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The southern region, encompassing states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, has significantly reduced <keyword id="15300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water" source="Orion">water</keyword> storage compared to historical averages at just 17 per cent of reservoir capacity, according to the recent bulletin of the <keyword id="19912241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Water-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Central Water Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Central Water Commission">Central Water Commission</keyword>. In the bulletin released by the CWC late Thursday concerning reservoir storage levels across various regions of India, it was reported that 42 reservoirs under CWC monitoring in the southern region have a total live storage capacity of 53.334 BCM (billion cubic meters). As per the latest report, the total live storage available in these reservoirs stands at 8.865 BCM, representing only 17 per cent of their total capacity. This figure is considerably lower compared to the storage levels during the same period last year (29 per cent) and the ten-year average for the corresponding period (23 per cent). The reduced storage levels in the southern region are indicative of worsening <keyword id="15300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water" source="Orion">water</keyword> scarcity and potential challenges for irrigation, <keyword id="20333839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water-supply" source="keywords">drinking water supply</keyword> and hydroelectric power generation in these states. In contrast, the eastern region, comprising states like Assam, Odisha and West Bengal, has shown a positive improvement in water storage levels compared to last year and the ten-year average. The bulletin highlighted that in this region, 23 monitored reservoirs with a total live storage capacity of 20.430 BCM currently hold 7.889 BCM of water, representing 39 per cent of their total capacity. This marks an improvement over the storage levels from the same period last year (34 per cent) and the ten-year average (34 per cent). The situation is less optimistic in other regions. The western region, consisting of Gujarat and Maharashtra, reports storage levels of 11.771 BCM, which is 31.7 per cent of the total capacity of 49 monitored reservoirs. This is notably lower compared to the storage levels of the previous year (38 per cent) and the ten-year average (32.1 per cent). Similarly, the northern and central regions also show declines in water storage levels compared to historical averages. The broader analysis provided in the bulletin categorizes reservoir storage across various river basins as "better than normal," "close to normal," "deficient," or "highly deficient". Notably, river basins like Brahmaputra, Narmada and Tapi are marked as having better-than-normal storage levels, whereas basins like Cauvery and east flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar are classified as highly deficient. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank">Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-c65-5g-with-5000mah-battery-120hz-display-launched-starting-at-10499/articleshow/109619597.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-c65-5g-with-5000mah-battery-120hz-display-launched-starting-at-10499/articleshow/109619597.cms" target="_blank">Realme C65 5G with 5,000mAh battery, 120Hz display launched starting at ₹10,499</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank">An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema</a>

Southern India faces water crisis as reservoir levels plunge to just 17% capacity: CWC

<ul><li><keyword id="7822725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iqoo" source="Orion">iQOO</keyword> has launched the <keyword id="20649412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iQOO-Z9-5G" source="Orion">iQOO Z9 5G</keyword>, its latest budget smartphone in India.</li><li>The device has been priced starting at ₹19,999 and is available in two variants.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about the latest smartphone from iQOO.</li></ul> iQOO today launched its latest budget smartphone in its Z series, the iQOO Z9 5G in India. The company had recently launched the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iqoo-neo-9-pro-with-snapdragon-8-gen-2-launched-in-india-will-take-on-the-oneplus-12r/articleshow/107908049.cms"> iQOO Neo 9 Pro</a> in the mid-range segment. The iQOO Z9 5G is part of the highly competitive sub ₹20,000 segment, which has seen the launch of many devices recently, including the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-12-5g-and-realme-12-5g-launched-in-india-starting-at-16999/articleshow/108261608.cms"> Realme 12+ 5G</a>,<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-f15-5g-with-6000mah-battery-launched-in-india-starting-at-15999/articleshow/108202302.cms"> Samsung Galaxy F15 5G</a> and more. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="iQOO Z9 5G price in India" comment="subhead" text="iQOO Z9 5G price in India"><keyword id="20747004" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iQOO-Z9-5G-price" source="Orion">iQOO Z9 5G price</keyword> in India</cmsannotation> The iQOO Z9 5G has been launched in two variants. The base variant, which offers 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, is priced at ₹19,999 and the 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage variant is priced at ₹21,999. The iQOO Z9 5G will go on sale on March 13 from Amazon India and iQOO online store. It comes in two colour variants, Brushed Green and Graphene Blue. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="iQOO Z9 5G specifications" comment="subhead" text="iQOO Z9 5G specifications">iQOO Z9 5G specifications</cmsannotation> The iQOO Z9 5G runs on Android 14 out of the box with the company’s Funtouch OS 14 on top. The company has promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates for the smartphone. This means that the device will get Android 16. The smartphone features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display comes with a punch-hole notch for the selfie camera. The iQOO Z9 5G is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset. The device is available in two storage variants – 8GB RAM + 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM + 256GB internal storage. Coming to the camera department, the iQOO Z9 5G features a dual camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera with Sony IMX882 sensor and OIS and a 2MP portrait sensor. On the front, the device sports a 16MP selfie camera. The iQOO Z9 5G is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 44W charging support. The device comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor and is IP54-rated for water and dust resistance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-m15-5g-set-to-enter-indian-markets-with-6000mah-battery-50mp-camera/articleshow/108395006.cms">Samsung Galaxy M15 5G set to enter Indian markets with 6,000mAh battery, 50MP camera</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-14-vs-oneplus-12-vs-iqoo-12-which-brand-new-flagship-phone-should-you-choose/articleshow/108389461.cms">Xiaomi 14 vs OnePlus 12 vs iQOO 12 – Which brand-new flagship phone should you choose?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nothing-phone-2a-smartphone-debuts-in-india-priced-starting-at-23999/articleshow/108240037.cms">Nothing Phone (2a) smartphone debuts in India, priced starting at ₹23,999</a>

iQOO Z9 5G is the latest entrant in the under-₹20,000 smartphone segment in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back! This is Jordan Parker Erb, filling in again for Dan DeFrancesco. Haven't voted in our tech and biz March Madness bracket? Don't worry — you can still <a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/Y1o2xiLNpDfgvUpj7">make your choices here</a>.In today's big story, we're looking at how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-crisis-social-security-pensions-student-loan-debt-2024-3">retiring in America became a luxury</a> that not everyone can afford.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Warren Buffett's favorite market gauge just hit a two-year high. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-indicator-stock-market-outlook-bubble-crash-ai-tech-2024-3">It could mean a crash is coming</a>.</li><li>Tech: Only one generation has the skills <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-business-startups-entrepreneurship-digital-era-branding-social-media-2024-3">to launch a successful new business</a>: Gen Z.</li><li>Business: Wait, it's OK <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelics-work-microdosing-lsd-psilocybin-ketamine-retreats-elon-musk-2024-3">to do drugs at work now</a>?</li></ul>But first, America has a problem.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3>The big story</h3><h2>Retirement crisis</h2><div type="image" title="An office chair with a ball and chain attached to it." height="975" width="1300" msid="108770041" hostid="261"></div>What was once a natural part of the American dream — retirement — is now a luxury many workers can't afford.It used to be that you could expect to put in a few decades of work and then enjoy a few more good years of rest. But more and more often, retirement-age people feel they've been left behind.Business Insider's Juliana Kaplan spoke with several people who <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-crisis-social-security-pensions-student-loan-debt-2024-3">should be able to retire — but can't</a>.The problem is multifaceted. Pensions are disappearing. Social Security benefits are in peril. People are living longer than ever. As BI previously reported, fewer than half of all boomers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-not-enough-retirement-savings-gen-z-millennials-eldercare-2024-1">have saved enough for retirement</a>.Mounting student-loan debt doesn't help, either. According to one researcher and associate professor of economics, this is the first generation of Americans that has taken on substantial student-loan debt for their children.All of that combines to form a growing, and increasingly bleak, American retirement crisis. It has left at least one woman Juliana spoke to, who's in her 70s, worried she's "going to die" in the HR job she's still working.<div type="image" title="An illustration of a person in a pool floatie." height="1000" width="2000" msid="108770042" hostid="261"></div>With boomers' experience trying to retire playing out in front of them, it's no wonder some younger people are hustling to secure an early retirement.BI has written at length about Gen Zers and millennials who have saved up to retire in their 30s or 40s. Some save up the majority of their paychecks, while others have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-worker-financial-independence-retire-early-fire-in-canada-cheaper-2024-3">cashed in on relocation bonuses</a>.But still, the reality is that most people can't expect to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retire-early-financial-independence-mindful-spending-investing-berlin-2024-3">retire by 36</a>. Plus, some who do <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-googler-fire-early-retirement-coworking-personal-finance-2024-2">leave work early end up regretting it</a>. Unused to idle time and the sudden evaporation of their office relationships, some people quickly return to the office.One woman who retired early said she could only do so because she moved to India, where the cost of living is lower. She said there was "no way" she could have done it in the US. Still, she wound up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-googler-fire-early-retirement-coworking-personal-finance-2024-2">going back to work</a> after an initial attempt at retirement.While early retirement isn't for everyone, retirement at its most basic level — leaving work after most of our adult lives — should be. The notion that people who've done everything they were supposed to, and still can't retire, points to major problems in the system at large.<h3>News brief</h3><h2>Your Monday headline catchup</h2>A quick recap of the top news from over the weekend:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moscow-concert-hall-attack-russia-crocus-city-hall-2024-3">What we know about the Moscow concert hall attack — and why ISIS-K is claiming responsibility</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-preventative-chemotherapy-how-it-works-2024-3">Kate Middleton said she's having preventative chemotherapy — here's what that could mean</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lawyer-court-behavior-consequences-manhattan-criminal-hush-money-trial-2024-3">Trump's lawyers dance for him when he's in the courtroom. At a criminal trial, that could torpedo his chances of winning</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-west-secondary-sanctions-hitting-oil-exports-payments-revenue-2024-3">Russia has finally admitted Western sanctions are hitting its oil exports</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jailed-momfluencer-ruby-franke-diary-entries-reveal-child-abuse-2024-3">Momfluencer Ruby Franke wrote in her journal that it was 'a big day for evil' as she detailed how she tortured her children</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/content-creators-hosting-on-x-elon-musk-advertisers-unpredictable-2024-3">X is fishing for more creators. Some won't bite</a>.</li></ul><h2>3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Market bull money stocks" height="1537" width="2049" msid="108770043" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>An investment firm says these two parts of the market still have huge upside. Investors should focus on the cheapest 20% of large-caps, as well as on non-US stocks, GMO wrote. The firm said these provide <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-investing-strategy-outlook-undervalued-areas-value-equities-gmo-2024-3">the best allocation opportunity in 35 years</a>.</li><li>Warren Buffett's favorite market gauge just hit a two-year high. The "Buffett Indicator" — which just surged to 184% — compares the stock market's total value to the overall size of the economy. Buffett has warned that buying stocks at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-indicator-stock-market-outlook-bubble-crash-ai-tech-2024-3">a reading near 200% is "playing with fire."</a></li><li>Sam Bankman-Fried is set to be sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors want the disgraced FTX founder to serve 40 to 50 years in prison. His lawyers are asking for a much lighter sentence, arguing that FTX customers might get all their money back and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sbf-sentencing-ftx-customers-get-money-back-should-it-matter-2024-3">flagging SBF's possible neurodivergence</a>.</li></ol><h2>3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="An illustration of a hand holding a grocery basket." height="1000" width="2000" msid="108770045" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>Get ready for Generation Biz. The entrepreneurial landscape has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades. The new name of the game is branding and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-business-startups-entrepreneurship-digital-era-branding-social-media-2024-3">Gen Z is uniquely set up to succeed</a> in today's digital-centric marketplace.</li><li>AI-powered Cherish Health has raised $26 million — without VC money. The company, which produces a radar-based fall detection device, is set to raise a $30 million Series B. Instead of raising money from venture capital firms, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-cherish-health-raised-26-million-without-venture-capital-2024-3">it worked with billionaires and other businesses</a>. So far, it's paid off.</li><li>Apple is having a nightmarish year. The Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit is just the latest of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apples-nightmarish-year-keeps-getting-worse-doj-antitrust-iphone-2024-3">several events that may hurt the tech giant</a>. Apple is also battling a tumbling share price, sluggish iPhone sales in China, and doubts about its AI efforts.</li></ol><h2>3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="A person staring at a computer, with a psychedelic pattern coming from their head." height="1000" width="2000" msid="108770046" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>Work on drugs. Elon Musk is taking ketamine and people in tech are microdosing mushrooms. Drugs used to be for getting high — now <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelics-work-microdosing-lsd-psilocybin-ketamine-retreats-elon-musk-2024-3">people are using them to get ahead</a>.</li><li>The American South is on a roll. Southern states are booming right now, thanks to an accelerating rise in population driving major economic growth. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/population-boom-south-texas-georgia-dallas-houston-atlanta-movers-homebuyers-2024-3">The region is beating out the West</a>, once again, as the fastest-growing region in the US last year.</li><li>These are tough times for the consulting business. Major firms across the board appear to be struggling with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-consulting-business-demand-is-rough-right-now-2024-3">waning client demand</a> as the macroeconomic environment weakens. Accenture said on Thursday that it was cutting its revenue forecast for 2024, while Deloitte has kicked off a reorganization process in a bid to cut costs.</li></ol><h2>In other news</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-investor-marc-andreessens-33-million-house-for-sale-2024-3">Billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen is selling his home for more than $33 million</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nike-cut-supply-of-sneakers-air-force-1-and-pegasus-2024-3">It might be harder to buy your favorite pair of classic Nikes this year</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alphabets-verily-layoffs-google-employees-molecular-science-immune-profiler-r2024-3">Alphabet's Verily lays off employees working in one of its science groups</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whoop-ceo-nimble-employees-sleep-more-startup-productivity-2024-3">Whoop's CEO on staying nimble as a company — and why the startup pays employees to sleep more</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-spring-break-lyft-uber-drivers-earnings-tips-money-miami-2024-3">A month's pay in one week: South Florida Uber and Lyft drivers explain how they capitalize on the spring break rush despite 'a little sand' and 'crappy music.'</a></li></ul><h2>What's happening today</h2><ul><li>There will be a court hearing for Donald Trump on charges of falsifying business records for "hush money" payments.</li><li>A hearing is scheduled in the UK for class actions against Google and Alphabet.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/hallam-bullock">Hallam Bullock</a>, editor, in London. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/george-glover">George Glover</a>, reporter, in London. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/grace-lett">Grace Lett</a>, associate editor, in Chicago. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lisa-ryan">Lisa Ryan</a>, executive editor, in New York.

We're watching an American retirement crisis unfold

<ul><li>Samsung has launched the <keyword id="20800784" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Galaxy-S24-FE" source="Orion">Galaxy S24 FE</keyword> smartphone in India.</li><li>The Galaxy S24 FE comes in two variants and is priced starting at ₹59,999.</li><li>The Galaxy S24 FE is now the most affordable offering in the company’s <keyword id="20259401" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Galaxy-S24-series" source="keywords">Galaxy S24 series</keyword>.</li></ul>South Korean smartphone manufacturer Samsung has announced the Galaxy S24 FE (fan edition), the company’s latest offering in its S24 series, ahead of the festive season in India. The Fan Edition devices are affordable versions of existing devices, aimed at making them more accessible. The S24 FE has been placed below the Galaxy S24 smartphone. <h2><keyword id="20800783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samsung-Galaxy-S24-FE-price" source="Orion">Samsung Galaxy S24 FE price</keyword> and availability</h2>The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is priced at ₹59,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and ₹65,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The device will be available in Blue, Graphite and Mint colour options. The pre-booking for the device is now live and it will go on sale starting from October 3. <h2><keyword id="20798092" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samsung-Galaxy-S24-FE" source="Orion">Samsung Galaxy S24 FE</keyword> specifications</h2>The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE runs on Android 14 out of the box with the company’s OneUI 6.1.1 on top. In some good news for its customers, the company has announced that the device will get seven years of Android updates and security updates. The device features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. The Galaxy S24 FE runs on the company’s <keyword id="23335278" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Exynos-2400e" source="keywords">Exynos 2400e</keyword> chipset. It is available in two variants – 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage. There is also a 512GB variant available in other markets including the US but this is unlikely to be launched in India. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113520294" title="Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review – premium watch with a rugged design" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Coming to the camera department, the Galaxy S24 FE features a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. On the front, the device sports a 10MP selfie camera. The Galaxy S24 FE is powered by a 4,700mAh battery coupled with 25W wired charging. The device also comes with wireless charging support. It features an in-display fingerprint sensor and is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/airtel-is-using-ai-powered-technology-to-block-spam-calls-and-messages/articleshow/113691942.cms">Airtel is using AI-powered technology to block spam calls and messages</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/diffusion-engineers-ipo-quick-review-ipo-gmp-risk-factors-and-more/slidelist/113687580.cms">Diffusion Engineers IPO quick review – IPO GMP, risk factors and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/hyundai-motor-indias-25000-crore-ipo-gets-sebi-approval-indias-biggest-ipo-expected-to-launch-in-october/articleshow/113658837.cms">Hyundai Motor India’s ₹25,000 crore IPO gets SEBI approval – India’s biggest IPO expected to launch in October</a>

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE with seven years of updates, Exynos 2400e launched starting at ₹59,999

<ul><li>The total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average.</li><li>The deficit is as high as 56% in south India and farmers have been asked to avoid sowing for crops like rice that need a lot of water.</li><li>Central India comes a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19.</li><li>The crisis in rural India may become a significant factor in the upcoming budget.</li></ul> India is already suffering from a severe water shortage in many parts of the country and the rain Gods have not been merciful yet. That would put pressure on the Narendra Modi government, particularly on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of the upcoming budget to ensure the rural distress in the country does not worsen any further. The total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average. The deficit is as high as 56% in the southern peninsula --Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. The central parts of the country, states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhatisgarh, come a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The shortage is therefore the worst in the rice growing areas and therefore the farmers have either delayed or reduced the sowing of crops like rice, sugarcane and cotton, all of which need a lot of water, according to government data. This is part of the government's contingency plan in the 648 worst-hit districts of the country. What's worse, farmers have <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/chem-/-fertilisers/fertilisers-to-turn-10-costlier-as-potash-rates-rise/articleshow/69657956.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">to pay up to 10% more for fertilisers</a> this sowing season, than what they paid last winter, thanks to a rise in global prices for potash due to stronger demand, the key raw material, and a weaker rupee. Tractor sales Expectations of a poor monsoon also affect the purchase of farm equipment like tractors. The impact has been visible already in the 15% fall in tractor sales in May compared to the same time last year. That's bad news for Mahindra and Mahindra, which makes nearly 31% of its revenue from tractors alone and things have been far from rosy for a while now. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The gloomy expectations have been evident in the share price too, which has lost over 31% in the last one year. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 All eyes are now on the budget, and both the country's millions of farmers as well as companies like M&amp;M hope for some sort of relief package that soften nature's blow on the rural economy. There are some encouraging signs with the President Ram Nath Kovind announcing a ₹25 trillion fund to protect the rural economy. The income guarantee scheme of ₹6,000 a year has been extended to the country's 145 million farmers. India has also appealed to China to lower tariffs on agricultural exports from India. Rural consumption has already slumped sharply and a poor monsoon may only worsen it. The government will have to think of other measures to support the economic recovery. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/there-is-a-lot-of-bad-news-that-modi-has-to-budget-for-this-year/articleshow/69635372.cms">There is a lot of bad news that Modi has to budget for this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/modi-government-sets-up-two-cabinet-panels-to-check-falling-gdp-employment/articleshow/69670523.cms">Modi government sets up two cabinet panels to check falling GDP, employment</a>

The shortfall in rains is the worst in South India and it will affect rice and oilseeds production as well as tractor sales

<ul><li>
As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. </li><li>Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog. </li></ul> No drops, No rain, nothing. India is suffering from its worst-ever water crisis in history. It has already started affecting hundreds and millions of lives and livelihoods across the country. And, people are craving for water to drink as well. “How will three pots of water be sufficient for an entire family of five,” asks a resident of Chennai — India’s sixth largest city — which ran out of water after all four reservoirs dried up this summer. 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute w..." msid="69988629" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People rush to fill their vessels from a water tanker following acute water shortage, in Chennai.Photo)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>








 A large number of people are now washing utensils in dirty water, to save the clean water for cooking and drinking. There won’t be any relief anytime soon as the southwest monsoon — accounting 80% of India’s rainfall — is late and is expected to be <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/monsoon-to-be-below-normal-over-north-south-india-imd/articleshow/69602283.cms">lower than usual</a> in both north and south India. As many as 100 million people in the country are suffering from the nation-wide water crisis. Moreover, 21 major cities are expected to be devoid of groundwater by 2020, says government think tank NITI Aayog Only some parts of the country have received rainfall — that too almost a week late. Apart from the water crisis, the harsh heatwaves in the country took more than <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/22/india/chennai-india-water-crisis-intl/index.html">137 lives </a>. India’s dwindling water sources worsened the situation. <a href="http://202.159.215.252:83/DocumentUploadRoot/DocumentId_32837/20.06.2019_CWC_Bull.pdf">According to the Central Water Commission</a>, two-thirds water reservoirs in the country are below normal levels. Little Water, No Water — Current status of crisis across the country 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai" msid="69988642" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai, India, June 11, 2019. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









 On 2 June 2019, a video of women filling bucket from the water leaked by a water tanker over the road went viral on social media, reported India spend. More than 100 districts across the country are officially affected by drought. Most of the districts (80%) in Karnataka and Maharashtra (72%) are hit by drought and crop failure. As many as 8.2 million farmers are struggling for livelihood. With scarcity comes strife. The state governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra — are now fighting over sharing water resources. Every day, Maharashtra government is sending 6,000 water tankers to 4,920 villages and 10,506 hamlets or settlements (bastis) in drought-hit areas. In the South, the Tamil Nadu government had to sanction Rs 233 crore to initiate emergency water projects. The state capital — Chennai— had to shut down the air conditioning to save as much as 9,000 litres a day. People have to stand in line for hours and they get foul-smelling water that might have been mixed with sewage. Karnataka too was forced to shut schools for a week due to water scarcity. Separately, residents of Bhilwara in Rajasthan have to keep water ‘locked’ in tankers since they depend on drinking water that is supplied once in 10 days. They are worried that it might be stolen! No groundwater by 2020 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="India Water Shortage" msid="69988668" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indiand stand in queues to fill vessels filled with drinking water from a water tanker in Chennai, capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Millions of people are turning to water tank trucks in the state as house and hotel taps run dry in an acute water shortage caused by drying lakes and depleted groundwater. Some private companies have asked employees to work from home and several restaurants are closing early and even considering stopping lunch meals if the water scarcity aggravates.Photo/R. Parthibhan)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









AP New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad are amongst the 21 cities that will run out of groundwater by 2020. This will affect as many as 100 million people, claims a report by NITI Ayog. Furthermore, 40% of India’s population will struggle for drinking water by 2030. With India’s water crisis deepening by the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently created Ministry of Jal Shakti that is going to look after the water resource management. Modi also reiterated his promise to provide piped water to every rural house in India by 2024. However, analysts have claimed that won’t be enough. A UN Human rights report claimed that soon only wealthy people in the world would be able to afford basic necessities in case of a drought, heatwave or famine. Falling rainfall levels in India 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chennai: School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following th..." msid="69988705" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;School students offer prayers to rain god seeking rainfall following the severe water crisis, in Chennai.Photo) (&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>










 The Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) reported that 43.4% areas in the country are under drought as of 30 May 2019. A delayed monsoon is among the primary reasons for the current crisis. In the last five years, 2017 was the only year when India did not experience drought, reported India spend. Both South west monsoon and North-east monsoon were lower than usual. Last year, India Meteorological Department said that the ‘post-monsoon’ rainfall — responsible for 10-20% of the India’s monsoon — was lower by 44%. And the pre-monsoon rainfall was the lowest it saw in the last 65 years. Experts fear that India is soon going to witness Day Zero if no action is taken on time.

Five years on, India may not even get a chance to solve its on-going water crisis risking hundreds of millions of lives

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is experiencing an extreme heatwave with March and April temperatures hit 122-year highs.</li><li>The scorching weather has caused a surge in electricity demand for cooling and irrigation.</li></ul>An extreme heatwave in India is causing power cuts and outages, leading the country to buy discounted <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/india-buys-cheap-russian-natural-gas-putin-ally-china-shuns-2022-5">liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia.</a>India has been experiencing extreme temperatures in the last two months, with March and April temperatures hitting 122-year highs in parts of the country, reported the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hottest-april-in-122-years-for-northwest-central-india-states-grapple-with-power-shortage/articleshow/91206793.cms">Times of India,</a> citing the country's meteorological department.In the capital of New Delhi, temperatures topped 110°F for several consecutive days last month, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-heat-wave-pakistan-climate-change-snapshot/">CBS</a> reported. Even at night, the mercury has not dipped below 86°F, the <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> outlet added.The scorching weather has sent residents rushing to turn on fans and ACs, while farmers are cranking up water pumps for parched fields. The surging demand for power came as industrial activity started picking up after the country lifted all pandemic-related restrictions on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mha-ends-covid-19-containment-measures-from-march-31-wearing-of-face-mask-to-continue/articleshow/90396036.cms">March 31.</a>"Many regions have been unable to meet high levels of early peak demand on a sustained basis, leading to extended power outages, state-imposed power cuts, and widespread train cancellations," analysts at risk consultancy Eurasia Group wrote in a note last week.The demand has depleted fossil-fuel supplies in India, forcing the country to top up its <keyword id="11917806" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="energy" source="Orion">energy</keyword> with <keyword id="13468239" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lng" source="Orion">LNG</keyword> on the spot market, India's <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/india-turns-to-expensive-foreign-gas-to-ease-its-power-crisis/articleshow/91333653.cms">Economic Times</a> reported last week.As Russian LNG is now shunned by most international buyers due to sanctions and boycotts over to the <keyword id="13186997" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ukraine-war" source="Orion">Ukraine war</keyword>, it's priced at a discount to current market rates — making the fuel more attractive to Indian buyers, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-09/india-buyers-grab-discounted-russia-lng-shunned-by-rest-of-world">Bloomberg</a> reported on Monday, citing traders.Even so, India is still paying about triple the regular LNG spot price for this time of the year, India's <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/india-turns-to-expensive-foreign-gas-to-ease-its-power-crisis/articleshow/91333653.cms">Economic Times</a> reported last week. LNG prices in Asia are at record highs on the back of the Ukraine war, according to <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/natural-gas/042022-global-gas-demand-to-decline-by-03-in-2022-amid-high-prices-volatility-iea">S&amp;P Global.</a>Gas accounts for just 4% of the India's electricity generation in 2020, according to Bloomberg.India has not overtly condemned <keyword id="11894337" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="russia" source="Orion">Russia</keyword> or imposed sanctions against the country for the war in Ukraine.

An extreme heatwave is triggering blackouts across India &mdash; and it's buying Russian natural gas to alleviate its energy crisis

Dismayed by several recent changes in school <keyword id="6375423" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="syllabus" source="Orion">syllabus</keyword> related to the weather, <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword>, and even the Indian monsoon, a teachers' body has urged the <keyword id="48505" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ncert" source="Orion">NCERT</keyword> to rethink these deletions from the school environmental syllabus and bring in different facets of the <keyword id="6375923" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate" source="Orion">climate</keyword> crisis. Teachers Against the Climate Crisis (<keyword id="14398053" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tacc" source="Orion">TACC</keyword>) has claimed the NCERT has removed an entire chapter on Greenhouse Effect from Class 11 Geography syllabus; an entire chapter on weather, climate weather systems, and water from the Class 7 syllabus; and information about the Indian monsoon from the Class 9 syllabus. TACC, a non-funded, non-party organisation that seeks to promote understanding about climate and has members across universities and research institutions across <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, said it appreciates NCERT's efforts to manage learning deficit in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic by seeking to reduce students' workload by culling material - as explained on its website - however, "none of these concerns apply to fundamental issues such as climate change science, the Indian monsoon, and the other chapters that have been deleted." Stating that the relevant climate change science as being continuously updated via thousands of peer-reviewed papers published each year as well as very important compilations such as the <keyword id="8956" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="intergovernmental-panel" source="Orion">Intergovernmental Panel</keyword> on Climate Change (IPCC's) latest Assessment Reports and India's own report on climate change published by an agency under the <keyword id="158211" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-earth-sciences" source="Orion">Ministry of Earth Sciences</keyword>, a statement from TACC said, "It is extremely important that senior school students all over India are conveyed the essence of such updated information in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner." Across the world, including in India, students have been more and more concerned about the drastic changes wrought by environmental degradation, of which climate change is an example. "Young people's actions and interventions are crucial to meeting this most fundamental challenge. This action needs to be predicted upon systematic knowledge of the reality of climate change, its causes, and its enormous reach. Students need to understand the complexity of the climate crisis if they are to respond and engage intelligently with it," TACC said. Class 10 students, however, will no longer be able to learn and be inspired by popular people's movements such as Chipko movement or Narmada Bachao Andolan in their 'Popular Struggles and Movements' lessons since the chapter on them has been taken out of their 'Democratic Politics' syllabus, it said, and urged the NCERT to rethink its decision about deletions of these topics from the environmental syllabi. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/twitter-fires-30-of-its-employees-in-the-talent-acquisition-team/articleshow/92739415.cms">Twitter fires 30% of its employees in the talent acquisition team</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/elon-musks-44-billion-twitter-deal-is-in-jeopardy-says-report/articleshow/92738854.cms">Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter deal is in jeopardy, says report</a>

Bring back chapters on climate crisis, teachers body tells NCERT

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Russian ship Zhibek Zholy carrying 7,000 tons of grain was detained Monday by <keyword id="11998211" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="turkey" source="Orion">Turkey</keyword>.</li><li>Ukraine wants it arrested, saying the grain onboard was stolen in a geopolitical gambit.</li></ul>Turkish authorities detained a Russian ship carrying grain stolen from Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said.Anton Geraschenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian government, <a href="https://t.me/Pravda_Gerashchenko/29652">discussed the move in a Monday Telegram post</a>, citing Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey.He said Ukraine would like to see the ship Zhibek Zholy arrested and the grain confiscated. As of Monday afternoon local time, ship-tracking website Marine Traffic <a href="https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:30.714/centery:41.116/zoom:14">showed the Zhibek Zholy</a> at anchor around 1km off the port of Karasu on the Black Sea, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-ship-black-sea-ukraine-grain-export-trade-truce/">a position it has held since Friday, Politico reported</a>. It picked up the grain from the port of Berdansk in Zaporizhzhya, a Ukrainian region occupied by Russia, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-ambassador-turkey-says-russian-ship-carrying-ukrainian-grain-detained-2022-07-03/">the ambassador told Reuters</a>.Russian authorities there hailed it as "the first commercial ship" to leave the region since the war, a claim which experts derided as a "farce," Politico reported. Their conclusion was that cargo — 7,000 tons of grain — was likely stolen.The accusation of theft by Ukraine is the latest step in what officials in the country — as well as its Western allies — have termed a deliberate attempt by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to selectively starve the world by blocking and redeploying Ukrainian food exports.Since Russia invaded, exports have largely halted, depriving many nations in North Africa and the Middle East of staple foods for which they rely on from Ukrainian agriculture.On June 23, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that Putin was "weaponizing hunger" as a "callous tool of war."<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/putin-blames-west-global-food-prices-ukraine-wheat-war-exports-2022-6">Putin has denied widespread accusations</a> that his ships are both blockading Ukrainian grain and also stealing it to be shipped by Russia.He argued on June 30 that western sanctions on Russia, not its own actions in the war, were at the root of the crisis hitting global food markets, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-russia-agriculture-idUSL1N2YH1GV">Reuters reported</a>. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing from farmers in occupied territory for weeks, and analysts have said Russia is indeed strategically weaponizing of the food supply, <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-food-became-putins-new-strategic-weapon-11656849602">as The Wall Street Journal reported</a>. As of early May, Ukraine's Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskiy said that Putin's forces had exported 441,000 tons of likely stolen grain from four occupied regions, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/05/ukraine-grain-theft-russia-hunger-war/">The Washington Post reported</a>. Turkey has so far refused to join sanctions on Russia, positioning itself as a peace broker. It has allowed the nation's oligarchs to shelter their mega-yachts — a high-profile sanctions target — in its waters. However, last week the country dropped <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-president-confirms-blocking-finland-and-sweden-nato-bid-2022-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">its former objections</a> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-blocking-sweden-finland-is-only-latest-showdown-with-nato-2022-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">Finland and Sweden joining NATO</a>, a move that was likely to displease the Kremlin, which opposes NATO expanding to include nearby countries.

Turkey detains Russian ship Ukraine says is full of stolen grain in part of Putin's plan to use starvation as a weapon

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US announced the deployment of USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean on Sunday amid a major crisis in Israel.</li><li>The USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy's newest aircraft carrier and is on its first full deployment.</li></ul>The Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier's first full deployment took an unexpected twist as the US announced that the ship and its strike group are headed to the eastern Mediterranean amid a growing crisis in Israel.US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-moves-carrier-group-capable-of-firing-guided-missiles-to-israel-2023-10">said</a> Sunday that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is moving toward Israel as a show of support for one of its closest allies — and overall the biggest recipient of US military aid — after a shock attack by Hamas killed more than 700 people. Austin added that the US would be "rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," with the first assistance arriving in the coming days. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group headed toward Israel includes the aircraft carrier itself, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The US is also augmenting American airpower in the region. Suddenly being called to respond to a serious international crisis is relatively new territory for the Ford, which set sail on its first full deployment only a few months ago, but it is the sort of thing the US carrier force does regularly. This tasking speaks to the longtime function of aircraft carriers as symbols of American military might and deterrents in periods characterized by heightened tensions.Coming into the area in the wake of Hamas' devastating attack on Israel and Israel's declaration of war on Hamas, the USS Gerald R. Ford is likely to fulfill both roles. <div type="image" title="Planes and helicopters are seen on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford CVN-78 in the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 7, 2022." height="2000" width="3000" msid="104293823" hostid="261"></div>The USS Gerald R. Ford is a new, advanced, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-aircraft-carrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-ready-to-deploy-2022-9">first-in-class</a> US Navy supercarrier which was commissioned over five years ago and has been in the making for over a decade. Its hefty price tag in excess of $13 billion was majorly bloated by timeline setbacks and technological integration issues, making it the target of fierce criticism up until its short, somewhat irregular maiden deployment last year, which was seen by some as more of a sea trial than a true deployment. That marked the first time a first-in-class US Navy supercarrier had been deployed in almost 50 years.The carrier is, as other outlets have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-american-carrier-strike-force-mediterranean-db05d535a9ebb931f684f758c9b6f628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>, currently on its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-carrier-uss-gerald-ford-deploys-after-years-of-delays-2023-4">first full deployment</a> as part of a fully certified carrier strike group, which has mostly involved exercises with partners and calls in friendly ports. Its new tasking is something of a deviation from the norm.Part of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-carrier-uss-gerald-ford-deploys-after-years-of-delays-2023-4">carrier's cost and delays</a> can be attributed to its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-admiral-navy-too-much-new-tech-aircraft-carrier-ford-2021-8">nearly two dozen new technologies</a>. This includes the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear, both of which are more efficient and launch fixed-wing aircraft more smoothly and faster than their predecessors aboard the Nimitz-class carriers.The USS Gerald R. Ford also features a new elevator system — which had plenty of problems during the integration process — designed to deliver larger and more complex munitions quicker, as well as a Dual Band Radar system capable of operating in two frequency ranges and two newly designed A1B nuclear reactors that can generate almost three times more power than their predecessors. This new technology significantly bolsters the capabilities of the ship, making it the crowned jewel of the US Navy's aircraft carriers and a major force as it sails in to provide support amid the crisis unfolding in Israel. <div type="image" title="The world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the Blue Ridge-class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), Italian navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550), TS Ciao Duilio (D 554), ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591), and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) transit the Ionian Sea, Aug. 20, 2023." height="3571" width="5357" msid="104293824" hostid="261"></div>The US Navy <a href="https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/article/2169795/aircraft-carriers-cvn/#:~:text=Aircraft%20carriers%20also%20provide%20unique,is%20routed%20quickly%20and%20safely.">refers</a> to aircraft carriers as "the centerpiece of America's Naval forces — the most adaptable and survivable airfields in the world," highlighting their operational importance and versatility. "Often the presence of an aircraft carrier has deterred potential adversaries from striking against U.S. interests," the Navy notes. "Aircraft carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of U.S. and coalition forces."That's long been the case, and there have been plenty of recent examples of the US challenging its rivals and adversaries around the world and messaging with its carriers.In early January 2021, for instance, the US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was returning home from a lengthy 10-month deployment when the Pentagon abruptly ordered the ship to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-changes-aircraft-carriers-orders-issues-warning-to-iran-2021-1">"remain on station"</a> in the Middle East in response to "recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against [then] President Trump and other US government officials."The original plan to send the Nimitz home was intended to de-escalate tensions with Iran, but its re-deployment was clearly intended to remind Iran of US naval might. In February 2021, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-two-carrier-strike-groups-south-china-sea-2021-2">conducted dual carrier operations</a> in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of US naval movements in the area and Taiwan Strait at that time that sent a message to China.And back in April 2019, the US Navy deployed two carrier strike groups — the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS John C. Stennis, as well as their combined forces of more than 130 aircraft, 10 ships, and 9,000 sailors and Marines — to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2-us-aircraft-carriers-in-the-mediterranean-send-russia-a-message-2019-4">send an unmistakable message to Russia</a>, which had been expanding its presence in the Mediterranean since 2015, when Russian military forces joined with Damascus in Syria.These are just a few of a number of such examples. Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has been operating in the Mediterranean Sea since June as part of a continuous tasking of Navy carriers to the region since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is the third, after USS George H.W. Bush and USS Harry S. Truman, to sail into these waters since the February 2022 assault, <a href="https://news.usni.org/2023/06/15/uss-gerald-r-ford-enters-mediterranean-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per</a> USNI News.<div type="image" title="F-18 jet fighters are seen on the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 17, 2022 in Gosport, England." height="4684" width="7518" msid="104293825" hostid="261"></div>With the Gerald R. Ford moving toward Israel, the US is sending its most capable, if still green, aircraft carrier into the area, but it could still face challenges in dangerous waters, especially given the capabilities of some of the regions more hostile actors, such as Hezbollah and its anti-ship missiles.The unexpected conflict playing out between Israel and Hamas is only expected to get worse and could expand as other actors make threats and Israel looks to retaliate and turn up the pressure on entire Gaza Strip, home to roughly 2 million people, with a possible heavy and devastating ground assault. The deployment of the carrier strike group indicates US support for its ally during this serious crisis."Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the material support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States' ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people," Austin said on Sunday. "My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks."

The first full deployment of the US Navy's newest supercarrier and its strike group just took an unexpected turn with the crisis in Israel

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former President <keyword id="6354862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump" source="Orion">Trump</keyword> was asked whether he believes human activity contributes to <keyword id="11896311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword>.</li><li>He dodged, pointing to other countries' climate emissions while declaring that the US must remain "competitive."</li></ul><keyword id="12095641" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="former-president-donald-trump" source="Orion">Former President Donald Trump</keyword> dodged a question on Monday about whether he believes human activity drives climate change, declaring that "the climate has always been changing" while arguing the US must not turn to renewable energy resources because it will make the country "totally non-competitive." There is <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/">widespread scientific consensus</a> that climate change is driven primarily by human activity and the resulting release of greenhouse gasses into Earth's atmosphere.During an interview with <keyword id="13231875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fox-business" source="Orion">Fox Business</keyword> host Stuart Varney that covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal, and the 2020 election, Trump claimed that President Joe Biden and his administration are propagating a "climate hoax" and refusing to boost oil production in the US.That prompted Varney to ask Trump whether he thinks climate change is "a total hoax from beginning to end.""Well, the Green New Deal is a hoax," said Trump.Varney followed up, "Is the climate changing because of human activity?""In my opinion, you have a thing called weather, and you go up and you go down," Trump falsely claimed in response. "The climate's always been changing."Trump has long denied the reality of the growing <keyword id="11896310" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-crisis" source="Orion">climate crisis</keyword>, <a href="https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/jun/03/hillary-clinton/yes-donald-trump-did-call-climate-change-chinese-h/">falsely claiming</a> in a now-unavailable tweet from 2012 that "the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive." He echoed that claim in the interview on Monday."Now, what we want is we want clean air, we want clean water," Trump continued, blaming China, India, and Russia for polluted water and air in the US. The Trump administration significantly rolled back regulations designed to combat climate change and ensure clean water and air, reversing nearly 100 environmental rules during his presidency <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks.html">according to a New York Times report</a>."It makes us totally non-competitive," Trump said of clean energy. "So unless everyone's going to do it together — the problem is, the green technology isn't powerful enough to power our great plants."The former president also reiterated his <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-claims-wind-turbines-cause-cancer-reigniting-long-feud-2019-4">long-standing grievances concerning wind turbines</a>."Let's go to the windmills. The windmills are all made in China and Germany," he said. "They rust out and they're gone in 10 years. For certain reasons, it's very hard to bury them, because of what they're made of, especially the blades, so you know, but the wind is very intermittent. It doesn't work well, and it's the single most expensive form of energy."Several of Trump's criticisms of wind turbines and wind energy are false, exaggerated, or outdated. Wind energy is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-technology-dd10b705845e945c4c33f62640ccd246">among the least expensive forms of energy</a>.

Watch: Trump dodges on whether humans cause climate change: 'In my opinion, you have a thing called weather'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costs-of-being-single-woman-taxes-wages-social-life-2022-2">Women</a> and <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/investing-in-girls-education-can-boost-developing-nations-gdp-citi-2020-10-1029728823">girls</a> face unique risks as the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-animal-extinctions-climate-change-un-ipcc-report-2022-3">climate crisis</a> deepens, according to a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-alter-human-life-un-ipcc-report-2022-2">new UN report</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-bathtub-ring-along-a-parched-los-angeles-reservoir-2021-7">Water</a> scarcity can lead to increased violence against <keyword id="11892913" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="women" source="Orion">women</keyword> and <keyword id="12720160" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="girls" source="Orion">girls</keyword>, who are often responsible for fetching water.</li></ul>Roughly half of people on the planet are at heightened risk from <keyword id="11896311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword>, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-animal-extinctions-climate-change-un-ipcc-report-2022-3">grim report</a> published this week by the United Nations revealed. Women and girls, along with pregnant people and the fetuses they carry, face greater health and safety issues from rising temperatures than men."All women are at increased risk," Rupa Basu, chief of air and climate epidemiology at the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, who was not involved in the report, told Insider.Women and girls are both more likely than men to die in extreme weather events, more at risk of domestic and sexual violence in the aftermath, and more likely to suffer food insecurity, according to the report. When pregnant, such catastrophes can lead to serious complications.<div type="image" title="pregnant woman with belly exposed talks to child next to water spout" height="1665" width="2220" msid="90018619" hostid="261"></div>"Women are more exposed, and this is because we see that climate change exacerbates existing inequalities so much," Marlene Achoki, who co-leads global policy on climate justice for the humanitarian organization CARE, told Insider.Men often have control over critical resources like food and water, while women tend to have less credit and mobility to help them adapt to new extremes, according to the report.The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<keyword id="6941656" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ipcc" source="Orion">IPCC</keyword>) recruited hundreds of scientists to summarize years of research for its sixth climate assessment. The first working group shared its findings last year, focusing on the physical changes to our planet. Monday's publication, from the second working group, examines how those changes will affect ecosystems and human lives.The report projects that extreme weather — floods, droughts, and <keyword id="11930977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="heat" source="Orion">heat</keyword> waves — will become more frequent and more severe in the coming decades, driving food and water shortages across the globe. To protect women, girls, and pregnant people, governments must start preparing for these disasters, and their health outcomes, now."I'm happy to see that pregnant women and women and girls are included in this report," Basu said, adding, "For so long, they were kind of just missed as being a high-risk population."<h2>Women trek miles in extreme heat and face violence to fetch water</h2><div type="image" title="three women walk through field carrying water jerrycans on heads" height="1665" width="2220" msid="90018622" hostid="261"></div>In places where drinking water doesn't come from a tap, women and girls trek out of town to collect water, according to the IPCC report. During droughts, they often have to walk to more distant water sites, putting them at risk of heat stroke, as well as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/03/we-run-from-men-only-to-meet-crocodiles-kenyas-drought-is-deadly-for-women">gender-based violence</a>.Aditi Mukherji, who led the water chapter of the new IPCC report, said where she lives in India, women have to walk long distances for water. Achoki said she's seen the same thing in Kenya."When I travel to the northern part of our country, that is at the edge of the border, it is so hot. Just one step when I land down to the airstrip and I feel like going back to the plane," Achoki told Insider.In this heat, she said, women and girls sometimes walk as far as 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) to fetch water. When they reach it, long lines often await them. In the process, they face an increased risk of injuries, encounters with dangerous animals, and sexual abuse, such as demand for sexual favors in exchange for water, according to the IPCC report.<div type="image" title="woman in headscarf squats to collect grain" height="1875" width="2500" msid="90018624" hostid="261"></div>Increased access to water, like local community taps, wells, and better water-storage facilities could help protect women and girls as droughts grow more prolonged and severe. The challenge is getting governments and organizations to pay for those fixes."It's not as if the solutions are new or anything. It's often about lack of finance," Mukerheji told Insider.<h2>Risks rise during <keyword id="6357793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pregnancy" source="Orion">pregnancy</keyword>: 'You feel a little helpless in a way'</h2><div type="image" title="pregnant woman wearing black shades eyes from the sun in arizona desert" height="1669" width="2225" msid="90018627" hostid="261"></div>Basu usually runs cold — she'll find herself shivering on warm, sunny days in Oakland, California. But that changed when she got pregnant. Suddenly she would heat up and break out in a sweat, while everyone around her seemed perfectly comfortable."I just couldn't regulate my body temperature," she said.She had studied how heat affects high-risk populations, like older people, but she didn't expect to be one of them anytime soon."I was kind of feeling like, 'Oh, I get it now. I can feel it,'" she said. "You feel a little helpless in a way."Basu's experience made her wonder if pregnant people, too, were uniquely vulnerable to extreme heat.<div type="image" title="A masked pregnant woman holding her stomach" height="1749" width="2332" msid="90018629" hostid="261"></div>Soon she led an analysis of nearly 60,000 births across 16 California counties, comparing birth outcomes with weekly averages of apparent temperature (which accounts for humidity) from the parents' residential zip codes. She found that an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with 8.6% more preterm births. The <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/172/10/1108/90774?login=true">study</a> was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2010.Since then, <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3811#:~:text=Association%20with%20preterm%20births%20and,1.16%2Dfold%20higher%20during%20heatwaves.">further</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4468458/">studies</a> have found similar relationships between temperature increases or heat waves and a rise in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6263858/">preterm</a> births or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33781772/">stillbirths</a>."Only in the last decade do we have any data at all to support the association between heat and adverse birth outcomes," Basu said.Several studies cited in the IPCC report suggest that extreme heat, airborne particulates like those carried in wildfire smoke, and water-related illnesses are linked to higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth.<div type="image" title="A pregnant mother receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a maternity clinic in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 24, 2021." height="3474" width="4632" msid="90018631" hostid="261"></div>Still, heat advisories often leave pregnant people out of their recommendations for vulnerable populations. Similar to older or immunocompromised people, Basu said, pregnant people may need to take extra precautions — keeping cool and inactive on hot days, or staying indoors with an air filter when wildfire smoke adds moderate levels of particulate matter to the air."I keep coming back to the same point, to not just look at the general population and see what's happening, but then to look at the really high-risk, most vulnerable populations and also consider them," Basu said, adding, "I think that's often missed, and then we're not really getting the whole picture."

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