Latest news with #Shen
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Science
- Time of India
Antarctica Ice Mass: Study finds unusual ice mass gain in Antarctica amid global climate concerns; here's more
As the world progresses, so does the climate crisis, and often in the most unexpected ways. Scientists have reported a surprising shift in the southernmost region of the planet. Antarctica has gained ice mass for the first time in decades! Just imagine the shift! What is it about? In a recent study published in , from 2021 to 2023, the Antarctic Ice Sheet underwent an accelerated increase in mass. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Researchers at Tongji University in Shanghai, led by Dr. Wang and Prof. Shen, say this was due to particularly dense snowfall during the period. The scientists used data from NASA's GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite missions, which track the Earth's gravitational field to create maps of mass change. Antarctica is estimated to have gained 108 billion tons of ice annually for the past two years, a dramatic turnaround from the decades of long-term losses in the previous decades. From 2002 to 2010, Antarctica lost around 74 billion tons annually. The rate accelerated to one of nearly 142 billion tons annually from 2011 to 2020, primarily due to melting in the West Antarctic and East Antarctic coastlines. Researchers had long forecast the melting ice on the continent would leave a quantifiable impact on raising global sea levels. The recent spike is not necessarily an indication of lasting recovery, however. Experts warn that it could be a short-term shift and not a reversal of the general warming trend. While the increase in ice mass is good news, it's likely due to transient weather and not a sign that climate change is reversing," a climate scientist unrelated to the study added. "Antarctic ice remains very sensitive to long-term warming, especially at the margins." In the meantime, the Arctic remains beset with portentous indicators of disrepair. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To our surprise, Arctic sea ice cover hit a record low winter level in March 2025 at 14.33 million square kilometers, NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported. This surpasses the latest low in 2017, once again showing the spectacular changes in the north polar region. The diverging polar trends remind us that climate change is complex and can occur differently in various regions. Scientists refer to the necessity of ongoing monitoring and investigation of changing dynamics of Earth's cryosphere. The researchers attribute this rebound to unusual increases in precipitation, which led to an accumulation of snow and ice. In May 2025, experts warned that current forecasts may underestimate the impact of subglacial water, which develops when the ice sheet melts at its base owing to glacier movement or geothermal heat from bedrock. They anticipated that subglacial water will contribute 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) to sea-level rise by 2300.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Wu administration steps up pressure for Revs stadium mitigation
'While these meetings have been cordial,' Shen wrote, referencing the negotiations, 'the information you have shared remains conceptual with none of the technical detail and analysis needed as a baseline to properly assess the impact of your proposal or negotiate a fair agreement for the City of Boston.' Shen emphasized to Bilello in the letter that addressing 'community mitigation is not optional, nor to be taken lightly.' Advertisement A spokesperson for the Kraft Group issued a statement saying that the company was surprised by the letter and that it is inconsistent with the positive tone and numerous productive discussions both sides have had since they started meeting in February. The Wu-Kraft discussions are happening amid a political backdrop: Wu is running for reelection this year, and her principal challenger is Josh Kraft, a former nonprofit executive whose father, Robert Kraft, is lead executive and owner of the Kraft Group and its two pro sports teams. Two of Josh Kraft's brothers are also top executives there. Josh Kraft had said he would recuse himself from any stadium discussions if elected. Advertisement The As part of The May 1 deadline came and went without an outside mediator participating. But now, judging from Shen's letter, that phase is imminent. In an attachment to the letter, the Wu administration outlines a series of concerns it would like to see addressed, or at least analyzed. They include: MBTA connections and capacity for those attending games and concerts, off-site parking options, the effects on water quality in the Mystic and Boston Harbor, flood resilience, noise impacts, and estimates of the number of construction and permanent jobs. Advertisement City officials also want a forecast of the impact that the nearly 25,000-seat stadium would have on rival concert venues in Boston — TD Garden, Fenway Park, and the Leader Bank Pavilion. (That's one of the issues that came up during the State House negotiations over the legislation.) Shen, in his letter, again draws a parallel between a mitigation agreement valued at $68 million Several of the questions that Shen raises presumably will be tackled by an outside consultant, Watertown-based VHB, that the Kraft Group has asked to address transportation and other related issues around the stadium, its construction, and future impact. 'Throughout this process the Kraft Group has operated in good faith and has supplied Boston with every piece of information the city has requested,' said Kraft Group spokesperson Anisha Chakrabarti. 'During our many meetings and conversations, representatives from Boston have not expressed these concerns with our process or with our efforts.' Chakrabarti added that Kraft Group executives are 'deeply disappointed that politics and grandstanding seem to have taken place over thoughtful analysis and collaboration. This simply impedes progress and economic development for the City of Everett, the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth.' Advertisement Jon Chesto can be reached at
Boston Globe
7 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Rules for 700-foot skyscrapers across downtown will have to wait
Advertisement Shen said the Planning Department would aim to have the zoning amendment in front of the BPDA board in September. The zoning changes are part of PLAN: Downtown, which the board adopted about a year and a half ago, but haven't yet been formalized into city code. Related : The plan area stretches across the Financial District and Downtown Crossing, from the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway to Tremont Street along the Boston Common and Public Garden, then down to Arlington Street and Tufts Medical Center. The stretch of downtown includes at least one station for every MBTA subway line and the Silver Line bus, much of the Freedom Trail and the colonial-era Old State House and Old South Meeting House, and effectively encapsulates the core of the economic engine that powers Boston and New England, but which has come under increasing stress since the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, its evolution has been closely watched by city and state officials alike, along with downtown residents, preservationists, and others. Advertisement Molly Donahue, the director of advocacy for the Boston Preservation Alliance, said at last month's public meeting that allowing for PDAs 'isn't ideal.' 'We are concerned that the proposal has been presented without analysis of the potential impacts on some of Boston's most significant cultural sites and buildings,' Donahue said. Related : Advertisement Any zoning rules, the Planning Department said, would be superseded by state shadow law and federal airspace rules that limit building heights in parts of downtown. Those laws, especially the shadow laws, have proven fungible before, particularly amid the development review process for what's now Winthrop Center. Former governor Charlie Baker in 2017 Another critic of changing the shadow law for Winthrop Square was the Friends of the Public Garden, a public-private partnership representing the Garden, Common, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. At the time, the city reassured the Friends that it would commit to clear zoning downtown — but this plan isn't that, said board chair Leslie Adam. The proposed zoning would allow for incremental shadow impacts that would leave the Common 'significantly shadowed' during much of the year, she said. A zoning plan under consideration by the city could ease the way for much taller buildings in Downtown Crossing. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'We are disappointed that there is no clarity or commitment in the zoning — that they continue to say that they're going to rely on state shadow laws when we know, in fact, that that has not protected us in the past," Adam said. 'The Boston Common is the oldest park in America, and tells the story of our nation and our city.' Rishi Shukla, cofounder of the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association, said Tuesday that a downtown coalition has been meeting with city officials in recent weeks to work through differences. Advertisement 'This is a once in a generation opportunity to shape the heart of Boston,' Shukla said. 'We've always been committed to working with the administration and other stakeholders to get this right. That remains true.' Catherine Carlock can be reached at
The Age
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘I'll never forget that moment': Samantha Ratnam on politics, Palestine and the path ahead
For now, Ratnam has returned to social work and is spending more time with her 4½-year-old daughter, Malala. But her eyes are still fixed on the future, and on Wills. 'These decisions are in the hands of our membership and the party,' she says on whether she would run in Wills again. 'We've got a state election coming up next year, so I'll be supporting our local campaign teams in that work. And then, we'll start thinking about the next federal election as well. I've wanted to serve the party and the movement in whatever way I can, and I'm very happy to put my hand up in future as well.' That quiet resolve has defined Ratnam's political life. A trained social worker and the first woman to lead the Victorian Greens in state parliament, she stepped down from her leadership role to contest the federal seat of Wills, a traditional Labor stronghold, believing the moment demanded it. 'I've never thought of politics as a career,' she says. 'When I came into the Greens about 15 years ago, I was very worried about climate change. I thought, 'What can I do?' I felt at a loss. So I thought I'd join with others who seemed to know what to do and see how I can help. 'And I really thought that if people ask me to hand out flyers for the rest of my life, then that would be what I'd do, and I'd be very happy doing it.' Throughout our lunch it's clear Ratnam is well known here. At one point, a local named Shen stops to scold us for not ordering the lentil soup, which he swears is the best item on the café's menu. He concedes, however, that our choices – the feta and mozzarella gözleme for me, and Joy's Breakfast, a hearty plate of poached eggs on toast with avocado, mushrooms, salad and a potato börek hash brown for Ratnam – are worthy alternatives. Shen then points to the red watermelon pin, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, proudly displayed on Ratnam's green coat, to tell her he loves it. 'Thank you,' she says. 'Absolutely horrific what's happening.' The war in Gaza, Ratnam says, played a defining role in the Wills campaign; even in the weeks after the election, locals in Wills felt compelled to tell her how they were feeling, and recalling these interactions brings her close to tears. 'I had countless numbers of conversations with people who said, 'I'm voting Greens for the first time for Gaza,' because I have seen the Greens willing to put themselves on the line,' she says. The electorate of Wills, which spans a progressive patch of Melbourne's inner north, also includes a significant Arab-Australian and Muslim population. In suburbs such as Fawkner, Ratnam says, the message from voters was clear. When I ask about the defining moment of her weeks-long campaign, Ratnam's answer comes almost immediately. 'On election night, when the numbers started to roll in, it was looking like we were in it,' she says. 'And we were in it for much of the night. It wasn't until the day or so after that, when the postal votes started to come in, that the margins started to really increase.' Ratnam goes on to speak about the voting patterns in the northern parts of the electorate, and apologises when her voice begins to crack. 'But I will remember this one moment when I learnt about the booth results in Fawkner – they were reporting that we'd achieved about a 40 per cent primary in Fawkner at Fawkner College. 'We worked very hard with that community, and it means so much because of what's happening, especially in Gaza. 'It's a community that has traditionally been underserved and overlooked by people in power, and we spent a lot of time up in the north wanting to listen deeply and making sure their voices were heard. So to see that result come through and to see how that community had rallied together, I'll never forget that moment. 'I'm sad that we couldn't win it for what this meant to a number of communities, especially those who carry what is happening to the Palestinians right now. But the work continues.' Ratnam says any suggestion that her campaign in Wills was aggressive is completely 'unfair and unfounded'. When she first ran against Khalil in 2016, Ratnam says she reached out to him to establish an open line of communication, asking that he contact her directly if any issues arose during the campaign. She extended the same offer again in 2025, before the campaign ramped up. Loading 'He did not contact me once during this entire campaign about behaviour that was troubling that was from one of our volunteers or campaigners,' she says. 'I did, however, see, especially at pre-poll, people in the community and voters challenging Khalil on his government's work or inaction, especially on Gaza … While that might be a hard thing to hear, it's the truth for the community, and it might make the Labor Party and the local MPs uncomfortable, but that's a result of their inaction.' Though this campaign was intense, Ratnam says it is part of a bigger shift she has witnessed since first entering politics. 'People feel it more directly now. It's whether you can afford food, pay rent, get healthcare. And when the material conditions bear down, people look to politics for answers,' she says. Ratnam knows firsthand how deeply personal experiences can shape political convictions. She was born in Sri Lanka, and her family fled the country's civil war, first finding refuge in Canada, before eventually settling in Australia in 1989. From a young age, Ratnam was immersed in political discussions. In Sri Lanka, she recalls adults around her constantly talking about politics with both passion and urgency. 'They knew how important it was because they knew they were either electing people who would help broker peace or people who were helping fan the flames of division, and therefore war in our country,' she says. 'So, literally, the difference between peace and war was how we were talking about politics.' Like many migrant families, Ratnam has faced constant upheaval before finding stability in Australia. 'Three continents, five schools in 2½ years. But when I moved into this community over 15 years ago, I knew I wanted to stay forever,' she says. 'You feel a sense of belonging here.' That strong bond with her local community has made Ratnam a familiar face on the streets of Wills, sometimes even when she's not there. Her identical twin sister, who lives across Melbourne, joined her on the campaign trail and was often mistaken for her. 'There are some good election day stories,' she says with a laugh. 'People would walk up to her like, 'Hi Samantha!' She'd say, 'No, I'm not …' but they didn't believe her.' As we talk, retirees sip coffee nearby, while pigeons peck at crumbs underfoot. Ratnam's lunch sits nearly untouched as she continues to speak. She's gesticulative and wide-eyed, and speaks with unguarded warmth, especially as she reflects on the political awakening of her younger self. 'In the playground, we didn't face a lot of discrimination at first,' she says. 'I put that down to the political climate – Bob Hawke, Paul Keating – leaders talking positively about multiculturalism. We'd watch SBS every night, and I remember Paul Keating talking about Australia's place in Asia. Suddenly, we felt like we were part of the national conversation.' But that early sense of inclusion didn't last. As Australia's political rhetoric shifted, Ratnam felt the change keenly. 'That really stayed with me – how leadership shapes what's acceptable. It planted the seed for why I got interested in politics. Words matter. Leaders matter.' It's why she speaks with such fondness – and sadness – about Adam Bandt, the Greens' former federal leader, who lost his seat of Melbourne on the same day she lost Wills. 'It's devastating to lose Adam from parliament and from the leadership of our movement at this moment,' she says. 'He's been an incredible representative and mentor. But the Greens have had setbacks before. We regroup. We come back stronger. That I'm sure of.' When it comes to assessing the Greens' losses in their inner-city stronghold, or more broadly their poor federal election performance, Ratnam says the Greens must learn how to better combat 'hostile campaigning'. 'We've seen some of those third-party groups come together with the pure intention of damaging the Greens,' she said. 'We threaten the status quo … we're saying that we can't do business as usual if we want to have a planet where there's a chance of surviving through climate change. If we want people to have good lives where they can access the things they need, things are going to have to be a little bit different. 'We've got to talk to the community about what they might experience in campaigns and help mitigate against some of that really negative campaigning – and you do that by building community and building trust and going directly and talking to people.' But despite the setback, Ratnam remains optimistic about the future of Wills. It's unclear whether she sees herself as the driving force for change in the seat, but with or without her face on the corflute, she's sure that change is coming. 'I think the Labor Party would know they're in deep trouble in this community,' she says. 'It's never been closer to turning Green, and we're going to keep working until it does turn Green.'
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'll never forget that moment': Samantha Ratnam on politics, Palestine and the path ahead
For now, Ratnam has returned to social work and is spending more time with her 4½-year-old daughter, Malala. But her eyes are still fixed on the future, and on Wills. 'These decisions are in the hands of our membership and the party,' she says on whether she would run in Wills again. 'We've got a state election coming up next year, so I'll be supporting our local campaign teams in that work. And then, we'll start thinking about the next federal election as well. I've wanted to serve the party and the movement in whatever way I can, and I'm very happy to put my hand up in future as well.' That quiet resolve has defined Ratnam's political life. A trained social worker and the first woman to lead the Victorian Greens in state parliament, she stepped down from her leadership role to contest the federal seat of Wills, a traditional Labor stronghold, believing the moment demanded it. 'I've never thought of politics as a career,' she says. 'When I came into the Greens about 15 years ago, I was very worried about climate change. I thought, 'What can I do?' I felt at a loss. So I thought I'd join with others who seemed to know what to do and see how I can help. 'And I really thought that if people ask me to hand out flyers for the rest of my life, then that would be what I'd do, and I'd be very happy doing it.' Throughout our lunch it's clear Ratnam is well known here. At one point, a local named Shen stops to scold us for not ordering the lentil soup, which he swears is the best item on the café's menu. He concedes, however, that our choices – the feta and mozzarella gözleme for me, and Joy's Breakfast, a hearty plate of poached eggs on toast with avocado, mushrooms, salad and a potato börek hash brown for Ratnam – are worthy alternatives. Shen then points to the red watermelon pin, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, proudly displayed on Ratnam's green coat, to tell her he loves it. 'Thank you,' she says. 'Absolutely horrific what's happening.' The war in Gaza, Ratnam says, played a defining role in the Wills campaign; even in the weeks after the election, locals in Wills felt compelled to tell her how they were feeling, and recalling these interactions brings her close to tears. 'I had countless numbers of conversations with people who said, 'I'm voting Greens for the first time for Gaza,' because I have seen the Greens willing to put themselves on the line,' she says. The electorate of Wills, which spans a progressive patch of Melbourne's inner north, also includes a significant Arab-Australian and Muslim population. In suburbs such as Fawkner, Ratnam says, the message from voters was clear. When I ask about the defining moment of her weeks-long campaign, Ratnam's answer comes almost immediately. 'On election night, when the numbers started to roll in, it was looking like we were in it,' she says. 'And we were in it for much of the night. It wasn't until the day or so after that, when the postal votes started to come in, that the margins started to really increase.' Ratnam goes on to speak about the voting patterns in the northern parts of the electorate, and apologises when her voice begins to crack. 'But I will remember this one moment when I learnt about the booth results in Fawkner – they were reporting that we'd achieved about a 40 per cent primary in Fawkner at Fawkner College. 'We worked very hard with that community, and it means so much because of what's happening, especially in Gaza. 'It's a community that has traditionally been underserved and overlooked by people in power, and we spent a lot of time up in the north wanting to listen deeply and making sure their voices were heard. So to see that result come through and to see how that community had rallied together, I'll never forget that moment. 'I'm sad that we couldn't win it for what this meant to a number of communities, especially those who carry what is happening to the Palestinians right now. But the work continues.' Ratnam says any suggestion that her campaign in Wills was aggressive is completely 'unfair and unfounded'. When she first ran against Khalil in 2016, Ratnam says she reached out to him to establish an open line of communication, asking that he contact her directly if any issues arose during the campaign. She extended the same offer again in 2025, before the campaign ramped up. Loading 'He did not contact me once during this entire campaign about behaviour that was troubling that was from one of our volunteers or campaigners,' she says. 'I did, however, see, especially at pre-poll, people in the community and voters challenging Khalil on his government's work or inaction, especially on Gaza … While that might be a hard thing to hear, it's the truth for the community, and it might make the Labor Party and the local MPs uncomfortable, but that's a result of their inaction.' Though this campaign was intense, Ratnam says it is part of a bigger shift she has witnessed since first entering politics. 'People feel it more directly now. It's whether you can afford food, pay rent, get healthcare. And when the material conditions bear down, people look to politics for answers,' she says. Ratnam knows firsthand how deeply personal experiences can shape political convictions. She was born in Sri Lanka, and her family fled the country's civil war, first finding refuge in Canada, before eventually settling in Australia in 1989. From a young age, Ratnam was immersed in political discussions. In Sri Lanka, she recalls adults around her constantly talking about politics with both passion and urgency. 'They knew how important it was because they knew they were either electing people who would help broker peace or people who were helping fan the flames of division, and therefore war in our country,' she says. 'So, literally, the difference between peace and war was how we were talking about politics.' Like many migrant families, Ratnam has faced constant upheaval before finding stability in Australia. 'Three continents, five schools in 2½ years. But when I moved into this community over 15 years ago, I knew I wanted to stay forever,' she says. 'You feel a sense of belonging here.' That strong bond with her local community has made Ratnam a familiar face on the streets of Wills, sometimes even when she's not there. Her identical twin sister, who lives across Melbourne, joined her on the campaign trail and was often mistaken for her. 'There are some good election day stories,' she says with a laugh. 'People would walk up to her like, 'Hi Samantha!' She'd say, 'No, I'm not …' but they didn't believe her.' As we talk, retirees sip coffee nearby, while pigeons peck at crumbs underfoot. Ratnam's lunch sits nearly untouched as she continues to speak. She's gesticulative and wide-eyed, and speaks with unguarded warmth, especially as she reflects on the political awakening of her younger self. 'In the playground, we didn't face a lot of discrimination at first,' she says. 'I put that down to the political climate – Bob Hawke, Paul Keating – leaders talking positively about multiculturalism. We'd watch SBS every night, and I remember Paul Keating talking about Australia's place in Asia. Suddenly, we felt like we were part of the national conversation.' But that early sense of inclusion didn't last. As Australia's political rhetoric shifted, Ratnam felt the change keenly. 'That really stayed with me – how leadership shapes what's acceptable. It planted the seed for why I got interested in politics. Words matter. Leaders matter.' It's why she speaks with such fondness – and sadness – about Adam Bandt, the Greens' former federal leader, who lost his seat of Melbourne on the same day she lost Wills. 'It's devastating to lose Adam from parliament and from the leadership of our movement at this moment,' she says. 'He's been an incredible representative and mentor. But the Greens have had setbacks before. We regroup. We come back stronger. That I'm sure of.' When it comes to assessing the Greens' losses in their inner-city stronghold, or more broadly their poor federal election performance, Ratnam says the Greens must learn how to better combat 'hostile campaigning'. 'We've seen some of those third-party groups come together with the pure intention of damaging the Greens,' she said. 'We threaten the status quo … we're saying that we can't do business as usual if we want to have a planet where there's a chance of surviving through climate change. If we want people to have good lives where they can access the things they need, things are going to have to be a little bit different. 'We've got to talk to the community about what they might experience in campaigns and help mitigate against some of that really negative campaigning – and you do that by building community and building trust and going directly and talking to people.' But despite the setback, Ratnam remains optimistic about the future of Wills. It's unclear whether she sees herself as the driving force for change in the seat, but with or without her face on the corflute, she's sure that change is coming. 'I think the Labor Party would know they're in deep trouble in this community,' she says. 'It's never been closer to turning Green, and we're going to keep working until it does turn Green.'
