Top Asian News 2:20 a.m. GMT

Associated Press
Updated ·1-min read

Climate change makes India's monsoons erratic. Can farmers still find a way to prosper?

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Each year from June to September, a heavy band of rain makes its way from India's southwest coast to its northeastern borders, quenching farmers' thirsty fields. India's monsoon season is arguably the single most important weather phenomenon for the country, and a good monsoon can noticeably boost the nation's economy and the livelihoods of its 120 million farmers. But human-caused climate change is making the rainfall more erratic, making it difficult for farmers to plant, grow and harvest crops on their rain-fed fields. “Either it rains too much within a short time or it doesn’t rain at all,” said Vijay Jawandhia, a 77-year-old farmer in western Maharashtra state.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • World's smallest elephant in danger of dying out

    Only an estimated 1,000 individuals remain in the wild but conservationists remain optimistic.

  • Beat them or eat them: What should we do about invasive species in the ocean?

    Should we beat them, or eat them? In this episode of Ocean Calls, we’re embarking on a journey to unravel the mysteries of invasive species in EU waters. They unsettle the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, so what can we do about them?

  • Trump Did Say 1 True Thing At The Presidential Debate

    The former president spoke about one simple, "immaculate" truth about his first term in the White House.

  • The world’s biggest capital cities are heating up – and Asia tops the charts

    The world’s largest capital cities are seeing more extremely hot days than ever, according to a new study, which says the dangerous trend is being driven by scorching temperatures across Asia as the climate crisis worsens.

  • Bornean elephant assessed as endangered in new threatened species list

    An update to the IUCN Red List of threatened species also warns of a threat to lizards from invasive snakes and impacts of illegal cactus trade.

  • 2 giant pandas set off from China to the US - for first time in over 20 years

    For the first time in more than 20 years, giant pandas are travelling from China to the United States. The five-year-old male Yun Chuan and nearly four-year-old female Xin Bao are expected to arrive at the San Diego Zoo in California later this week after setting off from China on Wednesday. The pair will travel 7,000 miles, accompanied by caretakers who will help them adjust to their new environment. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answer

  • Climber Rappels Next to 'Raging Waterfall' That Developed During Flash Flood

    A “raging waterfall” cascading down the Morning Glory Arch was not enough to deter an experienced outdoorsman on June 21, with jaw-dropping visuals showing him rappelling down after a flash flood hit the area.Video by 16-year-old Spencer Grover shows Tyler Erickson rappelling from a sandstone cliff outside Moab, Utah, within touching distance of a muddy waterfall that “spontaneously developed”, Spencer’s father, Michael Grover, told Storyful.Speaking to Storyful, Erickson said that although the canyoneering adventure “unexpectedly turned into a test of resilience and preparedness,” at no point were he and his group in serious danger.“We were well prepared, equipped with headlamps, sufficient food, and water,” Erickson said.“Despite the situation, the temperature remained a comfortable 70 degrees, and no one was at risk of hypothermia. The storm was described by search and rescue as a once-in-150-years event, catching even experienced guides off guard.”Erickson said that the unexpected flash flood brought close to four inches of rain in just 20 minutes. He highlighted “the importance of preparedness and staying calm in unexpected situations”, but said the experience, while challenging, was also “an unforgettable and humbling adventure”.“It was a testament to the resilience and teamwork of our group, and a reminder that nature can be unpredictable,” he said.Separately, a group of 20 people had to be rescued during the same extreme conditions, local media said Credit: Spencer Grover via Storyful

  • Deaths mount as Pakistan swelters in heatwave

    Soaring temperatures in Pakistan have led more people to head to hospitals seeking help.

  • Female capybara goes to Florida as part of a breeding program for the large South American rodents

    A female capybara has arrived at a Florida zoo as part of a breeding program to bolster the population of the large South American rodents. Iyari, a 10-month-old capybara, went to the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in May from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

  • Charge an electric car in five minutes? This Cambridge start-up says it can

    A British battery company has developed an electric car that can be charged in just five minutes, in a step towards solving the lengthy plug-in times that frustrate EV drivers.

  • Renewables surge: Green energy made up the majority of the EU’s electricity in 2023

    Wind and solar power increases combined with a sharp drop in fossil fuels pushed renewables into the lead.

  • Panda express: First pair to enter the United States in 21 years arrive in California

    San Diego’s newest giant pandas landed in California on Thursday, according to Chinese state media – marking the first time Beijing has granted new panda loans to the United States in two decades.

  • Factbox-Companies forging a rare earths industry in the EU

    In the rare earths sector, the EU will struggle to meet most of its ambitious goals in new legislation designed to boost domestic output of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China. Below are some key companies working on rare earths, with production figures in metric tons per year. Neodymium and praseodymium (referred to in the industry by their joint elemental abbreviation, NdPr) are key rare earths needed to make permanent magnets.

  • Garbage dumps may be ‘burping’ toxic ‘forever chemicals’: Study

    As many municipal landfills belch out gas from decomposing organic matter, they are also releasing toxic “forever chemicals” into the air, a new study has found. Scientists measured unexpectedly high levels of airborne per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at three dumps they surveyed — demonstrating the ability of these persistent contaminants to escape into the…

  • New drone footage shows 97% of coral is dead in northern Great Barrier Reef

    Bleaching event, which follows a similar one last summer, is fifth in eight years after parts of reef subjected to extreme heat stress

  • The battle against Guatemala's 'garbage island'

    STORY: This island in Guatemala is made of garbage.There are plastic bottles, tires, sofas — even human remains have been found here.Local residents are worried about it.They fish in Lake Amatitlan, and making a living from it.Tourism boat driver Celestino de la Cruz says he remembers when the lake was crystal clear.Now it's more of a greenish hue.“I don’t know why the lake has deteriorated, it’s a shame to see it,” he says.:: FilePart of the problem, experts say, is industrialization in Guatemala City’s metropolitan area.Rivers carry contaminated water to the lake, which leads to excess nitrogen and propels the growth of a toxic blue-green algae.There have been laws since 2006 seeking to control nitrogen levels in the lake.And surrounding municipalities got funding for water treatment plants - but those resources were re-allocated.The agency for sustainable management of the lake says it’s removing about 100 trucks of trash a day - even during the heavy rains of the winter season.They placed a retention barrier on the lake’s surface that's more than a mile long."We all have the intention to save the lake. It is our hope that one day we will be able to save it,” says trash extraction manager Yuri Geovani.He says without those efforts, the lake would probably be a swamp by now.The agency says over 190,000 cubic feet of trash has been scooped up this year alone.That’s more than two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

  • Damage to protected chalk stream left unchecked by Natural England for 11 years

    Damage to a protected chalk stream has gone unchecked by Natural England for more than a decade, according to new analysis.

  • 'Not crazy to be optimistic' on climate tech, Gates tells investors

    Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Thursday urged investors to get behind cutting-edge climate technologies he says would drive a "green industrial revolution" and a next wave of global prosperity.- 'Green industrial revolution' - Less than a decade ago, Gates said, there was very little investor interest in climate technologies. 

  • How record heat is pushing Delhi's firefighters to the brink

    STORY: :: Delhi, IndiaA team of firefighters race down the streets of Delhi on this sweltering day in June.They are responding to a major blaze at a worn-down building that houses textile shops in the old quarter of the Indian capital.:: June 13, 2024It took some 250 firefighters to douse the flames.Summer is a particularly busy time for the Delhi Fire Services.But firefighter Indervir Singh can't recall responding to as many fires as this year. :: Indervir Singh, Delhi Fire Services firefighter“In my 32-year-long career, this has been the hottest year and Delhi Fire Services have gotten the most fire calls this year. We get at least 200-250 calls daily."Temperatures in Delhi have hit record highs this year, with the mercury hitting nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) on several occasions.Scientists say the heat is being worsened by human-driven climate change.Fire services data show there were more than 9,000 fire calls between April and June.That’s more than double from a year ago.And deaths more than tripled in that period, from 10 a year ago.Reuters spoke to more than a dozen firefighters and officers.Many describe working in "doubly" strenuous conditions of extreme heat and surging fires.Their shifts are 24 hours long, followed by a day of rest. Director of Delhi Fire Services Atul Garg says his men are stretched thin.:: Atul Garg, Delhi Fire Services Director"They are not able to sleep, they are not able to take rest, because our job is a physical job. This cannot be done by a robot or something. Man has to go inside and inhale the smoke and the heat and then you know, you get tired out. So the fire department is really stretched at this time.” Fire officers say electrical failures are responsible for nearly three-quarters of the blazes this summer.As Delhi sweats through one of its longest heat waves on record, demand for air cooling has surged.Round-the-clock use of power-intensive appliances like air conditioning puts severe strain on the city's old wiring.Fire officers say improper maintenance of cables and equipment can also lead to short circuits and start fires.Assistant Divisional Officer of Delhi Fire Services Somvir Singh.:: Somvir Singh, Assistant Divisional Officer, Delhi Fire Services“More than 70% of causes of fire are electrical origins only and in the electrical origins, we can say overloading, two is short-circuiting and third one is the overheating.”The fire service has proposed making it mandatory for commercial buildings to submit an annual fire audit.Officers say that will ensure businesses check if the wiring in their premises can cope with the higher loads.350 aspiring firefighters are undergoing training and will bolster all-male force by August. The service is also obtaining smaller vehicles to weave through congested roads, and buying technology for hard-to-access areas.

  • Part of a Minnesota home has plunged into the Blue Earth River as deadly Midwest flooding threatens the nearby Rapidan Dam

    Part of a house perched on the edge of the Blue Earth River in Minnesota collapsed into raging waters as deadly flooding that hit the Midwest threatened the nearby Rapidan Dam, which was built in the early 1900s.