If Brazil repaves the disused, 900km BR-319 highway, the rapid development that will build up around it will precipitate massive deforestation, says Jake Spring

The three-week conference in the Vatican is working on how to develop the faith in the Amazon, and will discuss whether it is time to loosen the Church's tradition of celibacy.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, lightning kills about 24,000 people worldwide each year. Apocalyptic thunderstorms occur when the gods were angry, or so it was thought; only during them do we mortals perceive electricity directly. Some fish, however, have no such difficulty; they not only sense the mysterious energy, but use it to locate prey.

New satellite images published by the European Space Agency show an increase in air pollution in the Brazilian Amazon as fires burned in the region last month.

The challenges facing society in responding to climate change were brought into sharp relief by the focus on Brazil last week.

Catch up on the headlines.

The 70,000 fires this year have been set to clear land for grazing and for crops, but destroying ‘the lungs of the planet’ will hasten the climate change catastrophe, says Catherine Wylie Raging fires in the Amazon rainforest — the forests are known as ‘the lungs of the planet’ — have sparked global concerns.

What is causing the Amazon fires, why are they so damaging, and how can we stop them?, ask Jos Barlow, Lancaster University and Alexander C. Lees, Manchester Metropolitan University

“Some fires matter more than others, and while the fire in the Amazon hasn’t garnered nearly as much attention or money, the impactof the devastation is far, far greater”

So that’s nearly Friday wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Leo Varadkar has also criticised the Brazilian President for claiming that environmental groups were starting the fires to make him look bad, describing it as 'Orwellian.

From the return of James McCarthy to the arrival of Troy Parrot, Nathan

Stand-up comedian Simon Amstell tells Gemma Dunn about coming out, and how an ayahuasca experience in the Amazon helped him to let go of his insecurities.

Up to three more years of talks remain, before the EU-Mercosur trade deal can be finalised.

Two members of the Irish Travelling community experienced the life of remote tribes in Siberia and the Amazon basin, writes Áilín Quinlan.

Brahma Chellaney examines how indigenous tribes are coming under increasing danger as the modern world refuses to let them live how they choose.

Earth may be decades away from a climatic tipping point that triggers runaway global warming and threatens the future of humanity, scientists have warned.

Thousands of people lined streets in Chile's capital as Pope Francis visited the Latin American country for the first time.

A giant Christ statue in Peru’s capital that was donated by a construction company at the center of Latin America’s largest corruption scandal was damaged today in a fire, days before Pope Francis is set to arrive in the South American nation.

Colin Stafford-Johnson is touring Irish venues with his incredible wildlife tales, writes Des O’Driscoll

A man has been convicted of being in possession of a rare drug which he told the court was “mostly used for spiritual or religious practice” in the Amazon jungle.

Your home viewing entertainment wrap for the week ahead, with Des O’Driscoll.

The Association of Catholic Priests has welcomed an interview in which Pope Francis said the Catholic Church needs to consider whether to ordain married men who could then minister in parts of the world where there are too few priests.

5/5

Haters Back Off, featuring Colleen Ballinger in Miranda Sings mode, is now on Netflix.

So many different tree species grow in the Amazon rainforest that it will take another 300 years to discover them all, say scientists.

The Toronto news-media is enjoying itself; two capybaras, which escaped from the local zoo, have become celebrities. 

The revolutionary hero was executed by the same empire that once knighted him, writes Fiann Ó Nualláin.

People often wonder what use are economists. In terms of climate change, this is a particularly appropriate question.

Avenida Atlântica might just be the most picturesque thoroughfare on the planet. It’s only four kilometres long so the best way to appreciate the majesty of it all is to just get out and walk it.

Horrorthon 2015 is almost upon us, with a weekend and more of seriously scary stuff at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin.

Next Friday is National Potato Day and Fiann Ó Nualláin wants us to see the humble spud in a new light.

As their homes are burned in the search for resources, indigenous communities in the world’s tropical forests are calling on the United Nations to come to their aid, reports Bruce Babbitt

Coverage of the Premier League begins this week across a number of channels, with live games on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Friday.

Pope Francis has challenged Latin America’s youth to take up his environmental protection campaign, saying the defence of God’s creation is not just a recommendation but a requirement.

Work from a famed Cork photographer and Sebastião Salgado feature in today’s auction of images in aid of the Survival charity, writes Richard Fitzpatrick.

What is the economic value of birdsong, butterflies spring wild flowers, or a rising trout? These are some questions posed in a riveting new book on nature, writes Dick Warner.