- Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Reuters
Air pollution now a major risk to life expectancy in South Asia - study
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health.
Japan says no radioactivity found in Fukushima fish - Kyodo
Japan's fisheries agency said on Saturday fish tested in waters around the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant did not contain detectable levels of the radioactive isotope tritium, Kyodo news service reported.
Why are space agencies racing to the moon's south pole?
Scientists are interested in pockets of ancient water ice because they could provide a record of lunar volcanoes, material that comets and asteroids delivered to Earth, and the origin of oceans. If water ice exists in sufficient quantities, it could be a source of drinking water for moon exploration and could help cool equipment.
Moon landing anticipation builds for India after Russia's crash
India's space agency on Monday released images its spacecraft took of the far side of the moon as it headed for an attempted landing on the lunar south pole, just days after the failure of a Russian lander.
Pacific island sea levels rising faster than global average, WMO says
Sea levels in the South-West Pacific are rising faster than the global average, threatening low-lying islands while heat damages marine ecosystems, the U.N. meteorological agency said on Friday.
Trump, advisers charged in Georgia for 2020 election overthrow scheme
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was hit with a fourth set of criminal charges when a Georgia grand jury issued a sweeping indictment accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Maui wildfires deadliest in a century as death toll hits 89
The death toll from the Maui wildfires reached 89 on Saturday, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century - and the total is likely to rise in coming days as search teams with cadaver dogs continue sifting through the ruins of Lahaina.
Pakistan senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar named caretaker PM ahead of vote
Pakistani senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was named as caretaker prime minister to oversee national elections, the prime minister's office said on Saturday following a meeting between outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz.
Cambodia king approves PM's son Hun Manet as next premier
Cambodia's king on Monday approved the nomination of the Western-educated son of Prime Minister Hun Sen to become the next premier, confirming a much-anticipated transfer of power by one of the world's longest-serving leaders.
Three people killed, houses set ablaze in fresh violence in India's Manipur state
Three people were killed and houses set ablaze in fresh violence in India's Manipur, police officials said late on Friday, as sporadic violence and killings continue in the remote northeastern state. The three people killed on Thursday night belonged to the majority Metei community in the state's Bishnupur district, a police spokesperson said.
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Norway, Finland battle rapid spread of bird flu
Norway and Finland face record outbreaks of bird flu this year which have killed thousands of seagulls and other species, put livestock at risk and restricted travel in some areas, officials said.
Bangladesh fears record high death toll from dengue outbreak
At least 201 people, more than half of them in the capital Dhaka, have died and more than 37,000 have become infected with the virus so far this year, according to official figures. In 2022, the figures showed that the virus claimed 281 lives, a record high since the authorities started keeping a tally in 2000, and 62,423 people were infected.
Climate change role in July heatwaves 'overwhelming', scientists say
Human-induced climate change has played an "absolutely overwhelming" role in the extreme heatwaves that have swept across North America, Europe and China this month, according to an assessment by scientists published on Tuesday.
At least 15 killed in ferry sinking in Indonesia
At least 15 passengers were killed when a small ferry capsized during a short 20-minute journey near Indonesia's Sulawesi island, the national search and rescue agency said on Monday.
Record heat wave grips China as flood toll rises in South Korea
Tourists flocked to a giant thermometer in China showing surface temperatures of 80C (176 Fahrenheit) while the death toll from torrential rains in South Korea hit 44 on Wednesday, the latest extreme weather sparking havoc and curiosity around the world.
