SCIENCE

While natural genetic resources -- such as those found in medicinal plants, agricultural crops and animal breeds -- cannot be directly protected as international property, inventions developed using them can be patented

UN Nears Landmark Deal On Combatting Biopiracy

The fight against biopiracy -- plundering genetic resources and the traditional knowledge surrounding them -- could soon be based on an international treaty which is being finalised at negotiations that began on Monday.
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Called 'Mammoth', the plant lies just a few hundred metres (yards) from its predecessor Orca

Iceland's 'Mammoth' Raises Potential For Carbon Capture

With Mammoth's 72 industrial fans, Swiss start-up Climeworks intends to suck 36,000 tonnes of CO2 from the air annually to bury underground, vying to prove the technology has a place in the fight against global warming.
Map of Brazil locating the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the city of Porto Alegre and the heavy rainfall between April 27 and May 4, which has left dozens dead

Brazil Flooding Death Toll Surpasses 100

The death toll from devastating floods that have ravaged southern Brazil for days surpassed 100 on Wednesday, authorities said, as the search for dozens of missing people was interrupted by fresh storms.
The mid-2030s phase out agreed by G7 ministers has been described as 'too late' by environmentalists

G7 To Phase Out Coal-fired Power Plants By Mid-2030s

G7 ministers agreed a timeframe Tuesday for phasing out coal-fired power plants, setting as a goal the mid-2030s, in a move hailed as significant by some environmentalists but slammed as "too late" by others.
Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon (C) as SNP leader and first minister

Scotland's First Minister Yousaf Quits After A Year

Humza Yousaf announced his resignation as Scotland's first minister on Monday, before he was due to face two confidence votes this week sparked by his ditching of junior coalition partners in a row over climate policy.
A person reads an information board as workers setup a control booth near Santa Lucia train station on April 24, 2024 in Venice

Venice Launches Five-euro Entry Fee

Venice launched a new scheme Thursday to charge day-trippers for entering the historic Italian city, a world first intended to ease the pressure of mass tourism -- but many residents are opposed.
Recycled falsehoods are helping anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr to make political inroads

Recycled 'Zombie' Misinformation Targets US Voters

Migrants, vaccines, pedophilia rings -- old conspiracy theories are resurfacing ahead of the US election despite being repeatedly debunked, in what researchers call "zombie" falsehoods that appear to resonate with polarized voters.

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