La Palma Island, Spain (AFP) Nov 22, 2021 Around 3,000 people were ordered to remain indoors on the Spanish island of La Palma on Monday as lava from an erupting volcano reached the sea, risking the release of toxic gas. The Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca) “ordered the confinement” of residents of coastal towns and villages near where the lava cascaded into the sea, … Continue reading 3,000 shut indoors on Spanish island as lava reaches sea

Cash flow concerns and fraud are going to be a menace to both retailers and consumers this holiday shopping season. One of the biggest shopping headaches this year will be a much earlier start to the chargeback cycles. Jeff Wixted, vice president of marketing and client solutions at Accertify, discusses various precautions retailers can implement and tools they need to mitigate the impact of the … Continue reading How Merchants Can Better Battle Chargebacks and Fraud

Washington DC (UPI) Nov 19, 2021 The debate over what hydroelectric dams contribute to the environment – either as useful tools in the fight against climate change or an impediment to migratory fish and freshwater ecosystem health – is heating up in Maine as officials decide the future of one power-generating embankment. The proposed relicensing of a major dam on Maine’s Kennebec River has officials … Continue reading Dams may help against climate change, but harm fish, freshwater ecosystems

Tehran (AFP) Nov 19, 2021 Thousands of protesters converged on Isfahan in central Iran on Friday to voice their anger after the city’s lifeblood river dried up due to drought and diversion. The massive protest, that drew in farmers and other people from across Isfahan province, was the biggest since demonstrations over the water crisis started on November 9. “Thousands of people from Isfahan, farmers … Continue reading Thousands protest dried-up river in Iran’s Isfahan

Qamishli, Syria (AFP) Nov 19, 2021 Syrian Kurds in the northeast city of Qamishli on Friday performed an ancient rain ritual that has gained new relevance as they struggle with record low rainfall. The “Bride of the Rain” ritual, practised for centuries by the region’s Kurdish community, is traditionally performed during winter to ward off drought. A doll made of wood and colourful fabric is … Continue reading Syria Kurds revive ancient rain ritual as drought bites

Dakar (AFP) Nov 23, 2021 After years of struggling with insufficient funds, efforts to build Africa’s Great Green Wall – a massive defence line against desertification – have received a major boost. The initiative concerning 11 countries on the rim of the world’s biggest desert was first launched to great acclaim in 2005, only to battle a lack of cash. But 2021 could be the … Continue reading Back in the spotlight: Africa’s Great Green Wall

Technical and logistical problems stretching across multiple industries gives both shoppers and retailers reason to double efforts to avoid being hacked this year. Two factors top the list: runaway inflation and increased cyberattacks. Both are stretching spending capacity and digital safety to their limits during the holiday shopping season.http://dlvr.it/SCzpvB Continue reading Inflation, Cybersecurity Chief Concerns This Holiday Shopping Season

Goma, Dr Congo (AFP) Nov 18, 2021 Two new-born mountain gorillas have further boosted the endangered species’ baby boom underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park, authorities have said. Conservationists have long sought to protect the world heritage site’s mountain gorilla population even as violence and instability plagued the DRC’s eastern provinces over 25 years. A male in the “Wilungula famhttp://dlvr.it/SCvhPT Continue reading Two mountain gorillas born in Virunga park, Twin pandas named Yuandudu and Huanlili

Brisbane, Australia (SPX) Nov 22, 2021 The Australian Alps may suffer from a loss of snow and surrounding regions could endure flooding as climate change supercharges phenomena known as ‘atmospheric rivers’. Professor Hamish McGowan from The University of Queensland said research showed this phenomenon would likely drastically alter Australia’s alpine wilderness. “Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions of high moistuhttp://dlvr.it/SCvhPS Continue reading Atmospheric rivers may hasten Australia’s snow melt

Mangilao, Guam (SPX) Nov 22, 2021 This November, University of Guam will start a $715,014 project that will use unmanned aerial systems (UAS), remote sensing, and NASA technology to closely examine the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer, which supplies 90% of the island’s drinking water, and produce critical data and tools for resource management. Hanom Fresko yan Acho’ Tasi, which translates to “Freshwater and Coral,” is … Continue reading University of Guam awarded $715K for aquifer research using NASA technology