Nation
The world inches toward catastrophic climate events: ‘Bigger shocks are on the way’
NEW YORK | In the opening scene of American writer Kim Stanley Robinson’s “The Ministry for the Future,” a heat wave combined with a breakdown of the electrical grid in India kills 20 million people. The devastation causes the world’s nations to unite to combat climate change. Scientists have long warned that the world will […]
Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on mail voting restrictions ahead of midterms
WASHINGTON | The Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration Monday in a case over President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting, though it remains unclear how much can be implemented before the fast-approaching midterm elections. The decision leaves room for additional court challenges that could further slow Trump’s order, and other similar cases […]
In Benin, malnutrition and misinformed views contribute to widespread stunting in children
N’DALI, Benin | Sabi Bera Zakari didn’t appear to care much how tall his children would grow. The farmer said he only sometimes wished they could gain more weight. “For me, height is not a problem,” Zakari said. “It’s mainly their weight that sometimes worries me.” Aboudou Salamatou, the farmer’s wife, seemed to disagree, as […]
Iranian families struggle to afford the basics as US ratchets up economic warfare
TEHRAN, Iran | Tehran’s grocery stores are well-stocked, but many families can barely afford the basics. Unemployment is soaring and those with jobs are working more hours for money worth half as much as a year ago, putting food, medicine and everything else — except for heavily subsidized gasoline — further out of reach. “We […]
What’s in a name? Why naming storms, military operations and medical maladies matters
U.S. hurricane season is gearing up. And from Amanda and Boris onward, tropical cyclones’ names in the Pacific region are unfolding quickly. But why the monikers each year? Or at all? Humans have given names to the world around them for almost as long as language itself has existed, but formal naming practices for storms […]
Tropical Storm Moke set to dump more heavy rain on hurricane-stricken Hawaii
HONOLULU | Tropical Storm Moke was swirling past Hawaii on Sunday, close enough to dump heavy rain on Big Island communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Lala. The National Hurricane Center located Moke’s center about 320 miles (515 kilometers) south-southwest of Hilo around midday. Top sustained winds were around 40 mph (65 kph), though the […]
Fast-moving wildfire amid shifting winds threatens Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to evacuate
An out-of-control wildfire that jumped over fire trucks and made it difficult for crews to reach hot spots destroyed homes in northwest Reno, Nevada, on Sunday. Shifting winds challenged firefighters trying to bring it under control, and authorities urged some 90,000 people to evacuate. At least six people — three first responders and three civilians […]
Officials warn wildland firefighters about the risks of using a supplement for smoke exposure
SEATTLE | Fire and medical officials have issued warnings about a supplement offered to Western wildland firefighters who have been exposed to toxic chemicals while battling some of the country’s biggest blazes. The supplement glutathione, given through an IV or an inhaler-like machine called a nebulizer, has not been proven to be safe or effective […]
Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods beginning Sept. 8 as trade negotiations collapse
WASHINGTON | The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada said it would retaliate beginning Sept. 8 after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in relations between the historic allies. President Donald Trump’s import taxes will hit about 5% of what Canada ships to […]
Trump keeps embracing data centers even as they become toxic in midterm races
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump, speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House this week, made a statement that Republican and Democratic candidates alike wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. “If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, […]