Environment

Monday, October 5th 2015 - 23:20 UTC
Agricultural expansion main factor of Brazil's deforestation and it's expanding

Agricultural expansion is the chief contributing factor to the deforestation of Brazilian ecosystems and has accelerated in recent years, according to an official study released last week.
Friday, October 2nd 2015 - 06:19 UTC
Cold 'blob' in part of North Atlantic Ocean puzzles scientists

Over the past few months, scientists have been trying to explain an area of very cold temperatures in a part of the North Atlantic Ocean. In fact, when the rest of the world was recording above average highs in temperature, making the year the hottest to-date, this part of the Atlantic was cold. The area is being called the Atlantic “blob.”
Wednesday, September 30th 2015 - 07:32 UTC
New Zealand announces huge marine reserve; fishing and mining industries 'surprised'

New Zealand has revealed plans to turn an area of the South Pacific about the size of France into a marine reserve. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary lies north of the mainland and includes a chain of islands and underwater volcanoes.
Wednesday, September 30th 2015 - 07:25 UTC
Blue whales reported to be back in Barents Sea after a century

Blue whales are returning to the Barents Sea in the area of Svalbard, according to employees of Holland's Institute of Sea Research. The 17 species spotted means the mammals are returning to the region after a century of absence.
Monday, September 28th 2015 - 10:57 UTC
Shell stops Arctic oil exploration following 'disappointing' results

Royal Dutch Shell has stopped Arctic oil and gas exploration off the coast of Alaska after “disappointing” results from a key well in the Chukchi Sea. In a surprise announcement, the company said it would end exploration off Alaska “for the foreseeable future”.
Monday, September 28th 2015 - 10:45 UTC
Record soy and corn crops forecasted in South America because of stronger dollar and El Niño

A combination of weather, currency and political factors should result in another huge South American crop of corn and soybeans, further depressing grain and oilseed prices, says an analyst, according to a report from Canada's The Western Producer. 
Monday, September 28th 2015 - 10:21 UTC
Brazil supports Paris conference and pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions 37% by 2025

President Dilma Rousseff pledged on Sunday to slash Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions by 37%, during her speech to the UN General Assembly. Outlining her vision for a global climate change agreement on Sunday, Rousseff stressed on the importance of a “common response”.
Saturday, September 26th 2015 - 08:35 UTC
“The human element in shipping” was underlined by UN on World Maritime Day

School children from local and international schools based in London attended an informative session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters as part of the celebrations of World Maritime Day, under the theme “Maritime education and training.”
Thursday, September 24th 2015 - 08:56 UTC
Ex VW CEO Winterkorn stands to take home a $32 million pension

Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen who resigned on Wednesday amid allegations that the company cheated emissions testing for 11 million diesel-powered cars, stands to take home a $32 million pension.
Thursday, September 24th 2015 - 07:41 UTC
Brazil and UK joint research of critical elements in the deep northeast Atlantic

Scientists from the U.K. and Brazil will work together to study the formation of ocean minerals essential for new technology, particularly environmental technology such as photovoltaic cells.