Environment

• Wednesday, August 31st 2011 - 08:34 UTC

  Global production of bio-fuels increased 17% last year reaching 105 billion litres

  

  Global production of bio-fuels increased 17% in 2010 to reach an all-time high of 105 billion liters, up from 90 billion liters in 2009.

• Tuesday, August 30th 2011 - 03:53 UTC

  Uruguay plan to regularize 676 shanty towns (200.000 people), most in Montevideo

  

  Uruguay announced it will invest 150 million dollars for the eradication of shanty towns, 90% of which are located in Montevideo, half of them in contaminated and flood-prone areas.

• Tuesday, August 30th 2011 - 03:47 UTC

  New York City recovering from Irene, but Vermont ravaged by flood waters

  

  Although hurricane Irene crossed into Canada overnight Sunday but wasn't yet through with the United States, where flood waters in Vermont caused the greatest damage in 75 years and in New York state big city commuters had to make do with slowly reawakening transit systems.

• Sunday, August 28th 2011 - 09:31 UTC

  Hurricane Irene blasts New York

  

  Hurricane Irene tore Sunday into New York, hammering Manhattan's skyscrapers with fierce winds and threatening to flood the financial district after killing at least nine people along the US east coast.

• Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:35 UTC

  New York evacuates 250.000 people in anticipation of hurricane Irene

  

  Authorities in New York City ordered mandatory evacuation of all low-lying areas before Hurricane Irene hits, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Friday. Bloomberg told a press conference that the evacuation - estimated at more than 250,000 people - could begin when shelters open at 4 pm.

• Friday, August 26th 2011 - 03:16 UTC

  Amazon has a twin river that flows 4.000 metres below the ground

  

  Brazilian scientists say they have found signs of a huge underground river flowing far beneath the Amazon River, reports O Estado de Sao Paulo.

• Friday, August 26th 2011 - 03:14 UTC

  Greenpeace claims top-brand clothing garments tainted with toxic chemicals

  

  Toxic chemicals harmful to the environment and to human health have been detected in products made by 14 top clothing manufacturers, Greenpeace said this week.

• Wednesday, August 24th 2011 - 22:56 UTC

  Major earthquake rocks Amazon region of Peru, next to Brazil, felt in Lima

  

  A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a remote Amazon region of Peru on Wednesday, shaking office buildings far away in the capital and in neighbouring Brazil although no injuries or damage were reported immediately.

• Wednesday, August 24th 2011 - 04:24 UTC

  Strong earthquake rattles Washington, New York, Virginia and Toronto area

  

  A strong earthquake rattled the United States East Coast, sending tremors as far as Canada, shaking Washington and scaring thousands of office workers who fled onto the streets.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 09:59 UTC

  First complete map of Antarctica ice flow speed and direction

  

  The first complete map of the speed and direction of ice flow in Antarctica will help scientists to track future sea-level increases, according to the team behind the project.