Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Drops to Lowest Level Since 2019https://english.aawsat.com/varieties/5277835-deforestation-brazils-amazon-drops-lowest-level-2019
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Drops to Lowest Level Since 2019
(FILES) Smoke from illegal fires lit by farmers rises in Manaquiri, Amazonas state, on September 6, 2023. (Photo by MICHAEL DANTAS / AFP)
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell last year to its lowest level since 2019, according to a report published Wednesday that will be seen as good news for leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
South America's biggest country lost 985,000 hectares (2.4 million acres) of native vegetation last year, down 20.6 percent from 2024, the MapBiomas monitoring network announced.
The figure is the lowest since the network began keeping records in 2019, AFP reported.
It notably does not include forest lost to fires, but after a record fire season in 2024, the country was relatively spared major infernos last year.
Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in October elections, has made the fight against deforestation a central tenet of his administration.
Preserving forest cover is essential to fighting climate warming as trees act as a natural carbon sink.
After four years of widespread logging under his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Lula has pledged to eradicate illegal deforestation altogether by 2030.
The reduction in deforestation was noted across Brazil's six major ecosystems.
"We are seeing an increase in enforcement actions and sanctions (...) which have a direct correlation with the drop in deforestation in all Brazilian biomes," Marcos Rosa, MapBiomas's technical coordinator, told AFP.
Even so, the rate of destruction remains breathtaking.
In the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, where deforestation slowed by 23.5 percent, five trees are still felled every second.
The hardest-hit biome last year was once again the Cerrado, a vast, biodiverse savanna south of the Amazon.
It alone accounted for more than half of the deforestation.
MapBiomas -- a consortium of universities, NGOs and technology companies -- said agriculture accounted for 99 percent of vegetation loss.
Lula is keen to showcase his environmental achievements ahead of the election.
Last year, he hosted the COP30 climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belem.
He has however been criticized by environmentalists for his support of a massive oil exploration project near the mouth of the Amazon River.
The AlUla Skies Festival will take place from November 6-15. (SPA)
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AlUla Skies 2026 Returns with Exceptional Celestial Experiences
The AlUla Skies Festival will take place from November 6-15. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Moments announced the return of AlUla Skies Festival, taking place from November 6-15, bringing 10 days of extraordinary experiences that celebrate the wonder of the skies. From hot-air balloons floating above the landscape at sunrise to immersive evenings beneath a canopy of stars, the festival offers visitors a spectacular new way to experience AlUla.
Designed as a celebration of nature, adventure, and astronomy, the event transforms AlUla’s dramatic desert landscapes into a destination for sky-inspired experiences, combining aerial adventures with cultural and entertainment programming, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.
By day, guests can experience sunrise hot air balloon flights and aerial views over AlUla’s landscapes, while evenings will feature balloon glow shows, stargazing experiences, moonlight cinema, and wellness sessions, creating a unique blend of nature, culture, and immersive entertainment.
Timed to coincide with a period of moonless skies from November 7-12, with the New Moon on November 9, the 2026 edition offers ideal conditions for observing faint celestial objects. The festival will also coincide with the Leonid Meteor Shower on November 15, when visitors could see up to 20 meteors per hour with minimal moonlight interference.
As AlUla continues to grow as a leading destination for nature-based and experiential tourism, the festival offers visitors a chance to reconnect with the night sky and experience the landscapes from entirely new perspectives.
Among the headline moments of this year’s program is AlUla Skyrise, where guests can join a shared sunrise hot air balloon flight, rising above the landscapes of AlUla. The experience operates daily throughout the festival, with flights taking place from approximately 6:00-7:00 am, following early-morning transfers, briefing and boarding. Guests will also be served Saudi coffee and dates before take-off, with refreshments provided following the flight.
Visitors can also enjoy the Hot Air Balloon Glow Show, taking place at Hegra on November 6 and 7 and at Elephant Rock on November 13 and 14. The evening spectacle combines illuminated hot air balloons with music, lighting, projection, fire performers, and aerial trapeze artists, culminating in a choreographed grand finale.
Guests can join a shared sunrise hot air balloon flight, rising above the landscapes of AlUla. (SPA)
For those seeking a more accessible option, the Tethered Hot Air Balloon Experience offers gentle ascents with panoramic views of AlUla’s landscapes, making it ideal for families, first-time visitors, and photography enthusiasts. Payment is available on-site, with no advance booking required.
The festival will also feature VOX Moonlight Cinema at Our Habitas AlUla, across the 10-day program, with screenings scheduled throughout the festival.
For astronomy enthusiasts, the Stargazing at AlUla Fort experience will operate on November 6, 7, 10-12 and 13-15 from 19:00-23:00. The experience will feature five telescopes focused on planets and constellations, alongside guided observations led by a trained astronomer and a Rawi, who will provide cultural and storytelling context.
The 2026 program will also introduce Sunset Stillness wellness experiences at Our Habitas AlUla, featuring Guided Meditation, Sound Immersion and Conscious Connected Breathwork, taking place on November 13 and 14 from 17:00-18:00.
AlUla Skies Festival will bring stargazing experiences and hikes under the stars with Husaak, all set against AlUla’s sandstone mountains, canyons and heritage sites. With the festival taking place during a period of moonless skies, visitors can experience a range of daytime and night-time activities against AlUla’s dark desert skies.
The festival also highlights AlUla’s designation as the region’s First Dark Sky Park destination, with four areas officially designated as International Dark Sky Parks by DarkSky International, including AlGharameel Nature Reserve, Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah Nature Reserve. Together, these protected areas reinforce AlUla’s commitment to preserving its natural environments, reducing light pollution, while promoting sustainable tourism and offering visitors some of the region’s best stargazing conditions.
AlUla Skies Festival forms part of the AlUla Moments calendar, a year-round program celebrating art, culture, heritage, nature and adventure, and reinforces AlUla as a leading global destination for experiential travel.
Military Shows to be Featured at Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026https://english.aawsat.com/varieties/5323919-military-shows-be-featured-saudi-international-falcons-and-hunting-exhibition
Military Shows to be Featured at Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026
The exhibition will welcome visitors daily from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. - SPA
The Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026, scheduled for October 1 to 10 in Malham, north of Riyadh, will feature military shows presented by the Ministry of Interior among the accompanying events, adding a new element to the program.
The exhibition will allow visitors to watch the military shows at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., while the band will perform at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., SPA reported.
This year's exhibition will offer a wide range of experiences, including "Falconer of the Future," safari, mountain climbing, fishing, shooting, horseback and camel riding, auctions, and workshops, providing families, youth, and enthusiasts with a variety of options during their visit.
The exhibition will welcome visitors daily from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Italy's Catania Airport Reopens as Etna Threat Downgradedhttps://english.aawsat.com/varieties/5323796-italys-catania-airport-reopens-etna-threat-downgraded
Visitors climb Mount Etna as smoke rises from its volcano in Catania, on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, on September 28, 2026. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)
Italy's Catania Airport Reopens as Etna Threat Downgraded
Visitors climb Mount Etna as smoke rises from its volcano in Catania, on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, on September 28, 2026. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)
Italy's Catania airport resumed flights on Tuesday after briefly halting operations due to renewed volcanic activity from nearby Mount Etna and adverse weather conditions, in the latest stop-and-go disruption to air traffic.
According to Reuters, Operator SAC said flights to and from the airport had resumed with immediate effect after the volcanic alert level was lowered from red to orange.
The hub had previously suspended operations until 1300 GMT on Tuesday, only hours after ending a three-day shutdown on Monday evening.
The Sicilian airport, Italy's fifth-busiest by passenger traffic, is often disrupted by volcanic ash interference from Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano.
The latest shutdown affected thousands of passengers and placed significant pressure on other Sicilian airports, as airlines diverted flights away from Catania.
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