Houston (AFP) May 17, 2024 Four people died in Texas on Thursday as heavy storms with winds up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour lashed the southwestern US state, local authorities said. Streets in downtown Houston were covered in glass from blown-out windows, video and photos posted to social media showed, as the National Weather Service warned of “severe” thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Downed … Continue reading Four dead as heavy rains, wind lash Texas

Washington (AFP) May 16, 2024 Human relationships are inherently shaped by power dynamics, yet quantifying their impact has remained a scientific challenge. Now, a large new study published Thursday in the journal Science reveals that military doctors give more attention to higher-ranked patients, providing concrete evidence about the privileges that come with elevated status, frequently at the expense of the less powerfhttp://dlvr.it/T71Y13 Continue reading Military rank affects medical care, offering societal insights: study

Amman (AFP) May 15, 2024 Jordan’s security services have thwarted a bid by a foreign state-backed militia to smuggle arms to a cell in the kingdom, an official said on Wednesday. The official quoted by state news agency Petra said suspected members of the cell, who were Jordanians, were arrested when the weapons were seized at the end of March. “The Jordanian security services have … Continue reading Jordan says foils foreign state-backed arms smuggling

Hong Kong (AFP) May 15, 2024 YouTube said Wednesday that it will comply with a Hong Kong court order to curb access to videos related to a protest song amid deepening concerns for free speech in the city. Hong Kong’s appeal court granted the government’s request for an injunction last week against “Glory to Hong Kong”, an anthem that emerged during the city’s 2019 pro-democracy … Continue reading YouTube curbs Hong Kong protest song videos after court order

Rio De Janeiro (AFP) May 15, 2024 Nearly a quarter-of-a-million families impacted by devastating floods in Brazil’s south will receive about $1,000 each towards replacing what they lost, the government said Wednesday. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the stricken Rio Grande do Sul region for a third time since the flooding began almost two weeks ago, killing 149 people and displacing more than … Continue reading Brazil announces aid to families as Lula visits flooded south

Rafah, Palestinian Territories (AFP) May 15, 2024 Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday insisted there was no “humanitarian catastrophe” in Rafah as he announced nearly 500,000 people had been evacuated from the south Gaza city amid intense fighting. It came as Palestinians commemorated the 76th anniversary of the “Nakba”, when around 760,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the 1948 wartime creation of … Continue reading Israel PM says no humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands flee Rafah

Saint-Gabriel (AFP) May 16, 2024 Being a forest firefighter in Canada means knowing how to handle a water mist lance but also pumps and axes: in Quebec as in the other provinces, hundreds of new recruits are training to beat down blazes ahead of another possibly harsh wildfire season. Amid fears the coming months will be apocalyptic for the second largest country in the world … Continue reading New Canadian firefighters train for brutal fire season

Washington (AFP) May 10, 2024 The United States and China promised Friday to work together on reduction of methane, the second most abundant greenhouse gas, after talks between the climate envoys of the world’s two largest emitters. Chinese climate envoy Liu Zhenmin and White House climate advisor John Podesta met for the first time since the departure of their predecessors, whose unusually close relationship helped … Continue reading US, China pledge joint methane action at climate talks

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 15, 2024 The Earth’s atmosphere is composed of layers of gas that protect the planet. Rei Ueyama, an atmospheric scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, discusses its functions and importance. The Atmospheric Science Branch focuses on atmospheric behavior. Ueyama’s work involves processes in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, supporting NASA’s airborne missions. “The Earth’s atmosphere allowshttp://dlvr.it/T6vR9s Continue reading Understanding Earth’s Atmosphere: A Detailed Overview