Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/www.nationaltrust.org.uk/www.guardian.co.uk/profile/www.lloyds.com/the-market/tools-and-resources/research/exposure-management/emerging-risks/karl.mathiesen.freelance%40guardian.co.uk en World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-s-oceans-hit-hottest-temperature-record-august <p>Average sea surface temperature outside polar regions was 21.1C on Saturday, latest data finds</p> <p>The world’s oceans were hotter than ever previously recorded on Saturday, according to the latest data.</p> <p>The average surface temperature was 21.1C, with the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/19/carbon-pollution-massive-expansion-marine-heatwaves-europe">rising marine heat</a> a stark indicator of the climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning enters the oceans.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-s-oceans-hit-hottest-temperature-record-august" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:49:15 +0000 admin 104345 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Thames Water creditors accused of ‘shuffling chairs on Titanic’ with plan for new board https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thames-water-creditors-accused-shuffling-chairs-titanic-plan-new-board <p>Campaigners say proposal for £10bn rescue deal in bid to avoid nationalisation is a ‘cosy stitch-up’</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/aug/24/canadian-dollar-dips-us-canada-talks-collapse-trade-war-oil-prices-fall-us-sanctions-on-iran-live-updates">Business live – latest updates</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>The group of creditors pursuing a rescue bid for Thames Water have been accused of shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic after proposing an overhaul of the stricken utility’s board.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thames-water-creditors-accused-shuffling-chairs-titanic-plan-new-board" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:38:07 +0000 admin 104344 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Devastation, doubt and blame: Hurricane Helene looms over North Carolina’s US Senate race https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/devastation-doubt-and-blame-hurricane-helene-looms-over-north-carolina-s-us-senate-rac <p>The Democratic and the Republican candidate each blame the other for the bungled recovery effort after storm struck region</p> <p>Two years after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/northcarolina">North Carolina</a> suffered the worst natural disaster in its history when <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/02/hurricane-helene-destruction-timeline">Hurricane Helene</a> struck the state’s western half, life in the hardest-hit areas appears back to normal. Downtowns are lively, blocked roads have been reopened and rivers are flowing below their banks.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/devastation-doubt-and-blame-hurricane-helene-looms-over-north-carolina-s-us-senate-rac" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:00:30 +0000 admin 104342 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org This is not a natural calamity: it is being done to us knowingly https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/not-natural-calamity-it-being-done-us-knowingly <p>Global heating is an outrage, not a tragedy. We deserve the facts about the climate crisis – I choose the Guardian because it’s one of the few places left to share them honestly</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://support.theguardian.com/">Climate campaign 2026: help us reach 30,000 acts of support</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Well, there’s no getting around it now. What many of us once feared has become a reality.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/not-natural-calamity-it-being-done-us-knowingly" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:45:55 +0000 admin 104343 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Can Burnham justify giving the go ahead to oil drilling? Yes, but these must be the conditions | Michael Jacobs https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/can-burnham-justify-giving-go-ahead-oil-drilling-yes-these-must-be-conditions-michael- <p>Carbon capture and storage could make the Rosebank site compatible with UK net zero commitments – if its owners are willing to pay the price</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/can-burnham-justify-giving-go-ahead-oil-drilling-yes-these-must-be-conditions-michael-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:29 +0000 admin 104341 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org How do you vaccinate 1,000 tiny penguins against bird flu in the wild? It’s ‘really tricky’ but there is a way https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-do-you-vaccinate-1000-tiny-penguins-against-bird-flu-wild-it-s-really-tricky-there <p>Phillip Island’s ‘iconic’ little penguins get first bird flu vaccinations in what is thought to be largest program of its kind</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/aug/24/australia-news-live-shark-attack-leah-stewart-housing-rents-first-home-cost-of-living-antisemitism-royal-commission-icac-politics-economy-sydney-melbourne-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-do-you-vaccinate-1000-tiny-penguins-against-bird-flu-wild-it-s-really-tricky-there" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:11:36 +0000 admin 104340 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wild beaver kits born in Norfolk for first time in more than 500 years https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wild-beaver-kits-born-norfolk-first-time-more-500-years <p>Pair are offspring of two beavers who mysteriously arrived in Pensthorpe nature reserve near Fakenham in December</p> <p>Wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk for the first time in more than 500 years.</p> <p>The pair of newborns are the offspring of two free-living beavers who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/07/no-one-knows-where-it-came-from-first-wild-beaver-spotted-in-norfolk-for-400-years">mysteriously arrived in Pensthorpe nature reserve</a> near Fakenham in December.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wild-beaver-kits-born-norfolk-first-time-more-500-years" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:00:55 +0000 admin 104339 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Air conditioning push favoured over emissions cuts in six European nations, survey finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/air-conditioning-push-favoured-over-emissions-cuts-six-european-nations-survey-finds <p>Poll also finds sizeable majorities who believe it should be easier to install air con in homes</p> <p>Given the choice, more people across six major European nations including the UK favour encouraging the adoption of air conditioning over keeping carbon emissions down, a survey has found.</p> <p>After four extreme heatwaves that have caused thousands of excess deaths across the continent, the survey showed between 30% and 52% of people in six countries had feared for their household’s health in temperatures close to or above 40C (104F).</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/air-conditioning-push-favoured-over-emissions-cuts-six-european-nations-survey-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:00:53 +0000 admin 104338 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-territories-hit-out-trump-plan-explore-deep-sea-mining-pacific <p>US agency releases plan to lease millions of hectares of seabed off the coast of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam</p> <p>A US government plan to lease out millions of hectares of seabed near the Mariana Trench for deep sea exploration has drawn opposition from US territories in the Pacific, as the Trump administration remains locked in a race with China for control of critical ocean minerals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-territories-hit-out-trump-plan-explore-deep-sea-mining-pacific" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 01:34:41 +0000 admin 104337 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Hanson-Young says men should ‘call out’ boys’ club culture – as it happened https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hanson-young-says-men-should-call-out-boys-club-culture-it-happened <p>This blog is now closed</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Alan Jones trial enters its fourth week</strong></p> <p>The <strong>Alan Jones</strong> trial enters its fourth week today, with a series of witnesses expected to give evidence at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court before Judge <strong>Glenn Walsh</strong>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hanson-young-says-men-should-call-out-boys-club-culture-it-happened" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 23 Aug 2026 22:05:14 +0000 admin 104336 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org