Day: August 28, 2024

PUCON, Chile : Nearly 1,500 academics, researchers and scientists specializing in Antarctica gathered in southern Chile for the 11th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research conference this week to share the most cutting-edge research from the vast white continent.

Nearly every aspect of science, from geology to biology and glaciology to arts, was covered but a major undercurrent ran through the conference. Antarctica is changing, faster than expected.

Extreme weather events in the ice-covered continent were no longer hypothetical presentations, but first-hand accounts from researchers about heavy rainfall, intense heat waves and sudden Foehn (strong dry winds) events at research stations that led to mass melting, giant glacier break-offs and dangerous weather conditions with global implications.

With detailed weather station and satellite data dating back only about 40 years, scientists wondered whether these events meant Antarctica had reached a tipping point, or a point of accelerated and irreversible sea ice loss from the West Antarctic ice sheet.

“There’s uncertainty about whether the current observations indicate a temporary dip or a downward plunge (of sea ice),” said Liz Keller, a paleoclimate specialist from the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand that led a session about predicting and detecting tipping points in Antarctica.

NASA estimates show the Antarctic ice sheet has enough ice to raise the global mean sea level by up to 58 meters. Studies have shown that about a third of the world’s population lives below 100 vertical meters of sea level.

While it’s tough to determine whether we’ve hit a “point of no return,” Keller says that it’s clear the rate of change is unprecedented.

Mike Weber, a paleooceanographer from Germany’s University of Bonn, who specializes in Antarctic ice sheet stability, says sediment records dating back 21,000 years show similar periods of accelerated ice melt.

MADRID : “Ancelotti Unfazed by Mbappé’s Slow Start at Real Madrid”, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is not worried about Kylian Mbappe’s start at the club after the France striker failed to score in his opening two league games.

Mbappe, 25, joined the LaLiga and Champions League winners as a free agent from Paris St Germain in June, bringing an end to a transfer saga that had rumbled on for years.

Despite making a promising start by scoring on his debut to help Real earn a 2-0 win over Europa League champions Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup final two weeks ago, Mbappe has yet to find the net in two LaLiga games with Real and struggled in a draw at Mallorca and in a dour home win against Real Valladolid.

“His last goal was on August 14th. It has only been two weeks since, that is no reason to worry. Neither we are not worried as a club, nor him,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s LaLiga match at Las Palmas.

“He is very happy here, delighted, sure he wants to score in the next game. So does Vinicius, who has yet to score this season and I don’t see him worried either.

“(Mbappe) is progressing really well, I see him doing better every day, excited, motivated, training well. He is very humble. I think his adaptation is going really well.”

Ancelotti said a slow start was to be expected after key midfielder Toni Kroos retired, while they are also trying to fit Mbappe into a new centre-forward role.

“Last year we also needed time at the start of the season, we needed a late goal to get a result in many games.

BEIJING: “Chinese EV Giant BYD Reports 24.4% Profit Increase”, Leading Chinese automaker BYD posted on Wednesday (Aug 28) a 24.4 per cent rise in net profit for the first half of 2024, boosted by continuing strong demand for electric cars in its home and overseas markets.

The company posted a net profit of US$1.91 billion in the January-June period, up from US$1.54 billion in the same period last year, according to results published at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange where BYD is listed.

The firm said sales during the period stood at US$42.3 billion, up 15.8 per cent year-on-year. The Shenzhen-based company – which adopts the English slogan “Build Your Dreams” – is the most prominent EV manufacturer in China, the world’s largest automotive market.

Leaders in Beijing are aiming for car sales to be mainly made up of electric and hybrid models by 2035.

In July, such vehicles accounted for more than half of all domestic sales, passing the threshold for the first time, according to the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Generous government subsidies initially helped sales take off – but the policies were phased out in late 2022 and the market now appears to be reaching maturity.

BYD has “effectively dealt with challenges brought by intensified industrial competition”, it said in the filing. Earlier this month, Brussels released a draft plan to impose tariffs of up to 36.3 per cent on Chinese EVs – a measure that will become permanent in October unless a deal is reached with Beijing.

BYD has nonetheless been ramping up globalisation efforts, with plans to open factories in Hungary and Turkey. Originally specialising in the design and production of batteries, BYD diversified into the automotive industry in 2003.

“Girona’s Michel Stays Positive Despite Slow Start”, Girona manager Michel is unconcerned by his side’s poor start to the season after they failed to win either of their first two games having lit up LaLiga last year.

The Catalan side came out of nowhere to go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid in the title battle for much of last season, beating Barcelona twice before finishing third and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.

However, Michel asked fans to be patient after they came crashing back to earth this season with a disappointing draw at Real Betis in their opener and a 3-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

“I look at the process, the performance, not the results,” Michel told a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s LaLiga match against Osasuna.

Michel said his side were behind in their preparations for the new campaign, having lost several of his key players from last season.

Winger Savinho, who was on loan at Girona last season, moved to Manchester City, striker Artem Dovbyk left for Serie A side AS Roma, and versatile midfielder Aleix Garcia was signed by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite being backed by the wealth of their Abu Dhabi owners, Girona operate in a different financial world to that of Premier League champions Manchester City, who headline their City Football Group stable.

“Last year we had a great communion, the fans helped us to win points at home. That’s why I ask our fans to be with us, together we are stronger.

“We have not been able to work as we wanted with this new group together in the close season. The team understands what we want, but it’s true that we need to connect more. I am convinced that we will do it quickly