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Researchers warn of approaching ‘major extinction event’ if action is not taken to protect around 300 species, including gorillas, chimps, lemurs and lorises

More than half of the world’s apes, monkeys, lemurs and lorises are now threatened with extinction as agriculture and industrial activities destroy forest habitats and the animals’ populations are hit by hunting and trade.

In the most bleak assessment of primates to date, conservationists found that 60% of the wild species are on course to die out, with three quarters already in steady decline. The report casts doubt on the future of about 300 primate species, including gorillas, chimps, gibbons, marmosets, tarsiers, lemurs and lorises.

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Amateur footage shot on Monday shows Standing Rock activists clashing with police and the National Guard, as demonstrations continue over the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Activists live streamed some of their encounters with police, which at times turned violent

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Temperature data for 2016 shows it is likely to have edged ahead of 2015 as the world's warmest year.

• Final data confirms record-breaking temperatures for third year in a row

• Earth has not been this warm for 115,000 years

2016 was the hottest year on record, setting a new high for the third year in a row, with scientists firmly putting the blame on human activities that drive climate change.

The final data for 2016 was released on Wednesday by the three key agencies – the UK Met Office and Nasa and Noaa in the US – and showed 16 of the 17 hottest years on record have been this century.

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A smartphone attachment that analyses DNA could help improve cancer and tuberculosis treatments.

The onboard atomic clocks that drive the satellite-navigation signals on Europe's Galileo network have been failing at an alarming rate.

The moth, which has a wingspan of just over a centimetre, was discovered in California.

The payment to the UN Green Climate Fund was announced three days before Donald Trump takes office.

A technique designed to help parents affected by genetic disorders is used to tackle infertility.

Sharp Tor, Bodmin Moor Turf hummocks mask mine workings beside the old railway, which weaves between flowering gorse

On the eastern edge of the moor, granite sleepers mark part of the Kilmar railway, used in the second half of the 19th century by trucks carrying moorstone destined for the port of Looe via the Liskeard and Caradon railway. Turfy hummocks mask mine workings beside the way, which weaves between flowering gorse bushes and hawthorn trees draped in bearded lichen. Blue sky reflects in puddles and frost crystals sparkle in cold hollows.

Dumps of wasted stone interspersed with tall conifers tower above the track as it passes beneath disused Cheesewring quarry; ahead, above sunlit sheep pastures, Sharp Tor is fringed with orange bracken.

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Origin Energy should consider a bid for NSW network operator Endeavour Energy and/or make a serious push into the Queensland renewable energy market, with the aim of developing Australia’s first large scale “renewables energy on demand” business.

The bailout of the Portland aluminium smelter is arguably the dumbest thing the normally sensible Andrews Labor state Government will have committed to. And it will bear direct subsidy and power costs that amount to more than $500,000 per direct employee, per year.

China's National Energy Administration announced that 104 planned and under-construction coal power projects have been suspended.

Worldwide spending on clean energy fell 18 percent from 2015’s record high. However, even as spending ebbs, the amount of wind and solar connected to power grids around the world is still climbing.

German company Senec-IES has begun shipping its battery storage units to the fast-growing Australian storage market, with 2,000 units to be supplied in the first six months of 2017.

UK engineers finish the assembly of a wind-observing satellite that meteorologists expect to have a major impact on weather forecasts.

The strong growth in large scale renewable project financing in Australia could be just the beginning of major wave of investment, and points to RET being met by 2020.

Babies learn language in the early months of life, and retain this knowledge, say scientists.

Saudi Arabia says it will focus on solar and wind energy in a new $US50 billion energy plan that is about to be unveiled.

Investment in American innovation demonstrates growth opportunities in solar with energy storage