Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (AFP) – Brazil recorded 13,489 wildfires in the first half of the year in the Amazon, the worst figure in 20 years, satellite data revealed Monday.

The total was up 61 percent as compared with the same period last year — an increase that experts say is the result of a historic drought that struck the world’s largest tropical rainforest last year.

lg/sst/des

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image credit: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Public Domain (Note: “The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”)

Image: Pongo tapanuliensis
Indonesia floods were ‘extinction level’ for rare orangutansNews

Indonesia floods were ‘extinction level’ for rare orangutans

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Indonesia's deadly flooding was an "extinction-level disturbance" for the world's rarest great ape, the tapanuli orangutan, causing catastrophic damage…
SourceSourceDecember 12, 2025 Full article
Image: Nice, France (s. big cruise ship)
French city Nice backtracks on big cruise ship banNews

French city Nice backtracks on big cruise ship ban

Nice, France | AFP The mayor of Nice backtracked Friday on sharply limiting visits by large cruise ships to avoid overtourism in the French Riviera…
SourceSourceMarch 1, 2025 Full article
Image: banana fiber
Composites are going low-carbonNews

Composites are going low-carbon

Researchers at EPFL and its startups are exploring innovative composites that are self-repairing, self-curing and reusable, in an effort to help drive the transition to…
SourceSourceJune 4, 2025 Full article