Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Week in wildlife: a proud eagle, an adorable axolotl and a goofy seal

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:11 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

Dramatic rise in water-related violence recorded since 2022

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:07 +0000

Experts say climate crisis, corruption and lack or misuse of infrastructure among factors driving water conflicts

Water-related violence has almost doubled since 2022 and little is being done to understand and address the trend and prevent new and escalating risks, experts have said.

There were 419 incidents of water-related violence recorded in 2024, up from 235 in 2022, according to the Pacific Institute, a US-based thinktank.

Indonesia takes action against mining firms after floods devastate population of world’s rarest ape

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:07 +0000

Conservationists hail the ‘desperately needed’ measures and urge greater protection after up to 11% of endangered Tapanuli orangutans wiped out

The floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s fragile Batang Toru ecosystem in November 2024 – killing up to 11% of the world’s Tapanuli orangutan population – prompted widespread scrutiny of the extractive companies operating in the area at the time of the ecological catastrophe.

MPs ask Serious Fraud Office to investigate UK home insulation sector

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:01:01 +0000

More than 30,000 households left with defects after ‘catastrophic failure’ of Tory government schemes

Members of parliament have called for the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the UK’s home insulation sector, after thousands of householders suffered ruined homes, big financial losses and months of disruption from the “clear and catastrophic failure” of two Conservative government schemes.

Government admits its approval for Buckinghamshire AI datacentre should be quashed

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:11:13 +0000

Campaigners hail U-turn during legal challenge over proposed centre an ‘embarrassing climbdown’

The government has been forced to admit its own planning approval for a major AI datacentre should be quashed after it failed to fully consider the climate impact, in what campaigners described as “an embarrassing climbdown”.

Canada aquarium that threatened to kill its whales wants to sell them to US

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:33:10 +0000

Marineland seeks approval to sell belugas to United States after its China export proposal was rejected

‘It’s heartbreaking’: how 30 captive beluga whales have become pawns in row over animal cruelty

Senators urge Ford to disclose suspected lobbying over Trump’s climate rollbacks

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:00:52 +0000

Sheldon Whitehouse adds auto giant to investigation after US president claimed CEO requests changes to regulations

As the Trump administration prepares to overturn the rule underpinning virtually all US climate regulations, a Senate committee is investigating whether the US’s second-largest automaker lobbied for the rollback.

New wood-burning stoves to carry health warnings in UK plan

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:56:37 +0000

Pollution from wood burners kills thousands but proposed emissions limit would cut toxic particles by 10%

New wood-burning stoves will carry a health warning highlighting the impact of the air pollution they produce, under UK government plans.

Ministers have also proposed cutting the limit on the smoke emitted from wood burners by 80%. However, the measure would only apply to new stoves, most of which already meet the stricter limit. The new limit would cut the annual toxic emissions from wood burning in the UK by only 10% over the next decade, according to the consultation.

Nearly 200 arrested in cross-border crackdown on gold mining in Amazon

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:08:33 +0000

Cash, gold, mercury and firearms seized in operations in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname

Police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname have arrested nearly 200 people in their first joint cross-border operation targeting illegal gold mining in the Amazon region, authorities said.

Tower Hamlets mayor acted unlawfully in attempted removal of LTN schemes

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:03:40 +0000

Road safety activists ‘vindicated’ after success of campaign supported by NHS trusts and headteachers

UK politics live – latest updates

The mayor of Tower Hamlets acted unlawfully in attempting to remove three low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) schemes, the court of appeal has ruled.