DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ House passes bill to improve wildfire prevention accountability after NBC News report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Adiel Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A wildfire burns on the island of Maui near an intersection in Lahaina, Hawaii, August 9, 2023. A bill to improve how the federal government tracks wildfire prevention work passed the House in a near-unanimous 406-4 vote on Wednesday, a month after the nation's deadliest wildfire in over 100 years killed at least 115 people in Hawaii. A 2022 NBC News investigation found that the United States Forest Service had overstated how much land it treats to reduce wildfire risk by an estimated 21% over a 15-year period. Tiffany, chairman of the House Natural Resources committee's federal lands subcommittee, cited NBC News' reporting when he introduced the bill. The bill applies to hazardous fuel reduction done by federal land management agencies, which mostly work on federally owned land.

Persons: Tom Tiffany, I'm, Tiffany, Sen, Joe Manchin, John Barrasso Organizations: NBC, United States Forest Service, Natural Resources, Service, Interior Department, Senate Energy, Natural Resources Committee Locations: Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Lahaina, California, Paradise

☆ Recognizing the rights of climate refugees is the first step to relocating the millions of vulnerable island-nation residents who could be displaced in the next 3 decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Christine Jean-Baptiste | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This article is part of "Journey Toward Climate Justice," a series exploring the systemic inequities of the climate crisis. By 2050, the World Bank estimates that climate change could force 216 million people to be displaced from their homes within their own countries. Climate change is thought to be one of several contributors to the wildfires — as droughts increased in the region, vegetation dried, creating dry conditions conducive to fires. Migration and the climate crisis are inextricably linked, climate experts say. "People shouldn't be forced to leave home because of climate change," Francis said.

Persons: Peace, Ama Francis, PATRICK T, FALLON, Kaniela Ing, Ing, Adelle Thomas, ProPublica, Tamir Kalifa, Francis, Thomas, Kayly Ober, Hurricane, Scott Olson, Hurricane Dorian, Trump, Mark Morgan, Donald Trump, Biden, Ike, Hanna, Gideon Mendel, Corbis, shouldn't Organizations: Bank, Service, Institute for Economics, International Refugee Assistance, University of the, New York Times, The Washington, Getty, Refugee, US Institute of Peace, Border, Assistance Locations: Caribbean, Pacific, Maui, Hawaii, University of the Bahamas, Lahaina, Bahamas, Marsh Harbour, United States, Haiti

☆ Maui Family Describes a Tragic Night Trying to Escape the Deadly Wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Corina Knoll | More About Corina Knoll | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Folau Tone steadied himself as a gale whipped through his street in Lahaina. Trying to nail down the rattling tin roof on his family’s home, he gave up as fragments were stripped away. In West Maui, power lines were crashing down, and the electricity was out across a large swath of the island. Folau’s wife had already left for her job at a hotel, but their four children had stayed behind. She liked cooking in the open air and had long ago set up a makeshift kitchen with propane burners under a tent.

Persons: steadied, Faaoso Locations: Lahaina ., West Maui, fussing

☆ Fact Check-FEMA official was in Hawaii to attend conference ahead of August wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator mentioned by Joe Biden in a video was in Hawaii ahead of deadly wildfires on Aug. 8 to attend an annual agency conference, a FEMA official told Reuters. “Due to the fires on Maui, participants from FEMA, the Hawaii delegation and many other federal agencies left the meeting early to address statewide response efforts,” Edwards said. Fenton is currently the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 9, which includes the Hawaiian Islands (here), (here). In the clip of Biden’s Aug. 30 remarks, the president refers to his appointment of Fenton to lead the Maui response and rebuilding efforts. FEMA administrator Bob Fenton’s presence in Hawaii before the 2023 wildfires is not evidence that the disaster was planned.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Bob Fenton “, Jeremy M, Edwards, Fenton, ” Edwards, Lemanu P.S, “, Bob Fenton, ” Fenton, Bob Fenton’s, Read Organizations: Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Reuters, Social, Facebook, Biden, Partnership, Regional, White, Guam Homeland Security, Civil Defense Locations: Hawaii, Honolulu, Oahu, “, Maui, American Samoa, United States, Guam

☆ After the Earthquake in Morocco, Tourists Grapple With the Ethics of Travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Ceylan Yeginsu | More About Ceylan Yeginsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The series of catastrophic events has left many tourists in a conundrum over how to respond. Those already in a country in the wake of a disaster debate whether they should stay or leave. Can they and the revenue they bring in be of any real help, or will they be a burden? How appropriate is it to let tourism go on while a nation is in a state of collective mourning and rescue efforts are underway? In Morocco, however, where a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains southwest of Marrakesh on Friday, killing thousands, the outlook is more unified.

Persons: don’t Locations: Turkey, Greece, Hawaii, Morocco, Maui, Lahaina, Marrakesh

☆ A Record for Billion-Dollar Disasters Shows the Limits of America’s Defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | More About Christopher Flavelle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States has suffered 23 billion-dollar disasters so far in 2023, a record for this point in the year that highlights the country’s struggle to adapt to the effects of climate change. In one sense, the growing cost of disasters is unsurprising. The burning of fossil fuels is causing air and water temperatures to increase, which in turn makes it possible for hurricanes to become stronger, rainfall to become more intense and wildfires to spread faster. The NOAA data, which tracks the number of billion-dollar disasters in the United States, adjusted for inflation, shows a relatively steady upward march, from three such disasters in 1980 to 22 in 2020. The current year has already exceeded that record set in 2020.

Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Locations: States, Maui, Florida, Minnesota, United States

☆ FBI and White House likely coerced social media platforms into removing posts, appeals court rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A federal appeals court on Friday limited the scope of a district court ruling that sought to limit communications between government agencies and social media companies, while finding that several agencies likely violated the First Amendment. The ruling will make it easier for several federal agencies to communicate with social media companies like Meta , Google and X, previously known as Twitter, as many do to flag concerns they see on the platforms. At the same time, the appeals court concluded that the White House, Surgeon General's office and Federal Bureau of Investigation likely violated the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms into moderating posts on their sites. The appeals court vacated all but one of ten prohibitions Doughty set out in the initial injunction. The White House, Surgeon General's office, FBI and CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Terry A, Doughty, Donald Trump, That's Organizations: Idalia, White, Meta, Google, Western, Western District of, State Department, Facebook, Washington Post, Federal Bureau of, Centers for Disease Control, Infrastructure Security Agency, National Institute of Allergy, FBI, CDC, Twitter, YouTube Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Washington ,, Missouri, Louisiana, Western District, Western District of Louisiana

When wildfires swept across Maui last month with destructive fury, China’s increasingly resourceful information warriors pounced. The disaster was not natural, they said in a flurry of false posts that spread across the internet, but was the result of a secret “weather weapon” being tested by the United States. For China — which largely stood on the sidelines of the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections while Russia ran hacking operations and disinformation campaigns — the effort to cast the wildfires as a deliberate act by American intelligence agencies and the military was a rapid change of tactics. Until now, China’s influence campaigns have been focused on amplifying propaganda defending its policies on Taiwan and other subjects. The most recent effort, revealed by researchers from Microsoft and a range of other organizations, suggests that Beijing is making more direct attempts to sow discord in the United States.

Persons: China’s Organizations: China, Microsoft Locations: Maui, United States, Russia, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ 2023 severe weather: $57 billion in damage and 253 people dead so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The nation has been hit by 23 such disasters so far in 2023, the highest number since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration started keeping records in 1980. The previous record was set in 2020 with 22 separate disasters that each caused a billion or more dollars in damage. The 23 disasters this year have caused more than $57.6 billion in damage and killed at least 253 people, according to the NOAA report. The number of billion-dollar weather disasters has been increasing since 1980. In the most recent five years, there have been 18 such disasters annually on average, according to NOAA.

Persons: Idalia Organizations: U.S, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Locations: Hawaii, Florida, West Maui, Big Bend

☆ Number of billion-dollar weather disasters in US blows through annual record with four months left in the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

This year’s billion-dollar disasters have caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and have resulted in $57.6 billion in damage, NOAA data shows. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Ken Kruse looks out at floodwaters surrounding his apartment complex in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on August 30. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Florida's Fort Myers Beach is seen during high tide ahead of Hurricane Idalia on August 29. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images Shelves are left empty at a Target store in Gainesville, Florida, on August 29. Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Idalia, Hilary, Rachel Cleetus, ” Cleetus, Cristobal Herrera, Shutterstock, Sean Rayford, Cheney Orr, Reuters Jewell Baggett, Ulashkevich, EFE, Thomas Simonetti, Jack Lemburg, Richard Burkhart, Douglas R, Clifford, Zuma Press Donnye Franklin, Joe Raedle, Rebecca Blackwell, Ron DeSantis, Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo, Ken Kruse, Hurricane Idalia, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Christian Monterrosa, Stephen M, Dowell, Reagan Ortagus, Tyler, Bob Self, NOAA Ana Iris Aguiar, Alexandre Meneghini, Marco Bello, Adrees Latif, Samson, Victor Cassano's, Chris O'Meara, Yamil Lage, Sharon Walsh, Doug Engle, Christine Willis, Andrew West, Harvey, Irma, Maria, Adam Smith, Michael, Laura, Ida, Ian, ” Smith, Deanne Criswell, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, Criswell, It’s, ” Criswell, Cleetus, ” Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Idalia, NOAA, Tropical, Union of Concerned, “, Tampa Bay Times, ZUMA Press, Reuters, Press, Washington Post, Angels Episcopal Church, Savannah Morning, USA, Network Rescue, Zuma Press, AP Florida Gov, Savannah, Bloomberg, Getty, Duke, Orlando Sentinel, Florida Times, Union, AP, Reuters Pike Electric, Southwest Airlines, Tampa International Airport, Reuters Home Depot, Reuters Fort Myers, Federal Emergency Management, FEMA, Senate, Ukraine, New York Times, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News Locations: United States, South, Midwest, California, Horseshoe Beach , Florida, Bend, Tampa, Horseshoe Beach, Perry , Florida, Keaton Beach , Florida, Madison , Florida, Steinhatchee , Florida, Samarra, St, Savannah , Georgia, Savannah, Steinhatchee, Crystal River , Florida, Perry, Crystal, Tarpon Springs , Florida, Mayo , Florida, Tarpon Springs, Myers, Hurricane, Gainesville , Florida, Sumterville , Florida, Johns County , Florida, Florida, NOAA, La Coloma, Cuba, Clearwater , Florida, Playa Majana, Suwannee , Florida, Batabanó, AFP, Guanimar, Ocala , Florida, USA, Reuters Fort Myers Beach, Gulf, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji

“All our hard work burned,” Rosales told The Associated Press in an interview conducted in Ilocano, her native language. “There is nothing left.”The disaster has prompted fears about what will become of Lahaina’s community and character as it rebuilds. As their descendants and successive generations of immigrants have settled, they have become deeply ingrained in the community’s culture. He has been counseling groups of Filipinos staying in hotels, even celebrating Mass in a hotel reception room. Since then, she has become a community advocate and is president of Binhi at Ani, “Seed and Harvest,” which operates Maui’s only Filipino community center.

Persons: Elsie Rosales, Rosales, Maui’s, ” Rosales, Rosales won’t, Gemma Weinstein, ”, Rick Nava, Evangeline Balintona, ” Balintona, —, “, Efren Tomas, Christ, King, Alicia Kalepa, ” Gilbert Keith, Agaran, won’t, Keith, Agcolicol, Binhi, ” Rosales ’, don’t, Bobby Caina Calvan Organizations: —, Associated Press, Census Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, oceanfront, Maui, Philippines, U.S, Honolulu, Kahana, Ilocos Norte, Kahului, Lahaina won’t, Las Vegas, Ani

☆ The power grid needs repairs. These companies stand to benefit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A budding ecosystem of companies stand to gain as businesses and policymakers grow increasingly focused on improving the electric grid. President Joe Biden committed $95 million to shore up Hawaii's electric grid following the tragedy. Beyond that, Kalton said it's also just good business sense: Utility companies don't want their grids to go down and leave unhappy customers without power. And he said utility companies can grow earnings power by spending capital and increasing their base rate. An ecosystem of companies Beyond physically changing the grid, some companies are making progress elsewhere, said Chanin, whose ETF is up about 18% this year.

Persons: Neil Kalton, Joe Biden, It's, —, Said, Kalton, it's, Steven Fisher, doesn't, Fisher, Andrew Chanin, Chanin, Eaton, Michael Bloom Organizations: NBC News, Electric, UBS, Primoris Services, LSEG, Nvidia Locations: Maui, U.S, Wells Fargo, California , Colorado, Oregon, California, Florida, Texas

☆ The last 3 months were the hottest on record. Was summer 2023 just the beginning?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

June through August were the hottest months on record, the World Meteorological Organization said. The deadly extreme heat and other climate-fueled disasters are upending people's lives this summer. A summer of writing about disaster after disaster got me thinking: Will we look back on this summer as a turning point? More of us are feeling the whiplash: Americans are increasingly connecting the dots between disasters and the climate crisis. In the meantime, communities have to be better prepared because the next five years could continue to break temperature records , according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Persons: António Guterres, Anthony Leiserowitz, Leiserowitz, George Mason, they'd, Carole Walker, It's Organizations: World Meteorological Organization, Service, United Nations, Yale, George, George Mason University, Rocky Mountain Insurance Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Maui, Hawaii, Northeast

☆ A month after deadly Maui fire, 66 people still missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jonathan Allen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Only 60 of those victims had been identified as of Thursday, according to the Maui Police Department. Tim Laborte's stepfather, Joseph Lara, was killed in the fire, his body found a short drive from Lara's house in his native Lahaina. [1/3]A Combined Joint Task Force 50 (CJTF-50) search, rescue and recovery member conducts search operations of areas damaged by Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. August 15, 2023. "The people of Maui must have as much time as they need to heal and recover and will begin to rebuild only when they are ready," Green said. "I want to emphasize this again: The land in the Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild."

Persons: Josh Green, Tim Laborte's, Joseph Lara, Laborte, Matthew A, Foster, Handout, Green, Jonathan Allen, Stephen Coates Organizations: Maui Police Department, Officials, Force, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, REUTERS, Hawaii's Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S, Hawaiian, New York

☆ A Month After Deadly Maui Fire, 66 People Still Missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Only 60 of those victims had been identified as of Thursday, according to the Maui Police Department. Tim Laborte's stepfather, Joseph Lara, was killed in the fire, his body found a short drive from Lara's house in his native Lahaina. Hawaii's Department of Health, which issues death certificates in the state, did not respond to questions about how officials are certifying the fire's victims. "The people of Maui must have as much time as they need to heal and recover and will begin to rebuild only when they are ready," Green said. "I want to emphasize this again: The land in the Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild."

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Josh Green, Tim Laborte's, Joseph Lara, Laborte, Green, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, Maui Police Department, Officials, Hawaii's Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Hawaiian, New York

Five more people have been identified, but their names have not yet been released because the authorities have not been able to notify their families. The last time the death toll changed was on Aug. 21, the day that President Biden visited Lahaina, a span of time that reflects the new phase of the recovery effort, as well as the likelihood that many people’s bodies were reduced to unrecoverable ash. The actual death toll is unlikely to be determined for weeks or months. He said that ANDE’s technicians have left Maui, and that determining the final death toll would now largely rely on slow-paced detective work — for instance, interviewing the family and friends of those missing to determine if they were in Lahaina that day and where. The authorities will have to determine whether their investigative results are sufficient to declare those still missing as dead.

Persons: Biden, Stephen Meer, — Locations: Lahaina, California, Colorado, Maui

There are so many since wildfires killed 115 people in the historic town of Lahaina that Olsten is worried about a full-blown economic catastrophe. The day after the fire, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, a quasi-state agency, said visitors on “non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui” and that "non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged." People shouldn't go to Lahaina or the surrounding West Maui area — “It’s not a place to stare," Bissen said — but the rest of Maui needs tourists. The Hawaii Tourism Authority drafted and publicized a map showing Lahaina and West Maui in relation to the rest of the island, highlighting just how much was still open. It's not clear, however, when travel to West Maui will resume.

Persons: — Richie Olsten, Olsten, Mufi Hannemann, ”, Graeme Swain, Mara, Swain, Hali'imaile, —, Gemma Alvior, they’re, “ Maui’s, Richard Bissen, shouldn't, Bissen, Jason Momoa, “, Carl Bonham, It's, Bonham, ___ McAvoy Organizations: Airlines, Maui Helicopters, Air, Pilots, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, University of Hawaii, Hollywood, Hawaii Tourism Authority, ”, Revenues Locations: KAHULUI, Hawaii, Lahaina, State, Maui, South Maui, San Diego, U.S, West Maui, Hollywood, ”, Manoa, Kaanapali, Honolulu

☆ Who caused Maui’s devastating wildfire? Lawsuit adds telecom companies and landowners to the list
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The original suit claimed Hawaiian Electric was to blame for the fire, because it did not deenergize power lines that were knocked down by high winds. Shares of Hawaiian Electric have plunged 67% since the fires erupted August 8. Hawaiian Telecom is privately owned. Maui County filed a separate lawsuit late last month against Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, alleging that the utility company’s negligence caused the devastating wildfires. Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement following Maui’s lawsuit that the company believes the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible.”

Persons: LippSmith, Graham LippSmith, “, ”, inexcusably, Shelee Kimura Organizations: CNN, Hawaiian, Lahaina, Charter Communications, Hawaiian Telecom, Hawaii Telecom, Electric, Hawaiian Electric, National Weather Service, Watch Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Kula, Olinda, Charter, West Maui, Maui County

Lawsuits are piling up in court over liability for the inferno, and businesses across the island are fretting about the loss of tourism. Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier has repeatedly pleaded for patience as authorities try to verify who is missing, who has been accounted for and who has died. Among the lawsuits is one by Maui County accusing the utility of negligently failing to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions. On Monday the father of a 57-year-old woman who died while trying to escape the fire filed suit against defendants including Maui County, the state and Hawaiian Electric. The state said it was reviewing it, and Hawaiian Electric declined to comment.

Persons: Richard Bissen, Joe Biden, John Pelletier, Josh Green, “, ” ___, Sen, Brian Schatz, ”, Schatz, Green, Oprah Winfrey, Dwayne Johnson, ___, Jason Momoa, Steven Tyler, ” Tyler, ___ Johnson Organizations: Maui County Police, Police, FBI, Gov, Twitter, Hawaii Electric Company, Hawaii Electric, Electric, Representatives, Hawaiian Electric, Lawyers, Hawaii U.S, Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, . Environmental Protection Agency, Officials Locations: HONOLULU, Maui, Maui County, Lahaina, Hawaii, MAUI, Philadelphia, Seattle

☆ Hawaiian Airlines parent tempers outlook on Maui wildfire, engine issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Hawaiian Airlines airplanes sit idle on the runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport due to the business downturn caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Marco Garcia Acquire Licensing RightsSept 5 (Reuters) - Hawaiian Holdings Inc (HA.O), the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, said on Tuesday that its third-quarter revenue had been trending positively but was reversed after the West Maui wildfire affected travel demand. Hawaiian Airlines is among the major customers that took delivery of the affected A320neo jets, according to aviation data provider Cirium. The State of Hawaii has currently discouraged non-essential travel to West Maui through October, the company said. Hawaiian expects its operating revenue per seat mile for the current quarter to be down 4% to 7%, from earlier guidance for a reduction of 2% to 5%.

Persons: Daniel K, Marco Garcia, Pratt, Pratyush Thakur, Devika Organizations: Airlines, Inouye, REUTERS, Hawaiian Holdings Inc, Hawaiian Airlines, Pratt & Whitney, Airbus, ASM, Thomson Locations: Honolulu , Hawaii, U.S, Maui, State, Hawaii, West Maui, Bengaluru

Views from the air of the community of Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town several days ago, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Marco Garcia/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc FollowSept 5 (Reuters) - The father of a woman who died during last month's wildfires in Hawaii has sued the state and the county of Maui in a “first-of-its-kind” lawsuit accusing the governments of gross negligence leading to the blazes. Filed on Monday in Hawaii state court, the lawsuit is the first stemming from the wildfires to be lodged against the state. Hawaiian Electric, meanwhile, failed to deenergize its electrical equipment during high winds, sparking the fires, the lawsuit said. Reporting by Clark Mindock, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marco Garcia, Harold Wells, Wells, Clark Mindock, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Estate, Bishop Estate, Electric, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S

☆ From non-native bluegrass in Antarctica to beautiful spotted bugs in the middle of NYC, here are 5 invasive species that are as stunning as they are threatening to humanity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Here are 5 of the most obvious examples of how invasive species are impacting all of us right now. Scientists say invasive species are one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide (alongside other environmental issues like pollution and climate change). The authors of the new UN report estimate that only about 6% of non-native plants and 11% of non-native microbes are invasive species. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, invasive species are an outsized driver of animal and plant extinctions, contributing to over half (60%) of them. Even Antarctica isn't safe from the threat of invaders like a non-native bluegrassPoa annua is an annual bluegrass species native to Eurasia.

Persons: Peter Stoett —, Stoett, we're, Gary Hershorn, Michael M, Joe Biden, Mandel Ngan, Melani Spielman, it's, Dan Kitwood, Wolfgang Kaehler, South America —, Kilian Fichou, Hu Weibin, Anibal Pauchard Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, Ontario Tech University, Washington Post, Services, East, New, US Department of Agriculture, Getty, Cornell University, South America, Publishing, University of Concepción Locations: New York, Antarctica, New York City, China, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York , New Jersey , Michigan, Ohio, Inwood, Park, Maui, Marine, AFP, Waimea Valley, Africa, Hawaii, Somoria, Guinea, South America, Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, Florida, South, Europe, Lakes, Lake Ontario, Canada, Great, North America, Michigan, Eurasia, Chile

☆ Congress returns with the clock ticking to avert government shutdown, fund U.S. disaster response
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin Wurm | ReutersA deeply divided Congress returned Tuesday from a monthlong summer vacation with the clock ticking to pass spending legislation to avoid a government shutdown and boost U.S. emergency response funding following multiple natural disasters. The U.S. government will shut down at midnight on Sept. 30 if Congress fails to pass spending legislation. While the Senate is back in session Tuesday, the House will not return to work until Sept. 12, leaving nearly three weeks to pass funding before the deadline. McCarthy came out publicly in support of a continuing resolution to keep the government running during an interview with Fox News last month. Bank of America analysts in a note Tuesday put the chances of shutdown as a flip of the coin given the conditions conservative Republicans are putting on funding legislation.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Chuck Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Reuters, Republican, Fox News, cajole, GOP, Caucus, Bank of America, Republicans, UBS, Hurricane Idalia, FEMA Locations: Washington, U.S, Maui, Hawaii, Hurricane, Florida

☆ Invasive species cost the world $423 billion every year and are causing environmental chaos, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Scroll through the gallery to see more of the planet's most problematic invasive species. Sarefo / Wikimedia Commons In pictures: Invasive species around the world Prev Next‘Prevention, prevention, prevention’Along with invasive species, other key drivers of biodiversity loss include destruction of land and sea habitats, exploitation of organisms, climate change and pollution. As well as flammable invasive plants sparking and spreading wildfires, climate change is enabling invasive species to move north – even to remote areas such as high mountains, deserts and frozen tundra. Preventing the arrival of new species into new regions is the best way to manage threats from invasive species, according to the report. For invasive species that have already taken hold, eradication has been a useful tool, especially on islands, according to the report.

Persons: ”, Helen Roy, ” Roy, David Gray, Peter Stoett, Anibal Pauchard, Ian Hitchcock, Starling, MENAHEM KAHANA, Phil Mislinski, Jeff J Mitchell, SANJAY KANOJIA, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, ” Stoett, Stoett, –, ” Pauchard Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Services, billabong, Nile Virus, Ontario Tech University, Chile’s Institute of Ecology, Pacific, World Wildlife Fund, US Department of Agriculture, USA, Studies, New Zealand Government, European, Starlings, AFP, Getty, North, Wikimedia Locations: Darwin, Australia, Africa, Caribbean, Guam, North America, Hawaii, Maui, Antarctica, Pacific, North, South America, Azov, China, Japan, Europe, Bermuda, New Zealand, New York, USA, Australasia, South Africa, United States, AFP, East Africa, Western Asia, Americas, Kenya, India, Puerto Rico, Kunming, Montreal

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a transaction that would be commonplace for a corporation or a sports team, but it’s the kind of deal that is practically unheard of in the nonprofit sector. The philanthropy research organization Candid will send control of its CF Insights website and the staff that gathered information about community foundations to the Council on Foundations, the association of nearly 900 nonprofit members, on Friday. It helps them make better decisions.”Chang said CF Insights can help community foundations see how its peers handled expansion or compensation. And that information pairs well with the Council on Foundations annual surveys on compensation and benefits among community foundations. That doesn’t happen in the nonprofit sector.

Persons: —, Ann Mei Chang, ” Chang, “, Kathleen Enright, ” Enright, Chang, Enright Organizations: Foundations, ”, Hawaii Community Foundation, don’t, Candid, The Aspen Institute, Urban Institute, Internal Revenue Service, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Hawaii, Maui

Search resuls for: "maui"

25 mentions found