Receding waters spell relief for flooded Northern California towns

Low-lying communities along the rain-engorged Russian River in Northern California wine country were largely cut off by flooding on Thursday, even as waters began receding and sunny skies returned after days of nonstop showers.

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Wine and shine: Scorching summer wilts Australia's grape crop

Australia's hottest summer on record is hitting its $4.4 billion wine industry hard, with grape yields set to drop to the lowest in years and hopes the heat could produce tastier tipples starting to shrivel like fruit on some of the nation's vines.

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Activists press Woodside, Santos to set carbon emission targets

Australia's top two independent gas producers, Woodside Petroleum and Santos, are being urged by an activist investor to set carbon emissions targets for their businesses to help limit global warming.

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White House drafts guidelines for panel questioning climate threat to security

The White House is advancing plans to form a presidential panel that will question science used in U.S. military and intelligence reports showing that human-driven climate change poses national security risks, according to a source briefed by participants in the negotiations.

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Flooded California towns still mostly cut off despite receding waters

Low-lying communities along the swollen Russian River in Northern California wine country remained largely cut off by flooding on Thursday, even as waters began receding and sun peeked through after days of non-stop rain.

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Northern California towns still cut off as floodwaters recede

Four low-lying communities along a swollen river in Northern California wine country remained cut off by floodwaters on Thursday, even as the river receded and sun peeked through after days of non-stop rain, officials said.

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Northern California towns still cut off as floodwaters recede

Four low-lying communities along a swollen river in Northern California wine country remained cut off by floodwaters on Thursday, even as the river receded and sun peeked through after days of non-stop rain, officials said.

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Senate confirms ex-coal lobbyist to lead U.S. environment regulator

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed President Donald Trump's candidate, a former coal lobbyist, to lead the nation's top environmental regulator over the objections of conservation groups and Democrats.

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U.S. Senate confirms Trump's pick to run EPA

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Andrew Wheeler, a former coal and oil lobbyist and President Donald Trump's pick for the Environmental Protection Agency, to lead the nation's top environmental regulator.

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Russia orders firms to release captive whales after outcry

Russian authorities have ordered the release of nearly 100 whales held captive in cages in Russia's Far East in a case that has drawn the ire of President Vladimir Putin, the public and international film stars, TASS news agency said on Thursday.

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Jane Goodall returns to Sierra Leone chimp sanctuary fighting the odds

Jane Goodall visited a chimpanzee sanctuary in Sierra Leone on Thursday that has taken on the veteran primatologist's mission to protect the animals threatened by deforestation, disease and hunting.

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Senate set to confirm ex-coal lobbyist to lead top U.S. environment regulator

The U.S. Senate is poised on Thursday to confirm President Donald Trump's candidate, a former coal lobbyist, to lead the nation's top environmental regulator, a nomination that has infuriated conservation groups and Democrats.

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U.N. seeks $234 million in aid for drought-hit Zimbabwe

The United Nations on Thursday launched an international appeal for aid for Zimbabwe following a drought that it expects to affect around a third of the population as crop yields plummet.

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