Environment news

• Dollar eases before Fed, BOJ meetings; oil up

  19-09-2016 23:13
  By Caroline Valetkevitch NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar weakened on Monday on expectations the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged after its policymakers meet this week, while oil prices rose from multi-week lows. A growing belief that the Bank of Japan, which also meets this week, will stop short of the dramatic action needed to weaken its currency also weighed on the dollar. U.S. stocks cut early gains to end flat, with a rise in big bank stocks offsetting a drag from App
  
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• Heatwaves in the ocean: Risk to ecosystems?

  19-09-2016 23:12 via feedproxy.google.com
  Marine ecosystems are responsible for about half of global annual primary production and more than one billion people rely on fish as their primary protein source. Latest studies show that enormous warm water bubbles in the ocean are having a noticeable impact on ecosystems. How should we interpret these changes?
  
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• Climate change – a case of déjà vu

  19-09-2016 22:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Weatherwatch: Today Doggerland is our Atlantis, a drowned landscape under the North Sea only visible from seismic surveys and occasional finds of ancient tree stumpsBrexit has happened before – around 7,500 years ago, when Britain was severed from mainland Europe by rising sea levels. That separation from Europe also happened at a time of higher temperatures, melting glaciers and rising sea levels. And even though climate change then was entirely natural, driven by the Earth’s orbit
  
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• Oil up but off highs on output freeze talk, gasoline tumbles

  19-09-2016 22:19
  By Barani Krishnan NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil rallied on Monday before settling off its highs on scepticism over Venezuela's bid to talk up a potential OPEC output freeze and on indications U.S. crude stockpiles had risen last week. Clashes in Libya that foiled a restart of crude exports from key ports, along with higher equity prices on Wall Street and a weaker dollar, helped oil end higher. Brent crude futures settled up 18 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $45.95 a barrel.
  
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• Militants claim attack on NPDC oil pipeline in Niger Delta

  19-09-2016 21:36
  Militants have blown up a crude oil pipeline operated by Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC in the Niger Delta, a group claiming responsibility for the attack and a youth leader said on Monday. The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate group said it carried out the attack on the Afiesere-Ekiugbo delivery line, in the town of Ughelli in Delta state, on Sunday night at around 11:30 p.m. (2230 GMT). The line is operated by NPDC, a unit of NNPC, and Nigerian energy company Shoreline.
  
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• Dollar eases, stocks gain before Fed meeting; oil up

  19-09-2016 21:01
  By Caroline Valetkevitch NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stock indexes edged higher and the U.S. dollar weakened on Monday on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged after its policymakers meet this week, while oil prices surged from multi-week lows. U.S. Treasuries yields dipped as traders booked profit ahead of this week's policymaking meetings at both the Fed and the Bank of Japan. Weak recent U.S. data has boosted bets that the Fed will skip the chance to raise r
  
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• California governor backs rules on cow, landfill emissions

  19-09-2016 20:48
  Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Monday that regulates for the first time greenhouse-gas emissions tied to dairy cows and landfills, an escalation of California's efforts to fight climate change beyond carbon-based ...
  
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• Oil rebounds on producer deal speculation; gasoline falls

  19-09-2016 20:05
  By Barani Krishnan NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose 1 percent on Monday after Venezuela hinted that OPEC members and other major oil producers could agree to a deal to freeze output, and as clashes in Libya disrupted attempts to restart crude exports from key ports. Oil was also supported by higher equity prices on Wall Street and a weaker dollar that made greenback-denominated commodities, such as crude, more affordable to holders of the euro and other currencies. U.S. West Texas Intermedia
  
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• 'World's saddest' polar bear offered new home in UK

  19-09-2016 19:50 via theguardian.com
  
  Bear made headlines after footage was released showing its cramped living conditions in a Chinese shopping centre A polar bear dubbed the “world’s saddest” because of its cramped living conditions in a Chinese shopping centre has been offered a new home at a UK wildlife park, an animal welfare charity has said.
  The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has made an offer to remove Pizza the polar bear from the Grandview Aquarium, in Guangzhou, Animals Asia said
  
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• Dollar falls, stocks gain before Fed meeting; oil up

  19-09-2016 19:48
  By Caroline Valetkevitch NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stock indexes climbed and the U.S. dollar weakened on Monday on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged after its policymakers meet this week, while oil prices surged from multi-week lows. U.S. Treasuries yields dipped as traders booked profit ahead of this week's policymaking meetings at both the Fed and the Bank of Japan. Weak recent U.S. data has boosted bets that the Fed will skip the chance to raise rates
  
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• Militants blow up NPDC oil pipeline in Niger Delta - youth leader

  19-09-2016 19:25
  Militants have blown up a crude oil pipeline operated by Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC in the Niger Delta, a youth leader said on Monday, the latest in a series of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the restive region. "The attack on the Afiesere-Ekiugbo delivery line belonging to the NPDC shoreline happened yesterday," said Lucky Solue, a youth leader, referring to a unit of NNPC.
  
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• France says Libya needs compromise to avoid sliding backwards

  19-09-2016 19:15
  France warned on Monday that an offensive by forces loyal to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on oil facilities risked plunging the country backwards and urged the national unity government to be more inclusive to break a political deadlock. The advance is the latest power struggle over the OPEC nation's energy assets, after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and ensuing chaos left the North African country splintered into rival armed factions. Haftar opposes the Tripoli government and h
  
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• 'Fruits of the fourth revolution' key for business to tackle struggling SDGs

  19-09-2016 18:43
  
  Leveraging the power of connectivity and digitalisation will be key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the "fruits of the fourth industrial revolution" inspiring large-scale action, a new report has found.
  
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• Venezuela says global oil supply exceeds demand by 10 percent

  19-09-2016 18:23
  Global oil supply of 94 million barrels per day needs to fall by about a tenth if it is to match consumption, Venezuela's Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino said on Monday. Del Pino, whose country is pressing for OPEC and non-OPEC producers to reach a deal to bolster crude prices, said a "fair price" would be around $70 per barrel. "Global production is at 94 million barrels per day, of which we need to go down 9 million barrels per day to sustain the level of consumption," he said in an interview wi
  
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• Oil up 2 percent on producer deal speculation; gasoline dips

  19-09-2016 18:17
  By Barani Krishnan NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 2 percent on Monday after Venezuela hinted that OPEC and other major oil producers could agree to a market support deal and as clashes in Libya disrupted attempts to boost crude exports. U.S. gasoline futures fell slightly on profit-taking from last week's rally on the outage of a key gasoline pipeline due to a leak.. Oil was also supported by higher equity prices on Wall Street and a weaker dollar that made greenback-denominated comm
  
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• Waste not want not: Sweden to give tax breaks for repairs

  19-09-2016 18:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Government to tackle ‘throwaway culture’ by cutting VAT on fixing everything from bicycles to washing machinesThe Swedish government is introducing tax breaks on repairs to everything from bicycles to washing machines so it will no longer make sense to throw out old or broken items and buy new ones. Sweden’s ruling Social Democrat and Green party coalition is set to submit proposals to parliament on Tuesday to slash the VAT rate on repairs to bicycles, clothes and shoes from 25
  
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• Justin Trudeau’s lofty rhetoric on First Nations a cheap simulation of justice | Martin Lukacs

  19-09-2016 17:58 via theguardian.com
  
  An era of so-called reconciliation has disguised the continuation of Harper-era land and resource grabsBy now, we all know the greatest priority of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is its relationship with Indigenous peoples. How could we miss the weekly reminders?Trudeau graciously wrapping himself in ceremonial blankets. Hauling jugs of drinking water door-to-door on a northern reserve lacking portable water. Paddling the Ottawa river in his dad’s buckskin jacket and moccasins w
  
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• Dollar weakens, stocks gain before Fed meeting; oil up

  19-09-2016 17:57
  By Caroline Valetkevitch NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar weakened and world stock indexes rose on Monday as investors expected the U.S. Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged this week, while oil prices bounced back from multi-week lows. U.S. Treasuries yields dipped as traders booked profits ahead of this week's Fed policy meeting as well as the Bank of Japan's policy meeting. Weak recent U.S. data has boosted bets that the Fed would skip a chance to raise rates at this meeting.
  
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• World deforestation: we're losing a forest the size of NYC every 2 days!

  19-09-2016 17:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  This is an issue of global concern. Climate change, urbanization, and resource depletion (more mouths to feed, burn wood in stoves for, graze more cattle for) is still happening at a fast an alarming clip, influencing our planet’s ability to store CO2 emissions, and protect diversity. 
  
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• Tackling corruption will deal a lethal blow to the illegal wildlife trade

  19-09-2016 15:53 via theguardian.com
  
  Talk of prohibiting, preventing and countering corruption must take centre stage when signatories to the Cites treaty on regulating the international trade in wildlife meet in Johannesburg this weekendThe world is witnessing an unprecedented surge in wildlife trafficking that is stealing the irreplaceable natural wealth of countries, greatly hindering development, paralysing efforts to eradicate poverty, and undermining conservation efforts. This illicit trade in wildlife is well organised, tran
  
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• 2016 Woodland Trust tree of the year shortlist - in pictures

  19-09-2016 15:43 via theguardian.com
  
  The original Bramley apple tree and the inspiration for the mulberry bush nursery rhyme are among the 29 trees in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have been shortlisted by the Woodland Trust for its annual tree of the year competition.Experts whittled down nearly 200 public nominations based on the tree’s story, how they would use the £1,000 care grant and visual appeal of the tree. Members of the public can vote for their favourite tree by country before 10 October
  
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• Monsanto and Bayer: food and agriculture just took a turn for the worst

  19-09-2016 14:08 via feedproxy.google.com
  Bayer's $66 billion takeover of Monsanto represents another big click on the ratchet of corporate power over farming and food, writes Colin Todhunter. With the 'big six' of global agribusiness now set to turn into the 'even bigger three', farmers and consumers are facing more GMOs and pesticides, less choice, and deeper price gouging. Agroecology has never looked more attractive.
  
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• Sky fall: Telecoms giant sees carbon intensity plummet following energy efficiency drive

  19-09-2016 13:55
  
  Global media company Sky Group has made strong progress with its carbon intensity reduction target after ramping up investment in energy-efficient buildings, according to its latest sustainability report.
  
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• One year on from the Dieselgate: Has anything changed?

  19-09-2016 13:20
  
  On the one-year anniversary of Volkswagen's corporate abasement (VW) for cheating emissions tests, a damning report has revealed that the German carmaker is in fact selling the least-polluting diesel models among all major manufacturers.
  
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• One year on from Dieselgate: Has anything changed?

  19-09-2016 13:20
  
  On the one-year anniversary of Volkswagen's corporate abasement (VW) for cheating emissions tests, a damning report has revealed that the German carmaker is in fact selling the least-polluting diesel models among all major manufacturers.
  
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• Oil rebound hauls up stocks, commodity currencies

  19-09-2016 13:09
  By John Geddie LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices bounced back from multi-week lows on Monday, hauling up world stock markets and commodity-linked currencies, on hints that producers were close to reaching an output deal. It also helped lift commodity-linked currencies including the Canadian , Australian and New Zealand dollars by around half a percent, while the U.S. dollar was broadly weaker. Against a basket of other currencies, the greenback lost 0.2 percent to 95.894 , giving up some of Friday's
  
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• An American tragedy: why are millions of trees dying across the country?

  19-09-2016 13:00 via theguardian.com
  
  A quiet crisis playing out in US forests as huge numbers of trees succumb to drought, disease, insects and wildfire – much of it driven by climate changeJB Friday hacked at a rain-sodden tree with a small axe, splitting open a part of the trunk. The wood was riven with dark stripes, signs of a mysterious disease that has ravaged the US’s only rainforests – and just one of the plagues that are devastating American forests across the west.
  Friday, a forest ecologist at the Univer
  
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• Oil climbs as Venezuela sees output deal

  19-09-2016 12:55
  By Dmitry Zhdannikov LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Monday from multi-week lows after Venezuela said OPEC and non-OPEC producers were close to a deal to stabilise the market and as clashes in Libya disrupted attempts to boost crude exports. Brent crude futures were at $46.32 per barrel at 1043 GMT (11.43 a.m. BST), up 55 cents from their previous settlement and off an earlier peak of 46.62. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said a deal could be announced this month to stabilise oil
  
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• Google makes waves with new sustainable fishing data platform

  19-09-2016 12:29
  
  Google has unveiled a new beta technology platform that utilises enhanced data collection and transparency to promote and improve policies and provide the "world's first global view" of sustainable fishing practices.
  
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• British conservationist takes to the skies for 4,500-mile migration with swans

  19-09-2016 12:03 via theguardian.com
  
  Sacha Dench will follow Bewick’s swans on their annual journey from the Russian Arctic in a motorised paraglider in a bid to shed light on their declineA British conservationist took to the skies in a motorised paraglider on Monday morning for the start of a daring 4,500-mile expedition across the Russian Arctic that will attempt to shed light on the decline of the UK’s smallest, shyest species of swan. For the next 10 weeks, Sacha Dench, 41, will act as a “human swan” an
  
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• New study undercuts favorite climate myth ‘more CO2 is good for plants’ | Dana Nuccitelli

  19-09-2016 12:00 via theguardian.com
  
  A 16-year study found that we’re at a point where more CO2 won’t keep increasing plant production, but higher temperatures will decrease it
  A new study by scientists at Stanford University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested whether hotter temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels that we’ll see post-2050 will benefit the kinds of plants that live in California grasslands. They found that carbon dioxide at higher levels than today (400
  
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• FTSE gains as miners rally, though mid cap Mitie drops

  19-09-2016 11:11
  By Kit Rees LONDON (Reuters) - British shares advanced on Monday, led by a rise in mining companies which were supported by firmer oil prices and a weaker dollar, though mid cap Mitie Group slumped after a profit warning. The blue chip FTSE 100 index was up 1.4 percent at 6,805.26 points by 0855 GMT, set for its biggest daily rise in two weeks and in line with the broader European market. Analysts said they expected markets to be volatile ahead of Wednesday's interest rate decisions from the Ban
  
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• Oil rebound hauls up European stocks, commodity currencies

  19-09-2016 10:43
  By John Geddie LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices bounced back from multi-week lows on Monday, hauling up European stock markets and commodity-linked currencies, on hints that producers were close to reaching an output deal. A firmer oil price bolstered energy company shares, helping European stocks climb after two straight weeks of losses. It also helped lift emerging market stocks around 1.5 percent, and commodity-linked currencies including the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars, which w
  
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• Expedition to study scale of microplastics on Atlantic's smallest creatures

  19-09-2016 10:03 via theguardian.com
  
  Scientists will sail from the UK to the Falkland Islands to study the level of microplastic pollution on tiny zooplankton at the bottom of the food chainScientists will set off from the east coast of England this week to journey thousands of miles across the Atlantic to discover how bad the problem of the oceans’ tiniest creatures eating microplastics has become.Zooplankton are essential for the marine food web right up to the fish we eat, and are known to be more likely to die and be wors
  
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• Expedition to study effect of microplastics on Atlantic's smallest creatures

  19-09-2016 10:03 via theguardian.com
  
  Scientists will sail from the UK to the Falkland Islands to study scale of microplastic pollution on tiny zooplankton at the bottom of the food chainScientists will set off from the east coast of England this week to journey thousands of miles across the Atlantic to discover how bad the problem of the oceans’ tiniest creatures eating microplastics has become.Zooplankton are essential for the marine food web right up to the fish we eat, and are known to be more likely to die and be worse at
  
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• Ed Davey: Irresponsible Tories betting the nation on gas and nuclear

  19-09-2016 10:00
  
  Former Energy Secretary Ed Davey has accused the current Government of playing "fast and loose" with the UK's long-term energy security by prioritising gas and nuclear investment over support for low-carbon and renewable energy sources.
  
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• Owners of Chinese ship that ran aground on Great Barrier Reef agree to pay $39.3m

  19-09-2016 09:54 via theguardian.com
  
  Government was seeking at least $120m, while Shenzhen Energy Transport Co Ltd argued reef was self-healing The federal government has reached a $39.3m out-of-court settlement with the owners of a Chinese coal carrier that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef in 2010.Shenzhen Energy Transport Co Ltd and its insurer had, for six years, refused to accept responsibility for restitution after the 225m long, fully laden Shen Neng 1 ran aground 100km east of Rockhampton at Douglas Shoal. Continue read
  
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• 'Let mangroves recover' to protect coasts

  19-09-2016 09:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Allowing mangrove forests to recover naturally result in more resilient habitats that benefit both wildlife and people, say conservationists.
  
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• Germany wants to scrap EU recycling targets

  19-09-2016 09:20
  
  Germany, the EU's most influential country and its leading recycler, has called for recycling targets in the European Commission's Circular Economy package of green laws to be scrapped.
  
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• New agri-business alliance formed to help deliver SDGs

  19-09-2016 09:00
  
  A coalition of 36 leading agri-businesses have joined forces to launch the Global Agri-business Alliance (GAA), aiming to tackle environmental and social challenges affecting agricultural supply chains and rural communities worldwide.
  
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• Haze from Indonesian fires may have killed more than 100,000 people – study

  19-09-2016 08:56 via theguardian.com
  
  Harvard and Columbia universities estimate tens of thousands of premature deaths in areas closest to blazes clearing forest and peatlandA smog outbreak in Southeast Asia last year may have caused over 100,000 premature deaths, according to a new study released Monday that triggered calls for action to tackle the “killer haze”.
  Researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities in the US estimated there were more than 90,000 early deaths in Indonesia in areas closest to haze-belching
  
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• Asia stocks rally on steady Fed bet, oil bounces

  19-09-2016 08:23
  By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares advanced on Monday as markets wagered the U.S. Federal Reserve would skip a chance to raise rates this week, while oil bounced on talk of an OPEC deal on output and reports of fighting around Libyan oil ports. In Europe, British, French and German bourses were expected to start about 1 percent higher, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 1.2 percent, led by the technology, financial and energy sectors.
  
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• Study estimates 100,000 deaths from Indonesia haze

  19-09-2016 07:26
  
  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian forest fires that choked a swath of Southeast Asia with a smoky haze for weeks last year may have caused more than 100,000 deaths, according to new research that will add to pressure on Indonesia's government to tackle the annual crisis.
  
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• Many car brands emit more pollution than Volkswagen, report finds

  19-09-2016 07:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Diesel cars by Fiat, Suzuki and Renault among makers emitting up to fifteen times European standard for nitrogen oxideA year on from the “Dieselgate” scandal that engulfed Volkswagen, damning new research reveals that all major diesel car brands, including Fiat, Vauxhall and Suzuki, are selling models that emit far higher levels of pollution than the shamed German carmaker.The car industry has faced fierce scrutiny since the US government ordered Volkswagen to recall almost 500,000 c
  
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• A tarn for all – on foot, by bicycle and by mobility scooter

  19-09-2016 06:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Tarn Hows, Lake District One of the most popular destinations in the north-west, the tarn is made more accessible by free four-wheeled Tramper buggies available from the National TrustBunches of crimson berries hang heavy from the rowan trees, like knuckledusters punching colour along Tarn Hows’s famously photogenic shores. I remark on this to a couple piloting battery-powered mobility scooters past the bench where I’m seated. Why haven’t birds snaffled them? “Not quite r
  
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• Study estimates 100,000 premature deaths from Indonesia haze

  19-09-2016 06:15
  
  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian forest fires that choked a swath of Southeast Asia with a smoky haze for weeks last year may have caused more than 100,000 premature deaths, according to new research that will add to pressure on Indonesia's government to tackle the annual crisis.
  
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• Oil climbs as Venezuela sees output deal, Libya suffers clashes

  19-09-2016 05:47
  By Mark Tay SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose almost 2 percent on Monday, after Venezuela said OPEC and non-OPEC producers were close to reaching an output stabilizing deal and as clashes in Libya raised concerns that efforts to restart crude exports could be disrupted. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that a deal could be announced this month to stabilise oil markets, which have come under pressure due to a persistent glut and a price collapse over the past two years. The rise i
  
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• Adani Carmichael coalmine faces new legal challenge from conservation foundation

  19-09-2016 04:31 via theguardian.com
  
  Foundation appeals against ruling that endorsed mine’s approval by the commonwealthThe Australian Conservation Foundation has renewed its legal challenge to Adani’s Carmichael mine, appealing against a federal court ruling that endorsed its approval by the commonwealth.The ACF on Monday lodged an appeal against last month’s decision, which found the then federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, was entitled to find the impact on global warming and the Great Barrier Reef from th
  
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• Venezuela says OPEC, non-OPEC oil stabilizing deal 'close'

  19-09-2016 01:46
  CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday that OPEC and non-OPEC countries were "close" to reaching a deal to stabilise oil markets and that he aimed for a deal to be announced this month. OPEC members may call an extraordinary meeting to discuss oil prices if they reach consensus at an informal gathering in Algiers this month, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo said during a visit to Algeria, the country's state news agency, APS, reported on Sunday. (Reporting
  
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