Latest news

Climate Threat  Global Challenges
Alarm: Trump Wants to Dismantle the Eyes and Ears of the Ocean

The Trump administration is to dismantle a system for observing the oceans. Now scientists are warning that it will have devastating consequences for weather forecasts and our ability to predict extreme weather. This is reported by The Guardian.

The system is the Ocean observatories initiative (OOI), which is used to study marine heat waves, harmful algal blooms, underwater earthquakes, and fish stocks.

OOI is a large and important part of the system experts call “the eyes and ears of the ocean”. With the data collected, scientists can more easily predict weather phenomena such as cyclones and El Niño, and authorities can send out warnings that save lives.

– The government wants to save less than a billion dollars on sensors. The observation system costs a fraction of what hurricanes and storms cost the United States every year, says American researcher John P Abraham.

Political situation in Kosovo
Third election in short period in politically deadlocked Kosovo

Kosovo will hold its third parliamentary election in 19 months on Sunday after a political deadlock that has left voters increasingly frustrated, writes AP.

The election was called after the country's politicians failed to appoint a new president. Prime Minister Albin Kurti's center-left government has a clear majority in parliament, but the president must be elected with the support of at least 80 of the 120 members of parliament, which they failed to do.

However, few voters and experts believe that the new election will resolve the deadlock.

- It will certainly be the same result again. As a citizen, I am very dissatisfied, says entrepreneur Vlora Kryeziu in the capital, Pristina.

Political situation in Bolivia
Police clash with protesters in Bolivia

Police have clashed with anti-government protesters in eastern Bolivia, reports AFP.

Riot police fired tear gas at the protesters, who in turn threw rocks at the police and burned their tires, according to a reporter on the scene.

Two police officers were shot, according to the Santa Cruz police chief. They are now being treated in hospital.

The fight broke out when police tried to clear a roadblock set up by protesters demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.

The demonstrations against Paz and his government have been going on for more than a month. More than 100 blockades have been set up, which has caused shortages of food and medicine in the country's major cities.

Pope pressured by Bad Bunny in Spain: "Many want to see him"

Pope Leo will face tough competition during his first foreign visit to Spain. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is also holding several concerts in Madrid.

– If you ask young people whether they want to see the Pope or Bad Bunny, I think many would rather go and see Bad Bunny, Pope Leo tells El Pais, adding that some will surely come to see him too.

The Pope calls for reconciliation in polarized Spain and thanks the country for its opposition to the wars in Iran and Gaza and for its “fidelity to international law and the rules-based order,” reports AFP.

Cave rescue in Laos
Search operation in Laos cave called off: “We were so close”

After two weeks of struggle, the rescue operation at the flooded cave in Laos has now been called off, reports AFP. The search is considered too dangerous, while the likelihood of finding the two men alive is now seen as minimal.

It was in mid-May that seven men disappeared in the cave. After a frantic rescue effort, five of them were managed to be pulled out two weeks later.

Diver Lee Kian Lie joined the rescue effort on May 28. He told AFP that the water level in the cave is now manageable but that the entrance is starting to collapse.

“We were so close,” he said, adding:

“Everyone tried. We tried. I feel sorry for the families.”