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☆ Catalan separatists lose majority as Spain’s pro-union Socialists win regional elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A pro-unity rally marches through Barcelona, Spain, on October 8, 2017, in response to last Sunday's disputed referendum on Catalan independence. This was the first time the Socialists led a Catalan election in both votes and seats won. Illa led Spain's response to the COVID-19 pandemic before Sánchez sent him back to Barcelona to lead his party. The Socialists are already in a coalition government in Madrid with the Sumar party, which now has six seats in the Catalan parliament. Separatists have held the regional government in Barcelona since 2012 and had won majorities in four consecutive regional elections.

Persons: Carles Puigdemont, Salvador Illa savored, Illa, Catalonia's, Sánchez, bode, Pedro Sánchez, Puigdemont, pardoning, Puigdemont's, Pere Aragonès, Vox Organizations: Socialist Party, Socialists, Sánchez's Socialists, Republican, Popular Party, Catalan Alliance Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Catalonia, Madrid, Catalan, France, Spain's, Spanish, Catalans

☆ As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +28 min

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Persons: Dave Langston’s, Langston, ”, Dave, Linda Langston, Conn ., S.D, N.M, “, Dave Jones, Carolyn Kousky, “ It’s, Sridhar Manyem, Bill Montgomery, Kristin Heiges, Eldon Neighbor, That’s, Tom O’Meara, Kelsey Kremer, Reinsurers, Doug Ommen, Brandi Mace Storm, David Storm, Tim Kuehner’s, Brandi Mace Storm’s, haggling, Pekin, Mace Storm, Susan Crisler, Tim Kuehner, Tony J, Larson, Chesleigh Fowler, Kelley Erstine, Mr, Erstine, ” Kevin Walters, California Colorado Utah Washington Matt Child, Matthew Baker, Ariz, ” Mr, Baker, Amy Bach, United, Dave Langston, Ommen, Tim Zawacki, Lyndsey Layton, Douglas Alteen, Claire O'Neill, Matt McCann Organizations: IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH, COLORADO ARKANSAS, NEBRASKA COLORADO, SOUTH, New York Times, Ark . Iowa Ariz, Minn, La . Iowa Iowa Neb, Neb . Texas Idaho Ga, ND Iowa, S.D . Miss, Wash . Ohio Utah Wis, University of California Berkeley, Treasury Department, Environmental Defense Fund, State, NOAA, Celina Insurance, Secura Insurance, Secura, Homeowners, Swiss, Des Moines Register, Associated, “, Iowa, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin, Pekin Insurance, Pekin, Christensen Group Insurance, Travelers, Nationwide, Indiana Ohio Michigan Illinois, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, ”, Washington, Wildfire, California Colorado, California Colorado Utah Washington, P Global Market Intelligence Locations: Iowa, IOWA MINNESOTA, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO, COLORADO ARKANSAS KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA COLORADO ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO ARKANSAS, Iowa , Minnesota, South Dakota , Nebraska , Colorado , Arkansas , Kentucky, Illinois, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Marshalltown , Iowa, Florida , California, Louisiana, Iowa , Arkansas , Ohio, Utah, Washington, Colo, Mass, Colo . Calif, Calif, Colo . Ala, Colo ., Mont, Fla, Ark . Iowa, Colo . Ill, S.D, N.D, Conn, Del . Idaho Fla, Miss, Neb ., Ky, Ga, Hawaii Mont, N.M . Iowa Fla, Mont ., La . Iowa, Neb . Texas Idaho, ND, Md, Ill, Wyo, Ill . Idaho, . Ill, Minn, Ind, S.D . Vt, La . Texas Mont, Neb . NC, Neb . Mich, N.M, S.D ., Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, Tenn, Wash . Ohio Utah, Okla, Tenn . Utah, Wis, S.D . Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, California, American, U.S, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, United States, Marshalltown, Iowa Minnesota, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin South Dakota, Celina, Pekin, Des Moines, Minnesota, Illinois , Indiana , Ohio, Illinois , Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida, Georgia , Kentucky, Mississippi, Washington State, California Colorado Utah, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Flagstaff, it’s, Gilbert, Seattle, Colorado, Florida’s, Central City , Iowa, Georgia

CNN —Three bewildered children sit on the roof of a mosque in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, their eyes blinking away mud that covers their entire bodies. Afghan relatives offer prayers during a burial ceremony for victims of flooding in Baghlan province, May 11, 2024. In the next days, teams will start distributing food to feed families for a month – what happens next is unclear. Workers repair a road destroyed by floods in Nahrin district of Baghlan province on May 12, 2024. The world is seeing the impacts of much larger, more severe events, whether that’s drought, rainfalls cyclones,” Anderson said.

Persons: let’s, “, Barakatullah, Haji Wakil Besmillah, ”, ” Barakatullah, –, Timothy Anderson, it’s, Anderson, that’s, They’re, it’ll, ” Anderson, Richard Bennett, Teresa Anderson Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Food Programme, “, WFP, Workers, Getty, Global, ActionAid Locations: Baghlan province, Afghanistan, Folo, Bulka, Baghlan, AFP, Nahrin district

☆ Smoke-Filled Skies Leave Midwest Fearing Another Season of Polluted Air
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Ernesto Londoño | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A cloud of smoke from Canadian wildfires suddenly blanketed Minnesota on Sunday evening, marring what had otherwise been a sun-drenched weekend and leaving some residents wondering whether the misery of last summer was starting all over again. A thick haze of smoke had repeatedly hung over cities in the Midwest and on the East Coast throughout the summer last year, leaving some communities breathing air so polluted that schools were closed and sporting events canceled. For now, experts say that a similar pattern has indeed appeared to have emerged. “We’re expecting a pretty active wildfire season in Canada,” said David Brown, an air quality meteorologist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. For now, he added, people on the East Coast appear unlikely to endure the kind of periods of highly polluted air that startled many people last year.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, David Brown, Mr, Brown Organizations: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Locations: Minnesota, East, Canada, Quebec, Ontario

About 2,800 residents from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and about 450 residents from the Fort Nelson First Nation were asked to evacuate. Wildfire smoke has been linked to increases in certain cancers and heart-related issues, among other ailments. In 2023, 19 counties in 11 states had days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality — given at least a “code purple” alert on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. Light rain showers were expected overnight Sunday with more rain forecast Monday, “which will help lower fire activity,” a Sunday update from Alberta Wildfire said. Fire restrictions will remain in effect in the area until conditions improve, according to Alberta Wildfire.

Persons: Parker, “, ” Ben Boghean, ” Cliff Chapman, Jaylene, Terry Cavaliere, ” Boghean, Paul, Crews Organizations: CNN, BC Wildfire Service, Northern Rockies Regional, Fort Nelson, Wildfire, Northern Rockies, Fort Nelson First Nation, Environment Canada, Canadian Interagency Fire Centre, Air, Environmental Protection Agency, US, Protection, British Columbia, Alberta, Reuters Residents, Estates, Lake Estates, Fort McMurray, Alberta Wildfire Locations: British Columbia, Fort Nelson, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Parker, Fort, Canada, Maryland, Alberta, Fort McMurray, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St, United States, British, Grande Prairie Forest, TeePee Creek , Alberta, Regional, Wood Buffalo, Lake

☆ Spain’s Socialists Win Catalan Vote Dominated by Amnesty for Separatists
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Spain’s governing Socialist party emerged on Sunday as the winner of regional elections in Catalonia that had been widely seen as a litmus test for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s polarizing amnesty measure for separatists. The Socialists are celebrating what they claim is a momentous victory, though they did not clinch enough seats to govern on their own. They most likely face weeks of bargaining, and possibly a repeat election if no agreement is reached. But for the first time in over a decade, they may be able to form a regional government led by an anti-independence party. On Sunday, his party got only 42, meaning he will have to seek support from the pro-independence party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Catalan Republican Left) and the left-wing Comuns.

Persons: Pedro Sánchez’s, Salvador Illa, Illa, Esquerra Organizations: Socialist, Socialists, Catalans, Republican Left Locations: Catalonia, Barcelona

☆ Warren Buffett is battling a bargain drought — and pared his Apple bet because it's a 'one-trick pony,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warren Buffett is building up cash because he can't find anything better, Ted Oakley said. Buffett probably cut his Apple stake to reduce his exposure to the "one-trick pony," Oakley said. AdvertisementWarren Buffett is stacking up cash because he's battling a bargain drought — and he likely trimmed Apple because he felt overexposed to the iPhone maker, one expert says. AdvertisementApple accounted for half of Berkshire's $354 billion stock portfolio at the end of December. "Warren Buffett knows that," he said.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Ted Oakley, Buffett, Oakley, —, overexposed, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett's Organizations: Service, Oxbow Advisors, Apple, Oxbow Locations: pouncing, Berkshire, China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia

☆ Bayer Leverkusen produces astonishing comeback to go 49 games unbeaten and reach Europa League final
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable season took another extraordinary turn on Thursday as a late 2-2 draw against AS Roma stretched the club’s unbeaten run to 49 games. The 4-2 aggregate victory saw Leverkusen reach a first European final in 22 years, while Josip Stanišić’s 97th-minute strike ensured that the recently-crowned German champion remains undefeated this season. It means that Leverkusen has now surpassed Portuguese team Benfica’s record from 1963-65 for the longest unbeaten run across all top-level matches since the introduction of European competitions, according to UEFA. “It says a lot about the team, the conviction that we have and it’s great to finally reach the final. According to UEFA, Scottish side Celtic’s unbeaten run of 62 games between 1915 and 1917 is the outright record for a European club, although that only included domestic league matches.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, Josip Stanišić’s, Leandro Paredes, Gianluca Mancini’s, Stanišić, Ina Fassbender, “, Xabi Alonso, ”, Chris Brunskill, Granit Xhaka Organizations: CNN, AS Roma, Leverkusen, UEFA, Roma, Getty, Bundesliga, ” Leverkusen, Atalanta, Europa League, Atlanta, FC Kaiserslautern, VfL Bochum, Scottish, Bochum Locations: AFP, Dublin, Ireland, European, Augsburg

☆ Morgan Stanley says these stocks could follow Meta and Alphabet in announcing a dividend
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The dividend stock club could soon get new members, according to Morgan Stanley. Alphabet and Meta Platforms are among the most recent high-profile names to initiate a dividend to give back to shareholders. The search giant announced a 20-cent per share quarterly dividend in April, while Meta Platforms authorized a 50-cent per share dividend in February. The moves bring the total tally of "Magnificent Seven" stocks offering a dividend to five, along with Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple. Broken down by sector, consumer staples, energy and communication services stocks tend to outperform, while materials is the only sector that underperforms following a dividend initiation.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Todd Castagno, Castagno, Instacart, Regeneron Organizations: Meta, Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, PayPal, Palo Alto Networks, Expedia Group

☆ The world's largest fans designed to suck carbon from the air are up and running in Iceland
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Climeworks' direct-air-capture plant can remove up to 36,000 metric tons of carbon from the air a year. AdvertisementThe startup Climeworks this week switched on the largest direct-air-capture plant, which pulls carbon dioxide from the sky and locks it away underground. Climateworks' Mammoth plant also cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build, though the company didn't disclose the exact amount. AdvertisementClimeworks aims to become large enough to remove 1 million metric tons of carbon a year by 2030 and 1 billion metric tons by 2050 — or a megaton and gigaton. The two plants could remove more than 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year.

Persons: Climeworks, —, it's, JPMorgan Chase, Jan Wurzbacher, Wurzbacher Organizations: Service, UN, Carbon Project, Microsoft, Swiss, JPMorgan, US Department of Energy, Occidental Petroleum Locations: Mammoth, Iceland, Paris, Canada, Norway, Oman, Kenya, Louisiana, West Texas

☆ Russia sees window of opportunity to expand attacks as Ukraine awaits further US aid, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jim Sciutto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian authorities say Russia fired more than 50 missiles and 20 drones, targeting energy infrastructure around the country. But months of inaction has resulted in real costs for Ukrainian forces on the battlefield in both territory and casualties, these officials say. Russian forces are expected to attempt to make further progress and consolidate earlier gains, before this window of opportunity closes. Western and Ukrainian officials view the near-term threat of stepped-up attacks as tied to Russian plans for a larger offensive early this summer. US and Ukrainian officials remain concerned about a further partial mobilization by Russia to send more manpower to the frontlines, as Ukraine is struggling with its own manpower shortage.

Persons: ”, Oleksiy Goncharenko, Mike Johnson, ” Goncharenko, Chasiv Organizations: CNN, ” CNN Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Avdiivka, Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut

CNN —The world has passed a clean energy milestone, as a boom in wind and solar meant a record-breaking 30% of the world’s electricity was produced by renewables last year, new data shows. The planet is reaching “a crucial turning point” toward clean energy, according to the Global Electricity Review published Wednesday by climate think tank Ember. Record-breaking renewablesIn 2000, renewables made up less than 19% of the global energy mix. It made up nearly twice as much new electricity generation as coal last year. Electricity demand is set to soar from 2024 onward, Ember’s analysis found.

Persons: It’s, Dave Jones, Ember, ” Jones, “ We’re, Jones, “, ”, Niklas Höhne, Nancy Haegel Organizations: CNN, Global, NewClimate Institute, European Union, EU, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Locations: China, India, Chile, Australia, Netherlands, California, United States

☆ Russia pounds Ukraine with biggest airstrikes in weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Olga Voitovych | Martin Goillandeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russia carried out a “massive” missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight into Wednesday, according to local authorities, in the biggest aerial onslaught by Russian forces for weeks. Russia used 76 air attack weapons in the assault, including 55 missiles and 21 drones launched from Russia and Russian controlled areas, according to Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk. Rescuers assess the ruins of a building, damaged by a Russian missile attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine on May 8, 2024. Handout/Ukrainian Emergency Service/APMoscow has stepped up efforts to paralyze Ukraine’s energy system in the past month, as Kyiv’s troops struggle to hold positions on key frontlines particularly in the east. The latest Russian attack hit three thermal power plants run by Ukraine’s biggest power company, DTEK.

Persons: Mykola Oleshchuk, Herman Halushchenko, ” Halushchenko, Maksym Kozytskyi, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian Air Force, country’s Energy, Emergency, AP, Ukraine’s, Nazism Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine’s Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano, Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Kyiv region, Ukraine, Handout, AP Moscow, Avdiivka, Ukraine’s, Chervonohrad, Stryi

☆ Hundreds of thousands of fish died in a single reservoir in Vietnam, another sign of how climate change is strangling the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A prolonged drought in southeast Asia contributed to massive fish deaths in southern Vietnam. The climate crisis and human development threaten the Mekong Delta, a key global agricultural center. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In Vietnam, the maze of wetlands that comprise the Mekong Delta is called the country's "rice bowl" because of the vast agriculture it supports. Related storiesMeanwhile, in southern Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of fish died in a reservoir last month as temperatures peaked over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and no rain fell for weeks, the AFP reported.

Persons: —, El Niño, they're, Ksor Phung, VnExpress Organizations: Service, Mekong Delta, country's Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, World Bank, AFP, Residents, Business, Getty, Commission Locations: Asia, Vietnam, Delta, El, Mekong

☆ Has the US cracked the code on avoiding recessions? It would be great news for your job security and stock portfolio.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But some economists have argued that flawed historical economic data puts this claim in question. The further back you go — the NBER data goes to about 1850 — the more common recessions were. He said the NBER's pre-1914 recession data, in particular, is "very poor," and that only economic data collected after World War II is of good quality. "So the growing share of services also means you're going to have more stable economic growth." AdvertisementTo be sure, while a stable economy has its benefits, it's not the only indicator of a healthy economy.

Persons: —, they'll, haven't, George Selgin, what's, NBER, Selgin, Joseph H, Davis, Satyam Panday, Panday, it's, they've Organizations: Service, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cato Institute, of Labor Statistics didn't, US, Vanguard, US Department of Agriculture, Satyam, Federal Reserve, Fed

☆ These sisters became co-owners of the family farm at 22 and 24, joining the ranks of women as key decision-makers on farms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Rebekah Alstede Modery, left, and Sarah Alstede, sisters and co-owners of Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey. Courtesy: Alstede FarmsSisters Rebekah Alstede Modery and Sarah Alstede were raised on a New Jersey farm. In February, the sisters joined their father, Kurt Alstede, and their stepmother, Mary Thompson-Alstede, as co-owners of Alstede Farms. 'A huge undertaking' as a familyCo-owners of Alstede Farms from left to right: Mary Thompson-Alstede, Rebekah Alstede Modery, Kurt Alstede and Sarah Alstede. Rebekah Alstede Modery, left, and Sarah Alstede, sisters and co-owners of Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey.

Persons: Rebekah Alstede Modery, Sarah Alstede, Rebekah, Kurt Alstede, Mary Thompson, It's, Dominique Sims, NASS, Agriculture hasn't, Inwood, Lance Honig, Sarah, that's, Bernt Nelson, Rachel Schattman, Alstede Organizations: Delaware Valley University, CNBC, Centenary University, Alstede, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S . Department of Agriculture, The Ohio State University, Agriculture, Agricultural Resource Management, USDA Economic Research Service, American Farm Bureau Federation, University of Maine, Farmers Locations: Chester , New Jersey, New Jersey, Sarah, Agriculture, U.S

☆ Kenya floods: Anger mounts as people left homeless and searching for loved ones swept away in floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Larry Madowo | Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —When Julia Wanjiku put her son Isaac to bed last Sunday after a day celebrating his third birthday, she didn’t realize she was also saying goodbye. She was among the survivors gathering at Ngeya Girls High School in Mai Mahiu on Tuesday. A damaged car buried in mud in an area heavily affected by torrential rains and flash floods in the village of Kamuchiri, near Mai Mahiu, on April 29. Luis Tato/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople removing mud and water from their house in Mai Mahiu, Kenya, on April 29. Rescuers carry the body of a young man recovered in the debris following flooding, in Mai Mahiu, Kenya.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —, Julia Wanjiku, Isaac, Wanjiku, — Isaac, “, ” Wanjiku, Isaac’s, Mai Mahui, It’s, Luis Tato, El, William Ruto, Kithure Kindiki, Isaac Mwaura, ” Ruto, Mark Laichena, ”, Simon Maina, Mwaura, Nyagoah Tut, James Wakibia, Joyce Kimutai, herder, Makau, “ I’m, ” Larry Madowo, Laura Paddison, CNN’s Louis Mian, Allison Chinchar, Mary Gilbert Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Girls High School, Getty, Getty Images, “, Kenyan, Space Agency European Space Agency, European Space Agency, Isaac Mwaura ., Communities, United Arab Emirates, Rights Watch, Kenya Meteorological Department, Human Rights Watch, Rescuers, Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute Locations: Kenya, Mai, Kenya’s, Nairobi, Mai Mahiu, Kamuchiri, AFP, Getty Images Kenya, Garissa, Tanzania, Tana, Mathare, New York, El, Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa, East Africa, London

☆ Brazil floods: At least 29 people killed as heavy rain and flooding lashes Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Michael Rios | Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —At least 29 people have been killed and a further 60 are missing as heavy rain and flooding hit the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul this week. Residents and a dog are evacuated from a flooded area in the city center of São Sebastião do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, on May 2, 2024. Rio Grande do Sul has been increasingly hit by extreme weather events in recent years. Volunteers use a fishing boat to rescue residents trapped inside their houses in São Sebastião do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state. The proportion of high-intensity hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, has increased due to the warmer global temperatures, according to the UN.

Persons: Cai, Carlos Fabal, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, “, ”, Eduardo Leite, Anselmo Cunha, Lizzy Yee, Omar Fajardo Organizations: CNN, Authorities, Getty, Volunteers, UN Locations: Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, AFP, Dubai, Asia, Kenya, São

☆ World's largest olive oil producer says the industry faces one of its toughest moments ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Spain's Deoleo, the world's largest olive oil producer, says the industry needs to undergo a "profound transformation" as it grapples with one of the most challenging moments in its history. A perfect storm of climate change, soaring prices, high interest rates and robust inflation has taken its toll throughout the olive oil value chain in recent months. Spain accounts for more than 40% of the world's olive oil production, making it a global reference for prices. Extra virgin olive oil prices in Spain's Andalusia hit a record high of 9.2 euros ($9.84) per kilogram in January. Olive oil prices have cooled due in part to an uptick in production estimates and beneficial rains in March and April.

Persons: Spain's Deoleo, Miguel Angel Guzman, Guzman Organizations: CNBC Locations: Europe, Spain, Andalusia, Olive

☆ Mass fish die-off in Vietnam as heatwave roasts Southeast Asia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A mass fish die-off in a reservoir in southern Vietnam’s Dong Nai province has shone a new light on soaring temperatures in Southeast Asia. Fishermen have been working to wade through and collect the hundreds of thousands of dead fish that have blanketed the 300-hectare Song May reservoir amid a ferocious heatwave. Local media has suggested that as many as 200 tons’ worth perished after a failed attempt to renovate the reservoir, according to AFP. A fisherman deep in the reservoir collecting the dead fish surrounding him. Authorities are investigating the mass die-off as efforts continue to remove the dead fish, AFP said.

Persons: “, Nghia, Tuoi Tre Organizations: CNN, Getty, AFP, Nghia, Authorities Locations: Dong Nai, Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s, AFP, Bom, Vinh Cuu

☆ How Not to Be a Selfish Gardener - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Olivia Laing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The idea of the garden as a place of sinister seclusion has found its way to the world of high fashion. In Ballard’s characteristically bleak tale, a desperate mob advances on an elegant garden, where Count Axel and his wife live out a civilized, secluded existence. The selfish gardener of the 21st century creates idyllic vistas that rely on fertilizers and pesticides that poison the wider ecosystem or demand water in a time of drought. In her gripping memoir of the Second World War, “War in Val d’Orcia,” she describes a similar tide of desperate humanity approaching her garden gate. Unlike Ballard’s Count Axel, she didn’t seek to repel them, retiring to the library to dust her statues.

Persons: J.G ., Count Axel, Anna Wintour, Iris Origo, Val d’Orcia, Christopher Lloyd, Fergus Garrett, Garrett Organizations: Vogue Locations: J.G . Ballard, La Foce, Tuscany, Val, England

☆ ‘Ping pong-sized’ hailstones ravage famous French wine region
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Julen Chavin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A violent hailstorm wreaked havoc on vineyards in Chablis in the famous French wine region of Burgundy Wednesday evening, delivering another weather blow to already hard-hit local Chardonnay winemakers. The extent of the damage was still unclear as winegrowers checked over their plots on Thursday, a representative for the Burgundy wine association told CNN. “We’ve never seen anything like this, it’s dramatic,” Julie Fèvre, a winemaker, told BFM. Some 38 million bottles of Chablis Chardonnay wine are sold every year, generating an estimated $340 million turnover, according to the Burgundy wine association. Around 67% of Chablis wine is exported to foreign markets, the association said.

Persons: “ We’ve, Julie Fèvre, BFM, ” Paul, Étienne, we’ve, Vincent Laroche, Marc Fesneau, ”, Chablis, ” Louis Poitout, we’ll, CNN’s Laura Paddison Organizations: CNN, Chablis, BFMTV, International Organisation of Vine Locations: Chablis, Burgundy, France, “

☆ Drought That Snarled Panama Canal Was Linked to El Niño, Study Finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Raymond Zhong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The recent drought in the Panama Canal was driven not by global warming but by below-normal rainfall linked to the natural climate cycle El Niño, an international team of scientists has concluded. Low reservoir levels have slowed cargo traffic in the canal for most of the past year. Without enough water to raise and lower ships, officials last summer had to slash the number of vessels they allowed through, creating expensive headaches for shipping companies worldwide. The area’s water worries could still deepen in the coming decades, the researchers said in their analysis of the drought. That means future El Niño years could bring even wider disruptions, not just to global shipping, but also to water supplies for local residents.

Persons: El Locations: Panama

☆ Ukraine: Russia is capturing its biggest swath of territory since July 2022, as Kyiv desperately awaits US weaponry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Russian forces have used the “artillery drought” hampering Ukraine’s defenses since December to push forward on the eastern front near Avdiivka, making the largest advance since the early months of the war. Only on Sunday did the top Ukrainian military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, admit the fall of a series of villages that his subordinates had insisted for days were still contested. The resulting fallback showed Russian forces had, in just over two months, made the most substantial and swift progress since July 2022’s advances near Severodonetsk, according to a CNN analysis. DeepStateMap, which updates the frontline situation daily, showed significant losses near Avdiivka. Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles attack drones company at the 92nd separate assault brigade in that area, said the next two months marked a “window of opportunity” for Russian forces.

Persons: Chasiv, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ruslan Mykula, ” Mykula, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksandr Ratushniak Oleksandr Ratushniak, Chasiv Yar, Col Nazar Voloshyn, ” Voloshyn, Druzhkivka, Novozhenina, Yurii Fedorenko, “ Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Kurakhove, Ukraine’s, Airborne, REUTERS, Reuters, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Mariupol, Russia, Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Russian, Avdiivka’s, Severodonetsk, Ocheretyne, Kurakhve, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, Moscow

☆ Philippine dam: A 300-year-old settlement resurfaces as severe drought dries up a reservoir
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Emily Blumenthal | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A nearly 300-year-old settlement once submerged beneath a major dam in the Philippines has reemerged as sweltering heat and drought dry up the reservoir. Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesSome visitors brave the extreme heat to see the dam, where parts of damaged structures still stand. But a drought currently affecting about half of the country’s provinces has pushed the dam’s water levels down, according to AFP. The town of Muñoz near the dam has seen heat index over 41 degrees (106 degrees Fahrenheit) the last five days. On Sunday the temperature felt like 47 degrees (117 degrees Fahrenheit) because of other contributing factors.

Persons: Marlon Paladin, Ezra Acayan, Paladin, climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, ” Organizations: CNN, National Irrigation Administration, PAGASA, AFP, Prediction Locations: Philippines, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippine, Southeast Asia, Muñoz, Luzon, El

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