UPDATE 1-Edison International posts Q1 loss on wildfire claims

The Telegraph
Rare shark that lives for 500 years could hold secret to increasing human lifespan
The metabolism of a shark species which can live for 500 years could help scientists treat heart disease and increase people’s lifespan, scientists hope.
The Telegraph
Washed-up giant shark removed from beach by forklift
The body of a giant basking shark which washed up on Scottish beach has been removed by a forklift.
The Guardian
Coffee, eggs and white rice linked to higher levels of PFAS in human body
US study that researchers say highlights chemicals’ ubiquity also shows PFAS association with seafood and red meat
AFP News
Indonesia launches first EV battery plant
Indonesia launched its first electric vehicle battery plant on Wednesday, President Joko Widodo said, as Southeast Asian countries move to gain a foothold in the emerging industry.The plant is part of a $9.8 billion electric vehicle battery deal signed between Indonesia and LG in 2020.
The Conversation
Flirting with disaster: When endangered wild animals try to mate with domestic relatives, both wildlife and people lose
Conflicts between herders and the wild ancestors of their yaks, camels and reindeer are a serious threat to both people and wildlife, writes a scientist who has seen these clashes firsthand.
The Independent
Grin and bear it: ‘Giant’ bear found under deck of Colorado home
Moving the 400-pound bear from under the deck into a truck was a ‘grueling process,’ state officials said
Reuters Videos
'It's all gone': floods in southern China devastate residents
STORY: This shop owner in southern China's Hunan Province is busy cleaning up debris on Wednesday after heavy rainfall and flooding devastated her stationary store.She says she didn't receive any notice to move her goods and asks: "How can a family survive in this situation?"Heavy rainfall pounded parts of Hunan earlier this week, causing the water level of a local river to reach its highest level in 70 years.Local authorities have activated the maximum emergency response level.This restaurant owner said she had to flee before it became impossible to get herself out.Now, with her business flooded - she says she is heartbroken and doesn't know how she will provide for her children.Last week, President Xi Jinping urged authorities to put in all-out efforts to protect lives as floods and natural disasters increased.China has provided more than $316.4 million in funds to help with rescue efforts and emergency supplies as deadly floods and landslides caused by almost two weeks of torrential rain ravage several parts of the country.In Changsha, the capital of Hunan, the Xiang and Laodao rivers are expected to hit peak dangerous levels Thursday morning, state media reported.
Associated Press
Freya the rescued lion cub is safe in South Africa, but many other lions there are bred to be shot
Freya, a 6-month-old lion cub rescued from the wildlife trade in Lebanon, poked a curious nose out of her transport crate and sniffed the air. Satisfied, she took her first cautious steps in her new forever home in a sanctuary in South Africa. Freya's relocation to the Drakenstein Lion Park is only a partial success story.
The Telegraph
Why Alaska’s elite firefighters are being deployed to protect its permafrost
America has deployed firefighters by parachute to tackle distant blazes for more than 70 years, but now their mission has changed.
CNN
To save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species
To save the imperiled spotted owl from potential extinction, U.S. wildlife officials are embracing a contentious plan to deploy trained shooters into dense West Coast forests to kill almost a half-million barred owls that are crowding out their cousins.
Euronews
‘Really stupid’: Biden bashes climate change deniers while announcing extreme heat safeguards
Very few US states have workplace standards for heat exposure currently in place.
Reuters Videos
Philippine town cleans up beach in exchange for rice
STORY: :: Mabini, PhilippinesPlastic waste litters the shores of this resort town near Manila, the Philippines' sprawling capital.This coastal cleanup crew is trying to hold back the steady flood of waste.But each sack of they gather doesn't go unrewarded. They get a two-pound bag of rice in exchange, enough for a small family's needs.:: This Earth Green campaigners say the exchange can educate the community about why protecting the environment is so critical, all while keeping the shores clean, and as inflation bites, keeping people here, like Janeth Aceveda, afloat. "The exchange is a huge help for us because in a month I need four and a half sacks of rice, but now all I have to buy is two sacks, which is a huge help in saving money. It also helps the environment and it shows when our surroundings are clean." Mabini in Batangas province is a world-class scuba diving destination, known for its vibrant corals and marine biodiversity. But a rising tide of plastic pollution is posing an increasing threat to marine life. Organizer Giulio Endaya has witnessed the harm first hand. :: Giulio Endaya, Exchange organizer"I've seen sea turtles entangled in nets and other types of plastics. They've been known to eat straws and plastic bags, and the fish also eat microplastics that have been, you know, broken down in the shore. And recently we've been finding more and more microplastics even in fish that we eat, so it's also harmful to us." To untangle the problem, Endaya and his group of volunteers spearheaded the ‘Plastic Palit Bigas’– or ‘plastic in exchange for rice’– program. The project is funded by donations from individuals and small companies that advocate for marine conservation. Through the exchange, Mabini volunteers can turn in sacks of litter, regardless of weight, for a kilogram– or 2.2 pounds– of rice. Volunteer Raymond Basit says it’s been a potent incentive. "It helps a lot because people now have an urge, because of poverty and especially during these times, the price of goods is so high. Now during their free time they can clean, and they push themselves to clean because they get something in return, which is a big help for them." An updated 2022 University of Oxford report found that The Philippines accounts for 36% of the total global input of plastic waste into the ocean, more than any other country. The plastic for rice exchange aims to change that. :: 4.7 tonsAccording to Endaya, since clean-up efforts began in October 2022, more than 4.7 U.S. tons of garbage have been collected and exchanged for nearly 3 tons of rice.
Euronews
Climate scientists urge responsible use of AI as Google’s emissions soar by 48% since 2019
Scientists have asked individuals to think twice before using AI to generate memes.
HowStuffWorks
What Is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World?
It's hard to say what is the most dangerous animal in the world; you're not comparing apples to apples. But when it comes dangerous, these four top the list.
CNN
Heat waves are getting longer and more brutal. Here’s why your AC can’t save you anymore
The combination of a hurricane, heat wave and a multi-day blackout is a nightmare scenario, but it’s one that is set to become more common as humans continue to warm the planet.
Associated Press
GM will pay $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide
General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles do not comply with emissions and fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Wednesday that certain GM vehicles from the 2012 through 2018 model years did not comply with federal fuel economy requirements. The penalty comes after the Environmental Protection Agency said its testing showed the GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM's initial compliance testing claimed.
Reuters
Brazil's industrial output falls less than expected in May
Industrial production in Brazil fell 0.9% in May from April, government statistics agency IBGE said on Wednesday, below the 1.7% decline estimated by analysts polled by Reuters. According to IBGE survey manager Andre Macedo, Brazil's industrial output was impacted in May by historic rains and floods in the country's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. Industrial production in Brazil now stands 1.4% below pre-pandemic levels.
BBC
'It's a disaster': Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica
Floodwaters poured down streets of Kingston, as the storm ripped roofs off buildings on the island's southern coast.
AFP News
Floods kill nine in India and Bangladesh, millions affected
Torrential rains and surging rivers across northeast India and neighbouring Bangladesh have killed at least nine people, disaster officials said Thursday, with more than three million people affected.In low-lying Bangladesh, downstream from India, the disaster management agency said floods had impacted around 1.8 million people.
Reuters
Not politics, not interest rates: India's surging economy at risk from water
Water delivered by tankers provides one additional bucket to each of its 1,000 residents for drinking and cooking. In parts of the arid state of Rajasthan, southwest of the Indian capital, tap water is available once every four days for an hour. In rural areas near Mumbai, women and children travel more than a mile to get water.

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UPDATE 1-Edison International posts Q1 loss on wildfire claims

Latest stories

Rare shark that lives for 500 years could hold secret to increasing human lifespan

Washed-up giant shark removed from beach by forklift

Coffee, eggs and white rice linked to higher levels of PFAS in human body

Indonesia launches first EV battery plant

Flirting with disaster: When endangered wild animals try to mate with domestic relatives, both wildlife and people lose

Grin and bear it: ‘Giant’ bear found under deck of Colorado home

'It's all gone': floods in southern China devastate residents

Freya the rescued lion cub is safe in South Africa, but many other lions there are bred to be shot

Why Alaska’s elite firefighters are being deployed to protect its permafrost

To save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species

‘Really stupid’: Biden bashes climate change deniers while announcing extreme heat safeguards

Philippine town cleans up beach in exchange for rice

Climate scientists urge responsible use of AI as Google’s emissions soar by 48% since 2019

What Is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World?

Heat waves are getting longer and more brutal. Here’s why your AC can’t save you anymore

GM will pay $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide

Brazil's industrial output falls less than expected in May

'It's a disaster': Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica

Floods kill nine in India and Bangladesh, millions affected

Not politics, not interest rates: India's surging economy at risk from water