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Germany sees 'worrying' record dry spell in early 2025

Germany's environment minister on Wednesday warned of a high risk of forest fires and poor harvests after a "worrying" lack of rain in recent weeks.

Prague zoo breeds near-extinct Brazilian mergansers

Five chicks of the critically endangered Brazilian merganser have been born at the Prague Zoo, fuelling hopes for a reintroduction of the duck in the wild, a breeder said Wednesday.

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Floods force evacuations in Australia

Thousands were warned to flee their homes in southeastern Australia on Friday to escape surging floodwaters threatening towns across three separate states.

G20 meets amid Ukraine war, US-Saudi tensions

The G20 held talks in Washington on Thursday, but Russia's presence in the club made any consensus unlikely despite the multiple crises facing the world.

Severe storms swell Iguazu falls to 10 times normal flow

The famed Iguazu waterfalls on the border between Argentina and Brazil have registered 10 times their usual water volume after heavy rains, authorities said, closing one of the site's main tourist walkways for safety reasons.

Wildlife populations plunge 69% since 1970: WWF

Wild populations of monitored animal species have plummeted nearly 70 percent in the last 50 years, according to a landmark assessment released Thursday that highlights "devastating" losses to nature due to human activity.

UK told to change behaviour to meet climate targets

Britain's approach to changing public travel, heating and food habits is "inadequate" to meet its net zero and environment targets, a parliamentary committee warned Wednesday.

Climate unease leaves Aussie mines scrambling for staff

Australia's world-beating mining firms are flush with cash and desperate for staff but green-minded workers are shunning the high-paying sector, causing serious staff shortages, the government warned Wednesday.

The Big Lie: Scandal in US as Fat Bear Week uncovers ballot stuffing

A hugely popular web poll to find the fattest bear in an Alaskan national park has become the target of rampant ballot stuffing, according to organizers who said they had pounced to protect US democracy from another hammer blow.

Hurricane Julia slams Nicaragua, menaces Central America

Hurricane Julia raked across Nicaragua Sunday, lashing the country with winds and heavy rain and bringing potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides to much of Central America.

Hurricane Julia makes landfall on Nicaraguan coast

Hurricane Julia touched down on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast early Sunday morning, the US National Hurricane Center said, carrying with it the threat of flash flooding and mudslides across Central America.

Julia becomes hurricane as it closes in on Central America

Former tropical storm Julia turned into a hurricane Saturday as it swirled towards Central America, where it is expected to make landfall along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, weather forecasters said.

Why more Americans are flocking to Florida, even as hurricanes intensify

There's nothing in the world that would convince Cape Coral resident Kenneth Lowe to leave -- not even having to empty his home of flood water a week after Hurricane Ian pummeled the city.

UK climate protesters undeterred despite govt threats

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman had a stark warning this week for direct-action protesters who use "guerilla tactics" to bring "chaos and misery" to the public.

Sydney smashes annual rainfall records

Australia's most populous city Sydney smashed a 70-year annual rainfall record Thursday after a year marked by devastating east coast floods.

Ursa Major: Voting starts in Fat Bear Week

Americans are weighing their options this week and deciding where to cast their ballot in the only contest that really matters: Fat Bear Week.

Climate change made 2022 drought 'at least 20 times likelier'

Human-caused climate change made this summer's drought across the Northern Hemisphere at least 20 times more likely, according to a rapid analysis released Wednesday that warns such extreme dry periods will become increasingly common with global heating.

Greenpeace blasts 'dangerous' Saudi site for Asian Winter Games

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace on Wednesday denounced as "dangerous" a massive ski resort under construction in northwest Saudi Arabia that this week was named host of the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Spore the merrier: Boom in mushrooms grown on Belgian beer

In Belgium, a country reputed for its beer, mushrooms nourished on a byproduct from the brew are doing booming business.

Africa sounds caution on net zero goal ahead of COP27

Africa needs time and money to wean itself off fossil fuels in order to achieve net zero without jeopardising its future, its representatives are warning ahead of next month's climate talks.

Singapore makes biggest seizure of rhino horn

Singapore authorities have made their biggest ever seizure of rhino horn with a US$830,000 haul confiscated from a smuggler arriving from South Africa, officials said Wednesday.

Nobel Peace Prize could sound alarm over Ukraine war or climate

As speculation mounts ahead of Friday's much-anticipated Nobel Peace Prize announcement, observers suggest the committee may sound the alarm over the war in Ukraine or climate change.

Filipinos fishing on frontline of China's battle for disputed sea

Filipino fisherman Mariel Villamonte had spent years plying the turquoise waters of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea for snapper and grouper -- until a Chinese coast guard vessel water cannoned his boat.

Argentine scientists worried after spate of whale deaths

A string of whale deaths in recent days in southern Argentina have worried scientists, who think a micro-algae could be to blame.

Study eyes US cooperation with Pakistan amid China rise

The United States needs to keep engaging Pakistan despite lingering distrust over Afghanistan, with investment and climate cooperation key to reducing the South Asian nation's growing reliance on China, a study group recommended Tuesday.

Plastic gobbling enzymes in worm spit may help ease pollution

Enzymes found in the saliva of wax worms can degrade one of the most common forms of plastic waste, according to research published Tuesday that could open up new ways of dealing with plastic pollution.

Australia lists small wallaby, snake among new endangered species

Australia's government vowed to stop plant and animal extinctions Tuesday as it listed the grey snake and a small wallaby among 15 new threatened species.

Rubbish reform: changes to waste management could slash emissions

Reforms to the way that societies collect and treat their waste could slash global emissions of plant-heating methane, a new report said Monday, noting that simple measures like composting were a climate solution "staring us in the face".

Tired of power cuts, blockaded Gaza turns to solar

Palestinians living in the Israeli-blockaded enclave of Gaza have long endured an unstable and costly electricity supply, so Yasser al-Hajj found a different way: solar power.

African climate summit opens in DR Congo

Environment ministers from about 50 countries will gather in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday for a "pre-COP27" climate summit, with rich nations likely to come under pressure to raise spending to combat climate change.

Germany builds new gas terminals to succeed Russian pipelines

Germany's most strategically important building site is at the end of a windswept pier on the North Sea coast, where workers are assembling the country's first terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Hurricane Ian dumped 10% more rain due to climate change: research

Climate change increased the rainfall from Hurricane Ian by more than 10 percent, according to a new quick-fire analysis, as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States devastated parts of Florida.

Environmental bodies concerned by new UK government's climate comments

Initial comments by British Prime Minister Liz Truss's conservative government have raised concerns about her climate policy in a country which is increasingly feeling the effects of global warming but is going through an unprecedented energy crisis.

Gas flares vastly underperform, causing greater climate impact: study

Flaring -- burning off unwanted natural gas from oil and gas wells -- releases five times more of the potent greenhouse gas methane into the atmosphere over the United States than previously assumed, according to a study published Thursday.

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