Environment-ESG

Talarico Calls for Paxton Debate at Texas Town Hall

At a CNN town hall, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico discussed protecting both oil and gas and renewable energy, lowering health care costs, and his views on abortion, while defending his recent absence from the campaign trail as illness. The closely contested Senate race has drawn more than $500 million in TV ad spending, with party leaders and campaign strategists weighing how attacks and voter turnout could shape the outcome.

Ohio Breweries Earn Great American Beer Festival Medals

Beer coverage spans experiences and discovery, from Wisconsin brewery road trips and Worthing’s 2026 festival featuring more than 40 cask beers to a look back at discontinued classics. The 2026 Great American Beer Festival also recognized several Ohio breweries, while its style-based winners offer craft alternatives to popular national brands.

WPC removes oil executives amid Riyadh attacks

CEOs of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP were removed from the WPC Energy Congress schedule in Riyadh after Houthi-claimed attacks killed 13 and wounded over 300.

Madhya Pradesh Villagers Protest Flooding From River-Link Project

Madhya Pradesh villagers protested the $4.6 billion Ken-Betwa river link in September 2026 after floods hit homes and temples; a planned dam would submerge about 9,000 hectares including part of a tiger reserve.

13-Year-Old Wins 2026 Young Scientist Challenge

Young innovators are earning recognition at science competitions and school exhibitions, with projects addressing ocean acidification, technology, sustainability and practical problem-solving. Highlights include 13-year-old Raji Doshi’s algae-based approach to reducing ocean acidity, award-winning students at South Africa’s Eskom Expo, and a student science exhibition in India.

Columbus Day Closures Expected, Trash Pickup Delayed

Columbus Day will affect government services in several communities: some offices and courthouses will close to in-person visitors, while trash and recycling pickup will be delayed or rescheduled. Little Rock parking enforcement will continue, including at metered and timed spaces and the airport.

Banglalink launches first Starlink satellite-to-mobile service in South Asia

Banglalink, VEON’s Bangladesh unit, launched South Asia’s first Starlink-powered satellite-to-mobile service, letting customers with a 4G phone and Banglalink SIM access essential apps and location services beyond conventional network coverage. The service is available through the MyBL app and is intended to help maintain connectivity during emergencies, disasters and power outages.

Helene’s PVC Pipes Still Clog French Broad River

Two years after Hurricane Helene swept PVC pipes from a Woodfin factory into North Carolina’s French Broad River, crews have removed hundreds of thousands, but debris remains along about 70 miles. IPEX has committed $500,000 toward continued cleanup, while workers say substantial stretches remain uncleared.

Comedy Wildlife Awards Unveil Finalists After Record Entries

The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards announced finalists after receiving a record more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries, showcasing humorous images and videos of animals. Founded to use humor to build empathy for wildlife, the competition is supporting the Born Free Foundation’s conservation work this year.

Snake Encounters Across Regions Highlight Safety Risks

Snakes may enter human spaces seeking shelter, shade or refuge from weather, making encounters more common around homes and during rainy seasons. Experts and rescuers advise checking hiding spots carefully, keeping a safe distance and calling trained professionals rather than trying to handle or kill the animal.

Fulcrum Metals secures £6m funding after 78% gold recovery at Teck-Hughes

Fulcrum Metals posted 78% gold recovery at Teck-Hughes and locked a £6m Yorkville package to fund its 2.4 tpd pilot and first programme.

21,380 NEWDERY Power Banks Recalled Over Fire Risk

About 21,380 NEWDERY ZHX-PB22 power banks sold on Amazon are being recalled because their batteries can explode or ignite. Nine incidents have been reported, including a burn injury and a fire that caused $2 million in property damage; consumers should stop using the devices and contact NEWDERY for refund and safe-disposal instructions.

Scottsdale drops direct water reuse plan after political criticism

Scottsdale's council in June replaced a 2027 plan to add purified wastewater to drinking taps with a $100 million new-sources fund after toilet-to-tap criticism.

Tree-Care Firms Expand Coverage Across Five Regions

Tree-care companies are expanding services across Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, Texas and Maryland, offering seasonal pest assessments and treatment, hazardous-tree removal, pruning and broader arborist care. The announcements emphasize timely responses to local threats—including emerald ash borer, bark beetles, hemlock pests, drought and storm risks—and professional practices intended to protect tree health and property safety.

Reusable Bags Pile Up at Home, Experts Advise Donations

Tanner finds reusable bags "sneaky" under sinks; Oremus uses hers a decade. Miller: good only if reused—donate extras to food banks.

Nationwide Recall Targets Gluten-Free Mixes Over Wheat Gluten

GF Blends is recalling three gluten-free mixes—Truly AIP All Purpose Flour, Truly AIP Bread Mix, and EAT G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. Flat Bread Pizza Mix—after independent testing found gluten in plantain flour supplied by PMF Global, potentially exposing people with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance to adverse health effects. The recalled products were sold nationwide online and through retailers, and consumers should discard them or return for a full refund, with the company arranging replacements and providing contact information for questions; no illnesses have been reported to date.

The next full Corn Moon

Interactive Maps Help Time 2026 U.S. Foliage Trips

Travelers can elevate fall foliage experiences with elevated viewpoints—from hot-air-balloon rides to observing leaf colors from historic fire towers—while families can enjoy farm-based fall activities like pumpkins, corn mazes, and petting zoos. On the planning side, a 2026 Fall Foliage Map and state forestry resources with webcams help cue when and where colors peak, enabling timely, flexible trips across the country.

World’s Busiest Station Tests Robotic Bins

Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is testing three mobile robotic trash bins to assist the overwhelmed sanitation staff amid reduced traditional bins, with trials running until late November and daily passenger flow exceeding 2.7 million. The slow-moving, about-1-meter-tall robots navigate crowds to collect waste, return to a collection point when full, and are evaluated for safety, navigation, and passenger engagement, drawing both concerns about efficiency and enthusiasm from tourists.

Typhoon Dolphin Drives Most of China's August Disaster Losses

Glacier-collapse mudslide at a Tibet-Nepal border left 43 dead and 519 missing in China; the broader disaster killed more than 1,400 across both countries.

US extends fuel truck driver shifts to avert supply delays amid record diesel prices

Sean Duffy issued a 90-day waiver letting fuel truck drivers work 16 hours a day, up from 14, as U.S. diesel hit a record $6.29 a gallon.

Supreme Court to Hear Climate Nuisance Case Critics Warn Could Cost Trillions

Former AG Bill Barr warned that climate lawsuits against American energy companies could strengthen adversaries like China and Russia by targeting private firms while sovereign immunity protects state-owned producers; he argued that Boulder County’s Suncor case and similar suits threaten to shift production abroad and raise energy costs, with some filings reportedly seeking trillions in damages. Barr also contended that such state-law claims have national and global implications that the Constitution bars from being controlled by individual states, and warned that a single victory could cripple U.S. energy producers.

Electra Studies $530M-$675M North American Nickel Refinery

Electra Battery Materials announced initial engineering results for the first phase of a two-phase nickel refinery near Toronto that would convert mine-derived feedstock and recycled battery black mass into nickel metal and battery-grade nickel sulfate at about 20,000 tonnes per year, with nickel and cobalt recoveries above 97%. The project aims to strengthen North American supply chains, reduce reliance on Chinese processing, and may require roughly $530–$675 million for the first phase, with a second phase potentially adding another 20,000 tonnes of nickel capacity, as CEO Trent Mell emphasizes domestic refinement for industrial, military, and EV applications.

NorthWestern Energy and Montana Cities Seek Green Power Program Approval

NorthWestern Energy, joined by the City of Missoula, Missoula County and the City of Bozeman, filed a joint application with the Montana Public Service Commission to establish a Green Power Program that would let communities and businesses voluntarily support a Montana renewable energy resource, detailing the program structure, subscriptions, cost recovery and customer protections while ensuring non-participants do not pay. Officials described the filing as a milestone in a collaborative effort to expand renewable options for Montana customers and environments, highlighting a customer-driven approach and benefits to participating communities.