Earth News

Earth News A Fragile Pause After Weeks of Escalation After 40 days of intense hostilities, the United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week ceasefire, marking a rare moment of calm in one of the world’s most volatile regions. The truce, announced on April 8 2026, was brokered by Pakistan, whose diplomatic intervention helped both sides step back from the brink of a wider conflict. The agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments pass daily. The blockade had sent shockwaves through international energy markets, driving prices up and threatening supply chains. Key Terms of the Ceasefire Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and suspend missile launches targeting U.S. and allied positions. The U.S. and Israel will halt airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure and military sites. Pakistan will oversee compliance and facilitate communication between both sides. The ceasefire will last two weeks...

Earth News A Time Capsule of Ocean Health In a remarkable study, scientists turned to an unexpected archive: 40-year-old canned salmon. These preserved fish offered a rare glimpse into the state of marine ecosystems decades ago, acting as a biological time capsule. What researchers found inside was surprising-an increase in tiny parasitic worms. Parasites as Signs of Resilience At first glance, parasites may seem like a negative discovery. However, ecologists interpret their presence differently. Parasites thrive in complex food webs, relying on multiple hosts and interactions. Their abundance signals that marine ecosystems are becoming more complete and resilient. In other words, the rise of parasites is evidence that biodiversity is strengthening. Implications for Ocean Recovery For decades, oceans have faced immense pressures from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Many studies have painted a picture of decline. Yet this discovery challenges that narrative, suggesting ...

Earth News - The exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, is calling on the Iranian people to rid themselves of the tyrannical Islamic regime, declaring, “This is our Berlin Wall moment.” Pahlavi referred to the historic November 1989 moment when Germans on both sides of the Berlin Wall separating east and West Germany surged forward and crossed over the wall, marking the beginning of the end of East Germany’s repressive government. Pahlavi, speaking in Paris at a press conference, called for Iran Supreme leader Ali Khamenei to step down, asserting, “Our beloved Iran has been dragged into a devastating conflict, the architect of which is no other than Ali Khamenei and his corrupt destructive faction. He has driven our nation’s economy to the brink of collapse, plundered our national infrastructure and resources, squandered the nation’s wealth on developing nuclear weapons, shattered Iran’s security, and stolen the sovereignty of the Iranian people.” “Credible reports indicate...

Earth News - Russia’s top presidential security adviser Sergei Shoigu was expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after arriving in Pyongyang “on special instructions” from President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Tass news agency reported on Tuesday. Shoigu will hold talks with the North Korean “leadership on implementing agreements” reached during his visit earlier in June under the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by the two leaders last year, Tass reported. It did not elaborate on the details of Shoigu’s expected talks or what Putin’s instructions were. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. The visit by Shoigu is the third in nearly three months as the two countries rapidly advanced diplomatic and security ties in the past two years, including North Korea’s military support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. A Reuters investigation has found that North Korea has supplied millions of artillery rounds and t...

Earth News - Missiles rain down on Israel in another early morning Iranian attack. Missiles rain down on Israel in early morning attack. Israeli air defenses as seen during an Iranian missile barrage in the early morning hours of June 16, 2025.

Earth News Iranians prepare for the worst after Israeli strikes. The inhabitants of Tehran have been wavering between fear, resignation and anger after unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian soil overnight Thursday into Friday and the ensuing hostilities that followed. The strikes targeted nuclear sites, top commanders of the Iranian regime and residential neighborhoods, killing at least 78 people.

Earth News “Putin is not going to stop at Ukraine,” Biden said alongside French President Emmanuel Macron after talks in Paris. “All of Europe will be threatened, we are not going to let that happen,” Biden told journalists during his state visit to France. “The United States is standing strong with Ukraine. We will not, I say it again, walk away,” he added. Macron told Biden in front of reporters: “I thank you, Mr President, for being the president of the world’s number one power but doing it with the loyalty of a partner who likes and respects the Europeans.” Both Biden and Macron on Friday met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, pledging support for the Ukrainian cause. The US president, 81, has been in France since Wednesday and took part in this week’s commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that changed the course of World War II. On Friday, Biden warned of the need to preserve American democracy and drew parallels between World War ...

Earth News Okupe, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, said all governors should be allowed to decide on their own the amount they can pay. “We should not make laws that is un-encompassing that makes it compulsory for all governors in the federation to obey them. They are sub nationalities on the own. “I mean for instance, if you pay a minimum wage in Lagos, why should I pay that in Sokoto? Let every governor decide for his own state by his own people that this is what I can afford,” Okupe said.

Earth News Obi said that the election was marred by glitches despite the enormous money spent to conduct the exercise. The Labour Party presidential candidate for 2023 polls, Peter Obi, on Saturday, described Nigeria’s 2023 polls as ‘shameful’, commending South Africa’s election as a shining example. ADVERTISEMENT Obi stated this in a series of posts via his X page, stressing that the election was marred by glitches despite the enormous money spent to conduct the exercise. “Nigeria’s 2023 election, with less than 30% of Voter turnout, over 60% of the polling stations starting late, and no diaspora voting, the elections were plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, all forms of glitches, despite an enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of =N=313 Billion and donor agencies support),” he said. the elections were plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, all forms of glitches, despite an enormous expe...

Earth News Dr Seema Jilani is a paediatrician who has just evacuated from al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, where fighting has intensified. Tom Bennett hears her moving account of severe injuries, depleting supplies, and how she fought to let those she couldn’t save die with dignity. An 11-year-old girl with deep tissue burns so extensive that her extremities have stiffened, screaming from her hospital bed through lungs choked by smoke. A one-year-old infant who endured a traumatic amputation of his leg still wearing his bloodstained nappy.

Earth News. Nepal’s police have arrested a controversial spiritual leader known as “Buddha Boy” on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and involvement in the disappearances of at least four of his followers from his camps By Leonard Iwuoha A controversial Nepalese spiritual leader known as “Buddha Boy” was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and involvement in the disappearance of at least four of his followers from his camps, police said Wednesday. Ram Bahadur Bamjan is believed by many Nepalese to be the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal some 2,600 years ago and became revered as Buddha. Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of Bamjan's claims. Bamjan was arrested late Tuesday from his house in a suburb of Kathmandu, the country's capital, according to Nabaraj Adhikari of the Central Investigation Bureau. Police brought him before the media in handcuffs on Wednesday and said that he had tried to flee by jumpi...

Earth News The Queen visited a racially segregated South Africa when she was 21 with her father King George VI. "I wouldn't say I don't like the Queen - no, no, no. But my everyday reality is [affected] by the impact of colonisation," said Sibulele Steerman, a university student, standing beside an open sewer in an impoverished township outside Cape Town. These days, many younger South Africans, in particular, are questioning the compromises that accompanied their country's transition to democracy in the early 1990s, and are demanding that Western nations do far more to acknowledge centuries of colonial exploitation. "My grandmother liked the Queen. But we're a different generation," said Ms Steerman, noting this week's calls, on social media here, for Britain to return what they say are the "stolen" South African diamonds that feature in the Crown Jewels. The Cullinan diamond, the largest ever found, was given to King Edward V...

Earth News The Queen's eight grandchildren, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, are standing vigil around her coffin as she lies in state at Westminster Hall. At King Charles' request, Prince Harry is wearing military uniform, for the first time since 2020. Prince Harry has worn civilian clothes at public events since the Queen died. It is the first time in history that the grandchildren of a monarch have taken part in the ceremony. The King's sons William and Harry are joined by Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, the children of Princess Anne, as well as Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, who are Prince Edward's children. At 44, Peter Philips is the oldest of the Queen's grandchildren, while the youngest, James, Viscount Severn, is 14. Prince William is standing at the head of the Queen's coffin with his brother at the opposite end. The grandchildren's...

Earth News UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief launched an initiative Monday to immediately explore possible arrangements for “a humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine” in order to allow the delivery of desperately needed aid and pave the way for serious political negotiations to end the month-long war. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he used his “good offices” and asked Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, the head of the U.N.’s worldwide humanitarian operations, to explore the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia and Ukraine. He said Griffiths has already made some contacts. “I hope that he will be able to go to both Moscow and Kyiv as soon as that becomes possible,” Guterres said. “It’s very important to establish a serious dialogue with both parties in relation to the possibility of this humanitarian cease-fire.” The 193-member U.N. General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority of about 140 nations, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Uk...

Earth News New Zealand Mosque Shooting Anniversary Al Noor Mosque shooting survivor Temel Atacocugu kisses the ground as he completes his walk from Dunedin to Christchurch on the third anniversary of the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The lingering injuries from being shot nine times did not stop Atacocugu from completing a two-week walk and bike ride for peace on Tuesday, the third anniversary of a gunman's slaughter of 51 Muslim worshippers. (George Heard/New Zealand Herald via AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The lingering injuries from being shot nine times did not stop Temel Atacocugu from completing a two-week walk and bike ride for peace on Tuesday, the third anniversary of a gunman's slaughter of 51 Muslim worshippers. Atacocugu set out to retrace the gunman's 360-kilometer (224-mile) drive from Dunedin to the two Christchurch mosques where he carried out his attack. “I wanted to fix this damage,” Atacocugu said. “Because three ...

As Russia stoked hopes of a diplomatic solution and claimed to be pulling back forces from the Ukrainian border, U.S. and NATO officials accused Moscow of building up troops instead. By Chibuike Leonard Iwuoha KYIV, Ukraine — Tensions over Ukraine abruptly ratcheted up on Wednesday as Western officials accused Russia of lying about whether it had really begun pulling back troops from the Ukrainian border. After days marked by flickers of hope that the conflict might be resolved peacefully, a senior American official, who refused to be quoted by name, told reporters that far from winding down its deployment, Moscow had added more than 7,000 combatants. Western allies expressed similar doubts about the Russian claims. The American official directly accused Russia of lying, saying there was fresh evidence it was mobilizing for war. British military officials said Wednesday they had spotted Russian armored vehicles, helicopters and a field hospital moving toward Ukraine’s border. “...

Earth News. Authorities in Burkina Faso have declared a two-day period of mourning after suspected militants killed at least 41 members of a government-backed civilian militia in the country’s desert north this week. A column of civilian fighters from the homeland defence volunteers (VDP), a group the government funds and trains to contain Islamist insurgents, was ambushed on Thursday as it swept a remote area in the northern Loroum province, authorities said on Saturday. It was one of the heaviest single-day losses the civilian militia has experienced to date and occurred one month after an attack on a gendarmerie post killed 53 people – the worst strike on Burkinabe security forces in years. “In this painful circumstance and as a tribute to the valiant VDP and civilians who fell in defence of the homeland, the president of Burkina Faso decrees a national mourning period of 48 hours, starting Sunday,” government spokesperson Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. Authorities have...

Earth News Warm weather could make this the hottest December on record for many cities in the region, including Dallas and New Orleans. About 200 temperature records in the US may be broken over the next several days as warm air across Texas and the south-east is predicted to bring spring or even summer-like conditions, making Christmas Day likely to be the warmest in 50 to 100 years in some areas. The temperatures could make this the warmest December on record for many cities in the region including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, St Louis, Kansas City and Chicago. In some areas, records have already been broken: Wichita Falls in Texas hit 91F (33C) Friday, and Grandfield, Oklahoma, reached 89F. Both beat their Fourth of July high – back at in the middle of summer. Nor were they alone. “Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee, all stand to match or top the record high for 25 December this Saturday,” AccuWeather senior meteor...

Earth News Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie, has given birth to a baby girl, they have announced, a second child for the couple and at least the seventh for the prime minister. “The prime minister and Mrs Johnson are delighted to announce the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital earlier today,” a statement said. “Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.” The girl is a sister to their son, Wilfred, born in April 2020. The couple were married in a secret ceremony in May this year. Johnson had four children, all now in their 20s, with his second wife, the barrister Marina Wheeler. The couple’s divorce was finalised in 2020 after 25 years of marriage. He also has at least one other child from an extramarital relationship. Johnson has repeatedly refused to say precisely how many children he has fathered, although in an interview with NBC in September he affirmed he had six. T...

Earth News The Palestinian jailbreak that rocked Israel Close Six Palestinian men are due in court this week after tunnelling out of one of Israel’s maximum security prisons in September. Israel had jailed five of the six for carrying out or planning deadly attacks. It led to renewed fears of a flare-up in the region and saw Israel scramble a massive search, while many Palestinians celebrated the bid for freedom. But this is about more than just a dramatic jailbreak. Covering the search for the six, BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tom Bateman unearthed a long story of dispossession, violence and bitter division in a fractured region.

What a Crown Prince's trip to Turkey tells us about the post-American Middle East Analysis by Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Updated 1748 GMT (0148 HKT) November 24, 2021 UAE and Turkey stage rare high-level meeting. Here's why it matters (EARTH NEWS) Leonard Iwuoha reports from a beach near Calais, France, after at least 27 people died when their boat capsized marking one of the largest losses of life in the English Channel in recent years. This is what a boat provided by smugglers to migrants looks like BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Peng Shuai of China returns a shot against Daria Kasatkina of Russia during the women's singles first round match of 2019 China Open at the China National Tennis Center on September 28, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) China censors Earth news with color bars on Peng Shuai stories screengrab migrant ship capsize map Migrant boat capsizes in English Channel. What we know so far Olaf Scholz, SPD candidate for Chancellor a...

Premier League clubs have voted to temporarily block teams agreeing lucrative sponsorship deals linked to a club's owners after the Saudi Arabia-backed £305m takeover of Newcastle. Eighteen clubs voted in favour of the ban at an emergency meeting on Monday.Premier League clubs have voted to temporarily block teams agreeing lucrative sponsorship deals linked to a club's owners after the Saudi Arabia-backed £305m takeover of Newcastle. Eighteen clubs voted in favour of the ban at an emergency meeting on Monday. Newcastle voted against and Manchester City abstained, with both questioning the legality of the move. It means a temporary one-month ban on deals linked to club owners while the issue is debated further. That prevents Newcastle signing sponsorship deals with companies linked to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 80% of the club.Newcastle voted against and Manchester City abstained, with both questioning the legality of the move. I...

North Korea has fired a suspected submarine-launched ballistic missile into waters off the coast of Japan, South Korea's military has said. Pyongyang unveiled the missile in January, describing it as "the world's most powerful weapon". It comes weeks after South Korea unveiled a similar weapon of its own. North Korea has carried out a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks, including of what it said were hypersonic and long-range weapons. Some of these tests violate strict international sanctions. The country is specifically prohibited by the United Nations from testing ballistic missiles as well as nuclear weapons. The UN considers ballistic missiles to be more threatening than cruise missiles because they can carry more powerful payloads, have a longer range and can fly faster. On Tuesday South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said one missile had been launched from the port of Sinpo, in the east of North Korea where Pyongyang usually bases its submarines. It l...