Kathmandu: Scientists can’t know precisely when a volcano is about to erupt, but they can sometimes pick up telltale signs.



That happened two years ago with the world’s largest active volcano. About two months before Mauna Loa spewed rivers of glowing orange molten lava, geologists detected small earthquakes nearby and other signs, and they warned residents on Hawaii’s Big Island.



Now a study of the volcano’s lava confirms their timeline for when the molten rock below was on the move.



“Volcanoes are tricky because we don’t get to watch directly what’s happening inside – we have to look for other signs,” said Erik Klemetti Gonzalez, a volcano expert at Denison University, who was not involved in the study.



Upswelling ground and increased earthquake activity near the volcano resulted from magma rising from lower levels of Earth’s crust to fill chambers beneath the volcano, said Kendra Lynn, a research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and co-author of a new study in Nature Communications.



When pressure was high enough, the magma broke through brittle surface rock and became lava – and the eruption began in late November 2022. Later, researchers collected samples of volcanic rock for analysis.



The chemical makeup of certain crystals within the lava indicated that around 70 days before the eruption, large quantities of molten rock had moved from around 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) to 3 miles (5 kilometers) under the summit to a mile (2 kilometers) or less beneath, the study found. This matched the timeline the geologists had observed with other signs.



The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984. Most of the U.S. volcanoes that scientists consider to be active are found in Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast.



Worldwide, around 585 volcanoes are considered active.



Scientists can’t predict eruptions, but they can make a “forecast,” said Ben Andrews, who heads the global volcano program at the Smithsonian Institution and who was not involved in the study.



Andrews compared volcano forecasts to weather forecasts – informed “probabilities” that an event will occur. And better data about the past behavior of specific volcanos can help researchers finetune forecasts of future activity, experts say.



Source: AP

World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa showed telltale warning signs before erupting in 2022

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel will depart for Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 10 to participate in the 29th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP-29). He is leading a high-level delegation from Nepal at the summit, which runs from November 11 to 22.



The Nepali president is attending the conference at the invitation of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. During his visit, President Paudel is slated to address the high-level session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 12.



On November 13, Nepal will host its own high-level session, also led by President Paudel, to bring global attention to the country's climate change challenges. The session will highlight the impacts of climate change in Nepal, including significant loss and damage from natural disasters such as floods and landslides in areas like Melamchi, Mustang, Kanchanpur, Thame, and the Kathmandu Valley.



One of the key discussions during the conference will focus on "Addressing Climatic Loss and Damage in Mountainous Regions," a topic of particular importance to Nepal, given its vulnerability to the effects of climate change.



As a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Nepal is actively working on a National Adaptation Programme, which is set to be implemented by 2050. President Paudel’s participation at COP-29 aims to underscore Nepal's commitment to combating climate change and securing international support for adaptation efforts.



President Paudel is expected to return to Nepal on November 15, after attending the key sessions of the conference.

President Ramchandra Paudel to attend COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Kathmandu: Mount Fuji is still without snow, making it the latest time in the year the mountain has remained bare since records began 130 years ago.



The peaks of Japan's highest mountain typically gets a sprinkling of snow by early October, but unusually warm weather has meant no snowfall has been reported so far this year.



In 2023 snow was first seen on the summit on 5 October, according to AFP news agency.



Japan had its hottest joint summer on record this year with temperatures between June and August being 1.76C (35.1F) higher than an average.



In September, temperatures continued to be warmer than expected as the sub-tropical jet stream's more northerly position allowed a warmer southerly flow of air over Japan.



A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/av/54682820">jet stream</a>&nbsp;is a fast-flowing current of air that travels around the planet. It occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north.



Nearly 1,500 areas had what Japan's Meteorological Society classed as "extremely hot" days - when temperatures reach or exceed 35C (95F) last month.



The temperature has to be around freezing for rain to turn into snow.



October has seen the heat ease slightly, but it has still been a warmer than average month.



However, approaching November without snowfall marks the longest wait in the year for a snowcap on the summit since data was first collected in 1894.



The previous record of 26 October has been seen twice before in 1955 and 2016, Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at Kofu Local Meteorological Office told AFP.



Mount Fuji, south-west of Tokyo, is Japan's highest mountain at 3,776m (12,460 ft). The volcano, which last erupted just over 300 years ago, is visible from the Japanese capital on a clear day.



It is featured prominently in historic Japanese art work, including wood blocks prints. Last year, more than 220,000 people made the ascent to the peak between July and September.



Source: BBC

Mount Fuji breaks records as it remains snowless for longer than ever before

Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged ministries and agencies to robustly advocate for climate justice at the upcoming COP-29 climate conference. During a meeting of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Management National Council on Friday, PM Oli emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns of vulnerable nations, including Nepal, as articulated in the recent UN General Assembly.



The UN climate conference is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. President Ram Chandra Paudel will lead the Nepali delegation at the conference.



PM Oli reiterated the necessity for Nepal to present a clear stance on climate change and its impacts. He has been a vocal advocate for compensation from nations responsible for high carbon emissions, highlighting the detrimental effects of global warming on the Himalayan region and its inhabitants.



Furthermore, PM Oli called for a global action plan aimed at maintaining environmental balance from the mountains to the seas. He directed stakeholders to prioritize extensive forest expansion, addressing the issue of deforestation in designated forest areas. Industries will be permitted to operate in non-forest regions, provided they adhere to environmental protection standards.



The meeting also reviewed the council’s achievements over the past year, including updates on the implementation of previous decisions and the renaming of the Ministry of Forests and Environment to the Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change.



Key attendees included Deputy Prime Minister Prakashman Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, and Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, among others.

PM Oli calls for climate justice advocacy ahead of COP-29

Kathmandu: Today marks the last solar eclipse of 2024, set to begin at 9:27 PM Nepali time and concluding at 3:32 AM the following morning. This eclipse is particularly notable due to a conjunction involving the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Ketu, with the axes of Rahu and Ketu influencing the Pisces and Virgo zodiac signs. Additionally, the Sun, Mars, and Ketu will play significant roles during this event.



Unfortunately, this solar eclipse will not be visible in Nepal. Observers in the northern regions of South America, as well as areas over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic, and Antarctica, will have the best views.



Key locations for visibility include Argentina, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Beqa Island, French Polynesia, southern Fiji, New Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru.

Last solar eclipse of 2024 occurs today, not visible in Nepal

Kathmandu: The second-largest diamond ever found - a rough 2,492-carat stone - has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond. It is the biggest find since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.



The diamond was found at Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Botswana's government said it was the largest diamond ever discovered in the southern African state.



The previous biggest discovery in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone found at the same mine in 2019. Botswana is one of the world's biggest producer of diamonds, accounting for about 20% of global production.



In a statement, Lucara said the stone was "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed". "We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond," said Lucara head William Lamb.



The diamond was detected with the use of Lucara's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, said Mr Lamb. It has been used since 2017 to identify and preserve high-value diamonds so that they do not break during ore-crushing processes.



The firm did not give details of the stone's gem quality or its value. The 1,758-carat stone found in 2019 was bought by French fashion brand Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum. A 1,109 carat diamond, unearthed at the same mine in 2016, was bought for $53m (£39.5m) by London jeweller Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, in 2017.



Lucara has 100% ownership of the mine in Karowe. Botswana's government has proposed a law that will ask companies, once granted a license to mine, to sell a 24% stake to local firms if the government does not exercise its option of becoming a shareholder, Reuters news agency reported last month.

World's second-largest diamond found in Botswana

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has said Nepal falls under the risk of infection of monkey pox (Mpox). According to Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the infection is spreading rapidly in neighboring India and in this context Nepal too is vulnerable to it.Last year, one 60-year-old foreigner (female) was diagnosed with the Mpox virus in Nepal.



The Ministry has already consulted with the experts concerned regarding preparations required for its prevention.As Budhathoki said, health desks based along the air and border transits and the federal, provincial and local levels have been instructed to remain vigilant to the infection risk and take measures accordingly.



The Ministry has designated hospitals and doctors in all seven provinces for the prevention and management of the infection. Since the past few days, the African country Congo is battling with Clade 1b. This variant of Mpox is considered to be deadly. Since January this year, it has killed 548 people.



The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a health emergency over the spread of the virus.Mpox spreads through direct contact with the infected person or animal, skin-to-skin contact with Mpox rash or scabs from an infected, contact with fluid and saliva from the body of an infected, clothing, towels, beddings or objects used by the infected.



Fever, skin rash and bumps in between one and three days of the infection which appears in face, palm and feet as well, headache, muscle ache, bone ache, chills, and swollen lymph nodes are the symptoms of Mpox.



It may lead to the loss of eyesight, pneumonia, brain fever, miscarriage (among pregnants) and even death.The Ministry has hoped for a high level of cooperation from the civic- level in terms of adopting health protocols to prevent the risk which is, as the Ministry said, possible, if the civic are ready for that.



Source: Rashtriya Samachar Samiti

Nepal on high alert for Mpox risk as infection rates surge in India

Kathmandu: A total of 211 people died from monsoon-triggered disasters and other incidents in the past months in the country while 48 have gone missing.



According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the deaths from the monsoon-induced disasters were 170 while the remaining fatalities were due to fire, snakebites, high altitude sickness, animal assaults, and so on.



The data is since June 10, the day that marked the arrival of monsoon this year.NDRRMA Spokesperson Dr Dijan Bhattarai said this year Bagmati and Gandaki suffered the highest losses with 58 casualties each and it has been followed by 39 in Lumbini, 26 in Koshi, 14 in Sudurpaschim, nine in Karnali and seven in the Madhes.



In the given period, the number of affected families is 3,647 from 1,333 incidents.The highest number of affected families has been reported in Koshi as they numbered 1,212. A total of 405 incidents took place in the province.



Similarly, 513 families have been affected in Madhes, 471 in Bagmati, 437 in Gandaki, 326 in Lumbini, 240 in Karnali and 448 in Sudurpashim.Two have gone missing in Koshi, 40 in Bagmati, three in Gandaki, two in Lumbini and one in Karnali.



This year, human casualties have surpassed those of the previous year, which had a total of 72 casualties by this time. Authority CEO Anil Pokhrel said that preparedness, rescue, search, and information flow systems for disaster management are being undertaken in a coordinated way.



Rainfall this year is exceeding the average levels as per the forecast.



Source: Rashtriya Samachar Samiti

Monsoon disasters claim 211 lives in Nepal so far

Kathmandu: Something remarkable has happened to A23a, the world's biggest iceberg. For months now it has been spinning on the spot just north of Antarctica when really it should be racing along with Earth's most powerful ocean current.



Scientists say the frozen block, which is more than twice the size of Greater London, has been captured on top of a huge rotating cylinder of water. It's a phenomenon oceanographers call a Taylor Column - and it's possible A23a might not escape its jailer for years.



The berg's longevity is well documented. It broke free from the Antarctic coastline way back in 1986, but then almost immediately got stuck in the bottom-muds of the Weddell Sea.



For three decades it was a static "ice island". It didn't budge. It wasn't until 2020 that it re-floated and started to drift again, slowly at first, before then charging north towards warmer air and waters.



In early April this year, A23a stepped into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) - a juggernaut that moves a hundred times as much water around the globe as all Earth's rivers combined. This was meant to put boosters on the near-trillion-tonne berg, rifling it up into the South Atlantic and certain oblivion.



Instead, A23a went precisely nowhere. It remains in place just north of South Orkney Islands, turning in an anti-clockwise direction by about 15 degrees a day. And as long as it does this, its decay and eventual demise will be delayed.



Source: BBC

World's biggest iceberg spins in ocean trap

Kathmandu: Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.



Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to visit the orbiting lab for about a week and return in mid-June, but thruster failures and helium leaks on Boeing’s new Starliner capsule prompted NASA and Boeing to keep them up longer.



NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said mission managers are not ready to announce a return date. The goal is to bring Wilmore and Williams back aboard Starliner, he added.



“We’ll come home when we’re ready,” Stich said.



Stich acknowledged that backup options are under review. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is another means of getting NASA astronauts to and from the space station.



“NASA always has contingency options,” he said.



Engineers last week completed testing on a spare thruster in the New Mexico desert and will rip it apart to try to understand what went wrong ahead of the Starliner’s docking. Five thrusters failed as the capsule approached the space station on June 6, a day after liftoff. Four have since been reactivated.



Source: AP

NASA says no return date yet for astronauts and troubled Boeing capsule at space station

Kathmandu: Over 45,000 species are now threatened with extinction — 1,000 more than last year — according to an international conservation organization that blames pressures from climate change, invasive species and human activity such as illicit trade and infrastructural expansion.



The International Union for Conservation of Nature released its latest Red List of Threatened Species on Thursday. Now in its 60th year, the list sounds the alarm about animals and plants at risk of extinction, but it also highlights conservation success stories such as the Iberian lynx.



The list now includes 163,040 species, an increase of about 6,000 from last year. Copiapoa cacti, native to Chile’s Atacama coastal desert, the Bornean elephant and the Gran Canaria giant lizard are among the threatened species, IUCN revealed.



Source: AP

List of threatened species grows by 1,000

Kathmandu: A Florida family whose home was hit by space debris earlier this year is seeking compensation from US space agency Nasa for property damage and mental anguish. The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object punched a hole in the roof through two layers of ceiling in Alejandro Otero's home in Naples, this past March.



Nasa had said the object was part of some 5,800lbs of hardware that was dumped by the International Space Station after it had new lithium-ion batteries installed. Otero said his son was nearly injured by the impact.



A press release from the law firm Cranfill Summer lists damages including non-insured property damage loss, business interruption, emotional/mental anguish and the costs for assistance from third parties.



The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet. The ISS will "perform a detailed investigation" on how the debris survived burn-up, according to Nasa.



The agency has six months to respond to the Otero's claims. Space junk has been a growing a problem. In April, sky watchers in California spotted mysterious golden streaks moving through the space. US officials later determined that the light show was caused by burning debris from a Chinese rocket re-entering earth's orbit.



In February, a Chinese satellite known as "Object K" burned up as it re-entered the atmosphere over Hawaii. Last year, a barnacle-covered giant metal dome found on a Western Australian beach was identified as a component of an Indian rocket. There are plans to display it alongside chunks of Nasa's Skylab, which crashed in Australia in 1979.



Source: BBC

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