Environment

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messengers: Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday for a classified House briefing about the deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions. (Associated Press)

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Results from two undercover investigations at roadside zoos revealed inhumane treatment of tiger cubs exploited for photographic opportunities, indiscriminate breeding of tigers, rampant trade in cubs for public handling and dumping of the cubs once they were no longer profitable. The Humane Society of the United States conducted the investigations at Tiger Safari in Oklahoma and Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia. These roadside zoos allow members of the public to pet, feed, pose and play with baby tigers for a fee. The investigations also provided a snapshot of the unfettered breeding of big cats for the exploitation of their cubs, the resulting surplus of adult big cats, and the animal welfare and public safety implications when large cubs are discarded after ceasing to be profitable. In this image, a capuchin monkey grabs the finger of a visitor at Natural Bridge Zoo. Inadequate public safety barriers that allow unmonitored access to animals is a violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. (Michelle Riley/The Humane Society of the United States via AP Images)

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Results from two undercover investigations at roadside zoos revealed inhumane treatment of tiger cubs exploited for photographic opportunities, indiscriminate breeding of tigers, rampant trade in cubs for public handling and dumping of the cubs once they were no longer profitable. The Humane Society of the United States conducted the investigations at Tiger Safari in Oklahoma and Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia. These roadside zoos allow members of the public to pet, feed, pose and play with baby tigers for a fee. The investigations also provided a snapshot of the unfettered breeding of big cats for the exploitation of their cubs, the resulting surplus of adult big cats, and the animal welfare and public safety implications when large cubs are discarded after ceasing to be profitable. In this image, tiger cub Deja chews on an exposed electrical outlet at Natural Bridge Zoo in between photo shoots with the public. (Michelle Riley/The Humane Society of the United States via AP Images)

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Pope Francis delivers his speech in the Synod Hall during a conference on Modern Slavery and Climate Change at the Vatican, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Dozens of environmentally friendly mayors from around the world are meeting at the Vatican this week to bask in the star power of eco-Pope Francis and commit to reducing global warming and helping the urban poor deal with its effects. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, arrives in the Synod Hall to attend a conference on Modern Slavery and Climate Change at the Vatican, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Dozens of environmentally friendly mayors from around the world are meeting at the Vatican this week to bask in the star power of eco-Pope Francis and commit to reducing global warming and helping the urban poor deal with its effects. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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California Gov. Jerry Brown, right, delivers his speech in the Synod Hall as he attends a conference on Modern Slavery and Climate Change at the Vatican, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Dozens of environmentally friendly mayors from around the world are meeting at the Vatican this week to bask in the star power of eco-Pope Francis and commit to reducing global warming and helping the urban poor deal with its effects. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Illustration on exposing government officials who contribute to government abuse and oppression by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

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The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum is launching a crowdfunding campaign to conserve the spacesuit Neil Armstrong wore on the moon. Conservators say spacesuits were built for short-term use with materials that break down over time. (Associated Press)

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China's alleged on-going reclamation of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. (Ritchie B. Tongo/Pool Photo via AP) **FILE**

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National Edition News cover for July 18, 2015 - States step back from lofty goals on green energy: A half-dozen states have moved to scale back, freeze or eliminate their renewable energy standards in the past year, fueled by concerns over higher energy prices, the impact of the EPA's Clean Power Plan and the growing perception that it's time to take the training wheels off the wind and solar industries. (Associated Press)

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Illustration on Congress' skepticism and opposition to the Iran nuclear arms deal by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

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A half-dozen states have moved to scale back, freeze or eliminate their renewable energy standards in the past year, fueled by concerns over higher energy prices, the impact of the EPA's Clean Power Plan and the growing perception that it's time to take the training wheels off the wind and solar industries. (Associated Press)

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Anousone Sudettanh, an employee of Waste Management Inc., collects garbage for the city of Seattle on April 5, 2012. (Associated Press) **FILE**

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Protesters rallied outside a federal court in 2013 to protest Chevron's "racketeering lawsuit against the Ecuadorean rainforest villagers," according to Amazon Watch. The group said the lawsuit was "retaliatory," but its claims have been found to be dubious. (Associated Press)