Environment

Government climate report warns of worsening US disasters

WASHINGTON (AP) — As California’s catastrophic wildfires recede and people rebuild after two hurricanes, a massive new federal report warns that these types of disasters are worsening in the United States because of global warming. The White House report quietly issued Friday also frequently contradicts President Donald Trump.

Four-metre sewage line vanished

KANPUR: About 4 metres sewer line remained extinct at the road near Huddard School and the Collectorate here. It came to light after the inspection of the sewer line for diversion of the Sisamau Nullah sewage.

Owing to the vanishing of the line the sewage was not reaching up to the Jajmau sewage treatment plant. The sewage was flowing back at the marked spot during the enhanced pressure released from Bhiarav Ghat pumping station.

California fire mostly contained; death toll 84 missing 563

Los Angeles, Nov 23 (AFP) The fire that has ravaged northern California is now almost completely contained, authorities said Thursday as the death toll rose to 84.

Rain fell in the first measurable amounts in months in the drought-stricken area and this helped put out hot spots and smouldering fires, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

It said the so-called Camp Fire is now 95 per cent contained.

The number of people listed as unaccounted for in the deadliest and most destructive fire in state history stands at 563.

VW to appeal German court ruling ordering diesel car buyback

BERLIN (AP) — German automaker Volkswagen says it will appeal a court ruling that orders it to buy back a six-year-old diesel vehicle at the original sales price.

In a statement Friday, Volkswagen said it expects an appeals court to overturn the verdict issued last week by judges in the southern German city of Augsburg.

The company has paid billions of dollars in fines and compensation to diesel car owners since 2015 for cheating on emissions tests.

Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere hit new high: UN

22 Nov 2018; AFP: The levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the main driver of climate change, have hit a new record high, the UN said Thursday, warning that the time to act was running out.

Ahead of the COP 24 climate summit in Poland next month, top United Nations officials are again trying to raise the pressure on governments to meet the pledge of limiting warming to the less than two degrees Celsius, enshrined in the 2015 Paris accord.

Drought-fuelled dust storm blankets Sydney

Sydney, Nov 22 (AFP) A large dust storm swirled over eastern Australia on Thursday, driven over the coast by a weather front barrelling across the drought-stricken interior.

Authorities warned residents of Sydney and other parts of New South Wales state who had respiratory or cardiovascular conditions to limit their time outdoors until the dust settled.

Dead sperm whale in Indonesia found with 6 kg of plastic in stomach

21 Nov 2018; AFP: A sperm whale has been found dead in Indonesia with 115 plastic cups and 25 plastic bags in its stomach, raising concern among environmentalists and throwing the spotlight on the country's rubbish problem.

The items were part of nearly six kilograms (13 pounds) of plastic waste discovered in the 9.5-metre (31-foot) carcass when it washed ashore in Wakatobi National Park, in Southeast Sulawesi province, on Monday.

Other debris included flip flops and ripped tarpaulins, the head of Wakatobi tourism, La Ode Saleh Hanan, told AFP on Wednesday.

China expands ban on waste imports

19 Nov 2018; AFP: China will expand its ban on imports of solid waste, local media reported Monday, almost a year after its first curbs caused havoc in countries that sent their rubbish to the Asian giant.

The regulatory action -- which expands the prohibition to 32 categories of solid waste from the 24 banned last year -- will go into effect from December 31, according to official news agency Xinhua, citing four Chinese government agencies.

Cyclone Gaja kills 33 in southern India, thousands in relief camps

18 Nov 2018; DW: A powerful cyclone has battered India's southeast coast, killing more than 30 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. Officials are scrambling to get food and water to people sheltering in relief camps.

The death toll from Cyclone Gaja rose to 33 on Sunday, authorities in India said, as emergency services rushed to deliver vital supplies to people sheltering in more than 400 state-run camps.

Climate change protesters block off 5 London bridges

LONDON (AP) — Hundreds of protesters have turned out in central London and blocked off the capital’s main bridges to demand the government take climate change seriously.

A group called “Extinction Rebellion” encouraged sit-ins on the bridges Saturday as part of a coordinated week of action across the country.

Metropolitan Police said emergency vehicles were hampered from getting across London because of the “blockade” of five bridges. The force said it had asked all protesters to congregate at Westminster Bridge where officers can facilitate lawful protest.

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