Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Celebrities among thousands to flee homes as Los Angeles wildfires rage https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/celebrities-among-thousands-flee-homes-los-angeles-wildfires-rage <p>Blazes devastate affluent Pacific Palisades with more than 30,000 people under evacuation orders</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jan/07/southern-california-wildfire-windstorm-live-updates">Southern California wildfire – live</a></li> </ul> <p>Fast-moving wildfires raging through Los Angeles have left Hollywood movie actors and reality TV stars fleeing their hillside mansions, as wind-whipped blazes devastated affluent neighbourhoods along the coast.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/celebrities-among-thousands-flee-homes-los-angeles-wildfires-rage" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:59:50 +0000 admin 98486 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Los Angeles wildfires force thousands to flee as blazes spread out of control https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/los-angeles-wildfires-force-thousands-flee-blazes-spread-out-control <p>Over 30,000 ordered to evacuate as flames rip through coastal Pacific Palisades and other inland fires spread fast</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jan/07/southern-california-wildfire-windstorm-live-updates">Southern California wildfire – live</a></li> </ul> <p>Residents of Los Angeles have fled deadly wildfires engulfing the suburbs of the west coast megalopolis, as firefighters struggled to contain the flames overnight amid fears they would worsen on Wednesday morning.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/los-angeles-wildfires-force-thousands-flee-blazes-spread-out-control" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:55:21 +0000 admin 98480 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Charges against 34 people dropped over plastic pollution protest at Unilever HQ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/charges-against-34-people-dropped-over-plastic-pollution-protest-unilever-hq <p>CPS says there is not enough evidence to proceed against Greenpeace activists who blockaded firm’s London office</p> <p>Criminal charges have been dropped against dozens of people who staged a protest against plastic pollution outside the headquarters of Unilever.</p> <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided not to proceed against 34 individuals days before their trial was due to start.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/08/charges-dropped-plastic-pollution-protest-greenpeace-unilever-london">Continue reading...</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:31:32 +0000 admin 98482 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scuba diving has opened my eyes to a new world. Being a beginner again feels magical | Kieran Pender https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scuba-diving-has-opened-my-eyes-new-world-being-beginner-again-feels-magical-kieran-pe <p>There are significant health benefits to trying new things, whatever the activity – and there is always more to learn</p> <p>There is a paradox to being 20 metres under the ocean. It is a place of calm and wonderment. I am immersed in a foreign world, with a new watery sky above me. There is a sense of serenity, blissful peace as countless colourful fish glide past.</p> <p>Only the tranquillity is deceiving. As a novice diver, my mind ticks over in hyperdrive. All that stands between me and an agonising fate is the tank of oxygen on my back (and, hopefully, the dive guide’s spare air).</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scuba-diving-has-opened-my-eyes-new-world-being-beginner-again-feels-magical-kieran-pe" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:36 +0000 admin 98485 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org RSPB stops selling flat bird feeders owing to deadly finch disease https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/rspb-stops-selling-flat-bird-feeders-owing-deadly-finch-disease <p>Feeding birds from flat surfaces such as tables could be contributing to spread of finch trichomonosis, says charity</p> <p>The RSPB has withdrawn flat bird feeders from sale on its website amid warnings they could be spreading deadly diseases to finches.</p> <p>The charity has said feeding birds from flat surfaces such as tables could be contributing to the spread of illnesses such as finch trichomonosis, which has been blamed for the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/08/annual-bird-count-uk-gardens-greenfinch">plummeting greenfinch population.</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/rspb-stops-selling-flat-bird-feeders-owing-deadly-finch-disease" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:35 +0000 admin 98483 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK ministers may lift BSE-era ban on animal remains in chicken and pig feed https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-ministers-may-lift-bse-era-ban-animal-remains-chicken-and-pig-feed <p>Exclusive: England and Wales proposals expected to follow Scottish consultation amid fears British farmers are being undercut</p> <p>Ministers may lift a ban introduced during the BSE crisis on the use of animal remains in feed for farmed chickens and pigs over fears that foreign producers are undercutting British farmers.</p> <p>A consultation on permitting the use of processed animal protein (PAP) from poultry, pigs and insects has opened in Scotland, and it is understood that proposals will be made for England and Wales in the coming months.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-ministers-may-lift-bse-era-ban-animal-remains-chicken-and-pig-feed" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:35 +0000 admin 98484 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Alaska sues Biden administration over oil and gas drilling leases in Arctic refuge https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alaska-sues-biden-administration-over-oil-and-gas-drilling-leases-arctic-refuge <p>Lawsuit challenges the federal government’s December 2024 decision to add restrictions to offer of drilling leases</p> <p>The US state of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/alaska">Alaska</a> has sued the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/joebiden">Biden</a> administration for what it calls violations of a congressional directive to allow oil and gas development in a portion of the federal Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alaska-sues-biden-administration-over-oil-and-gas-drilling-leases-arctic-refuge" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:41:24 +0000 admin 98481 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Elon Musk’s Tesla has received almost £200m in UK grants since 2016 https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/elon-musk-s-tesla-has-received-almost-200m-uk-grants-2016 <p>Bulk of funds for electric vehicle firm relate to government’s plug-in car grant, analysis finds</p> <p>Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company has received almost £200m in grants from the UK government since 2016, according to analysis.</p> <p>Tesla, which is run by the tech billionaire who has become increasingly vocal about the UK government, has received £191m from Westminster through grants, according to Tussell, which analyses public contract data.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/elon-musk-s-tesla-has-received-almost-200m-uk-grants-2016" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:17:41 +0000 admin 98478 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Six big US banks quit net zero alliance before Trump inauguration https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/six-big-us-banks-quit-net-zero-alliance-trump-inauguration <p>Exodus from target-setting group is attempt to head off ‘anti-woke’ attacks from rightwing politicians, say analysts</p> <p>• <a href="https://viewer.gutools.co.uk/business/live/2025/jan/08/bond-market-selloff-government-borrowing-costs-yields-china-currency-falls-us-jobs-business-live">Business live – latest updates</a></p> <p>The six biggest banks in the US have all quit the global banking industry’s net zero target-setting group, with the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump as president expected to bring political backlash against climate action.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/six-big-us-banks-quit-net-zero-alliance-trump-inauguration" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:00:32 +0000 admin 98479 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Malawi sees influx of refugees from post-election violence in Mozambique https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/malawi-sees-influx-refugees-post-election-violence-mozambique <p>Marauding gangs and political unrest since October’s polls have driven thousands of Mozambicans across the border into Malawi, despite its drought, food and fuel shortages</p> <p>On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Manase Madia, 50, shows his Mozambican identity card. Once a sign of pride, he does not know what to believe in any more. Over the past few weeks he has seen houses being burned down, and shops and businesses looted, including his own. He now fears for his family, which has scattered in fear.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/malawi-sees-influx-refugees-post-election-violence-mozambique" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:02:59 +0000 admin 98477 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org