News

Antarctica Turning Green Dramatically: Study London, 6 Oct (ONA) --- A new study revealed rapid "greening" of Antarctica, as vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula has expanded more than tenfold since 1986, spurred by accelerating climate change.Researchers, including those from the University of Exeter, found vegetation cover increased from less than one square kilometer to nearly 12 square kilometers by 2021.This shift aligns with a significant reduction in sea ice over recent years, according to the study published in Nature Geoscience."The plants, mostly mosses, thrive in some of ...

EU, Western Balkans Deepen Cooperation on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth, Sport Brussels, 2 Oct (ONA)--- Iliana Ivanova, the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, met with Western Balkan Ministers in Skopje to reinforce collaboration on the Western Balkans Agenda for innovation and education. They emphasized integrating the region into the European Education and Research Areas and the European Innovation Agenda. The EU Growth Plan aims to bolster innovation, support green and digital transitions, and expand educational ...

Chinese Scientists Discover Huge Glacier Western ChinaBeijing, 2 Oct (ONA) --- Chinese scientists have identified the thickest glacier on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known as Asia's water tower, following the discovery of a nearly 400-meter-thick ice field. The ice field, with a maximum measured thickness of nearly 400 meters, is part of the Purog Kangri Glacier in Tsonyi county, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. The measurement has determined that the Purog Kangri Glacier is now the thickest glacier on the Plateau, replacing the Guliya Ice Cap in Ngari ...

Fairtrade Study Finds Small-Scale Coffee Farms More Sustainable Brasília, 2 Oct (ONA) --- Small-scale coffee farms in Latin America are on average more environmentally friendly than large-scale plantations, new Fairtrade research has revealed. However, large plantations, which often produce coffee using unshaded monoculture, mechanisation and chemical inputs, are in a better position to quickly respond to market and legislative changes. The Fairtrade study, Understanding the Climate and Environmental Impacts of Smallholder Coffee Farming, investigated existing ...

At Least 10 Dead in Thailand Following Explosion on School BusBangkok, 1 Oct (ONA) —- At least 10 people have died in a fire on a school bus in Thailand, local media reported today. Some 38 pupils and six teachers were on their way from Uthan Thani province to Bangkok, 200 kilometres southeast of the Thai capital, when a blast occurred on the bus, the local rescue service was quoted as saying by the ThaiPBC World channel. Only 19 people - 16 pupils and three teachers - were rescued alive from the double-decker bus and taken to hospital, it said, meaning the number ...

Fire on Greece's Peloponnese Peninsula Rages for a Third DayAthens, 1 Oct (ONA) —- More than 400 firefighters were battling a major forest fire in the north of the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese today for the third consecutive day. NASA satellite images showed that the affected area in the Corinth region measured around 5 by 15 kilometres. Five fire-fighting helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft, as well as over 120 fire engines, were in operation this morning. The smoke was so dense that it could be seen as far away as the capital Athens, around 120 kilometres ...

Three Dead in Helicopter Crash in Eastern SpainMadrid, 30 Sep 30 (ONA) --- Three people died when their helicopter collided with power lines near Pucol town, eastern Spain. Emergency services in the region said they had "received news of an accident involving a helicopter which was carrying out inspections on electric lines in Pucol," adding they had sent to the scene a helicopter containing members of a special mountain rescue group and three fire engines, along with ambulances. A large number of firefighters are still in the area assessing electrical hazards, ...

Death Toll from Hurricane Helene in US Rises to 95Washington, 30 Sep (ONA) --- Death toll from Hurricane Helene which hit southeast of the United States has surged to 95, with officials fear still more bodies would be discovered. Authorities in the southeastern US states started a massive cleanup and recovery effort after winds, rain and storm surges from Hurricane Helene knocked out power for millions, destroyed roads and bridges, and caused catastrophic flooding from Florida to Virginia. The storm has damaged water systems, communications and critical ...

At Least 100 Dead in Floods and Landslides in NepalKathmandu, 29 Sep (ONA) --- At least 100 people have died over the past two days after intense rainfall in Nepal caused flooding and landslides. Local officials said that the heavy rainfall has led to the closure of major roads and disrupted domestic flight services. They added that the death toll is likely to rise and that many others are still missing. Most of the deaths occurred in the Kathmandu Valley, an area in the capital with a population of 4 million. Floods have halted traffic and normal activities. ...

46 People Drown During Festival in IndiaNew Delhi, 26 Sep (ONA) --- At least 46 people, including 37 children, have drowned while celebrating a festival in eastern India, the AFP reported.The deceased drowned in Bihar state while bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding, an official from the Bihar Disaster Management Department told AFP. ---Ends/Thuraiya/AG ...

Hurricane Helene Is Expected to Strengthen as It Heads Toward US CoastFlorida, US 26 Sep (ONA) --- Hurricane Helene is expected to continue intensifying and getting larger before approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida, the United States of America (USA). Hurricane Helene powered north into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, strengthening slightly on a path that forecasters expect will bring heavy extreme rain, widespread damaging winds a good distance from the storm’s center, and high storm surge to much of Florida’s western shores.Though the forecast is still taking shape, the ...

UN Warns of Continued Sea-Level Rise RisksNew York, 26 Sep (ONA) --- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the ongoing sea level rise, emphasising the urgent need to protect humanity from the devastating consequences of this crisis, which threatens to destroy communities.These remarks were made during the opening of the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on addressing the existential threats posed by sea level rise.The Secretary-General highlighted scientific findings indicating that the global sea level is now rising faster than at any time in the last 3,000 ...

Small Tsunami Hits Japan's Izu Islands After 5.9 EarthquakeTokyo, 24 Sep (ONA) --- A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Japan's Izu islands today, triggering a small tsunami with no reported damage.The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that a 50 cm (1.6 ft) tsunami reached Hachijo Island, one of the Izu islands, about 40 minutes after the quake.The earthquake occurred undersea near the uninhabited Torishima Island, 600 km (370 miles) south of Tokyo.Although a warning for a 1-meter (3.3 ft) tsunami had been issued for Izu and Ogasawara islands, no significant damage or ...

Six Dead after Record Rain Causes Floods in Japan Tokyo, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Six people died and 10 others are missing after record rainfall caused floods and landslides in parts of Japan's Ishikawa prefecture. The cities of Wajima and Suzu, which are still recovering from a deadly earthquake that devastated the area on 1 January 2024, are among the hardest hit by the deluge, which began last Saturday and continued until today, BBC news reported. Yesterday (Sunday), both cities saw twice the amount of rainfall they typically receive in September in an average year, ...

Forest Fires Rage in Colombia Amid Severe Drought Bogota, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Amid a drought affecting much of Latin America, Colombian authorities are battling forest fires across seven departments The Colombian National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management reported that nearly 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) have been consumed by flames.Fires are concentrated in areas bordering Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, all of which are experiencing similar challenges. In response, Colombia deployed eight aircraft to combat a fire in Nagataima, where two people sustained ...

Seismologists Warn of Future Possible Volcano EruptionsManila, 22 Sep (ONA) --- The Philippine state seismology agency issued a warning today regarding a possible eruption of Mount Kanlaon in central Philippines.The volcano has emitted about 10,449 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and recorded 55 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, it said.The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said that a heightened alert remains in effect for Mount Kanlaon, with an elevation of 2,465 metres.Located on Negros, the fourth most populous island in the Philippines, Mount ...

30 Dead in Coal Mine Blast in IranTehran, 22 Sep (ONA) —- At least 30 people have died as a result of a blast at a coal mine in South Khorasan province, Iran. The director general of the provincial crisis management department reported that the explosion occurred while 69 workers were present in the mine. He explained that the explosion did not involve a fire or destruction of walls, noting that the release of methane gas in the tunnels caused the workers inside the mine to suffocate. In September last year (2023), six people lost their lives due to an ...

1,500 People Evacuated Due to Record Rains in South Korea Seoul, 22 Sep (ONA) —- About 1,500 people evacuated their homes in South Korea due to torrential rains that battered the southern regions of the country. As of this morning, 1,501 people were temporarily forced to evacuate their homes in seven cities and provinces, including Busan, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces, according to the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. About 682 people of the evacuees have yet to return to their homes. No casualties have been reported ...

Over a Thousand People Evacuated in Republic of Korea Due to Record Rains Seoul, 22 Sep (ONA) --- As many as 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes in the Republic of Korea due to torrential rains that hit the southern regions of the country. Those people had to temporarily evacuate their homes in seven cities and provinces, including Busan, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces, according to the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. About 682 people of the evacuees have yet to return to their homes. No casualties have been ...

German City of Dresden on High Alert for Flooding Berlin, 18 Sep (ONA) --- The eastern German city of Dresden is bracing for potential floods today, after days of heavy rains caused severe inundations across Central Europe. The Elbe river which flows through the city has now reached the 6-metre mark, leading authorities to declare the second-highest alert level, according to dpa. This means built-up areas, major roads and railway lines are all at risk of flooding. The water level is expected to continue to rise during the day before dropping ...

Landslide in Central Mexico Kills Nine Mexico City, 17 Sep (ONA) —- At least nine people were killed in a landslide that buried the homes of several families in central Mexico. Local authorities announced that the disaster occurred in the village of San Luis Ayucan. They added that rescue teams saved three people from under the piles of mud left by the landslide. The landslide displaced nearly 150 people from the village, who are now staying in shelters. Landslides are common in Mexico, especially during the rainy and hurricane season, which lasts from ...

Typhoon Bebinca Makes Landfall in Chinese ShanghaiBeijing, 16 Sep (ONA) —- Bebinca, the 13th typhoon of this year (2024), made landfall in Shanghai this morning. The typhoon, with the maximum wind force near its center reaching 42 meters per second, churned ashore at the Lingang area of Pudong district, according to the Shanghai central meteorological observatory. Bebinca is believed to be the strongest typhoon to land in Shanghai in 75 years, according to China's News Agency (Xinhua). The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in China has activated ...

6.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Western CanadaOttawa, 16 Sep (ONA) —- An earthquake measuring 6.5 magnitude on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Port McNeill in British Columbia, western Canada. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the epicenter of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean, at a depth of about 10 km. There were no reports of casualties or material losses as a result of the earthquake, and no tsunami warning was issued. The western coast of Canada is located within an area known geologically as the "Ring of Fire" or the "Circum-Pacific Belt," ...

Four Killed, Thousands Displaced as Floods Sweep GuineaConakry, 12 Sep (ONA) —- Four people have died, and thousands have been displaced following heavy rainfall in Guinea. Rains led to the displacement of 20,000 families, the national agency for the management of humanitarian emergencies and disasters said today. Waters also flooded homes, roads, and bridges, triggering landslides and sweeping away livestock, the agency added.—- ...

Hurricane Francine Makes Landfall in US LouisianaWashington, 12 Sep (ONA) —- Hurricane Francine made landfall in the US state of Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The center said that heavy rain and hurricane-force winds were spreading across southern Louisiana, with wind speeds estimated at 155 km/h, making Francine a Category 2 storm. The NHC urged residents to shelter indoors and stay away from windows. Some places could see up to 30cm of rain, bringing the risk of significant flash flooding.—- ...

Endangered Species Makes a Comeback in California, 100 Years After ExtinctionCalifornia, 11 Sep (ONA)--- California's gray wolf population has surged, with new data revealing a dramatic increase.This spring, 30 wolf pups were born across five of the state’s seven packs, doubling the total population to over 60 wolves—the highest number in a century.The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's quarterly report highlights this as the most significant growth since the last wolf was shot in 1924.This resurgence began when OR-7, a radio-collared wolf from Oregon, ventured into California ...

Death Toll of Typhoon Yagi Rises to 141 Dead, 59 Missing in VietnamHanoi, 11 Sep (ONA) —- A total of 141 people died and 59 others were missing after Typhoon Yagi caused landslides and floods in northern Vietnam. Vietnamese local authorities confirmed that the Le River Dam in Quyet Thang commune was destroyed due to the high water level of the river. It also warned that the water level of the Hong (Red) River in the capital Hanoi has exceeded the second warning level of the three flood control levels, and is expected to reach the highest warning level, ...

Typhoon Yagi Kills 87 in Vietnam, 64 Still MissingHanoi, 10 Sep (ONA) --- Landslides and widespread flooding triggered by typhoon Yagi have killed at least 87 people in Vietnam and left 64 others missing, local authorities said today as recovery and relief efforts continue. Typhoon Yagi - the strongest to strike northern Vietnam in around 30 years - swept across the region last Saturday, bringing ferocious winds and torrential rain. Some localities such as Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces have seen rainfall of up to 50 centimetres in the past 48 hours. It is ...

Nine Dead after Boat Carrying Illegal Migrants Sinks off Senegal CoastDakar, 10 Sep (ONA) --- Nine people have died after a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal. In a statement on social media, the Senegalese navy said that the boat, which was attempting to carry migrants to Europe, overturned on Sunday near the coast of Mbour, in western Senegal. The navy launched a search operation using three boats, with support from a Spanish maritime surveillance aircraft. So far, nine bodies have been found, three survivors have been identified, and an ...

Floods Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: UNNew York, 10 Sep (ONA) --- UN humanitarian workers said that heavy rains and flooding have impacted about half a million people since late June in South Darfur, Red Sea, River Nile and Northern states, with North Darfur State being the hardest hit. The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said that " In areas at risk of famine, including in El Fasher, which is the capital of North Darfur, about 124,000 people have been impacted by heavy rains." He added that "Flooding and stagnant water are also ...