Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Andy Burnham to chair emergency Cobra meeting amid extreme heat

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:55:32 +0000

High temperatures continue across UK with 38C forecast on Thursday and wildfires stretching emergency services

Andy Burnham will chair an emergency Cobra meeting in response to extreme heat, which has caused wildfires and plunged many parts of Britain into drought.

The prime minister will meet ministers, officials and agencies as high temperatures continue across the UK, with temperatures of 33C forecast on Wednesday and up to 38C on Thursday.

All-British chocolate bar made by scientists using Reading-grown cocoa

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:19 +0000

Master’s student made first bar with 100% UK ingredients since 1932 to highlight effect of climate crisis on cocoa plants

The late queen was the only person in history to have ever eaten a chocolate bar made with 100% British ingredients, after she was given one as a six-year-old in 1932 by the confectioner Rowntree’s.

The bar was created from a glasshouse-grown cocoa plant, at Rowntree’s headquarters in York.

Massive bailout for Australia’s largest aluminium smelter expected to be announced by PM and NSW premier

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:29:45 +0000

Rio Tinto said in December it may cease operations at the Tomago aluminium smelter at the end of its current electricity supply contract

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UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:00:20 +0000

Verdant thinktank says cost could top £25bn a year by 2030 and calls for maximum temperature for working and urban redesign to cool down cities

Repeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows.

Israel deliberately starting wildfires in southern Lebanon, firefighters say

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:00:20 +0000

First responders, residents and environmental groups say military dropping flares to destroy forests and crops

Firefighters and residents of south Lebanon have accused the Israeli military of lighting wildfires in the region, as forested areas burned down in blazes sparked by Israeli bombing.

Environmental groups said the fires in recent weeks were part of a longstanding Israeli practice of targeting Lebanon’s natural environment.

Households near new pylons to get £250 taken off annual energy bills

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:01:12 +0000

Discounts confirmed near more than 40 locations across Great Britain amid biggest upgrade to electricity grid since 1960s

Households living near new power pylons will have £250 a year taken off their energy bills as the UK government prepares to push ahead with more than 40 grid upgrade projects across the country.

Male redback spiders invite cannibalism through a ‘self-sacrificial somersault’ during sex – but why?

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:01:12 +0000

New research sheds light on the genetic basis of the venomous arachnid’s ‘weird mating behaviour’

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The Guardian view on wildfires: firefighters can’t handle this crisis alone | Editorial

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:04:47 +0000

The response to this summer’s record heat and drought should be led by ministers – not left to the emergency services

Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from oil and gas assets since joining supreme court, analysis shows

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:03 +0000

Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms’ climate accountability case

The supreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.

‘Real struggle’ to tame New Forest blaze as UK set for hottest summer on record

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:49:18 +0000

Key tourist route closed and residents rallying round as battle against wildfire expected to go on for several days

The battle to contain a large wildfire spreading across the New Forest will go on for several days, experts have said, as wind changes and a desiccated landscape fuel the flames.