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Vanilla spice: arid Israel produces potent tropical pods
In his busy Tel Aviv restaurant, chef Yair Yosefi adds a magic ingredient to his signature cake: Israel's first commercially produced vanilla providing what devotees claim is perhaps the strongest ever flavour.

Thousands evacuated as California wildfire grows
A fierce California wildfire expanded early Sunday burning several thousand acres and forcing evacuations, as tens of millions of Americans sweltered through scorching heat with already record-setting temperatures due to climb even further.

Greece battles fierce wildfires amid Europe heatwaves
Greece on Sunday battled four major wildfires that have forced hundreds to evacuate, as soaring temperatures there and in Spain raised fears of more blazes.

China launches second of three space station modules
China on Sunday launched the second of three modules needed to complete its new space station, state media reported, the latest step in Beijing's ambitious space programme.

US heat wave soars as California wildfire rages
Tens of millions of Americans already baking in a scorching heat wave braced Saturday for record-setting temperatures to climb, while a major fire ravaged part of California.

Battered by climate change, Latin America must brace for worse: report
Floods, heat waves and the longest drought in 1,000 years: Latin America is grappling with devastating climate change impacts that will only get worse, a World Meteorological Organization report warned Friday.

Italy heatwave peaks with 16 cities on red alert as Tuscany burns
Italy faced the hottest day of the current heatwave Friday with red extreme heat warnings issued for 16 cities across the country, as firefighters battled blazes up and down the country.

String theory: NASA Mars rover discovers mystery object
Is it tumbleweed? A piece of fishing line? Spaghetti?

Most countries 'woefully unprepared' for changing climate: analysis
Major economies such as India, Brazil and Russia face "cascading" crises driven by climate change such as food insecurity, energy shortages and civil unrest, an industry analysis warned Thursday.

Smoke without fire? Researchers question heated tobacco products
Heated tobacco products have soared in popularity as a "smoke free" alternative to cigarettes in recent years, but a peer-reviewed report has suggested their emissions could be considered smoke -- a claim strongly rejected by the tobacco industry.

Vienna's horse-drawn carriages feel the heat
As much of Europe stifles under record high temperatures, Vienna's "fiaker" horse carriage drivers fear for their future with animal rights activists turning up the heat.

Webb telescope may have already found most distant known galaxy
Just a week after its first images were shown to the world, the James Webb Space Telescope may have found a galaxy that existed 13.5 billion years ago, a scientist who analyzed the data said Wednesday.

Biden vows climate action as heat waves slam US, Europe
US President Joe Biden unveiled a series of executive measures Wednesday to combat climate change and pledged more to follow, seeking to advance his environmental agenda stalled by unsupportive lawmakers and a conservative Supreme Court.

Climate activists block UK's busiest motorway after deadly heatwave
Climate demonstrators on Wednesday triggered a lengthy tailback on Britain's busiest motorway, warning that a record-breaking heatwave was a dire reminder for urgent action.

NASA's new Moon rocket to launch as soon as August 29
Mark your calendars: NASA's Artemis program to return to the Moon could launch its first uncrewed test flight as soon as August 29, the agency said Wednesday.

Europe counts cost of heatwave as Spain PM says more than 500 died
Spain's prime minister said "more than 500 people died" during a 10-day heatwave as Europe counts the cost of a record period of extreme temperatures.

Why Biden's climate agenda has faltered
President Joe Biden ran for office on a pledge to tackle the global climate crisis.

Biden to announce climate action as heatwave hits Europe
US President Joe Biden will announce Wednesday a series of executive measures to combat climate change, in an effort to push forward an environmental agenda stalled by an unsupportive Congress and a conservative Supreme Court.

Europe counts cost of heatwave as French fires come under control
Europe counted the cost of a record heatwave on Wednesday as French firefighters brought twin blazes near Bordeaux under control and climate change protesters pointed to the sizzling weather as a wake up call for the continent.

'Not a switch': UAE pushes for fair energy transition
The world's transition to clean energy sources must be "just" and financed by the hydrocarbon trade, the climate change minister of oil-rich United Arab Emirates told AFP.

Boeing wins $8bn order in latest boost for MAX jets
US planemaker Boeing won a fresh boost Tuesday for its crisis-hit MAX aircraft, as investment fund 777 Partners ordered up to 66 of the passenger aircraft worth a combined $8 billion.

First 'dormant' stellar black hole discovered by debunking team
A team of astrophysicists known for debunking previous supposed black holes announced a discovery of their own on Monday: the first "dormant" stellar-mass black hole spotted orbiting a star in a nearby galaxy.

Boeing lands vast Delta MAX jets deal as Farnborough opens
US aerospace giant Boeing on Monday fired the first shot in an orders battle with European rival Airbus at Farnborough airshow, clinching a $13.5-billion deal for 100 MAX planes from Delta Airlines in a huge vote of confidence for the crisis-hit jet -- and for the broader sector recovery from Covid.

Climate change's fingerprints on ever hotter heatwaves
Hotter, longer, more frequent. Heatwaves such as the one currently roasting much of Europe, or the record-shattering hot spell endured by India and Pakistan in March, are an unmistakable sign of climate change, experts said Monday.

Boeing wins $13.5-bn MAX jets deal as Farnborough opens
US aerospace giant Boeing on Monday fired the first shot in an orders battle with European rival Airbus at Farnborough airshow, clinching a $13.5-billion deal for 100 MAX planes from Delta Airlines in a huge vote of confidence for the crisis-hit jet.

Farnborough airshow opens amid heatwave
Global aviation's Farnborough airshow opens Monday amid a sweltering heatwave, with the sector aided by a modest recovery in air traffic and with Ukraine boosting defence budgets.

Pacific Islands ask international court to rule on climate
Climate-threatened Pacific islands called on Monday for the International Court of Justice to rule on countries' legal duties to stop climate change, a move designed to ratchet up pressure on polluting nations.

France braces for record temperatures
France was bracing Monday for the peak of the heatwave gripping the country, with crushing temperatures expected from the Mediterranean as far up as Brittany in the northwest.

France's Macron marks 80th anniversary of WWII round-up of Jews
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday marked the 80th anniversary of the wartime round-up of Jews in France by calling for redoubled vigilance against the growing anti-Semitism in the country.

UK climate chief could quit as Tory race heats up
Britain's climate minister has indicated he may resign as some Conservative leadership contenders equivocate on the government's net zero target, ahead of a crunch TV debate Sunday and the final rounds of voting by MPs this week.

Southwest Europe swelters as wildfires burn
Thousands of firefighters on Friday battled wildfires in France, Portugal and Spain in the face of scorching heatwaves as Britain braced for "extreme" heat in the coming days.

Webb begins hunt for the first stars and habitable worlds
The first stunning images from the James Webb Space Telescope were revealed this week, but its journey of cosmic discovery has only just begun.