White House outlines costs of inaction on climate change
White House outlines costs of inaction on climate change
WASHINGTON (AP) — Failure to act on climate change could cause an estimated 57,000 deaths a year in the United States from poor air quality by 2100, the Obama administration argued in a report released Monday that warns of dire effects of global warming.
The report says inaction on climate change could cost billions of dollars a year in damage from rising sea levels, increased wildfires and drought, as well as higher costs for electricity to cool homes and businesses in hotter temperatures.
The Environmental Protection Agency report argues action now could save billions in avoided costs for maintenance and repairs on roads and bridges made vulnerable by global warming and save the lives of an estimated 12,000 people in 49 U.S. cities who could die from extreme temperatures in 2100.
Recovered items might be linked to escaped murderers
BELLMONT, N.Y. (AP) — Items recovered from a remote hunting cabin might be linked to a pair of convicted killers who escaped from a nearby prison more than two weeks ago, authorities said Monday as searchers swarmed rugged woods in the hamlet in far northern New York.
State Police Maj. Charles Guess said at a news conference authorities had “specific items” from the Adirondack cabin some 20 miles west of the prison, which were sent to labs for DNA and other testing. He would not elaborate on the items but characterized the latest search effort — one of many during the past 17 days — as a confirmed lead.
Guess urged residents and seasonal camp owners to call police if they notice anything out of place or capture footage on trail cameras of any suspicious activity.
30 killed by suicide bombers in Nigeria
BAUCHI, Nigeria (AP) — Two girls blew themselves up Monday near a crowded mosque in northeast Nigeria’s biggest city, killing about 30 people, witnesses said.
It is the fourth suicide bombing this month in Maiduguri, which is the birthplace of the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group.
Fishmonger Idi Idrisa said one teenager exploded as she approached the mosque crowded with people from the nearby Baga Road fish market, performing afternoon prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
The second teen appeared to run away and blew up farther away, killing only herself, he said.
Israeli Druze ask Jewish state to help, offer to fight in Syria
DALIYAT AL-KARMEL, Israel (AP) — Members of Israel’s Druze minority, long among the Jewish state’s most loyal citizens, have become increasingly concerned about the plight of their beleaguered brethren in neighboring Syria. Now, they are asking the state of Israel to help their fellow Druze next door — and some are even offering to go fight in Syria if needed.
Israel has been careful to stay out of the 4-year-old Syrian civil war and the Syrian Druze themselves mostly have avoided involvement.
But after al-Qaida-linked militants earlier this month brutally killed as many as 20 Druze in what amounted to the deadliest violence against members of the small Arab sect since the Syrian conflict started in March 2011, Israel finds itself under increasing internal pressure to act. That would have the extraordinary outcome of having Israel intervene on behalf of a group perceived as loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.