Breaking Waves: Ocean News

First Australian death of little penguin with H5 bird flu confirmed on Phillip Island

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:01:50 +0000

Authorities confirm first Australian death of species found with virus near where it attracts crowds to a ‘penguin parade’

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It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:00:50 +0000

They rule the roads and, in their wake, even old-style saloons have been supersized. It’s an illusion of consumer choice

Recently, while traipsing from showroom to showroom in search of a used car for my growing clan, the iconic line from Christopher Nolan’s seminal Batman movie The Dark Knight came to mind: “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” And by villain, of course, I mean an SUV driver.

Burnham announces £65m for drought-hit farmers after Labour pressure

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:30:38 +0000

PM steps up climate response with measures including better water access and support for building farm reservoirs

Farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone, Andy Burnham has said, as he announced £65m of funding to help them manage the devastating drought.

‘Devastating’: bulldozers plough through Big Bend national park as Trump’s border work pushes ahead

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:27:08 +0000

Heavy machinery seen operating in famous Santa Elena Canyon amid outcry over new wall infrastructure in beloved Texas park

Bulldozers have begun plowing up ground at the mouth of Big Bend national park’s famed Santa Elena Canyon as part of the Trump administration’s multibillion-dollar “smart wall” expansion on the US-Mexico border, according to new footage taken by activists who have been monitoring the site.

‘It’s due to climate’: the people of Stourbridge on the town’s wildfires

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:17:27 +0000

Thursday has been described by residents as ‘horrendous’, ‘distressing’ and ‘one of the scariest days of my life’

People in Stourbridge have described the fires that devastated more than a dozen homes as “horrendous” and “distressing”, with one describing blazes that surpassed the height of residential houses.

Multiple fires spread across the West Midlands on Thursday as temperatures reached record highs of 38.1C in the UK, during the country’s fifth consecutive heatwave.

Thames Water plans to restart desalination plant – after drought has ended

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:08:49 +0000

Utility company’s plant, which has only run five times, now has an estimated total cost of £500m

Thames Water is preparing the UK’s only desalination plant to restart operations later this year – but it will not be ready until the winter, long after the current drought is likely to have passed.

The utility company said that it was hoping to start operating its plant in Beckton, east London, “by the end of the year”, in order to help build up reservoir supplies over the winter for next summer.

Iberian orca known for ramming boats seen with suspected gunshot wounds

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:07:10 +0000

Marine conservationist says deliberate attack would be ‘act of extreme cruelty’ against endangered population

Spanish officials have launched an investigation after the matriarch of an orca pod known for jostling and ramming boats off the Iberian Peninsula was spotted with wounds suggesting she had been shot by a pellet gun.

The Great Barrier Reef isn’t dead yet. According to News Corp that makes climate science a ‘pseudo-religion’ | Temperature Check

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:32 +0000

‘High coral cover is evidence of recovery and resilience, not evidence that the disturbances causing mortality didn’t happen,’ scientist says

Burnham brings in military and bans disposable barbecues in ‘tinderbox’ Britain

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:31:13 +0000

PM temporarily bans barbecue sales as 19 people are taken to hospital during fires in West Midlands

Downing Street has issued a temporary GB-wide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues and brought in the military to help deal with wildfires as Andy Burnham urged people not to risk lives in “tinderbox” Britain this weekend.

Burnham criticised for EV and North Sea approach amid climate crisis

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:25:16 +0000

Cut in electric vehicle sales targets could add millions of tonnes of CO2 to emissions in UK, say green campaigners

Andy Burnham has been criticised for moving to cut electric vehicle (EV) sales targets and accept North Sea drilling at a time of devastating wildfires caused by the climate emergency.

The prime minister for the first time acknowledged on Friday that the climate crisis was behind hundreds of wildfires that have ripped across the parts of the UK.