America's new plan to fight a war with China
I T COULD BE a giant archaeological dig. Bulldozers tear at the jungle to reclaim the history of the second world war and its dark finale: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago this month. The work on Tinian, a speck in the Pacific Ocean, has exposed the four runways of North Field. Glass protects the cement pits where Little Boy and Fat Man, the first and only atom bombs used in war, were loaded onto American B -29s. For a time Tinian was the largest air base in the world, but it was soon mostly abandoned. World China International United States
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline 'Readying for a rumble in the jungle'
Richard Cockett, a news editor, recommends seven books about the defeat of Japan in the second world war
The post-1945 order is crumbling. History offers a glimpse of alternatives that might work
Global courts struggle to cope with power politics
Oliver Jones, our news editor, on the perils of seeking aid in Gaza
New research shows it is being used for good and ill
America has better technology. But will China adopt it more quickly?
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The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Failure of talks for plastic treaty turn focus back to reduce, reuse, recycle. How's that going?
Talks aimed at a global treaty to cut plastic pollution fizzled in Geneva this week, with no agreement to meaningfully reduce the harms to human health and the environment that come with the millions of tons of plastic water bottles, food containers and packaging produced today. Though as many as 100 countries sought caps on production, powerful oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and the United States stood against them. They argued the caps were unnecessary and a threat to their economies and industries. That means any progress continues to depend on efforts to improve recycling, reuse and product design — the very things that powerful nations argued were sufficient to address the problem without resorting to production cuts. Here's what to know about how successful those efforts have been. Just how big is the problem? The world makes more than 400 million tons of new plastic each year, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates that could increase by about 70% by 2040 without meaningful change. A great deal of that ends up in landfills or, worse, the environment. Pollution isn't the only problem. Plastics, made almost entirely from fossil fuels, are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Plastics generated 3.4% — or 1.8 billion tons — of planet-warming emissions across the globe in 2019, the United Nations says. So, how effective has recycling been so far? Not very. It's notoriously difficult to recycle plastics; only 6% of what's made gets recycled, according to the OECD. That's largely because different kinds of plastic cannot be recycled together. They have different chemical compositions, making it costly and time-consuming, and requiring a lot of manual sorting. 'There are many different colors of plastics, many different types of plastics called polymers, and 16,000 to 17,000 different chemicals used to make plastics, so by design, plastics are not easily recyclable," said Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, an organization that works to cut plastic pollution. Experts say plastic is different from materials like paper, cardboard, metal and glass, which all get reused at much higher rates. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates glass recycling at about 31%, and things like steel cans at about 71%. As much as 64% of paper and 74% of cardboard get recycled, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. But 'If you just think of your own home or apartment, you might have a bright orange hard plastic detergent container on top of your washing machine, and then you might have a plastic bag,' Enck said. 'Those two things cannot get recycled together." What strides are being made to improve recycling? The plastics industry says innovations in material science are helping to incorporate more recycled plastics into products and enable more plastic products to be recyclable. Ross Eisenberg, president of America's Plastic Makers, noted the need for an 'all-of-the-above approach.' He said this also includes upgrading recycling infrastructure or improving sorting to capture more used plastics. This also means making recycling more accessible and helping consumers know what can and can't go in the recycling bin. But there are a lot of limitations to this. Depending on consumers for accurate pre-sorting is a lot to ask. And cities may hesitate to make costly infrastructure improvements to their recycling programs if there is little financial incentive or market for the recycled material. "Local recycling facilities, or markets for the recycled material, don't always exist. Where the collection and processing infrastructure does exist, the recycling plants are essentially plastic production facilities, with the same air, water, and soil pollution problems that are harmful to local residents," said Holly Kaufman, director of The Plastics & Climate Project and senior fellow at World Resources Institute. Further, mechanical recycling mixes used plastic with new plastic, and the addition of more chemicals. It also requires other steps that shed much smaller plasticparticles into the environment. Plastics recycling also usually requires plastic that's never been recycled before — called virgin plastic — as used plastic is weak, Kaufman said. 'It does not make much of a dent.' California is currently suing oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil, alleging deception about the possibilities of plastic recycling. Because of this, Kaufman says, 'The aim should be to significantly reduce plastic production, use, and waste, not recycle more.' What about reusing and redesigning plastics? 'Reuse means creating packaging or products designed to be used multiple times, like refillable containers, or more durable zippered bags that can be washed and refilled many times, extending their lifespan and reducing waste,' Eisenberg, of America's Plastic Makers, said. Experts say reuse is extremely important, but reusable products shouldn't necessarily be used for consumables because of the risk of microplastics. Redesigning plastic often means making it easier to recycle. That can be using one material in packaging instead of several, or printing labels directly onto a container rather than using a separate one that is glued on, but that is more complex. Alternatives to plastics could also be made out of sustainable, less harmful and even regenerative materials, such as seaweed, Kaufman said. There has been progress on this front, but most solutions have not scaled up yet. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ___ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Wales Online
17 hours ago
- Wales Online
'I left America for UK and there are three surprising ways British gardens are different'
'I left America for UK and there are three surprising ways British gardens are different' It's is a popular pastime for many people around the world, but it seems there are some major differences when it comes to gardening on both sides of the pond One man spotted three ways British gardens are different to American ones (stock image) (Image: Peathegee Inc via Getty Images) Gardening is a beloved pastime for many across the globe, offering a chance to connect with nature and experience the satisfaction of cultivating one's own produce. It can be a therapeutic activity for many, with no limit to the variety of plants and flowers that can thrive in home gardens. The basics of gardening involve understanding soil composition, choosing suitable plants based on climate and growing conditions, and effective planting techniques. There are certain simple tasks that every garden requires, such as sowing, weeding, watering, pest control and general maintenance such as mowing the lawn. However, there are some nuances in gardening practices depending on the country. TikTok user @grande_americano, a Texan living in Suffolk with his British wife, offered such insights. He provided his followers with snapshots of his life in the UK, including how it differs from the US. In one of his videos, he discusses the differences between American and British gardening. He then highlighted three differences he has noticed, sharing his observations with his friends back in the States. 1. Brits don't say 'yard' or 'yard work' Content cannot be displayed without consent The first difference the Texan noted was that Brits don't typically use the terms "yard" or "yard work". He explained: "Gardening means everything you do in the yard. When I grew up you did yard work, which was mowing, trimming, edging and a garden was a separate thing." Article continues below He clarified that while a garden typically refers to a space for flowers or vegetables, in Britain, the term "garden" encompasses the entire outdoor area – what he would refer to as the yard, lawn and the spots where flowers and vegetables grow. The expat also found out that when a Brit talks about having a garden party, they're actually referring to an event held in the yard. 2. The soil is 'nice' Moving on, the TikTok creator shared: "The second thing is the soil is nice. I did a little bit of gardening today and it was actually somewhat pleasant to be able to pull weeds and dig around and not be hitting rocks after a half inch of top soil, like I would be doing in Texas where I'm from." He discovered that there's no limestone or dolomite to chip through in his UK garden, unlike in Texas. The American described the soil as "nice, rich dirt". 3. No 'weird' critters in the UK The final difference he observed is the absence of "weird critters" commonly found in Texas, such as scorpions or venomous snakes. He remarked: "I did see quite a few spiders and slugs and snails, [I] even saw two newts." Despite spotting "plenty of critters wandering around" and "lots of good fishing worms" in the soil, he noticed that they go about "minding their own business". Article continues below The Texan added: "I've been told that there are some snakes here in the UK and possibly one viper, one venomous snake but I've been told that you'll be lucky to ever see a snake, much less a poisonous one." The American conceded that despite his occasional complaints about the weather, it's the mild climate, coupled with the moisture and humidity, that results in "such beautiful lush gardens and scenery and countryside that we all really love".
Leader Live
18 hours ago
- Leader Live
Full text of the King's address to the nation on VJ Day 80th anniversary
Here is the monarch's full message, released on Friday to commemorate the end of the Second World War on August 15 1945. The King said: 'For the millions of families gathered around their wireless sets, and for their loved ones still serving far from home, it was the message a battle-weary world had long prayed for. ''The war is over', declared my Grandfather, King George VI, in his address to the nation and Commonwealth on VJ Day 80 years ago today – four short words after six long years of bloodshed, fear and suffering. 'Seldom can a simple message have resonated with such a potent mix of relief, celebration, and sorrow for those who never lived to see the glow of freedom's new dawn. 'On this day of profound remembrance, I speak to you in that same spirit of commemoration and celebration as we honour anew all those whose service and sacrifice saw the forces of liberty prevail. 'While that final victory in The Pacific was achieved under the strategic command of our steadfast American allies, the war in South East Asia had reached its climax under the leadership of my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, from whom I learned so much about the particular horrors and heroism witnessed in those furthest fields of combat. 'The forces aligned under him comprised over one million men and women, drawn from many different countries, religions and communities, but united by common purpose and indomitable spirit. 'Twenty-Nine Victoria Crosses bear eloquent testimony to their valour, but I know full well of the toll it took on so many – measured not only in gravestones, but in the mental and physical scars of those who survived. 'Despite the unyielding support of their devoted battlefield commander, General William Slim, the forces on the ground sometimes considered themselves 'the Forgotten Army'. 'But, as Patron of the now Burma Star Memorial Fund, and having attended one of the great Burma Star Reunions at the Albert Hall with Lord Mountbatten when the Hall was filled with thousands of bemedalled veterans, it has been my privilege to reassure the remaining veterans that they and their fallen comrades shall never be forgotten. 'Nor are they alone in our thoughts today for, high above those monsoon-lashed jungles Allied pilots displayed their own fearless bravery, flying fighters, bombers and transport aircraft into enemy fire and Nature's fury. 'We recall, too, the prisoners of war who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance. 'Innocent civilian populations of occupied territories faced grievous hardships, too. 'Their experience reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life – a tragedy all-too vividly demonstrated by conflicts around the world today. 'On this landmark anniversary, we should also pause to acknowledge that in the war's final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again. 'But in recalling so much suffering, we must not lose sight of how great was the cause and how sweet the victory. For those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected. 'Countries and communities that had never before fought together learned to co-ordinate their efforts across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides. 'Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link. 'That remains a vital lesson for our times. 'So to the families of all those who served, and to that sadly dwindling band of veterans among us still, please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity – a beacon that honours our past and guides our future. 'Let us therefore pledge to be vigilant guardians of the values they bequeathed to us. 'And let us, above all, remember the epitaph in the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery on the battlefield of Kohima: 'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today'.'
