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Three protesters found guilty despite intervention of shadow chancellor in their support

Three activists from the environmental protest group Extinction Rebellion have been found guilty of public order offences.

Patrick Thelwell, 19, from York; Peter Scott, 66, from Devon; and Samuel Elmore, 26, from Hyde End in Buckinghamshire were charged with offences including breach of section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, obstructing a highway and obstructing police. However, they were spared jail sentences by a judge, who discharged them on condition that they did not reoffend in the next year.

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Nations back first restrictions on global trade in parts, as well as ban on saiga antelope horn

The world’s tallest animal has gained further protections after the world’s nations voted to end the unregulated international trade in giraffe parts.

There are fewer giraffes alive than elephants and their population has plunged by 40% since 1985 to just 97,500. Scientists have called it a “silent extinction”. However, the bitter debate at the 183-nation summit of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) exposed anorth-south divide in Africa.

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Research during Ireland's abortion referendum highlights risks for social networks.

European carbon prices hit a fresh six-week low below €26 on Thursday, though prices again rebounded after steady auction demand and signs that Europe's economy could be resilient to wider weakness.

Conservationists hope release of six eaglets on Isle of Wight will mirror Scotland success

White-tailed eagles are gracing the skies of southern Britain for the first time in 240 years after six eaglets were released on the Isle of Wight.

The huge birds, which are fitted with satellite tags, are expected to disperse along the south coast of England in a scheme backed by the environment secretary, Theresa Villiers, who welcomed the return of the “majestic” species.

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There have been more than 72,000 fire outbreaks in Brazil so far this year, up 84% on the same period in 2018, according to the country’s National Institute for Space Research. More than half were in the Amazon. It followed reports that farmers were feeling emboldened to clear land for crop fields and cattle ranches because the new Brazilian government was keen to open up the region to economic activity. The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, instead accused environmental groups of starting fires

• Jair Bolsonaro claims NGOs behind Amazon forest fire surge – but provides no evidence

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China should allow the use of some CO2 allowances from its regional pilot emissions trading schemes in the national cap-and-trade programme in order to maintain market integrity and avoid a price crash in the pilots, according to a recent study.

Cycad in Isle of Wight produces outdoor male and female cones for first time on record

An exotic plant has produced male and female cones outdoors in Britain for what is believed to be the first time in 60m years. Botanists say the event is a sign of global heating.

Two cycads (Cycas revoluta), a type of primitive tree that dominated the planet 280m years ago, have produced cones on the sheltered undercliffs of Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight.

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RN Drive's Research Filter sifts through some of the most interesting science news of the week, and sorts fact from fiction.

Australia has announced it will soon ban the domestic trade of ivory and rhino horn to curb "back-door" trading.

Victoria and New South Wales are facing the prospect of major summer blackouts, unless additional energy supplies are secured.

The WWF said it was "very unlikely" that pollution reduction targets would be met without new laws.

New Zealand carbon allowances are holding steady well above NZ$24 after the minor bull run earlier this month amid sound demand, although the contract has some way to go before it is back above the fixed price option level.

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‘Microseismic event’ measuring 1.55ML on Richter scale stops Preston New Road operations

Cuadrilla was forced to halt fracking at its shale gas site near Blackpool in Lancashire on Wednesday night after triggering the largest tremor recorded at the location.

The tremor closed down operations at the Preston New Road site shortly after it was detected at 8.46pm.

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The robot, named Fedor, will perform daily tasks during its 10 days on the International Space Station.

The World Health Organization says its findings are based on the "limited information" available.

A strict conservation programme is helping protect the tiny country’s marine ecosystems, despite the growing threat of steadily warming waters

Why Belize is a world leader in protecting the ocean

All photographs by Tony Rath

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State renewable energy targets have been driving energy investment in Australia. 'Where and when' the generation and transmission build occurs varies substantially under a national approach. Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Changlong Wang, Researcher, The Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Roger Dargaville, Senior lecturer, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The city has been on stage-one water restrictions since May, and the outlook for spring is for more dry conditions

Sydney’s dam storage levels have dropped below 50% for the first time in more than a decade.

Storages dropped to 49.7% on Thursday, a 0.4% decline on the previous week.

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