Author: Fathima T K

Chengdu: Torrential rains have killed 10 people across Southwest China and forced thousands of residents to leave vulnerable areas as authorities warned of growing disaster risks. The severe weather brought renewed attention to the region’s exposure to extreme rainfall during the summer months. Disaster prevention authorities evacuated 21,784 people after heavy rain struck several parts of the region. Chengdu and Zigong were among the affected areas as intense rainfall disrupted communities and increased concerns over flooding and landslides. Emergency measures were introduced in vulnerable locations as authorities worked to reduce risks to residents. In Changning County in Sichuan, 3 people…

Washington: The United States has delayed planned 50 percent tariffs on Canadian exports after a last-minute agreement between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The tariffs were due to take effect at midnight and would have covered about $20.2 billion (£14.9 billion) worth of Canadian goods. The affected products included electronics, industrial machinery, furniture, dairy products and wine. Trump announced the breakthrough shortly before the deadline. Carney confirmed that the United States had agreed to suspend the tariffs until August 22. The United States government agreed to a 3-day pause while both sides complete documentation for the…

London: An AI contrail trial will test whether aircraft can avoid areas where climate-warming contrails are most likely to form across a busy North Atlantic air corridor. The £5 million ($6.8 million) Operation Blue Skies programme will focus on Shanwick Oceanic airspace in the eastern half of the North Atlantic corridor. The area accounts for approximately 5 percent of global contrail warming. The 30-month project brings together Google, the UK government, the Met Office, air traffic control provider National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. Contrails are icy clouds formed when hot aircraft engine…

Seoul: Torrential rain in southern South Korea has caused a deadly landslide in Geoje, leaving 1 person dead and 4 injured as rainfall approaches 1,000mm. South Gyeongsang province recorded intense rainfall from August 15, with Geoje receiving about 800mm rain over the weekend. Rain continued into August 17, taking the cumulative total to 912mm by 6pm. Police and firefighters rescued 3 residents from an apartment building affected by the landslide. One rescued resident was found in cardiac arrest and later died in hospital. Two people sustained injuries in Geoje while another 2 were injured in nearby cities. The heavy rain…

Indonesia: A 7.7 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 53 people and displaced about 5,000 survivors on Flores island, with aid disruptions and aftershocks raising concerns over food and emergency supplies. The earthquake struck shortly before 06:00 on April 15 at a depth of 15 kilometres. Survivors were forced to sleep outdoors because of fears that damaged buildings could collapse during further tremors. Tents have been set up among the rubble of damaged hospitals and are being used as temporary treatment areas. Landslides blocked roads in parts of the island, making it harder to deliver essential supplies to affected communities.…

Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history after at least 2,325 people died, with confirmed cases continuing to rise across several provinces. The latest government data surpasses the death toll recorded during the 2018-20 Ebola outbreak. Confirmed cases have also risen to 4,945, with the country’s public health institute reporting 101 new cases within a 24-hour period. The outbreak spreads across 6 of the country’s 26 provinces, with most affected areas located along the north-eastern border. Ituri province remains the main centre of the outbreak, with more than 3,400…

A dining table is one of the most ordinary objects in a home. It is where families eat, children study, guests gather and conversations continue long after a meal has finished. Yet the familiar arrangement of people sitting around a table is not as old or universal as it may seem. Across history, people have eaten while reclining, sitting on the floor, using individual trays or gathering around low tables. The dining table has changed alongside homes, family structures, social customs and ideas about hospitality. Its history is therefore not simply about furniture. It is also about how people have…

Nigeria: Electric bikes are gaining ground in Gombe as high petrol prices push riders towards more affordable transport options and lower operating costs. Electric bikes typically cost about 1 million naira (about $735), putting them beyond the reach of many households. Riders who have made the switch, however, say the bikes can significantly reduce fuel and maintenance expenses. Petrol in Gombe now sells for about 1,365 naira ($1) per litre (0.26 gallons). Before the subsidy was removed, the price was roughly 200 naira (15 cents) per litre. The increase pushed up transport costs and added pressure to household budgets across…

West Bank: Israeli settlers have diverted a spring to fill a pool at an archaeological site, cutting off a vital water source used by Palestinian farmers for generations. The spring has served as an important source for the nearby Palestinian village of Fasayil in the Jordan Valley. Residents have relied on the water for generations to support agriculture and employment. The source has also helped supplement irregular Israeli supplies reaching domestic taps. A Palestinian irrigation pipeline connected to the spring was seized by Israeli settlers in June. The water was then redirected towards an ancient pool at an archaeological site.…

London: Oil prices have remained stable as rising tensions between the US and Iran have increased concerns about future crude supplies and possible disruptions to global energy markets. The latest movement has followed renewed concerns about disruption to global oil supplies. The US warns that a naval blockade of Iran could continue indefinitely and indicates that economic pressure on Tehran could increase as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. Brent futures rose 1 cent, or 0.1 percent, to $87.08 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 6 cents to $81.31 a barrel as oil prices remained supported by supply…