Dozens missing after glacial flood destroys Nepal-China bridge
At least 29 people are missing after a glacial flood destroyed the “Friendship Bridge” linking Nepal and China, disrupting trade and prompting cro...
A group of 11 European Union countries is pressuring the European Commission to delay and soften the bloc’s landmark deforestation law, warning that current requirements are too burdensome for farmers and foresters, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The European Union is facing renewed calls to scale back its pioneering anti-deforestation regulation, as 11 member states—including Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, and Finland—have urged the European Commission to simplify and postpone the law’s implementation once again.
The policy, set to take effect in December 2025 after a previous delay, aims to curb the EU’s role in global deforestation by requiring companies to prove that key imports—such as soy, beef, palm oil, cocoa, and coffee—are not linked to forest destruction. Firms failing to comply could face fines of up to 4% of their EU turnover.
In a joint paper addressed to EU agriculture ministers, the governments argued that the current requirements remain “disproportionate” and “nearly impossible to implement,” especially for small-scale farmers and foresters. They proposed introducing a new “very low risk” category of countries that would be exempt from strict due diligence and customs checks.
Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia also signed the paper, which will be discussed at an agriculture ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday.
The Commission has already watered down the regulation in response to backlash from global trade partners like Brazil and the U.S., and earlier this month announced that most countries would avoid the law’s strictest checks. A spokesperson for the Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
A searing heat wave sweeping in from Western Europe has gripped Greece, prompting emergency measures as temperatures soar across the country.
At the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit on 4 July in Khankendi in Azerbaijan, expressed support to the bid by the Republic of Türkiye to host COP31 in 2026. Antalya has been proposed as host city for COP31.
China has issued high heat warnings across hundreds of regions as East Asia faces its most intense heat wave of 2025.
Australia has pledged $283 million to support a green hydrogen project led by explosives manufacturer Orica, aiming to boost renewable energy production and reduce industrial emissions.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday proposed creating a low-emissions corridor and regional climate initiatives under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), warning that climate change is severely affecting food security and livelihoods across the region.
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