Amid smog crisis, China vows more liveable cities 23/12/2015

China vowed on Tuesday that it would make "liveable" cities a central goal of China's urban planning, amid persistent problems over choking smog that frequently blankets the populous east and north. ...more

Weather worsens seasonal air pollution in Italian cities 23/12/2015

Rome is limiting auto circulation, and other Italian cities have been offering free bus rides to encourage public transport use as the country battles seasonal air pollution that has been worsened this year by long spells of no rain and little wind. ...more

Lebanon cabinet agrees to export country's waste in bid to end crisis 22/12/2015

Lebanon's cabinet on Monday agreed to export the country's waste in a move that could end a crisis that led to a wave of protests and threatened the downfall of the government. ...more

U.S. wildlife agency gives legal protection to African lions 22/12/2015

A U.S. agency on Monday listed two lion subspecies under the Endangered Species Act, offering them legal protection that will make it harder for hunters to import trophies into the country. ...more

Africa Renewable Energy Initiative to build 10,000 MW of renewables in Africa by 2020 22/12/2015

The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) aims at enabling the installation of large-scale renewable energy capacity on the African continent by 2020. ...more

Snakes alive! Missing species found off Australia coast 22/12/2015

Australian scientists Tuesday hailed the discovery of two sea snake species feared to have become extinct years ago off the Western Australia coast. ...more

Indonesia punishes firms over deadly forest fires 22/12/2015

Indonesia is punishing more than 20 companies in an unprecedented move for starting deadly forest fires that killed 19 people, a government official said Tuesday. ...more

Jordan launches first utility scale wind power project in Middle East 21/12/2015

In a joint venture with Masdar and other international companies, the first utility scale wind power project in the Middle East was inaugurated last Thursday by King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussain of Jordan. ...more

Thousands of factories cut production as Beijing smog persists 21/12/2015

Beijing has ordered 2,100 factories to suspend or reduce production as part of its "red alert" measures to deal with smog, the government said Monday, as the city remained shrouded under toxic haze for the third consecutive day. ...more

Forest fires sweep northern Spain despite winter rain 21/12/2015

Dozens of forest fires raged across northern Spain on Sunday after strong winds hindered efforts to keep them from spreading, forcing some homes to be evacuated in the worst-affected Asturias region. ...more