Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Japan killed 14,000 bears after a rise in deadly attacks on people – but will it work? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/japan-killed-14000-bears-after-rise-deadly-attacks-people-will-it-work <p>Bears killed 13 people in Japan last year, as a lack of forest foods increased conflicts. Yet some say the country’s controversial cull could threaten the endangered species</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/japan-killed-14000-bears-after-rise-deadly-attacks-people-will-it-work" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:05 +0000 admin 104385 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Top of the crops: record heatwaves help deliver bumper UK berry harvest https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/top-crops-record-heatwaves-help-deliver-bumper-uk-berry-harvest <p>Investment in climate-resilient irrigation enables this year’s haul to rise 6% on 2025’s already bigger-than-usual yield</p> <p>British farmers have faced a sweltering summer tested by heatwaves, wildfires and water shortages – but a bumper berry harvest could prove a rare bright spot.</p> <p>With two-thirds of the harvest now picked, this year’s haul is 6% up on last year’s already unusually large crop, according to British Berry Growers (BBG). Volumes of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries picked have been particularly strong, the trade body said.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/top-crops-record-heatwaves-help-deliver-bumper-uk-berry-harvest" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:04 +0000 admin 104383 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org France to relax cheese production rules after drought takes toll on grazing land https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/france-relax-cheese-production-rules-after-drought-takes-toll-grazing-land <p>Comté, beaufort and abondance makers can temporarily supplement cows’ diets as there is ‘no grass left to eat’</p> <p>Strict production rules will be loosened for some of France’s most famous cheeses after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/23/climate-crisis-heat-sucking-soils-dry-extreme-drought-europe-analysis">drought</a> and repeated heatwaves dried out grazing pastures, threatening the livelihoods of traditional dairy workers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/france-relax-cheese-production-rules-after-drought-takes-toll-grazing-land" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:03 +0000 admin 104384 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Plug-in balcony solar panels to go on sale in UK for first time https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/plug-balcony-solar-panels-go-sale-uk-first-time <p>DIY system will be stocked by big retailers, starting with Argos, enabling more homes to lower bills by generating own electricity</p> <p>Plug-in solar panels will go on sale in the UK for the first time from Thursday, allowing households unable to use rooftop panels to also generate their own cheap electricity.</p> <p>Households across the country will be able to join the millions across mainland Europe who generate their own renewable electricity using “balcony solar panels”, which will be stocked by some of the UK’s biggest retailers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/plug-balcony-solar-panels-go-sale-uk-first-time" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:30:23 +0000 admin 104382 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Girl, 13, among missing British citizens after flash flood in Nepal https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/girl-13-among-missing-british-citizens-after-flash-flood-nepal <p>More than 400 travellers are said to be missing after flood on Tibet border, including 33 Britons</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/aug/27/nepal-flash-flood-live-updates-tibet-border-death-toll-missing-himalayas-floods-flooding-latest-news">Flash floods on Nepal-Tibet border – latest updates</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Thirty-three British citizens including a 13-year-old girl are among more than 400 travellers missing after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border, according to Nepal’s tourism board.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/girl-13-among-missing-british-citizens-after-flash-flood-nepal" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:41:09 +0000 admin 104381 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org South African police arrest two Thai men for allegedly smuggling parrot eggs https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-african-police-arrest-two-thai-men-allegedly-smuggling-parrot-eggs <p>Bird eggs intercepted in homemade incubators at Johannesburg airport as officials try to halt wildlife trafficking</p> <p>South African police have arrested two Thai nationals in separate incidents for allegedly attempting to smuggle endangered parrot eggs out of the country as authorities try to stem the tide of wildlife trafficking.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-african-police-arrest-two-thai-men-allegedly-smuggling-parrot-eggs" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:09:58 +0000 admin 104380 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ​W​hy are European leaders staying silent after our summer of climate shock? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/w-hy-are-european-leaders-staying-silent-after-our-summer-climate-shock <p>Lethal temperatures ​and wildfires have exposed a widening gulf between voters demanding ​action and politicians unwilling to confront the long-term choices global heating requires</p> <p><strong>•</strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/22/this-is-europe-sign-up-guardian-email-updates"><strong> Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/w-hy-are-european-leaders-staying-silent-after-our-summer-climate-shock" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:40:15 +0000 admin 104379 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org 1.3m plastic bottles collected in a day in global volunteer ocean cleanup https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/13m-plastic-bottles-collected-day-global-volunteer-ocean-cleanup <p>Ocean Conservancy says last year’s cleanup collected 13.9m pieces of rubbish from beaches and rivers worldwide</p> <p>More than 1.3m plastic bottles were collected from beaches, rivers and waterways last year during the world’s largest single-day volunteer ocean cleanup.</p> <p>About 630,000 people took part in the International Coastal Cleanup in 2025, removing almost 13.9m pieces of rubbish from more than 15,000 miles of coastline and waterways.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/26/plastic-bottles-coastal-cleanup-ocean-conservancy">Continue reading...</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:13 +0000 admin 104378 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘You can taste the ash’: surviving in America’s wildfire smoke capital https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/you-can-taste-ash-surviving-america-s-wildfire-smoke-capital <p>A magical corner of Oregon has the highest US rate of wildfire smoke deaths. How do residents live with the haze – and grief?</p> <p>Driving into the county, you can’t miss the sign.</p> <p>“IT’S THE CLIMATE”.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/aug/26/oregon-wildfire-smoke-deaths">Continue reading...</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:11 +0000 admin 104377 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Groups sue Trump’s EPA over fast-track approval of toxic datacenter chemicals https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/groups-sue-trump-s-epa-over-fast-track-approval-toxic-datacenter-chemicals <p>Exposure to two compounds approved can result in ‘sudden death’ and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warns</p> <p>The Trump administration has approved two new datacenter chemicals to which exposure can result in “sudden death” and a range of other serious health risks, like cancer, eye corrosion, neurological damage and reproductive harm, a new lawsuit warns.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/groups-sue-trump-s-epa-over-fast-track-approval-toxic-datacenter-chemicals" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:00:12 +0000 admin 104375 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org