Scientists have confirmed that summer 2024 broke global heat records for the second consecutive year, making 2024 likely to be the hottest year in recorded history. Data from Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service, shows June to August as the hottest period since records began in 1940.
Mohammad Salim shudders when he remembers the campaign that erupted in May 2023 against his Muslim minority community in Purola, a seemingly sleepy town surrounded by forested hills in the northern state of Uttarakhand. "If I had not escaped that day, they would have killed me along with my family," said Salim, 36, a married father of three young daughters. Salim, whose clothes shop was looted, now lives in basic accommodation with his family around 100 kilometres (60 miles) away in the city of Haridwar, struggling to make ends meet. Читать дальше...
As a rollercoaster week drew to a close, debate centred on the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates when it meets in less than a fortnight, with most observers expecting a 25-basis-point cut. However, analysts say it could go twice as big if the non-farm payrolls report for August comes in well below forecasts as a series of recent figures suggest the economy is slowing more sharply than initially thought. A big miss in July's reading fanned fears of a recession and was a key driver of the rout across markets at the start of last month.
China is the leading emitter of the greenhouse gas emissions scientists say are driving global climate change and making extreme weather events more frequent. Beijing has pledged to bring planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak by 2030 and to net zero by 2060. And on Thursday, the China Meteorological Administration said in a statement that: "China experienced prolonged and extreme high temperatures" in August. "The national average temperature was the highest for the same period since 1961," it added. Читать дальше...
More than 100 dolphins and whales now wash up on Taiwan's beaches every year, a sharp rise over the past decade, according to researchers. After spotting a beached mammal, volunteers at a recent training run by the Taiwan Cetacean Society (TCS) were told not to push the mammals back into the sea, but to immediately call the coast guard with their precise location. The coast guard works with groups like TCS in emergency operations that often include trained volunteers. TCS secretary-general Tseng... Читать дальше...
The data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service followed a season of heatwaves around the world that scientists said were intensified by human-driven climate change. "During the past three months of 2024, the globe has experienced the hottest June and August, the hottest day on record, and the hottest boreal summer on record," Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, said in a report. "This string of record temperatures is increasing the likelihood of 2024 being the hottest year on... Читать дальше...
Liverpool midfielder Mac Allister swept in a low finish three minutes after half-time to break the deadlock at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires against a defensive Chile side. Former Manchester City striker Alvarez doubled the lead in the 84th minute with a thumping shot from outside the area before substitute Dybala put the seal on the victory with a late strike in stoppage time. It was another clinical victory for the reigning world champions, who are now cruising towards confirming their... Читать дальше...
In Iraq, the date palm and its bounty are national icons, but they are being battered by drought. Once known as the country of "30 million palm trees", Iraq's ancient date-growing culture had already suffered from upheaval, especially during the 1980-88 war with Iran, before climate change became a major threat. In the still lush countryside of central Iraq, near Janajah village in Babylon province, hundreds of date palms stand tall and majestic, surrounded by vines and fruit trees. During harvest season... Читать дальше...
The film, starring Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan, came out last week and boasts an audience rating of 98 percent on the Rotten Tomatoes website. But it impressed just 21 percent of critics. Professional reviewers mostly trashed the film as a clunky hagiography that omits a controversial leader's flaws, while thousands of fan responses accused elitist critics of knocking an "uplifting" and "patriotic" film because of their own left-wing politics. "You add the politics into this one, and all of... Читать дальше...
Instead of receiving the help she needed, Sandra -- who asked that her real name be withheld for fear of reprisal -- was accused of manipulating her son to turn on his father. The accusation was made using a controversial legal principle that Colombia has since scrapped but is still in force in many countries. Ultimately, the boy was removed from her care for years, she said. "They treated me like a crazy person, a malicious, negligent mother." Sandra fell victim to a concept known as "parental... Читать дальше...
The century-old aerospace giant's reputation has taken a hammering over thruster malfunctions and helium leaks its spaceship encountered on its way up to the orbital outpost in June, and the US space agency's subsequent decision to fly its crew back on a rival SpaceX Crew Dragon next year. A smooth, uneventful ride home is critical not only for salvaging some pride but also for Boeing's prospects of securing certification to fly astronauts in the future. Starliner will autonomously undock from... Читать дальше...
World number six Pegula of the United States battled back from a set and a break down to record a gutsy 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over her 52nd-ranked opponent from the Czech Republic. Double Australian Open champion and world number two Sabalenka reached her second successive US Open final by seeing off another American, Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). "I thought I was lucky to still be in it," admitted Pegula. "She made me look like a beginner, she was destroying me and I was about to burst into tears but it all came down to small moments. Читать дальше...
The proposed purchase of Seven & i Holdings would be the biggest ever foreign takeover of a Japanese firm and combine 7-Eleven, Circle K and other brands across Asia, North America and Europe. As the world's biggest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven operates more than 85,000 outlets globally. Although the brand began in the United States, since 2005 it has been wholly owned by Seven & i. A letter from the Seven & i board to Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) said it was open to "engaging... Читать дальше...
Double Australian Open champion Sabalenka triumphed over the 13th-seeded American 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) and will face either Jessica Pegula of the United States or the Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova in Saturday's final. Navarro, playing in her first semi-final at the majors, went down fighting, however, when she clawed her way back from 3-5 down in the second set to take her chances in a tiebreak. Sabalenka sent down 34 winners to the 13 of the 23-year-old American in the tie. "Guys, now you're cheering for me. Читать дальше...
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday urged renewing the United Nations mandate for an international security mission in Haiti. The mission, expiring in early October, was initially approved for 12 months but has struggled with limited troops and funding. Armed gangs have seized much of the capital and surrounding areas.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday urged Israel and Hamas to finalise a Gaza truce, stating that 90% of a deal was ready. Blinken added that the US would offer further ideas via Egypt and Qatar. However, in an interview with Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu denied the claim, saying "it's not close."
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov criticised France for his recent arrest over extremist content on the platform. In his first public comment on Telegram, Durov called it "surprising" he was arrested for third-party actions, condemning the use of outdated laws to charge platform executives for user-generated content. He also denied France's accusations of non-cooperation, noting that he personally helped French authorities establish a hotline with Telegram to address terrorism threats.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty Thursday to federal tax charges, avoiding a potentially embarrassing trial for President Joe Biden's son. Sentencing is set for December 16. The surprise move ends months of legal uncertainty surrounding the case.
