Jonathan Watts

Maduro needs tough balancing act to offset narrow win

HUGO Chavez, one of the most outspoken South American leaders of the past century, was never going to be an easy act to follow. But Sunday’s narrow and contested vote has just made it even tougher for his newly elected successor, Nicolas Maduro Published 17 Apr, 2013 02:05am

‘Safer’ airport for Quito

ONE of the world’s most spectacular and stomach-churning aircraft descents will be consigned to history next week when Quito closes an airport wedged between volcanoes and tower blocks high in the windswept Andes. Published 08 Feb, 2013 09:01pm

Brazil’s reforestation plan

THE misty forests of Miguel Pereira, just two hours drive from Rio’s Copacabana beaches, show the scars of development. Published 13 Jun, 2012 09:01pm

Climate aid too slow

RICH countries have been slow to launch the “fast start” climate funds promised at Copenhagen, the world`s least... Published 09 Oct, 2010 12:00am

Armada targets huge sheet of seaweed

BEIJING Chinese authorities have dispatched a flotilla of more than 60 ships to head off a massive tide of algae ... Published 09 Jul, 2010 12:00am

Hippo on the menu at zoo restaurant

BEIJING Visitors to Beijing zoo are warned not to feed the animals, but they are encouraged to eat them at a... Published 24 May, 2010 12:00am

Eco-row over sand imports

SINGAPORE, which prides itself on being one of the most environmentally friendly nations in Asia, is expanding its... Published 13 May, 2010 12:00am

Why the climate talks failed

THE Copenhagen conference was destroyed from the start by the leak of the `Danish draft` negotiating text to The... Published 14 Apr, 2010 12:00am

Global switch-off

THE biggest turn-off in human history will start at 8.30pm today in Chatham, a tiny South Pacific island with only ... Published 28 Mar, 2010 12:00am

Farms `more polluting than factories`

FARMERS` fields are a far bigger source of water contamination in China than factory effluent, according to findings... Published 11 Feb, 2010 12:00am

Call to ban eating dogs, cats

CHINESE legal experts are proposing a ban on eating dogs and cats in a contentious move to end a culinary tradition... Published 28 Jan, 2010 12:00am

The rise of China and India

LONDON Over the past 10 years, the global balance of power tipped towards the east. China and India - which together... Published 19 Oct, 2009 12:00am