Environment

Acclaimed director Milo Rau brings 'Antigone' to the Amazon

He has been called "the most controversial director in theater," so it's no surprise Milo Rau's latest project is graphic and visceral: an updated version of "Antigone" transposing the Greek tragedy to the Amazon rainforest and reenacting a bloody massacre.. A short film of the reenacted massacre will play during "Antigone in the Amazon," a theatrical alarm bell warning of the dangers of humankind's destruction of the rainforest, which will premiere on May 13 at Rau's theater.

Thu, Apr 20, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

Biden urges climate forum to 'step up' against global warming

President Joe Biden announced another $1 billion in US climate funding Thursday at a virtual meeting with leaders from the world's biggest industrial nations to coordinate efforts to push back on global warming.. Biden announced a $1 billion contribution to the Green Climate Fund, which is financing efforts by richer countries to help developing economies switch to cleaner energy and to build climate-resilient infrastructure.

Thu, Apr 20, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Stargazers witness dazzling solar eclipse in Australia

Professional astronomers and amateur cosmologists flocked to a remote part of Western Australia Thursday to witness a total solar eclipse, with the moon blocking out the sun for 58 seconds.. A continent away in Sydney, the eclipse was only partial, with less than 20 percent of the sun blocked by the moon.

Thu, Apr 20, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

'Hotter and hotter': Swathes of Asia sweat in heatwave

Sweltering under a blistering sun, people across South and Southeast Asia have been taking cover beneath any shelter they can find as they pray for cooling rains with record temperatures hitting the region.. - 'Prayers for rain' - In Bangladesh hundreds gathered in the capital Dhaka this week to pray for rain after temperatures hit 40.6 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) -- the highest recorded since the 1960s.

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

European Space Agency chief eyes tapping private industry partners

European Space Agency director Josef Aschbacher promised a "transformation" of the continent's space sector in the coming years during an interview with AFP, including more collaboration between government and private industry.. - How will the sector be transformed?

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 2 mins read

Environment

Ancient necropolis unearthed next to busy Paris train station

Just metres from a busy train station in the heart of Paris, scientists have uncovered 50 graves in an ancient necropolis which offer a rare glimpse of life in the French capital's precursor Lutetia nearly 2000 years ago.. Garcia said that the ancient history of Paris was "generally not well known".

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 2 mins read

Environment

China's CATL unveils battery planned to power planes

China's CATL said Wednesday it was working with partners to develop electric passenger planes as they unveiled a condensed matter battery it said was strong enough to power such an aircraft.. CATL did not specify who its airline partners were but said it was practising aviation-level standards and testing in accordance with industry requirements.

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Ailing Pakistan elephant may be euthanised after collapsing

Animal experts will decide in coming days whether an ailing elephant at a zoo in Pakistan needs to be euthanised after it collapsed in its pen last week and has since failed to stand up, officials said.. The 17-year-old African elephant underwent emergency treatment for a tumour in Karachi on April 5, but collapsed days later and has since lain stricken on its side.

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Panda on loan from China dies in Thailand aged 21

A giant panda on loan from China to Thailand who captivated animal lovers through a 24-hour live broadcast of her antics died on Wednesday aged 21, said the zoo where she was housed.. Animal lovers in the country were glued to a live 24-hour "Panda Channel" broadcast between 2009 and 2012.

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 2 mins read

Environment

Water rationed in Catalonia as drought bites deeper

For months, residents of L'Espluga de Francoli have been saving water in bottles and foregoing showers to cope with long hours of daily water rationing as northeastern Spain suffers one of its worst droughts in decades.. Three times a week, a tanker truck spends hours ferrying in water to top up L'Espluga's municipal water supplies in a region where the aquifers have been depleted by months of drought.

Wed, Apr 19, 2023 3 mins read