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Australia lowers wildfire alerts for New South Wales
The Australian authorities downgraded the alert level for wildfires on Sunday that destroyed infrastructure and homes in Australia's most populous State, burning through thousands of acres of bushland. On Sunday night, more than 60 wildfires were burning throughout New South Wales, just a day after they had destroyed 12 homes on the Central Coast Region of the state, located about 45 km (about 30 miles) north-east of Sydney, the capital and largest city in Australia. More than 350,000 people live in the region. Rural Fire Service of the state said that fires did not pose an immediate threat to residents. The alerts have been downgraded to the "advice level", which is the second lowest danger rating. Speaking on Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that it was fortunate that no lives had been lost during the emergency. Albanese stated that "this summer is going to be difficult, as it has been in the past." After several seasons of relative calm, authorities have warned that Australia is in for a bushfire season with high risk. Extreme heat will be forecast across large areas of the country. In a joint statement, the federal and New South Wales Labor Governments said that disaster assistance had been activated in six states regions affected by Saturday's fires which caused extreme heat. Initial assessments show that a number homes were destroyed, with extensive damage done to private property, critical assets, fencing, agricultural assets, and National Parks, according to the statement. It added that the extent of the damage would be clearer once impact assessments are completed. According to the statement, "immediate financial assistance as well as cleaning-up, reconstruction and recovery assistance" was included in the aid. Climate change has increased the risk of wildfires in New South Wales. The "Black Summer" Australian fires in 2019-2020 destroyed an entire area as large as Turkey and killed over 33 people.
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Kremenchuk mayor: Russian strike cuts utilities in the city, resulting in a Russian strike.
Vitalii Maltskyi, the mayor of Kremenchuk in central Ukraine, said that Russian forces had launched a combined airstrike overnight on infrastructure, causing water and power outages. Kremenchuk, located on the Dnipro River in Ukraine, is a major industrial center and home to a large oil refinery. The city was repeatedly targeted by Russian missiles. In 2022, a strike on a busy shopping mall killed at least 21. Maletskyi stated in a post on social media that the details of the strike's consequences would be revealed later Sunday, after damage assessments are completed. He added that city services were working on restoring electricity, water, and heating to districts where supplies had been disrupted. Russia is intensifying long-range attacks on Ukraine's water, power and heating infrastructure in advance of winter. It wants to undermine public morale and disrupt the industry. Previous cold seasons during the war had seen nationwide blackouts. The mayor posted a photo of a nighttime blaze that engulfed what appeared to be industrial buildings. He wrote: "We will restore all." Maletskyi’s report could not be independently verified. Ukraine's Air Force warned on Telegram several times over night that the city is under threat by Russian drone and missile strikes. Reporting by Lidia Kelley in Melbourne, editing by Chizu Nomiyama
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Chief Minister of Goa, India: At least 23 dead in fire that killed at least 23 people
The chief minister of Goa, India said that at least 23 people had died in a fire that broke out in a nightclub. Videos on social media showed ambulances waiting to assist the injured. Reporters were told that the incident took place around 12:04 local time on Saturday (1834 GMT) in Arpora. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated in a X post that the state government had ordered an investigation into this incident. The police chief stated that fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene after receiving information about the fire. ANI reported that the injured were transported to hospitals nearby for treatment while authorities worked throughout the night to control the situation. The police chief said that the fire was put out and all bodies were recovered. Goa is a small Indian state located on the western coast. It's a popular destination for tourists, especially foreigners. According to government statistics, Goa welcomed 5.5 million tourists in the first half year. 271 000 of these were foreign tourists. Reporting by Devika Nair Bengaluru, Kanjyik Gaosh in Barcelona and Alistair Bell & Chizu Nomiyama.
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Boeing: Trump's plan to increase the equity stake in US defense companies does not apply
Boeing's head of defense said that the plan by U.S. president Donald Trump to acquire government stakes in strategic sectors does not apply to major defence firms. This is in stark contrast to comments made previously by senior government officials. Steve Parker, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, spoke on a panel during the Reagan National Defense Forum, a yearly industry event held in Simi Valley, California. Parker said, "I don’t think it applies to the Primes", referring to large legacy defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick announced in August that the Trump administration is considering equity stakes with major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin. This announcement sent Lockheed, Boeing, and other defense companies' shares higher. In an effort to prioritise national security, the Trump Administration has acquired equity stakes this year in chipmaker Intel, and rare earths firm MP Materials. Trump has stated that the government will invest in more companies. (Reporting and editing by Mike Stone, Joe Brock and Deepa Babington).
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Indonesians walk over logs to reach a flood relief centre, as the death toll exceeds 900
Residents of Aceh Tamiang in Indonesia climbed over slippery logs on Saturday and walked about an hour to receive aid as the death toll grew to more than 900 from the floods and land slides that struck Sumatra this month. On Saturday, 916 people were confirmed dead as a direct result of the floods and landslides caused by cyclones in three Indonesian provinces, including Aceh. 274 are still missing, according to government data. About 200 people were also killed by the storm systems in southern Thailand and Malaysia. They said that survivors in the Aceh Tamiang area, located on the northeast coast Sumatra, scrambled over logs, passed overturned cars, and walked an hour to get to an aid distribution center set up by volunteers. Witnesses said that volunteers distributed clean clothes to people and brought a tanker truck full of fresh water for them to fill their plastic bottles. Residents Drink Floodwater Dimas Firmansyah (14), a student at an Islamic board school, told reporters that Aceh Tamiang was cut off and students had spent a week at the school searching for food, boiling water and drinking it. Dimas, who urged the government to visit the region to witness the disaster first-hand, said: "We spent about a week in the area." Local officials in Sumatra called on the Jakarta government to declare an emergency so that additional funds can be allocated for rescue and aid efforts. Earlier in the week, Prabowo Subito stated that the situation had improved and that current arrangements were adequate. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SAYS DEFORESTATION IS TO BLAME Green group say deforestation related to mining and logging aggravated floods. Indonesia is investigating suspected companies of clearing forests in flood-hit areas. Indonesia's Environment Ministry said that the companies had been temporarily stopped from operating and will be required to conduct environmental audits. North Sumatra Hydro Energy operates a 510 megawatt hydropower station in North Sumatra's Batang Toru area, Agincourt Resources operates the Martabe Gold Mine in Batang Toru and Perkebunan Nusantara III is a state-owned agricultural group. The company did not respond immediately to a comment request. North Sumatra Hydro Energy did not respond immediately to a LinkedIn query. A spokesperson for Agincourt Resources said that the company declined to comment as it hadn't received an official letter about the stop. The environment ministry reported that aerial surveys showed land clearing in Batang Toru, which may have contributed to the flooding. (Reporting and writing by Ajeng Ufiana and Yudhistira, Stanley Widianto and Barbara Lewis; editing by Tom Hogue & Barbara Lewis).
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Police say 11 people were killed in a shooting at a South African bar, including a child.
Police said that at least 11 people, including a 3-year-old boy, were killed in a shooting attack on an illegal bar located in Pretoria. They also announced the launch of a manhunt for three unidentified suspects. In a press release, the Saulsville Township said that 14 more people were injured during the incident. The police did not specify whether the shooting took place inside or outside of the illegal bar known as a "shebeen" locally. The South African Police Service reported that three minors were among the dead, including 3-year-old and 12-year old boys (and) a 16-year-old girl. South Africa is home to one of the world's highest murder rates, with an average of 60 per day. (Reporting and writing by Olivia Kumwenda Mtambo, Editing by Bernadette B. Baum)
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Officials say 5 killed in border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan said that heavy gunfire was exchanged along the border between their countries late Friday night. At least five people were killed amid increased tensions after failed peace talks at the weekend. Zabihullah Mojahid, spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, said that Pakistani forces attacked Spin Boldak District in Kandahar Province. Hamdullah fitra, his deputy, said that Pakistani shelling killed five people including a Taliban. A spokesperson for Pakistan's Prime Minister said that Afghan forces fired "unprovoked" along the Chaman Border. In a recent statement, spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi stated that Pakistan remains alert and committed to protecting its territorial integrity as well as the safety of its citizens. The exchange took place nearly a week following a round of peace negotiations between the South Asian neighbors that ended without a breakthrough. Both sides, however, agreed to maintain their fragile ceasefire. The talks held in Saudi Arabia at the weekend were part of a series hosted by Qatar and Turkey to ease tensions after border clashes that killed dozens in October. Islamabad claims that militants from Afghanistan have been responsible for recent attacks on Pakistan, including suicide bombings with Afghan nationals. Kabul denies the accusation, claiming it cannot be held accountable for security in Pakistan. The violence along the border has been the worst since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan 2021. Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar from Kabul, and Saleem Ahmad in Quetta in Pakistan; writing by Nilutpal Timsina and editing by Edward Tobin & Bernadette Baum
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Brazil's robusta coffee producers push for quality despite rising prices and climate concerns
In the midst of the bustle and noise in a posh coffee shop located on Sao Paulo’s Oscar Freire Avenue a barista prepares an unusual espresso. The shot is extra creamy with a cocoa nib aroma, but lacks the acidity that distinguishes coffees made from arabica beans. This premium espresso is 100% robusta, a bean that has been criticized in the coffee industry as a cheap filler more suited to instant coffee. Marco Kerkmeester said that the coffee has a lot more chocolatey notes and makes a great crema. He also noted the appeal of a variety cheekily labelled "0% Arabica." Changes on the Farm Brazilian robusta producers are investing in the harvesting and drying of robusta beans to meet the demands of the most demanding customers. Brazil is the second largest robusta producer in the world after Vietnam, and also top arabica grower. A 2022 study revealed that due to drought and higher temperatures, more than three-quarters of Brazil’s best land suitable for growing arabica could be unsuitable for coffee by 2050. Premium robusta beans are a great way to reduce the cost of espresso blends by using arabica, which is more expensive. Lucas Venturim is a coffee grower from Espirito Santo, some 500 miles away, who grew the beans that went into the espresso at Oscar Freire. "He never accepted the notion that robusta is bad because it's robusta." The Specialty Coffee Association, which is responsible for setting global standards in specialty coffee, has revised its course this year to make it more appealing to those who would like to grade arabica or robusta beans. Anyone trained to evaluate top-notch coffee can now accurately describe and award deserving brews regardless of species or bean type. Kim Ionescu is the chief strategy officer at SCA. She cited the growing demand for robusta coffee in Southeast Asia as an example. It seems that species should not be used to determine whether a coffee is a specialty or not. SCA plans to update the vocabulary of descriptors for coffee flavor in 2026 to include characteristics associated with robusta such as aromatic spices. Coffee shops in London and Berlin showcase the finer qualities of robusta. Brands such as Nguyen Coffee Supply have already made a name for themselves in the U.S. Fires out, dryers in Espirito Santo is home to the majority of Brazil's robusta, and has begun a transformation that puts quality above all else. According to a presentation from the state agriculture secretary, which was seen by us, the state wants to produce 1.5 millions 60-kg bags each year of robusta specialty by 2032. This is up from just 10,000 today. According to Jose Roberto Goncalves of Brazil's largest robusta cooperative, Cooabriel, this is about a 10th of the current state output. To achieve that, the best post-harvest techniques, now used by arabica producers in Brazil, must be adopted more widely. Cooabriel participated in trade shows for specialty coffee around the globe. Goncalves explained that Cooabriel teaches farmers how to use modern dryers, and sort the beans carefully, instead of drying them with fire. Experts from the state-funded research agency Incaper, and the federal university IFES have reported a rise in farmers who want to certify their robusta beans as a higher-priced special grade. Douglas Gonzaga de Sousa is the coordinator of the Center for Specialty Coffees of Espirita Santo. More arabica farmers are now experimenting with robusta due to its growing popularity in Brazil and historically high yields when compared to arabica. Michel Tesch is Espirito Santo’s Undersecretary for Rural Development. He said that the traffic was largely in one direction. He said, "We do not have people who leave robusta to make arabica." Cooabriel will expand its robusta nursery to Espirito Santo, increasing production from the current 2 million saplings annually to around 10 millions. Prices are rising. Marcio Ferreira is the director of national coffee exporter Cecafe. He said that the rising quality of Brazilian Robusta has led to higher prices and a stronger demand. Cecafe's data shows that the average price of Brazilian specialty robusta per bag has risen to $295 for a 60-kilogram bag, which is more than twice the price in 2021. The price of Brazilian robusta has risen by more than 80% to $4,370 per ton since 2021, according to Cecafe data. Ferreira added that as roasters reduce the arabica content in espresso blends, they are openly highlighting the robusta characteristics. Jordan Hooper is the head of green coffee trade at Sucafina. He said that the original idea behind specialty robusta was "to compete with specialty Arabicica." "Now, it's more like: robusta is interesting by itself." Natalia Ramos Braga said that Brazil was a hotbed of these tastes. She said that people, particularly in Brazil, prefer coffees with a richer mouthfeel, and a bitterer finish. If someone wants more bitterness or a bigger body, robusta is the coffee for them. Reporting by Oliver Griffin, Alexandre Meneghini and Rod Nickel.
Who are the key voices at the COP29 climate summit in Baku?
Almost 200 countries will collect next week for the U.N. climate top, COP29. Reaching an agreement for an offer amongst a lot of can be challenging.
Here are a few of the significant players and working out blocs involved in the COP29 top beginning Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
CHINA
China produces the most energy from climate-warming fossil fuels and likewise from renewable resource sources. It represents about 30% of the world's annual carbon emissions, making China the greatest greenhouse gas polluter.
However, the country's emissions may have peaked following current growths in renewable resource, according to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research Study on Energy and Clean Air.
Although the world's second largest economy after the United States, China retains the developing country designation in U.N. environment settlements that began in the 1990s.
As such, it states the United States and other industrialised nations ought to move first and fastest with climate action. Beijing also declines calls for it to contribute to environment finance for establishing countries.
China will send to COP29 a new diplomat for climate modification as Liu Zhenmin, a previous vice foreign minister has actually changed long-time climate envoy Xie Zhenhua who retired.
UNITED STATES
The world's 2nd largest emitter, and biggest historical emitter, comes to COP29 following an election that will put Donald Trump back in power in 2025.
U.S. arbitrators from the outbound Biden Administration, led by White Home senior consultant John Podesta, will represent the country at COP29.
However Trump's victory has actually decreased the possibility of a strong deal on a new worldwide finance target, or a contract to increase the swimming pool of countries that should contribute.
President-Elect Trump has actually assured to again pull out of the 2015 Paris Arrangement and has labelled efforts to boost green energy a fraud.
Although the Biden Administration has actually provided numerous billions of dollars for environment modification mitigation and adaptation through the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. has continued to break records as the world's greatest oil and gas producer during his presidency.
EUROPEAN UNION
The 27-country EU has actually not yet provided its position on some of the most dissentious issues for COP29.
It has yet to state how huge the brand-new climate financing target must be, or just how much need to come straight from national budgets instead of multilateral lending institutions or personal financial investment. It has actually required, however, that China and other fast-developing economies contribute.
The EU and its member states have contributed the most worldwide environment financing to date, having more than doubled their offer over the last years. In 2023, the EU and its member states contributed 28.6 billion euros ($ 30.8 billion USD) in environment financing from public sources.
UNITED KINGDOM
Britain's Labour Party federal government, elected in July, plans to emphasise its environment commitment at COP29, after Energy Minister Ed Miliband explained Britain as being back in the business of climate leadership.
The country, which hosted the COP26 top in Glasgow in 2021, has guaranteed to submit its next set of emissions-cutting pledges for 2035 at the Baku summit, 3 months before it is due in February.
Britain likewise has actually called for an ambitious financing objective, however it is unclear just how much it might contribute from its debt-strained budget plan.
THE TROIKA
Calling themselves the troika, the host countries of COP28, COP29 and COP30, last year said they were working together to ensure connection in organising the yearly U.N. climate talks.
All 3 countries have economies that depend on fossil fuels. The COP28's United Arab Emirates and COP30's Brazil are among the world's 10 most significant oil manufacturers and COP29's. Azerbaijan is a proponent of its natural gas industry.
' BASIC' NATIONS
As fast-developing and populous nations, Brazil, South. Africa, India and China can have an outsized impact on the. world's capability to take on environment change.
Each nation has actually requested more environment financing through. the concept of typical but distinguished duties -. suggesting abundant nations that gave off the most traditionally should. do more to attend to the issue.
OTHER WORKING OUT BLOCS:
G77 + CHINA - This alliance of 77 developing nations and. China also says rich nations have a larger responsibility to. cut CO2 than poorer nations.
AFRICAN GROUP OF NEGOTIATORS
African countries will be pushing at COP29 for more climate. finance and getting the Paris Arrangement's Post 6 on carbon. market rules into force by early next year.
They stay worried about the idling of the loss and. damage fund following this year's flooding in East Africa and. fatal heatwaves in the Sahel.
African countries prepare to challenge a decision to position the. fund's technical assistance body in Geneva, objecting to the. high-cost city being picked over recommendations for Nairobi.
The fund's head office will be in the Philippines, but the. technical help body that provides support to nations. confronted with damages from climate-fuelled natural disasters will. be in Switzerland.
ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES
A powerful group of countries disproportionately impacted by. climate effects, notably water level increase, the AOSIS bloc is. focused on securing trillions of dollars in environment funding. and advancing worldwide efforts to phase out nonrenewable fuel source usage.
LEAST ESTABLISHED NATION GROUP
This group's 45 countries are likewise extremely susceptible to. climate modification but have actually contributed bit to it. They are. requesting for significant funding from developed nations,. preferably in the type of grants. They also want more money to. flow into the loss and damage fund.
HIGH AMBITION UNION
Chaired by France, Costa Rica and Britain, this group pushes. for more aggressive emissions-cutting targets and policies.
(source: Reuters)