Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Mexico’s monarch butterfly population jumps 64%, offering hope for at-risk species

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:41:47 +0000

The insects covered its largest area since 2018, despite threats from habitat loss, climate crisis and pesticides

The population of monarch butterflies in Mexico increased 64% this winter, compared with the same period in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope for an insect considered at risk of extinction.

‘Yes to fields of wheat, no to fields of iron’: how the world’s greenest country soured on solar

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:27 +0000

In Denmark, the spread of solar panels has become a divisive issue among voters, especially in rural areas

In one telling of the story, the golden fields of a proud farming nation are under attack. Besieged by an industrial sprawl of solar panels, they are being smothered at the behest of an urban elite.

‘It’s not sustainable’: US farmers reeling as Iran war pushes fertilizer costs up

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:35 +0000

Closure of strait of Hormuz – a key fertilizer production and transportation route – has squeezed farmers as prices jump

Rodney Bushmeyer has been farming as long as he can remember. Bushmeyer’s father was a farmer, as was his grandfather.

The family-run Bushmeyer Farms in Illinois dates back more than 100 years, when his ancestors came to the US from Germany. They acquired the first 80 acres cost-free as homesteaders, cleared the land, and worked it.

Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ‘hopeless Tory rejects and oddballs’ as one is suspended – as it happened

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:20:01 +0000

This blog is now closed

Severin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.

Malcolm Offord, Reform UK’s Scottish leader, has doubled down on his defence of the party’s vetting by dismissing remarks by candidates backing Tommy Robinson or describing Humza Yousaf as an “Islamist moron” (see 10.12am) as “fruity language”.

Week in wildlife: wild boar babies, fenland ponies and a slug with strange genitalia

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:00:13 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

Week in wildlife: wild boar babies, fenland ponies and a slug with strange genitalia

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:00:13 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

‘Like lighting a cigarette while trying to quit’: Australia approves new coal seam gas expansion

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:05:31 +0000

The expansion in Queensland, which has been approved until 2081, will contribute about 120m tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime

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A major coal seam gas expansion, contributing about 120m tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime, has been approved by the federal government until 2081.

Heatwave scorching US west ‘virtually impossible’ without climate crisis, say scientists

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:01:11 +0000

Unseasonably warm and even dangerous temperatures this week were up to 30F above average for the time of year

The record-breaking heatwave scorching the US west this week would have been “virtually impossible” if not for the climate crisis, a team of scientists has determined.

Millions of Americans from the Pacific coast to the Rockies baked under unseasonably warm and even dangerous temperatures this week, with temperatures up to 30F (17C) above average for the time of year.

Work from home and slow down on the road: world’s energy watchdog advises emergency measures as oil prices rise

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:20:40 +0000

IEA makes 10 recommendations to help households and businesses prepare for a drawn-out disruption to energy markets

The world’s energy watchdog has advised governments to reduce highway speeds and encouraged workers to carpool or, ideally, work from home to combat soaring oil prices and impending fuel shortages caused by the Middle East conflict.

It has also recommended countries consider limiting car access to designated zones in large cities, by giving vehicles with odd-numbered plates access on different weekdays to those with even-numbered plates.

More than 70 UK councils failed to issue single fine for littering last year

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:12 +0000

Exclusive: Lack of enforcement is allowing people to drop rubbish with complete impunity, says Clean Up Britain

Scores of councils across the UK have in effect ended enforcement of fines for littering, while others are letting litterers off lightly and many more are neglecting to enforce fines for fly-tipping.

At least 71 councils failed to issue a single fine for littering last year, while a further 67 issued fewer than 10, according to data from the Clean Up Britain campaign.