Powerful windstorms, following a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 45C, have devastated central and northern Pakistan, resulting in at least 14 deaths and over 100 injuries. The destructive storms, characterized by high winds and reduced visibility due to dust, caused widespread damage to infrastructure, uprooted trees, and collapsed buildings. Pakistan's Meteorological Department forecasts more storms, raising concerns about further casualties.

The United Arab Emirates recorded a sweltering 50.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, its highest temperature for May since it began documenting them in 2003, according to the National Center of Meteorology. The highest temperature recorded over the country today is 50.4C (122.7 Fahrenheit) in Al Shawamekh (Abu Dhabi)30 UAE Local time, it said in a post on X. This is the highest temperature we've ever recorded (for May) since we started keeping records in 2003, the NCM told AFP. That topped the highest

Turtles are among the longest-living animals on Earth, and some species go much beyond the average lifespans. While most turtles live between 10 to 80 years, certain land tortoises and sea turtles are capable of surviving well beyond a century. Their slow-paced lives, strong bodies, and peaceful lifestyles may hold the secret to their exceptionally long life.Determining a turtles exact age isnt easy, especially when they have outlived generations of humans. For the oldest among them, age estimat

Despite a G7 pledge, Japan remains a major public financier of oil and gas projects, investing $93 billion between 2013 and 2024. Through initiatives like AZEC, Japan promotes LNG as a transitional fuel, raising concerns about 'greenwashing' and hindering renewable energy transitions in countries like Indonesia. Critics argue Japan's LNG investments lock nations into fossil fuel dependency.

that is the record extent of tropical rainforest destroyed last year due in large measure to fires fuelled by climate change, researchers reported Wednesday. Neighbouring Bolivia's forest loss -- 1.5 million hectares -- skyrocketed by 200 percent last year, with a record 3.6 percent of primary forests destroyed in a single year, mostly due to fires set to clear land for industrial-scale farms, according to the report.

A widespread blackout struck Spain and Portugal on April 28, disrupting essential services and sparking an investigation into its cause. While power was largely restored by the next day, the incident has ignited debate about Spain's reliance on renewable energy sources.

Europe faces escalating wildfire risks due to climate change, land use, and urbanization, with potential for severe events every two years. While the number of fires may decrease, they're projected to become larger and more devastating, particularly impacting Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Experts advocate for controlled burning, ecosystem restoration, and increased public awareness to mitigate the growing threat.

Swiss firm Climeworks, which has pioneered the direct capture of CO2 using huge industrial fans in Iceland, is holding talks with staff representatives to cut jobs, Swiss television said Friday. It has been operating a facility in Iceland for several years that uses huge industrial fans to suck CO2 from the air and bury it underground.

In Zimbabwe, a GPS-triggered alert system is helping to mitigate human-elephant conflict near Hwange National Park. Local volunteers, like Capon Sibanda, use real-time tracking data to warn communities of approaching herds, reducing crop damage and potential harm. While the initiative shows promise, villagers express frustration over continued losses and advocate for elephant population control measures like culling to balance conservation with community needs.

China's emissions fell in the first quarter of 2025 despite rapidly growing power demand thanks to soaring renewable and nuclear energy, a key milestone for world's top emitter, analysis showed Thursday. Renewable energy is now beginning to not only meet China's growing demand but also reduce emissions, said Li Shuo, head of the Asia Society Policy Institute's China Climate Hub.

Whether in Miami, Athens, or Santiago, dedicated ambassadors are stepping up to tackle extreme urban heat around the world. In Athens, we worked on the categorization of extreme heat, so that there are specific thresholds that trigger different types of policies and actions during heatwaves to make sure that we protect the most vulnerable populations.

In Senegal's gold-rich Kedougou region, the widespread use of mercury in artisanal mining poses severe health and environmental risks, particularly for women and children. Despite government pledges to reduce mercury use, the lack of accessible, effective alternatives and weak enforcement perpetuate the dangerous practice. The lure of quick profits outweighs concerns about long-term health consequences, hindering efforts to implement safer gold processing methods.

The city of Copenhagen will offer special rebates and freebies to eco-friendly tourists this summer, including free bike rentals to those arriving by train and staying more than four days. Those who make climate-friendly and environmental choices, such as using bikes and picking up trash, will also be offered rebates at museums and tourist sites, as well as free yoga classes and vegetarian meals.