Mahabalipuram, India (AFP) Nov 24, 2020 Local Indian authorities banned public gatherings and closed shops as more than 1,000 rescue personnel mobilised against a powerful cyclone barrelling towards the southeastern coast, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. Cyclone Nivar is set to cross the coasts of Tamil Nadu state and the small territory of Puducherry as a “very severe cyclonic storm” late Wednesday, the Indian … Continue reading India’s southeastern coast braces for powerful cyclone

Wellington (AFP) Nov 25, 2020 Almost 100 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding on New Zealand’s remote Chatham Islands, conservation officials said Wednesday. Most of the marine mammals beached themselves over the weekend but rescue efforts were hampered by the area’s isolated location, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of the South Island, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said. Department biodiversity rhttp://dlvr.it/RmNJXY Continue reading Scores of pilot whales dead in New Zealand stranding

Geneva (AFP) Nov 23, 2020 The World Health Organization said Monday it had received reassurances from Beijing that international experts would soon be able to travel to China to help investigate the animal origins of Covid-19. “We fully expect and have reassurances from our Chinese government colleagues that the trip to the field… will be facilitated, and as soon as possible,” WHO emergencies director Michael … Continue reading International virus sleuths expected to go to China soon: WHO

New Delhi (Sputnik) Nov 24, 2020 Last week, China live-streamed footage of its new manned submersible parked at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. As per media reports, it was part of the country’s mission into the deepest underwater valley on the planet. India will soon launch an ambitious “Deep Ocean Mission” in order to explore minerals, energy, and marine diversity … Continue reading India Set to Launch ‘Deep Sea Mission’ for Exploration of Energy, Minerals

Huntsville AL (SPX) Nov 24, 2020 For decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space, combined with airborne and ground-based field campaigns, to decipher the impact of air pollution and help other agencies protect people when unhealthy air threatens the places they live, work, and play. Now, government agencies in Thailand are harnessing the power of NASA air quality data and expertise through a … Continue reading Thailand brings NASA air quality data down to Earth

Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 21, 2020 Relatives of 12 Hong Kong democracy activists detained in mainland China released balloons carrying messages to their loved ones across the border on Saturday, as they called for their return. It has been 90 days since the 12 were arrested by the Chinese coast guard in late August when fleeing their city for Taiwan by boat. Most of those … Continue reading Balloon messages for Hong Kongers held in mainland China

Vladivostok, Russia (AFP) Nov 20, 2020 Freak ice storms following an abnormal weather phenomenon has left 150,000 people without water and electricity in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok and prompted a state of emergency. The exceptional weather brought down cables and trees with the government of the Primorsky region declaring a state of emergency. “The situation with the electricity supply remains very difficulthttp://dlvr.it/RmDCgt Continue reading Ice storms in Russia’s Far East prompts state of emergency

Paris (AFP) Nov 20, 2020 Africa’s semi-arid Sahel region is a crucible of climate change, population movement and jihadist attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this month called it a “microcosm of cascading global risks converging in one region.” – What is it ? – In pure geographic terms the Sahel, or Sahil in Arabic, meaning coast or shore, is a vast region that stretches along … Continue reading Explainer: What is the Sahel and why is it so important?

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 22, 2020 For animals in the Arctic, life is a balancing act. Seasonal cues, such as warmer spring temperatures or cooler temperatures in the fall, tell animals when to migrate, when to mate, and when and where to find food. Predators and prey, birds and mammals alike follow this natural schedule, and an overall shift of just a few days or … Continue reading Arctic animals’ movement patterns are shifting in different ways as the climate changes

Toronto, Canada (SPX) Nov 18, 2020 Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), a developer of 52 distinct microspace missions, has been awarded a contract by GHGSat of Montreal to build the next three microsatellites in its commercial greenhouse gas monitoring constellation. “SFL congratulates GHGSat on its success in providing commercial greenhouse gas monitoring services from space,” said SFL Director, Dr. Robert E. Zee. “This contrachttp://dlvr.it/Rm5j8S Continue reading Space Flight Laboratory to supply 3 more greenhouse gas monitoring microsatellites