World
Tropical Storm Helene Just Formed. In Just Over 48 Hours It Could Hit Florida As A Major Hurricane
Time is running out for Floridians in the path of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to be the biggest hurricane to reach the United States in more than a year.
Tropical Storm Helene emerged in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday morning and is expected to strengthen rapidly. Helene could rapidly intensify from a 45 mph tropical storm to a Category 3 major hurricane in 48 hours as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico’s exceptionally warm waters.
This extended schedule means that Floridians must prepare for catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and potentially deadly storm surges. The National Hurricane Centre also cautioned that Helene’s route could fluctuate in the following days, affecting where her worst consequences will occur.
The Southeast should also prepare. Helene will also be quite massive and powerful, affecting an area much beyond Florida. Torrential rain, powerful gusts capable of causing substantial power disruptions, and the possibility of tornadoes will extend over the region.
Evacuations are expected for Florida’s coastal areas on Tuesday due to a possibly deadly storm surge. Taylor County, in Florida’s Big Bend region, is expected to issue a countywide evacuation order later Tuesday, according to a sheriff’s office social media post.
Tropical Storm Helene Just Formed. In Just Over 48 Hours It Could Hit Florida As A Major Hurricane
The Big Bend area is where Helene is expected to make landfall, and it confronts the most severe storm surge: up to 15 feet is likely. The storm’s massive size and intensity could cause up to 8 feet of surge in the Tampa area and several feet of surge further south.
With little time to prepare, Tampa General Hospital began installing a 10-foot-high flood barrier around the institution on Monday due to the storm surge risk.
On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis increased an emergency declaration from 41 to 61 of the state’s 67 counties due to the prospect of greater inland consequences. The proclamation facilitates preparations and coordination between state and municipal administrations before the storm’s arrival.
At least 3,000 soldiers of the Florida National Guard are ready to help with storm relief efforts and the Florida State Guard has been mobilized, DeSantis said at a press conference Tuesday. DeSantis also stated that the state has “hundreds of Starlinks” to deploy if internet service is lost.
Tropical storm-force wind gusts could hit the Florida Keys as early as Wednesday afternoon and sweep northward, hitting most of the Peninsula by Thursday morning at the latest. Hurricane-force wind gusts may follow quickly behind for many coastal regions. The greatest wind and rain in the Tampa area might begin late Wednesday night. According to the National Weather Service near Tampa Bay, the storm will last until Thursday evening, with hurricane-force gusts possible.
The Tallahassee area will have a few extra hours to prepare. Landfall is forecast southeast of Tallahassee late Thursday, but the worst conditions will hit the city earlier and persist all day.
Tropical storm-force winds will spread across the Southeast by Thursday evening, potentially bringing down trees and causing extensive power outages.
Much of the Southeast may have heavy rainfall beginning around midweek, with the most intense rain falling Thursday night and Friday morning. The Weather Prediction Centre has issued a level 3 of 4 risk of flooding rain for regions of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas on Thursday.
Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are forecast throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast and in sections of Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Totals might reach a foot in portions of the Florida Panhandle and the southern Appalachians. Much of this rain will fall by Friday along the Gulf Coast, but it will be a rainy weekend further north.
Tropical Storm Helene Just Formed. In Just Over 48 Hours It Could Hit Florida As A Major Hurricane
Florida’s Big Bend region appears to be a magnet for hurricanes lately. Hurricane Debby blasted into the region in early August as a Category 1, and rehabilitation work are still underway as the country prepares for another blow.
Idalia saw quick intensification over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds climbing by 55 mph over 24 hours.
Helene would be the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, and the fifth to hit Florida since 2022.
The repeated hits have driven Florida’s insurance industry to the verge, with insurers withdrawing from the state due to the rising danger of catastrophic weather caused by climate change.
SOURCE | CNN
World
Do Microplastics in the Atmosphere Endanger Your Fertility?
(VOR News) – It is quite possible that the presence of small microplastic particles in the air may be a contributing factor to a wide variety of health problems, including malignancies of the lungs and colon.
This is something that needs additional research to be determined. There is one more item to take into consideration, and that is the potential that this is the exact circumstance.
A recent study found that tires and debris that are decomposing shed minute fragments of plastic that go airborne, so creating a form of air pollution that is not particularly widely known. This type of pollution is caused by the degradation of plastic. An example of this type of pollution is that which is discharged into the atmosphere.
The industry refers to microplastic as “air pollution.”
According to the findings of a researcher named Tracey Woodruff, who is a professor of obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, “These microplastics are basically particulate matter from air pollution,” and it is common knowledge that this particular type of air pollution is particularly hazardous.
The researchers who supplied background notes stated that the size of microplastics is less than 5 millimetres, which is smaller than a grain of rice.
This information was provided, according to researchers. These details were supplied by the researchers who conducted the study. These particulars were provided by researchers who were responsible for carrying out the study.
The amount of plastic that is created on a yearly basis by enterprises all over the world is roughly 460 million tonnes, as indicated by the data that were provided by academics all over the world. The forecasts indicate that by the year 2050, this quantity is anticipated to have increased to 1.1 billion tonnes.
Driving is a substantial contributor to the amount of plastic that is floating around in the atmosphere, according to the conclusions of the experts who conducted the study about the phenomenon. When tires are worn down to the point where they scrape against the surface of the road, they allow microplastics to be released into the environment.
As a result of the tires wearing down, this occurs. This impact is brought about as a consequence of the inevitable amount of wear and tear that tires are subjected to.
A study that was published on December 18 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology was the result of researchers conducting an examination of data collected from over 3,000 previous investigations.
The paper was published as a consequence of this procedure. The review was constructed with the help of this analysis that was carried out.
Microplastic used this analysis to put together the review.
A number of diseases, such as cancer, lung problems, and infertility, may be influenced by the presence of microplastics in the air, according to the data, which led to the conclusion that this may be the case.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of the studies that were incorporated into the study were carried out on animals, the researchers claimed that it is very certainly plausible that the findings can also be applied to people. The fact that the majority of investigations were conducted on animals does not change the reality that this is the case.
“We urge regulatory agencies and policy leaders to consider the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and lung cancer,” stated Nicholas Chartres, the principal investigator and senior research fellow at the University of Sydney.
The organisation reported this comment. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) issued a press release on behalf of the organisation that contained this statement. The news release was disseminated to the public. We are convinced that state officials will act quickly to make sure that no leaks of this kind occur, which is of the highest importance.
SOURCE: USN
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Russian Oil Ships In The Kerch Strait Are Undergoing Rescue Operations.
(VOR News) – Following Sunday’s powerful storm, a Russian oil tanker carrying hundreds of tonnes of oil products ultimately broke apart, causing an oil spill into the Kerch Strait below. Additionally, Russian officials reported that the damage was causing problems for another vessel.
Sunday, Russian authorities announced an emergency rescue operation.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, which claimed the Emergency Situations Ministry as its source, the Volgoneft-212 tanker, carrying fuel oil and carrying thirteen crew members, ran aground and suffered damage to its bow. A shipment of fuel oil was being transported by the tanker.
Authorities have told the public that the damage was brought on by the extreme weather conditions that are currently occurring.
A second tanker, the Volgoneft-239, was damaged during the storm and is currently stranded in the same area with 14 crew members on board, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The tanker was discovered abandoned and alone in the same spot.
Additional tankers also suffered damage. The 132-meter-long cruiser, which was constructed in 1973, hangs the Russian flag around its neck.
The footage posted by state media showed the 136-meter Volgoneft-212 tanker, which was cut in two with its bow underwater, and waves crashing over its deck. At least one person lost his life as a result of this tragedy. This led to the opening of two distinct criminal investigations by the Russian authorities to look into potential violations of certain safety regulations.
Having flown the Russian flag since 1969, the yacht was finished.
Rosmorrechflot, the Russian government agency in charge of water transportation, reported a petroleum product spill.
It is believed that the cargo capacity of each tanker is around 4,200 tonnes of oil products.
The magnitude of the leak and the cause of the substantial damage one of the tankers received were not specified in the official remarks. This is in accordance with the official remarks.
Several news sites cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that President Vladimir Putin directed the formation of a working committee to handle the rescue effort and lessen the effects of the oil disaster.
Peskov recommended that the government appoint the working committee’s members. This comment was made public right after Putin met with the ministries responsible for ecology and disaster management.
The Russian government has said that it will be sending more than fifty individuals and pieces of equipment to the area in response to the current crisis. Mi-8 helicopters and rescue tugboats are examples of these people and tools.
The news that experts are presently investigating the damage at the event site was announced by Svetlana Radionova, who is in charge of Rosprirodnadzor, Russia’s natural resources regulating entity.
Kommersant reports that Volgoneft-212 used 4,300 tonnes of fuel oil.
The footage, which showed a partially submerged ship and murky water on rough seas, was posted to Telegram without the owner’s consent.
The warships were located in the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from the Russian mainland, when the distress signals were sent out.
The Kerch Strait is a crucial international marine passage that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, allowing for easier traffic between the two bodies of water. It also acts as a border between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which is under Russian occupation. The Kerch Strait is located in the centre of the two nations.
The peninsula has remained a major source of contention between the two national governments ever since Russia annexed it from Ukraine in 2014. Russia was the one who seized the peninsula. Ukraine brought legal action against Russia before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.
Specifically, the lawsuit claimed that Russia intended to illegally take over a location. The argument was supported by evidence pertaining to Russia’s conduct in the region. In 2021, the Russian Federation closed the strait for several consecutive months
SOURCE: VN
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Japan List Cannabis as Narcotic Criminalizes Recreational Use
TOKYO – Japan updated its cannabis and narcotics control legislation on Thursday, criminalizing cannabis (Marijuana) use and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), imposing a maximum seven-year prison sentence.
While the possession, transmission, and cultivation of cannabis and THC were already prohibited in Japan, the new rules will classify them as narcotics and criminalize their use as well, with a prison sentence of up to seven years for violations.
The amended regulations also legalize medical items containing cannabis-derived compounds that are beneficial and safe.
In 2019, 1.8 percent of the Japanese population had used cannabis at least once, making it the country’s second most popular illicit substance behind methamphetamine.
In 2023, a record 6,703 people were probed in cannabis-related criminal cases in Japan, topping methamphetamine cases for the first time, according to the Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry. Seventy percent of instances involved people under the age of thirty.
A nationwide poll performed the same year by the ministry’s research group estimated that approximately 200,000 people had consumed marijuana within the previous year.
Japan previously did not penalize cannabis usage, apparently taking into account farmers who may have accidentally ingested the drug while producing cannabis plants for use in hemp products.
The amendments will also lift a restriction on cannabis-derived medicines, putting them under a licensing system similar to other drugs used for pain relief and other purposes.
Drugs derived from cannabis plants were only allowed in clinical studies in Japan, but patient groups have been advocating for access to cannabis-derived cannabidiol treatments already licensed in Europe and the United States for illnesses like severe epilepsy.
Cannabis cultivation dates back to the Jōmon period of Japanese prehistory, roughly six to ten thousand years ago (source: Wikipedia).
Cannabis hemp, as one of Japan’s first cultivated plants, provided an essential supply of plant fibre for clothing, cordage, and Shinto ritual goods, among other uses.
For much of Japanese history, hemp was common for fabric and food before cotton emerged as the country’s dominant fibre crop during industrialization during the Meiji period.
Following the end of World War II and the occupation of Japan, the Cannabis Control Law prohibited cannabis possession and manufacturing.
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