Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Week in wildlife: a peek-a-boo fish, dunkin’ frogs and a white crow

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:28 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

How ‘smog capital of Poland’ saved 6,000 lives by cutting soot levels

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:00:24 +0000

Kraków’s ban on burning solid fuels plus subsidies for cleaner heating has led to clearer air and better health

As a child, Marcel Mazur had to hold his breath in parts of Kraków thick with “so much smoke you could see and smell it”. Now, as an allergy specialist at Jagiellonian University Medical College who treats patients struggling to breathe, he knows all too well the damage those toxic gases do inside the human body.

“It’s not that we have this feeling that nothing can be done. But it’s difficult,” Mazur said.

New drone unit to investigate illegal waste dumping across England

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:24 +0000

Government announces tougher measures to tackle unlicensed sites as ‘prolific waste criminal’ is ordered to pay £1.4m

A new 33-strong drone unit is being deployed to investigate the scourge of illegal waste dumping across England, the government has announced.

The improvements to the investigation of illegal waste dumping – which costs the UK economy £1bn a year – come as the ringleader of a major waste crime gang was ordered to pay £1.4m after being convicted at Birmingham crown court.

UniSuper accused of greenwashing after reducing environmental element of investment option

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:38:45 +0000

UniSuper says change was made ‘to expand the investible universe’ but complaint to Asic claims members were not properly informed

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Deer shooting to be facilitated in England to protect woodlands

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:30:15 +0000

Government plans legislation giving landowners and tenants rights to cull deer to protect crops and property

It will be much easier to shoot deer in England under government plans that aim to curb the damage the animals are doing to the country’s woodlands.

Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, plans to bring forward new legislation to give landowners and tenants legal rights to shoot deer to protect crops and property.

Trump order seeks to protect weedkiller at center of barrage of lawsuits

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:32:15 +0000

President’s move, which also seeks ‘immunity’ for makers, faces backlash from health advocates and Maha coalition

New Zealand bug of the year: moth named Avatar after mining threat crowned winner

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:00:12 +0000

Arctesthes avatar moth, which won nearly half of the votes, was discovered in 2012 and is critically endangered

A tiny critically endangered moth, named after the Avatar films because of the proposed mining activity threatening its primary habitat, has been crowned New Zealand’s bug of the year.

The Guardian view on Merz and Meloni: an emerging Berlin-Rome axis is threatening the EU’s green deal

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:05:08 +0000

The deregulation agenda being pushed by Germany’s chancellor and Italy’s prime minister is economically and ethically flawed

Avalanche risks remain high in California after deaths of skiers

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:30:01 +0000

Forecasters predict more snow in Sierra Nevada mountains as climate crisis increases threat of dangerous conditions

Avalanche risks remain high in the Sierra Nevada mountains of northern California this week, following the deadliest snowslide the region has seen in modern times.

The climate crisis has set the stage for more dangerous conditions, with sharper swings between dry periods and severe storms, according to experts, who have long warned that extremes will amplify as the world warms.

Horse meat set to be banned in Italy amid draft equine bill

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:52:41 +0000

Law defines animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets and is backed by opposition parties

Italy could soon ban horse meat as part of a law that would define equine animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets, making it illegal to kill them.

The bill has been drafted by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a politician with Noi Moderati, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, and is backed by opposition parties.