Pope’s stance leaks; calls for urgent action on environment
By NICOLE WINFIELD A draft copy of Pope Francis’ eagerly awaited encyclical on the environment calls for urgent action to protect the Earth and fight global warming, which the pope…
Environment and nature
THE LATEST: Obama says G-7 studying more sanctions on Russia
President Barack Obama has told a news conference before returning to Washington that G-7 leaders had discussed additional steps they could take if Russia were to “double-down” on aggression inside…
Antarctica: Mystery continent holds key to mankind’s future
By LUIS ANDRES HENAO and SETH BORENSTEIN Earth’s past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents.…
W.Va. oil train derailment was 1 of 3 with safer tank cars
By JOHN RABY and JONATHAN MATTISE The fiery derailment of a train carrying crude oil in West Virginia is one of three in the past year involving tank cars that…
Negotiators agree on early draft of UN climate deal
U.N. negotiators have produced an early draft of what eventually should become a landmark climate deal in Paris next December, piling on pages to make sure it reflected every country’s…
Pope urges cooperation on Vatican reform from cardinals
By NICOLE WINFIELD Pope Francis urged his cardinals Thursday to cooperate in reforming the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the Catholic Church better…
Congress clears Keystone XL pipeline bill, setting up veto
By DINA CAPPIELLO The Republican-controlled Congress approved a bill Wednesday to construct the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a confrontation with President Barack Obama, who has threatened to veto…
Pilots in helium-filled balloon land safely in Mexico
By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon landed safely off the coast of Mexico early Saturday after an audacious, nearly 7,000-mile-long trip across the Pacific Ocean that…