Highway cutting through Brazil’s Amazon rainforest

Brazil lawmakers have passed a bill to cover a highway through the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The bill allows for the use of conservation funds donated to Brazil to finance the highway project, such as the $1.3 billion (€1.18 bn) Amazon Fund backed by the US and European allies. The lower house of Brazil’s Congress voted to approve the measure, which relaxes environmental licensing, late on Tuesday. It still needs Senate approval.

Experts also say the highway will portend the future of the world’s largest tropical rainforest.