Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

Argentina · Business Key Facts —Plant. Ecopek in General Pacheco, Buenos Aires province, producing rPET resin. —Closure date. Operations cease on 31 March 2026. —Jobs. About 40 workers face dismissal or possible redeployment. —Stated reasons. Weak demand, no recycled-content rules, and pressure from imports. —Parent scale. Alpek has 31 plants in nine countries and nearly US$500 million in annual EBITDA. Alpek Polyester Argentina is shutting its Ecopek PET recycling plant in General Pacheco, Buenos Aires province, with operations set to end on 31 March 2026. Alpek Shuts Its Argentina Plastic Recycling Plant. (Photo internet reproduction) One-stop…

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more The UK has endured multiple heatwaves since May - and forecasts suggest another could be just around the corner. With soaring temperatures and dry conditions, hosepipe bans have been introduced across parts of the country, leaving many gardeners wondering how to keep their outdoor spaces thriving. But a heatwave combined with a hosepipe ban doesn't have to spell disaster for your garden. The key is to prioritise plant health, conserve moisture and make every drop of water count. To find out…

This NOAA satellite image taken at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 21, shows Tropical Storm Bertha moving along the Gulf of Mexico's northern coast. NOAA via AP *hide caption* *toggle caption* NOAA via AP Tropical Storm Bertha came ashore in Southeastern Louisiana early Wednesday morning, bringing up to three feet of storm surge and winds as high as 60 miles per hour. Weather forecasting models do not predict the storm will get stronger, says Phil Klotzbach, a senior researcher in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. That's in part because of strong wind shear from the northeast. It's essentially a change in wind speed…

Fifty years after Southern California's Salton Sea formed due to an engineering mishap in 1905, the giant salt lake became a booming vacation destination. Nicknamed the "miracle in the desert," the lake offered watersports and boating, while its shores were lined with yacht clubs, vacation homes, shops and nightclubs. However, by the 1970s, the Salton Sea had begun shrinking due to high evaporation rates and flow reductions in the Colorado River, which had fed the lake. The lake's retreat exposed muddy sediments imbued with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals from large cotton, alfalfa and vegetable farms in the Imperial and Coachella valleys.…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

Environment Minister ⁠Monique Barbut has stepped ​down in protest after French lawmakers approved ​controversial legislation allowing the temporary reintroduction of two pesticides accused of harming bees.

Spaniards are used to scorching summers and tropical nights, meaning that they know many ingenious unwritten rules to make their homes and bodies cool down at night so they can sleep better without needing air-con. One of the worst things about summers in Spain is that typically there’s no respite from the intense temperatures, with heatwaves arriving earlier and lasting longer, giving you the sense that you're trapped in a perpetual ola de calor (heatwave). It’s also often uncomfortably warm or hot at night too, which makes it very difficult to have a good night's sleep. Many places across the country have been experiencing torrid nights where the…

Burnham's bus shambles: Minister admits £450m funding for £2 fare cap 'not worked out yet' - a day after PM told Cabinet ALL policies must be costed By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 04:40 EDT, 22 July 2026 \| Updated: 04:56 EDT, 22 July 2026 Another Andy Burnham cost-of-living announcement was at risk of descending into chaos today. The PM has been boasting about his decision to cap single bus fares at £2 across the country - instead of £3 typically now. But Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander extraordinarily admitted this morning that the 'detail' of where £454million of funding is coming from 'hasn't been worked through' yet. She…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. File \| Photo Credit: AP A broker for ​U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to make ‌a big investment in major defense companies ​in the weeks leading ⁠up to the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, the Financial Times reported on Monday (March 30, 2026), citing three people ‌familiar with the matter. Mr. Hegseth’s broker at Morgan Stanley contacted BlackRock in ‌February, about making a multimillion-dollar investment ‌in ⁠the asset manager’s Defence Industrials Active ⁠ETF, shortly before the U.S. launched military action against Tehran, the report added. According to the FT ​report, the ‌investment discussed by…

Brazil · Business Key Facts —Location. Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde block, Campos Basin, about 108 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. —Well designation. 4-BRSA-140D-RJS, drilled in a water depth of 734 meters. —Operator stake. Petrobras holds a 100 percent operating stake in the block. —Reservoir type. A post-salt find, distinct from the basin’s prolific pre-salt plays. —Early indicators. Oil confirmed via electrical logging, gas indications, and fluid sampling. Petrobras has confirmed an oil discovery at the Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde block in the Campos Basin, the first concrete exploration result from the mature offshore region to make…

Environmental groups from Pangasinan have joined growing opposition to Pax Silica, a United States-backed artificial intelligence and semiconductor economic hub being developed in New Clark City. INQUIRER FILES CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Environmental groups from Pangasinan have joined growing opposition to Pax Silica, a United States-backed artificial intelligence and semiconductor economic hub being developed in New Clark City. In a statement, the Pangasinan People’s Strike for Environment (PPSE) said youth environmental advocates from five towns visited communities and schools in San Jacinto town to conduct a petition-signing campaign against Pax…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

Brazil · Politics Key Facts —Defendants sentenced. Three executives received prison terms ranging from 12 to 14 years for active corruption and money laundering. —Heaviest penalty. Jesús de Oliveira Ferreira Filho was sentenced to 14 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison. —Case origin. The convictions stem from a residual Lava Jato investigation into a cartel that rigged Petrobras contracts between 2004 and 2014. —Court. The ruling was issued by the 13th Federal Criminal Court of Curitiba on June 5, 2026. —Appeal status. The decision is a first-instance conviction and remains subject to appeal before higher courts. A federal judge in Curitiba has…

Reports of radioactive materials detected at a steel plant in Magalang, Pampanga have sparked concern among residents. INQUIRER FILES MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Reports of radioactive materials detected at a steel plant in Pampanga’s Magalang town have sparked concern among residents. Media reports and social media posts claim that authorities have discovered raw materials, by-products, and waste containing thorium isotopes at the Chuangxing Steel Incorporated plant in Barangay Navaling during a raid on July 19. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and the police served a court-issued…

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has inaugurated a National Working Committee to address human rights violations associated with climate change in Nigeria. A statement from the NHRC on Tuesday said the committee’s inauguration became necessary as “climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a human rights issue.” The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, urged Nigerians to view climate change differently. “It’s not just about rising temperatures. It’s about people. It’s about families losing their homes, farmers losing their livelihoods, communities being uprooted and vulnerable people falling deeper into…

Highlights Researchers Alika Maunakea and Ruben Juarez are conducting one of the largest studies on the long-term health effects of wild and urban fire exposure. The study, which follows survivors of the 2023 fires that burned down Lāhainā, may provide key insights that could help protect people exposed to future fires anywhere. To the researchers’ surprise, the study has become an important piece of health infrastructure in Maui’s rural areas. They hope to build a nonprofit to continue health monitoring and research, creating what they see as a new model in rural health. LĀHAINĀ, Hawai‘i — About once a month, Alika Maunakea and Ruben Juarez and their…

France's environment minister Monique Barbut said Wednesday that she would “submit her resignation" to France President Emmanuel Macron following the French parliament's final adoption of a controversial measure on bee-harming pesticides to which she was opposed.

Key events Andy Burnham's new government faces questions on funding after announcing £2 bus fare cap in England Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. Andy Burnham’s new government is facing fresh questions on how it will fund its new policies aimed at easing the cost of living, after the prime minister announced a £2 cap on single bus fares this morning. The cap on single bus fares in England will be in place from January, reducing the current cap of £3. The government said the measure is backed by £454m of funding, including money to allow devolved governments to take similar action. About £400m of that funding will come from…

India's soybean belt is sending out an early warning signal. The latest UPAg India Progressive Crop Area Sown Report for the kharif season, as of July 17, 2026, shows that farmers have planted 106.02 lakh hectares under soybean, down from 111.05 lakh hectares during the same period last year, a decline of 5.02 lakh hectares, or 4.52%. The crop's normal sowing area stands at 128.71 lakh hectares, indicating that planting remains well below the long-term average. While part of the shortfall could narrow as sowing continues, scientists say the numbers reflect a growing challenge facing one of India's most important oilseed crops: climate change-driven…

The world’s biggest meat company, JBS, faces a landmark legal challenge to disclose how its $6bn (£4.5bn) global expansion plan is compatible with responsibilities to the climate, nature and human rights. Courts in the Netherlands, where JBS is headquartered, will assess the petition filed by Greenpeace for information on whether the company is compliant with Dutch laws on “duty of care” as well as its own publicly stated commitments. Lawyers said the case opened a new frontier in the fight against climate change, potentially creating a precedent for legal challenges against the agriculture sector, which is the biggest cause of deforestation and a…

Georgie Falloon photographed in 2013, after she became a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. In March 2025, Georgie was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the body’s connective and supportive tissues. Her husband, Jamie Falloon, said she received treatment in Auckland Hospital and in Australia, before being medically evacuated back to New Zealand and brought home with the help of Wellington and Masterton Hospital staff. “She knew what was coming but she never let it consume her,” Jamie told the Herald. She died on Sunday in her sleep after a “determined” fight with cancer, her obituary read.…

At the June meet-and-greet organised by the GLFC, half a dozen sea lampreys posed for the cameras at the Capitol. One of them even sucked on the palm of Representative Bill Huizenga, as per a CNN report. Among the few things the entire Congress agrees on, this is one: the invasive sea lampreys must go. For the American coasts that thrive on their seafood population, the invasive species, also known as 'vampire' fishes or the 'vampire' of the Great Lakes, has had a devastating impact on the lakes' trout, salmon and whitefish population. And thus, have inspired what scientists often call the 'forbidden experiment'. Arrival of sea lampreys Once the…

Dairy co-operative First Milk, which has a large cheese-processing plant in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, is trying to address the situation with all 700 of its farmers across the UK - including 200 in west Wales. The group has recently worked out the nutrient footprint of each farm - closely scrutinising use of bought-in feed and fertiliser. This data is used alongside new maps, produced with the help of satellite imagery, showing the risk of causing river pollution on a field by field basis. Farmers will be expected to adjust where they spread fertiliser and slurry accordingly, and introduce other mitigation measures to improve soil health and…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

Are you worried about water quality this monsoon and thinking of switching to RO? Or already have one and wake up every morning to drink RO water, assuming it's the healthiest choice? Well, whichever side you're on, pause. And understand that the widespread perception that RO purifiers are the only way to ensure safe drinking water is misleading. According to a report by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, reverse osmosis (RO) purifiers are not the right choice for every household. The institute says consumers should choose a water purification system based on the quality of their water, not marketing claims. So, when do you actually…

Wildland fire activity in Canada ramped up in July 2026, a time of year when lightning ignitions typically increase, according to a seasonal outlook published by several North American fire agencies. The blazes sent smoke plumes pouring across the U.S. and Canada, affecting air quality in both countries. This animation tracks brown carbon, the organic aerosols emitted by fires that give smoke plumes their characteristic yellow, orange, and brown tint. Brown carbon is a major component of a fire’s PM2.5 emissions, a type of air pollution that can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Here, the plume drifts across North American skies…

Benchmark stock market indices witnessed sharp selling in early trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex tumbling nearly 600 points and the Nifty slipping below the 24,050 mark, as weakness in pharma and banking stocks, surging crude oil prices and broad-based selling across sectors weighed on investor sentiment. Benchmark indices extended their losses in afternoon trade, with the BSE Sensex tumbling 746.20 points, or 0.96%, to 76,723.91, while the NSE Nifty50 fell 198.55 points, or 0.82%, to slip below the key 24,000 mark and trade at 23,989.15 around 12:24 pm. The sell-off was widespread, with almost every major sector trading in the red. The Nifty…