Global heating pushes coral reefs towards worst planet-wide mass bleaching on record (www.theguardian.com)
The percentage of reef areas experiencing bleaching-level heat stress is increasing by about 1% a week, scientists say...
Donald Trump thought Ukraine ‘must be part of Russia’ during his U.S. presidency, book says (www.theguardian.com)
As president, Donald Trump “made it very clear” that he thought Ukraine “must be part of Russia”, his former adviser Fiona Hill says in a new book about US national security under threat from Russia and China....
EU passes asylum and migration pact after eight years of deadlock (www.theguardian.com)
Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, wrote on X: “History made. We have delivered a robust legislative framework on how to deal with migration and asylum in the EU. It has been more than 10 years in the making. But we kept our word. A balance between solidarity and responsibility. This is the European way.”
ExxonMobil accused of ‘greenwashing’ over carbon capture plan it failed to invest in (www.theguardian.com)
Investigation reveals project oil giant promoted may never leave drawing board and has received no licence or government support...
‘Staggering’ rise in women with reproductive health issues near DRC cobalt mines – study (www.theguardian.com)
Investigation reveals reports of miscarriages, infections and birth defects among women and girls in mining communities...
US maritime union sounds alarm over global shipping standards (www.theguardian.com)
Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association warned of the dangers of bigger cargo vessels and smaller crews not at par with US levels...
Utah forced to move hotels at NCAA Tournament after ‘racial hate crimes’ (www.theguardian.com)
Green said the team, cheerleaders and members of the school band were walking to dinner when a truck approached the group, revved its engines before someone in the vehicle shouted the n-word....
Charity steps in to rehome 300 cats from ‘overwhelmed’ man in Canada (www.theguardian.com)
An animal welfare charity in western Canada is scrambling to secure the resources needed to care for about 300 cats – all of them seemingly in good condition – after a call came in from a man who described himself as being “overwhelmed” by the sheer number of cats and kittens in his home....
Speaker of South African parliament accused of taking $135,000 and a wig in bribes (www.theguardian.com)
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denies allegations she took bribes over three years while defence minister...
Turkish central bank stuns market by hiking interest rates to 50% (www.theguardian.com)
Hawkish rise 10 days before local elections is seen as a signal of independence from politics...
Mystery in Japan as dangerous streptococcal infections soar to record levels. Health officials racing to identify cause of rise in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which has a 30% fatality rate. (www.theguardian.com)
EU leaders urged to put economies ‘on war footing’ at Ukraine negotiations (www.theguardian.com)
EU leaders are to meet in Brussels to discuss ways to radically increase military and financial support for Ukraine amid calls for member states to put their economies “on a war footing”....
Haiti gang boss tells absent prime minister to quit or face civil war (www.theguardian.com)
Single orca seen killing great white shark off South African coast (www.theguardian.com)
Attack on juvenile is thought to be first known time a lone orca has hunted down a great white...
Alberta to ban renewables on ‘prime’ land and preserve ‘pristine viewscapes’ (www.theguardian.com)
Decision by premier Danielle Smith further pits Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy...
Microplastics found in every human placenta tested in study (www.theguardian.com)
Hackers for sale: what we've learned from China's massive cyber leak (www.theguardian.com)
A massive data leak from a Chinese cybersecurity firm has offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Beijing-linked hackers. Analysts say the leak is a treasure-trove of intel into the day-to-day operations of China’s hacking programme, which the FBI says is the biggest of any country.
Antarctica sea ice reaches alarming low for third year in a row (www.theguardian.com)
The extent of ice floating around the continent has contracted to below 2m sq km for three years in a row, indicating an ‘abrupt critical transition’...
Serco ordered to stop using facial recognition technology to monitor staff (www.theguardian.com)
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting (www.theguardian.com)
French security experts identify Moscow-based disinformation network (www.theguardian.com)
French military and cybersecurity experts say they have identified a Moscow-based network spreading propaganda and disinformation in western Europe....
Biden urged to include politicians in sanctions on violent Israeli settlers (www.theguardian.com)
There are growing calls for Joe Biden to use his new executive order sanctioning violent Israeli settlers to also target political leaders, including government ministers, responsible for driving attacks against Palestinians....
Chinese hackers infiltrated plane, train and water systems for five years, US says (www.theguardian.com)
Chinese hackers infiltrated plane, train and water systems for five years, US says::A group known as Volt Typhoon, geared toward sabotage, quietly burrowed into the networks of critical US infrastructure
Exxon plan for Guyana oil exploration risks raising tensions with Venezuela (www.theguardian.com)
Israel tells families of 31 hostages their relatives are dead as Hamas mulls truce deal (www.theguardian.com)
Israel has said it has informed the families of 31 people held in the territory since 7 October that their relatives are dead. The news came as the Qatari prime minister said Hamas had given a “generally positive” response to proposals for a deal trading a break in the fighting and release of Palestinian prisoners for the...
