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☆ Trump picks former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy as next Transportation secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday he has selected former congressman and recent Fox Business co-host Sean Duffy to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation. He most recently was co-host of Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line,” after first joining Fox News as a contributor in 2020. Wednesday marked his last day appearing on Fox Business, and he interviewed for the role of transportation secretary later in the week, according to a source. In the role, Duffy would takeover the department from Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was named to lead the department in February 2021. Campos-Duffy is the co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” where she worked for years alongside Pete Hegseth, Trump pick for defense secretary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sean Duffy, Duffy, Duffy’s, ”, “, ” Trump, Pete Buttigieg, Elaine Chao, Duff, Rachel Campos, Campos, Pete Hegseth, Trump, CNN’s Brian Stelter Organizations: CNN, Fox Business, Department of Transportation, Congressional, Fox News, Trump, Republican, ”, Competence, Competitiveness, Beauty, National Security, ESPN, Fox, MTV, “ Fox, Friends, Republicans Locations: Ashland County , Wisconsin

☆ Scientists warn that a key Atlantic current could collapse, among other climate tipping points
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Among other findings, it warns that several key climate tipping points appear more likely to be reached than previously thought. Ice loss from the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the “Doomsday” glacier because its collapse could precipitate rapid Antarctic ice loss, may be unstoppable. These are just a few of the stark findings from more than 50 leading snow and ice scientists, which are detailed in a new report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. The report highlights a shift in consensus: Scientists once thought tipping points — like the collapse of AMOC — were distant or remote possibilities. Even if they were on track, those commitments are insufficient to reach global climate goals, the authors say.

Persons: it’s, ”, Helen Findlay, “, AMOC, Julie Brigham, We’ve, Sean Gallup, ” Findlay, Mukhtar Babayev, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Peter Neff, there’s, ” Neff Organizations: Initiative, Southern Hemisphere, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Copernicus, ESA, United Nations, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Getty, ”, University of Minnesota Locations: Venezuela, Atlantic, Europe, England, Iceland, Alaska, Asia, Baku, Azerbaijan, Paris, Ilulissat, Greenland, U.S

☆ The Caspian Sea, the planet’s largest lake is shrinking fast. Experts fear it may never recover.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —There’s a spot on the shoreline from where Azamat Sarsenbayev used to jump into the brackish, blue-green Caspian Sea. Azamat SarsenbayevThe Caspian Sea is the planet’s largest inland sea and it’s largest lake, an enormous body of water roughly the size of Montana. NASAOver many thousands of years, the Caspian Sea has swung between highs and lows as temperatures fluctuated and ice sheets advanced and retreated. Their pupping sites in the shallower northeastern Caspian Sea are shifting and disappearing, as the animals also struggle against pollution and overfishing. Scientists counted 25,000 at one haul-out site on the Durnev Islands in the northeast Caspian Sea in 2009.

Persons: CNN —, Sarsenbayev, ”, Javanmardi, Azamat, Vali Kaleji, Matthias Prange, ” Prange, Joy Singarayer, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Hossein Beris, University of Tehran’s Kaleji, ” Singarayer, ” Wesslingh, It’s, Kazbek Basayev, Reuters It’s, Assel Baimukanova, Kaleji, Aziz Karimov, Ilham Aliyev Organizations: CNN, NASA, Central, Caucasian Studies, University of Tehran, University of Bremen, University of Reading, Getty, University of Tehran’s, Reuters, Institute of Hydrobiology, “, Caspian, United Nations Locations: Aktau, Kazakhstan, Iranian, Rasht, Montana, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Central Asia, Aral, Uzbekistan, Germany, Anadolu, Galugah, Mazandaran province, Makhachkala, Baku, COP29, ”

☆ This large ‘ghost’ fish was just spotted for the first time in almost 20 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —When scientists heard reports that a large, mysterious fish had been caught in Cambodia in 2020, excitement stirred. Could this be the “Mekong Ghost,” they asked - an elusive fish that hadn’t been seen since 2005 and was feared extinct? But the fish, which can grow as large as 66 pounds, was sold before scientists could get a closer look. The giant salmon carp has been rediscovered in Cambodia. Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong“I’ve been looking for it since then, kind of fascinated by it because it’s a very unusual giant fish,” Hogan said.

Persons: ”, hadn’t, Zeb Hogan, Hogan, Chhut, –, ” Hogan, “, – I’ve, Bunyeth Chan, they’ve, Greta Thunberg, it’s Organizations: CNN, University of Nevada, “, Svay Rieng University, World Wildlife Fund, Nature Locations: Cambodia, Reno, Cambodian, Rivers ”, Thai, Svay Rieng, Laos, Thailand, Mekong, Nature Cambodia

☆ A North Carolina mountain town is wrecked by Hurricane Helene
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | Deon J. Hampton Is A National Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Buildings throughout Swannanoa were damaged beyond repair after Hurricane Helene pummeled the region. Deon Hampton / NBC NewsBeverly Eller, 68, who has been staying in shelters the last few days, said she was surprised by the extent of the damage. Deon Hampton / NBC NewsCody said it was going to cost him dearly because he didn't carry insurance on his business. Residents who were forced to flee Swannanoa when Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina didn't know what condition their homes would be in when they returned. Deon Hampton / NBC NewsLike others interviewed in the town, Cody said there was nobody to blame for not better preparing them for this storm.

Persons: Helene, Baxter Eller, Helene pummeled, Deon, Beverly Eller, ”, Hurricane Helene, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Anthony Penland, Penland, Robert Starks, ” Robert Starks, Starks, hasn't, ” Starks, “, Stewart Cody, Cody, ” Cody, Swannanoa, “ We’ve Organizations: Deon Hampton, NBC, Pentagon, NBC News Biden, Emergency, Center, Army Locations: N.C, Asheville, Beverly, Swannanoa, Hurricane, North Carolina, Raleigh, Georgia, Florida, Whitson, Pine Bluff , Arkansas

☆ Hurricane Helene: Local broadcasters become lifeline for hard-hit N.C. communities
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

With some ground-based communications in tatters from the storm, Starling said the stations had resorted to using SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink to remain online. In the wake of the storm, WWNC and other local news outlets region produced indispensable service journalism as communities reeled from the disaster. During WWNC’s marathon live broadcast, listeners were urged to keep the faith and have patience, since the recovery effort will take weeks. Wilson told CNN, “We’ve had people calling all day long trying to locate other people.”Starling said the radio network’s live coverage began on Thursday as Helene approached Florida’s Gulf Coast. We’re all neighbors.”Starling laughed on air about looking forward to seeing his local Amazon delivery driver once again.

Persons: Paul, ” Paul, iHeart, Mark Starling, ”, Starling, Eddie Foxx, Ashley Wilson, Wilson, couldn’t, Helene, ” Foxx, Foxx, “, “ We’ve, ” Starling, hadn’t, We’re, Mark, Apple Crisp, ” Wilson Organizations: CNN, Radio, iHeartMedia, Sunday, Asheville Citizen, Times, Public Radio, Apple Locations: North Carolina, tatters, Asheville, Charlotte, New Orleans, “, Florida’s Gulf Coast, Georgia

☆ Two failing dams in North Carolina force urgent evacuations after days of heavy rain
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

At least two major dams in North Carolina were at risk or in the process of failing on Friday, forcing evacuations after Hurricane Helene inundated the region. Officials in South Carolina have been warned that a failure could even impact towns there, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. “RESIDENTS BELOW THE LAKE LURE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY! Lake Lure in North Carolina as seen from Chimney Rock National Park. It also received $16.5 million for the project in 2022 from the state of North Carolina.

Persons: Helene, Rob Mathis, “, ” Mathis, Kristin Coulter, Mathis, ” Coulter, Olivia Stewman, ” Stewman, Hurricane Helene, Jared Klein, ” Klein Organizations: Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Duke Energy, Tennessee Emergency Management, “, ” United States Geological, North Carolina Department of Environmental, Emergency Management, Facebook, National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Association of, Officials, NBC News Locations: North Carolina, Tennessee, Cocke County, Waterville, Newport , Tennessee, Newport, ”, South Carolina, Rutherford, Asheville, Lake Lure, Lure, Southern Appalachia, Hurricane, Lake, U.S, Nebraska

☆ Over 100 dead in Myanmar flooding after Typhoon Yagi
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Adverse weather from Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, has killed hundreds of people in Vietnam and Thailand, and floodwaters from swollen rivers have inundated cities in both countries. The flooding in Myanmar began last Monday, with at least 74 people killed by Friday, based on state media reports. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in February 2021, and violence has engulfed large parts of the country. “Central Myanmar is currently the hardest hit, with numerous rivers and creeks flowing down from Shan hills,” the OCHA said. State media also reported that five dams, four pagodas and more than 65,000 houses were destroyed by the flooding.

Persons: Typhoon Yagi, Zaw Min Tun, ”, Yagi Organizations: United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, International Committee Locations: Southeast Asia, Asia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Naypyitaw, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Shan, Central Myanmar

☆ ‘Sponge’ cities combat urban flooding by letting nature do the work
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationYu’s proposal is this: Create areas with porous earth where local plants can thrive with little or no maintenance. But whether this latest flooding crisis demonstrates the limitations of China’s sponge cities, or supports the case to expand them, is a matter of debate. Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationTurenscape planted 5,600 seedlings of 360 local species, including rare trees indigenous to Thailand’s central river basin. Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationThis may be another reason Yu’s services have been sought outside China. Last year, The Cultural Landscape Foundation awarded Yu the $100,000 Oberlander Prize in recognition of his pioneering work.

Persons: Kongjian Yu, Yu, ” Yu, Turenscape, Xi Jinping, Faith Chan, ”, Chan, Elizabeth Mossop, ” Mossop, “ Organizations: CNN, redwoods, UK’s University of Leeds, Research, Global Times, University of Nottingham, Thai, Arsomsilp, Environmental, Landscape Foundation, University of Technology Sydney’s School of Design Locations: Nanchang, China's Jiangxi, China, Qinghuandao, China's Hebei province, Wuhan, Hainan, Sanya, China's, Guangdong, Turenscape, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, ”, Bangkok

☆ After a burst ice dam unleashed a flood, residents in Alaska's capital clean up swamped homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The flooding happens because a smaller glacier near Mendenhall Glacier had retreated — a casualty of the warming climate — and left a basin that fills with rainwater and snowmelt each spring and summer. When the water creates enough pressure, it forces its way under or around the ice dam created by the Mendenhall Glacier and enters Mendenhall Lake and eventually the Mendenhall River, as it did this week. On Wednesday, piles of garbage bags and other items — wood, boxes, sodden insulation and carpeting — dotted the curbs. The city said the water reached some homes outside expected flood areas. Her dad woke her up hours later via FaceTime and alerted her to rising water outside.

Persons: Mendenhall, Eran Hood, Sean Maguire, ”, Hood, Marc Lester, Alyssa Fischer Organizations: University of Alaska, Anchorage Daily, AP, nchorage Daily, AP Juneau Locations: Mendenhall, Juneau, U.S, Alaska, FaceTime

☆ How Does Your State Make Electricity?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +58 min

Wind turbines provided just 1 percent of the electricity produced in the state in 2001 and nearly 60 percent last year. How Kentucky made electricity from 2001 to 2023 Percentage of power produced from each energy sourceCoal still generates the majority of the electricity produced in Kentucky, a longtime coal mining state. Since then, virtually all of the electricity produced in the state has come from renewable sources, including hydropower, biomass, wind and solar. It has supplied more than 85 percent of the electricity produced in the state every year for more than two decades. Last year, wind supplied more than a fifth of the electricity produced in the state.

☆ 3 reasons to invest in America's crumbling infrastructure instead of flashy AI winners, and the 2 cheapest sectors right now: BofA
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Traditional infrastructure might not seem as sexy as the newer AI data centers, but Bank of America believes traditional infrastructure has stronger growth prospects than AI infrastructure. The heavy focus on technology and AI has resulted in investors overlooking traditional infrastructure investment. Invest in industrials and materialsIn particular, Bank of America identified the industrials and materials sectors as the best investment opportunity within traditional infrastructure. The industrials sector trades at a relative forward PE of 0.98, and materials trades at 0.92. AdvertisementSome specific industries within those sectors are especially undervalued, such as construction materials and metals & mining.

Persons: —, there's, Savita Subramanian, it's, Reshoring Organizations: Service, Big Tech, American Society of Civil Engineers, Business, Bank of, Bank of America Government, Bank of America, Bank, Invest, Industrial Locations: North America, industrials

☆ 2025 Could Be a Great Time to Be President, Economically Speaking
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As that happens, the Federal Reserve is preparing to cut interest rates. A huge burst of infrastructure spending under the Biden administration has taken time to ramp up, but projects both small and large are likely to break ground in earnest in 2025 and 2026. One clear answer: It won’t be the person who shepherded some of the policies that are laying the positive groundwork. President Biden announced on Sunday that he was ending his candidacy for re-election, passing the Democratic baton to Vice President Kamala Harris. White House officials play a relatively minor role in slowing inflation and exert no direct control over interest rates.

Persons: Biden, Kamala Harris, Mr, Biden isn’t Organizations: Federal Reserve, Democratic, Semiconductor Locations: U.S, stoke

☆ CrowdStrike losses may be biggest test yet of cybersecurity insurance risk warning from Warren Buffett
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Kevin Williams | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jain's hypothetical seemed prescient when a quality control issue from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused a worldwide IT outage that halted flights and freight, shuttered retail outlets, and caused hospitals to resort to charting on paper. "Insurers have been worried about something like what happened with CrowdStrike since cloud adoption happened," said Dale Gonzales, chief innovation officer at Axio, a cyber security risk analysis company. Fitch estimates that the number of insured losses will not exceed $10 billion, ending somewhere in the mid- to high-single billions and that the industry largely priced those in. The cybersecurity insurance market did get lucky, in some respects, with the CrowdStrike meltdown. "Cyber events that have more of a physical consequence would be much bigger in size or scope in terms of losses," Glombicki said.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Ajit Jain, Jain, CrowdStrike, Dale Gonzales, Gerald Glombicki, Fitch, Glombicki Organizations: Microsoft Corp, Fitch Locations: New Delhi, India, Berkshire, Fitch Rating's, Australia, Pacific Asia, U.S

☆ The Greek islands are grappling with a water crisis as tourist season kicks into gear
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Laura Paddison | Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Greek Islands, known for their idyllic towns, rugged landscapes and sun-baked beaches, are in the grip of a serious crisis. “They combine lack of water resources — shallow aquifers, rare rivers or dams — with a tremendous rise in water demand during summer,” he told CNN. Kottakis blamed the crisis on Leros on a failure to maintain the island’s two desalination units, which are both in disrepair. Tourism is “unsustainable and zero-planned,” which is leading to a tremendous rise in water demand, said Mylopoulos, the university professor. Multiple wildfires raged and at least six tourists, including British TV presenter and doctor Michael Moseley and an American tourist, died as high temperatures scorched the Greek islands.

Persons: ”, Dimitris Lianos, Lianos, what’s, Stelios Misinas, Nikitas Mylopoulos, Kostas Lagouvardos, Panagiotis, Krontiras, ” Kottakis, Timotheos Kottakis, Kottakis, Mylopoulos, Michael Moseley, Vassilis Psomas, ” Krontiras, ” CNN’s Allison Chinchar, Brandon Miller, Sara Tonks Organizations: CNN, Reuters, University of Thessaly, National Observatory of, Farmers, Greek Navy Locations: Crete, Kefalonia, Naxos, Prokopios, Greece, Cycaldes, “, National Observatory of Athens, Panagiotis Krontiras, Tinos, —, Lagouvardos, British, American, Sofiko, Corinth, Greece's Peloponnese

☆ Russia and China are gaining ground on the US in Latin America, US commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia and China are trying to compete with the US for influence in Latin America, according to the US Southern Command commander. Kevin Riehle, a former FBI counterintelligence officer, told BI last December that Russia was using South America to obtain fake identities for its spies. AdvertisementDaniel P. Erikson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere, also warned of Chinese and Russian threats in Latin America at an Atlantic Council event in February. Latin America, in the post-Cold War era, has not seen major wars, the prospect of nuclear weapons, or US rivals seeking to establish military bases and alliances directly, he said. "Nonetheless, the economic needs of Latin America and weak governance in many cases have opened the door for predatory, non-transparent deals, particularly with the PRC, which has expanded its influence," he said, using the initials of the People's Republic of China.

Persons: —, Laura J, Richardson, Vyacheslav Volodin, Craig Faller, Kevin Riehle, Daniel P, Erikson, Evan Ellis, Ellis Organizations: Service, US Southern Command, Aspen Security, Initiative, Business, Russian, Institute for, West . Belarus —, US Special Operations Command, FBI, Strategic, International Studies, Atlantic Council, US Army, Strategic Studies Institute, Southern Command Locations: Russia, China, Latin America, Colorado, America, Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, West . Belarus, Belarus, South America, Washington, DC, Caribbean, East, Ukraine, People's Republic of China, Iran, United States

☆ Election Live Updates: Republicans Leave Convention Unified Around Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jim Rutenberg | Adam Nagourney | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +74 min

And there was great, great sorrow. They’re going to be OK. They’re going to be doing very well. Now he’s going to get on the plane in a little while and he’s going to go back home to his wife. Great, great student at Yale. So many — just so many heroes, so many great, great people.

Persons: Dana, Bob, ”, Lee, you’ll, it’s, didn’t, Nobody, “, I’m, Corey Comperatore, David Dutch, James Copenhaver, We’re, Corey, Helen ., David, James, Dan Newlin, Dan, Trump, —, Aileen Cannon, I’ve, Don, Kimberly, Ivanka, Jared, Eric, Lara, Tiffany, Michael, Barron, he’s, “ Dana won’t, That’s Lee Greenwood, … Eric, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, They’ve, Jason, Jason Aldean, Vance, Usha, He’s, He’ll, MAGA, ” MAGA, I’ll, you’re, nobody’s, We’ve, Somebody’s, they’re, It’s, can’t, We’ll, don’t, “ I’m, we’ll, Biden, They’re, that’s, you’ve, I’d, gee, You’d, That’s what’s, Donald Trump, That’s, There’s, Tom Homan, Brandon Judd, They’ll, Obama, They’d, “ You’ve, we’re, we’ve, Hannibal Lecter, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, Rachel, Laken Riley, horrifically, Viktor Orban, what’s, Bush, it’ll, Kim Jung Un, Sam Brown, Sam, You’ve, Abdul, Don’t, You’re, Ronald Reagan, America’s, Franklin Graham, Franklin, Billy Graham, he’d, soldiered Organizations: of Pennsylvania, Secret Service, Service, Democrat, Republican Party, Republican, Democrats, America, Yale, ISIS, Space Force, Energy, Apple, Trump, Republican Senate, White, Republicans, United Auto Workers, Social Security, Border Patrol, ICE, ”, Lambs, University of Georgia, “, U.S, Senate, Washington, D.C, Yankee, Win Locations: America, United States, Butler Township, of, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Asia, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, Germany, Mexico, Nevada, United States of America, There’s, South America, Africa, Middle East, Venezuela, Caracas, El Salvador, Houston, Los Angeles, Maryland, Hungary, “ Russia, Georgia, Crimea, Syria, Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan, Bagram, Cuba, Miami, U.S.A, Wisconsin , Wisconsin, Washington, Japan, Delaware, Valley Forge, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Midway

☆ The Olympics have long promoted safe sex. Now it wants to focus on pleasure.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Jessie Gretener | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Rather, when it comes to sex, pleasure takes first place. They will also have numerous sexual health testing centers on site for athletes, in addition to the sexual health awareness messaging. Rather, she says the most productive way to encourage safe sex is to flip the script from the beginning by focusing on why people have sex. Philpott told CNN that the need to shift the narrative in safe sex conversations is as urgent as ever. The scheme to which he contributes, known as “Moving The Goalposts,” works directly with community leaders, fathers, and young boys to provide resources on sexual health, sexual rights, gender, and positive masculinity.

Persons: Ed, Buda Mendes, Terrence Higgins, Anne Philpott, ” Philpott, Philpott, “ There’s, it’s, Deogratia Okoko, ”, ” Okoko, “ Organizations: CNN, Paris, Olympic, World Health Organization, Olympics, Seoul Games, International Olympic, Paralympic Village, Getty, Terrence Higgins Trust, Wellcome Locations: Love, United States, COVID, Kilifi, Kenya

☆ Opinion: We built our world for a climate that no longer exists
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Opinion Jeff Goodell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But it’s evidence of one of the central truths of our time, and one that is becoming more and more apparent every day: We have built our world for a climate that no longer exists. But less than two months earlier, a sudden windstorm in the city blacked out electricity for more than a million people. How many blackouts will it take before we realize today’s power grid was built for yesterday’s climate? One clear example: the incredible decline in the cost of renewable power in recent years. In virtually every part of the world, electricity generated by renewable power is cheaper than electricity generated by fossil fuels.

Persons: Jeff Goodell, Read, – wouldn’t, Firefighters, Hurricane Beryl, Ethan Swope, I’ve, Andreas Solaro, –, ”, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: CNN, Big Oil, Hurricane, AP, Nature Medicine, Big, Toyota, GM, Kodak, Getty Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Houston, Big, Oroville , California, California, Palm Springs, London, Paris, Madrid, Europe, Phoenix, Saudi Arabia, Rome's, AFP, Texas, Mecca

Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, brought intense rain and coastal flooding to parts of Texas and northeastern Mexico on Wednesday, hours before it was expected to make landfall. In Texas, officials warned of flooded roads in the Houston area early Wednesday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center warned that Alberto was a large storm, with tropical-force winds extending about 415 miles north of its center in the Gulf of Mexico as it moved west toward northeastern Mexico. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, but the main concern was rainfall of a foot or more that was predicted for parts of Texas and Mexico. Tropical storm warnings were issued for coastal areas on both sides of the border.

Persons: Alberto Organizations: Atlantic, Wednesday, National Hurricane Center Locations: Texas, Mexico, Houston, Galveston, Gulf

☆ A water war is looming between Mexico and the US. Neither side will win
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Under an 80-year-old treaty, the United States and Mexico share waters from the Colorado River and the Rio Grande, respectively. They say the lack of water from Mexico is propelling them into crisis, leaving the future of farming in the balance. Pain in both countriesThe water from Mexico goes to the Falcon and Amistad Reservoirs which straddle the border and provide water to homes as well and farms. To rely only on storms to reduce water scarcity would make Mexico “totally exposed to what nature decides about our water future,” UNAM’s Magnaña Rueda said. Ultimately, there needs to be a recognition that water sharing agreements must adapt to a changing climate, Rueda said.

Persons: Biden, Maria Elena Giner, “, ”, Alfonso Cortez Lara, Giner, “ There’ll, Paul Ratje, Vianey Rueda, Rueda, , ” Rueda, Pain, Amistad, Falcon, Brian Jones, Carlos Kosienski, Jones, Monica De La, ” De, ” De La Cruz, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn —, —, Victor Magaña Rueda, Salvador Alcántar, ” Alcántar, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Sarah Porter, Claudia Sheinbaum, “ We’ve, ” UNAM’s Magnaña Rueda, ” Giner, we’re, Nobody’s, ” CNN’s Brandon Miller, Jack Guy Organizations: CNN, Texas, Water Commission, College of, Rio, Reuters, University of Michigan, American Free Trade, Falcon, “ Farmers, Texas Farm Bureau, Growers, Republican, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Farmers, National Guard, Mexican National Guard, Kyl, for Water Policy, Arizona State University, “ Locations: United States, Mexico, Colorado, Rio, South Texas, Rio Grande, Rocky, Gulf of Mexico, Fort Quitmen, Presidio , Texas, ”, Mexican, Chihuahua, Las Cruces , New Mexico, Reuters Mexico, Amistad, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Hidalgo County , Texas, Rio Grande Valley . Texas, Starr County , Texas, Monica De La Cruz, ” De La, La, Camargo , Chihuahua

☆ Mexico drought: Thousands of dead fish pile up on dried out lagoon
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Thousands of dead fish have blanketed the surface of a lagoon in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua, with local officials blaming an intense drought. Chihuahua state has been hit particularly hard with most of its territory engulfed by the most extreme levels of dryness. Mass fish deaths in the area have happened in previous years when the lagoon dried up, stranding fish. A municipal worker spreading quicklime over dead fish to reduce the stench, at the dry bed of the Bustillos Lagoon on June 7, 2024. At the lagoon, local authorities are racing to cover the dead fish with quicklime, concerned their rapid decomposition under the baking sun could endanger public health by attracting insects and spreading disease.

Persons: Irma de la Pena, “, De la Pena, Jose Luis Gonzalez, ”, Jesus Maria Palacios, Saul Sausameda Organizations: CNN, Ecology Department, Reuters, Reuters Livestock Locations: Chihuahua, Anahuac, Mexico, Cuauhtemoc

☆ ‘Convergence of Anger’ Drives Disinformation Around E.U. Elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The fury of European farmers is more than just a major issue in elections across the continent this week — it’s also one of the primary subjects of disinformation timed to the vote. In Italy, inaccurate claims circulated on social media that the European Union was banning animal breeding; a rumor making the rounds in Spain claimed that the government was causing droughts by demolishing dams. Those claims are part of an abundance of deceptive content aimed at voters electing a new European Parliament, spread by far-right politicians, information operatives based outside Europe and others, according to disinformation researchers. It is coming in the form of recycled videos and photos presented as current, misinterpretations of policy proposals and inflammatory political ads, addressing topics like agriculture, climate change and migration. Foreign propaganda, even content explicitly prohibited by the European Union, continues to seep into the information ecosystem.

Persons: it’s Organizations: European, European Union Locations: Italy, European Union, Spain, Europe

☆ When Hydropower Runs Dry
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Manuela Andreoni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Global pollution from electricity generation was set to fall last year, thanks to the growth of renewable energy. Hydropower, the biggest source of renewable energy in the world, was crippled by lack of rain in several countries last year, driving up emissions as countries turned to fossil fuels to fill the gap. To cope with the electricity shortfall, China and India turned to coal plants, and Colombia to natural gas. In China, the worst-hit country, hydroelectricity generation saw the steepest fall in the past two decades, according to the I.E.A. This year, the dip in hydropower has continued in some countries, including Ecuador and Turkey, as temperatures continue to shatter records.

Persons: Ivan Penn Organizations: International Energy Agency Locations: China, India, Colombia, Ecuador, Turkey, Canada, United States

☆ Abnormally Dry Canada Taps U.S. Energy, Reversing Usual Flow
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Ivan Penn | Ruth Fremson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In February, the United States did something that it had not done in many years — the country sent more electricity to Canada than it received from its northern neighbor. Then, in March, U.S. electricity exports to Canada climbed even more, reaching their highest level since at least 2010. The increasing flow of power north is part of a worrying trend for North America: Demand for energy is growing robustly everywhere, but the supply of power — in Canada’s case from giant hydroelectric dams — and the ability to get the energy to where it’s needed are increasingly under strain. Many energy experts say Canadian hydroelectric plants, which have had to reduce electricity production because of a recent drop in rain and snow, will eventually bounce back. “We’ve all got to be humble in the face of more extreme weather,” said Chris O’Riley, president and chief executive of the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, which operates hydroelectric dams in western Canada.

Persons: ”, Chris O’Riley, “ Organizations: North America, British Columbia Hydro, Power Authority Locations: United States, Canada, U.S, North

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