Amazon Environmental Crime Crackdown: UAE-led I2LEC wrapped up Operation Green Shield 2026, coordinating Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to hit illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, fuel smuggling and land grabbing across the Amazon; authorities say 839 suspects were arrested, with seizures worth over $280M, including 280,450 cubic metres of illegal timber and fuel confiscations. Climate Tech Reality Check: A Carbon Brief explainer warns carbon capture and storage is far smaller than net-zero plans suggest, with most captured CO2 tied to fossil-fuel extraction rather than permanent storage. Ecuador Energy & Climate Accountability: Amnesty International urges Ecuador to fully comply with a 2021 court ruling to eliminate gas flares near populated areas in the Amazon and provide reparations to affected communities. AI Governance in Europe: The EU’s AI Act phases in stronger rules this week, banning certain harmful manipulation practices and tightening protections for health. Local Climate Impacts: Ecuadorian climatologist Raúl Cordero links a near-400% rise in Guayaquil heat waves since the 1980s to a warming atmosphere that intensifies El Niño effects. Research Spotlight (Ecuador): Ecuadorian scientists won a space scholarship from UNOOSA and ESA to study gravity-tuned cement materials for future planetary infrastructure. Port Energy Transition Training: UNCTAD launched a Spanish online course on energy transition in ports, with an Ecuador participant highlighting practical steps for measuring emissions and cutting port pollution.