U.S. biologists probe deaths of 70 emaciated gray whales

U.S. government biologists have launched a special investigation into the deaths of at least 70 gray whales washed ashore in recent months along the U.S. West Coast, from California to Alaska, many of them emaciated, officials said on Friday.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2XkfMrS

Brazil reports atypical case of mad cow disease: ministry

The Brazilian government reported on Friday a case of atypical mad cow disease in an animal in Mato Grosso state, according to a statement from the country's Agriculture Ministry.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2I9nXRJ

U.S. TVA to cut carbon emission by 70 percent by end of next decade: CEO

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expects to reduce carbon emissions at the U.S.-owned power generator by 70 percent from 2005 levels by the end of the next decade, the company's chief executive officer said on Friday.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2W0DPe1

Canada evacuates by air remote indigenous community due to wildfire

Canada's military began evacuating by airplane 1,600 "vulnerable" people from a remote indigenous community in Northern Ontario due to a wildfire and concern about the smoke, the public safety ministry said on Friday.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2XixMmD

One levee breached, others overflowed in rain-soaked Central U.S.

The skies cleared over the storm-battered Central United States on Friday, but flooding fears continued as rain-swollen rivers breached a levee in Arkansas and overflowed other barriers, forecasters said.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2HLKZ1L

Iowa Supreme Court says crude oil pipeline legally permitted

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday said the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline was legally permitted in the state, dealing a blow to a group of landowners and environmentalists challenging the operation.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2JPwlZT

Trump lifts curbs on E15 gasoline to help farmers, angering Big Oil

The Trump administration on Friday lifted restrictions on the sale of higher ethanol blends of gasoline, keeping a campaign promise to farmers suffering from the trade war with China but inviting a legal challenge from the oil industry.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/30XgCgI

Trump lifts curbs on E15 gasoline, delivering on promise to U.S. farmers

The Trump administration on Friday lifted restrictions on the sale of higher ethanol blends of gasoline, keeping a campaign promise to farmers suffering from the trade war with China but inviting a legal challenge from the oil industry.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2Mlykar

Trump poised to lift curbs on E15 gasoline in latest boost to U.S. farmers

The Trump administration will announce an end to a summertime ban on sales of higher ethanol blends of gasoline as early as Friday, a spokesman for a federal regulator said, keeping a campaign promise to farmers suffering from the trade war with China, but inviting a legal challenge from the oil industry.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2EMJSwW

Brazil plan to revamp Amazon Fund irks Norway, Germany: sources

Brazil's right-wing government has run into resistance from key donors Norway and Germany over its plans to change management of the billion-dollar Amazon Fund aimed at reducing deforestation, people familiar with the matter say.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2XqhIz2

French solar power generation surges in first quarter after sunny spell

French solar power generation surged by more than half in the first quarter, lifted by a period of prolonged sunshine in February and March and new capacity installations.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2wwynFE

India likely to get average monsoon rains in 2019: weather office

India is likely to see average monsoon rains this year, the state-run weather office said on Friday, which should support agricultural production and economic growth in Asia's third-biggest economy, where half of the farmland lacks irrigation.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2JTPxWv

Summit fever: Everest's budget climbing boom puts Indians most at risk

Earlier this month Dipankar Ghosh, a 52-year-old Indian photographer, scaled the world's fifth-highest peak, the snow-capped Mount Makalu.

from Reuters: Environment https://reut.rs/2WG3zRy