Australia's island state, south of the mainland
The Welsh government has proposed a renewable energy company to develop wind and solar projects and promote local ownership. The plan aims to lower long-term energy costs without directly setting household prices, with a consultation to decide the company’s structure and potential stakes in large schemes.
Scottish supporters are converging on Providence, Rhode Island, for Scotland’s World Cup games in the United States. Organizers have arranged affordable transport and lodging as fans navigate record-high World Cup costs, leveraging local partnerships to host events and shuttle groups to the stadium.
Researchers funded by the UK government report that pumping seawater onto Arctic ice in Cambridge Bay thickened the surface ice by about 50 cm, offering early signs that refreezing could slow summer melt. The effort, part of Real Ice, is being monitored for long-term impacts on temperature and wildlife.
New Zealand has confirmed its first mainland detection of H5 bird flu after a brown skua found on Petone beach has tested positive. Authorities have said there is no evidence of mass mortality or poultry infection, but surveillance and a targeted vaccination programme for endangered captive birds have been activated as officials monitor wild populations.
Extensive wildfires are burning across France, Spain and Italy as heatwaves drive arid conditions. Evacuations continue, hundreds of firefighters operate across multiple fronts, and authorities warn that heat and dry vegetation will keep fire risk high in coming days.
At the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin, Karolina Urbanová of the Czech Republic and Meredith Ingbretson of Hayward have set world records in their events across three-day competition featuring 66 men and 40 women from 16 states and nine countries.
Meteorological agencies and the UN have reported a very strong El Niño that has continued to intensify in August 2026. Forecasts show record-warm Pacific sea-surface temperatures, rising global heat and an elevated risk of droughts, floods and food insecurity that will push tens of millions more people into acute hunger this year and next.
The ACT has agreed to participate in a nationwide gun buyback scheme following the Bondi attack, with details still being finalised. NSW and the Commonwealth have outlined phased compensation, while other states weigh participation. The scheme aims to remove high-risk firearms and strengthen safety.