Thousands of people fled their homes near a Philippine volcano Saturday after an eruption sent ash and steam hundreds of metres into the sky.Taal volcano, which sits in a picturesque lake south of Manila, exploded with a "short-lived" burst at 7:22 am (2322 GMT), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement.It warned further eruptions were possible, which it said could trigger dangerous, fast-moving volcanic flows of gas, ash and debris, as well as a ts

Everyone on the planet should be covered by an early warning system against extreme weather and climate-related disasters within five years, the United Nations (UN) secretary general has said.About a third of people around the world are not now covered by early warning systems, but in Africa the problem is greater, with about six in 10 people lacking such warnings.As climate breakdown takes hold, more people are likely to be affected by extreme weather, including flash floods, heatwaves, more

Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80 percent of the people tested.The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on health is as yet unknown.

Crash investigators on Tuesday said they do not yet know why a China Eastern jet carrying 132 people plunged from the sky, with recovery teams still scouring a forested mountainside for flight recorders from the pulverised Boeing aircraft.No survivors had been found nearly 36 hours after Monday's crash – the deadliest air disaster in three decades in China, a country that had maintained an enviable air safety record."With the current information, we are unable to make a clear judgme

At least two people are dead and 26 others are missing after a ferry carrying dozens of migrants sank off the coast of Indonesia, an official said Sunday.The wooden fishing boat was carrying 89 onboard when it departed for neighbouring Malaysia through an unguarded route.But it sprung a leak soon after departing before being hit by strong waves and sinking.A man and a woman were found dead while 61 others were rescued and immediately transported to hospitals for treatment.

Strong and shallow earthquakes shook western Indonesia and the Philippines' main island early Monday, rattling buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing, but causing no casualties or damage.In Indonesia, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit off the west coast of Sumatra Island and in the Philippines, a 6.4-magnitude tremor struck 110 kilometres (68 miles) off Luzon Island, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.Officials in both countries said there were no immediate reports of

At least 17 people are feared dead after a landslide trapped dozens of workers inside a Myanmar jade mine, sources and local media said Tuesday.The incident came on Monday evening near Hpakant township in northern Kachin state – the same region where a massive landslide in 2020 entombed 300 workers in the country's worst ever mine disaster.Pictures of the scene showed the aftermath of the landslide, with a broad swathe of brown earth and rock covering the pockmarked side of a hill.A loca

With less than 10 percent of the plastic used across the world recycled, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), here are five things to know about recycling techniques and how they are evolving.Mechanical RecyclingSorting, shredding and heating are the three stages of mechanical recycling employed in 99 percent of operations worldwide, France's IFP Energies Nouvelles institute says.After collection and sorting into polymer groups by optical equipm

Seven people died and dozens more were injured when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sumatra Island on Friday, with residents shuttling loved ones to safety as buildings crumbled around them.The quake came just minutes after a less violent tremor, as terrified residents had begun evacuating their houses."We all fled our home (after the first quake)," Yudi Prama Agustino, 36, told AFP.

Saint Valentine's Day may now be celebrated worldwide but traditions are often very different – and sometimes have nothing at all to do with romance.While in Europe it's all about couples cosying up, in the United States (US) it is as much about schoolchildren celebrating friendship while in Japan women give chocolates to their bosses.From pagan festival to marketing ploy, we look at the rich Valentine's mix:All Whipped Up Valentine's Day was once a rather violent