Tanker pays record $5.3m to transit Panama Canal amid El Niño drought The US-built canal's main users are the United States, China, Japan, Chile and South Korea. Euronews · Aug 28
Canberra wrap: NPL finals thrillers, Dogs 'swan dive' to history, Ainslie break hearts Re-live the highlights from top grade local sports as finals begin. The Canberra Times · Aug 28
Cop17 races for desertification deal as report warns half world’s soils under threat Delegates at the Cop17 summit on desertification in Mongolia are seeking to seal a deal to combat drought on Friday, the last day of the event – as a United Nations report warns the world's soils are rapidly deteriorating, while tried and tested solutions are not being implemented. Radio France Internationale · Aug 28
Landmines and remnants of war pose a serious threat, and more needs to be done to solve it In recent weeks, wildfires have ravaged Europe amid record-breaking heat and drought. These fires posed an immediate threat to life, forcing the evacuation of over 300,000 people across France, Spain and Portugal. Rivers across Europe have also hit record low water levels. The Conversation · Aug 28
'No More Grass Left to Eat': France Relaxes Rules on Iconic 'Protected' Cheese Amid Drought France suspends AOP cheese rules amid historic drought: Abondance cuts grass requirement from 50% to 15%, while 70% of Salers producers halted output. International Business Times UK · Aug 27
Homes damaged as storms follow heatwaves in England and Wales Environment Agency issues 40 flood alerts across Midlands, Yorkshire and south-east of England The Guardian - UK · Aug 27
Strict rules on French cheesemaking relaxed as farmers battle record heat and drought Depleted grasslands have forced farmers to temporarily supplement their cows' diets with feed from elsewhere. Euronews · Aug 27
A severe drought forced Australian scientists to rescue platypuses and keep them in captivity for five months; after being returned to the wild, they rebuilt their home ranges and resumed normal movements within days Following a five-month recovery from severe drought conditions, platypuses were reintroduced to their original habitats. In an eighteen-month study, researchers tracked their activities as they reintegrated into the wild. The animals displayed quick adaptation, rediscovering their typical movement patterns and preferred foraging spots, thereby emphasizing the importance of effective conservation… The Times of India · Aug 27
France relaxes rules for three famous cheeses after summer drought The drought in France is forcing farmers who produce milk for some of the country's most famous cheeses to feed their cows differently, as scorched pastures make it increasingly difficult to stick to strict rules on protected regional foods, known as AOP. Temporary exemptions on fodder sources will apply to… Radio France Internationale · Aug 27
‘Forever chemicals’ surge during pilot of Thames Water plan to combat drought Exclusive: utility company wants to draw off tens of millions of litres of water a day from Thames and replace it with treated effluent The Guardian - UK · Aug 27
Top of the crops: record heatwaves help deliver bumper UK berry harvest Investment in climate-resilient irrigation enables this year’s haul to rise 6% on 2025’s already bigger-than-usual yield The Guardian - UK · Aug 27
France to relax cheese production rules after drought takes toll on grazing land Comté, beaufort and abondance makers can temporarily supplement cows’ diets as there is ‘no grass left to eat’ The Guardian - UK · Aug 27
National Trust estate faces shortage of hay due to drought conditions Conservationists at Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire are now accelerating a programme of climate adaptation. Evening Standard · Aug 26
The Independent UK · Aug 26 National Trust forced to use winter feed months early due to UK drought Hay meadows that normally produce 150 tonnes at Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire have yielded nothing, the conservation charity said
The Times of India · Aug 26 UK heatwave exposes 300-year-old hidden gardens as drought reveals forgotten historic landscapes across Europe The intense heatwave and drought conditions are unearthing Britain's hidden historical sites. As the grass turns brown, distinct shapes of old gardens and constructions emerge from the earth. Iconic locations such as Chatsworth and Blenheim Palace are revealing ancient designs long forgotten. This short-lived phenomenon provides scholars an opportunity to…
The Economic Times · Aug 26 In 1989, a 185-page California climate report warned that a warming would slash the state's spring runoff by a full third. 30 years later, its warnings proved right, with mountain snow cover falling by half as droughts, floods and fires worsened California received climate change warnings thirty years ago. These projections accurately predicted droughts, floods, and heat waves. The state's ambitious efforts to address global warming began then. Many regret the slow societal response to these warnings. Observed impacts now confirm past scientific assessments.
The Independent UK · Aug 26 US declares drought disaster for parts of Puerto Rico as dry conditions persist The U.S. government has announced a drought disaster for more than two dozen cities and towns in Puerto Rico as water woes deepen across the U.S. territory, with no relief in sight
The Independent UK · Aug 26 The US fall foliage forecast is out. Here’s where to see the most vibrant colors this year Climate change-driven drought and heat is turning leaves brown earlier than usual in some areas
The Economic Times · Aug 26 Why are some mountain trees moving downhill as the planet warms? Scientists may have an answer Mountain trees are migrating uphill and downhill due to climate change. Their water transport efficiency and drought resistance determine their directional movement. Species with efficient water systems generally move to cooler, higher elevations. Drought-resistant species tend to expand into warmer, lower elevation areas. These varied responses challenge simple predictions about…
Euronews · Aug 26 Drought exposes fossils and wartime shipwrecks along Danube River On a stretch of the river in Bulgaria, archaeologists have been able to study the foundations of a bridge, thought to have been built in the year 328.
France 24 · Aug 26 Panama and El Salvador declare emergency over El Nino-fuelled drought Panama and El Salvador have become the latest countries along with Honduras to declare an emergency over El Nino, which has already forced a reduction in shipping through the Panama Canal. All three countries broke their monthly temperature records in both June and July, exacerbating famine concerns.
The Conversation · Aug 26 How climate change affects different modes of transport – from roads to railways As climate change makes extreme weather more frequent and intense, floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and storms are increasingly disrupting the roads, railways, airports and waterways. Roads have been closed in Germany during this summer’s heatwaves, for example, while travel has been chaotic on railways in the UK.
France 24 · Aug 26 France to ease strict rules on iconic cheeses as heat dries pastures France is temporarily relaxing strict production rules for several iconic cheeses as drought and record heat leave pastures severely depleted. Producers of abondance, beaufort and comté can now use more imported fodder and grain to feed their cows, while other traditional cheeses will also receive temporary exemptions.
International Business Times UK · Aug 26 England and Wales Face Flood Risk as Thunderstorms Break Weeks of Heat and Drought England and Wales face thunderstorms and heavy rain after a dry spell, with the Met Office warning of potential flooding, travel disruption, and power cuts across large areas.