Earth Changes
An expanding drought in Australia's grain belt has already been blamed for contributing to a world food crisis, and now floods in the US midwest, which have devastated the corn crop, are adding to the misery.
DES MOINES - "Nearly one third of Iowa is already under water and water levels continue to rise," said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, urging federal financial assistance for his state. Waters are still rising in many parts of the state and the president responded.
Scientists say coral fish could suffer from climate change just as much as the reefs they live in.
Over 400,000 species of fish live in or around coral reefs and the lives of many of them depended on the health of corals, said Dr Philip Munday from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, based at James Cook University in Townsville.
Over 400,000 species of fish live in or around coral reefs and the lives of many of them depended on the health of corals, said Dr Philip Munday from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, based at James Cook University in Townsville.
IOWA CITY - A week's work of frantic sandbagging by students, professors and the National Guard couldn't spare this bucolic college town from the surging Iowa River, which has swamped more than a dozen campus buildings and forced the evacuation Sunday of hundreds of nearby homes.
The swollen river, which bisects this city of about 60,000 residents, was topping out at about 31.5 feet - a foot and a half below earlier predictions. But it still posed a lingering threat, and wasn't expected to begin receding until Monday night.
The swollen river, which bisects this city of about 60,000 residents, was topping out at about 31.5 feet - a foot and a half below earlier predictions. But it still posed a lingering threat, and wasn't expected to begin receding until Monday night.
A 17-year old male was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning Saturday while swimming with friends at Gouldsboro State Beach, according to state police at Swiftwater.
Police identified the victim as Thomas Golden of Olyphant, Lackawanna County.
Police identified the victim as Thomas Golden of Olyphant, Lackawanna County.
Four people escaped serious injury when they apparently were stuck by lightning late Saturday afternoon on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House during a severe thunderstorm.
The same storm knocked out power to about 13,000 Central Hudson customers.
A woman also reportedly was struck by lightning at the Rondout Valley Campground in the Kerhonkson-Accord area, and she, too, appeared to not be badly hurt.
At Mohonk, which is on Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz, three adults and a child were hiking on the grounds when the storm rolled in about 5:45 p.m., according to Jackie Appledorn, the resort's general manager.
Appledorn told The Associated Press that all four had their feet in water - though not the property's main lake - when lightning struck, causing all of them to get an electrical charge. The four were conscious and seemingly not badly hurt when they got back to Mohonk's main building, Appledorn told the AP.
The same storm knocked out power to about 13,000 Central Hudson customers.
A woman also reportedly was struck by lightning at the Rondout Valley Campground in the Kerhonkson-Accord area, and she, too, appeared to not be badly hurt.
At Mohonk, which is on Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz, three adults and a child were hiking on the grounds when the storm rolled in about 5:45 p.m., according to Jackie Appledorn, the resort's general manager.
Appledorn told The Associated Press that all four had their feet in water - though not the property's main lake - when lightning struck, causing all of them to get an electrical charge. The four were conscious and seemingly not badly hurt when they got back to Mohonk's main building, Appledorn told the AP.
Oslo - Norway may seek foreign help to extinguish its biggest forest fire since World War Two, which has been raging for five days, the government said on Friday.
The Justice Ministry said it would check whether helicopters or special planes to drop water on the blaze were available across the Nordic region or elsewhere in the European Union, of which Norway is not a member.
The Justice Ministry said it would check whether helicopters or special planes to drop water on the blaze were available across the Nordic region or elsewhere in the European Union, of which Norway is not a member.
Mexico City - Floods in central and southern Mexico killed five people including a 4-year-old girl and a U.S. tourist, rescue workers said on Wednesday.
Around 7,000 people were evacuated in the southern state of Oaxaca, where the U.S. tourist drowned in fierce waves off a Pacific coast beach, a state civil protection official said.
Around 7,000 people were evacuated in the southern state of Oaxaca, where the U.S. tourist drowned in fierce waves off a Pacific coast beach, a state civil protection official said.
A family of four apparently escaped serious injury when lightning struck near them on Saturday night, knocking all four to the ground.
The victims were among those who were at Walters Park in Phillipsburg for a Little League all-star baseball game, which was stopped when severe weather moved in around 8 p.m. Witnesses said one of the boys had played in the game, and the family was headed to their car when the incident occurred.
The victims were among those who were at Walters Park in Phillipsburg for a Little League all-star baseball game, which was stopped when severe weather moved in around 8 p.m. Witnesses said one of the boys had played in the game, and the family was headed to their car when the incident occurred.
The world's largest cattle ranch has been forced to sell off its livestock and mothball operations because of the severe drought gripping much of Australia.
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| ©Chris McLennan |
| Drovers muster cattle at Anna Creek Station, South Australia |
