Moist tropical forest spanning the Amazon basin in South America
The prime minister has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting as Britain faces a fifth heatwave, widespread drought and rising wildfires. Ministers, the Met Office, Environment Agency and UKHSA have discussed extending a framework to curb retail sales of disposable barbecues, boosting firefighting resources and measures to protect water supplies and health services.
New data shows the Atlantic forest and Amazon have recorded lower deforestation in 2025, but forest degradation and legislative risks threaten potential gains amid El Niño and political pressure on enforcement.
Brazil has announced an environmental protection plan to accompany the paving of the BR-319 highway linking Amazonas and Rondônia. The plan includes monitoring, checkpoints, new conservation units, and private enforcement support, as Lula eyes reelection. Environmental groups have challenged the project in court amid concerns about indigenous consultation and climate safeguards.
The World Meteorological Organization has projected that the Arctic will warm much faster than the rest of the globe, and that multiple scenarios through 2030 will exceed the Paris 1.5°C threshold. The report indicates increased risks of extreme weather, droughts, and wildfires, with El Niño likely to push temperatures higher in coming years.
A US-registered Gulfstream G200 Galaxy has crashed near La Romana after declaring an emergency during a return to the Dominican Republic airport. The two crew members have died; MLB star Yadier Molina had been travelling with a group en route to Texas. Investigations are underway with authorities reviewing mechanical failures and weather factors.
The National Park Service is removing mountain goats from the Tetons after a three-year effort to protect native bighorn sheep. Park officials say nonnative goats pose disease risks and compete for habitat, prompting ongoing removal by specialized contractors as rangers engage the public in reporting sightings.
Gracie the giraffe has been missing for nearly two weeks from Cedar Hollow Ranch in Real County, Texas. Latest searches with helicopters and a $5,000 reward have not located her. Authorities caution that she remains at large as the rural terrain complicates the hunt, with sightings sporadic and ongoing efforts continuing.
A series of court rulings restricts high-profile political figures as Lula’s government pushes anti-deforestation efforts. Bolsonaro remains under house arrest for a 2022 coup attempt, while Bolsonaro’s political allies face ongoing legal actions amid a tense presidential race.
Brazil's deforestation rate has fallen by half in Lula's first year back in office, with 1,295 sq km cleared from January to June, the lowest since 2016. Lula defers to his government on zero-deforestation targets while facing criticisms over oil exploration near the Amazon mouth and shifting U.S. tariffs amid a tight election race.
Indigenous Ashaninka communities face increased incursions as criminal groups expand drug routes along the Amazon border. Brazil is negotiating a cross-border protection framework and has deployed security forces after armed assaults. Indigenous leaders seek sustained protection and state presence to counter trafficking and environmental crime.
Colombia reports 119,483 hectares of forest lost in 2025, a 5% rise from 2024, but remains 31% below 2021 levels. Officials cite illegal land grabbing, cattle ranching, and infrastructure as the main drivers while highlighting progress in national parks and community conservation efforts.
Two separate bombing attacks have marred Abelardo de la Espriella’s first day in office, killing at least one police officer and wounding others. The army has blamed dissident FARC factions for a tollbooth car bomb near Cali and reports say a drone strike hit a police station in Cesar. De la Espriella has promised a relentless crackdown and the US has pledged a $1bn security package.
The Supreme Court is considering the fate of Brazil’s soy moratorium, a voluntary pact that has curbed Amazon deforestation but faced state-law challenges. The court is also reviewing a new environmental licensing regime as lawmakers push back against environmental protections while Lula’s government seeks to sustain gains in forest conservation.