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Airbus acknowledges slow progress on hydrogen plane

Airbus acknowledged on Friday that progress on developing an aeroplane operating on hydrogen was slower than expected, but said it was not reviewing its approach to decarbonising aviation.

Trump slams paper straws, vows 'back to plastic'

President Donald Trump on Friday raged against eco-friendly paper straws promoted by his predecessor Joe Biden, and pledged that the United States would return to using plastic ones.

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Brazil vets heal burns of jaguar burned in Pantanal fire

At a shelter for big cats in Brazil, a vet gingerly dresses wounds on a jaguar that was caught in wildfires raging in the world's largest tropical wetland.

Tesla truck fire took 190,000 liters of water to extinguish

US firefighters used some 190,000 liters of water to extinguish a blaze involving an electric Tesla Semi truck this month following a crash, a government agency said.

Germany joins pushback to EU anti-deforestation law

Pressure mounted on the European Union on Friday to delay a ban on imports of products driving deforestation, after Germany became the latest country to request the rules be postponed.

Going green? British fashion struggles with sustainability

In an industrial underground space in central London, models in contrasting period dresses and playful streetwear strutted down a brightly lit London Fashion Week (LFW) runway.

Climate finance talks make little progress before UN summit

International negotiations on money to help developing countries tackle climate change concluded without a breakthrough this week, just two months before Azerbaijan hosts the United Nations climate summit.

Backside breathing and pigeon bombers studies win Ig Nobel prizes

Mammals that can breathe through their backsides, homing pigeons that can guide missiles and sober worms that outpace drunk ones: these are some of the strange scientific discoveries that won this year's Ig Nobels, the quirky alternative to the Nobel prizes.

Another rare Javan rhino calf spotted at Indonesia park

A new Javan rhino calf has been spotted in an Indonesian national park, the facility's head said Friday, further boosting hopes for one of the world's most endangered mammals after two other sightings this year.

$Support for Trump, questions for Harris in pro-fracking Pennsylvania$

Support for Trump, questions for Harris in pro-fracking Pennsylvania

For Pennsylvania farmer George Wherry, 85, fracking for natural gas under his otherwise bucolic fields means greater economic "freedom" -- one of the many reasons he'll be voting for Donald Trump in November.

Brazil urges EU to suspend 'punitive' anti-deforestation law

Brazil said Thursday it has urged the EU to suspend the implementation of a ban on imports of products driving deforestation, describing the new rules as "punitive".

UK military urged to stop using bearskin hats on cost grounds

Animal rights group PETA on Thursday renewed its call for soldiers outside Buckingham Palace to stop wearing real bearskin hats after UK government figures revealed they now cost more than £2,000 ($2,600) each.

Floods hit millions in West and Central Africa

Parts of Central and West Africa have seen heavy flooding over an unusually intense rainy season, unleashing a humanitarian crisis in which hundreds have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Teresa Ribera, the Spanish climate expert tipped to become EU commissioner

Spain's ecological transition minister Teresa Ribera, who is poised to become a European Union commissioner, is a longtime environmentalist known for her negotiating skills and climate expertise.

Prayers for birth in most populous nation India

Each year 25 million babies are born in India, the world's most populous nation, but for desperate childless couples wanting to be parents, prayers at a sacred Hindu well offer hope.

Chile arrests ex-firefighter with 'hero' motive over deadly blaze

Chilean police on Monday arrested a former fireman for allegedly contributing to a massive blaze that killed 137 people and destroyed thousands of homes in February because he wanted to be a "hero" by helping put it out.

Smoke from Brazil fires clouds major cities, neighboring countries

Smoke from intense wildfires in the Amazon rainforest and other parts of Brazil was choking major cities, like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Monday, and wafting into neighboring countries.

US statewide bans on plastic bags reduced beach pollution: analysis

Statewide bans on plastic bags in the United States have led to significant reductions in the number of bags found on beaches and waterways, according to a scientific analysis published Monday.

China's Hellobike looks to say hello to Europe

Chinese bicycle-sharing giant Hellobike plans to expand to Europe, its management said Monday, with its point of entry likely to be Paris.

Greenpeace sounds alarm on microplastics ingested by Hong Kong wildlife

Microplastic particles turned up in the vast majority of waste samples taken from Hong Kong wildlife in a Greenpeace study, the group said Monday, suggesting that animals still ingest plastics even if they are not feeding in urban areas.

Drought sinks longest Polish river to record-low level

Poland's longest river, the Vistula, on Sunday hit a record-low water level in the capital because of drought, the national weather agency said.

Super Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam after leaving deadly trail

Super Typhoon Yagi uprooted thousands of trees and swept ships and boats out to sea, killing one person, as it made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday, after leaving at least 23 dead through southern China and the Philippines.

Visiting Papua New Guinea, pope says natural resources must benefit all

Pope Francis visited Papua New Guinea Saturday, where he called for vast natural resources to benefit the "entire community" -- a politically charged demand in a nation where many believe their riches are being stolen or squandered.

Pope tells Papua New Guinea leaders natural resources must benefit all

Pope Francis told Papua New Guinea's leaders Saturday that vast natural resources must benefit the "entire community", a politically charged call in a nation where many believe riches are being squandered or stolen.

June-August 2024 were hottest ever recorded: EU monitor

The 2024 northern summer saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, beating last year's record and making this year likely Earth's hottest ever, the EU's climate monitor said Friday.

US bat decline triggered pesticide surge and over 1,000 infant deaths: study

A collapse in North America's bat population led to a surge in pesticide use by farmers as an alternative way to protect their crops -- in turn triggering a rise in infant mortalities, a study revealed Thursday.

Brazil braces for more fires amid extreme low humidity

More than a thousand Brazilian municipalities were on alert Thursday due to very low humidity -- in some cases comparable to that of the Sahara desert -- as the country is gripped by a historic drought that has fueled major wildfires.

South Korea sees highest average summer temperature on record

South Korea experienced its highest average summertime temperature since such records began half a century ago, nearly two degrees higher than the historic average, the weather agency said Thursday.

Japanese island eradicates rabbit-killing mongoose

Japan has wiped out all mongooses on a subtropical island, officials said, after the animals ignored the venomous snakes they were brought in to hunt and preyed on endangered local rabbits instead.

UK conservationists and eBay team up against plant poaching

UK conservationists on Wednesday announced a collaboration with e-commerce giant eBay to combat the illegal plant trade, which is threatening the existence of some species.

Eco-friendly French cargo ship revives sail power

A French ship navigating past New York City to harbor laden with Champagne, Cognac and jam under sail might recall a long-forgotten age of wind navigation.

Namibia's drought cull of more than 700 wildlife under way

A Namibian government cull of more than 700 wildlife to cope with its worst drought in decades is under way, with nearly 160 animals already killed, the environment ministry said Tuesday.

Ex-Volkswagen CEO denies charges in 'dieselgate' trial

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn denied the charges against him as his "dieselgate" trial began, his lawyer said Tuesday, nine years after the scandal first plunged the German auto titan into crisis.

UK announces record green energy auction

The UK on Tuesday said it had awarded a record 131 new green infrastructure projects in a single auction, including plans for Europe's two biggest offshore windfarms.

The Japan Times - Nature (English)