Environment

Friday, November 20th 2015 - 10:16 UTC
BHP Billiton and Vale face civil lawsuit of US$ 3.69bn over dam collapse in Brazil

A BHP Billiton and Vale joint venture in Brazil is facing its first civil lawsuit over the dam collapse at its iron ore mine on November 5 that buried a town and contaminated the region's main river.
Friday, November 13th 2015 - 09:23 UTC
Mine disaster: Brazil fines BHP Billiton and Vale; expects companies to pay cleanup costs

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has slapped preliminary fines worth 250 million Reais ($94 million) against a BHP Billiton-Value owned mine in Minas Gerais state where two dams burst, killing at least seven people.
Wednesday, November 11th 2015 - 07:07 UTC
Brazil's mining disaster impacts BHP Billiton shares on fears of cleanup costs

Investors continued to dump shares in mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. following the deadly dam burst last week at its jointly owned iron-ore mine in Brazil, even as the company sought to clarify responsibility for the disaster that has already claimed the lives of three people.
Tuesday, November 10th 2015 - 08:40 UTC
Global temperatures are 1.02C above 1850/1900 average, and climbing, warns UK Met Office

Global temperatures are set to rise more than one degree above pre-industrial levels according to the UK's Met Office. Figures from January to September this year are already 1.02C above the average between 1850 and 1900.
Tuesday, November 10th 2015 - 08:05 UTC
Brazil's mining disaster forces cities 300km downstream to cut drinking water supply

Mud and wastewater from burst dams at a Brazilian iron ore mine cut off drinking water and raised health and environmental concerns in cities more than 300 km downstream on Monday, amid increasingly dire search efforts in a village devastated by the mudslides.
Monday, November 9th 2015 - 08:30 UTC
North of Chile rattles with a series of tremors which were felt in Argentina

North of Chile has been rocked by a series of tremors during early Saturday and most of Sunday, but no injuries or damage has been reported, the University of Chile's Seismology Institute said. The earthquake shook an estimated 20 cities, Arica, Cuya, Pocon Chile, Camina, Mamiña and Pisagua, the national emergency management office said.
Monday, November 9th 2015 - 08:02 UTC
Mining disaster in Brazil: 28 remain disappeared; BHP Billiton CEO flying to Minas Gerais

Brazilian authorities are still struggling to determine what caused the rupture in dams at an iron ore mine and desperately working to recover the bodies of as many as 28 people believed to have been swept away in the massive mudflow and flood.
Wednesday, November 4th 2015 - 07:18 UTC
Australia announces construction of new icebreaker and more funds for Antarctic research

The Australian government has provided the first look at Australia's new icebreaker, a ship it says will offer scientists unprecedented and extended access to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 06:29 UTC
Brazil and EU agree on biosecurity measures for horse sports in RIO 2016 Games

Brazil and the European Union have reportedly settled biosecurity-related arrangements that will allow the passage of sport horses in and out of Rio de Janeiro for next year’s Olympics. However, details of any deal have yet to be posted on website of the Olympic Public Authority in Brazil, or the main Games website, Rio2016.com. Details of the deal are expected to be released this week.
Saturday, October 31st 2015 - 06:26 UTC
El Niño turns the world's most arid desert into a blossomed carpet

One of the driest places on Earth has blossomed after some unusual rain earlier this year. The Atacama Desert, primarily located in Chile along the Pacific Ocean, is flush with flowers after relatively heavy precipitation in March and August fell in the drought-stricken region.