The Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS), developed at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), near Paris, will be launched on board the JUICE spacecraft in 2022. MAJIS will map the surface limits of three Jupiter moons, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa, and characterise Jupiter's atmosphere. It will also detect different species such as ice, minerals and organics, if organics are present on these surfaces. The instrument took the team more than 10 years to build, and is cryogenic so it needs to operate at very cold temperatures. The JUICE mission is scheduled to end in September 2035.
Twenty-eight of France's 96 mainland departments are in peril of drought, with the Mediterranean, the southwest, and Paris region facing very high risks. Groundwater supplies in April were 68 percent lower than average, and the French geological survey reported on 1 May that the situation would not improve until the autumn. The government warns that water shortages in summer could be greater than in 2012, the driest and hottest on record due to low rainfall. Prefects in each department are responsible for implementing water restrictions, with enforcement being carried out by the Biodiversity office.
Damian Warner is still searching for perfection in the 'nightmare' of decathlon
CBC
23-05-21 11:30
Olympic champion Damian Warner has said that he is more motivated than ever to master the physically and mentally taxing sport of decathlon. The 33-year-old Canadian athlete has been chasing the possibility of a perfect decathlon for over a decade. Warner is headed to the annual Hypo Meeting in Götzis, Austria, on May 27-28, where he claimed his sixth consecutive decathlon title last year. He’s crossed off most of his achievements in the sport, including winning Olympic gold last year, setting a new Canadian record, breaking the 9,000-point barrier and winning over 10 decathlon competitions.
Warner recently recruited Canadian decathlete Nathaniel Mechler to be his training partner. The athlete, who has been training mostly alone alongside his cast of coaches, recognised the need to add a spark or change something about his training routine ahead of the 2021 season. Warner is chasing the world record and plans to compete at the Paris Olympics next summer.
Gar Leyshon, Warner’s coach, said Mechler has meshed seamlessly and stepped up training efficiencies for the two athletes. Warner said he, Mechler and his son Theo have made a strong family unit, which also helped him recover from an injury sustained during a crucial race at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, last July. For most of the first day, Warner was surging ahead of the field and on track to win his first world championship gold medal, but a hamstring injury in the 400m race brought about the abrupt end of his run. However, Warner said he’s out of that slump and excited for the future.
Lens staged a comeback to beat Lorient 3-1 in the French league with Seko Fofana scoring the third in the 87th minute. The win puts Lens in second place just three points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain. Although a win for PSG would restore its six-point lead, it would still need one point next weekend to secure a record 11th French title. Meanwhile, Lens is close to clinching second place and automatic entry into the Champions League. With two matches left, they lead third-place Marseille by five points.
Carbon removal, the process of transferring carbon dioxide from the Earth's atmosphere and storing it indefinitely in a safe location, is an emerging industry gaining interest from investors, buyers and policymakers. Unlike carbon stored in biological plants, which can be released when they are burned or cut down, CO2 that is artificially sequestered may stay sequestered indefinitely. This has led to the establishment of carbon removal projects such as Carbon Engineering and ClimeWorks which are attracting private capital. Carbon Engineering's direct air capture system can capture CO2 for between $94 and $232 per tonne when operating at scale, a significantly lower rate than previous estimates of $600 per tonne.
The boom in carbon removal practices is driven by technological advancements and government actions to reduce carbon emissions. A reasonable carbon price may make carbon capture and storage viable, though, for DAC to be profitable, the tax would need to be higher. As hydrocarbon-dependent economies still exist, government support is needed to bridge the gap between current and required carbon prices. Several billion dollars of America’s recently approved climate handouts fund the establishment of carbon capture programs, while an enhanced tax credit provides up to $85 per tonne of CO2 that is permanently stored.
Big tech companies, with deep pockets and a progressive image, are some of the early buyers of carbon removal, like Microsoft’s recent purchase of more than 2.7m tonnes of carbon captured from combustion and stored underground for 10 years with Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Carbon middlemen are also emerging, who act as a connector between projects and the buyers. Carbon removal projects are emerging as a necessary expenditure that requires public support to become a more profitable industry.
Canada defeated Kenya 12-7 in a relegation playoff final on Sunday to remain a core team on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Kenya was reduced to six men when John Okeyo received a sin-bin for an international knock-on. The Kenyans’ relegation means that from next season, only 12 teams will compete in the elite sevens competition. Japan became the first team to be relegated after last week’s tournament in Toulouse, France. The other three teams - Uruguay, Canada and Tonga - will have to take part in their respective regional sevens championships to qualify for the 2024 Challenger Series and climb their way back to the top tier. The Canadians’ 12th status on next season’s world series ensures the country remains on course for the 2024 Olympics. Canada, Kenya and Uruguay finished with 2-1-0 records in the relegation round-robin. Tonga finished 0-3-0.
The head of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has called for governments to consider vaccinating poultry against bird flu to prevent the virus from turning into a new pandemic. Only 25% of member states surveyed by WOAH would accept products from poultry vaccinated against HPAI, despite the European Union, which comprises 27 countries, agreeing an avian flu vaccination programme last year. France is set to become the first EU country to begin a bird flu vaccination programme, starting with ducks.
Andy Murray has withdrawn from the upcoming French Open to focus on Wimbledon, according to a report from the BBC. The US Open winner's announcement follows Rafael Nadal's withdrawal due to injury which will also sideline him from the tournament at Roland Garros, which begins on May 28. Earlier this month, former world number one Murray lost in the first round of the Italian Open and then suffered a second defeat to Stan Wawrinka at an ATP Challenger event in Bordeaux.
Ramata-Toulaye Sy, a French-Senegalese filmmaker, is the only first-timer to compete at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Sy’s debut film, “Banel & Adama,” was recognised among the 21 films competing for the Palme d’Or. This achievement sees Sy following in the footsteps of Mati Diop, a French-Senegalese filmmaker who debuted “Atlantics” in 2019. “Banel & Adama” tells the story of a deeply in love couple who dream of living outside their traditional Senegalese village. They choose to sweep sand aside to make it happen, but their yearning for independence is met with angst.
Daniil Medvedev has won the men’s Italian Open by beating Holger Rune, displacing Novak Djokovic to become the new world number two. The Russian had never before won a match in Rome and has previously said he dislikes clay. Speaking of his dislike of the surface, he said he had waived his expectations but in Rome he felt he had “managed to prove to myself and everybody that I’m capable of doing it”. Denmark's Rune, who reached the final by defeating Djokovic and Casper Ruud, praised Medvedev, saying he played “great” and was “solid from the back of the court”.
Russia's Daniil Medvedev has won his first clay-court title, defeating Denmark's Holger Rune to clinch the Italian Open. Medvedev, who was out of the top 10 earlier this year, is now set to become the world's second-ranked player behind Carlos Alcaraz, and a serious contender for the French Open later in May. Medvedev, who had not previously won a match in Rome, revealed that he had not expected to triumph on clay, but had felt positive about his Madrid and Monte Carlo matches. "I’m really happy that I managed to do it and prove to myself and everybody that I’m capable", he said.
For his part, Rune said he is targeting his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open, after reaching three finals during the clay season. Rune won his first ATP Tour title at the Sardegna Open in April.
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has reportedly lost $9bn since the financial crisis due to short positions that relied on market collapse. The failed trades led investor advisory service Hindenburg Research to suggest that Icahn Enterprises was overvalued. Shares in the company fell by 30% as a result of the accusations. Icahn, who was one of the earliest investors to push for activist strategies, has admitted to error, telling reporters that the strategies he previously recommended did not reflect today's circumstances. Hedge funds are also betting against Greek bonds before this weekend's election, while Amundi asset managers is shifting toward Chinese investments in anticipation of a subdued US economy.
Regulators in the UK and US have been accused of covering up a state-led “rigging” of interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. Banks are understood to have dropped their estimates of interest rates after being pressured by central banks and regulators, as part of a drive to artificially “restore calm”. The rate-rigging measures referred to benchmark rates including the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) and Euribor. Evidence of these moves was reportedly kept from jurors in recent trials of smaller-scale rate-rigging. Regulators have declined to comment or, in one case, rebutted the claims.
The allegations emerged following the discovery of partial transcripts of a US Department of Justice interview with Barclays cash trader Peter Johnson in 2010. Johnson claimed he had been pressured by his bosses to submit artificially lower Libor rates, under instruction from the UK government and Bank of England. The transcript reportedly suggests that central banks across the western world were pressurising financial institutions to drop interest rate estimates, suggesting a much wider state-led effort to manipulate interest rates. Many banks have been fined for manipulations of Libor in recent years.
In response to the allegations, senior Conservative MP David Davis suggested that Parliament may have been “misled” over the rate-rigging scandal: “It’s a big and complex issue with hundreds of pages of evidence.”
Tidal pools, a unique combination of natural formations and man-made elements, offer safe swimming in enclosed spaces for those nervous about the open sea. Despite facing disuse and closure, many tidal pools are still operational and popular in countries such as Australia and Malta. The Victorian development of these pools highlights their importance in the history of leisure and luxury. Tidal pools serve as a place of solace for many, with the author of the article partaking in the challenge to swim in every tidal pool in mainland Britain after struggling with grief. Most tidal pools are semi-natural, unticketed, open year-round, and require visitors to travel with a friend since they have no facilities or lifeguards. One must always check the tide, as the pool will be covered otherwise. The writer presents three day trips to tidal pools from London and five more further away that are ideal for weekend trips. Each tidal pool has its unique features, with some located on the Jurassic Coast accessible only through a cliff-top path, providing a genuinely authentic natural experience, while others, such as Clevedon Marine Lake, offer a great spot for family adventuring or water activities.
UN agency: 2M killed, $4.3 trillion in damages from extreme weather over past half-century
The Toronto Star
23-05-22 10:08
Extreme weather events over the past half-century have killed over 2 million people and caused economic damage of $4.3tn globally, according to the United Nations’ (UN) World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has published an update to its Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes. The publication, which previously covered events from 1970 to 2019, includes over 12,000 events. Most countries have faced fewer events than in the previous review, but loss of life is still concentrated in the same areas and has risen in some places. The last decade was the deadliest recorded due to events, including Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Cyclone Idai in 2019. Overall, natural disasters have killed 1.3 million people since 2000 and caused $2tn in economic losses. Extreme temperatures caused the most deaths, while flooding caused most of the economic losses. The US faced the largest financial burden, with total losses of $1.7tn, followed by China ($600bn), Japan ($230bn), India ($220bn) and Puerto Rico ($70bn).
The French Tennis Federation has teamed up with artificial intelligence software provider Bodyguard.ai to filter and block comments on social media deemed toxic or harassing. Players and officials can opt-in to the programme prior to the French Open, which begins later this month, with access staying live for a week afterwards. The software is trained to block derogatory comments on six social media platforms including Twitter and TikTok.
The Waratahs will take on the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final and feel confident going into the match. NSW has not won against the Crusaders in Christchurch since 2004 and the Crusaders orchestrated the biggest Super Rugby comeback of all time in a 2018 game, winning 31-29. The Waratahs assistant coach Jason Gilmore advised having a positive strategy with the ball was key and Dylan Pietsch warned against making mistakes while playing. Gilmore also said some players, such as Michael Hooper who has missed just ten minutes of rugby out of 11 appearances this year, could be rested.
Mark Cavendish, the world champion sprint cyclist, has announced he will retire from professional cycling after racing in one final Tour de France. He admitted it was "heart-warming" to come back and compete at the Tour after his career took a nosedive in recent years. A last-minute deal last year saw him join Deceuninck-QuickStep for the start of 2021, and the team he formerly represented played a large part in a fairytale comeback that saw him win four stages of the competition and land Eddy Merckx's record for most stage victories on the Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz has replaced Novak Djokovic as the world number one in the ATP rankings and has been named top seed for the French Open, with Daniil Medvedev now at number two. Djokovic's defeat to Rafael Nadal in the fourth round saw him drop to number three. As a result, if Alcaraz and Djokovic end up in the same half of the Roland Garros bracket, they could face off in a potential semifinal showdown. Iga Swiatek remains WTA number one, with Rybakina jumping two places to number four after winning the Italian Open. Novak Djokovic will miss the tournament due to a hip flexor injury.
French tennis player Hugo Gaston has been fined €144,000 ($155,000) by the ATP Tour for his fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season. The player threw a ball out of his pocket and on to the court during a point in order to get a do-over, and saw his fine reduced to €72,000 as long as he avoids any additional violations over the next year. The ATP stated that "unsportsmanlike conduct fines increase by 100% with each consecutive violation in the same season." Gaston, 22, has earned just over $120,000 in prize money this year, having won two and lost five matches so far in 2021. He has been awarded a wildcard from the French Tennis Federation for the French Open, which starts on 30 May after reaching the fourth round last year in the competition.
