In 2015, millions of black plastic balls rolled across the surface of a reservoir in Los Angeles, creating an image that quickly travelled far beyond California. The 96 million shade balls were placed on the water during a severe drought, with a practical purpose: reducing evaporation while also helping protect drinking water from sunlight-related chemical…

File photo: Firefighters spray water in an attempt to extinguish a fire at the Putri Cempo landfill in Solo, Central Java province, Indonesia Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has called for tougher laws and sanctions against people and companies responsible for forest and land fires, describing deliberate slash-and-burn clearing as “ecological terrorism” as the country battles…

Beijing has repeatedly opposed unilateral sanctions and has continued economic ties with countries targeted by US sanctions, including Iran. China on Thursday rejected US efforts to pressure countries buying Russian oil and gas, saying its normal trade with other countries should not be subject to interference or coercion by third parties.The response came after the…

A 74-year-old homeowner in Bethel, Connecticut, has been ordered to address unpermitted work along a brook behind his property after a dispute with the town reached court. Mark Bjorken built a wooded bridge across Limekiln Brook and moved rocks along its banks, saying the work was intended to protect his property from erosion and restore…