Jonathan Watts
latest news & developmentsGreat party, shame about the legacy
Despite a frightening list of problems there is confidence that Rio will be ready for the Olympic Games – but long-term benefits are in doubt.
Rousseff’s supporters play for time
The beleagured Workers’ Party believes people will tire quickly of the opposition leaders.
Child (10) denied an abortion
“The first step that should be taken in pregnancies of girls under 13 should be an abortion,” say activists.
People’s cup but politician’s stage
The 2014 World Cup has seen unprecedented levels of outrage and debate over poverty, Fifa, commercialism … and occasionally football.
Brazilian soap opera beats politics
The last episode of Avenida Brasil was a melodrama
Poor Amazonians cursed with riches
A petro-giant is sweet-talking Amazonian villagers blessed with land that has resources worth billions. Jonathan Watts reports.
Big ideas at sideshow to Rio+20
Only one thing unites those at the People’s Summit — unhappiness over the status quo, writes Jonathan Watts.
Alarm bells ring over activist death toll
A new Global Witness report has revealed that environmental activists were killed at the rate of more than two a week in 2011.
Black cloud over China’s green growth
China making huge strides in using green energy but coal consumption continues to increase.
‘Another 20 to 30 years’ of unhealthy air for China’s city dwellers
A haze expert has warned that despite recent moves to tighten controls on air pollution in urban China, dangerous smog will persist for decades.
Villagers in Chinese land dispute plead for help
Chinese villagers have called on their government to intervene in a bloody land dispute that has claimed at least one life so far.
China uneasy over US-Australia troop deal
Beijing fears a policy of encirclement as US President Barack Obama announces plans to begin stationing 2 500 troops in northern Australia.
Chinese dams drown livelihoods
345 000 people are being relocated in a desperate bid to ease Beijing’s drought crisis by transfusing water from the Yangtze basin
Not even enough fuel for cremation
An estimated 10 000 people have died in Ishinomaki. <b>Jonathan Watts</b> finds a desperate effort to feed the living as the bodies pile up.
China to tax heavy polluters
China is to impose an environmental tax on heavy polluters under an ambitious clean-up strategy being finalised in Beijing.