Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/karl.mathiesen.freelance%40guardian.co.uk en Deadly floods hit Iraq as thunderstorms sweep across region https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/deadly-floods-hit-iraq-thunderstorms-sweep-across-region <p>Violent storms lash northern Iraq and parts of Iran, while Portugal faces strong winds and Japan braces for further snowfall</p> <p>Deadly flash floods hit northern Iraq on Saturday as severe thunderstorms swept across the region, including in neighbouring Iran. The city of Erbil, in Iraq, was particularly badly hit, with extensive damage to homes and businesses. Streets were inundated as torrential rain fell over a short period.</p> <p>Rainfall exceeded forecasts, with an estimated 80mm falling in the city, compared with expectations of 30mm. Two people were killed in the floods.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/deadly-floods-hit-iraq-thunderstorms-sweep-across-region" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:59:06 +0000 admin 105038 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Thames Water asks creditors for more time to help repay £20bn debt pile https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thames-water-asks-creditors-more-time-help-repay-20bn-debt-pile <p>Troubled utility lobbies for deadline on part of the debt to be extended to March 2028</p> <p>Thames Water has asked creditors for more time to pay back billions of pounds in debt, as the water company scrambles to keep itself afloat.</p> <p>The UK’s largest water company said it had proposed an “interim” deal under which the deadline to pay off an unspecified portion of the £20bn of debt on its balance sheet would be extended from 2027 to March 2028.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/09/thames-water-asks-creditors-more-time-repay-debt-pile">Continue reading...</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:32:43 +0000 admin 105039 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Burnham says bravery of Brand’s victims will change the justice system to better support survivors – UK politics live https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/burnham-says-bravery-brand-s-victims-will-change-justice-system-better-support-survivo <p>The prime minister said he wants police forces to have dedicated rape and serious sexual offence teams by the end of 2027</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/burnham-says-bravery-brand-s-victims-will-change-justice-system-better-support-survivo" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:11:44 +0000 admin 105036 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org This grim story of marine park whales could yet have a positive outcome – if it teaches us to value other species | Elle Hunt https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/grim-story-marine-park-whales-could-yet-have-positive-outcome-if-it-teaches-us-value-o <p>There is no ‘saving’ these traumatised mammals from places like Marineland in Canada. Humans need to understand that our actions are not easily undone</p> <p>Remember “Save the whales”? Now that was an environmental campaign everyone could get behind. Surely you don’t want whales to <em>die</em>!</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/grim-story-marine-park-whales-could-yet-have-positive-outcome-if-it-teaches-us-value-o" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:00:06 +0000 admin 105037 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘A new age of climate extremes’: Earth accumulating heat at accelerating rate https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-age-climate-extremes-earth-accumulating-heat-accelerating-rate <p>Increased heat will supercharge extreme weather events, warns UN agency as Cop31 climate summit begins</p> <p>Heat is accumulating in Earth’s systems at an accelerating rate, the UN’s weather agency has reported as the Cop31 climate change summit begins in Turkey, with 2026 on track to be one of the four warmest years on record.</p> <p>The imbalance between incoming energy from the sun and energy leaving Earth reached its highest level since monitoring began, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its State of the Global Climate update.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-age-climate-extremes-earth-accumulating-heat-accelerating-rate" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:30:02 +0000 admin 105035 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Cop31 live: world leaders gather for crucial climate crisis talks https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop31-live-world-leaders-gather-crucial-climate-crisis-talks <p>UN climate summit will focus on how to implement the targets needed to urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/nov/08/cop31-what-is-at-stake-at-the-un-climate-summit-and-what-can-it-achieve">What is at stake at the UN climate summit and what can it achieve?</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/nov/08/cop31-key-players-climate-talks">Key players at the climate talks</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop31-live-world-leaders-gather-crucial-climate-crisis-talks" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:12:34 +0000 admin 105034 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Democrats to attend Cop31 climate talks boosted by midterms and eager to make up for Trump-era setbacks https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/democrats-attend-cop31-climate-talks-boosted-midterms-and-eager-make-trump-era-setback <p>US government will have no official presence at UN’s annual climate summit, this year’s Cop31 held in Antalya, Turkey</p> <p>The US will be absent from key UN climate talks that start on Monday, a further sign of Donald Trump’s scornful dismissal of the climate crisis. But Democrats’ crushing win in the US midterm elections has delivered a timely shot of optimism to countries now looking beyond the Trump era of climate obstruction.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/democrats-attend-cop31-climate-talks-boosted-midterms-and-eager-make-trump-era-setback" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 06:00:01 +0000 admin 105031 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Stop undermining Jim Chalmers, environment minister urges Labor colleagues https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stop-undermining-jim-chalmers-environment-minister-urges-labor-colleagues <p>‘It’s pretty obvious that there are all sorts of people making all sorts of comments,’ Murray Watt says after budget savings meeting</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stop-undermining-jim-chalmers-environment-minister-urges-labor-colleagues" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 05:47:49 +0000 admin 105032 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Is Cop31 a huge scam? Let’s ask the penguins of the future | First Dog on the Moon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop31-huge-scam-let-s-ask-penguins-future-first-dog-moon <p>It’s 2126 and class is getting under way beneath the Earth’s remaining ocean </p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/16/-sp-first-dog-on-the-moon-subscribe-by-email">Sign up here to get an email</a> whenever First Dog cartoons are published</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://firstdogonthemoon.com.au/shop/">Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop</a> if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints</p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop31-huge-scam-let-s-ask-penguins-future-first-dog-moon" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 09 Nov 2026 05:39:50 +0000 admin 105033 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Heavy rain floods displaced families’ tents in Gaza – in pictures https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/heavy-rain-floods-displaced-families-tents-gaza-pictures <p>The first winter storm began affecting the people of Gaza this weekend with heavy rain hitting on Saturday. Reports that about 70,000 tents were flooded within 12 hours prompted warnings of a worsening humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in temporary camps lacking adequate protection from rain and cold</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2026/nov/08/heavy-rain-floods-displaced-families-tents-gaza-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a></p> Sun, 08 Nov 2026 18:50:12 +0000 admin 105030 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org