Future Timeline

Tuesday 7 May 2024 13:39, UK



The flood of tourists to the Lake District is turning Lake Windermere green by driving algal blooms, according to new research.

The study - funded by the UK Space Agency - is believed to be the first to examine the impact of visitor numbers on the ecology of the lake in Cumbria.

Algal blooms are fuelled by high levels of nutrients - which can come from sewage - and high temperatures.

They can make the water toxic or starve wildlife of oxygen.

The Save Windermere campaign group, which helped organise the study, said it showed a "direct correlation" between the number of visitors and algal blooms.

9 May 2024, 04:49 BST



Australia has announced it will ramp up its extraction and use of gas until "2050 and beyond", despite global calls to phase out fossil fuels.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government says the move is needed to shore up domestic energy supply while supporting a transition to net zero.

But critics argue the move is a rejection of science, pointing to the International Energy Agency (IEA) call for "huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas" to reach climate targets.

Australia - one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas - has also said the policy is based on "its commitment to being a reliable trading partner".

Released on Thursday, the strategy outlines the government's plans to work with industry and state leaders to increase both the production and exploration of the fossil fuel.

U.S. to end coal leasing in nation’s largest coal-producing region

The Biden administration’s decision ends new leasing in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana following years of lawsuits.

Ukrainian drone strikes knock out 14% of Russian refining capacity - Pentagon

The loss of capacity led to a 20%-30% increase in domestic gasoline prices by mid-March and prompted a halt in exports to focus on domestic demand.