Humanity has wiped out 60% of animals since 1970, major report finds
The huge loss is a tragedy in itself but also threatens the survival of civilisation, say the world’s leading scientists
Humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, leading the world’s foremost experts to warn that the annihilation of wildlife is now an emergency that threatens civilisation.
The new estimate of the massacre of wildlife is made in a major report produced by WWF and involving 59 scientists from across the globe. It finds that the vast and growing consumption of food and resources by the global population is destroying the web of life, billions of years in the making, upon which human society ultimately depends for clean air, water and everything else.
“We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff” said Mike Barrett, executive director of science and conservation at WWF. “If there was a 60% decline in the human population, that would be equivalent to emptying North America, South America, Africa, Europe, China and Oceania. That is the scale of what we have done.”
Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: Iranian immigrant raises more than $650,00 for Jewish victims
The new fundraising goal for the GoFundMe campaign is $1mSarah HarvardNew York
Shay Khatiri first heard about the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue from a friend. Mr Khatiri, who had been crashing on his Jewish friend’s couch for several months, woke up to see his friend visibly shaken from the tragic news and wanted to do something.
The 29-year-old initially thought about making a small donation. But he wanted to see if he could make more of an impact. So, he decided to set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $50,000 for the mass shooting victims and their families.
“I thought about [making] a small donation, and then I thought it’d be better if I start this campaign,” Mr Khatiri told The Independent. “If it didn’t, and worse came to worst, [the crowdfunding page] would be a few hundred dollars, and it would be better than nothing.”
Divers scour Java Sea in Indonesia crash recovery mission
Indonesian search teams Tuesday recovered more remains at the site of a crashed Lion Air jet that plunged into the sea with 189 people aboard, as a report said it had suffered an instrument malfunction the day before.
The Boeing-737 MAX, which went into service just months ago, crashed into the Java Sea moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday.
Flight JT 610 sped up as it suddenly lost altitude and then vanished from radar 13 minutes after take-off, with authorities saying witnesses saw the jet plunge into the water.
Dozens of divers are taking part in the recovery effort.
Venice overwhelmed by worst floods in at least 10 years
Updated 0625 GMT (1425 HKT) October 30, 2018
Much of the Italian lagoon city of Venice was engulfed with water after high tides and strong winds caused the most severe flooding for at least a decade.
The city, famous for its canals and gondolas and beautiful palaces and churches, is frequently overwhelmed by water in the period from October to December, but Monday's flooding was particularly heavy.
The water rose 160 centimeters (5 feet 3 inches) above sea level at high tide, meaning that at least 77% of the city was under water. If the tide levels are verified, the reading will be the highest since December 1979. The highest ever recorded was 194 cm in November 1966.
Khashoggi's fiancee speaks about 'death squad' killing
Hatice Cengiz tells Saudi leaders to return her fiance's remains, warns Trump not to 'pave the way for a cover-up'.
by Gavin O'Toole
The fiancee of murdered Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has demanded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reveal the whereabouts of his body.
In an emotional plea, Hatice Cengiz told an audience in London: "I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is: they should answer my demand, for this is not only the demand of a fiancee but a human and Islamic demand."
In a moving tribute to Khashoggi - who was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 - Cengiz called on the international community to ensure there is no cover-up of his murder.
S Korean Supreme Court orders Nippon Steel to compensate wartime forced laborers
By Hyonhee Shin
South Korea's top court ruled on Tuesday Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp should compensate four South Koreans for their forced labour during World War II, a decision that could freeze ties between the uneasy neighbors.
Nippon Steel said the verdict was "deeply regrettable" and that it would review it before taking any next steps. Japan's Foreign Ministry said it would summon the South Korean ambassador.
In a landmark ruling, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a 2013 order for the company to pay 100 million won ($87,700) to each of the four steel workers who initiated the suit in 2005, seeking compensation and unpaid wages.
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