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Tunisian startup turns olive waste into clean energy

In a northern Tunisian olive grove, Yassine Khelifi's small workshop hums as a large machine turns olive waste into a valuable energy source in a country heavily reliant on imported fuel.

Clouds changing as world warms, adding to climate uncertainty

People have always studied the skies to predict the weather, but recently scientists have noticed that clouds are changing on a global scale -- posing one of the greatest challenges to understanding our warming world.

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Volunteers clean up Bali's beach from "worst" monsoon-driven trash

Hundreds of volunteers joined a cleanup in Bali, Indonesia, Saturday as monsoon rains brought what an activist described as "the worst" waves of plastic waste to hit its tourist-favoured beaches.

Oil from Russian tanker spill reaches Sevastopol

Oil from two ageing and damaged Russian tankers was detected Friday off the coast of Sevastopol, the largest city in Moscow-annexed Crimea, a local official said.

Vietnam's capital blanketed by toxic smog

Thick smog blanketed Hanoi on Friday, obscuring buildings and leaving nine million residents choking on toxic air as the Vietnamese capital topped a list of the world's most polluted major cities.

Electric cars took 89% of Norway market in 2024

Electric cars accounted for 89 percent of the new cars sold in Norway last year, a report said Thursday, pushing the country closer to reaching its goal of going fully electric by 2025.

China says 2024 was its hottest year on record

Last year was China's hottest on record and the past four years were its warmest ever, its weather agency said this week.

2024 was China's hottest year on record: weather agency

Last year was China's warmest on record, its weather agency said, as the world experiences a surge in extreme weather fuelled by climate change.

Brazil's Amazon saw highest number of fires in 17 years: agency

Brazil's Amazon rainforest experienced its highest number of fires in 17 years in 2024, government data published Wednesday showed, after the vast biome suffered months of a lengthy drought.

'Dangerous new era': climate change spurs disaster in 2024

From tiny and impoverished Mayotte to oil-rich behemoth Saudi Arabia, prosperous European cities to overcrowded slums in Africa, nowhere was spared the devastating impact of supercharged climate disasters in 2024.

Oil leak in Peru tourist zone triggers 'environmental emergency'

Peru has declared an "environmental emergency" after an oil spill that triggered a clean-up operation on a stretch of northern coastline popular with tourists.

Anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson arrives in France

Freed anti-whaling activist Paul Watson on Friday arrived in France after five months in detention in Greenland pending an extradition demand from Japan, an airport source told AFP.

Mayotte hospital on life support after cyclone

The haggard faces in the wreckage-and-water-strewn corridors betrayed the nerves and exhaustion of those soldiering on at the main hospital on the French archipelago of Mayotte, ravaged by a deadly cyclone last weekend.

Cute carnivores: Bloodthirsty California squirrels go nuts for vole meat

Squirrels might look like adorable, nut-hoarding furballs, but some are ruthless predators that hunt, tear apart, and devour voles.

Serbia's capital Belgrade to make public transport free

All public transport in Serbia's capital Belgrade will be free from next month -- the latest European city to adopt the radical measure to counter gridlocked roads.

After long delay, French nuclear plant coming on stream

France's flagship nuclear reactor at Flamanville in Normandy will finally enter service on Friday after a dozen years of delay, operator EDF said Wednesday.

Japan 'regrets' release of anti-whaling activist Watson

Japan's government voiced dismay on Wednesday over the release of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson after Danish authorities refused Tokyo's extradition request.

Critically endangered elephant found dead in Bali river

A critically endangered elephant living at a zoo on the Indonesian resort island of Bali was found dead in a river Tuesday after being swept away by strong currents following days of torrential rain, officials said.

Japan to make renewables top power source by 2040

Japan wants renewable energy to be its top power source by 2040 in a push to reduce dependence on coal and gas and become carbon neutral by mid-century, government plans showed on Tuesday.

Bosnia hits hottest year on record in 2024: meteorologists

After a scorching drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, the Balkan country is set to mark its hottest year on record in 2024, its Institute of Meteorology said Monday.

Scientists artificially inseminate leopard sharks to boost diversity

A black-and-cream leopard shark enters a hypnotic-like state of relaxation as scientists at Sydney Aquarium carefully roll her onto her back in a small pool.

Paris-Berlin direct daytime highspeed rail link launched

French and German rail operators launched the first direct high-speed rail link between Paris and Berlin on Monday, in response to growing European demand for train travel.

Scientists struggle to explain record surge in global heat

The world has been getting hotter for decades but a sudden and extraordinary surge in heat has sent the climate deeper into uncharted territory -- and scientists are still trying to figure out why.

At least two killed as Cyclone Chido batters France's Mayotte

At least two people were killed Saturday as fierce winds from Cyclone Chido lashed French Indian Ocean territory Mayotte, with authorities warning of severe damage and residents fearing the worst.

Six rare giant catfish surface in Cambodia

Conservationists in Cambodia on Friday celebrated the discovery of six highly endangered Mekong giant catfish in the critical Southeast Asian waterway plagued by illegal fishing, habitat loss and plastic waste.

Ukraine facing 'massive' Russian attack on energy sector

Ukraine said Friday that it was fending off a new missile attack on its energy system, the latest in Russia's campaign targeting the war-torn country's power grid during the winter season.

Climate change intensified back-to-back Philippines storms: study

Human-induced climate change fuelled a rare string of back-to-back typhoons that battered the Philippines this year and boosted the chances of powerful storms making landfall, a new study said on Thursday.

Blown off course, turbine giant Orsted seeks second wind

Long dependent on fossil fuels before emerging a champion of offshore wind power, Danish company Orsted is now struggling to restore its business after dropping several major projects.

US moves to save once-common monarch butterflies from extinction

The United States is moving to grant federal protections to the monarch butterfly -- a once-common species recognizable by its striking black and orange patterns that has faced a dramatic population decline in recent decades.

Fine particle pollution blamed for nearly 240,000 EU deaths in 2022

Fine particle air pollution killed nearly 240,000 people in the European Union in 2022, a five percent fall on the previous year, the European Environment Agency said in a report published Tuesday.

President's push to scrap gold mining ban causes outcry in El Salvador

El Salvador's gang-busting strongman President Nayib Bukele has set out on a new mission: to kickstart his country's sputtering economy by inviting back the mining companies that were barred seven years ago.

2024 'certain' to be hottest year on record: EU monitor

This year is "effectively certain" to be the hottest on record and the first above a critical threshold to protect the planet from dangerously overheating, Europe's climate monitor said Monday.

'David v Goliath' battle at ICJ climate hearings

Halfway through marathon climate change hearings at the world's top court, battle lines are being drawn between developed countries urging judges to stick to current legal obligations and vulnerable nations pleading for more.

World's oldest known wild bird is expecting again, aged 74

Parenting can be tough, even for the young and energetic, but one elderly albatross is about to go through it all again -- at the ripe old (and apparently record-setting) age of 74.

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