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 by Staff Writers Quito (AFP) Dec 24, 2019
The Galapagos Islands' unique wildlife was spared after a barge carrying 600 gallons of diesel fuel sank, causing a spill, the Ecuador government told AFP Monday. "Not a single species has been affected by the spill in San Cristobal," the easternmost island in the chain, said Environment Minister Raul Ledesma. He added that a team of veterinarians was onsite checking animals. Authorities activated emergency protocols Sunday morning to contain the environmental impact of the spill in the Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to one of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet. They declared the situation "under control" later that day. Sea lions, tortoises, birds and reptiles such as iguanas live on the islands, but "none have been affected in this incident, nor have the tourist areas," said Ledesma. The accident, in which one person was injured, occurred in a San Cristobal port when a crane collapsed as it loaded a container holding an electric generator onto a barge. The falling container destabilized the ship, which was carrying 600 gallons of diesel fuel, causing it to sink. The generator and the loading crane were also submerged. Ledesma credited the emergency units' prompt response for preventing "greater misfortune". "During the night, almost the entire contaminated area was cleaned up," he said. "This morning, there was only a small oil patch that we hope to eliminate in the next few hours." The Galapagos Islands, located 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) east of mainland Ecuador, helped English naturalist Charles Darwin to develop the theory of evolution.
US Congress Russia pipeline sanctions Washington (AFP) Dec 17, 2019 The US Senate approved a massive defense spending bill on Tuesday, sending Donald Trump a $738 billion package that creates a new space force, fulfilling a presidential priority, and seeks to curb Russia's sprawling energy ambitions. The National Defense Authorization Act, which passed 86 to eight, marks a jump from the $716 billion in funding authorized last year. It will go to fund a wide range of military activities, from warfighting in Afghanistan and shipbuilding to boosting intelligence ef ... read more
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