China's capital sees small improvement in air in 2015: government bureau 4/1/2016

China's capital Beijing saw a small improvement in air quality last year, the city's environmental protection bureau said on Monday, although levels of a major form of pollution remain several times higher than international standards. ...more

Never rains but it pours for guano-hit Rome 4/1/2016

Weekend rain washed away the dangerous pollution that has afflicted Rome in recent weeks but left city authorities with a new headache: roads and pavements made treacherous by bird droppings. ...more

South African group reports slight drop in rhino poaching 4/1/2016

The number of rhinos poached in South Africa in 2015 was slightly lower than in the previous year, representing modest progress by law enforcement in countering poachers who have killed rhinos in record numbers, according to a conservation group. ...more

Sand could be the key to unlocking more efficient solar power, Masdar scientists find 31/12/2015

Masdar Institute scientists have published a breakthrough research into more efficient solar power – and they will not have to look far for the raw material ¬needed. ...more

80 pct of Lebanon's water violates health standards: ministers 31/12/2015

More than 80 percent of Lebanon's potable water doesn't meet health standards, Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan revealed after meeting with Health Minister Wael Abu Faour, who has been waging a health campaign for over the past year. ...more

China assails home of Terracotta Army for poor smog control 31/12/2015

China's Environment Ministry on Wednesday lambasted the northern city of Xian, best known as the home of the Terracotta Army, for its poor pollution control measures, including allowing the burning of trash and piles of leaves during thick smog. ...more

From a rare Florida tree, genes to regrow forest of ancient giants 31/12/2015

An experiment in regrowing forests of the world's oldest trees led environmentalists this week to climb a nine-story tall, 2,000-year-old cypress in central Florida known as Lady Liberty. ...more

India asks authorities to take action to save choking capital 31/12/2015

India asked authorities in and around its capital on Wednesday to crack down immediately on overloaded trucks, illegally parked cars and vehicles emitting visible smoke in the world's most polluted city. ...more

Colombia declares red alert for low water levels 31/12/2015

Colombia has declared a red alert because of low water levels in two key rivers which supply hundreds of towns and cities in the South American country, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday. ...more

Italy approves new anti-pollution measures 31/12/2015

Italy's centre-left government on Wednesday authorized local authorities to cut traffic speed limits by 20kph (12 mph) and office heating by two degrees in response to spikes in deadly air pollution. ...more