Greenland Crisis US Threats
Trump's Envoy to Children in Greenland: "Come to My House and You'll Get Cookies"
Donald Trump's envoy, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, handed out small chocolate coins to people on the street in Nuuk during his visit to Greenland. DR reports.
- If you come to my house in Louisiana, you'll get as many chocolate chip cookies as you can eat, he told some children.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik commented afterwards:
- Our position is clear. We have our red lines, and they remain the same no matter how many cookies we get.
Landry visited Greenland on Sunday to attend a business conference he was not formally invited to. He brought with him a doctor from Louisiana who was supposed to "assess the health care needs of the residents", which caused irritation on the island.
The economic impact of the pandemic
Spain's former prime minister under investigation for abuse of power
Former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under investigation for using his influence in connection with the rescue of the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic, several media outlets report. A judge at Spain's National Special Court has summoned him for questioning as a suspect and ordered searches of his office.
According to the judge, Zapatero is suspected of leading an organized network that used consulting contracts and front companies to influence decisions on state aid to the airline. The investigation concerns a 53 million euro loan granted in 2021 from a state fund for strategically important companies.
Zapatero denies the charges and says he has never received money from Plus Ultra. His Socialist Party defends him and calls for respect for the legal process, while the opposition describes the case as yet another sign of corruption within the ruling party.
Bird Flu Alert
Polar bear with bird flu found in Svalbard
A polar bear with bird flu has been found dead in Svalbard, Norwegian authorities tell NRK.
According to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, this is the first time the virus has been found in a polar bear in Norway and Europe. The virus has also been detected in a walrus and in arctic foxes in previous years.
According to Jon Aars, a polar bear expert and researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute, it is not particularly surprising that the virus has been found in polar bears, as it has been found in other species before. No major impact on the population has yet been seen, despite the fact that there have been major outbreaks in bird colonies and the like in the area.
– We actually believe that polar bears are relatively well equipped to tolerate this, says Aars.
Global Challenges
IPCC May Retire Its Most Extreme Climate Scenario
The UN climate panel IPCC appears to be on the verge of abandoning its most extreme future scenario for emissions, known as RCP 8.5, reports the Washington Post. Scientists assess that the scenario “no longer appears credible”.
RCP 8.5 has long been used as a worst-case scenario in which the world continues to burn large amounts of fossil fuels without limiting emissions. But many scientists believe that the development of renewable energy has made such a development less likely.
Climate skeptics such as US President Donald Trump interpret the announcement as an exaggeration of the threat from global warming.
“Good riddance!”, he wrote on X this weekend.
At the same time, climate scientists warn that the risks are still great.
“As long as carbon dioxide emissions are above zero, the world will continue to get warmer”, several scientists wrote in a blog post earlier this week.
