Times of India

Biltmore Estate (Picture Credit: X) Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage to Asheville’s famous attraction Biltmore Estate.The 8,000-acre estate that hosts 1.4 million visitors a year suffered significant damage in some buildings after the hurricane ripped through Western California, as reported by CNN.“We are still assessing impacts to the estate from Tropical Storm Helene and that will take some time,” the Biltmore said in a statement on Thursday.The Biltmore Estate, known for housing America’s largest privately owned mansion, reported that the 250-room Biltmore House, winery, conservatory, and hotels "received minimal or no damage from the storm."However, low-lying areas on the estate, such as the entrance and farm, faced "significant flooding and damage to buildings." The Bilt...

5Oct

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Two more found dead in Taiwan after Typhoon Krathon – Times of India

Rain generated by Typhoon Krathon in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan (Picture Credit: AP) TAIPEI: Two people who went missing amid the destructive wind and torrential rains of Typhoon Krathon were found dead Saturday in Taiwan, doubling the death toll for the storm that lashed the island this week.Across the island, around 20,000 homes were still without power Saturday, mostly in the worst-hit southern seaport city of Kaohsiung, where the typhoon made landfall.Krathon dissipated into a tropical depression on Friday after slamming into the island the day before, bringing mudslides, flooding and record-strong gusts. More than 700 people were injured.On Saturday, two missing people were found dead in northern New Taipei city, bringing the typhoon's death toll to four, the National Fire Agency said...

4Oct

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G20 environment ministers back funding for forest conservation – Times of India

SAO PAULO: Environment ministers of the Group of 20 nations agreed Thursday to support the creation of funding sources for ecosystem services, acknowledging Brazil's proposal to establish a trust fund for forest conservation.The Brazilian initiative, known as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, would reward tropical forest countries for protecting critical biomes.Unlike the Amazon Fund, which rewards Brazil if it succeeds in reducing deforestation, the initiative would benefit all tropical forest nations based on the area preserved, paying local and Indigenous communities involved for maintaining ecosystems that “benefit everyone,” João Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary of Brazil’s Minister of the Environment, told journalists after the ministers' meeting.The environment ministers o...

4Oct

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Taiwan slowly returns back to work after Typhoon Krathon receded – Times of India

Southern Taiwan on Friday repaired the damages caused by floods and high winds after Typhoon Krathon struck the island, impacting major metropolitan areas. Meanwhile, financial markets resumed operations as the rest of Taiwan returned to work.Krathon, which made landfall in the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung, has now been downgraded to a tropical depression, after it caused streets to flood, shattered windows in several buildings, and sent debris flying with its record-breaking winds.While work resumed earlier on the day, the local governments in Kaohsiung and neighboring Pingtung county declared another day off work, which was the fourth in a row. This decision was taken to remove downed trees, pump out floodwaters and remove detritus from roads.In Kaohsiung, a city housing almost 2....

3Oct

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Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future – Times of India

Lexica generated AI image GENEVA: World skiing's governing body joined forces with the UN's weather agency on Thursday in a bid to feed its meteorological expertise into managing the "existential threat" to winter sports posed by climate change. Ski resorts around the world are increasingly being forced to confront the realities of a warming climate, with stations suffering from a lack of snow and a shorter season -- and the knock-on economic impact for destinations reliant on winter tourism.The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) hopes its cooperation with the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) weather and climate agency will give it a better outlook on the future for winter sports."The climate crisis is obviously far bigger than FIS -- or sports, for tha...

3Oct

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San Francisco Bay Area experiences ‘second summer’ as temperatures hit record highs – Times of India

Representative Image (Picture Credit: AP) The San Francisco Bay Area, which rarely experiences temperatures above 90 degrees, will be enduring the fall heat wave for at least a day or two before finally getting relief from the current fall heat wave.The temperature in the city soared to a high of 94 degrees on Tuesday.The National Weather Service on Wednesday reissued its excessive heat warning and advisory, which would be in effect from 11 PM Wednesday to 11 PM Friday. This advisory applies to several areas, including the North Bay interior and coastal ranges, San Francisco, the East Bay, the South Bay, and the Santa Cruz Mountains.Inland regions may experience temperatures rising as high as 108 degrees during the heat wave, while downtown San Francisco could reach 87 degrees. The heat ad...

1Oct

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Rescuers search for missing people in Nepal as death toll due to floods climb to 224 – Times of India

The disaster struck Himalayan nation just before Dasain, the country's most significant festival, which starts on Thursday. The search for the missing and the recovery of the deceased continued in Nepal on Tuesday, following the devastating floods and landslides that claimed more than 200 lives over the weekend. The death toll has risen to 224, with 158 injured and 24 others still unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue, according to Eak Narayan Aryal, the government's chief secretary.Aryal also said that the flooding had damaged 16 hydroelectric power plants, resulting in decrease in Nepal's electricity production, while additional 18 projects under construction were also affected.The disaster struck Himalayan nation just before Dasain, the country's most significant festival, which s...

1Oct

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Nepal floods & landslides: 217 dead, 28 missing amid search and rescue operations – Times of India

The death toll from rain-induced floods and landslides in Nepal had surpassed 215 on Tuesday, with 28 individuals still missing according to officials.The disaster that began on Thursday, left thousands displaced in multiple provinces with widespread destruction that continued till Sunday. Since Friday, large parts of eastern and central Nepal have been engulfed by the floods.However, the weather in Kathmandu improved, offering a little relief to the disaster-stricken people.The death toll in the flood and landslide triggered by three days of continuous rain in Kathmandu and various parts of Nepal has reached 217 as of Tuesday morning.As of now, 28 people have been missing with another 143 sustained injuries due to the natural disaster-related incidents, according to Home Ministry spokespe...

1Oct

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Typhoon Krathon heads towards Taiwan’s populated west coast, storm surge warning issued – Times of India

Typhoon Krathon heads towards Taiwan's populated west coast, storm surge warning issued Taiwan mobilised nearly 40,000 troops on Tuesday to bolster rescue efforts as the powerful Typhoon Krathon approaching its populous southwest coast is expected to bring a storm surge and the coast guard raced to locate 19 sailors who abandoned ship, Reuters reported.Nearly 40,000 troops have been mobilised in Taiwan to strengthen rescue efforts as the powerful Typhoon Krathon approaching its populous southwest coast. The typhoons is likely to bring a storm surge after striking parts of northern Phillippines and the coast guard raced to locate 19 sailors who abandoned ship. the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued the latest sea and land alerts for Typhoon Krathon, six cities and counties around T...

30Sep

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North India logs its best monsoon in 11 years | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: This has been the wettest monsoon in north India in 11 years. The region, often plagued by large monsoon deficits while staring at a worsening groundwater situation, recorded 628mm from June 1 to Sept 29, its highest rainfall since 2013.That this was the best monsoon in the region in over a decade with the seasonal rainfall just 7.1% above normal - less than the national average of 7.8% - shows that north India hasn't had a significantly wet June-Sept period in recent years.Meanwhile, this year's monsoon season is set to officially end on Monday with India having received the highest rainfall since 2020 and recorded the lowest number of subdivisions with deficient rains - three out of 36 - since 2019. Overall, the monsoon is set to be 7-8% higher than the long period average (LP...

29Sep

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‘You wake up and the life you know is just gone’: Residents share challenges as Hurricane Helene claims 64 lives – Times of India

Aftermath of Hurricane Helene (Picture Credit: Reuters) The aftermath of Storm Helene which tore through the Southeastern United States, has been left in a trail of devastation. The powerful storm killed at least 64 people across five states and caused widespread power outages. At least 24 people died in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, 10 in North Carolina and 1 in Virginia.Rescuers faced immense challenges on Saturday, dealing with washed-out bridges and debris-laden roads while searching for survivors of Storm Helene.Now classified as a ‘Post-Tropical cyclone’, Helene continued to drench the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians.From the hardest-hit coastal towns to inland regions buried in mud, the reaction from residents was a mix of shock, resilience, and heartbreak.I...

29Sep

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Climate change, harsh weather in France bring challenges to Chablis wine country – Times of India

Grape-pickers harvests Chardonnay grapes at Domaine Lavantureux, in Chablis, Burgundy region, France, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP) LIGNORELLES: On a brisk late September morning in the heart of Chablis wine country, grape pickers haul large and heavy buckets over their shoulders, drenched in sweat as they climb the very steep slope of the Vau de Vey vineyard. It's the final day of the harvest at the Domaine Roland Lavantureux winery, and workers are handpicking the last of the prized Chardonnay grapes that will eventually be transformed into the bright and high-end Premier Cru that is bottled by the estate. But wine lovers around the world may struggle to get their hands on the 2024 "millesime" - wine that comes from a single year's harvest. It will be available in smaller quantities th...

27Sep

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Haryana Assembly polls: Parties chase Dalits; voters chase papers

Gurdeep Lal flips through a small booklet issued to him in 2015 by the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Board, which lists 22 welfare schemes aimed at providing for every eventuality in life and also death. In the nine years that he has been enrolled with the programme, he laments, he has not been able to access any of these schemes.Mr. Lal, 39, belongs to the Baazigar community and runs a grocery store in Chapra village in Haryana’s Shahbad Assembly constituency. As a Scheduled Caste voter, he has emerged as a prime target for the major political parties in the State’s upcoming election.He runs his finger through the promises of financial support listed in the schemes: ₹51,000 for wedding function of girls; ₹3,000 to purchase a cycle; ₹3,500 to buy a sewing machine; and ₹15...

27Sep

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Landslide in western Indonesia gold mine kills 15, dozens missing – Times of India

Representative Image (Picture Credit: PTI) A landslide in a remote site of Western Sumatra province on Sumatra Island killed at least 15 people and left dozens missing, after heavy rainfall in the area.While talking to AFP, Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Ilham Wahab said, "The information we can provide was that a landslide occurred at a gold mine last night, causing several people to be buried.Efforts to search for the victims are ongoing.”Ilham said that three people were injured and 25 were still missing.The Southeast Asian archipelago is filled with unlicensed mines. Ilham couldn’t confirm whether the site in question was legal or illegal.He said that all the activities at the site are halted as of now, and the search efforts for the missings are underway.Ilham coul...

26Sep

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UK names Rachel Kyte as new climate envoy – Times of India

LONDON: Britain on Thursday named Rachel Kyte, a climate policy professor at Oxford University, as its new climate envoy - the latest step in the recently elected Labour government's efforts to bolster Britain's role in international climate politics. Kyte's appointment as the UK's Special Representative for Climate comes six weeks before COP 29, the latest annual UN climate summit.Countries from around the world will meet in Azerbaijan to try to thrash out new deals to halt rising global temperatures, mitigate the damage they have caused and raise funding for those who have been worst affected. In her career Kyte has focused on ways to generate energy in fair and sustainable ways. She previously worked for the World Bank in the run up to the landmark Paris 2015 Paris climate agreement, an...

26Sep

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NC, PDP blame Centre for lower turnout in second phase of elections in J&K

Women speak to each other outside a polling booth during the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, at a tribal area of Poonch district, J&K. | Photo Credit: PTI The National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday (September 26, 2024) blamed the Centre for the lower voter turnout in the second phase of elections held to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday (September 25, 2024).NC vice-president Omar Abdullah, while expressing his unhappiness over the poll percentage, especially in Srinagar, said, “The turnout was less compared to what we expected. It’s the fault of Central government for comparing high poll percentage (in the previous phase) with normalcy and calling it the effect of Article 370 removal. I think the low voter turnout was th...

26Sep

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Amit Shah in Udhampur rally: Terrorism won’t be allowed to stage comeback, it has been buried

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah speaks during a public meeting for J&K Assembly elections, at Chenani, in Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, on Thursday (September 26, 2024). | Photo Credit: PTI Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing election rallies in Jammu on Thursday (September 26, 2024), warned of stern action against separatists and Pakistan “if they plan to disturb peaceful Kashmir”.“Those who promote terrorism will meet the same fate as that of (Parliament attack convict) Afzal Guru,” Mr. Shah said. On regional parties’ demand to restore Article 370, Mr. Shah said, “Even generations after Rahul (Gandhi) would not be able to restore it. Elections are being held here for the first time without Article 370 and a...

26Sep

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J&K polls: Omar Abdullah blames Centre for low voter turnout in second phase

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice President Omar Abdullah. File | Photo Credit: ANI National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday (September 26, 2024) said the low voter turnout in Srinagar district during the second phase of voting for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls was perhaps a people's reaction to the Centre trying to project normalcy in the Union Territory.His remarks came after the second phase of polling on Wednesday saw a voter turnout of over 56% while the first phase held on September 18 saw an estimated 61.38% voter turnout."To be honest, I was expecting higher turnout because there was no boycott call, there were attacks, there were no threats or intimidation of the voters. I feel the Centre is also responsible for this. They tried to present the high v...

25Sep

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People of Srinagar remain reluctant voters as district records 29.24% turnout

People queue up to vote at a polling station in Srinagar on . | Photo Credit: Reuters Locals of Srinagar district continued to be reluctant voters on Wednesday (September 25, 2024), which was evident with the low voter turnout of 29.24% in spite of the high-pitch, violence-free poll campaigning by parties in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election. Also read | Second phase sees over 56% voter turnoutSrinagar district, which consists of eight Assembly segments, was among the three districts of Kashmir Valley, including Ganderbal and Budgam, that witnessed polling on Wednesday (September 25, 2024). Unlike the long queues of Ganderbal’s Kangan constituency, which recorded 67.6% polling and Budgam’s Khansahib constituency with 67.7% polling till 5 p.m., most polling booths in ...

25Sep

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Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: 57% turnout in peaceful Phase 2 polling

A paramilitary person stands guard as the voters queue up to cast their vote for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in Budgam on September 25, 2024. | Photo Credit: ANI Enthusiastic voters swarmed most polling booths since the morning across 26 Assembly segments of Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday (September 25, 2024) and registered a voter turnout of more than 56% till 7 p.m., according to the Election Commission of India (EC). “There has not been any incident that a repoll is required. There were 3,502 polling stations and no polling booth had a voting percentage in single digits. In Srinagar, the polling percentage exceeded the Lok Sabha figures by over 5%,” J&K Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole said.Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections phase II ...