Environment

• Saturday, July 13th 2019 - 14:58 UTC

  Brazilian state of Paraná passes antifracking law

  

  Based on environmental grounds, other types of soil exploration that can cause pollution also fall under the scope of this week's new norm.

• Friday, July 12th 2019 - 12:31 UTC

  Bolivia is making final preparations as it steps up to host the World Travel Awards (WTA) Latin America

  

  The leading travel industry figureheads from across South and Central America are attending what will mark WTA’s inaugural ceremony on 13 July in this fascinating country.

• Thursday, July 11th 2019 - 16:32 UTC

  Lousiana takes Hurricane Barry threat seriously

  

  Government officials are preparing for a heavy tropical storm or worse in New Orleans by Friday, as floods and heavy rains have battered the region for the past few hours, according to the United States' National Weather Service, which has warned that hurricane conditions were possible along the Gulf Coast as a “potential tropical cyclone” moved closer to land.

• Wednesday, July 10th 2019 - 08:59 UTC

  Norway generous contributor to Brazil's Amazon Fund concerned with the rhythm of deforestation

  

  Norway has expressed alarm over accelerating the destruction of the Amazon and concern for the future of a Brazilian rainforest protection fund it has given US$ 1.2 billion to in the last decade. Deforestation in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon soared more than 88% in June compared to the same month a year ago, the second consecutive month of rising destruction under new President Jair Bolsonaro.

• Tuesday, July 9th 2019 - 09:43 UTC

  Pacific Alliance plans a new bond to cover hydro-meteorological events

  

  Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru plan to work with the World Bank to launch a new bond to cover losses in the event of extreme weather, Peru's finance minister said.

• Tuesday, July 9th 2019 - 08:59 UTC

  Another serious cruise incident rattles Venice and questions large vessels' traffic in canals too close to the city

  

  A giant cruise ship very narrowly missed a yacht while being towed out of Venice late Sunday, just a month after a collision there renewed the controversy over the giant vessels. The 12-deck Costa Deliziosa, which is nearly 300 meters long and carries more than 3,800 passengers and crew, was being towed out in stormy conditions when the near-miss happened.

• Sunday, July 7th 2019 - 11:41 UTC

  Russia claims releases from “whale prison” have been successful: Greenpeace and scientists criticize

  

  Russian research scientists defended the way they released eight whales back into the wild last week and said on Thursday they would release scores more of the captive animals in the same way despite anger from environmental groups.

• Sunday, July 7th 2019 - 11:17 UTC

  WWF warns on “super fires” afflicting Europe and calls for forestry management

  

  Global conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warned on Thursday of the risks from new faster-spreading “super fires” in the wake of heat waves and droughts that have been afflicting Europe in what many see as a symptom of climate change.

• Saturday, July 6th 2019 - 17:30 UTC

  Same-sex penguin couple build the biggest nest to look after a Gentoo chick

  

  A same-sex penguin couple at Sea Life London have welcomed the pitter-patter of webbed feet, following the recent hatching of their first adopted chick.

• Friday, July 5th 2019 - 10:58 UTC

  Bolsonaro insists, Europe has no authority to discuss environment issues with Brazil

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has rebutted European criticism over his commitment to the environment, saying he'd flown over Europe twice and hadn't seen “even a square kilometre of forest.”