Data protection bill: Will India's hard-won information law get weaker?
A crucial new law will make it hard to use the landmark right to information legislation, activists say.
2023-08-15 05:23
Himachal Pradesh: Almost 50 dead as heavy rains hit Indian state
Torrential rains have led to landslides, cloudbursts and heavy flooding in Himachal Pradesh state.
2023-08-15 00:29
Experts have pinpointed exactly when society will collapse
A prediction about when society is most likely to collapse, made by scientists in the 1970s, has resurfaced – and it looks pretty bleak. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) used a computer to model patterns like population, natural resources and energy usage. The study, published by Club of Rome, picked out when these factors could hit “limits to growth”, which they said could lead to the downfall of modern life as we know it. They think we’ve got fewer than two decades left, with collapse due in 2040. Gulp. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter At the time, the report wasn’t given much credence. But a similar study was carried out in 2009, and came up with similar results. Published by American Scientist, the more recent study found that the model’s results were “almost exactly on course”. "It is important to recognise that its predictions have not been invalidated and in fact seem quite on target. We are not aware of any model made by economists that is as accurate over such a long time span," the study said. And to make matters worse, Dutch sustainability researcher Gaya Herrington concurred with the prediction in 2021. Speaking to The Guardian, Herrington said: “From a research perspective, I felt a data check of a decades-old model against empirical observations would be an interesting exercise.” Herrington found that data aligned with the predictions made back in 1972, which had a worse case scenario of economic growth coming to halt at the end of this decade, and collapse around 10 years later. Thankfully, there was a reason to be cheerful too. She added: “The key finding of my study is that we still have a choice to align with a scenario that does not end in collapse. "With innovation in business, along with new developments by governments and civil society, continuing to update the model provides another perspective on the challenges and opportunities we have to create a more sustainable world.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-14 19:19
Niger coup: Ousted President Bazoum to be charged with high treason, junta says
Coup leaders accuse the detained Mohamed Bazoum of undermining national security,
2023-08-14 16:58
Lucozade addict drinks eight bottles a day and says it’s harder to quit than class-A drugs
A grandfather is addicted to Lucozade despite having three heart attacks, and said it's harder to give up than class-A drugs. Garry Johnson, 65, began drinking coffee aged 12 and loved the caffeine buzz. The now-retired painter and decorator took cocaine and amphetamines in his teens, and after 15 years of on-off drug use went “cold turkey” when his son Sam was born in 1992. Keen to stay energised, he took up drinking 380ml bottle bottles of Lucozade Original, and now gets through eight a day. He's had the habit for 29 YEARS and it currently costs him around £150 a month. And at today's prices, his nearly three decade habit would have cost him more than £42,800. He had three heart attacks between 2012 and 2014 because of a hereditary heart condition, and doctors encouraged him to ditch caffeinated drinks. He gave up dairy and every other form of caffeine - but he still necks more than three litres of Lucozade a day. He said Lucozade is proving harder to give up than class-A drugs - because of the "after effect - like that lovely feeling in your mouth after you eat an expensive bit of chocolate." Garry, from Basildon, Essex, said: "I took cocaine every day but it was a piece of cake to give up - but I'd find it really hard to ever give up Lucozade. "I love it - not just the taste but the affect on my body makes me feel great. If I do go two or three hours without one, I fancy one... God knows how I'd be after two days.” He stopped using cocaine aged 30, when his son Sam, now 31, was born and went cold turkey because being a new dad was "stimulant enough". He started drinking Red Bull but found himself with migraines, and eventually moved onto Lucozade. He initially drank six a day, but has had eight a day for the last seven years. Now he goes to Tesco every day and buys one or two four-packs - depending how many bottles he already has stacked up in the fridge ready to drink. "I've always needed some kind of stimulant and eventually I realised Lucozade is perfect for me," he said. "After my heart attacks they told me to quit the energy drinks but I recently had new heart tests and my results are better than they've ever been. "I guess I've just found one that suits my body." But Garry said he doesn't even want to give up because it's a "part of his identity" - like a person's favourite shirt or their daily breakfast. He justifies the cost because he doesn't drink alcohol or smoke. He said: "£5 a day - that's less than a pint of beer today in some places." If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction, you can confidentially call the national alcohol helpline Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 or visit the NHS website here for information about the programmes available to you. If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, you can seek confidential help and support 24-7 from Frank, by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, sending an email or visiting their website here. SWNS Read More What I gained (and lost) by walking 10,000 steps each day for 5 months Husband ‘ruins’ dinner because of his wife’s typo: ‘The worst kind of control freak’ John Whaite says he ‘spent time apart’ from fiancé after ‘falling in love’ with Strictly pro
2023-08-14 14:51
Heavy rains bring deadly flash flood and landslide to northwest China
At least 21 people are dead and six others missing after a flash flood and landslide following torrential rains in the outskirts of northwestern China's Xi'an city, local authorities said Sunday.
2023-08-14 13:57
The Ukrainian refugees returning to war-torn homeland
Ukrainians share experiences of visiting families and friends back home, amidst daily danger alerts.
2023-08-14 13:28
When a 'fire hurricane' hit, Maui's warning sirens never sounded
Lahaina residents tell the BBC they had no official warning before "fire hurricane" engulfed their town.
2023-08-14 11:23
Cambodia: Thousands of war-era explosives found buried at high school
Thousands of unexploded munitions were discovered buried in the grounds of a high school.
2023-08-14 04:46
New Zealand's youth vaping crisis clouds smoke-free future
As cigarettes are phased out, parents say new laws do little to address rampant vaping by young people.
2023-08-14 00:56
Ukraine border guards remind Russia Snake Island is again theirs
(Note: Strong language in paragraph 4) KYIV Ukrainian border guards placed a new sign on Snake Island this
2023-08-14 00:52
Russian scientists start processing first data on Luna-25 craft - space agency
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian scientists have started processing the first data received on the Luna-25 spacecraft after switching on the scientific
2023-08-13 20:26