New round of oil drilling goes deeper into Ecuador's Yasuní national park

State oil company starts second phase of drilling in one of the world's most biodiverse hotspotsEcuador's state oil company has begun drilling the first of 97 planned wells inside a new field of the Yasuní national park, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.The opening of the Tambococha-2 well has triggered fierce criticism from conservationists, who say President Lenín Moreno is backtracking on a promise to protect the Amazon and pay greater heed to the opinion of indigenous groups. Continue reading...