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Report by joint intelligence committee delayed, with concerns expressed that it may not be published
The UK’s national security is under severe threat from the climate crisis and the looming collapse of vital natural ecosystems, with food shortages and economic disaster potentially just years away, a powerful report by the UK’s intelligence chiefs is due to warn.
However, the report, which was supposed to launch on Thursday at a landmark event in London, has been delayed, and concerns have been expressed to the Guardian that it may have been blocked by number 10.
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Hitchin, Hertfordshire: Some insects have evolved a long proboscis to reach the nectar of salvias and fuschias. Some take a cheeky shortcut
Pandemonium in the kitchen: “Hummingbird hawk moth on the salvia!” And there it is, that unmistakable shimmering flight above the patio; the moth’s wingbeats so rapid it appears motionless as it sips from the tubular blooms of Salvia Amethyst Lips.
It’s only the second time I’ve seen a hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) in our suburban garden. I spotted the first last year, darting from flower to flower in the honeysuckle – another species with long corolla tubes made up of fused petals. The hawk moth’s choice of tubular flowers is unsurprising, given that Macroglossum means long-tongued. Using its 25-28mm-long proboscis, this formidable day-flying moth can take refreshment from the parts other pollinators cannot reach.
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Environmental group seeks damages from Welsh Water and two chicken producers, alleging responsibility for pollution in Wye, Lugg and Usk
Almost 4,000 people in England and Wales are taking legal action over what they allege is six years of sewage pollution that has devastated three rivers, including the Wye.
In the largest environmental group action of recent times, 3,943 residents and business owners are seeking substantial damages from Welsh Water and the leading chicken producers Avara Foods Ltd and Freemans of Newent Ltd, alleging they are responsible for “extensive and widespread pollution” in the Wye, Lugg and Usk.
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Campaigners say increase in exports mostly to Malaysia and Indonesia is ‘unethical and irresponsible waste imperialism’
Britain’s exports of plastic waste to developing countries have soared by 84% in the first half of this year compared with last year, according to an analysis of trade data carried out for the Guardian.
Campaigners described the rise in exports, mostly to Malaysia and Indonesia, as “unethical and irresponsible waste imperialism”.
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Industrially made foods involve several ingredients and processes to put together, making it difficult to examine their true cost
If you look at a package of M&Ms, one of the most popular candies in the US, you’ll see some familiar ingredients: sugar, skimmed milk powder, cocoa butter. But you’ll see many more that aren’t so recognizable: gum arabic, dextrin, carnauba wax, soya lecithin and E100.
There are 34 ingredients in M&Ms, and, according to Mars, the company that produces the candy, at least 30 countries – from Ivory Coast to New Zealand – are involved in supplying them. Each has its own supply chain that transforms the raw materials into ingredients – cocoa into cocoa liquor, cane into sugar, petroleum into blue food dye.
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Firm will instead invest A$2m a year in ‘climate impact fund’ supporting renewables and switching to EVs
One of the travel industry’s most environmentally focused tour operators, Intrepid, is scrapping carbon offsets and abandoning its emissions targets as unreachable.
The Australian-headquartered global travel company said it would instead invest A$2m (£980,000) a year in an audited “climate impact fund” supporting immediate practical measures such as switching to electric vehicles and investing in renewable energy.
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Smaller than a robin, only about 50 Temminck’s stints are seen in the UK each year
Nestled beneath the Mendip Hills, just outside the home of the eponymous cheese, Cheddar reservoir is a well-known hotspot for waterbirds – especially the large flocks of ducks, coots and grebes that overwinter here. Wading birds also drop in, especially during spring and autumn, though are usually confined to strips of mud around the shoreline.
But this year is different. The summer’s drought means water levels are lower than anyone can remember, exposing large areas of mud and water where a range of waders can feed. There are also glossy ibises – part of the recent invasion from southern Europe – and great white egrets, their stylishness contrasting with the small, brown birds foraging at their feet.
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Test pulses from lightning impulse generators can be used to ensure lightning protection is functioning properly
Lightning protection is mandatory for schools, high-rise blocks of flats, churches and factories in the UK. It is also essential for electrical equipment, the testing of which may involve using a portable lightning generator.
A lightning inspector’s annual check is mainly visual confirmation that lightning rods are intact, the necessary connections are in place and nothing has been damaged by lightning in the previous year. Inspectors check that surge protectors, which prevent lightning from overloading a building’s electrical circuits, are in place and working. Inspection may also involve physical testing, such as measuring the conductivity of lightning rods.
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Dairy and beef producers among those concerned about how pesticide use affects their land as well as water quality on the mid-north coast
Tensions are simmering across the New South Wales mid-north coast.
On one side are dairy and beef farmers, and residents who moved to the region for the landscape and the lifestyle. On the other are blueberry farmers, whose holdings have expanded dramatically in the past few years.
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Quit lugging liquid – detergent sheets have all the cleaning power with a fraction of the weight and zero of the sticky spillage
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, have you ever felt frustrated by your liquid laundry detergent? For example, has the bottle ever leaked and made a huge mess, did the weight ever make it difficult to pour, or have you ever wished there was a more travel-friendly version? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should check out laundry detergent sheets.
I’ve written entire guides to laundry detergents, including performing lab tests, and detergent sheets are easily one of the most convenient ways to wash your clothes.
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