Nine people found dead in elderly care home as typhoon Lionrock hits Japan

Nine people were found dead in a care home for the elderly in the northwest Japanese prefecture of Iwate, which was affected by torrential rains in the wake of the powerful typhoon Lionrock that hit the region Tuesday, local authorities said Wednesday.

SpaceX to conduct first launch with used rocket this year

 U.S. space firm SpaceX has reached an agreement with Luxembourg-based SES to launch a commercial communications satellite on a used Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, the two companies said Tuesday.

UN cultural agency hails creation of world’s largest marine protected area

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today welcomed the establishment by US President Barack Obama of the largest nature reserve in the world, done through expanding a marine reserve in the state of Hawaii.

Victoria becomes first Australian state to ban controversial gas mining

Victoria will become the first Australian state to ban fracking, the controversial method of extracting coal seam gas, the state government said in a statement on Tuesday.

Indonesia battling fires; tells neighbors to stop complaining

The Indonesian government said it's working hard to put out the fires that people and companies have set to clear the land and neighboring countries should be more sympathetic.

Aftershocks cause new damage to quake-hit areas in central Italy

Fresh tremors hit central Italy on Sunday afternoon, and caused new damage to a school building in the town of Amatrice.

India tests new space rocket engine

India on Sunday successfully tested a new rocket engine of the Super Sonic Combustion Ram Jet (SCRAMJET) from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.

Obama creates world's largest protected marine area off Hawaii

President Barack Obama will expand the country's largest contiguous fully protected conservation area to create the world's largest marine protected area in Hawaii, covering 582,578 square miles of land and sea, the White House said.

Chile to create largest marine reserve in Americas

Chile has announced the creation of the largest marine reserve in the Americas, the 300,000-square-kilometer Nazca Desventuradas Marine Park.

Search for survivors continues following Italy earthquake

At least 159 people have died following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy, according to the Italian civil protection agency.

Strong quake rocks Myanmar (Local time: 17:04, Depth 85 km)

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake has hit central Myanmar, the US Geological Survey reported on Wednesday.

Strong 6.2 quake hits central Italy (local time: 03:36, Depth 4 km)

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the United States Geological Survey said. Italian media outlets reported that at least four people had died in the disaster.

Tropical Storm Gaston Getting Stronger in the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Gaston is getting stronger as it moves over the far eastern Atlantic.

Heat Wave in Japan Kills 5, Results in Hospitalization of 5,440 Within Week

The heat wave in Japan has claimed the lives of five people, while 5,440 others were admitted to hospitals during the past week, local media reported Tuesday.

Russia's Gazprom Sees Risks to Gas Transit to Europe This Winter

The Russian gas giant Gazprom warned there were risks to gas transit to the European Union via Ukraine this winter due to the low level of gas Ukraine is pumping into its underground storage facilities, the company's spokesperson said Monday.

Flights cancelled as Typhoon Mindulle nears Japan

A powerful typhoon is on course for a direct hit on Tokyo, with nearly 400 flights grounded due to heavy rain and strong winds.

10 killed, 5 missing after boat capsizes in western Indonesia

A boat carrying 17 people sank in western Indonesia on Sunday, leaving 10 people dead, two wounded and five others missing, navy spokesman said.

Cuba seeks investors to boost clean, renewable energy

Cuba is set to hold its first Energy & Infrastructure Summit in an effort to boost clean and renewable energy sources and cut down on fossil fuels, local media reported on Saturday.

Japan sees three tropical cyclones at once

However difficult it is to forecast the weather, the results will always follow the laws of physics.

At the moment, the forecast paths of three tropical storms, now close to Japan, seems to question logic.

African nations appeal for funding for drought mitigation

A week-long drought conference ended Friday in Namibia's capital Windhoek, with a call for international help for funding as 200 million people in Africa are food insecure.

From Cape Canaveral launched two intelligence satellites

In the night of Friday, August 19, the American company United Launch Alliance (ULA) from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral (Florida, USA) carried out the launch vehicle Delta IV with two reconnaissance satellites for the needs of the U.S. air force, according to NASA.

China, Myanmar agree to solve suspended dam issue

China and Myanmar agreed on Thursday to enhance cooperation between energy departments to find a proper solution to the suspended Myitsone Dam project.

Bulgaria waits for Rosatom experts to discuss Belene NPP problems

A working group of experts from Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom will visit Bulgaria in late August to discuss problems related to Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project, Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said on Thursday.

Russia approves program to develop Far East, Baikal region

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday signed a decree to approve a state program to develop its Far East and the Baikal region.

Southern California wildfire forces evacuation of 80,000 people

A massive wildfire in Southern California has grown into a major problem, authorities said Wednesday, and has now triggered a state of emergency and forced evacuations of more than 80,000 people.

Typhoon Chanthu pounds northern Japan

Typhoon Chanthu lashed the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido Wednesday, with weather authorities warning of flooding, mudslides, high waves and swollen rivers in the region.

New Zealand gov't to ratify Paris climate change agreement

The New Zealand government will ratify the Paris agreement on climate change by the end of the year, Climate Change Issues Minister Paula Bennett said on Wednesday.

Living on Locusts and Wild Honey: Swedes to Enjoy a Diet of Insects and Algae

With the world's population steadily on the rise, the Earth is reportedly heading towards its hardest food crisis in history. To combat the imminent food crisis, Swedish scientists advocate the consumption of algae and insects as a future source of protein. Remarkably, their fellow Swedes are not all averse to this weird diet.

5.2-magnitude earthquake : 9 killed in southern Peru

At least nine people have died and an undetermined amount of people have been injured after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit Peru's south Andean region of Areguipa Sunday evening, the country's Civil Defense Institute said Monday.

6 Dead, 20,000 rescued in heavy flooding in Louisiana

At least six people have died and 20,000 more have been rescued in heavy flooding caused by torrential rains over the weekend in Louisiana, local authorities reported.

Thousands evacuated as wildfire in northern California grows

Thousands have been evacuated and 10 homes have been destroyed as the Clayton Fire in northern California expanded.

Torrential rains leave 6 dead, 1 missing in northern Vietnam

At least six people were killed, one is missing and three others were injured after torrential rains occurred in Vietnam's northern and north-central regions over the past few days, the Central Steering Committee on National Disaster Prevention and Control said Monday.

Video: Sudan floods kill 100, destroy villages

Thousands of houses have been destroyed and several villages submerged after flooding triggered by torrential rainfall killed 100 people across Sudan, officials and an AFP photographer said on Sunday.

3 dead in Philadelphia heat wave : Weather forecast in Philadelphia was 95 degrees on Sunday

A third person has died in the heat wave that has scorched the Philadelphia metro area, the city's Health Department confirmed Sunday.

At least 3 killed in flooding in southern US

Severe flooding in southern US state of Louisiana killed at least three on Friday, US media reported.

Heavy rain and flooding has resulted in closures of schools, roads and state offices, with rainful accumulations of about seven to ten inches (about 17.8 to 25.4 cm), which almost reached record level.

Calling the flooding "unprecedented", Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Friday declared a state of emergency for the entire state, which will remain in effect till Sept. 10.

Local police and the national guard were requested to carry out rescue operations and the governor's office asked residents to "obey road signs and to constantly monitor the news for updates."

However, at least three people were killed and searches are still underway to look for the missing.

The storm, moving slowly to the west along the Gulf Coast, would dump even more rain and cause "significant flash flooding" through the weekend, said the National Weather Service.
 [Xinhua -globaltimes.cn]
14/8/16
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Related 13/3/16:

• Louisiana floods damage nearly 5,000 homes

With the help of rocket Falcon 9 successfully launched the satellite JCSAT 16

In the night of Sunday, August 14, the American company SpaceX, with the help of rocket Falcon 9 successfully launched a Japanese telecommunications satellite JCSAT commercial purposes 16.

Grèce: des feux de forêt hors de contrôle

Deux feux de forêt ont échappé à tous contrôles samedi en raison de vents forts et de l'extrème sécheresse.

US Declares State of Emergency in Puerto Rico for Zika Virus

The U.S. government declared a state of emergency in Puerto Rico on Friday responding to widespread transmission of the Zika virus.

Φτάνει πια η μιζέρια! : Μας εκπλήσσει η ανοχή και η απάθεια ...

Εδώ και καιρό παρακολουθούμε μία συστηματική φτωχοποίηση της χώρας μας. Δεν μας εκπλήσσει, διότι γνωρίζουμε ότι στόχος των κυβερνώντων δεν είναι να δημιουργήσουν πλούτο για τον λαό μας και ιδιαίτερα ορυκτό πλούτο.

Ikata ­nuclear power plant : Japan reactor restarts

Japan restarted a nuclear reactor on Friday despite a court challenge by local residents, in a boost for Tokyo's faltering post-Fukushima push to bring back atomic power.

New video captures coral bleaching process. The filmed experiments were conducted in an aquarium

What exactly happens to coral during a bleaching event?

Recently, researchers in Australia employed a microscope, camera and smart tablet to find out how the organisms respond to heat stress. It's the first time scientists have filmed the behaviors specific to bleaching.

Strong 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Fiji Islands, Tsunami Warning Issued

Magnitude 7.5 earthquake has struck near Vanuatu, Fiji, a tsunami warning has been issued.

At least 21 dead, 5 injured in central China power plant explosion

 At least 21 people died and five were injured after a high-pressure steam pipe burst at a power plant in central China's Hubei Province.

Strong wildfire hits S. France, four firefighters wounded: ministry

Fast-moving wildfires continue to ravage drought-parched forests in France's southwestern departments, injuring four firefighters, the country's interior ministry said on Wednesday.

South Stream to be renewed only with firm guarantees - Putin

Russia is aware of Bulgaria's readiness to renew the South Stream gas pipeline project, but EU's rock-solid guarantees are needed for that, says Vladimir Putin.

Hundreds forced to leave homes as fires sweep through Portugal

Hundreds of people across mainland Portugal and Madeira were forced to leave their homes due to forest fires which spread rapidly on Tuesday.

Turkish Akkuyu NPP’s Special Status to Speed Up Construction

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday he believed that assigning the strategic investment status to Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP), to be built in cooperation with Russia, would speed up the construction.

Nagasaki Commemorates 71st Anniversary of Nuclear Bombing With Minute of Silence

The Japanese city of Nagasaki commemorates on Tuesday the 71st anniversary of the nuclear bombing with a minute of silence.

After quiet early summer, 10 wildfires now raging across Portugal's forests

Portugal has been hit by 10 large wildfires that have forced the mobilization of 1,200 firefighters and 14 water-dropping aircraft, officials said Monday.

Geo News : 29 killed as rains play havoc in Pakistan

At least 29 people were killed and scores others went missing as heavy rains lashed Pakistan's south Sindh and southwest Balochistan provinces over the last three days, local Urdu media reported Sunday.