Environment

WASHINGTON; 8 Oct 2018; (AP) — Preventing an extra single degree of heat could make a life-or-death difference in the next few decades for multitudes of people and ecosystems on this fast-warming planet, an international panel of scientists reported Sunday. But they provide little hope the world will rise to the challenge.

The Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its gloomy report at a meeting in Incheon, South Korea.

CANBERRA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's prime minister has rejected calls from conservative colleagues to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

Speaking ahead of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, Prime Minister Scott Morrison repeated his previous claim that Australia would meet its emissions reduction target "at a canter."

Australia has committed to reducing its emissions by 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Delhi's air quality has slipped back to poor category due to change in direction of wind, which is now flowing from stubble burning areas in Punjab and Haryana, authorities said Monday.

The air quality Sunday had improved to moderate level with an index of 181 but Monday the air quality slipped to poor category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 235, according to data at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Palu (Indonesia), Oct 2 (AP) Desperation exploded into anger Tuesday in the town closest to the epicentre of the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit parts of Sulawesi island four days ago, with residents begging Indonesia's president to help them as hungry survivors crawled into stores and grabbed boxes of food.

"Pay attention to Donggala, Mr. Jokowi. Pay attention to Donggala," yelled one resident in footage broadcast on local television, referring to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

"There are still a lot of unattended villages here."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California told automakers Friday they must still comply with the state’s strict vehicle mileage standards even if President Donald Trump rolls back federal rules.

The action by California Air Resources Board was widely expected. It sets up a likely court battle if the Trump administration follows through with an attempt to revoke California’s unique authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. Those standards have been adopted by 12 other states that account for about a third of vehicle sales in the United States.

CAIRO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting in New York for a comprehensive settlement for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as key to security and stability in the Middle East region, the Egyptian presidential spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.

FRESNO, Calif.; 25 Sep 2018; (AP) — The Trump administration’s proposal to roll back national fuel economy standards was headed for its second public hearing a day after California officials and scores of speakers blasted it as a danger to the environment and public health.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brunei has the second least polluted urban areas in the world, according to study by the World Health Organization (WHO) measuring ambient air pollution in 1,622 locations across 92 countries.

Australia has the least polluted urban areas, followed by Brunei and New Zealand. Estonia is Europe's top performing nation, followed by Finland and Iceland, said local daily the Borneo Bulletin on Monday, quoting the WHO study.

19 Sep 2018; AA: Turkey’s new domestic hybrid locomotive was showcased on Wednesday at a leading international transport technology fair in German capital, a co-production company said.

New locomotive will save 40 percent on fuel with hybrid technology.

In a written statement, Turkish Locomotive and Engine Company Inc (TULOMSAS) said the locomotive was displayed at the International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans) in Berlin.

BILLINGS, Mont.; 19 Sep 2018; (AP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday rolled back an Obama-era rule that forced energy companies to capture methane — a key contributor to climate change that’s released in huge amounts during drilling on U.S. and tribal lands.

A replacement rule from the Interior Department rescinds mandates for companies to reduce gas pollution, which Trump administration officials say already is required by some states.