A woman held her dog as forest fires approached the village of Pefki on Evia island, Greece's second largest island, Sunday. Massive wildfires across the globe have been blamed, in part, on global warming.ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
“The Earth’s climate is warming at a faster rate than previously thought, and with greater and more widespread consequences, according to a landmark report by the world’s top climate scientists.
The window for decisive action to avoid the worst consequences is still open, the report concludes, but just barely, as the planet approaches the watershed mark of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures a decade earlier than expected.
In a summer marked by catastrophic wildfires, a deadly heat dome, and unprecedented flooding, this report, issued by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, shows how humanity’s burning of fossil fuels is driving changes to the planet’s climate unseen for thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of years.
The report provides the scientific explanation for the ‘devastating set of changes that are already part of our lived experience,’ said Peter Frumhoff, the director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a lead author of a past IPCC report. A’s a human, it’s impossible to read this and not find that it’s just heartbreaking — I don’t know what other word to ascribe. We are wreaking such havoc on the planet.’
The report represents the work of 234 authors from 66 countries, plus an additional 517 contributing authors. It updates a similar UN report from 2013, and is the first of four releases that together will make up the panel’s Sixth Assessment Report.
The UN panel’s reports are considered the world’s most authoritative and comprehensive assessments of the impact and progression of Earth’s warming climate. But because they must be agreed upon by so many scientists and policymakers from around the world, they tend to present a conservative take on what the latest science says about the extreme nature of the crisis, experts say.” Read more at Boston Globe
“The Dixie Fire that has forced thousands from their homes in Northern California and destroyed a historic town grew into the second-largest blaze in state history on Sunday, officials said, as the wildfire mushroomed to more than 463,000 acres.
The fire razed most of Greenville late Wednesday and continues to threaten nearly 14,000 buildings, firefighters said, underscoring the danger of climate change-fueled disasters. Most of California’s biggest wildfires on record have erupted in the past year,as dry conditions and high temperatures lead to destruction, mass evacuations and smoke disrupting life in the West.
On Sunday, authorities said they were trying to keep Dixie’s flames from reaching homes in the tiny community of Crescent Mills, just a few miles south of Greenville. As evacuation orders expand, they have been warning of unusually fast-spreading flames and“historically” low moisture levels leaving land primed to burn.” Read more at Washington Post
“WASHINGTON (AP) — Often elusive, the political center is holding steady in the Senate as a coalition of Democratic and Republican senators brushes off critics to push the $1 trillion infrastructure package toward final passage.
On the left, the Democrats have withstood the complaints of liberals who say the proposal falls short of what’s needed to provide a down payment on one of President Joe Biden’s top priorities.
From the right, the Republicans are largely ignoring the criticism from their most conservative and far-flung voices, including a barrage of name-calling from former President Donald Trump as he tries to derail the package.
All told, some 70 senators appear poised to carry the bipartisan infrastructure bill to passage, a potentially robust tally of lawmakers eager to tap the billions in new spending it will unleash for public works projects back home.” Read more at AP News
“KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban seized three Afghan cities on Sunday, including the commercial hub of Kunduz, officials said, escalating a sweeping offensive that has claimed five provincial capitals in three days and shown how little control the government has over the country without American military power to protect it.
Never before in 20 years of war had the Taliban directly assaulted more than one provincial capital at a time. Now, three fell on Sunday alone — Kunduz, Sar-i-Pul and Taliqan, all in the north — and even more populous cities are under siege, in a devastating setback for the Afghan government.
The fall of these cities is taking place just weeks before U.S. forces are set to complete a total withdrawal from Afghanistan, laying bare a difficult predicament for President Biden.” Read more at New York Times
“President Biden’s top aides were told on Friday that experts studying the mysterious illnesses affecting scores of diplomats, spies and their family members were still struggling to find evidence to back up the leading theory, that microwave attacks are being launched by Russian agents.
The report came in an unusual, classified meeting called by the director of national intelligence, Avril D. Haines, according to several senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the investigations and efforts to treat victims of the so-called Havana syndrome — the unexplained headaches, dizziness and memory loss reported by scores of State Department officials, C.I.A. officers and their families.
While Mr. Biden has said almost nothing publicly about the episodes, the National Security Council has begun an urgent effort to address the issue, and two separate task forces are now in operation, one investigating the cause and led by the C.I.A. and another focused on finding commercial technology that could detect or block attacks.” Read more at New York Times
“AUSTIN, Texas — The dilemma sounded familiar. A prominent, ambitious red-state governor, who had staked out a firm position opposed to mask mandates and other aggressive measures to combat the spread of Covid-19, suddenly found himself on the defensive as cases and hospitalizations soared in his state.
First, it was Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Now it is Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who is facing withering criticism as I.C.U. beds have dwindled to the single digits in Austin and health officials in San Antonio have labeled its risk level just a step below critical. But Mr. Abbott remains firm in his refusal to enact any statewide mandate while he prohibits local officials from doing so in their own communities.
The fear and frustration comes as schools are prepared to reopen in the nation’s second most populous state, raising worries about further spread of the virus.” Read more at New York Times
“A federal judge in Miami granted Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings a preliminary injunction on Sunday night in its lawsuit challenging Florida's vaccine passports ban.
Why it matters: Per a statement from Norwegian, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' order will allow the cruise line giant to ‘operate in the safest way possible with 100% vaccination of all guests and crew when sailing from Florida ports.’
Its Norwegian Gem ship is due to depart Miami on Aug. 15 — marking the company's first trip from Florida since the pandemic halted cruise industry operations last year.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' decision is a blow for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) — who signed a bill in May prohibiting businesses from requiring customers show proof that they've received COVID-19 vaccines, saying getting inoculated should be a ‘personal choice.’
Florida's ban came into effect on July 1 and Norwegian faced a fine of up to $5,000 for every violation.
What they're saying: Williams wrote in her order that she reached the decision because Florida had failed to ‘provide a valid evidentiary, factual, or legal predicate’ for the ban.
Williams also noted ‘scientific research shows that cruise lines are hotbeds for COVID-19 transmission’ and that Norwegian ‘has demonstrated that public health will be jeopardized if it is required to suspend its vaccination requirement.’
The big picture: Coronavirus hospitalizations and cases are surging across Florida. DeSantis has blamed the spike on a ‘seasonal pattern’ and ‘media hysteria.’
In a separate case, Florida's attorney general has asked the Supreme Court to block the CDC's protocols requiring cruise lines to meet specific conditions before setting sail again.
What to watch: Peter Patterson, representing Florida and state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees at a court hearing on Friday, indicated that the state may take the Norwegian case to the U.S. Supreme Court, Politico notes.
The Florida Department of Health and the Florida governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.” Read more at Axios
“Canada on Monday is lifting its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans.
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world’s longest and busiest land borders. Travelers also must fill out a detailed on application on the arriveCAN app before crossing.
Even though travelers have to register, the Canada Border Services Agency won’t say how many people they are expecting to enter Canada for the reopening. But travelers should plan for the possibility of additional processing time at the border.” Read more at AP News
“Census Bureau statisticians and outside experts are trying to unravel a mystery: Why were so many questions about households in the 2020 census left unanswered?
Residents did not respond to a multitude of questions about sex, race, Hispanic background, family relationships, and age, even when providing a count of the number of people living in the home, according to documents released by the agency. Statisticians had to fill in the gaps.
Reflecting an early stage in the number crunching, the documents show that 10 percent to 20 percent of questions were not answered in the 2020 census, depending on the question and state. According to the Census Bureau, later phases of processing show the actual rates were lower.” Read more at Boston Globe
“The top aide to New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo resigned on Sunday night after the release last week of a searing report by the state attorney general’s office that detailed her role in an effort to discredit a former aide who accused Cuomo of harassment.
The departure of Melissa DeRosa, who held the title of secretary to the governor, represents a huge blow to Cuomo. She served as his fiercest defender and top aide since 2017, and was considered the ultimate loyalist after working for him the last decade.” Read more at Washington Post
“The executive assistant who accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of repeatedly groping her and who filed a criminal complaint against him has come forward in an interview to be aired Monday.
Brittany Commisso acknowledged in an interview with ‘CBS This Morning’ and The Albany Times Union that she was the person identified as ‘Executive Assistant #1’ in a report by the New York state attorney general, which found that the governor had sexually harassed at least 11 women.
‘What he did to me was a crime, ‘Commisso said in interview excerpts released Sunday. ‘He broke the law.’
She added: ‘The governor needs to be held accountable.’” Read more at Boston Globe
“Especially as the Delta variant spreads, many parents of young children — those under 12 who cannot yet be vaccinated — say they’re unable to return to workplaces or apply for new jobs as long as there is uncertainty about when their children can safely return to full-time school or child care.” Read more at New York Times
“PORTLAND, Maine — Motorists put the pedal to the metal during the pandemic and police are worried as roads get busy with the final stretch of summer travel.
The latest data shows the number of highway deaths in 2020 was the greatest in more than a decade even though cars and trucks drove fewer miles during the pandemic.
‘Summer is an incredibly dangerous time. And it culminates with Labor Day, that last hurrah,’ said Pam Shadel Fischer of the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Traffic data indicates the higher death toll was related to higher average speeds in conjunction with more of those on the roads driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a slight decline in seatbelt use.” Read more at Boston Globe
“For two and a half decades, the singer who performs as R. Kelly has faced allegations of sexually abusing minors, often luring them in through music — and the promise to help launch their own music careers.
In 2017, and then again in 2019, public scrutiny grew following the #MuteRKelly campaign, a series of protests and boycotts of his music, and the release of ‘Surviving R. Kelly,’ a documentary including testimony from several women accusing the singer of abuse.
But the 54-year-old performer has settled the civil complaints against him and was acquitted in a high-profile criminal case brought against him on child pornography charges in 2008. That case marked the first criminal prosecution of Mr. Kelly.
A second criminal trial starts Monday, in federal court in Brooklyn, where Mr. Kelly is charged with racketeering based on sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping, forced labor and Mann Act violations.
Those charges involve the coercion and transportation of women and girls in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity. Mr. Kelly, who has been in custody since 2019, has pleaded not guilty in both cases.” Read more at New York Times
“MEXICO CITY — The most sought after marijuana being trafficked across the US-Mexico border is now the weed entering Mexico, not the weed leaving it.
Cannabis sold legally in California is heading south illegally, dominating a booming boutique market across Mexico, where buying and selling the drug is still outlawed. Mexican dealers flaunt their US products, noting them in bold lettering on menus sent to select clients: “IMPORTADO.”
Traffickers from California load their suitcases with US-grown marijuana before hopping on planes to Mexico, or walking across the pedestrian border crossing into Tijuana. One car was recently stopped entering Tijuana with 5,600 jars of gummies infused with THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. But relatively few of the southbound traffickers are caught — even as their contraband doubles or triples in value as soon as it enters Mexico.” Read more at Boston Globe
“Bobby Bowden, the folksy showman who transformed Florida State University into a national football powerhouse and became the second-winningest coach in the history of major college football, died on Sunday at his home in Tallahassee, Florida. He was 91.” Read more at New York Times
“Markie Post, the actress known for her roles in ‘Night Court ‘and ‘The Fall Guy, ‘has died. She was 70 years old.
Post passed away Saturday, her manager Ellen Lubin Sanitsky of Wright Entertainment confirmed to CNN on Sunday.” Read more at CNN
“A rightwing TV and radio host who was a vociferous critic of Dr Anthony Fauci and who urged his listeners not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 has died after contracting the virus.
Dick Farrel, who had described Fauci as a ‘power-tripping lying freak ‘who conspired with ‘power trip libb loons,’ had urged people not to get vaccinated as recently as June.
He reportedly changed his opinion about vaccines after falling ill and later being admitted to hospital before passing away on 4 August aged 65. “He texted me and told me to ‘Get it!’ He told me this virus is no joke and he said, ‘I wish I had gotten [the vaccine]!’ close friend Amy Leigh Hair wrote on Facebook.
Farrel, a native of Queens, New York, anchored radio shows in Florida and also acted as a stand-in anchor for the rightwing news outlet Newsmax, was described as a pioneer ‘shock talk’ host.” Read more at The Guardian
“After an epic 17-month journey that made international headlines, China’s famous herd of wandering elephants appears to finally be heading home.
The 14 Asian elephants of various sizes and ages were guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan on Sunday night and a path was being made for them to return to the nature reserve in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the Associated Press reported.
As of Sunday night, the herd was still in Yuanjiang County, approximately 200km (125 miles) from the reserve.
The elephants’ return completes a more than 500km odyssey that captivated the country. The highlights of their trip included the birth of a calf in Pu’er in November; causing more than 6.8m yuan ($1.07m) in damage, according to estimates by state broadcaster CGTN; and going viral for taking a nap.
In June, drone footage showed the herd sleeping in a forest outside a village in Xiyang township. When they started moving again, more than 410 emergency personnel, 374 vehicles and 14 drones were deployed with more than two tonnes of elephant food.
The elephants were also monitored and kept away from residential areas by a team of eight people, who tracked them on the ground and by drone for 24 hours a day.
Local wildlife experts have been unable to pinpoint the reason the herd decided to move. But Zhang Li, a professor on mammal conservation at Beijing Normal University, told the state-run Global Times in June that ‘Large-scale human engineering developments have exacerbated the ‘islanding’ of elephant habitats.’” Read more at The Guardian
The 14 elephants of various sizes and ages were guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan province on Sunday night and a path is being opened for them to return to the nature reserve in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture Photograph: AP